The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 13

Officer Ji’s tearful pleas didn’t get her what she wanted. She angrily accused Ren Jiao of having a heart of stone, determined to remember her embarrassing moment.

The stone-hearted Ren Jiao remained unfazed. Say what you will. She was absolutely going to remember how scared of ghosts Ji Qingshi had been today.

After all that commotion, there was no way they could continue watching the horror movie. Ren Jiao put away the projector and checked her phone. It was almost dinnertime.

“What do you want for dinner? I’ll cook.” Ren Jiao pressed the switch for the electric curtains. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky had already darkened. With the New Year approaching, the night lights grew softer, brimming with festive cheer.

Ji Qingshi felt like she had just finished lunch, then slept, and now it was time for dinner again.

If she kept eating and sleeping like this, wouldn’t she end up gaining several pounds just from this arm injury?

She rubbed her stomach and sighed. “Some congee would be fine. I’m not very hungry.”

Having barely moved all day either eating or sleeping. She really wasn’t hungry.

Ren Jiao nodded, tying up her long hair. “Alright, congee it is, with some side dishes.”

Ren Jiao had also made lunch. Feeling a bit guilty about always eating her cooking, Ji Qingshi followed her and asked if there was anything she could help with.

Ren Jiao shook her head. “Your arm is still injured. Don’t move around too much.”

Ji Qingshi instinctively wanted to argue, but Ren Jiao didn’t give her the chance, pushing her out of the kitchen instead. “If you really want to help, wait until your arm is better.”

Left with no choice, Ji Qingshi had to stay in the living room by herself.

Ren Jiao’s apartment complex was located in Bin City’s CBD, surrounded by landmark shopping malls and office buildings. At night, colorful lights illuminated the area, making the night even more dazzling than the day.

The giant LED screen on the opposite mall had already switched to New Year’s greetings, and the streets were filled with holiday cheer. Ji Qingshi glanced toward the kitchen, thinking about Ren Jiao’s family situation. Would she be spending the New Year at the sanatorium with her mother?

Ren Jiao quickly finished cooking the congee. The two sat at the dining table, eating the congee with a few delicious side dishes, flavorful and satisfying.

“The New Year is almost here. When are you going home?” Ren Jiao asked casually, stirring her spoon as she brought up Ji Qingshi’s holiday plans.

Ji Qingshi paused. So, she wasn’t the only one thinking about this tonight.

“I’m not going home,” Ji Qingshi replied lightly, keeping her head down.

“Not going home?” Ren Jiao was puzzled. “Even if work is busy, don’t you get time off for the New Year?”

“Well, I do have leave, but it’s just me at home, so every year I volunteer for duty during the holidays.” Ji Qingshi shrugged. “This year, my mission is to protect you, so of course, wherever you go, I go.”

Ren Jiao stopped eating, looking at Ji Qingshi in surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Ji Qingshi waved her hands dismissively. “No need to apologize. It’s not a big deal. I’m used to it.”

She acted so nonchalant, her expression and tone completely relaxed, that Ren Jiao didn’t know what else to say. She could only silently continue eating her congee.

After a quiet moment, Ren Jiao spoke again. “For the New Year, I’ll be visiting my mom at the sanatorium. Other than that, there’s nothing else. Given the circumstances, we probably shouldn’t go out, right?”

With Ren Jiao’s danger still unresolved, traveling wasn’t a good option.

Ji Qingshi hesitated a bit. She didn’t want to disappoint Ren Jiao, so she said, “The provincial department hasn’t explicitly restricted you from going out. It’s just that I think staying in Bincheng is relatively safer. But if you really want to go out.”

Ren Jiao quickly shook her head. “No, I don’t particularly want to go out. It was just a thought.” Propping her chin on her hand, she looked at Ji Qingshi with a smile. “This year’s New Year is rare, no work scheduled. Our group just switched companies, and the focus has been on touring performances. It’s nice to finally have some downtime during the holidays.”

“In that case, Officer Ji, you’ll have to accompany me to visit my mom. We’ll spend the New Year together.”

Watching the smile on Ren Jiao’s face, Ji Qingshi felt a strange, inexplicable sense of happiness flow through her heart. The Spring Festival was a time for family reunions, but she hadn’t been home in ten years, nor had she seen any relatives. Since entering the police academy, she had spent every holiday alone. Occasionally, she had comrades to celebrate with, but most of them had families to return to unlike her. She only had herself.

This year, though, seemed a little different. At least this year, there was someone else to share it with.

“Sure,” Ji Qingshi said, her face breaking into a slightly goofy smile. “Should we start preparing in advance? New Year’s Eve dinner, dumplings, couplets, and other holiday goods?”

Ren Jiao smiled back and nodded. “Okay.”

…

On the third day of Ji Qingshi’s injury, with four days left until New Year’s Eve, thanks to her excellent physical condition and Ren Jiao’s meticulous care, the wound was healing faster than expected. Though not fully recovered, the pain was no longer as severe as it had been initially.

The two had already agreed to celebrate the New Year together and planned to go out to buy some holiday supplies. Ji Qingshi had initially wanted to go alone, given how recognizable Ren Jiao’s face was. She could easily be spotted on the street. But Ren Jiao disagreed, insisting that Ji Qingshi was still injured and shouldn’t overexert herself. Besides, there was a lot to buy, so it was best for both of them to go together.

Unable to argue with her, Ji Qingshi eventually agreed, and the two set out together.

One good thing about winter was that wearing a mask and scarf to hide one’s face didn’t draw too much attention.

Ren Jiao bundled up and followed Ji Qingshi out the door, heading to the mall across the street to shop for New Year’s goods.

Living in the CBD had its perks, everything was conveniently close. Ren Jiao didn’t even bother changing out of her loungewear, just threw on a long down jacket and a pair of warm boots before stepping out.

After the Little New Year’s Eve performance, the two had holed up at home for two full days. Now, finally stepping outside, even the air felt refreshing.

A heavy snowfall had swept through Bincheng the night before, transforming the world into a romantic winter wonderland. Everything blanketed in pristine white, sparkling under the sunlight.

“The air after snow is just the best,” Ren Jiao said, taking deep breaths, though she sighed regretfully. “Too bad we can’t take off our masks.”

Ji Qingshi didn’t share her regret. Going maskless would indeed feel even fresher.

The neighborhood was dotted with snowmen of all shapes and sizes, some well-crafted, others hilariously lopsided. Children on winter break ran around the courtyard, chasing each other in snowball fights. Their boundless energy kept them running and playing without a hint of exhaustion.

Ji Qingshi watched with a hint of envy. Whenever it snowed during her childhood, her parents would send her out to work, leaving her hands and feet frostbitten with sores, yet she wasn’t allowed to rest. Thinking back, there were hardly any fond memories to recall.

The two of them left the residential area and headed to the shopping mall across the street. Instead of browsing the upper floors, they went straight to the supermarket on the basement level. Ren Jiao pushed a shopping cart while Ji Qingshi walked beside her, discussing what to buy as they placed items into the cart.

“What filling do you want for the dumplings?”

“Three-delicacy, with whole shrimp. I love shrimp.”

“Got it.” Ren Jiao tossed a bundle of leeks into the cart.

Since it would just be the two of them for the New Year’s Eve dinner, they didn’t need to prepare too many dishes. Just some fish and meat would suffice. Caregiver Auntie Liu, a local of Bincheng, would return home for the New Year’s Eve, leaving only the two of them and Ren Xiuxian in the hospital room.

After gathering all the ingredients, they headed to the frozen section to buy chicken, fish, large shrimp that Ji Qingshi loved, and shrimp for the dumplings.

“Since you like shrimp, let’s also make braised shrimp.”

Ji Qingshi felt a little embarrassed. “You don’t have to make so much. I’m fine with anything. The dumplings already have shrimp.”

Ren Jiao smiled. “It’s fine. It’s the New Year, let’s eat a little more.”

She bent down to pick out fresh shrimp while Ji Qingshi steadied the cart for her. “But it’s just the two of us. If we make too much, we won’t finish it. And you’re the only one cooking, won’t that be too much trouble?”

Ren Jiao weighed the shrimp and placed them in the cart. “It’s no trouble at all. It’s just a few dishes.”

Just a few dishes? With fish, chicken, meat, and shrimp, that was already four meat dishes. Add two vegetable dishes, and there was no way the two of them could finish it all.

Ji Qingshi patted her stomach in advance. If it came down to it, she’d just eat more and then resume some light exercise to compensate.

After finishing their grocery shopping, they went to buy Spring Festival couplets and paper-cut decorations. With the holiday approaching, these items were in high demand, and crowds of people were gathered around selecting couplets.

Ji Qingshi glanced at the crowd and volunteered, “Wait here. I’ll go pick them out. You’re still too easily recognized.”

Ren Jiao disagreed. “It’s too crowded. What if someone bumps into your wound?”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

“Hey—”

Before Ren Jiao could stop her, Ji Qingshi slipped into the crowd like an eel.

Left with no choice, Ren Jiao could only wait by the cart, her eyes fixed on the tall figure that stood out “like a crane among chickens,” worried she might get jostled.

“Um excuse me, are you Jiaojiao?”

A young, excited voice came from beside her. Ren Jiao snapped out of her thoughts and instinctively turned to see a high school-aged girl staring at her eagerly.

Ren Jiao touched her face mask. She was wrapped up pretty tightly. How was she still so easily recognized?

While her disguise worked on most passersby, it couldn’t fool her true fans. They followed her every move, from airport photos to after-work snapshots, all of which featured her wearing a mask. They knew exactly what she looked like even with it on.

Ren Jiao pressed a finger to her lips beneath the mask, signaling the girl to keep quiet.

The girl, now even more excited, nodded vigorously. She regretted not bringing a pen and paper while out grocery shopping with her mom. She was about to miss this golden opportunity for an autograph!

The thought made her deflate. She was standing so close to her idol, yet she’d have to leave without a signature.

Ren Jiao observed her expression and guessed what was on her mind. She quickly walked over to the stationery section, picked out a set of scenic postcards and a colored pen, and after consulting with a staff member, selected one from the postcards. She swiftly signed her name, wrote a blessing, and handed it to the girl.

“I didn’t bring anything with me, so this will have to do,” Ren Jiao said with a wink, lowering her voice. “Keep it a secret, okay?”

The girl was instantly charmed, nodding eagerly. “Thank you, sis!”

Ren Jiao smiled and nodded at her, watching as the girl clutched the postcard and ran off to find her mother.

Ji Qingshi returned with the couplets he had picked out and looked puzzled as Ren Jiao placed a set of postcards and a colored pen into the shopping cart.

“What’s this for?”

Ren Jiao grinned, her eyes curving. “For signing. Want me to sign one for you too?”

Ji Qingshi shook his head. “No, no need.”

“Officer Ji, really my autograph could fetch some money if it were in the hands of scalpers.”

Ji Qingshi carefully placed the couplets and window decorations into the cart, making sure they didn’t crease. “I’m not a scalper.”

Twirling the colored pen in her hand, Ren Jiao stared at Ji Qingshi and thought to herself: But you might just be a silly ox.