Start by Spending One Billion [Entertainment Industry]-Chapter 135

Jiang Lu's presence at Xing Mang has always been something of an enigma.

He naturally blends into the background, quietly safeguarding Sheng Quan without drawing attention.

Though Xing Mang has many employees, only a handful have noticed the tall figure always shadowing Chairman Sheng.

Sheng Quan once asked Jiang Lu, "Brother Jiang, you have a position at the security company too. You’d have better prospects there than by my side. Are you really not going?"

Jiang Lu only shook his head in silence, his actions making it clear—he wanted to stay with Sheng Quan.

Sheng Quan often felt that someone with his skills was wasted merely being her bodyguard.

But he never saw it that way.

In the first half of his life, he had crawled through mud, lain under gunfire, knelt in the blood of his comrades, and walked away under the worried gaze of his superiors.

Jiang Lu had experienced much. He hadn’t always been adrift.

There was a time he believed he could stay in the military forever.

Jiang Lu embodied every positive stereotype of a soldier—righteous, upright, resilient, dependable. Such traits might seem out of place elsewhere, but in the army, they fit perfectly.

Back then, Jiang Lu was full of sharp edges. Young, with a future ahead, surrounded by like-minded comrades and led by a sergeant who genuinely cared for them, he had only needed to charge forward.

Jiang Lu feared nothing. No matter how dangerous the mission, he was certain he could complete it.

Until his comrades began falling one by one.

When Hezi, shielding him, collapsed in a pool of blood, Jiang Lu was overwhelmed by fear.

Cradling his comrade, he listened to the ragged, dying breaths.

They had once joked that when their time came, they’d deliver lengthy last words. But when the moment arrived, Hezi had no strength left to speak.

Only the faint rise and fall of his chest told Jiang Lu he was still alive.

Yet his training told him otherwise—in ten minutes, Hezi would be gone.

He begged him not to die, desperately trying to carry him to safety.

But in the end, he felt Hezi’s life slip away, bit by bit.

Then, he was gone.

Jiang Lu stayed in the dense forest with his comrade’s body for three days and nights.

Even when found, he refused to let go.

What followed were endless nightmares.

Jiang Lu left the military.

He sent his discharge pay and benefits to the families of his fallen comrades.

After that, he wandered aimlessly.

Truthfully, he barely remembered what he did or where he went during that time. His memories were a blur.

The driving job at the hotel was just something he stumbled into—or perhaps, a feeble attempt to pull himself together.

On the job, he encountered all kinds of people.

Polite, arrogant, cheerful, stern—but these "bosses" shared one trait: none paid him, a mere driver, any mind.

Not that Jiang Lu minded. He hardly paid himself any mind either.

Until the day the hotel assigned him to drive Sheng Quan.

A ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‍young woman.

Jiang Lu didn’t observe her closely, but details about her drifted to him anyway.

Rich kid.

Only 23.

Alone.

No one contacted her.

Even long removed from danger, Jiang Lu, who had seen too much malice, frowned.

A young heiress, traveling alone, flashing cash, with no elders in Shanghai—word got out, and trouble would follow.

Even in a city like Shanghai, with cameras everywhere, he instinctively scanned their surroundings. Poverty bred desperation, even here.

Fortunately, Miss Sheng seemed cautious. She avoided secluded areas, mostly stayed at the hotel, and when she went out, it was to crowded places.

But Jiang Lu still noticed someone tailing her.

Were they sizing her up? Digging for information? Or just planning a shake-down?

Their movements were careful—professionals, likely.

Jiang Lu didn’t deliberate. On his day off, he tracked the trio, caught them mid-theft, and hauled them to the police.

They recognized him and stayed silent throughout. Afterward, he reported it to the hotel manager, who panicked and launched a full security review.

From then on, Miss Sheng’s outings were shadow-free.

She never found out. Back then, he worried it might scare her.

Later, of course, he learned Miss Sheng wasn’t easily frightened. Had she known, she’d have just hired a squad of bodyguards on the spot.

But Jiang Lu didn’t know that then.

He hadn’t meddled in others’ affairs for a long time. Before, he’d have just warned the employer and left it at that—not taken action himself out of concern.

Why did he this time?

Maybe because Miss Sheng was so full of life.

Even the way she called him was bright and lively—

"Brother Jiang, want some fruit?"

"Brother Jiang, you’re coming on this business trip too?"

"Brother Jiang, you even packed this? So reliable!"

Jiang Lu was often silent, but Miss Sheng always had something to say.

He sometimes wondered if, in her eyes, the world was entirely beautiful—and every bit of beauty deserved celebration.

Miss Sheng loved mundane little things—sunbathing, binge-watching shows, wandering the hotel.

Yet she always found joy in them:

"Brother Jiang, look how pretty these flowers are."

"The weather’s perfect today."

"This song’s amazing—here, have a listen."

And so, Jiang Lu ended up with a bouquet.

He basked in the same warm sunlight.

Through shared earphones, he heard cheerful music.

Miss Sheng adored beautiful creations.

She tirelessly nurtured all kinds of projects, and when they came to life, she’d be the first to admire them—often dragging others along.

Proudly, she’d ask, "Brother Jiang, what do you think? Pretty great, huh?"

Jiang Lu would nod. "It is."

And Miss Sheng’s smile would widen.

Day by day, Jiang Lu felt lighter.

The nightmares faded.

In their place were the little surprises Miss Sheng constantly unearthed in daily life.

She seemed inexhaustible—rarely tired, always eager to explore and conquer the world.

Her compassion, her ambitions for Xing Mang, her love for her country, her hopes for the future—Jiang Lu saw it all.

Of course, Miss Sheng had her willful moments too.

Most of the time, she wouldn’t consult those around her before making a decision. Once her mind was set, she would immediately strive to achieve her goal.

And so, Jiang Lu quietly followed her.

He trailed behind her, witnessing mountains and rivers, snow-capped peaks and ocean waves.

They climbed high peaks and crossed towering buildings.

His presence remained subtle, yet he was always there.

Silent but steadfast, he took a step back, watching as Miss Sheng climbed higher and higher.

And he would always protect her.

Jiang Lu had just finished practicing a set of martial arts forms. He stood up, wiping away the sweat. Beads of perspiration dotted his hair before falling naturally, while his dampened clothes clung to the faint outlines of his well-defined muscles.

Behind him, Xu Man and Lin Aike, who had finished their melon and moved on to grapes, couldn’t help but exclaim, "Wow!"

Though they kept their voices low, Jiang Lu immediately turned his head sharply toward them. Only when he saw who it was did he nod silently in acknowledgment.

Xu Man and Lin Aike grew even more excited. "Wow!"

Jiang Lu gave them a puzzled glance before finishing wiping his sweat and walking ahead.

Just then, Sheng Quan came downstairs and called out to him,

"Jiang Lu, let’s go back."

"Alright."