The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 6 - 6 6 The Past

6: Chapter 6: His Past

Inside the car, Su Qingyu repeatedly stole glances at Ye Shikai, who sat in the passenger seat. He appeared lost in thought, gazing out the window, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of experiences, a stark contrast to his usual carefree and smiling persona. In Su Qingyu's memory, Ye Shikai had always been an unremarkable individual, perhaps a jester or a bit of a rascal, never one to be serious. She had never witnessed him looking so pensive, his brows furrowed and his expression quite solemn. Even as a prominent figure in the business world, she hesitated to break his reverie. Reflecting on Ye Shikai's earlier words of gratitude, Su Qingyu discerned their sincerity. Her extensive experience in the corporate arena had honed her perception, and she was certain of his genuine feelings. The man beside her seemed far more intricate than she had initially assumed. The cemetery, situated a considerable distance from the city, remained silent throughout their journey, the car enveloped in a quiet atmosphere. After an hour had passed, the vehicle smoothly entered the cemetery grounds. Ye Shikai, holding a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, carefully placed them before a tombstone. "Mom, I've come to visit you." The sight of his mother's gentle smile etched onto the tombstone stirred Ye Shikai's emotions. His father had passed away when he was merely three years old, leaving his mother to raise him alone through immense hardships that only she could truly comprehend. His mother was a kind and upright woman, never one to engage in conflict with others. Yet, Ye Shikai distinctly recalled that it was precisely this honesty that often led to her being mistreated. As a widow, she faced the gossip of malicious neighbors, who accused her of bringing misfortune upon her husband and spread rumors of her having illicit affairs. However, his mother remained undeterred by their words. During her younger years, when her beauty was at its peak, local troublemakers would often harass her. A young and remarkably sensible Ye Shikai, who had already begun self-teaching martial arts with considerable skill, learned of the torment his mother was enduring. In a surge of protective fury, he confronted the bullies and left them incapacitated on the ground. Subsequently, the local gang leader became aware of this incident and insisted on a forced marriage with Ye Shikai's mother, even threatening to set their home ablaze if they refused. Enraged, Ye Shikai stormed the gang's stronghold and single-handedly subdued over twenty men, though he sustained a bloody nose and a battered face in the process. It wasn't until a major crackdown on organized crime by the authorities that his mother was finally spared further harassment. This harrowing experience instilled in Ye Shikai a fierce protective instinct towards his family and illuminated the critical importance of personal strength. During his years abroad, this realization deepened: the merciless law of survival, where the fittest prevail, governed every aspect of life. Ye Shikai clenched his fist, drawing blood, cursing his past helplessness in safeguarding his mother. Later, when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, it was in its nascent stages and potentially treatable. However, the medical expenses were prohibitively high for a family as destitute as Ye Shikai's. He abandoned his studies, dedicating himself entirely to earning money, taking on any job—washing dishes, doing laundry—anything that could generate income. Eventually, these meager earnings proved insufficient to keep pace with the escalating medical bills. He resorted to fighting in underground boxing rings to survive, earning money through his victories. Winning a match could yield several thousand, and there was a particularly brutal form of combat known as "FATAL STRIKE," where participants signed a life-or-death waiver, and only one fighter would emerge alive. The victor received a substantial prize, a savage rule reminiscent of ancient Roman gladiatorial contests. Ye Shikai vividly recalled the moment he signed the life-and-death agreement. A profound hesitation gripped him—victory meant his mother's treatment; defeat meant his own demise, and consequently, his mother's death from her illness. After mere seconds of internal conflict, he signed his name and entered the brutal arena. It was not merely a fight but a desperate struggle for survival. Ye Shikai experienced the precipice of life and death for the very first time. In the end, he poured all his might into a single, decisive FATAL STRIKE to his opponent's chest, narrowly evading the clutches of the Grim Reaper. However, upon arriving at his mother's bedside with the prize money, he was informed that her condition had deteriorated significantly and was beyond any hope of treatment. In that devastating moment, Ye Shikai felt his sanity unravel as he wept uncontrollably beside her. As his mother drew her last breath, her expression remained remarkably serene. Gazing at his mother's image on the tombstone, Ye Shikai's eyes welled up, tears falling onto the ground at his feet. Su Qingyu silently observed him, sensing the depth of his profound grief. She wished to offer him comfort but was unsure of how to proceed. Reaching into her handbag, she retrieved two tissues and offered them to Ye Shikai. Accepting the tissue, Ye Shikai wiped the tears from his face. It took a considerable amount of time for his emotions to gradually subside and for him to regain a semblance of calm.

He turned towards Su Qingyu, suggesting, “Let’s depart.” Su Qingyu then started the vehicle and gradually steered it away from the burial ground.

Concurrently, a sleek black Maserati made its entrance into the cemetery, its trajectory narrowly missing theirs.

The Maserati decelerated to a halt, and a woman, adorned in pristine white attire, emerged from the vehicle.

Her luxuriant tresses cascaded like fine silk, and her refined, fair countenance bore a trace of melancholy, possessing a beauty as captivating and ethereal as the moon goddess, Chang’e.

The elegant white high heels adorning her delicate feet further amplified her aura of purity and grace.

She proceeded towards a gravestone – the final resting place of Ye Shikai’s mother.

“Auntie, Xin has arrived to pay her respects,” the woman announced, placing a bouquet of white chrysanthemums before the tombstone.

A profound sadness imbued her expression, as though the deceased were a cherished member of her own family.

“Auntie, I am truly sorry for failing both you and Shikai,” a sentiment of deep remorse shadowed her features.

Her abrupt departure years prior had inflicted a grievous wound upon the man who had held her heart for eight long years.

Regret consumed her.

Eight years ago, succumbing to familial coercion, she had forsaken him and relocated abroad alone for her studies, leaving him to wait in vain.

Throughout those eight years, his image had been a constant presence in her thoughts, a companion in her solitary existence.

Now, after a span of eight years, she had ascended to the position of Family Head, a mere twenty-five years of age, yet commanding the helm of one of Yanjing’s preeminent clans – the Chen family.

She had attained prestige, fortune, influence, and elevated status, yet the man she adored remained beyond her grasp.

Overwhelmed by sorrow, the woman found herself immersed in a flood of past recollections.

Back then, she was but a fragile young girl, innocent and frequently subjected to torment by her schoolmates, until a fateful encounter with a male student and his retinue who sought to extort money from her.

Her refusal ignited the boy's fury, and he lunged forward, fist raised to strike her.

As she instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for impact, a formidable hand intercepted the descending blow.

“I would like to see who dares lay a hand on her,” a voice, sharp and chilling, commanded, sending tremors of fear through the assembled boys.

Upon opening her eyes, she beheld a slightly lanky young boy standing protectively before her.

The accompanying ruffians charged, only to be swiftly and decisively repelled by the boy, whose actions mirrored those of a valiant prince on horseback.

From that moment, the boy and girl forged a deep and enduring friendship.

Daily, the boy would escort the girl home from school, ensuring her safe return and watching until she was out of sight before departing… In reality, his own residence lay in a different direction; his sole intention was to safeguard her.

Later, the girl discovered the boy's impoverished circumstances, and she offered him unwavering support, preparing homemade lunches for him. This continued until eight years prior, when her parents compelled her to travel abroad, effectively severing her ties with the boy.

The day of her departure was marked by a somber, overcast sky.

Seated within the vehicle, she watched the boy lingering at the school gates, her tears flowing uncontrollably, her cries stifled by grief…

Suddenly, the woman's gaze fell upon another arrangement of white chrysanthemums placed before the tombstone, and a thrill of elation coursed through her.

“It’s him, he has returned,” she whispered. Yet, the effervescent joy swiftly dissipated, replaced by an unyielding wave of sorrow as she gazed into the distance.

“Shikai, will you harbor resentment towards me?”