Malayah Smith and Selena Stewart were both orphans, raised by their mentor, whom they admired deeply as both a father and mother figure. Growing up, they often heard tales of their mentor’s past, learning that he was once a national boxing champion known for his practical fighting skills before becoming a renowned, top-tier bodyguard. However, those days were long gone, and now he was just a grumbling old man.

"Hurry up, Slowpoke! If we're even a minute late, mentor will be mad at us!" Selena called out, waving to Malayah from the entrance of a grand mansion.

Malayah quickly reassured her, "Okay, okay, mentor. We're sorry. We’ll definitely come back to visit more often, but you have to tell us why you wanted us here. It can’t be just to say hello, right? I cleared my whole schedule at the daycare for this. If you don’t give us a good reason, I might just get upset." As she spoke, her pretty face scrunched up in mock annoyance.

The old man, doting on Malayah like his own child, chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Haha, I’m just kidding. Of course, I wouldn’t call my two precious students back without a good reason. I have an important task for you." He then retrieved a stack of papers from the cabinet behind him, placing a photograph on top of the documents and sliding it toward the two young women.

Malayah glanced at the photograph, noticing a man in his twenties with features so precise they seemed sculpted by a master artist. His eyes held a faint mistiness, reminiscent of a mysterious, bottomless lake. In the photo, the man was lightly touching his forehead with his long fingers, appearing deep in thought.

"Wow, who’s this handsome guy? He’s gorgeous!" Malayah had always appreciated beauty, especially when it came to striking men. The photograph captivated her instantly, and she picked it up, looking starry-eyed.

In stark contrast, Selena was indifferent to men with overly delicate looks. She preferred more rugged and masculine features.

Seeing Malayah’s infatuated expression, the mentor chuckled mischievously. "Malayah, since you like the man in this photo so much, how about you take on this task?"

The happiness on Malayah’s face vanished as she heard the mentor’s suggestion. Her heart tightened, and she quickly tossed the photo back on the table. "No way! No way!" she protested, waving her hands dismissively. "Tell us what’s going on first, mentor. I’d rather know what I’m getting into than fall for one of your tricks!"

Selena, seated beside her, was equally curious. "Mentor, who is this man, really? What has caught your attention about him?"

The mentor picked up the photograph again, his expression becoming serious. "The man in the photo is Ricardo Patterson, the son of the person who once saved my life. Now, his own life is in danger. My savior has reached out, asking me to protect his son." He then glanced between Malayah and Selena, a sly smile playing on his lips. "But as you can see, I’m not exactly in any shape to protect anyone these days. So... I was hoping one of you could handle this for me."

When Malayah Smith discovered Adan Bradley’s real reason for summoning her and her sister, she was thrilled. The mission was to protect a certain Ricardo Patterson. She clapped her hands in excitement, "So that's why you brought us back, Adan. Seriously, this is something Selena could handle alone. I'd rather skip out, haha."

Selena Stewart, noticing Malayah trying to bow out, looked displeased. She playfully flicked Malayah's forehead with a slender finger and chuckled, "You rookie. Didn't you hear that your big sister just finished a major mission and hurt her arm? I think this job suits you perfectly. Isn't this client exactly your type?"

Malayah quickly defended her capabilities, "Selena, that's not fair. Even a weakling is stronger when still standing, and I'm just a little kitten. Even with your injury, you're leaps and bounds ahead of me."

Adan gazed between his two beloved students. He had expected them to compete for the assignment and was surprised to see them trying to pass it off to each other. His initial enthusiasm turned into frustration as he worked to suppress his irritation.

"Enough, both of you! Stop trying to wiggle out of it," Adan finally cut in, his kind eyes turning serious. He scanned Malayah and Selena, stating in a tone that left no room for negotiation, "Listen up, you can't decline. Let me finish. Ricardo Patterson is the son of the man who saved my life. One of you must take this case and ensure his safety."

Then, with a mischievous grin, Adan added, "And this job isn't for free. The Patterson family is offering a check for a million dollars. Whoever successfully protects Ricardo will earn that."

The mention of a million dollars immediately captured Malayah's interest. A million! Her mind was flooded with visions of endless zeros. "Alright, Adan, no need to talk it over further. I’ll do it!" Malayah eagerly volunteered, drawn more by the lucrative reward than the assignment itself. After all, she'd never see this kind of money otherwise.

Although Adan left the decision up to his students, he knew that Malayah, despite his fondness for her, wasn’t the most skilled. Her nickname, "the rookie," was well-earned despite years of training. This task was no small feat and not something she could handle easily.

"What about you, Selena? Really not interested?" Adan asked his top student, who had mastered nearly everything he had taught.

Reclining on the couch, Selena waved dismissively, "Adan, you know my terms. I won't accept less than a ten million deposit. Besides, this client isn't my type."

"Ten million?!" Malayah's jaw dropped at Selena's words. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her.

Seeing Malayah's shock, Selena gently flicked her forehead again, smiling, "What's so surprising about that?"

"No, nothing at all!" Malayah quickly reassured, waving her hand to dismiss any disagreement.

Known as the star pupil of Adan Bradley, once the world’s leading ultimate bodyguard, Selena Stewart had mastered everything and even surpassed her teacher. Her quick and decisive skills, combined with her youthful beauty and cool demeanor, meant her rate was ten million—especially for those seemingly impossible missions. Despite her steep charges, clients who valued absolute reliability over cost were happy to pay.

Meanwhile, Malayah, having trained alongside Selena, had the skills of a rookie due to her laziness and lack of discipline. She grasped little of the other techniques Adan taught, her knowledge shaky at best. She hadn’t even undertaken a real case before, meaning her value was extremely low—merely a few hundred dollars, more as a gesture of respect for Adan than anything else. This chance at a million-dollar case had her grinning from ear to ear.

"Alright, it’s decided. Malayah, you’ll take this case. Starting tomorrow, go to the Patterson Corporation to locate Ricardo. Per the contract, you’ll protect him for one month. After that, you can cash that million-dollar check," Adan said, waving the check teasingly, "Looking forward to a month from now?"

Seeing Adan's mischievous smile, Malayah frowned slightly, asking cautiously, "Adan, is it really that straightforward? Just keep him safe for a month?"

Hearing this, Adan's expression became intensely serious. He locked eyes with Malayah and stated firmly, "Malayah, before you proceed, heed this warning: Your mission involves more than ensuring Ricardo Patterson's safety. You must also identify the mastermind behind any threats. If anyone attempts to harm him, you must neutralize them—all of them!"

Malayah turned pale at Adan's words. She gasped, dropping her file and photos with a clatter. Staring at Adan in shock, she exclaimed, "Adan, you can't be serious! Neutralizing threats? That's terrifying!"

The old man warned Malayah Smith that this assignment carried a certain level of danger. Not only would she have to protect Ricardo Patterson's life, but she might also face threats to her own, even possibly having to take a life. Malayah was taken aback, her heart nearly pounding out of her chest.

"Seriously, don't freak me out like that! I've got a weak heart, and I can't handle such a scare!" Malayah exclaimed, clutching her chest and casting a nervous glance at her mentor.

The old man chuckled, blending gravity and humor in his tone as he said, "Did you think a ten-million-dollar advance would be a walk in the park? Without some risks, how could it be possible? You're not getting cold feet now, are you?"

Understanding the seriousness of the situation, Malayah quickly put the files and photos back on the coffee table, shaking her head vigorously. "No way! I'm not taking on something so dangerous. Sure, money matters, but my life is more important. Besides, you know how squeamish I am—I faint at the sight of blood..." Malayah rattled off every reason she could think of to avoid the task, trying hard to dodge it.

The old man, however, wasn't swayed by her excuses. "An apprentice should always uphold her commitments. Malayah, are you really behaving like my apprentice?" he said, his voice stern.

"Master, I've made a mistake! You should kick me out of your tutelage!" Malayah's eyes filled with tears as she heard his words. "I don't deserve to be your apprentice! I've embarrassed you—just let me go!"

The old man, seemingly anticipating her tactics, responded unsympathetically, "Alright, you can leave, but you must repay the money you owe me first. Otherwise, forget about leaving."

"Okay, okay! How much, Master? I'll pay it back." Malayah, grasping at a glimmer of hope, quickly pulled out her wallet. She had just received her paycheck that day.

Eyeing her wallet, the old man let out a sarcastic laugh, bent down to pick up the calculator from the coffee table, and said calmly, "From the moment I took you in off the street to this day, let me tally up the costs." His fingers tapped rapidly on the calculator, which beeped occasionally.

"Ah, there it is! A total of nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine. And that coffee you just drank? Let's add one more dollar. That's an even ten million!" The old man held up the calculator for Malayah to see, chuckling. "Pay up!"

Hearing the old man's declaration, Malayah felt like spitting out the coffee she had just drunk. Yet, it was already in her stomach, and she couldn't do anything about it. Tears welled up in her eyes out of frustration.

"Master, you're bullying me! I don't have ten million. There's only a thousand dollars in my wallet, and I'm not worth that much even if you sell me!" Malayah's hands trembled as she held her wallet, her big eyes glistening with tears.

The old man, who knew Malayah's personality well, waved his hand dismissively and chuckled. "You don't have it now, but once you accept this assignment, you'll have ten million! Haha." With that, he stood up, stretched his back and neck, and smiled, "Malayah, there's no other choice—you either take this case or pay me back immediately. I'm heading back to my room to sleep. Think about it." The old man finished speaking and walked away, leaving Malayah and the amused Selena Stewart behind.

"Big Sis, you have to help me! You have so much money—could you lend me ten million? I promise I'll pay you back!" Malayah pleaded, her last hope resting on Selena. She hurriedly sat beside her, almost in tears.

Selena gently tapped Malayah's furrowed brow with her fingertip, smiling affectionately. "You need to grow up, kitten. You're no longer a little girl. If you need money, you should earn it. Besides, I don't have ten million right now either. You know my income is high, but my spending is just as high."

"So, if you really want to repay Master, you should take his advice and accept the case," Selena advised, observing Malayah's tear-streaked face with a smile.

Malayah shook her head vigorously, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Sis, you know I'm not cut out to be a bodyguard. I'm more of a gourmet. My life's dream is to have lots of money and live happily. Protecting others? Someone should be protecting me!"

Selena stood up, adjusted her vintage-style dress, and looked at Malayah's tearful face. She bent down to gently tap Malayah's forehead and smiled. "You've grown up, Malayah. Some decisions you have to make on your own. Sometimes, you need to prove yourself, even just a little. Alright, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. It's been ages since I've rested properly." With that, Selena headed to her room, leaving Malayah alone in the living room.

"How did it come to this? That darn old man! It's just ten million—does he have to push me to the edge? I'm so mad!" Realizing she was alone, Malayah vented her frustration by tossing the couch cushions onto the floor.

Once she calmed down, Malayah turned her attention back to the photos on the coffee table. She picked them up, studying the man in the pictures carefully. Despite the task being dangerous, the client was undeniably handsome, like a movie star, with a natural charm that outshone most celebrities.

"Fine, fine. I can run, but I can't hide. If I don't take this assignment, the old man will nag me forever. My ears will never have peace," Malayah thought, resolutely stuffing the photos and documents into her bag. Slinging the large bag over her shoulder, she stormed back to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. After a day and a night of contemplating, she realized she had no choice but to accept this perilous case. A mountain named "Ten Million" weighed heavily on her, forcing her to make the critical decision to become the personal bodyguard for Ricardo Patterson.