"Of course, I won't be polite. You're a rich man!" Doyle George said, not even looking up after hearing Jiang Hai's words.
But Connorson, who was sitting beside him, paused for a moment, then put down his fork.
"What? Not to your taste?" Jiang Hai asked, confused by his sudden change.
"No, it's delicious, really delicious," Connorson quickly assured him, "But I'm not here to eat steak, Mr. Jiang Hai. You've begged me twice. I, Connorson, don't have much money, nor any special skills—just a hardworking body. So, I want to repay you!" Connorson spoke earnestly, but as soon as he finished, the table fell silent.
Bernice looked at Connorson in surprise, then at Jiang Hai, and the look she gave him made Jiang Hai feel rather awkward.
However, Jiang Hai didn't have time to focus on her, because after Connorson's statement, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. Could this big guy be interested in him? If he was going to profess love, surely it would be to a beautiful woman. What was this about?
"Well, I don't seek any rewards," Jiang Hai replied after a few seconds of silence, forcing a smile.
"No, it's up to you whether you accept my gratitude, but how I repay the favor is up to me," Connorson said seriously. His brain wasn't the sharpest, but he wasn't backing down now.
"But I really don't need it…" Jiang Hai said, looking directly at Connorson. He didn't care if he hurt his feelings—Jiang Hai wasn't interested in men. He was straight, and no amount of pressure could change that.
"Wait, Jiang Hai, you may have misunderstood Connorson. He doesn't mean what you think. He's not interested in men or women. What he means by repaying a favor is just literal—nothing more," Doyle George said, wiping his sweat. He could explain this better than anyone, having known Connorson for a while. Hearing this, Jiang Hai opened his mouth, unsure of what to say next.
"Some people have really dirty minds," Bernice said, picking up a piece of steak while making an exaggerated motion. She had no idea who had reacted so strongly earlier.
"Dirty minds, huh… But still, I really don't need him to repay any favors!" Jiang Hai said, scratching his head as he looked at Connorson. If it weren't for Azarina, Connorson would've made a fine bodyguard.
But with Azarina and Bell around, Jiang Hai didn't need Connorson as a bodyguard anymore.
Moreover, Connorson had no skills in fishing or herding, which didn't add much value for Jiang Hai.
"Hey, I think you probably understand Connorson's situation. Instead of letting him go out and be used by bad people to die on the streets, it's better to let him follow you. You're a billionaire now. Surely, you need a bodyguard," Doyle said, understanding that Jiang Hai didn't need Connorson for any other reason.
Jiang Hai considered it for a moment, then glanced at Azarina. When she nodded, he gave his consent.
"Bodyguard, huh? Alright," Jiang Hai finally agreed.
"Thank you, benefactor! I will do my best to protect you!" Connorson exclaimed, standing up excitedly. For him, repaying a favor was non-negotiable. Being Jiang Hai's bodyguard was a great opportunity.
Jiang Hai had his reasons for accepting Connorson. Sometimes, having a bodyguard with a strong presence was useful. A woman like Azarina, though capable, might not have the same deterrent effect as a man over two meters tall, like Connorson. A big guy with fierce looks and a dangerous aura was far more intimidating.
As Jiang Hai's status grew, he wanted to avoid trouble, and with someone like Connorson around, many potential threats would be deterred without a single fight.
Azarina seemed to understand this too. With such strength, unwavering loyalty, and a simple mind, Connorson would complement her well, making things easier for Jiang Hai.
Having agreed to take Connorson in as a bodyguard, Jiang Hai decided to give him a formal position.
After lunch, Jiang Hai called Moses Adams and asked him to prepare a bodyguard contract. It was similar to the one Azarina had, but Connorson's salary would be lower.
Connorson didn't mind, as long as he had food and shelter. Money wasn't a priority for him.
Jiang Hai offered him a weekly salary of $1,000, with missions being extra, which equated to a base annual salary of $52,000. The best part was that Jiang Hai would pay all taxes, as well as provide food, lodging, and equipment.
Doyle George, upon hearing the salary, was tempted to apply for the position himself. But, unfortunately for him, Jiang Hai had no use for him. What could Doyle contribute?
The contract was delivered by Penelope Dahler in the afternoon. This was Jiang Hai's first time seeing her since his return from China, but she didn't seem to have much to say to him.
After handing over the contract and watching Jiang Hai and Connorson sign it, she left to find her father.
Jiang Hai felt a little awkward, having greeted her enthusiastically only to be met with a curt "hmm!"
"You deserve it!" Bernice smirked, clearly enjoying Jiang Hai's embarrassment.
Jiang Hai glanced at Penelope as she walked away. He didn't want to interfere with her father-daughter relationship, especially since they had only just resolved their recent misunderstandings. It wasn't Jiang Hai's doing—Penelope had likely realized that her father could make money for her, and that had changed her perspective. Still, Jiang Hai didn't know how to approach her and chose to stay out of it.
After that, Jiang Hai decided to find Connorson a place to stay. Though bodyguards usually lived in the same building as their employer, it wasn't practical here, given that Jiang Hai's household was entirely female. So, he found a separate place for Connorson.
Jiang Hai's estate had many workers' villas, built by the previous owner to accommodate ranch staff. Although there were plenty of vacant rooms, they were all set up as family units, which meant there was no room for Connorson in the main villa.
Jiang Hai turned to Harriman Fells for help, as he was the best person to assist with this. Harriman agreed to take Connorson in without hesitation. The two were similar—tall, strong, and straightforward. Their lives had been completely different, but now they shared a common bond.
Seeing the two of them together, Jiang Hai couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. They were both intimidating figures—over two meters tall with muscular bodies. If they dressed a certain way, they could easily pass for a pair of bodyguards, intimidating anyone who looked at them.
Jiang Hai felt that, in the future, with Connorson and Azarina by his side, negotiating or dealing with any potential threats would be much easier.
After settling Connorson's living arrangements, Jiang Hai returned to his villa. He lay on his white jade bed, deep in thought.