Chapter 94 Quickly Transmigrated! Going Bankrupt Overnight and Becoming the Young Master’s Bodyguard (3)
The sun was now blazing relentlessly, and the road was emitting steam. This was the kind of weather that made you want to find a shaded spot to stay until sunset. Just as I was thinking about finding a shaded spot, Zhang (someone) came out of the villa. He glanced at the crowd, a sneer on his lips. His eyes fell on me, and the sneer deepened.
"Feng Ziang," he called, his voice barely concealing malice. "Come here."
I stood up and walked towards him, my heart sinking. I had a bad feeling.
"Since you seem so eager to prove yourself," Zhang said, his voice thick with sarcasm, "let's see how you take a little punishment. Stand at attention right here in the sun for an hour. Don't move. Got it?"
He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. My jaw clenched. I knew this was another deliberate attempt to break me, another obstacle placed in my path because Li Dali had bribed him. The sun was already burning hot, and the thought of standing still in its glare for a full hour made my stomach churn. But I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me waver. I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and looked him in the eye.
"I see," I replied, my voice firm.
"Very good," Zhang sneered. And then, with a final smug sneer... "...he turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the hot sun."
The heat was immediate and intense. It pressed down on me like a physical weight, searing the exposed skin of my neck and arms. Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead and stung my eyes. I stared at a distant point on the horizon, trying to ignore the burning sensation spreading through my shoulders. The minutes stretched out like an eternity. My legs began to tremble and a wave of dizziness overtook me. The world around me began to blur, the neatly manicured lawn shimmering in the heat. I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to falter. I couldn't give up. Not now. Not after what I'd been through.
I thought about my family, the life we'd lost, and the desperate hope that had brought me here. This job was my only chance to rebuild our home, to regain some semblance of the life we once had. That thought, that burning fire of determination, was the only thing keeping me upright. My throat was dry, my lips cracked and parched. I could feel the sweat running down my back, soaking through my shirt. The sun beat down relentlessly, turning the sky a blinding white. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, begging for rest. But I stood firm. I would not give in. I would not be defeated.
Time became a meaningless concept. There was only the sun, the heat, and the sheer determination to stay where I was. I imagined the shade of a tree, the coolness of a glass of water. These small comforts became my anchor, my mental lifeline in this sea of discomfort. I repeated a silent mantra in my head, focusing on each breath, forcing myself to endure.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a shadow fell across my face. I blinked, my vision blurring. It was Zhang. He stood before me, arms still crossed, but the smug look on his face gone. He looked... surprised. Almost uneasy. My legs were shaking uncontrollably now and my head was spinning, but I still managed to keep a rigid posture. I had survived. I had met his challenge head-on, and I hadn't wavered.
"Time's up," he muttered, the sarcasm missing from his voice. He seemed almost... disappointed. I didn't understand his reaction. He had clearly intended this to break me, to humiliate me in front of the other candidates. But it didn't work. I remained standing. Weak, yes, but not broken.
Before I could respond, a cold voice cut through the air. "That's enough, Zhang."
I turned my head slightly, my vision still blurry. Standing a few feet away was Shen Haoxuan, his expression unreadable. He looked straight at me, his eyes fiery and... searching. He took a step closer, then another, until he was standing right in front of me.
“Follow me,” he said, his voice low and commanding. My legs ached in protest, but I followed Shen Haoxuan, each step a small victory over the pain. He moved with ease and grace, his crisp white shirt a stark contrast to my sweat-soaked clothes. He led me into the huge mansion, the cool air conditioning a pleasant comfort to my burning skin. I followed him, my head still a little dizzy, and was keenly aware of the curious glances from the employees we passed.
Instead of taking me to the infirmary, as I had expected, he took me to a luxuriously decorated study. Dark wood panels lined the walls, and bookshelves were filled with leather-bound books. A large mahogany desk dominated the center of the room, and the air hummed with the faint whirring of some invisible electronic device. Shen Haoxuan gestured to a chair across from the desk. "Sit down."
I sank gratefully into the soft leather chair, my stiff muscles relaxing a little. He remained standing, his eyes fixed on me, making me acutely aware of my own frailty. My shirt clung to me like a second skin, soaked with sweat, and my hair stuck to my forehead. I felt a flush creep up my neck. This was not how I had imagined meeting the man who held my future in his hands.
"Water," he said, addressing a woman I had not noticed before. She was standing near the door, a notepad in her hand. She responded with a curt nod, then quickly brought a glass of ice water and placed it on the desk next to me. I drank it gratefully, the cool liquid moistening my dry throat.
Shen Haoxuan remained silent, watching me intently as I drained the water from my glass. The silence stretched, thick and heavy, filled with an unspoken tension. I could feel his eyes scrutinizing me, dissecting me, analyzing me. It was unsettling. I met his gaze, trying to appear calm and confident, even as uncertainty churned inside. What was he thinking? What was going on? Why was he intervening?
Finally, he broke the silence. "Zhang told me you rejected his...proposal."
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