The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 17

Ren Jiao didn’t notice anything unusual. The brief contact had lasted only a moment, so she paid it no mind. Unintentionally, however, she had set Ji Qingshi’s heart racing like a startled deer.

Ji Qingshi sat there stiffly, like a wooden puppet, unsure where to place her hands and feet. Knowing she was a complete novice, Ren Jiao didn’t think much of it and simply smiled as she corrected her posture, resting the cello against Ji Qingshi’s legs and adjusting her grip on the bow.

“Yes, hold it like this first. Let me show you the next step.”

Like a diligent cello teacher, Ren Jiao moved behind Ji Qingshi, leaning over to guide her hands from behind.

“Press the strings like this with your left hand. Yes, just like that. Relax a little, Officer Ji.” Noticing how tense Ji Qingshi was, Ren Jiao gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze to help her loosen up. But instead, Ji Qingshi shuddered uncontrollably, startling Ren Jiao.

“Did I touch your wound?” Ren Jiao quickly withdrew her hands.

“N-no,” Ji Qingshi shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Ren Jiao didn’t believe her. “Don’t lie to me. You just trembled.”

Ji Qingshi insisted, “It really doesn’t hurt. When you changed the dressing last night, did I show any sign of pain?”

Ren Jiao thought about it. Ji Qingshi had indeed remained composed during the bandage change, and the wound had already begun to heal.

“Then why did you tremble?”

“…” Ji Qingshi pressed her lips together before forcing out an answer. “Your hands are a little cold.”

Ren Jiao was baffled. She glanced down at her own hands, then at Ji Qingshi’s long-sleeved pajamas. “Wait, you could feel my hands through your clothes? Am I really that cold?”

Ji Qingshi was mortified and eager to drop the subject. Hurriedly, she asked, “What’s next? My hands are in position, how do I play? Teach me quickly.”

Ren Jiao gave her a skeptical look but didn’t press further. She took Ji Qingshi’s right hand again. “Now, place the bow on the strings like this.”

Ren Jiao held Ji Qingshi’s right hand with her own while her left-hand guided Ji Qingshi’s left, helping her press the strings and adjust the bow’s position.

The closeness of their stance was overwhelming. The faint fragrance of Ren Jiao’s scent enveloped Ji Qingshi, flooding her senses and overwhelming her nerves.

“Alright, try playing now.”

“O-okay.” Ji Qingshi’s entire body was rigid as she struggled to stay focused. With a sudden jerk of her right hand, she pulled the bow.

Screech—

A harsh, grating sound erupted. Ji Qingshi froze, her scalp prickling with embarrassment. She stopped and grimaced. “That… that sounds awful!”

Ren Jiao suppressed a laugh. “It’s normal. Everyone sounds like that at first. Try again.”

Encouraged, Ji Qingshi confidently attempted another stroke only to produce the same ear-piercing, saw-like noise.

Her shoulders slumped. “I’m using a rusty saw on rotten wood.”

Ren Jiao couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle, immediately earning a resentful glare from Ji Qingshi.

“How about I guide you this time?”

“How?”

“Like this…”

With that, Ren Jiao leaned in again, pressing close as she took Ji Qingshi’s hands in hers.

The proximity returned, and Ji Qingshi’s muscles tensed up once more. She sat bolt upright, stiff as a marionette with rusted joints.

Ren Jiao naturally noticed Ji Qingshi’s tension and said with a smile, “Relax a little. Being too tense will make your movements stiff, and you’ll end up using too much force. If you can’t control the pressure, the sound of the cello won’t be pleasant.”

“Mhm, I know,” Ji Qingshi replied, trying her best to relax, just a little more. She almost held her breath to ignore the scent emanating from Ren Jiao, forcing herself to focus on playing the cello.

Ren Jiao held Ji Qingshi’s wrist, adjusting her posture while guiding her to play a note.

Under Ren Jiao’s patient guidance, Ji Qingshi finally produced a decent sound, no longer as harsh and grating as sawing wood.

As more successful notes followed, Ji Qingshi gradually relaxed. Ren Jiao’s clean, refreshing scent was no longer a distraction but instead became a soothing presence, as if bathing in it could calm her entire heart.

Led by Ren Jiao, Ji Qingshi managed to play a short melody in its entirety. Ren Jiao never let go of her wrist, guiding her to produce rich, elegant music. In that moment, Ji Qingshi felt an illusion. Her heart swelling with an indescribable sense of fulfillment.

When they stopped, Ren Jiao clapped for her. “So amazing, so amazing! Officer Ji, you’re incredible!”

The scent that had enveloped her earlier now faded away. Ji Qingshi exhaled as she set down the bow, her hands unconsciously rubbing against her clothes. She had broken into a sweat.

“Don’t praise me. I only managed because you were guiding me,” Ji Qingshi quickly stood up and stepped aside. “I shouldn’t disrupt you anymore. I’ll just listen to you practice.”

Seeing her retreat as if avoiding some wild beast, Ren Jiao assumed she was simply afraid of embarrassing herself further and didn’t insist. Instead, she deliberately put on a regretful expression. “Ah, what a shame. I can’t keep teaching Officer Ji anymore. I really liked that teaching method just now.”

Sitting on the chair, Ren Jiao looked up at Ji Qingshi standing by the window, squinting with a smile. “Officer Ji, you smell so nice.”

Boom—

Ji Qingshi felt her entire face burn. She stood there, flustered and speechless, utterly stunned.

Ren Jiao loved seeing her like this. Dazed and adorable and her grin widened. Picking up the bow beside her, she casually began playing a melodious tune.

When it came to music, Ren Jiao could immerse herself in an instant. No matter what she had been teasing about a second ago, the next moment she was already lost in her own musical world.

It took Ji Qingshi a long while to snap out of her daze. Her gaze lingered on Ren Jiao, so engrossed in the music, and suddenly, her chest felt tight, as if some emotion was about to burst forth. Instinctively, she pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her own heartbeat through the thin fabric of her pajamas—steady, rhythmic thumps.

Ji Qingshi was no fool, nor was she some blank slate when it came to emotions. On the contrary, she had matured relatively early in matters of the heart. The reason she had remained single all these years wasn’t because she lacked the capacity for love. She just hadn’t met someone she liked.

The palpitations Ren Jiao stirred in her now were too obvious. She knew exactly why her heart was racing so fast.

Do I have feelings for her?

The thought flashed through her mind, startling Ji Qingshi so much that she shook her head repeatedly.

No, no! Impossible! Absolutely not!

The sound of the cello abruptly ceased as Ren Jiao stood up and quickly walked over to Ji Qingshi, her tone slightly anxious and concerned: “Officer Ji, what’s wrong? Do you have a headache?”

Ji Qingshi snapped back to reality and saw Ren Jiao standing right in front of her, her delicate and beautiful face filled with worry.

“I… I’m fine.”

Ren Jiao frowned at her, even reaching out to gently touch her forehead: “Are you really okay? I saw you shaking your head just now, does it hurt?”

“N-no, it doesn’t hurt!”

The moment Ren Jiao’s hand touched her forehead, Ji Qingshi took a step to the side, deftly avoiding the brief contact.

But Ren Jiao wasn’t reassured: “If you’re feeling unwell anywhere, you have to tell me! Your injury has only just started to improve, and I’m worried there might be complications.”

Ji Qingshi wanted to say that her injury was on her arm, not her head. No matter how bad it got, it wouldn’t cause a headache.

But seeing Ren Jiao’s genuine concern for her, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Instead, she just replied politely, “Really, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Ren Jiao studied her expression carefully. There didn’t seem to be any signs of discomfort. Just something subtly off, as if she were avoiding something.
Ji Qingshi glanced at her and added, “You should keep practicing. Isn’t your new song unfinished? Don’t mind me! I’d like to hear you play and compose.”

Only then did Ren Jiao finally relent, though she still insisted, “If you feel unwell, you must tell me.”

“I know, I know. I’m not a child.”

Ren Jiao didn’t resume playing the cello but instead sat back down on the carpet to continue working on the unfinished song.

Songwriting was something that required the spark of inspiration. Sometimes, when inspiration struck, a song could come together quickly, but without it, no amount of effort could force it out.

Today, however, Ren Jiao seemed to be in the right state. Ji Qingshi sat cross-legged beside her, watching as she tested notes back and forth on the piano keys, eventually piecing together a melody.

Ren Jiao was truly absorbed in her music. It was clear this was a passion that came from the heart. She also possessed a talent that was hard to put into words. To Ji Qingshi, the densely packed musical notes looked like tiny tadpoles, yet under Ren Jiao’s hands, they quickly arranged themselves into orderly, rhythmic patterns.

These “tadpoles” would then transform into a delightful melody the moment her fingers touched the keys. It was a lighthearted, cheerful song—so much so that just hearing Ren Jiao play a few segments was enough to make Ji Qingshi’s lips curl into a smile, her mood lifting.

Because Ren Jiao was so immersed in her own world, Ji Qingshi could let her gaze linger on her without fear of being noticed.

Ren Jiao was simply too beautiful. Ji Qingshi had never seen anyone more stunning in her life. Even after working as her assistant and encountering several celebrities, none of them, in Ji Qingshi’s eyes, could compare to Ren Jiao.

Someone this beautiful, wasn’t it only natural for anyone to feel a flutter of attraction toward her?

Especially since, in front of Ji Qingshi, she never seemed distant, not like a dazzling star hanging high in the night sky, but just an ordinary, lively, mischievously playful girl who loved to tease.

Ji Qingshi had realized long ago that she was attracted to women. So, as a normal adult, facing such an extraordinary girl. Wasn’t it only natural to feel a fleeting moment of infatuation?

She didn’t believe the flutter in her heart just now was lasting love. It was merely a momentary thrill from close physical contact. She was acutely aware of the gap between her and Ren Jiao. With reason prevailing, she was certain she couldn’t genuinely fall for such a dazzling, sought-after girl, let alone expect that this much-admired star would ever cast her gaze upon her.

Right, she mustn’t overthink it. To do so would be utterly lacking in self-awareness.

Ji Qingshi reminded herself silently.