Chapter Forty-Eight: What Do You Count As

"Self-defense is legal?" Yang Jiekai asked with a mischievous expression.

Lin Sha was well aware of the dirty thoughts swirling in his mind, but she was too embarrassed to call him out, so she pretended not to understand the term, her cheeks flushed as she replied, "Of course it's legal!"

Yang Jiekai chuckled, then turned to the group of security guards and announced, "You all heard that, right? Assistant Lin said self-defense is legal. Alright, brothers, let’s go defend ourselves!"

"Self-defense, self-defense, ha ha…" The security guards burst out laughing, their voices tinged with amusement, and turned to march forward in a grand procession.

"Wait!" Lin Sha saw that her words were falling on deaf ears. "Did you not hear what I said?"

Yang Jiekai looked back and replied, "We heard you. You said self-defense is legal. Wu Daode is up ahead with people ready to beat me up, so of course I have to go defend myself. Self-defense is great—good for beauty, health, even wrinkle removal…"

"Enough!" Lin Sha had no patience for this rogue’s nonsense. She frowned slightly and asked, "You said the head of the Security Department, Wu Daode, is waiting up ahead to attack you?"

Yang Jiekai nodded. "What else? I’m not bored enough to seek him out for self-defense. Even if I wanted to, he’d be the last person I’d pick!"

"Do you have any proof?" Lin Sha ignored his smirk, realizing something was off, and pressed him.

Yang Jiekai feigned fainting, then looked at her and said, "Assistant Lin, do we really need proof for this? By the time we get evidence, it'll be too late. If you don’t believe me, just come with us and see for yourself. But let me warn you: when it’s time to defend yourself, you’re on your own—I won’t be able to help!"

"Scoundrel!" Lin Sha finally couldn’t hold back, her cheeks burning as she cursed him, glaring fiercely. "Fine, I’ll go with you. If things are as you say, I’ll fire Wu Daode on the spot. But if you’re lying, you and your friends will go to HR tomorrow and submit your resignations!"

Yang Jiekai shrugged, said nothing, and whistled as he led the group away.

Lin Sha hesitated for a moment, then clenched her teeth and followed. She usually drove to and from work, but today her car had been borrowed at the last minute, so she’d planned to take a taxi home—never expecting to stumble into this situation.

They walked along the road in front of Silkbud Group for a while, then reached a corner with an alley entrance. Qin Feng, leading the group, suddenly raised his hand to signal them to stop, and said in a low voice, "Alright, brothers—full alert!"

A sneaky head peeked out from the alley, spotted Yang Jiekai and the others, then quickly withdrew. Anyone with a bit of sense could see trouble ahead—likely someone from Wu Daode’s side.

"Wu, stop hiding—come out! We’re waiting for you!" Qin Feng shouted toward the alley.

The security guards behind him gripped their makeshift weapons tightly; claiming not to be afraid would be a lie. Everyone in the security department knew Wu Daode had some shady background.

As Qin Feng finished speaking, a dozen people surged out from the alley, led by Wu Daode himself, dressed in a checkered shirt.

Wu Daode glanced at Yang Jiekai, then swept his gaze over Qin Feng and the others, sneering, "Are you all tired of living? Want to stick your necks out for this new brat?"

Qin Feng replied sharply, "Wu, I’ve been sick of you for ages. If you dare touch Yang Jiekai today, you’ll have to get through me first!"

"Well, well, Qin Feng! Didn’t expect that from you." Wu Daode was unimpressed. Though his numbers weren’t overwhelming, he felt the security guards lacked the guts, and his own men—friends from the street—would ensure he wouldn’t lose.

"You’re loyal, I’ll give you that. Here’s your chance: why not join me in the future?" Wu Daode looked at Yang Jiekai, then said to Qin Feng, "If you slap this kid hard for me now, you can work with me. I’ll make sure you live well in the security department!"

"Cut the crap. Work with you? Who do you think you are?" Qin Feng stood tall, showing no fear.

"Qin Feng, you bastard! Brothers, get him!" Wu Daode, furious at being disrespected, called his men to attack Qin Feng.

Just then, Lin Sha, who had been standing at the back, realized the seriousness of the situation, squeezed through the crowd, and shouted, "Stop! Wu Daode, what do you think the company security department is? This isn’t your house, nor a bandit den!"

The crowd had been tight, and Wu Daode hadn’t expected Lin Sha to be there, so he hadn’t noticed her until she stepped forward. He was startled, then quickly put on a fawning smile. "Oh, Assistant Lin, you’re here! I must have been blind, didn’t see you before. We’re just horsing around, wouldn’t turn the company into a bandit den, ha ha…"

"Horsing around?" Lin Sha snorted, eyeing the dozen shady-looking men behind Wu Daode. "Leaving your post during work hours, harassing female employees, disappearing without cause for a whole day, now consorting with thugs and planning to assault company staff—Wu Daode, what do you think should be done?"

"Bitch, who are you calling a thug?" A gaudily-haired man behind Wu Daode stepped forward, steel pipe in hand, threatening Lin Sha.

Lin Sha ignored him, used to commanding from above, and continued to glare at Wu Daode coldly. "Wu Daode, I’m officially notifying you: you’re fired. Go to HR tomorrow and complete your resignation."

"Assistant Lin, please, it was just a moment of confusion. Give me another chance…" Wu Daode pleaded, desperate not to lose his job.

"Wu, why bother pleading with her? Didn’t you hear her call us all thugs?" the colored-haired youth sneered at Wu Daode.

Wu Daode quickly tried to placate him, "Brother Huang, let’s not make trouble today—my treat for drinks later…"

The youth called Brother Huang finally turned away, saying coldly, "Fine, for Brother Hu’s sake, I’ll let it go this time."

"Thank you, Brother Huang." Wu Daode turned back to Lin Sha, begging, "Assistant Lin, please let me off just this once?"

Lin Sha remained unmoved. "The company has its rules. Collect last month’s salary tomorrow and leave."

"Assistant Lin, please—"

Lin Sha cut him off, her voice icy. "Enough. There’s nothing more to say. Breaking company rules means facing the consequences."

The group behind Wu Daode looked at him with contempt as he bowed and scraped. Seeing Lin Sha unmoved despite his repeated pleas, and under so many watching eyes, Wu Daode finally snapped, furious. "Lin Sha, you really think you’re something? You think I’m scared of you?"

Lin Sha smirked. "What, do you dare hit me?"

Now that Wu Daode had burned his bridges, he had no qualms left toward her, snarling, "I’ll tell you straight—I don’t care about the security chief’s job. That salary isn’t even worth my time. I was respectful before because it let me profit from the position. Remember the missing batch of raw materials? That was me!"

"What?" Lin Sha’s face changed. "You mean the batch of raw materials that disappeared mysteriously—that was you?"

Wu Daode nodded, sneering. "Of course. You think I’d be interested in the security department salary? Truth is, I’ve done this more than once. Anything missing from the company is usually my doing."

"So it was you!" Lin Sha bit her lip. Silkbud Group had suffered several unexplained losses in recent years, with no leads—now it was clear there was an inside thief.

"Wu Daode, that’s theft! I’m calling the police!" Lin Sha pulled out her phone to report him.

Yang Jiekai sighed inwardly. This girl really is naïve, he thought. Her life has been too easy; she doesn’t understand how the world works.

Sure enough, as Yang Jiekai anticipated, Wu Daode, having confessed so openly, obviously had no intention of letting Lin Sha call the police. As soon as she took out her phone, Wu Daode slapped it out of her hand, smashing it to pieces on the ground.

"Wu Daode, what are you doing?" Lin Sha was enraged, still unaware of the gravity of the situation.

Wu Daode grinned wickedly. "What am I doing? Doing you!" He stepped forward, his face twisted with malice. "Bitch, I’ve put up with you long enough. You don’t respect kindness, so don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

He beckoned to his men. "Brothers, since you came all this way, you shouldn’t leave empty-handed. This bitch is our company’s queen—let’s see what she’s like to play with!"

His cronies’ eyes lit up, openly sizing up Lin Sha’s tall figure, their expressions full of lecherous anticipation.

Only now did Lin Sha realize things were not as simple as she’d thought. Facing this pack of beasts, she retreated two steps in fear. "You… what are you doing? I warn you, you’d better not do anything stupid, or… or…"

"Heh, or what? Bitch?" Wu Daode had already grabbed her wrist.

Lin Sha struggled desperately but couldn’t break free, her voice trembling. "Or I’ll call the police!"

"Call the police?" Wu Daode laughed heartily. "Go ahead—if you still have the strength later. Come over here!"

He tried to pull her toward him, but suddenly found his hand locked in a vise-like grip. A lazy voice sounded behind him.

"Wu, do you think I don’t exist?"

Wu Daode tried to shake free, but the hand on his arm was like iron, unmoving. Furious, he barked, "Yang Jiekai, mind your own business! Your problems aren’t over yet—let me deal with this bitch first, then I’ll handle you!"