Chapter 7 I'll Be Your Guardian

"What's your phone number?" Spencer asked as he stepped out of the ward.

"I can't give it to you. I don't have a cellphone," Fiona replied nonchalantly.

"You don't have a cellphone? How do you contact people then?" Spencer stared at Fiona suspiciously.

"I'm the only child left in the Ji family. I don't really have anyone to call."

"Seriously?" Spencer squinted. He felt his anger rising up in his chest but quickly stopped himself. "You're such a smooth talker."

"Thanks to you. Spencer, we'll be spending a lot of time together. You should try not to hate me too much. In case you forgot, my father saved your father's life. You have no reason to hate me."

"Nonsense! It's natural for people like them to sacrifice in the battlefield!" Spencer's eyes burned with anger.

"You are so stubborn." Fiona glanced at Spencer's sullen face before she shook her head and left.

"Who said you can go?" Spencer grabbed Fiona's wrist and threw her against the wall. With his face only inches away from hers, he said through gritted teeth, "You are such a disobedient girl!"

Fiona could feel a dull pain in her back.

"I am not your subordinate!" Fiona tried to fight back. "I don't need to listen to you!"

"Really? From now on, I'm your guardian," Spencer declared. "And I have the right to discipline you."

"What makes you think you can do that?" Frustration rose in Fiona's mind.

"Because I'm your fiance," replied Spencer. With a sigh, he looked up dramatically. "Alas, it's really troublesome to marry a young girl. It seems like I'd have to act like her parent too."

"You don't have to do it."

"I promised Grandpa that I will take good care of you!" The smile on Spencer's face disappeared. He stood up and started leaving. "Buy a cellphone. Trust me. You'll need it."

He left after saying that. His black boots clicked against the marble floor as he walked away.

Fiona took a deep breath, her hands sweating. Confronting Spencer took such a huge mental toll on her.

But she did need a cellphone.

The next day, Fiona left her house early. She took her sketchpad, paper, and pencils with her.

"Victor, please take me to a mobile phone shop. I'll buy a cellphone and then roam around a bit. I want to find some inspiration to draw. I haven't done it in a while," said Fiona.

"Fiona, Mr. Cheng asked me to protect you."

"I don't need protection," Fiona quipped. "I can protect myself."

"Fiona, I only follow Mr. Cheng's orders."

Fiona was speechless. "Okay, give me your phone then," she remarked. "I'll call Grandpa and tell him myself!"

"Okay."

Victor dialed the number. "Hello, Mr. Cheng. Fiona wants to talk to you," he said over the phone. He then turned to Fiona to hand her the phone.

"Thank you." Fiona took the phone from him. "Hi, Grandpa!"

"Hey, Fiona, what's up?"

"Grandpa, I want to go out today. Could you please tell Victor to leave me alone for a bit? I don't like him hovering around me. I can protect myself," said Fiona sweetly.

"No way. I will never allow that. You just arrived here. You are not familiar with this place."

"Grandpa," Fiona sighed. "I'm not a child anymore. I'll be fine."

Wayne paused to consider. "Okay, I know. Take care of yourself."

"Alright. Thank you." Fiona flashed Victor a victorious smile as she handed him his phone back.

"Okay, Mr. Cheng." Victor hung up and turned to look at Fiona. "Alright. Let me send you to the nearby mobile phone store."

In the ward, Spencer was standing beside his grandpa's bed. He could hear the conversation between Wayne and Fiona.

"Didn't I ask you to go out on a date with Fiona?" Wayne asked and put the phone aside. "Why did she go out herself?"

"I don't have time. It's Monday tomorrow. I'm leaving this afternoon." Spencer began to peel an apple.

"You're such a stubborn boy!" Wayne shook his head. "Take Fiona with you. She wants to do sketches. The scenery where you work is great."

"Our base is full of men. What do you want her to do in there?" Spencer asked with a frown.

"She is your fiancee! If you don't date her, then how am I supposed to get a great-grandson?"

Smiling, Spencer handed the peeled apple to his grandpa. "Grandpa, eat this apple. I'm going to take Fiona to the base and won't let her disappear from my sight. I'll take her with me during the training too."

"You bastard! How dare you! Let her take a ride when you're training."

Spencer chuckled. "I'm leaving, Grandpa." He stood up and walked out of the ward. When he reached the door, he turned to look at his grandpa. "When I come back next week, it will be time for you to leave the hospital."

Johnson Sun, Spencer's assistant, was patiently waiting outside the ward. When he saw his superior come out, he greeted him with a salute.

The smile on Spencer's face had completely disappeared. It was replaced by a stern and cold expression. "Let's go," he ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Johnson followed promptly. One moment ago, Spencer was laughing heartily with his grandpa. But the moment he stepped out of the ward, all laughter from his eyes disappeared. No wonder they called him "moody" in private.

"We need to pick someone up first," Spencer said.

"Yes, sir!" Johnson Sun had questions in his head, but he couldn't do anything about them. He just nodded politely and agreed. Who were they going to pick up?

In one of the busiest streets in the M City. Fiona got out of the car to buy herself a cellphone. As she stepped out of the car, her eyes were caught by an advertisement on the bus stop ahead of her.

"ZR Company's jewelry design competition is about to begin. We invite you all to participate. The champion will receive a million dollars and will become a member of our company. No fancy education is needed. What are you waiting for? Join now and fulfill your dreams."

Fiona began to write down all the information in the advertisement. She decided to take part in the competition.

A young man in his twenties sat in a black car across the road, staring at Fiona, who was in front of the bus station.

"Mr. Wen, what are you looking at?" the driver asked the young man.

Fiona finished writing down the information. Her lips were pressed slightly and her eyes shone with eagerness.

"Andrew," the young man said softly. "looks like someone saw our advertisement."

"Mr. Wen, many people have seen our advertisement. Several hundred people have already signed up for the competition."

"Oh? Really?" the young man replied flatly, his eyes still gazing at Fiona. He was about to say something when he noticed her walking away.

His expression changed. He rolled down the window and began to look for her among the crowds.

"Mr. Wen, what are you looking at? Aren't we leaving yet?"

"Yes, we're leaving!" The young man sighed silently and leaned back in resignation. 'We will meet again. I won't forget you,' he thought to himself.

As she walked along the street, Fiona did some calculations in her head. She had little money left. If she won the competition, she wouldn't have to worry about money and her future job.

The idea thrilled her. She finally had a way to turn her dreams into reality.

Spencer got out of the fancy SUV, folded his arms and waited for Fiona.

'So I had to park the car here just because Spencer is waiting for that girl?' Johnson wondered. He found Fiona to be a very beautiful girl. 'Could she be Spencer's sister?'

"What are you laughing at, Fiona?"

Spencer called out to Fiona, who was walking towards him absently. "Are you really pretending not to see me?"

Hearing the voice, Fiona stopped in her tracks and looked up. The smile on her face faded. "What are you doing here?"

Spencer raised his eyebrows in response.

"Oh my God! He's so handsome!"

"He looks so manly!"

The crowd whispered around them. Spencer furrowed his eyebrows, trying his best to ignore the muttering. He walked towards Fiona and grabbed her by the arm. "Let's go to the base," he said.

"Are you crazy?" Fiona struggled desperately.

"If you don't want to be carried on my shoulder in such a busy street, then quit struggling and just go with me," Spencer warned. He just wanted to get in the car and leave as soon as possible. He did not want to attract the public's attention.

"Why should I go to the base with you?" Fiona asked.

Spencer dropped her in the car's back seat, while he himself got in the passenger seat. "I'm your guardian. You have to listen to me." When everyone was settled, Spencer ordered Johnson to drive the car.

"Yes, sir!"

"Hey!" Fiona reached out to open the door, but stopped when the car started to move.

"Just quit struggling! I don't want to deal with a girl like you." Spencer gave Fiona a cold stare.

"What on earth are you trying to do?" Fiona asked hysterically.

"I'll take you to the base. It's a date!" Spencer replied, stressing the last word.

Johnson pursed his lips. 'Great news!' he thought!

"How dare you!"

"It's Grandpa's order," interrupted Spencer. "You have no choice."

"I haven't even bought a phone!"

Spencer adjusted himself in his seat and snorted, "Women are so troublesome!"

Fiona decided to give up. She knew fighting wouldn't get her anywhere. She turned her head to look out the window.

The car was quiet as it ran towards the west. Johnson drove steadily, and Spencer had a good sleep.

Feeling bored, Fiona took out the sketchpad and started to paint.

She signed the painting and affixed the date on it. After, she wrote "Let it be!" on it.