Chapter 14 – Closing the Door to Beat the Dog

After Su Rou’s reminder, Gu Heng immediately grew wary.

After some thought, he decided, “Give Lu Jingming a few days off for now. Once the people I sent manage to capture Tang Xiaoman, I’ll decide whether to fire him.”

—

After filling her stomach, Tang Xiaoman returned to the department store to continue her shopping spree.

This time she focused on personal care products: skincare sets, shampoo, body wash, handmade soaps, facial cleansers, bar soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary pads of every brand and size, serums, lotions, face creams, night creams, hand creams, luxury face masks—anything and everything.

Since she bought so much, she tipped the clerks again and had them carry everything to her vehicle.

Tang Xiaoman closed the tinted windows, preparing to transfer everything into her space.

Out of habit, she glanced at the rearview mirror.

A shadow flashed by.

After being ambushed once before, her instincts immediately connected the dots.

Looks like Gu Heng still wasn’t willing to give up. Even after losing Shu Jia, he was still trying to make a move.

Tang Xiaoman let out a cold laugh and drove out of the underground parking lot.

Sure enough, a van followed closely behind her.

Pretending not to notice, she drove straight toward the club.

After parking, she called Zhou Yichen.

“I’m being followed. They’re probably planning something. Get the brothers ready—close the door and beat the dog.”

—

Tang Xiaoman walked into the closed-down club.

The suspicious men followed her inside. Seeing the place deserted and silent, they immediately made their move.

But the moment they covered her mouth—

More than a dozen people rushed out from every direction and tackled them to the ground, beating them fiercely.

The bodyguards had just started the job and were eager to prove themselves. Their punches landed especially hard.

The men were beaten miserably, howling and begging for mercy.

Only then did Tang Xiaoman wave her hand, signaling them to stop.

“Who sent you?” she asked.

The men were nearly beaten senseless. They wanted to keep their mouths shut—but then a large dog suddenly rushed out.

The vicious-looking animal bared its teeth under the lights, looking ready to tear off a chunk of flesh.

The men immediately panicked.

“It—it was Mr. Gu! Gu Heng sent us!”

—

The police arrived soon after.

Coincidentally, the young officer who came along was the same one from before.

He stared at her with wide eyes.

“Why is it you again?!”

Tang Xiaoman smiled brightly.

“Looks like fate keeps bringing us together.”

The young officer: “…”

Tang Xiaoman glanced at his badge—653973.

Meeting three times in a row really did feel like fate.

Zhou Yichen provided surveillance footage showing the men following Tang Xiaoman and attempting to kidnap her.

However, the officer in charge looked suspiciously at the dozen bodyguards gathered there—men and women alike.

“Who are you people? What are you doing here?”

Tang Xiaoman stepped forward to answer.

“Because Gu Heng keeps hiring people to kidnap me. Su Ke even set a dog on me and tried to kill me with a gun and a knife. So I hired a few more bodyguards for protection.”

The explanation was perfectly reasonable.

Then she asked again,

“By the way, weren’t Su Ke and Gu Heng still in detention? How is Gu Heng already out causing trouble again?”

The officer looked slightly embarrassed.

“Well… I’ll have to check when I get back before I can tell you.”

In truth, he knew very well.

Su Ke had been released on medical parole, and Gu Heng had been granted bail. Only the unlucky assistant Shu Jia was still detained.

What he hadn’t expected was that Gu Heng would be so brazen—continuing to commit crimes while out on bail.

This time, no one would be able to save him.

Seeing the officer eager to leave, Tang Xiaoman refused to let the matter drop.

“Officer, if I want updates about the people who tried to harm me, should I contact you?” she asked, holding up her phone.

The officer immediately looked nervous.

“I’m pretty busy. You can ask someone else.”

Tang Xiaoman pointed at the young officer.

“Can I ask Officer 653973?”

“Sure!” the officer replied quickly, patting the young policeman on the shoulder before ordering the suspects loaded into the police car.

“Officer, leave me your contact info,” Tang Xiaoman said, blocking the young policeman’s path.

With his superior and teammates already gone, the young officer reluctantly left his phone number before escaping.

As he got into the patrol car, he added,

“Your Good Samaritan award is under review. The results should come within a week.”

Tang Xiaoman wasn’t satisfied yet.

“Remember to help me check what happens to Gu Heng, Su Ke, and Shu Jia—the three people who tried to harm me.”

The police car sped away with its sirens wailing.

Tang Xiaoman was certain—

Gu Heng was in serious trouble this time.

He had underestimated her twice in a row. Getting burned was entirely his own fault.

—

The bodyguards had protected their employer well. After reviewing the surveillance footage, Tang Xiaoman praised them one by one.

“Woof!”

Fu Bao barked loudly, declaring that he deserved credit too.

Tang Xiaoman patted his head and pulled a steaming roasted duck leg from her bag.

The dog wagged his tail happily as he accepted the reward.

Counting the team, Tang Xiaoman raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“We’ve already got ten people?”

Zhou Yichen replied, “Manager Zhang sent four more bodyguards today. He promised the remaining ones will arrive within three days.”

Tang Xiaoman glanced at the newcomers.

Three of the four were women.

Her lips twitched.

Looks like Manager Zhang had stopped caring about gender just to fill the quota.

Fine.

Female bodyguards were still bodyguards.

Even if their combat strength was generally weaker, they could stay as long as they were capable enough.

Besides, there were some tasks where female bodyguards might actually be more convenient.

—

Tang Xiaoman’s bedroom was on the third floor.

The furniture was simple, but the bedding was pure cotton, and the bathroom was stocked with brand-new towels, bathrobes, and toiletries.

Toothpaste, toothbrushes, face towels, rinse cups—everything was unopened and neatly prepared.

Tang Xiaoman was extremely satisfied with Zhou Yichen’s work.

He hadn’t disappointed her.

Since she had only planned to rent the place for half a month, he had bought simple furniture.

But for her bedding, he had chosen high-quality cotton brands. Even her daily necessities were genuine name-brand products.

A smart and considerate man.

And his combat skills were excellent too.

Tang Xiaoman felt like she had struck gold.

Before going to sleep, she transferred 100,000 yuan to Zhou Yichen with the note: **Bonus**.

Before she could even turn off the lights, the money was transferred back.

“I just started the job. No need for a bonus yet,” Zhou Yichen replied.

Tsk. What an honest guy.

Tang Xiaoman didn’t argue further.

“How’s Fu Bao?”

“He’s in my room.”

After a short pause, he added,

“Should I bring him over?”

“No need. Let Fu Bao stay with you for now,” Tang Xiaoman replied, satisfied with the arrangement. “Train him into a high-level war dog. I have more important things to focus on.”

She shut down her phone, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

—

Tang Xiaoman slept peacefully.

But someone else was destined for a sleepless night.

The men Gu Heng had sent to kidnap Tang Xiaoman had all been arrested—and they had confessed.

So Gu Heng was hauled back to the police station once again.

Now that he had been arrested a second time, his crimes had only grown heavier. This time, he was in serious trouble.

The Gu family was in chaos.

The Su family was in chaos as well.

They pulled every string they had, throwing money around like falling snow, exhausting every connection they possessed.

After two full days of frantic effort, they finally received a message from above—

**Gu Heng could only be released on bail if the victim signed a letter of forgiveness.**