"Beep... beep... beep..."
The steady sound of a high-tech medical machine was the only thing filling the room.
TianTian was slowly regaining consciousness, but she wasn't fully awake yet. She just felt terribly tired.
Once again, she felt something was strange. Was she seriously ill? But why was nobody staying beside her? What about her family? Her mother? Her father? Her brother? Where were they? Did they know what had happened to her?
Or... was it because of the last time she had fought with them and disobeyed their wishes?
And where was he...?
Had he finally abandoned her?
Her eyelids felt unbearably heavy. TianTian couldn't keep them open any longer, and soon, her eyes slowly closed again.
TianTian remembered...
After living at the king's house in the Gold Garden for a few days, she realized that her life would never be the same again.
Although LiMingHu allowed her to continue working as usual, he made sure that her every move was being monitored by assigning a bodyguard to stay by her side at all times.
The bodyguard's name was Ali, named after LiMingHu's favourite boxer.
TianTian recognized him as one of the bodyguards she had hit with a metal plate at the club the other night.
She still remembered how she had protested when LiMingHu first announced his decision.
"I don't need a bodyguard!"
"You don't, but I do. His primary job is to make sure you don't run away."
"I won't run away! We have a deal, and it's written in a legal contract!"
"Yes, we do. And as far as I remember, that contract says you agree to be my girl properly. And my girl needs to obey what I say!"
And just like that, the king had spoken. There was simply no room for argument.
That day, a black Rolls-Royce stopped in front of the gate of First National Elementary School.
All eyes turned toward TianTian as she stepped out of the luxurious car, accompanied by a man in a black suit who looked as if he had just walked out of the movie Men in Black.
TianTian had warned Ali not to enter the school with her. Surely, it would look strange for an ordinary elementary school teacher to have a bodyguard following her into the classroom.
But Ali didn't dare to disobey his boss's orders. So he simply stood at the school entrance, waiting for TianTian to finish her work.
He stood there so firmly, with such an intimidating expression, that anyone passing by couldn't help but feel a little frightened.
Well, almost anyone.
There was only one person who wasn't afraid of him: an old school gardener.
After the first bell rang, Uncle Chow casually approached Ali and invited him to have tea together.
And somehow, that became their little daily routine for the next few days.
What the hell...!
TianTian felt as if she had become a prisoner.
Everyone in the teachers' office was curious about what had happened to her. After all, a fierce-looking man in a black suit, straight out of Men in Black, had suddenly started appearing at their school every single day.
Even the principal personally came to ask her about it.
What could TianTian possibly say?
She could only make up a ridiculous excuse, claiming that the bodyguard was her actor friend who was practising his bodyguard role with her.
And before the principal could ask for any further explanation, she quickly escaped to her classroom.
The students weren't any less curious.
In fact, it had become a hot topic among the children in her class.
How could it not?
Their favourite homeroom teacher had suddenly started arriving at school in an expensive car, accompanied by a strange man who looked like a bodyguard from an action movie.
For third-grade students, such an exciting mystery was simply too delicious to ignore!
One of her favourite students, Xiao Ai, came up with a rather imaginative theory.
"Miss TianTian must be a missing princess who has finally been found!"
What an imaginative little girl!
TianTian couldn't help laughing.
Oh, how she wished that were true!
Others suggested that their teacher must have won the lottery and suddenly become a rich woman.
Honestly, listening to the children's wild imaginations was much more enjoyable than hearing what the adults thought about her.
Speaking of adults...
One day, TianTian happened to be standing outside the teachers' office when she overheard her colleagues talking about her.
They were guessing that she must have found herself a rich boyfriend, or perhaps she had even become the mistress of an old wealthy man.
Seriously?
But when she finally stepped into the office, the conversation suddenly stopped.
The room became so quiet that the ringtone of TianTian's mobile phone startled everyone.
She glanced at the caller ID and immediately felt relieved.
It was WenWen!
Her best friend wanted to meet her after school at their usual café.
Of course, TianTian agreed.
After all, she should still have some free time, right? Her working hours weren't over yet, so that beast shouldn't be bothering her for the time being.
Or so she thought...
After finishing her teaching duties, TianTian hurried to the café, where WenWen was already sitting at their regular table.
However, when WenWen saw TianTian stepping out of that luxurious Rolls-Royce, she couldn't help looking surprised.
"So, it's true? You're really working for LiMingHu in exchange for getting my job back? Honestly, I didn't believe what you told me yesterday. But after seeing you get out of that car just now... Phew! So it's really true!"
"Ehm... hmm."
TianTian deliberately kept sipping her favourite guava juice.
She was still thinking about how to explain the truth to WenWen.
She didn't want to keep any secrets from her best friend, but at the same time, she didn't want WenWen to feel guilty about what had happened.
"Oh, TianTian... You're such a true friend! I love you so much! And I promise I'll repay this debt someday!"
WenWen suddenly leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Soooo... how is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"The job!"
WenWen paused for a moment before continuing.
"Actually, TianTian, after thinking carefully about what happened that night, I realized how lucky we were to get involved with LiMingHu. And now you're even working for him! That means you get to meet him in person all the time, right?"
Wait...
TianTian noticed a familiar expression on WenWen's face.
And she didn't like it.
"I thought you were afraid of him?"
"Ah... yes, I'm still a little scared of him. But he's so handsome! And so rich! Besides, I've noticed that he's actually quite generous. He even gives his employees rides in one of his luxurious cars!"
WenWen took another sip of her drink before continuing excitedly.
"I've also heard that he's still single. At least, nobody at my workplace has ever gossiped about him having a relationship with any woman. Do you know what people call him?"
TianTian raised an eyebrow.
"The 'Handsome Monk'!"
WenWen burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! What a ridiculous nickname, right? It doesn't suit him at all!"
She suddenly leaned forward again, looking even more excited.
"Oh, TianTian! Do you think he'll remember me if we meet at a company party someday? You know, tonight there's going to be a launching party for a new Li Cosmetic product! Oh, I wish I could attend, but unfortunately, I wasn't selected as one of the models for the new product."
She sighed dramatically.
"Ahhh... I really want to make up for our first meeting. I completely ruined it last time!"
OH... MY... GOD!
WenWen is falling for that beast!
How is that even possible?!
There was one thing TianTian knew very well about WenWen.
Her best friend could be terribly jealous.
Back in college, there had been a man WenWen liked very much. Unfortunately, he chose another woman, who happened to be one of their closest friends.
But after the two of them finally got into a relationship, WenWen cut off all contact with that friend.
And even until now, they had never made up.
TianTian certainly didn't want the same thing to happen between them.
So she decided not to tell WenWen the truth about her relationship with LiMingHu. At least not until three months later.
Or perhaps WenWen's little crush wouldn't even last that long.
After all, it was still too early to tell.
"I don't know, WenWen... But I think you'd better stay away from that beast. You don't know what he's really like."
"And how would you know that? What do you know about him? Are you close to him?"
WenWen looked at her eagerly.
"TianTian, please! Tell me everything about LiMingHu! I have a feeling he might really be the one... You know, my prince!"
And there it was again.
The prince.
Ever since they were in school, WenWen had told TianTian countless times about her dream.
In that dream, a handsome man would come and kiss a sleeping princess.
The princess was WenWen herself.
But the strange thing was, she could never see the prince's face.
Since then, WenWen had firmly believed that somewhere out there, a prince was waiting for her.
And of course, that prince had to be handsome and rich.
TianTian let out a deep sigh.
"He's not your prince, WenWen. Definitely not! As far as I know..."
She paused, then continued with growing irritation.
"He's cold, cruel as a beast, and so... SO... SO SELFISH! He loves forcing people to do whatever he wants and never considers anyone else's feelings!"
Without realizing it, TianTian was already speaking angrily as memories of how LiMingHu had treated her came rushing back.
Especially the way he had stolen her kiss!
In her frustration, she slammed her glass onto the table so hard that some of the juice spilled out.
WenWen stared at her in surprise, looking a little frightened.
"TianTian... are... are you okay?"
TianTian took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
Just then, her smartphone began to ring.
She glanced at the caller ID.
An unfamiliar number.
Who could it be?
"Hello?"
"Meet me at SunMall now. I want to see you here in ten minutes!"
"SunMall? Why?"
Wait... aren't my working hours supposed to be over yet? What is this beast doing there?
"Get here immediately, or I'll lose my patience."
Click.
Did he... just order me around and hang up without even giving me an explanation?!
How rude!
"Who's that? You look so upset, TianTian."
"It's..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Ali, her bodyguard, entered the café and walked straight toward their table.
"Miss TianTian. Mr. Li has asked me to take you to him right away."
Ali tried to sound as polite as possible.
He sincerely hoped TianTian would agree to come willingly. Otherwise, he might have to drag her out of the café, which would certainly be humiliating for her.
Of course, TianTian knew better than to make a scene.
For now, she had no choice but to cooperate.
"I'm sorry, WenWen. I have some work to do, assigned by your handsome monk. I'll call you later, okay?"
TianTian stood up from her seat.
"I see... Wait, TianTian!"
WenWen quickly pulled her closer and whispered into her ear, making sure Ali couldn't hear what she was about to say.
"I know you don't like your boss, but please... give him and me a chance! Be my informant! Tell me everything about him, pleaseeee! I beg you!"
Here we go again...
WenWen's pitiful, childlike expression was simply TianTian's weakness.
It had always been impossible for her to say no whenever her best friend made that face.
"Pleaseeeee... Or at least send me some photos of him!"
"Fine... I'll do what I can."
"Yay! I love you, TianTian!"
WenWen happily threw her arms around TianTian, hugging her like a little child who had just received her birthday present.
Meanwhile, TianTian could only sigh.
What have I gotten myself into...?