Chapter 39: Ensuring Consistency of Work Content...

Jiang Shiyuan and Huo Lan arrived by car at a strictly guarded private training ground deep in the garden.

The training ground is surrounded by a black iron fence nearly four meters high. Through the fence, you can see several low gray buildings and many training obstacles set up inside the field.

Even through the car window, Jiang Shiyuan could vaguely hear shouts and muffled thuds of heavy objects hitting each other, which made her feel a little nervous.

After passing through two automatic gates that require card swiping and facial recognition, the vehicle finally stopped in an empty parking area.

The waiter, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly stepped forward, opened the car door, and held up a huge black sun umbrella for the two of them.

The training ground in July seemed to be steaming with heat, but there was no heat under the black umbrellas.

Huo Lan took the black umbrella, gently put his arm around Jiang Shiyuan's waist, and led her toward the training hall.

The instructor in charge of training the bodyguards said respectfully, "I have already gathered the bodyguards who have performed the best recently in the facility. You can choose any of them at any time, sir."

The training hall was different from the outside; the air conditioning was on full blast, and the humid heat quickly dissipated.

A row of muscular men in combat gear stood in the spacious open space, waiting for Jiang Shiyuan to make his selection.

Huo Lan suddenly asked, "What did Jiang Chen do to offend you that made you insist on replacing him?"

Jiang Shiyuan lowered her eyes, hiding a hint of panic in them. "Didn't I say before that I'm just not a good match for Chen Fei? I want to find someone who doesn't talk much."

Huo Lan chuckled, "So you find him annoying. Fine, come and pick someone who suits your taste today."

Fearing that Huo Lan might dismiss Jiang Chen because of this, Jiang Shiyuan quickly added, "But Jiang Chen is still very outstanding, which is why I recommended him to protect you."

“Of course he’s excellent. He was the best in terms of skills among his graduating class that year. I personally selected him from the police academy.” Huo Lan shook his head helplessly. “He was originally chosen for you, but unfortunately, he doesn’t meet your expectations.”

Jiang Shiyuan felt as if her heart had been suddenly gripped tightly, making it hard to breathe.

Suppressing her inner turmoil, she asked, "So, during the year I've been back in China, you've already planned everything out? Even choosing a bodyguard for me was something you picked out well in advance?"

Huo Lan remained noncommittal, simply watching her quietly. "Scared again?"

Jiang Shiyuan's face was dark, but he kept saying no, while Huo Lan, unusually, gave in.

"Now that I know your whereabouts, I will naturally send people to protect you. Of course, it is also important to keep an eye on you and know your whereabouts at all times... Don't overthink it, let's start selecting people."

Jiang Shiyuan calmed her expression, relieved that she hadn't chosen to turn Jiang Chen against her. Since he was personally handpicked by Huo Lan, getting him to betray Huo Lan would only be more difficult.

But why hasn't Huo Lianjing arrived yet? How can she know who to choose if she doesn't come?

"Okay, I'll take a good look at it first."

After Jiang Shiyuan finished speaking, she began to look at the people standing in a row. Just as she was wondering what to do, the sound of paper umbrellas being put away came from the entrance of the pavilion.

"I heard from the people in the garden that Mr. Huo came here to select bodyguards. Why didn't you tell me about this? You know, I was the one who established the first bodyguard team in Huo Garden back then."

Twenty years ago, Huo Garden did not establish its own bodyguard training ground, but instead cooperated with external parties to select bodyguards.

Huo Lianjing helped Huo Garden establish its first bodyguard team, and Chen Fei was among the first batch of guards. However, the earliest batch of guards stopped working in the profession at the age of forty, but Chen Fei stayed with the Huo family and persisted.

Huo Lan chose Chen Fei to follow Jiang Shiyuan because he was an old member of Huo Garden and the person he trusted the most.

Huo Lan was in a good mood and teased, "Since Aunt is here, then please condescend to help Shi choose."

"I wouldn't dare say that, Mr. Huo is not what he used to be." Huo Lianjing teased Huo Lan, "But I do know more about this aspect, so Auntie will choose a good wife for Xiao Lan."

Huo Lianjing glanced at Jiang Shiyuan meaningfully, then walked up to the bodyguards to be selected and began to scrutinize them closely.

"Although I have been away from Huo Garden for a long time, I can still tell at a glance what kind of people are reliable and what kind of people are skilled."

Huo Lianjing stopped in front of someone. "I remember you. Your name is Han Feng."

The person called Han Feng still stood with his hands behind his back like a pine tree, but at this moment he shouted "Young Miss" in a strong voice.

"During the previous internal exercise, he fought three opponents single-handedly, not only protecting the target but also surviving. He is agile and quick-witted, and more importantly... he doesn't like to talk."

Huo Lianjing smiled at Jiang Shiyuan, "I wonder if this is the person Shiyuan wants?"

Jiang Shiyuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded, "Thank you for helping me choose, Aunt. I really couldn't choose on my own."

Huo Lan laughed and said, "Are you just going to listen to your aunt like this and not take a look for yourself? For example, let them have another competition."

Jiang Shiyuan said considerately, "No need, since it was chosen by Aunt, then this is fine. You've been very busy lately, and I can't always have you doing these unimportant things with me."

"You care about me so much." Huo Lan didn't think too much about it. "Alright then, this one will do."

After saying that, he instructed the instructor next to him to prepare for the handover of work.

The instructor said, "Don't worry, Mr. Huo, Jiang Chen will hand over the situation clearly and ensure it's consistent with the previous work."

The fact that the job content was the same made Jiang Shiyuan take another look at the instructor, who immediately lowered his head and didn't dare to say anything more.

She was perfectly aware of what the job entailed. Although the person in charge had changed, the task of monitoring her still had to be carried out. Han Feng, like Jiang Chen, had to continue to provide Huo Lan with information about her every move.

But so what? The person has changed, and how can we tell whether the information provided is true or false?

Jiang Shiyuan hadn't expected things to go so easily. Even when she got back in the car to return to Lingdang Xiaozhu, her mind was still foggy, as if she were dreaming.

Seeing Jiang Shiyuan's absent-mindedness, Huo Lan pinched her fingertips to bring her back to reality.

"What's wrong? I've already done what I promised you, so why do you still look so distracted?"

"No, it's just that it's suddenly quiet, and I can't hear Jiang Chen nagging around me all the time anymore."

Huo Lan recalled the previous scene and nodded, "He did talk too much, which is a flaw."

Seeing that Huo Lan had no doubts about the matter, Jiang Shiyuan felt a pang of reluctance for some reason.

Everything was going in the direction she had envisioned. Although Huo Lan was very wary, he was not a god and did not have divine insight, so there were always times when he would let his guard down.

"Is the engagement party tomorrow night?"

Huo Lan nodded, squeezed her hand to reassure her, "You don't need to worry about anything. Just put on the dress I made for you and appear in front of everyone, so that everyone knows that you are the Huo Mrs. I am going to marry."

Jiang Shiyuan did not return Huo Lan's handshake, but simply gave a faint "hmm".

It was already evening when we returned from the training ground. The sunset stretched across the sky, creating a magnificent spectacle, and the entire garden was bathed in a golden glow.

Jiang Shiyuan felt a huge weight lifted from her heart and suddenly wanted to go to the lotus pond with Huo Lan to pick lotus pods.

She loved riding in the small boat in Huo Garden. The flat little boat, when it sailed deep into the lotus flowers, felt like entering another world, free from worries and worldly noise, with only a pond of silent lotus flowers and rippling blue waves.

Huo Lan was delighted to see Jiang Shiyuan like this. At this moment, she seemed to have become the girl who first entered Huo Garden five years ago, carefree, finding everything new and exciting, and wanting to try everything.

"Sure, you can get back to Bell House before dark."

As he spoke, Huo Lan took off his suit jacket, threw it into the back seat of the car, and turned around to roll up his sleeves to untie the cable tied to the wooden stake on the shore.

The small boat swayed gently on the water. Jiang Shiyuan looked at the small boat in front of her, then at Huo Lan, who looked completely different from usual, and a trace of doubt rose in her eyes: "Huo Lan, can you row a boat?"

She had never ridden in such a small boat with him before. Although she often took a boat to pick lotus flowers in the pond on a whim, there were usually skilled servants to help her row, and she had hardly ever rowed a boat herself.

Huo Lan turned around upon hearing this, a half-smile playing on his lips: "What, you underestimate me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped and landed steadily in the center of the small boat. His suit pants didn't restrict him much, and he skillfully stabilized the boat after it rocked slightly a few times.

He reached out his hand to her, palm up, his gaze resolute: "Come here."

Jiang Shiyuan followed Huo Lan's arm and boarded the small boat. The boat gently rippled through the layers of green waves and slowly sailed into the depths of the lotus leaves that stretched to the sky.

The towering lotus leaves almost completely submerged the small boat, forming a natural emerald screen that isolated it from the outside world's sight and noise.

The surroundings were so quiet that only the gentle gurgling of the water lapping against the boat and the occasional distant croaking of frogs could be heard. The rich fragrance of lotus blossoms mixed with the water vapor wafted over, refreshing and invigorating.

Jiang Shiyuan reached out and brushed her hand across the cool water, feeling its gentle warmth.

“It’s so nice here,” she said softly, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility. “It feels like the whole world has just turned upside down to us.”

Huo Lan stopped rowing and let the small boat float quietly among the flowers and leaves.

"like?"

"Hmm." Jiang Shiyuan looked at the lotus leaves stretching to the sky and sighed, "When I was a child, I read poems that said, 'When the fun was over, I returned late by boat and accidentally entered the depths of the lotus flowers,' and 'The lotus leaves stretched to the sky, an endless expanse of green.' I always felt that the scene was unreal. Now I know that it really is like that."

Huo Lan leaned back, resting his elbows on the edge of the boat, looking relaxed and carefree.

"There aren't many places like this in Huo Garden, but there are still a few hidden away. We'll have many more moments like this in the future."

after.

This word made Jiang Shiyuan's heart tighten slightly, and she hoped there would be no future.

“Since there’s no one here,” Huo Lan glanced at the towering lotus leaves beside him, then looked at Jiang Shiyuan with a meaningful smile, “why not…”

Jiang Shiyuan immediately went on alert, already guessing what Huo Lan was planning to do. She wanted to sit further back to get away from him, but the small boat was cramped, trapping the two of them in one confined space, leaving her with no room to maneuver.

"It's so crowded here." Huo Lan patted his leg. "Sit on my lap."

Jiang Shiyuan turned her head away from him, wanting to pick lotus pods but realizing she hadn't brought any tools.

"don't want."

Huo Lan straightened his body slightly, then gripped her arm tightly and pulled her into his arms.

He rested his head against the crook of her neck and laughed, "I told you sitting like this saves space, how could you not believe me?"

Jiang Shiyuan remained silent in a huff, which only made Huo Lan find her more adorable.

"You said you wanted to pick lotus pods, but you didn't bring any scissors. Is your real intention to be alone with me?"

He guessed right.

Jiang Shiyuan looked down at Huo Lan, who was leaning on her shoulder and holding her tightly, and felt a surge of tenderness in her heart.

Huo Lan didn't push his luck any further; he simply wrapped his arms around her waist, held her tightly, leaned on her shoulder, and closed his eyes.

Since there won't be another chance like this, let's just let him be.

Jiang Shiyuan looked at Huo Lan's trembling eyelashes. The quieter the surroundings were, the more chaotic her heart became.

Why does she have such conflicting feelings? She desperately wants to escape from him, but when the possibility actually arises, she feels reluctant to leave.

After a long silence, Huo Lan suddenly said softly, "Shi Yuan, you changed bodyguards today, are you planning something again?"

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Author's Note: I'll continue updating tomorrow! I'll definitely update before midnight!

Shi Yuan isn't going to escape so quickly; there are still many things to plan.