Bossy Lover – CH 003

Chapter 3. So great

In the fragrant open-air garden, a deep blue pool cast a gentle, brilliant light on the silver lamps covered with vines. A young man in a well-tailored dark gray suit stood beneath the green trees, a wine glass in hand. He was handsome and wore a friendly smile. Every distinguished guest entering the garden approached him for a handshake. Reporters, cameras flashing, busily captured the newly appointed mayor’s polite gestures and gentle smiles.

You Mo Nian was always a striking figure. While some might attribute his presence to his powerful family, it was undeniable that even without knowing his background, one would be drawn to his imposing and upright demeanor. Born into a political family, he spent eight years in the military. He lacked the typical politician’s airs or deep cynicism; instead, he struck one as a deep lake: clear, pure, and unwavering.

You Mo Nian calmly surveyed each guest, knowing the most important figure had yet to appear.

Twenty minutes into the reception, a man in a black suit and black shirt finally entered the courtyard with his slender female companion. The entire room fell into a palpable hush.

You Mo Nian looked up at the man who was said to be able to make things happen in this city with a wave of his hand. Business levy.

You Mo Nian had heard that Shang Zheng was reserved when he was deputy director of the Security Bureau in Liberty City. However, after his promotion to Hope City, he dramatically changed his style. He fought violence with violence—the once-weak military police somehow transformed by him into a gang of thugs and desperadoes who ran rampant in the city. He used gangs to prey on gangs, allowing the city’s tax revenue to rise sharply, ensuring that the rich would no longer just get richer while the poor got even poorer. The biggest beneficiary, naturally, was himself.

Some say that Hope City, once a chaotic place with no law, now had one: commercial tax was the law.

You Mo Nian had expected a rude and violent security chief. However, meeting him in person was far more impactful than hearing rumors. He was undeniably handsome, standing silently like a tall pine tree. His pure black attire accentuated his deep features, adding a touch of unruliness. When his dark eyes focused on him, they were more majestic and aloof than any military commander You Mo Nian had ever seen. He didn’t carry the arrogance or pride one might imagine, but beneath his calm face, one could sense a coldness emanating from his bones.

“Director Shang!” You Mo Nian strode forward. “Welcome!”

Shang Zheng stared at him and smiled. “Mr. Mayor, I’ve heard a lot about you! Welcome to Hope City.”

“I am honored to work with such a talented person as Director Shang,” You Mo Nian replied.

“Where?” Shang Zheng dismissed the compliment.

A courageous reporter raised his camera and pointed it at the two men’s clasped hands. Shang Zheng’s cold gaze swept over at that moment: “What? Don’t you know I don’t like having my picture taken?”

The reporters looked at each other in bewilderment and lowered their cameras. You Mo Nian saw this and turned to look at the quiet woman beside Shang Zheng. “Who is this?”

“Hello, Mayor,” Su Mi said respectfully and calmly. “I am Su Mi.”

Shang Zheng smiled slightly, lowered his head, and kissed Su Mi lightly on the forehead: “My new favorite.”

You Mo Nian was stunned. He’d heard Shang Zheng never approached women; even when accompanied by socialites, he was always cold and distant. But today, he suddenly brought this strange girl. She was thin, her features delicate but not particularly striking. Her pale skin framed her delicate, soft features, like a sketch. She looked honest and reserved, her gaze unmistakably awkward. She had even stumbled slightly earlier, nearly falling, and had only been saved when Shang Zheng swiftly pulled her into his arms. Her accent wasn’t even standard. Why would Shang Zheng keep such a girl around?

The reception proceeded peacefully and gracefully. The daughter of a director and the sister of an officer—each performed a flute piece or a solo dance, creating a joyful atmosphere. The night was cold and clear as the Windsor and Yousha satellites rose into the sky. Su Mi looked at the two moons overhead and smiled bitterly.

“What are you laughing at?” Shang Zheng, who was chatting with a rich man, suddenly turned and asked.

Last night, she had almost shamelessly offered to serve him, trying to prove her usefulness. But he had pushed her away mid-sentence, pulled up his pants, stood, and left the room without a word. She was left alone, her long skirt wrinkled as she sat on the floor. An uneasy feeling lingered in her heart.

Now, Su Mi looked at his cold face and replied in a daze, “It would be great if there was only one satellite.”

“If there’s only one satellite,” Shang Zheng looked at her, “the planet’s forces and orbit will change. We’ll all die.”

Su Mi was stunned.

“Do you think that’s good?” Shang Zheng stared at her.

“…No.”

“Mayor, Secretary Liu, please look this way!” someone humbly greeted.

Flashes of light erupted continuously. Su Mi looked over and saw well-dressed men and women smiling and posing in front of the elegant main hall. The resolute and upright mayor stood in the center.

But at that moment, Su Mi suddenly felt a strong breeze beside her. Before she could react, the seat next to her was empty.

“Ah!” Suddenly, a scream rang out. Su Mi looked over in horror, only to see a middle-aged man clutching his chest, blood pouring out as he collapsed. In front of him, a tall, black figure pinned someone to the ground. The two men looked up simultaneously: Shang Zheng and You Mo Nian. They both drew their guns and looked around vigilantly.

Seeing the blood, everyone panicked, screaming and running. The garden immediately erupted into chaos!

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” This time, Su Mi heard the distinctly muffled sound of gunfire. Without a second thought, she simply rushed towards Shang Zheng!

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” She couldn’t distinguish the sounds coming from different directions, but the gunshots near her feet were so close, following her like a shadow, that she almost fell at Shang Zheng’s feet!

The next second, a strong hand lifted her from the ground. She looked up in panic, only to see the black sleeves disappear before her eyes in a flash. Although the surroundings were still chaotic, she felt a little relieved.

Men appeared out of nowhere, instantly surrounding Shang Zheng, You Mo Nian, and the others. Using the screen wall in the main hall, they engaged in a gunfight with the assassins. In the garden, people continued to fall from stray bullets. Su Mi, nestled among the tall men, was undoubtedly in the safest spot.

It was obvious that Shang Zheng had saved You Mo Nian at the beginning of the assassination. Now, the two men, guns in hand, each occupied a corner of the hallway, leading their people to fire back at the assassins who were gathering on the other side of the garden.

“Don’t want to live?” Shang Zheng, standing in front of her, suddenly asked without turning around. “You chose to run to the place with the most bullets?”

“…I was running to a safe place,” she whispered. The flower stand she’d been standing in front of had already been riddled with bullets. Fortunately, her judgment was correct. This group dared to assassinate You Mo Nian; they certainly wouldn’t spare the woman beside Shang Zheng.

The gunfight was intense and dangerous, with people falling constantly. But amidst the cacophony of gunfire and the cries of the women nearby, Su Mi remained strangely quiet. She was powerless to change anything. If Shang Zheng and his men won, she would live, but he would ultimately use her as a commodity; if they lost, she would die with them. She was insignificant, with nothing to lose and nothing to worry about. So, she stopped watching the battle and instead stared blankly at the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, at the quietly drooping vines, and at the two bright moons visible through them.

You Mo Nian led the others back. He squatted next to Shang Zheng and whispered, “Thank you.”

“No need,” Shang Zheng’s voice was cold. “Your assassination in Hope City was my failure.”

“Careful!”

To everyone’s surprise, unlike the screaming socialites, Su Mi, who had been quiet all along, suddenly burst into a roar. You Mo Nian felt a soft body suddenly bump into his back. Then, he heard a faint groan. He turned cautiously, only to see Su Mi slowly sliding from his shoulder to the ground.

She covered her shoulder with her hands, and bright red blood slowly oozed out from between her pale fingers. She frowned tightly, looking extremely pained.

“Bang!” A guard shot down an assassin lurking outside the window and turned to You Mo Nian, shouting, “Sir! This young lady just took a bullet for you!”

You Mo Nian almost immediately and cautiously embraced Su Mi’s shoulders and waist. The moment he touched her body, he clearly felt her shrink slightly, as if resisting the touch of a stranger.

“How are you?” he asked in a deep voice. “Thank you, Miss Su.”

“It’s okay…” Su Mi stammered. “Mayor, don’t worry about me…” She struggled in his arms.

“It hurts…” she suddenly screamed, her eyes wide open.

You Mo Nian pressed against her wound to slow the bleeding. Perhaps the pain was too overwhelming; her words and gestures no longer displayed obvious defensiveness, and her voice took on a soft, sobbing tone: “It hurts so much… I can’t pass out… Sir, please, knock me out…”

Her request made You Mo Nian want to smile a little. He comforted her softly: “Don’t be afraid; the doctor will be here soon.” He handed Su Mi to a female relative beside him and turned to rejoin the battle.

Five minutes later, the mayor’s palace guards and a powerful gendarme force finally arrived. The gunfire stopped. Gendarmes and doctors moved back and forth, tying up criminals and treating the wounded.

Soon, several surviving assassins were brought before Shang Zheng and You Mo Nian. The military police had expertly removed their jaws to prevent them from swallowing poison. They knelt on the ground, faces gloomy but showing no fear.

“These desperate criminals won’t confess,” You Mo Nian said. He looked at Shang Zheng, his tone slightly self-deprecating. “It’s okay. I’ve been assassinated many times, and the You family has made too many enemies. I don’t know how many people want me dead. I just arrived in Hope City, so I was negligent.”

“They’ll confess,” Shang Zheng said calmly to his men. “Hold them back.”

But at that moment, You Mo Nian suddenly reached out and grabbed Shang Zheng’s arm. Shang Zheng looked up at him quietly.

“Director Shang,” You Mo Nian said word by word, “Don’t resort to lynching! Even if their crimes are extremely heinous, the judiciary must be strict, and they must receive a fair and open trial.”

“How can I do anything…” Shang Zheng pulled his hand back expressionlessly. “My Lord, you don’t need to worry about me.”

“You…”

“Don’t worry,” Shang Zheng turned his head without even looking at You Mo Nian and said slowly. “My people know the severity of the situation. They will keep him alive to accept His Excellency’s fair trial.”

“…”

At that moment, a stretcher passed by. It was the injured Su Mi, whose face was pale, eyes half-open, and eyelashes trembling. Shang Zheng put his hands in his trouser pockets, walked over, and looked down at her.

Su Mi, already drowsy from the painkillers, caught a glimpse of a familiar black robe. She immediately put on a humble and submissive smile and struggled to get up, but was held down by the medical staff.

“You can’t move today.” Shang Zheng stared at her small, pale face. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry to trouble you, sir,” she forced a smile.

He suddenly leaned over, his warm breath brushing against her cold ear: “Sacrificing yourself to save others? So great?”

Su Mi was stunned and lightly grasped the edge of the stretcher with both hands, then slowly let go. To Shang Zheng’s surprise, she gave a sweet, weak smile.

She raised her head, meeting his cold, searching gaze. For the first time, her gaze held a firm edge. “Sir, I simply feel that the mayor’s savior… wouldn’t die in such an unclear manner.”