When Tang Xiaoman heard the name Zhou Yichen, something stirred in her chest.

Yesterday, when Su Ke had set his Tibetan Mastiff on her at Tianlai Villa, it had been a bodyguard named Zhou Yichen who stepped in—disarmed the attacker and shot the dog. And now, at this very bodyguard company, someone named Zhou Yichen had just been fired by his employer?

That couldn’t be such a coincidence… could it?

Manager Zhang, however, was delighted rather than upset. Turning to Tang Xiaoman, he said enthusiastically, “We actually have a bodyguard right now who fits your requirements perfectly. Miss Tang, would you like to meet him?”

*

The assistant soon brought Zhou Yichen into the manager’s office.

Tang Xiaoman lifted her head to study the tall, well-built man. Their eyes met—and he visibly froze for a moment.

She broke into a smile.

It really was him.

Seeing the pleased look on her face, Manager Zhang beamed as he introduced him. “Zhou Yichen is one of the top bodyguards here at Blazing Shield. Former special forces, extremely skilled. Most importantly, he completely matches your requirements—unmarried, no girlfriend, and no immediate family.”

Zhou Yichen paused slightly, his sharp gaze shifting toward Manager Zhang.

Manager Zhang spread his hands. “You really should tone down your personality a little. No matter how good your skills are, if you keep clashing with employers you’ll just keep getting fired. So tell me—what was it this time?”

In peacetime, the wealthy usually hired bodyguards for obedience above all else. A bodyguard who refused orders, talked back, and carried a rebellious streak was usually dismissed sooner or later.

Tang Xiaoman had already guessed part of the story. She turned to Zhou Yichen.

“Did you get fired because of what happened yesterday?”

Zhou Yichen answered calmly, “That was my personal issue.”

Manager Zhang looked surprised. “You two know each other?”

Tang Xiaoman briefly recounted the incident from the previous day.

“…Fortunately, Mr. Zhou stepped in. Otherwise, I might’ve gotten hurt.”

The outcome might not have changed, but she certainly wouldn’t have walked away unscathed.

Manager Zhang laughed. “Looks like the two of you were destined to meet!”

Then he turned back to Zhou Yichen.

“Miss Tang is offering a very generous salary for bodyguards. Two hundred thousand for the first month, three hundred thousand for the second, and five hundred thousand for the third. Your conditions are perfect—unmarried, no girlfriend, no immediate family.”

Tang Xiaoman noticed Zhou Yichen’s expression darken slightly. Realizing that her requirements might sound offensive, she quickly added, “Mr. Zhou can be an exception.”

Rules were rigid—but people weren’t.

Someone like Zhou Yichen, with both outstanding skill and solid character, was exactly the kind of teammate she needed. Some conditions could be relaxed.

Manager Zhang smiled broadly. “Then it’s settled. Zhou Yichen will be the first bodyguard hired. Fifteen more to go.”

Zhou Yichen glanced at Tang Xiaoman but ultimately didn’t refuse.

He’d been fired repeatedly lately. If he missed this opportunity too, he might end up unemployed altogether.

*

Tang Xiaoman paid a one-million-yuan deposit, and Manager Zhang personally set off to recruit the remaining fifteen bodyguards.

Since Zhou Yichen had already been hired, he stayed by Tang Xiaoman’s side as her personal protection.

Tang Xiaoman gestured for him to sit.

“You were fired because of me.”

It wasn’t a question.

Zhou Yichen didn’t bother hiding it anymore. “My employer said I meddled where I shouldn’t. He complained that I offended the Su family—and indirectly the Gu family as well. He ordered me to go apologize to the Sus. I refused.”

Tang Xiaoman’s gaze deepened. She rubbed her hands together excitedly.

“Bodyguards with integrity and real principles like you are incredibly rare. Your former employer had no idea what he was throwing away.”

If that employer hadn’t been blind, how could she have picked up such a treasure so easily? It saved her the trouble of poaching him.

Watching her practically vibrate with excitement, Zhou Yichen’s lips twitched slightly.

Why did she look at him the way a predator looked at prey?

*

Tang Xiaoman had no intention of sitting around waiting.

This trip had already landed her Zhou Yichen, whose skills and character satisfied her completely. She immediately led him out of the manager’s office.

“Miss Tang! I’ve found five more bodyguards who meet your requirements. Take a look!”

Manager Zhang hurried back, practically jogging—afraid she’d leave before he returned.

Tang Xiaoman stopped and looked over the five men he had brought.

Each of them was tall and powerfully built, with sharp eyes and neat buzz cuts. They looked solid enough.

After examining them one by one, she nodded slightly.

Manager Zhang seized the moment. “Why not take these five with you too? I’ll hurry up and find the remaining ten.”

Every successful hire meant nearly seven thousand yuan per day in salary. The company took thirty percent, and the business manager received a commission. And since the salary doubled month by month…

Just thinking about the commission made Manager Zhang’s blood pump with excitement. He only wished he could gather sixteen solitary, unattached bodyguards immediately.

Tang Xiaoman addressed the five men.

“Besides daytime training, surveillance cameras will also be installed in your dormitories at night while you sleep. Can you accept that?”

All five bodyguards’ expressions changed instantly.

“What? Cameras while we’re sleeping? That’s ridiculous!”

“That’s a violation of our privacy!”

“Are bodyguards not human? Don’t we deserve dignity and personal space?”

Their outrage spread quickly—even Zhou Yichen’s expression shifted.

He spoke up first.

“I don’t agree—”

“You’re exempt,” Tang Xiaoman cut in quickly, blinking at him. “You’ll be the team captain. You get your own private room—no cameras.”

Zhou Yichen: “…”

The five bodyguards were even more indignant.

“Why the double standard?! Are we not people?”

“He’s already passed the assessment and been officially hired,” Tang Xiaoman said, lifting her chin slightly. “You haven’t passed yet. You could be eliminated at any time.”

The moment they heard the word *eliminated*, the complaints died.

Two hundred thousand in the first month. Three hundred thousand in the second. Five hundred thousand in the third…

Most of them had previously earned barely over ten thousand a month. Twenty or thirty thousand was already considered elite pay.

Miss Tang was offering an outrageous amount.

Fine. Cameras in the dormitory? So be it.

For that salary, sacrificing some dignity and privacy didn’t seem so unbearable.

*

Tang Xiaoman had entered the bodyguard company and successfully “stockpiled” six bodyguards in one visit—among them Zhou Yichen, the one she’d already had her eye on.

A fruitful haul.

After exchanging contact information with Zhou Yichen, she handed him a bank card and assigned him a task.

“There’s one million on this card. First, rent a training site for half a month. Ideally a warehouse or factory near Tianlai Villa. It needs enough space for sixteen bodyguards to train and live—and enough room to store supplies.”

“Then arrange food and lodging for them. Install surveillance cameras in every dormitory except yours. Also equip them with a full set of self-defense gear… just follow the standards you used in the military. Use this card for all expenses, and keep the receipts for accounting.”

“Oh—and rent several vehicles too. They need to transport at least sixteen people. Don’t forget to set up a bedroom for me as well. I’ll be living there in the future.”

Zhou Yichen looked slightly surprised and immediately caught the key point.

“Equipment according to military standards?”

Tang Xiaoman smiled faintly.

“Anything you can legally get your hands on—just buy it. If there’s something you can’t obtain, we’ll deal with that later.”

At present, firearms were still tightly controlled.

But once the disasters began… she would find a way.

In the apocalypse, firearms were essential for survival.

—

### Chapter 9: Let’s Go Home

Tang Xiaoman didn’t know Zhou Yichen very well yet, but after yesterday’s incident she trusted his character.

He had stepped in to stop Su Ke from bullying a stranger—that alone proved the justice and responsibility in his bones.

He would rather be fired than humble himself by apologizing to the Su family, proving he possessed both pride and strong principles.

Most importantly, she didn’t currently have anyone else she could trust.

So she stuffed a million-yuan bank card into his hand, handed him five bodyguards to manage, and turned right back to stockpiling supplies.

*

Tang Xiaoman’s storage space was limited.

Everything she stored inside was meant strictly for her own survival.

Besides that, she still needed to accumulate a separate pool of shared supplies for the team.

She planned to hire sixteen bodyguards, but ultimately keep only eight to ten. Nearly half would be eliminated.

The apocalypse was brutal. Her selection of teammates had to be equally ruthless.

Those who didn’t meet her standards would be filtered out—she didn’t have much time.

This time she drove straight to a liquor and tobacco supermarket.

First came the alcohol: every brand imaginable. Baijiu, red wine, fruit wine, rice wine, champagne… from Wuliangye, Moutai, and Fenjiu to vodka, whisky, and Martell.

She bought them all.

Then came the cigarettes—every brand available, especially cartons of the famous Zhonghua brand.

The shop owner was so shocked his mouth could have fit an egg inside it. When he finally recovered, he happily rushed around helping load everything into the bed of the pickup truck.

Tang Xiaoman didn’t blink as she swiped her card—over three million yuan.

The owner was so thrilled he nearly cried.

A god of fortune had just walked into his shop.

As she left, he respectfully handed her his business card.

“Please come again anytime. If you ever need anything, just call me—I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

*

Tang Xiaoman drove back to the rented garage and stored all the tobacco and alcohol in her space.

In the apocalypse, cigarettes and alcohol functioned like hard currency for trading supplies.

Baijiu in particular had no real expiration date—an investment that never lost value.

She checked her bank balance.

Eighty-seven million yuan remained.

She had to convert as much of it as possible into supplies before the disasters arrived.

Next she drove to a hardware store.

This time, she was stockpiling cold weapons.

Since firearms were strictly regulated, the only weapons she could legally acquire right now were tools from hardware shops.

Fifty heavy-duty nail guns.

Thirty high-power chainsaws.

The nail guns had a range of nearly ten meters—very practical in combat. The chainsaws were both deadly and intimidating.

The shop owner stared at her strangely.

“Miss… why are you buying so many of these?”

She certainly didn’t look like the leader of a construction crew.

Tang Xiaoman smiled lightly.

“My friend is starting a renovation company. He’s busy, so I’m helping him buy some tools.”

“These are dangerous,” the owner warned repeatedly. “Those nail guns fire steel nails nearly ten meters. If someone gets hit… they could die.”

Tang Xiaoman nodded obediently.

“I understand.”

Though honestly, the power still wasn’t quite enough. When she had time, she planned to find a mechanic to modify them. A twenty-meter range would be ideal.

She also bought ten barrels of camouflage paint, electric drills, welding equipment, steel nails of all sizes, pliers, wrenches, and expansion bolts.

The owner helped load everything into the truck.

Back at the garage, she stored it all inside the two-bedroom section of her space.

The rooms were already packed with supplies—including the deflated assault boats and kayaks. Space was becoming tight.

On top of that, the alcohol and cigarettes alone had consumed ten cubic meters.

Only a little over twenty cubic meters remained for items requiring preservation.

She moved the baijiu crates into the rooms since they didn’t need preservation. The rooms became even more crowded, but she freed up another four cubic meters of space.

Once Zhou Yichen secured the new training site, she planned to move some bulky items there.

That would free up more room to continue stockpiling.

*

Driving out again, her phone vibrated.

Another unknown number.

Since she had just hired six bodyguards, she worried it might be an urgent call from them, so she answered.

“Miss Tang, this is Bo’ai Pet Hospital. The boarding period for your dog has expired. Would you like to renew the stay?”

The sweet voice of a young nurse sounded through the phone.

Tang Xiaoman froze.

The dog she had boarded?

Her heart jolted.

Fubao.

Fubao was the stray dog she had adopted.

She had picked him up as a weak little puppy on the roadside. Over time he grew into a powerful black German Shepherd she loved dearly.

But Gu Heng disliked dogs. And after she moved from the Su family’s spacious villa into a cramped apartment, it became inconvenient to keep him.

So she had left Fubao at the pet hospital.

In her previous life, when the floods came, she never managed to retrieve him.

He had probably drowned.

His death had remained a deep scar in her heart.

But this time—this life—

She would never let that happen again.

*

Tang Xiaoman drove straight to the pet hospital and stood before the iron cage where Fubao was kept.

“Fubao!”

“Clang!”

“Woof!”

A large, powerful German Shepherd jumped up, pawing frantically at the cage bars while letting out low whines that sounded almost like crying.

It had been so long since he’d seen his owner.

He thought she had abandoned him.

“Fubao…”

Tang Xiaoman’s eyes instantly filled with tears, her chest aching with guilt and regret.

This time, she would never leave him again.

She asked the nurse to open the cage.

The moment it opened, Fubao leapt out and threw himself into her arms.

The impact nearly knocked her over, startling the nurse beside them.

“Miss Tang! Are you okay?” the nurse asked anxiously. “Should I call a doctor?”

Tang Xiaoman shook her head.

“He’s just excited. Please leave the leash and give us a moment.”

She hugged Fubao and cried for a long time. The dog whimpered softly the entire time.

“I’m sorry, Fubao. I’ll never abandon you again.”

She fastened his leash and gently stroked his head.

“Let’s go home.”

The other dogs in the kennel grew restless, scratching at their cages and barking loudly.

Fubao rubbed affectionately against his owner’s leg.

Under the jealous gazes of the other dogs, he proudly trotted out beside her.

His owner said they were going home.

Goodbye, fellows.

*

Tang Xiaoman bought thirty boxes of assorted pet food cans, fifty bags of dog food, and thirty bags of freeze-dried treats.

She also purchased a dog bed, dog toilet, pet bathtub, shampoo, cleaning wipes, and other supplies.

Fubao was ecstatic.

His owner had bought him so many wonderful things. He truly was the happiest dog in the world.

She asked workers to load everything into the pickup truck, then opened the rear door.

Fubao immediately jumped inside, grabbing his leash along the way.

After thanking the hospital staff, Tang Xiaoman offered a casual reminder.

“I have a friend who works at the meteorological station. I heard a super typhoon might pass through within the next month, which could cause severe flooding. Your hospital is built on relatively low ground—you might want to relocate the animals somewhere higher in advance.”

The staff member paused, then smiled and nodded.

Tang Xiaoman didn’t know if they’d actually take the warning seriously. She had done what she could.

After getting into the driver’s seat, her phone rang again.

Having just reunited with Fubao, she was in a good mood, so she answered.

“**Tang Xiaoman**.”

Gu Heng’s voice burst through the phone, seething with suppressed rage.

“Don’t push things too far!”

“Huh?” Tang Xiaoman frowned slightly.

His voice turned icy.

“You’re doing all this because you’re jealous of Rou’er and trying to get my attention, aren’t you? Let me tell you—everything you’ve done only makes me despise you even more. I advise you to stop while you still can!”

 

 

### Chapter 8: Stockpiling Bodyguards

When Tang Xiaoman heard the name **Zhou Yichen**, her heart stirred.

Yesterday at Tianlai Villa, when Su Ke had attacked her, a bodyguard named Zhou Yichen had stepped in—disarmed him and shot the dog. And now, today, there just happened to be a bodyguard with the same name at this company who had been fired by his employer?

That couldn’t be such a coincidence… could it?

Manager Zhang, however, was delighted rather than annoyed when he heard the report. Turning to Tang Xiaoman, he said immediately, “We actually have a bodyguard who fits your requirements perfectly. Miss Tang, would you like to meet him?”

—

The assistant soon ushered Zhou Yichen into the manager’s office.

Tang Xiaoman lifted her head to study the tall, powerfully built man. Their eyes met—and he clearly froze for a moment.

A smile spread across her face.

It really was him.

Seeing her pleased expression, Manager Zhang beamed and introduced him eagerly. “Zhou Yichen is the ace bodyguard of **Blazing Shield**. A retired special forces soldier—his combat skills are outstanding. Most importantly, he perfectly meets your requirements: unmarried, no girlfriend, and no immediate family.”

Zhou Yichen’s expression stiffened slightly as his sharp gaze shifted toward Manager Zhang.

Zhang spread his hands helplessly. “You really should tone down that personality of yours. Otherwise, no matter how skilled you are, you’ll just keep getting fired by clients. So tell me—what happened this time?”

In times of peace, wealthy clients valued obedience above all else. A bodyguard who refused to follow orders, talked back, and seemed rebellious to the core usually ended up being dismissed.

Tang Xiaoman had already guessed the reason. She looked at Zhou Yichen.

“Did you get fired because of what happened yesterday?”

Zhou Yichen answered calmly, “That was my personal matter.”

Manager Zhang looked surprised. “You two know each other?”

Tang Xiaoman briefly recounted what had happened the previous day.

“…Fortunately Mr. Zhou stepped in to help. Otherwise I might’ve been injured.”

Maybe the outcome wouldn’t have changed, but she certainly wouldn’t have escaped without a scratch.

Manager Zhang laughed. “Seems like you two really are destined to meet.”

Then he turned to Zhou Yichen.

“Miss Tang is offering a very generous contract. Two hundred thousand a month for the first month, three hundred thousand the second, five hundred thousand the third. Your conditions are perfect—unmarried, no girlfriend, no immediate family.”

Zhou Yichen’s expression darkened slightly.

Sensing that her conditions might sound offensive, Tang Xiaoman quickly added, “Mr. Zhou can be an exception.”

Rules were rigid, but people were flexible.

When someone like Zhou Yichen came along—exceptional skills and solid character—other requirements could be loosened.

Manager Zhang grinned. “Then it’s settled. Zhou Yichen will be the first bodyguard hired. Fifteen more to go.”

Zhou Yichen glanced at Tang Xiaoman. In the end, he didn’t refuse.

After being fired again and again, if he missed this opportunity too, he might actually end up unemployed.

—

Tang Xiaoman paid a **one-million-yuan deposit**, and Manager Zhang personally went off to find the remaining fifteen bodyguards.

As the first successful hire, Zhou Yichen naturally stayed by her side to protect her.

Tang Xiaoman gestured for him to sit.

“You were fired because of me.”

It wasn’t a question—it was a statement.

Zhou Yichen didn’t bother hiding it anymore.

“My employer said I meddled in someone else’s business. He complained that I offended the Su family and indirectly offended the Gu family. He told me to go to the Su household and apologize. I refused.”

Tang Xiaoman’s gaze deepened, excitement flickering across her face. She rubbed her hands together eagerly.

“A bodyguard like you—upright, principled, with real integrity—is incredibly rare. Your former employer just couldn’t recognize true talent. His loss.”

If that employer hadn’t been blind, how could she have picked up such a treasure so easily? It saved her the trouble of poaching him.

Zhou Yichen’s mouth twitched faintly.

For some reason, the way she looked at him felt like a predator spotting prey.

—

Tang Xiaoman had no intention of sitting around waiting.

She had already secured Zhou Yichen on this trip and was satisfied with both his abilities and character. She immediately walked out of the manager’s office with him.

“Miss Tang! I’ve found five more bodyguards who meet your requirements. Take a look!” Manager Zhang hurried back, practically running, afraid she might leave.

Tang Xiaoman stopped and looked at the five men he brought over.

All of them were tall and powerfully built, with sharp eyes and neat buzz cuts. They looked promising.

She inspected them one by one and gave a slight nod.

Manager Zhang seized the moment. “Why not take them as well? I’ll keep searching for the rest.”

Every successful hire meant nearly **seven thousand yuan per day in pay**, with the company taking thirty percent and the business manager getting a small commission. And the salary doubled month after month.

Just thinking about the commission made Manager Zhang’s blood boil with excitement. He only regretted that he couldn’t gather enough “lone wolves” immediately.

Tang Xiaoman stated her requirement calmly.

“Besides daytime training, surveillance cameras will also be installed in the dorm rooms at night. Can you accept that?”

The five bodyguards’ expressions changed instantly.

“What? Cameras while we’re sleeping? That’s going too far!”

“That violates our privacy!”

“Are bodyguards not human? Don’t we deserve dignity and personal space?”

Not only the five of them were outraged—even Zhou Yichen’s face darkened.

He was the first to refuse.

“I don’t agree—”

“You’re exempt,” Tang Xiaoman cut him off quickly, blinking at him. “You’re the team leader. You get a private room. No cameras.”

Zhou Yichen: “…”

The five bodyguards grew even more indignant.

“Why the double standard?! Are we not human?”

“He’s already passed the assessment and officially hired,” Tang Xiaoman replied coolly, raising her chin. “You haven’t passed yet. You can be eliminated at any time.”

The moment they heard the word *eliminated*, the room fell silent.

Two hundred thousand a month in the first month. Three hundred thousand in the second. Five hundred thousand in the third…

They used to earn barely ten thousand a month, maybe twenty or thirty thousand if they were considered elite.

Miss Tang was offering too much.

…Fine. Cameras in the dorm it was.

For that kind of salary, giving up some dignity and privacy didn’t seem impossible.

—

With a single visit to the bodyguard company, Tang Xiaoman had successfully **stockpiled six bodyguards**—including Zhou Yichen, whom she had already set her sights on yesterday.

A fruitful haul.

She exchanged contact information with Zhou Yichen, then handed him a bank card and assigned him tasks.

“There’s one million yuan on this card. First, rent a training site for about half a month. Preferably a warehouse or factory near Tianlai Villa. It needs enough space for sixteen bodyguards to train and live in, and also room to store supplies.”

“Then arrange food and lodging for them. Install surveillance cameras in every dorm except yours. Also equip them with a full set of defensive gear… just follow the standards you used in the military. Use this card for all expenses, and keep the receipts.”

“Oh, and rent several vehicles—enough to transport sixteen people. Also set up a bedroom for me. I’ll be living there too.”

Zhou Yichen looked surprised.

“Military-standard equipment?”

Tang Xiaoman smiled faintly.

“If you can get it, buy it. If you can’t… we’ll deal with that later.”

For now, firearms were still tightly regulated.

But when the disasters came, she would find a way.

In the apocalypse, **firearms were essential for survival**.

—