The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 10

Qi Xuesong felt that this trip had been completely unnecessary. Not only had she been forced to spectate the entire back-and-forth about “whether to live together,” but she was certain that Ji Qingshi and Ren Jiao had completely forgotten she existed.

Sure enough, when Qi Xuesong finally found an opportunity to say her goodbyes, Ji Qingshi and Ren Jiao only then remembered she was still there.

“Ah, Captain Qi, you’re still here? I totally forgot.”

Honestly, only someone as tactless as Ji Qingshi could say something like that right to a person’s face.

Qi Xuesong instantly cringed so hard she could have dug a hole in the ground with her toes, her face flushing red.

Cen Shu, the sharp-witted one, silently covered his forehead off to the side, unable to bear watching. Officer Ji was just too blunt.

Ren Jiao glanced at Qi Xuesong’s expression and felt an inexplicable sense of amusement, thinking Ji Qingshi was truly entertaining. The lips hidden beneath her mask curled upward, and she took the initiative to say to Qi Xuesong, “Captain Qi, thank you for coming all this way tonight. We appreciate your concern. It’s already so late, you should head home and rest.”

Thankfully, Ren Jiao was smooth enough to handle the situation, or Qi Xuesong might have actually resorted to violence.

“Alright, I’ll head back then. You two should go home soon too. Especially Deputy Ji, get some proper rest.”

Ji Qingshi nodded repeatedly. “Got it, got it. Thanks for your concern, Captain Qi.”

Ren Jiao’s eyes curved into crescents. At ten years old, her family had suffered a devastating upheaval. She had grown up moving from place to place with her mother and entered the entertainment industry before she was even an adult. Among the people she had met, nine out of ten had eight hundred schemes running through their minds. The tenth was Ji Qingshi, who had absolutely no ability to play mind games.

From the very first day they met, Ren Jiao had found Ji Qingshi interesting; simple-hearted and adorable, like a child. As they spent more time together, she enjoyed teasing her. Despite being eight years older than Ren Jiao, Ji Qingshi, now 28, lacked the early maturity and overthinking that defined Ren Jiao’s own personality.

Perhaps because she had seen too many scheming people, Ren Jiao found Ji Qingshi both endearing and precious.

Earlier that night, when facing those criminals, Ren Jiao had initially been calm. Ever since she was old enough to understand, she had been trying to get close to those people, fully prepared that one day it might cost her life. But the moment Ji Qingshi jumped out of the car alone to protect her, Ren Jiao suddenly realized she actually wanted to live.

Living didn’t seem so bad after all. She could sing the songs she loved in front of thousands at concerts, see the genuine adoration of her fans, and meet bright, kind-hearted, simple, and adorable people like Ji Qingshi.

…

After returning home from the hospital, Ren Jiao stored the prescribed medicine in her first-aid kit, then turned to look at Ji Qingshi, who was fidgeting awkwardly beside her.

Unable to hold back a laugh, Ren Jiao crossed her arms and tilted her chin up. “Which room would Officer Ji like to stay in?”

The apartment had four bedrooms. Aside from the master bedroom, Ren Jiao had converted one into a walk-in closet. After all, she was a celebrity. That left two guest rooms, neither of which had an ensuite bathroom, meaning they’d have to use the main bathroom in the living area.

“One guest room faces south, the other north. Would Officer Ji prefer the one with better sunlight or the one closer to the bathroom?”

“Or…”

Ren Jiao stepped closer, leaning in toward Ji Qingshi with a playful expression and a teasing lilt in her voice.

“Or does Officer Ji want to sleep in my room?”

Her sudden closeness left Ji Qingshi completely unprepared, her mind blank as she stood frozen in place, feeling as though her thoughts had ground to a halt.

The scent that enveloped her senses clouded her mind, and Ji Qingshi instinctively took half a step back, stammering, “I think I should stay downstairs! This minor injury is no problem. I can handle it myself!”

Ren Jiao reached out and tugged at the hem of Ji Qingshi’s clothes, leaning even closer. “I already put all the medicine away in the first-aid kit. If Officer Ji insists on staying downstairs, are you planning to buy new supplies? What a waste of money…”

This… this didn’t really seem like a matter of wasting money…

Ji Qingshi’s brain short-circuited, failing to realize that the medicine could simply be taken out and returned to her.

“Actually, I can manage on my own when I get injured.”

“A wound near the shoulder might not affect joint movement or make it hard to dress yourself, but changing the bandages would be inconvenient, wouldn’t it? I don’t believe you never had teammates help you with that when you got hurt on duty.”

“…”

Ji Qingshi really couldn’t argue with that. When injured on duty, she was never left completely alone. Serious injuries meant hospitalization, while minor ones were tended to by her comrades.

Seeing her silent, Ren Jiao tightened her grip on the hem of Ji Qingshi’s jacket and said softly, “You got hurt protecting me this time, so stay at my place and let me help you change the bandages, okay, Officer Ji?”

Her voice was deliberately low, soft, and laced with allure, making Ji Qingshi’s ears burn. In the end, she gave up resisting and nodded in agreement.

“Then I… I’ll go downstairs first to grab a few things.”

Ren Jiao released her hold on Ji Qingshi’s clothes and smiled, nodding. “Sure.”

Her smile was breathtaking, a stark contrast to her usual cold expression outside, melting like snow in Ji Qingshi’s eyes.

No matter how nervous she was, Ji Qingshi still went to fetch some clean clothes and moved upstairs temporarily. She could always move back downstairs once her arm healed.

Ren Jiao gave Ji Qingshi a quick tour of the apartment before retreating to her own room to shower.

Ji Qingshi’s injury wasn’t severe, but the doctor had advised against getting it wet, so she settled for a quick wipe-down in the bathroom. Fortunately, it was winter, and the cooler weather meant skipping daily showers wasn’t a big deal.

After freshening up and leisurely changing into pajamas, she stepped out of the bathroom. The master bedroom door was still closed. Ren Jiao must still be showering. Ji Qingshi poured herself a glass of water before retreating to the well-lit guest room.

The night’s events had dragged on, and by the time she lay down, it was already 3 a.m. Ji Qingshi exhaled deeply and burrowed under the covers. She wasn’t picky about beds and could sleep anywhere, thanks to years of disciplined training and a regular routine that ensured good sleep. Exhausted as she was today, she fell asleep almost the moment her body relaxed under the blankets.

Ji Qingshi was a deep sleeper, and the painkillers she’d taken at the hospital had a sedative effect, making her drowsy and ensuring she slept soundly. So soundly that she didn’t even stir when Ren Jiao entered the room.

Under normal circumstances, Ji Qingshi’s vigilance would never let her sleep so heavily that she wouldn’t notice someone entering her room. But tonight was different. Whether it was the strong sedative effect or the sense of safety Ren Jiao’s home gave her, her guard had lowered after the injury.

Honestly, she even forgot to turn off the lights before falling asleep.

Ren Jiao silently grumbled to herself as she tiptoed to Ji Qingshi’s bedside. She gazed at her quietly for a moment, carefully securing her injured arm to prevent it from being disturbed during sleep. Only after ensuring everything was in place did she turn off the light and leave the room.