"Xiaoting, how could you?" Lei Yu's face shifted at the sight of Yan Ting's vicious outburst, a flicker of dismay crossing her features. What on earth had gotten into the girl today?
"Hmph. If it weren't for Daddy, I'd never bother calling you Aunt Lei even once. Every gift you've ever given me? I've thrown every single one straight in the trash." Yan Ting spoke with icy venom, then pulled out her phone and began to dial.
"Hello? Daddy, can you please get me a different bodyguard? This one dresses like a total hick—how am I ever supposed to be seen in public with him?" The moment the call connected to Yan Huaimin, Yan Ting's entire demeanor shifted, her voice softening into a syrupy, coquettish whine. Fang Yu's face twitched in disbelief. The girl's mood could turn on a dime, it seemed.
Yan Huaimin's warm, concerned voice drifted down the line. "Xiaoting, Fang Yu is a fine young man. You'll see that once you've spent some time with him. Be a good girl, now."
"No! I don't like him, and I want him gone." Yan Ting pouted, her voice rising into a petulant whine at her father's words.
"Fang Yu was not easy to bring here, and he is not to be sent away." Yan Huaimin's tone sharpened, hardening with authority at his daughter's defiance. He sighed to himself; he had truly spoiled the girl rotten.
She slammed the phone down in a fit of rage, her face dark with cold fury. Yet when her eyes fell on Fang Yu, she suddenly broke into a wide grin—a grin that, to Fang Yu, reeked of malicious intent.
"Fine. You can stay and work as my bodyguard for one week. But if you don't measure up? I'm kicking you out." Yan Ting pouted and let out a sharp huff, her mind already racing with schemes to drive Fang Yu away for good.
"Very well. One week it is. I'll report this back to the master when I return." Uncle Li let out a long, relieved breath at Yan Ting's reluctant agreement. At last, this troublesome errand was done.
He turned to face Fang Yu, a bitter, helpless smile on his face. "Fang Yu, whether you get to stay here after that week is entirely up to your own wits and skill." With that, he exchanged a glance with Lei Yu, who still stood looking dejected and crestfallen, before the two of them turned and left the apartment.
With Uncle Li and Lei Yu gone, the entire apartment fell silent, leaving only Fang Yu and Yan Ting alone in the cavernous space.
"Miss, where would you like me to put my things?" Fang Yu's gaze swept over Yan Ting before him, and he saw the hostile glint in her eyes. This little girl was most definitely plotting how to kick him out, right this very second.
Though really, she wants to kick me out? Does she really think she's got what it takes? Fang Yu snickered silently to himself.
"All that stuff of yours is filthy. Take it down to the storage room in the basement. And as for that grubby outfit you're wearing? You'd better change out of it sooner rather than later. Just looking at it makes my skin crawl." Yan Ting shot a disdainful glance at the duffel bag on the floor, her nose wrinkling in distaste. This man had absolutely no taste whatsoever.
"Got it." Fang Yu nodded obediently, hefted the several bulging bags of luggage he'd brought with him, and followed Yan Ting's directions, shoving the whole lot into the storage room in one go.
When he emerged from the storage room, Yan Ting was just making her way toward the staircase.
"Go take a shower right now, and get that ragged hide of yours off. I can't stand the sight of it a second longer." Yan Ting shot Fang Yu a withering glare, then turned and strode up the stairs without a single backward glance.
Fang Yu shrugged. He caught a whiff of the sour, stale odor clinging to his clothes, and his own nose wrinkled in distaste. He'd been traveling nonstop for an entire day. A hot shower was long overdue.