The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 12

In addition to the topical medication, the doctor also prescribed an oral one to aid wound healing and prevent infection.

Under Ren Jiao’s supervision, Ji Qingshi took the medicine and soon felt drowsy again. Part of it was due to the medication’s effects, and part was simply because idleness at home made one sleepy. Back in her team days, even when injured and unable to train, she would still go to the training grounds to observe, at least keeping herself somewhat active. But now, as Ren Jiao’s bodyguard, if Ren Jiao wasn’t working or going out, neither did she.

Ji Qingshi had never been this idle in her life. It felt like she was making up for all the sleep she had missed over the past decade in just these two days.

The drowsiness hit hard, and she kept nodding off on the sofa. Ren Jiao gently poked her and said, “Go back to your room and sleep for a while.”

Ji Qingshi tried to resist, shaking her head stubbornly. “I just woke up not long ago. I don’t want to sleep.”

Seeing her determination, Ren Jiao didn’t press further. Instead, she took the opportunity to discuss something serious. “By the way, there’s something I wanted to ask you about. I called Sister Cen this morning and got some information, but now I’d like to hear the police’s opinion.”

“Hmm?” Hearing her mention serious matters, Ji Qingshi fought off her sleepiness and opened her eyes to look at her.

“About those attackers last night. Did the two who were arrested mention how they identified which car I was in?”

Ren Jiao had been suspicious since last night. The S-group’s seven members had been temporarily assigned four commercial vehicles, yet the attackers had precisely tailed the one Ren Jiao was in. That couldn’t have been a coincidence.

“I asked Sister Cen. The other six members all got home safely last night without any incidents. That proves the attackers only targeted our car and didn’t have accomplices following the others. So, they must have known I was in this specific car when they started following us.”

“The cars last night were arranged by Sister Cen and paid for by the company. The car service often works with Huaying Media, and the drivers are all familiar faces, so they’re unlikely to be suspects. As for who rode in which car, there was some randomness to it. You were with me the whole time, and the other members left as soon as they changed, with two members plus assistants and bodyguards assigned to each car. I was slow yesterday, so I left last with Sister Cen.”

“The cars picking us up had parking permits and could enter directly to wait at the backstage entrance. Outsiders and fans’ cars weren’t allowed in, so it would’ve been impossible for the attackers to observe from the parking lot which car I got into.”

“That leaves two possibilities: First, one of the attackers was a staff member last night, so they could see from inside the venue which car I boarded. Second, the attackers had an accomplice among the staff who kept them updated in real time about which car I was in. Personally, I lean toward the second option. What do you think?”

Ren Jiao spoke at length, analyzing the situation, while Ji Qingshi listened in astonishment. Truthfully, after the arrests last night, she hadn’t given it much thought. As a SWAT officer, her usual tasks involved frontline operations; apprehending criminals, counterterrorism, hostage rescues. High-intensity actions that didn’t require much deep analysis.

But what surprised her even more was that while she hadn’t dwelled on it, Ren Jiao had already pieced together so much.

Seeing the astonishment on her face, Ren Jiao quickly deduced her thoughts and smiled, “If I weren’t so cunning, I wouldn’t need Officer Ji’s protection now.”

Ji Qingshi thought that made sense. The fact that Ren Jiao, as an entertainer, could uncover criminal evidence within Zenith Entertainment spoke volumes about her unfathomable wit and strategy.

“Indeed, Ren Jiaojiao, you’re incredibly sharp,” Ji Qingshi praised sincerely.

Ren Jiao chuckled softly, visibly pleased by the genuine compliment.

Ji Qingshi took out her phone and called Qi Xuesong, relaying Ren Jiao’s analysis.

After a brief conversation, she hung up and updated Ren Jiao on the police’s progress: “Just as you suspected, the two captives have confessed. They bribed a security guard at the concert venue. The same one who was stationed at the backstage exit last night and left last. He’s already been apprehended for investigation.”

Ren Jiao nodded in understanding and asked further, “Did the gang mention who hired them?”

Ji Qingshi confirmed, “They said it was someone named Biao. These men were paid handsomely and provided with weapons, too tempting to refuse. As for who’s behind Biao… that’ll take more time to uncover. First, we need to track down Biao himself.”

Ren Jiao gave a faint hum. Who else could be behind Biao but Sheng Dingzhe’s backer?

Sheng Dingzhe, the boss of Zenith Entertainment, was no tycoon a decade ago. Just a lowly enforcer working for his employer. His true patron was Wei Wenbo, chairman of Fengbo Group, the shadowy mastermind behind the drug case Ren Jiao’s father had investigated.

Back then, Sheng Dingzhe served loyally under Wei Wenbo, and it was his hands that killed Ren Jiao’s father. Later, to lay low amid the anti-drug crackdown, Fengbo Group kept a low profile for years. As a reward, Wei Wenbo funded Sheng Dingzhe’s entertainment venture.

Fengbo Group had long-established influence in Bincheng City and across Haizhou Province. The case ten years ago failed to topple them, only sweeping aside a few expendable pawns. Now, a decade later, they were making a resurgence.

But all this was beyond Ren Jiao’s reach. As an ordinary person, exposing Sheng Dingzhe’s crimes had already pushed her to her limits. She only knew her father’s killer was Sheng Dingzhe by sheer coincidence. Her entry into Zenith Entertainment as a trainee had been accidental, but encountering Sheng Dingzhe later, she recognized him as the “Black Dog Sheng” from her father’s case files.

Ren Jiao had glimpsed photos of “Black Dog Sheng” at home and heard uncles mention him at her father’s funeral. How her father had been shot pursuing him. Even at ten, Ren Jiao was sharp enough to link her father’s death to “Black Dog Sheng.” She didn’t know his real name, but she’d never forget that face.

“Haa—”

Lost in the past, Ren Jiao was snapped back to reality by a sudden yawn.

Ji Qingshi, slumped on the sofa, fought back drowsiness, struggling to stay awake.

Ren Jiao smirked at her. “If you’re tired, go back and sleep.”

Ji Qingshi wanted to keep going, but she couldn’t resist the exhaustion any longer and finally retreated to her room to sleep.

…

When she woke again, the room was pitch black. Ji Qingshi turned her head to look at the drawn curtains. She couldn’t remember whether she had closed them before falling asleep. She must have been too tired to recall.

Rolling out of bed, she realized she had slept for an incredibly long time, from last night until now. The fatigue from her injury had mostly faded, and the dull ache from her wound had also eased. Ji Qingshi felt like she had come back to life.

Pushing the door open to fetch a glass of water, she found the living room even darker than her bedroom. The heavy curtains tightly covered the large floor-to-ceiling windows, and the only light source in the room was a massive projection covering an entire wall.

Rubbing her eyes, Ji Qingshi squinted at the projection. The glow from the screen illuminated the sofa, where she could faintly make out a small figure probably Ren Jiao watching TV.

What was she watching? Curious, Ji Qingshi walked over, her eyes fixed on the screen, trying to make out the images.

Ren Jiao was engrossed in the movie and didn’t notice the person approaching from behind. The film had reached a critical moment. A group of mischievous kids had banded together to explore a cursed haunted house, and the disturbed ghosts were about to reveal themselves.

The scene cut rapidly, panning across the terrified faces of the huddled children. Sensing something unnatural behind them, the kids turned their heads shakily, and the camera followed their perspective only for a pale, bloodless ghostly face to abruptly fill the screen.

“AAAAAHHHHH—!!!”

The movie erupted with earth-shattering screams.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH!!—”

An equally deafening shriek came from behind Ren Jiao.

Ren Jiao was completely stunned by the dual assault of screams.

Before she could even turn her head, she felt a gust of wind rush past her, followed by a sudden dip in the sofa as if something had vaulted over from behind!

The next second, before Ren Jiao could react, a warm body burrowed into her arms, and a right hand clamped tightly around her waist.

Ren Jiao blinked in bewilderment, her hands hovering awkwardly in the air. She was still processing what had just happened in those few chaotic seconds. How could someone suddenly leap into her arms while she was peacefully watching a horror movie in her own home?

“Wuwuwu, that was so freaking scary!”

It wasn’t until the muffled whimpers came from her arms. A voice that sounded vaguely familiar that Ren Jiao slowly pieced together the situation.

“Uh… Officer Ji?”

Her tone was laced with uncertainty.

The person in her arms stiffened, and the whimpering stopped abruptly. An awkward silence descended over the room.

As the quiet stretched on, Ren Jiao gradually realized something: the brave and formidable SWAT officer had a glaring weakness. She was afraid of ghosts!

Well, well, what a bombshell discovery! The 178 cm-tall officer suddenly seemed a lot more endearing. All those toned muscles were apparently only good for fighting thugs, not ghosts.

Ren Jiao’s eyes gleamed mischievously as she pressed the remote to pause the movie, barely suppressing a laugh.

Ji Qingshi remained silent, drowning in embarrassment. She was indeed a little afraid of ghosts. She had never dared to watch horror films. Even though, as a police officer, she was a staunch materialist, that didn’t stop her from being terrified of them.

Just now, I didn’t know Ren Jiao was watching a horror movie. Out of sheer curiosity, I leaned in, only to be greeted by the ghastly face of a vengeful ghost at the most terrifying moment. An utterly despair-inducing and unforgettable sight.

“You…”

“You…”

They spoke at the same time and then both fell silent.

Ren Jiao pressed her lips together, suppressing a laugh, and cleared her throat. “You go first.”

Ji Qingshi hesitated for a moment before asking, “Did you turn it off?”

Turn it off?

Ren Jiao glanced up at the projection, casually picked up the remote to shut off the screen, and then turned on the floor lamp beside them.

“It’s off now.”

Hearing this, Ji Qingshi immediately wriggled out of Ren Jiao’s arms and sat up straight, forcing a dry laugh. “Hahaha…”

The warmth in her arms vanished, and Ren Jiao felt an inexplicable twinge of regret. Hearing Ji Qingshi’s awkward laughter only made her find the situation even more amusing.

“You’re scared of ghosts?”

Ji Qingshi’s laughter abruptly stopped. After another few seconds of silence, she stiffly replied, “Can we make a deal?”

“Hmm? What kind of deal?”

“Can you just forget everything that just happened?”

Ren Jiao curved her lips into a smile. “No. I don’t have many virtues, but I do have an excellent memory.”

Ji Qingshi: “…”

Whimper.