At the villa, after Ye Fan left, Chu Mengyao gathered all the bodyguards together.
"This time we're in big trouble. Zhang Daya has hired the Poisonous Spider. Whether you stay or leave, I won't force you."
Chu Mengyao revealed the truth. If she kept it a secret, the bodyguards would remain in the dark and continue to stay by her side to protect her. But once she said it, their choices were uncertain. Nonetheless, Chu Mengyao told them about the Poisonous Spider.
"What?"
"President, are you serious?"
The bodyguards couldn't stay calm, each wearing a look of fear, staring at Chu Mengyao.
The words "Poisonous Spider" shocked them deeply. Many of the bodyguards had received kindness from Chu Mengyao, which is why they became her bodyguards. If it were any ordinary trouble, they would definitely stand by Chu Mengyao. But the Poisonous Spider was like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to take their lives. In front of the Poisonous Spider, they were completely vulnerable.
If the bodyguards were alone, some would certainly choose to stay with Chu Mengyao. But they had families to think about, with elderly and young ones to care for. They couldn't take the risk. With the Poisonous Spider's way of doing things, if they were foolish enough to make an enemy, their families and friends would certainly get involved. This was what the bodyguards feared the most.
"President, I'm sorry, we can't protect you anymore. Take care."
"President, I have a wife and children to care for. I don't want to drag my family into this."
"President, I'll always remember your great kindness, but I can't stay here and die."
...
The bodyguards spoke one after another, lowering their heads in shame.
"Zhang Yuan, after you retired and were working hard labor at a construction site, would you have your current respectable status without the president's help? Would you earn a salary that others envy? Wu Neng, you didn't even have a home and were running from gambling debts. If the president hadn't helped you, would you still be alive? Yet because you're afraid of death, you plan to betray the president? When you were most in need, the president helped you, and now that the president is in trouble, you decide to betray her?"
Except for Xu Hu, all the bodyguards indicated they wanted to leave.
This made Xu Hu furious. If it was because of family concerns, he could understand. But those among the bodyguards who had no ties, just because they were intimidated by the Poisonous Spider's fierce reputation, had become frightfully cowardly. How could he tolerate this?
Xu Hu's reproach made the bodyguards feel extremely ashamed, lowering their heads even further in embarrassment.
There was also a trace of disappointment in Chu Mengyao's eyes. She had some expectations about the outcome, but she never imagined that all the bodyguards wanted to leave. In her heart, she thought that at least a few of the bodyguards she had saved would remain. The reality was, she was wrong. When facing life and death, safeguarding one's own life was the most important. Her kindness had long been forgotten.
"I respect your choice. You can go," Chu Mengyao said blandly.
The bodyguards were overwhelmed with shame, not daring to lift their heads. After hastily bowing three times to the president, they quickly left.
"Truly heartless, a bunch of ungrateful bastards," Xu Hu angrily cursed.
Chu Mengyao walked toward the villa. Xu Hu was stunned, wanting to stop her and say something, but he didn't know what to say. So, he could only watch Chu Mengyao gradually walk away.
Inside the villa, there were only Chu Mengyao and Xu Fu.
Outside the villa, Zhao Xianghua and Wang Zijian paced anxiously.
With the bodyguards gone, Xu Hu took on the task of guarding.
Chu Mengyao and the others were waiting for one person, and that was Ye Fan.
At this moment, Ye Fan held an even deeper place in Chu Mengyao's heart.
Take the bodyguards, for instance. They deserted her in the face of trouble, but Ye Fan was risking his life to help her. This touched Chu Mengyao deeply.
"Uncle Fu, do you think he will be fine?" Chu Mengyao asked with concern.
"Hard to say, the Poisonous Spider is a tough character," Xu Fu replied honestly.
In the midst of an anxious wait, around eleven at night, Ye Fan drove into the villa.
Xu Hu didn't know what Ye Fan had gone out to do, so watching Ye Fan's back, he muttered to himself, "I know you have some skills, not running away at a time like this is better than those bodyguards. But if you dare to entertain any foolish thoughts about the president, just see how I'll deal with you."
Zhao Xianghua and Wang Zijian watched as Ye Fan's figure entered the villa, their gazes momentarily blank.
"He's back. I wonder what the situation outside looks like?" Zhao Xianghua whispered.
"Yeah, if Zhang Daya finds out we're already with the president, we might not be able to handle the consequences," Wang Zijian said, extremely worried, with a deep-seated fear of the Poisonous Spider.
Just then, Zhao Xianghua's phone rang, and as soon as he heard his son's voice, he was overjoyed.
"Could it be that Zhang Daya is finished, and the Poisonous Spider too!!" Such a thought appeared in Wang Zijian's mind, and at that thought, he looked even more uneasy. If the evidence against him fell into the president's hands, he would be finished too. When Zhang Daya threatened him, he had to obey. Now, he couldn't imagine any good outcome for himself.
Chu Mengyao and Xu Fu stood up, looking at Ye Fan with complex emotions.
"Brother Ye, is everything resolved?" Xu Fu inquired hopefully.
"Zhao Xianghua's son is safe. This is the leverage against Wang Zijian." Ye Fan tossed a USB drive to Chu Mengyao.
"That's great," Xu Fu exclaimed with joy and went off to find a computer.
Chu Mengyao looked at Ye Fan, a lump in her throat preventing her from speaking. Ye Fan had saved her, and saved her company. The debt of gratitude was enormous.
"Are you okay?" Chu Mengyao asked with concern, though it was clear that Ye Fan was fine. She was merely asking for reassurance.
"I'm fine," Ye Fan replied with a gentle nod.
Xu Fu found a computer and then left the villa to find Zhao Xianghua and Wang Zijian.
Chu Mengyao inserted the USB drive into the computer, and when she opened it, an inappropriate video appeared on the screen, accompanied by moaning sounds.
Chu Mengyao was curious about what leverage Wang Zijian had that fell into Zhang Daya's hands. So she focused intently on analyzing and understanding it. But the result caught her off guard. As she watched the video and listened to the moans in her ear, her fair face turned bright red.
Ye Fan's eyesight and hearing were exceptionally sharp, and he naturally noticed something unusual. He was stunned and didn't know how to deal with the situation. This was the first time he had encountered something like this.
Both of them, hearts filled with anxiety and nervousness, dared not look at each other.
The atmosphere was frozen, their hearts pounding as if they were about to burst out of their chests, beating strongly.
"I didn't see or hear anything," Ye Fan said.
"Me neither," Chu Mengyao responded, her face blushing deeply as if she were burying her head into her chest.