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Bystander effect (part 2)

  Luoyuan is located by the sea, with its own private beach. Luoxi likes to take a walk along the beach, but she prefers to go to the seaside park where there are more people. It's not far from Luoyuan, and it takes less than 20 minutes to get there on foot from the gate. It's one of Luoxi's most frequent places for a stroll. On that Saturday, the park was crowded and lively. Xiaobai accompanied Luoxi for a walk, looking at all sorts of people and then at the tourist handicrafts sold at the stalls. Unconsciously, they arrived at the same pier where Luoxi had fallen into the water last time.

  "I fell down from here last time, and then my dad said those bodyguards were useless, they didn't even catch me. Xiao Bai, could you have caught me if it was you?"

  "Of course I can catch you," Bai Shaofeng said with a smile. "Even if I couldn't, I could just jump down and save you again."

  Luó Xī: "Your swimming skills are so good? Just like a fish! Who's your coach?"

  Bai Shaofeng: "Without a coach, I grew up by the river and learned how to swim when I was young, it seems like I was born with it."

  Two people were talking when they suddenly heard someone shouting loudly beside them: "Something's wrong, someone has fallen into the water, hurry up and save them!" Upon hearing this, a man in his thirties wearing a yellow jacket and a black low-brimmed hat ran over from the pier. He was pointing at the sea surface in the distance while shouting, and soon arrived beside Xiao Bai and Luo Xue. Due to professional instincts, seeing a stranger suddenly approaching, Xiao Bai's attention immediately focused on him.

  Luò Xī still didn't have a good memory, and ran to the railing again to look. On the distant sea surface, there was indeed someone floating, struggling with their teeth clenched, seemingly calling for help. Luò Xī shouted to Xiao Bai: "Xiao Bai, quickly take a look! Someone really is in danger, think of a way to save him!"

  Luo Xiao spoke to Xiaobai, while the man beside them continued shouting: "Save someone! Come quickly and save someone!"

  Xiaobai took a glance at the sea, then stepped back and stood beside Luoxue. He did something that Luoxue didn't expect. He pulled out his phone, pressed the blue button, and said in a decisive tone: "This is Xiaobai calling Luo Garden. Are there speedboats at the dock? Immediately dispatch armed security guards to the offshore area of Binhai Park to rescue someone. The person may have a deadly weapon, possibly a harpoon gun, and may be wearing a miniature underwater breathing apparatus on their waist. Be careful not to let him get hurt or drift away."

  Luo Xue was somewhat surprised and asked: "Xiao Bai, what are you doing?"

  Xiaobai explained, "I'll swim over from here and it will take me at least ten minutes. If I call for help from the Luoyuan Pier speedboat, it will be even faster than that. Isn't it more reassuring to have them rescue us?" As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his head and stared coldly at the man who was equally shocked and had forgotten to shout for help. Xiaobai's left hand pressed against his waist, while his right hand pressed the yellow button on his phone and said, "This is Xiaobai. Please pay attention to a person on the seaside park pier. He's wearing a yellow jacket, blue trousers, and a black hat. He's about 1.7 meters tall with a pointed nose and chin. He may be carrying a weapon... At the same time, send a car to the west entrance of the Seaside Park. I need to take Miss back home immediately."

  Xiao Bai was staring at the man as he spoke, and the man heard his words clearly. Huang Jiake didn't expect Xiao Bai to be so direct, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light for a few moments, but Xiao Bai just looked at him without moving. The man ultimately didn't make any moves, turned around and quickly left, with two other people following close behind. Xiao Bai turned back to Luo Xue and said, "Miss, let's go home, it's not peaceful here today." At this time, the sound of an engine roaring came from the distant sea surface, and a speedboat was speeding towards them from the direction of Luo Garden.

  Xiaobai's actions were clearly seen and heard by Luoxiao, who was confused by him. She grabbed Xiaobai's arm and asked: "Xiaobai, what were you just doing? What you said is very strange!"

  Xiao Bai smiled and said: "If I say they are bad people, would you believe me? Let's not talk about it here, you need to hurry back now, and I'll explain it to you in the car."

  What exactly happened at that time to make Xiaobai handle it this way? This seemingly sudden accident had too many flaws in Xiaobai's eyes! First of all, the person who called for help was not right. Under normal circumstances, when calling for help, attention should be focused on the people in distress on the surface of the sea, loudly calling out to everyone around. But that yellow jacketed man pointed at the surface of the sea with his finger, his attention fully focused on Xiaobai, as if he was specially reminding Xiaobai that someone had fallen into the water, just waiting for him to go into the water to rescue people, which was obviously not normal. On the surface, it couldn't be seen, but Xiaobai could feel it, that person's emotions were neither panicked nor anxious, but rather calm and waiting for his prey to take the bait.

  Secondly, the person on the surface of the sea also revealed a flaw. He was struggling in the water, but one hand was always holding something underwater. With his movements, it occasionally appeared on the surface of the water, and it was a harpoon gun. Moreover, from a distance, he seemed to be struggling, but in fact, his movements on the surface of the water were very good, without any signs of being unable to support himself and drowning. On the contrary, he swam back and forth as if playing in the water, with something like a steel bottle attached to his waist with a hose, very much like a small underwater breathing apparatus. He thought that people on the dock so far away couldn't see clearly, but unexpectedly, Xiaobai's eyes saw it clearly.

  What does this situation illustrate? It illustrates that it is a well-designed trap! Moreover, the other party has studied Luo Xue's information and knows that Luo Xue likes to help people. They also know that Luo Xue's bodyguard Xiao Bai is good at swimming and has saved people in storms before. Of course, Xiao Bai's response measures come from his specialized training during this period of time. If there is a problem, just ensure Luo Xue's safety, don't worry about the rest, let others handle it.

  Xiao Bai's "Bodyguard Work Manual" Article 5 states: When discovering danger, one must promptly retreat and only intervene when necessary. Absolutely do not proactively participate in conflicts, and at the time, try not to investigate the cause. His responsibility is solely as a bodyguard, not a detective. The best bodyguard is one who can silently resolve issues; a bodyguard who resorts to violence and causes bloodshed is the biggest failure.

  Xiao Bai discovered the trap and didn't fall for it, nor did he give Luo Xue time to react. He directly clarified the situation. The assassin didn't make a move, and neither did Xiao Bai, because he knew there were two more bodyguards following them, which was arranged by Luo Shuihan. He only needed to be responsible for Luo Xue's safety. The assassin with ill intentions felt uneasy and left on his own, completing Xiao Bai's task. The rest of the investigation had nothing to do with him; it was a matter for Luo Bing and others. After this incident, Xiao Bai clearly felt that someone was secretly harming Luo Xue, and this job wasn't easy to do.

  Luoxiao was naive, but not stupid. Xiaobai explained on the car that the person on the sea surface didn't encounter any danger at all, Luoxiao understood, but she was a bit skeptical. She didn't quite believe that Xiaobai could see clearly from so far away, and whether the person on the sea was really pretending to be in distress while hiding a sinister intent. After returning home, Xiaobai did an experiment with her, letting Luoxiao write words on a piece of paper and place it on the second-floor windowsill for him to see, and from a very far distance, Xiaobai could see clearly. Only then did Luoxiao believe that Xiaobai wasn't talking nonsense, and at the same time, her admiration for him deepened.

  That night, Xiao Bai didn't go home after work. He was called out by Luo Bing, the security manager of the Heluo Group and also Lu Shuihan's personal bodyguard, to have a drink. It wasn't some high-end place, just a small restaurant in a corner, with a clean environment and many people making noise. The two of them could talk privately very easily. At first, Xiao Bai didn't want to go out for dinner, but Luo Bing dragged him here to drink, so he had to call Zhuo Ru first to say that he wouldn't be going home for dinner tonight. Luo Bing obviously had something to say to him, and Xiao Bai was very curious.

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