chapter 15 Apply for security guard

"Then you're mistaken. Your mother and the one from my family have been discussing the idea of you and Isla being together. However, your mother has already decided on your marriage long ago, and she doesn't dare to say anything."
Joe Su continued the conversation, "If what you said is true, and the Li family girl has no chance with you, our two families will become in-laws, and we'll grow even closer."
"Uncle Su, are you trying to pawn off Sister Isla?" Tyrone Qin chuckled, thinking of the little girl in the ink-painted cheongsam and small black leather shoes.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I have the lowest status in our family. How could I presume to arrange things for these two girls?" Joe Su replied with a smile and a playful expression on his face.
He was well aware that the marriage contract between Tyrone Qin and the Li family girl had been arranged by the older generation under specific circumstances. It involved too many factors and couldn't be easily terminated. Even if Tyrone Qin were penniless and the Li family girl was as influential as a queen, the engagement would still be upheld.
However, he had a hunch that neither Tyrone Qin nor the Li family girl, who had already made a name for herself in the business world, were like the typical children in such situations. They might not accept the arrangements without a fight, meaning that if they truly couldn't see eye to eye, they might genuinely break off the engagement.
"Uncle Su, I've come here today to seek your help." After the pleasantries, Tyrone Qin took a sip of the wild mountain tea and got to the point.
"Oh? What can I do for you?" Joe Su was a bit puzzled. In his view, if Tyrone Qin wanted to accomplish something, he wouldn't need to ask for assistance.
"I want to apply for a position as a security guard at Donghai University," Tyrone Qin stated plainly.
"What... did you just say?" Su Wen was taken aback, even suspecting that he had misheard.
"I understand that you have strong principles and disdain some of the corrupt practices in officialdom. I don't want to use any backdoor methods; I just need your guidance on the application process. With my qualifications, I believe I'm well-suited for this role." Tyrone Qin's smile faded as he spoke seriously.
"I've been stationed at a military camp for eight years due to work requirements, unable to visit my family. Given this background, there's no way I could easily secure a security guard position through connections. It would be an understatement!"
Joe Su sighed and then stared at Tyrone Qin's face, which had long shed its youthful mischief. He responded earnestly, "I'll have someone arrange it for you."
"Thank you, Uncle Su!" Tyrone Qin stood up and bowed in gratitude.
"Tyrone, you're welcome." Joe Su let out a soft sigh, aware that there must be a reason why Tyrone Qin had chosen to work as a security guard at Donghai University. But unless Tyrone Qin chose to disclose it, he wouldn't pry.
"By the way, Tyrone, when did you arrive in Donghai?" Su Wen inquired while picking up his tea cup and taking a sip of tea.
"I arrived last night," Tyrone Qin replied as he refilled Joe Su's tea cup.
"Why didn't you come over last night when you arrived?" Joe Su put on a playful expression, pretending that Tyrone Qin had committed a grave error by not immediately coming to Su Garden upon his arrival in the Donghai.
"It was late, so I decided not to come," Tyrone Qin replied with a smile. A peculiar thought crossed his mind: If he had gone directly to Su Garden last night, would Hannah Wang have followed him to cause trouble?
Yes, he firmly believed so.
In his view, if Hannah Wang dared to make a fuss about taking down Tim Zhang, he wouldn't back down just because he was at Su Garden.
"Do you have a place to stay in Donghai?" Joe Su inquired further.
"No, I stayed at a hotel last night," Tyrone Qin responded, shaking his head.
"Well, I have a house in the family compound on the school grounds, and you'll be living there from now on."
Joe Su insisted, "No need to refuse, and no need to be overly polite with me, otherwise, you're not treating me as your uncle."
"I'd rather be respectful than disobedient," Tyrone Qin replied with a mix of amusement and resignation.
"Tyrone, today is the first day of school, and I have a meeting to chair," Su Wen said, smiling. He then glanced at the time and continued, "Let's take my car to the school together. I'll go to the office to give you the house key and arrange your application. We can have dinner together tonight."
"I'll take a taxi on my own," Tyrone Qin declined Joe Su's offer.
He declined for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he knew that Joe Su was a man of high integrity with an excellent reputation in the education system, and he didn't want any minor detail or action to jeopardize Joe Su's reputation.
Secondly, his reason for working as a security guard at Donghai University was to protect Mabel Chen, Steven Chen's sister, and also to investigate the mastermind behind the previous special operations team from Yin Dragon Corp.
"That's up to you, but we're having dinner together tonight," Joe Su agreed, placing the teapot down and starting to pack his things.
Ten minutes later, Joe Su departed from Su Garden in his Audi A6L, while Tyrone Qin left on his own, walking a certain distance before flagging down a taxi to Donghai University.
Donghai University, although not as historically renowned as Fudan University, was still a prestigious institution. Its entrance didn't boast antique architecture; instead, it exuded a modern vibe.
As Tyrone Qin arrived at the university, the entrance was bustling with activity. There were students from modest backgrounds who had traveled great distances to enroll, lugging heavy bags, alongside affluent students who arrived in luxury cars.
Gazing at the grand university gate and the spirited students, Tyrone Qin couldn't help but pause, momentarily lost in thought. Once upon a time, he too had eagerly anticipated college life and imagined how he would spend his four years there. He even discussed with his compound friends how they would promote national unity by exchanging different regional foods from all fifty-six ethnic groups. That year, he was sixteen, full of rebellion and arrogance.
That year, he broke the leg of a certain older brother, which escalated the incident and nearly sparked a conflict between the two families.
The incident had made headlines in both government circles and the public sphere. However, the elderly head of the Qin Family, who had always doted on him, didn't subject him to any punishment—no scolding, no reproach. Instead, he had made the decision to send him off to a military camp.
Time flowed like a river. In the blink of an eye, eight years had passed. People had changed, and circumstances were no longer the same.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Tyrone Qin didn't know how long he had been lost in his memories, but suddenly, a stern voice broke his reverie. A uniformed security guard, holding an electric baton, fixed an unkind gaze upon him.
The beginning of the school year and holidays were the most stressful times for security guards each year. The influx of students and parents led to a higher risk of traffic accidents at the school gate. More significantly, thieves would take advantage of this period to infiltrate and steal from the students.
Two years ago, a rural student had his hard-earned tuition fees, accumulated by his parents through farming and selling vegetables, stolen right at the gates of Donghai University. Unable to bear the loss, he had tragically taken his own life by jumping from a building.
This incident had caused a nationwide sensation, prompting the public security department and the education system to launch a joint campaign against theft on campuses.
Since then, universities across the country began to place a strong emphasis on safety during enrollment periods.
At this very moment, Tyrone Qin was regarded as a suspect by the security guard, deemed a potential thief.
First of all, Tyrone Qin didn't look like a student or a parent.
Furthermore, his eyes seemed to be constantly scanning the surroundings, giving off the impression that he was searching for a target.
"Hello, I'm here to apply for a job."
Tyrone Qin responded with a smile when the security guard's question reached his ears.
"Applying?" The security guard scrutinized Tyrone Qin. "What position are you applying for?"
"Same as you—a security guard," Tyrone Qin replied.
"A security guard?"
The security guard raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and shook his electric baton. "Kid, your fabricated story is at least somewhat believable. But this year, the school isn't hiring security guards. So where exactly are you trying to apply for such a position?"
"Well... I heard from Principal Su that the school is hiring security guards."
Tyrone Qin admitted with some embarrassment. Although he had initially aimed to avoid using connections, based on the current situation, it appeared he had still used them. The school wasn't actually hiring security guards, and he hadn't even had a chance to apply.
"How did someone as significant as Principal Su even talk to you? Why didn't you claim you heard it from the chairman? Seriously, you could've at least used some common sense when making up a story."
The security guard squinted, surveyed Tyrone Qin from head to toe, delivered a sarcastic comment, then waved his electric baton menacingly while issuing a warning. "You'd better know what's good for you. Leave now, or else I'll catch you stealing and let you experience the electric baton firsthand before sending you to jail!"
"Mr. Qin."
Just as the security guard finished his warning, a voice with an exceptionally respectful tone called out from up ahead.