The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 20

The abrasions on Ren Jiao’s waist weren’t initially severe, but because she had to practice with the harness every day until the concert ended, the same spot kept getting rubbed by the harness as she performed various aerial maneuvers. As a result, the injury stubbornly refused to heal and even showed signs of worsening.

On the seventh day of training, when they returned home, it was Ji Qingshi who helped Ren Jiao apply the ointment and massage the area. Seeing the bruise looking even darker than the day before, the lingering romantic thoughts from last night were replaced by heartache.

Ji Qingshi kneaded the bruised area with just the right amount of pressure, unable to hold back a mutter, “Do you really have to keep using the harness for another four days?”

Ren Jiao, as usual, buried her face in the pillow and replied in a muffled voice, “Mmm, probably not. Tomorrow we’re heading to Shanghai for rehearsals. The rehearsals follow a set schedule. Tomorrow is mainly for the solo stage, the day after is group choreography, and the following day is the full run-through. So, I won’t need the harness tomorrow. I’ll get a day’s rest.”

Well, a day’s rest was still a rest at least it would give the injury some time to recover.

Neither of them spoke further, quietly continuing with the ointment and massage.

Ren Jiao pressed her lips together, feeling the warmth of Ji Qingshi’s palm against her waist. For her, it was a bittersweet sensation both painful and pleasurable. On one hand, the way Ji Qingshi massaged her waist stirred up feelings that were sweet yet torturous. On the other, she thoroughly enjoyed being tended to by the person she adored.

What a contradictory person I am, she thought.

Ren Jiao gripped the edges of the pillow or perhaps she was just a despicable one, harboring improper, filthy thoughts about the kind-hearted SWAT officer. She hid them, too afraid to let her know, taking advantage of her gentleness and goodwill to satisfy her own unspeakable desires.

Another night of applying ointment, each lost in their own thoughts. Only this time, it was much quieter than the previous night. There were none of those suggestive conversations, yet an unspoken tension lingered in the air, thick with awkward ambiguity.

When they finished, Ji Qingshi smoothed down Ren Jiao’s clothes and reminded her to sleep carefully, avoiding any pressure on her injured side.

Ren Jiao hugged the pillow and tilted her head to look at her. “I sleep very properly,” she said.

Ji Qingshi chuckled lightly. “Oh? People who sleep badly never admit they sleep badly.”

“That’s not true!” Ren Jiao huffed in protest before lowering her voice to mutter, “You’ve never slept with me. How would you know if I toss and turn?”

“Hmm? What?” Her voice was too soft, and Ji Qingshi didn’t catch it, looking at her in confusion.

“Nothing.” Ren Jiao rolled onto her back and closed her eyes. “We have to get up early tomorrow for Shanghai. Time to sleep. Goodnight, Officer Ji.”

She shut her eyes after saying goodnight, but after a moment, she didn’t hear Ji Qingshi leave. Peeking one eye open, she saw Ji Qingshi still standing by the bed, looking as though she wanted to say something but hesitated.

“…What’s wrong?”

Ji Qingshi opened her mouth slightly, visibly uneasy, but in the end, she said nothing. Instead, she simply murmured, “Goodnight. Get some rest.”

Ren Jiao watched her retreating figure, deep in thought.

What was that about? She definitely had something to say just now. Why didn’t she? What was it?

No matter how clever Ren Jiao was, she couldn’t decipher Ji Qingshi’s thoughts from just a conflicted expression. She lay in bed for a long time, turning it over in her mind, but couldn’t figure out what Ji Qingshi had wanted to say.

It couldn’t possibly have been a confession. Right?

Ren Jiao thought self-deprecatingly that Ji Qingshi could never be interested in her. The woman was a decorated sharpshooter from the SWAT team, while she was just a minor idol covered in scandal. The gap between them was simply too vast.

…

The next morning, Ren Jiao and Ji Qingshi set off for Shanghai together in the team’s business van.

Ren Jiao had lost sleep the night before overanalyzing Ji Qingshi’s thoughts and was now exhausted, while Ji Qingshi remained as spirited as ever.

The van swayed through the morning rush hour traffic, lulling Ren Jiao into drowsiness. Her head tilted and came to rest on Ji Qingshi’s shoulder.

It was human nature to seek closeness with those they liked, and Ren Jiao was no exception. The crisp, clean scent of Ji Qingshi seeped into her nostrils, making her already weary mind even hazier. She settled in, nestling against Ji Qingshi’s shoulder without moving.

“Ji-jiejie, let me lean on you for a bit.”

At least she had the presence of mind to say something before dozing off. Though her unfiltered words slipped out, and she instinctively called her “jiejie” again.

Ji Qingshi sat ramrod straight, subtly adjusting her shoulder to make Ren Jiao more comfortable. The term “Ji-jiejie” sent a thrill through her, and she even broke into a dazed, silly smile.

Tan Jiajia, who was also in the van, happened to glance back and caught Ji Qingshi’s goofy grin before she could hide it.

Tan Jiajia: “?”

What was this relative of Jiao Jiao’s grinning about?

No one knew why Ji Qingshi was smiling like that not even Ji Qingshi herself realized it. Just a simple term of endearment was enough to keep her happy the entire ride.

Then, when they reached the highway rest stop and Ren Jiao woke up, “Ji-jiejie” became “Officer Ji” again.

“Officer Ji, where are we now?”

“…”

Ji Qingshi rubbed her numb arm, her expression darkening once more.

“About an hour away from Shanghai.”

Ren Jiao had slept for nearly two hours, shaking off most of her drowsiness. When she looked up, she noticed Ji Qingshi’s odd expression—similar to last night, that unmistakable look of having something to say but holding back.

Right now, it was just the two of them in the van. The driver had gone to the restroom, and Tan Jiajia had taken the two assistants out for a break, claiming they were going to buy milk tea.

With no one else around, it was the perfect opportunity. Ren Jiao leaned closer to Ji Qingshi and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”

Ji Qingshi hesitated, struggling to find the right words. Should she just say, I’m upset because you stopped calling me jiejie? She’d rather die than admit that!

After wrestling with it, she still couldn’t bring herself to say it, her face flushing with frustration.

Ren Jiao was baffled. What’s going on? Her mind raced, trying to recall if she had done anything to upset Ji Qingshi these past two days. Probably not, right? I haven’t done anything. If anything, she’s the one who applied medicine for me, who touched me. I didn’t even complain.

When Tan Jiajia returned, she immediately sensed the strange tension between the two in the backseat. One was stiffly leaning against the window, while the other propped her chin on her hand, staring outside, with a noticeable gap between them.

What happened? Weren’t they just cuddled up together sleeping earlier? All cozy and clingy. How did this happen? We were only gone for milk tea, and now there’s a whole galaxy between them?

Tan Jiajia blinked and sidled up to Ren Jiao. “What’s going on? Did you fight with your Ji-jiejie?”

Ji Qingshi’s eyelid twitched, and she discreetly perked up her ears, shifting from leaning against the window to sitting upright closer, so she could hear better.

Ren Jiao was startled by Tan Jiajia’s sudden exclamation of “Sister Ji.” She had indeed privately referred to Ji Qingshi that way in chats, but never to her face. And what was this about “your family”? Since when was she part of her family?

“Who’s fighting? We’re not kids,” Ren Jiao coughed lightly, straightening up in her seat.

Tan Jiajia’s gaze flickered between the two, thinking to herself, Alright, if you say you’re not fighting, then you’re not. No need to get so worked up about it.

“Here, drinks for you two. Yours is a mixed milk tea, and your Sister Ji’s is lemon water.” As Ren Jiao’s teammate, Tan Jiajia knew her preferences. As for Ji Qingshi, they had known each other for a while now. Ren Jiao had mentioned that Ji Qingshi disliked overly sweet drinks and preferred something sour, so lemon water was perfect.

Ren Jiao took the drink casually. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Ji Qingshi nodded at Tan Jiajia in gratitude.

Tan Jiajia smiled back before turning away.

Ren Jiao pulled out the lemon water and handed it to Ji Qingshi. “It’s still cold, Officer Ji… Sister.”

Not wanting to reveal Ji Qingshi’s identity in front of her unaware teammate, Ren Jiao smoothly switched to “Sister” the very term Ji Qingshi had been hoping for.

Hearing her say it, Ji Qingshi stared at her for two seconds, confirming that Ren Jiao was fully awake and not just mumbling in exhaustion. Instantly, the lingering awkwardness dissipated, and Ji Qingshi’s usual dazed smile returned as she accepted the lemon water.

That smile made Ren Jiao realize something. She might have just figured out what had been bothering Ji Qingshi earlier.

No way…?

Am I not just imagining things?

She cares about what I call her?

Unsure, Ren Jiao decided to test it out.

Watching Ji Qingshi take a couple of sips, she leaned in closer and asked, “Sister, is it good?”

Ji Qingshi squinted happily and nodded. “Very.”

Ren Jiao studied her expression before leaning in even closer, whispering just loud enough for the two of them to hear, “Jiajia’s thoughtful. I told them before that Officer Ji likes sour drinks, so she made sure not to add sugar for you.”

The moment the title changed back, Ji Qingshi’s lips tightened around the straw, and the warmth in her eyes dimmed slightly. She looked like she was about to sulk again.

“…”

So, it really was because of that.

Ren Jiao was stunned, but at the same time, she found Ji Qingshi utterly adorable.

The upright SWAT officer wore her heart on her sleeve. Her expressions shifted with the titles she liked. Hearing “Sister” made her smile, while anything else made her withdraw. That one word seemed to be the switch controlling her mood.

Ren Jiao was completely charmed. Could someone this cute really exist?

Realizing Ji Qingshi cared about the term of address sent Ren Jiao’s heart pounding wildly, her excitement barely contained. She didn’t dare ask why Ji Qingshi cared, nor did she let herself dwell on it too deeply. But at the very least, it proved that Ji Qingshi didn’t want to keep her at a distance.

Even something as small as a name could bridge the gap between them.

Suppressing the fluttering in her chest, Ren Jiao kept her expression neutral, though she subtly inched even closer to Ji Qingshi.

“This shop does seasonal fruit teas. Their summer grape tea is super refreshing. I think you’d like it, Sister Ji.”

With that simple, casual remark, she effortlessly smoothed over the earlier tension.

Ren Jiao watched, satisfied, as Ji Qingshi’s eyes crinkled into a smile once more.