Volume One

Chapter One: An Over-the-Shoulder Throw for the Boss’s Daughter

In the north, February is bitterly cold. Gusts of northern wind mixed with snowflakes can chill you to the bone.

At the train station exit, travelers just off the train are bundled in thick cotton coats, trying to tuck their faces into their collars as much as possible, but still unable to resist the piercing cold wind.

Compared to the chill outside, the inside of the car is clearly a warm little nest. David Clark sat in the Passat, wearing only a thin casual jacket. Compared to those outside shivering in their heavy coats, he was obviously much more comfortable.

Sitting next to David Clark was a man in his fifties, with thinning hair streaked with gray and deep crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, as if carved by a knife. His name was Brian Cooper, David Clark’s boss, who ran a waterproof materials factory and a small sales company. The business wasn’t large, but it had some assets, and David Clark was his driver.

Brian Cooper gazed out the window, looking a bit absent-minded. His tightly furrowed brow never relaxed, and he let out a long sigh from time to time, as if troubled by something difficult.

David Clark lounged with his eyes closed, dozing off. Since the boss was in a bad mood, he didn’t want to risk annoying him. Besides the warmth, the car felt even more stifling than the cold outside.

Suddenly, a shrill phone rang inside the car. Brian Cooper jolted, glanced at the phone, and immediately exclaimed, “Oh no!” He opened the car door and got out, listening to the call while anxiously looking around.

David Clark naturally didn’t meddle in the boss’s affairs and just waited in the car. After a while, the person the boss was waiting for hadn’t arrived, but in the rearview mirror, he saw a woman stealthily approaching Brian Cooper from behind.

She was a young woman, about twenty-three, dressed in a purple down jacket that couldn’t hide her slender waist. The hood was pulled over her head, revealing only a round face and a pair of phoenix eyes fixed intently on Brian Cooper.

Brian Cooper hadn’t said who he was waiting for, but it was likely this woman. David Clark was about to look away when he suddenly saw her raise both arms, a flash of cold light in one hand—apparently some kind of weapon.

Startled, David Clark quickly pushed open the car door and got out. At that moment, the woman suddenly leaped, arms outstretched, lunging at Brian Cooper, her hands reaching straight for his neck.

David Clark charged forward. Before the woman could reach Brian Cooper, he slipped between them, grabbed her wrists, twisted his body, bent down, and with a smooth over-the-shoulder throw, sent her flying. As soon as she hit the ground, he stepped forward, pressed one knee into her lower back, twisted one of her wrists behind her, and smoothly took the object that had flashed with cold light.

“Ah! Dad!” Only then did the woman cry out.

“Dad?” David Clark frowned, immediately realizing his mistake. He quickly jumped up and helped the girl to her feet.

“Fangrui, are you alright?” Brian Cooper rushed over in a panic, anxiously checking over Emily Cooper.

“It hurts! It hurts so much!” Emily Cooper had taken a hard fall—thrown by David Clark, landing heavily on the ground, then having his knee pressed into her lower back and her arm twisted behind her. Every inch of her body ached terribly, and tears welled up in her eyes, almost spilling over.

“Move around a bit, see if your bones are okay,” Brian Cooper said, supporting Emily Cooper, his heart aching for her.

“I don’t know, I... my whole body hurts.” Emily Cooper felt not only pain, but also a deep sense of grievance.

“Mr. Guo, let me check on Miss for you,” David Clark said with a wry smile. He thought to himself, “Why did I meddle today? Even if someone really was trying to attack Brian Cooper, why should I get involved? As the saying goes, the less trouble the better. Now, by interfering, I’ve brought trouble on myself.”

“You... you’re the one who threw me!” As soon as David Clark spoke, Emily Cooper remembered why she was in pain. The culprit was right in front of her, and she glared at David Clark through gritted teeth.

David Clark smiled awkwardly and said, “Miss Guo, I’m really sorry. I thought someone was trying to attack Mr. Guo, so I...”

“What...” Emily Cooper shouted angrily, her hood falling off to reveal a cascade of jet-black hair. Her whole face was now visible to David Clark. Her slightly almond-shaped phoenix eyes were now wide open, and her fair, rosy cheeks trembled with emotion.