The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 18

The first concert of S Group after the New Year was scheduled for the Lantern Festival in Shanghai. All members returned to training on the fifth day of the lunar New Year, and after seven days of intensive rehearsal, they headed to Shanghai for final preparations.

With the change in management to Huaying Media, a powerhouse in the industry and S Group’s already massive popularity, every one of their concerts drew significant attention. The Shanghai tour had been approved long ago, though adjustments were made due to the previous company’s issues. After negotiations between the new company and the organizers, the date was set for the Lantern Festival.

Given the timing, the concert’s theme was adjusted accordingly, leaning into a traditional Chinese aesthetic.

On the fifth day of the New Year, the entire group gathered at the company for a meeting to finalize the setlist.

Tours typically followed a fixed thematic framework, with a core setlist that remained largely unchanged across performances. Within this structure, minor adjustments were made to align with each concert’s specific sub-theme.

“For this Shanghai concert with its traditional Chinese theme, should we switch out a few songs?” asked Cen Shu, the group’s manager, seeking input from the members.

As the leader and main vocalist, Ren Jiao shared her thoughts: “We can replace the group songs in the third part of the setlist with two traditional-style tracks. The dance solos could also feature Chinese-inspired choreography.”

The dance arrangements were handled by the group’s three main dancers. For every performance, they would tweak the original choreography to better suit the theme, and they also helped design solo stages for each member.

The vocal arrangements were overseen by the main singers, especially Ren Jiao, who participated in adapting all the songs.

The members quickly fell into lively discussions, deciding which songs to modify. Cen Shu took notes and relayed the changes to the organizers.

“After Shanghai, there’s one more stop in Hangzhou. Once those two concerts are done, all previously announced tour dates will be completed. The company and I have discussed it. We won’t rush into more tour dates right away. Instead, we’ll focus on producing a new album. This album is crucial! It marks your rebirth under the new company. We’ll be working with Javen, who was thoroughly impressed by your performance during the concert and has agreed to produce the entire album.”

Cen Shu delivered more exciting news, and the members buzzed with excitement at the prospect of collaborating with Javen.

Her gaze then settled on Ren Jiao. “Jiaojiao, you can submit the songs you’ve written before for consideration. With the new company and producers, things won’t be as half-hearted as they were in the past.”

Ren Jiao’s eyes widened, her usually cool expression flickering with barely contained joy. Over the years, she had written several songs, but opportunities for proper production were scarce. Tian Ding Entertainment had never been willing to invest in quality arrangements.

She had tried to include her own compositions in previous albums, but the company’s dismissive attitude and refusal to increase production budgets left her disillusioned. She didn’t trust Sheng Dingzhe either, so she eventually gave up. Before this, S Group’s songs were mostly cheap, pre-made tracks from music libraries, and their music videos were similarly low-effort. If not for the members’ own creative input in stage adaptations and designs, their performances might not have drawn any attention at all.

“After the tours in Shanghai and Hangzhou, we’ll start preparing for the production of the new album. Once the album is released, we’ll coordinate the next round of touring.” Cen Shu outlined the long-term plans for them. “Alright, that’s all for today’s meeting. Training camp begins right after we adjourn.”

The training location was still the rehearsal studio partnered with Huaying Entertainment, conveniently located next to the company. The seven-day intensive training officially commenced.

The first day naturally focused on rearranging the music and choreography. Although the songs and dances were set, they made minor adjustments for each performance.

…

The seven members sat in a circle on the carpet. Lead dancer Shen Linglong spoke first: “So we’ve settled on ‘Feitian’ and ‘Red Candle’ for the traditional-style songs, right? The choreography for ‘Red Candle’ hardly needs any changes, but I plan to make some major adjustments to ‘Feitian.’ The Shanghai concert will be held in a stadium, which offers more stage flexibility than temporary setups. I want to add a wire-flying segment during the interlude near the end. ”

After all, the song was called “Feitian” (Flying to the Sky), and Shen Linglong hoped to create a more stunning visual impact for the live audience.

“But who’s going to do the wire-flying?” Maknae Zhang Meng voiced the pressing question. “I’m afraid of heights.”

“Me too. ” Sub-vocalist Tan Jiajia timidly raised her hand.

Two of the seven members had acrophobia.

Shen Linglong’s gaze shifted to the remaining four members.

Ren Jiao asked, “How do you plan to choreograph this part? How many people will be on wires?”

Shen Linglong held up two fingers. “At least two.”

A phoenix soaring through the sky, reborn from flames. It wouldn’t be aesthetically pleasing to have just one lonely figure flying on a grand stage.

After a moment of contemplation, Ren Jiao said, “I can do it.”

“Huh?” Shen Linglong hadn’t expected her to volunteer and instinctively shook her head. “Even though it’s an interlude, there’s a high-pitched harmony in that section. We’re singing live, and you’re needed for those high notes.”

The main vocalist skipping the high notes to fly on wires?

Ren Jiao smiled. “It’s fine. Jiajia can handle it. She can’t do the wires because of her fear of heights. Besides me, we have three other strong vocalists in the group. Everyone can manage; don’t worry about the harmonies.”

“Then I’ll take the other spot. I’m not afraid of heights, and Linglong, you’ll need to lead the dance. With three lead dancers in the group, this segment on the ground will require all three of you to guide.” Fu Yu, one of the group’s four main vocalists, raised her hand. “Jiajia and Mengmeng can handle the harmonies.”

With the dance portion settled, they needed to bring in a coach for training. The dance studio had wire-flying equipment, though not as advanced as the venue’s setup. Still, they could practice the basics and refine the movements before adapting to the actual stage during rehearsals.

From the start of training, Ren Jiao had been working tirelessly. She was responsible for rearranging the music, practicing wire-flying, and rehearsing group dances with everyone. With only 24 hours in a day, she wished she could stretch them into 48. On the busiest days, she even slept in the break room.

Ji Qingshi quietly stayed by her side, watching her rely on coffee to stay alert each day, his heart filled with indescribable emotions. Sometimes, when she pushed herself too hard, he wanted to urge her to rest. But the words died on his lips whenever he saw the sparkle in her eyes as she poured her heart into the stage she loved.

In the end, all Ji Qingshi could do was offer her heartfelt encouragement and support, over and over again.

Using a wire harness isn’t an easy task. While it’s slightly better for girl group members with dance training, performing graceful dance moves mid-air is still genuinely difficult.

On the sixth day of training, Ren Jiao and Ji Qingshi returned home together.

The wound on Ji Qingshi’s left arm had already scabbed over, so it no longer needed daily dressing changes and wouldn’t be affected by water. She began considering whether she should move back to the apartment she rented downstairs. After hesitating for a day, she finally brought it up that evening after returning home.

“Since the dressing doesn’t need changing anymore, I’ll go back to staying downstairs tonight,” Ji Qingshi said, standing in the entryway without taking off her shoes, voicing the thought she had been wrestling with all day.

As the words left her mouth, Ji Qingshi felt a belated sense of loss. She couldn’t quite define her current emotions. Logically, she should move back downstairs, but she was also afraid of hearing Ren Jiao agree without a second thought.

Ren Jiao stared at her blankly, taking a long moment to process what she had just said. The two stood facing each other in the entryway, neither speaking for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Ji Qingshi kept her gaze slightly lowered, avoiding Ren Jiao’s expression. As the silence stretched, she could clearly feel her disappointment growing. Ren Jiao probably won’t ask me to stay… right? Under normal circumstances, no one would. After all, she had rented the apartment downstairs, and it had been sitting empty for some time.

“My waist hurts a little today.” Ren Jiao suddenly broke the silence with an abrupt, seemingly random remark.

“Huh?” Ji Qingshi looked up at her in surprise.

Ren Jiao stepped closer; her expression tinged with a hint of grievance. “The wire harness training has been too intense lately. The equipment left bruises on my waist, and it’s a bit sore. So… could you stay a little longer?”

“?”

For a moment, Ji Qingshi couldn’t grasp the connection between Ren Jiao’s bruised waist and her staying.

“Can you help me apply the medicine? Please?” Ren Jiao hooked a finger around the hem of Ji Qingshi’s down jacket, giving it a gentle tug, her tone bordering on coquettish.

“I…” Ji Qingshi’s mind buzzed. Where? Her waist? Applying medicine? Me? I’m supposed to do it?

“Is that a no?” Ren Jiao’s beautiful eyes and brows drooped further, looking utterly pitiful, like a neglected kitten abandoned by its heartless owner.

Heat rushed to Ji Qingshi’s head, and she nodded immediately. “Of course, I can!”

Ren Jiao’s expression instantly brightened, her lips curving into a smile as she waited for Ji Qingshi to change her shoes before tugging her inside by the sleeve.

“Change your clothes first, then I’ll help you with the medicine.” Concerned about the severity of Ren Jiao’s injury, Ji Qingshi lowered her gaze and asked, “Does it hurt badly? Is it just from the harness, or did you sprain something too? I see you flying around in the air every day, doing all those moves. I’m really worried you might twist something if you’re not careful.”

Seeing how worried Ji Qingshi was, Ren Jiao’s heart swelled with warmth. When Ji Qingshi looked at her, she tried her best to suppress the smile tugging at her lips, not wanting her happiness to show too obviously. Only she knew just how much joy and excitement she was hiding inside.

Ren Jiao couldn’t quite remember how long it had been perhaps ever since the night of the attack on Little New Year’s Eve but she had known, deep down, that her feelings for Ji Qingshi had taken on a different hue.

These feelings might have sprouted even earlier, but she hadn’t realized it. Perhaps it was during the times she teased Ji Qingshi, or when Ji Qingshi showed such earnest concern for the investigation into her mother’s car accident or maybe it had been love at first sight? None of that mattered anymore. Ren Jiao couldn’t quite sort it out herself. All she knew was that she liked Ji Qingshi.

Because she liked her, she had taken the initiative to invite Ji Qingshi to stay at her place and helped apply her medicine. Because she liked her, she had those unspeakable thoughts when she saw her body and wanted even more to tease her, to see that adorably silly expression on her face.

She liked Ji Qingshi, but she wasn’t supposed to nor could she show it.

Yet she couldn’t control the urge to get closer. Even just a few more days by her side would be enough.

She knew this was an incredibly selfish act, but she simply couldn’t help herself.