The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 24

The fact that the internationally renowned cellist was actually the teacher of Ren Jiao’s mother sent shockwaves through many present including Ren Jiao herself. Among the group, only Ji Qingshi was an outsider to the music world, but seeing everyone else’s stunned reactions, she quickly deduced that this unassuming old man before them was someone extraordinarily distinguished.

Having retired many years ago, Old Master Guo had rarely encountered a young talent he truly admired. Discovering that this promising newcomer was the daughter of his former student filled him with pleasant surprise, prompting him to marvel at the serendipity of fate.

Master Guo wished to speak more with Ren Jiao, to learn about her and her mother’s life over the years. However, constrained by time and place, they agreed to postpone further conversation, arranging to visit her mother at the nursing home together when schedules permitted.

A mentor who cherished talent, Master Guo exchanged contact information with Ren Jiao and even revealed that he would participate in S-Group’s new album as a surprise guest potentially handling the arrangement for their title track.

This announcement left not only Ren Jiao but also Javen and Lian Na utterly astonished. Initially, Master Guo had never mentioned this intention. Yet now, after meeting his beloved former student’s daughter, the retired maestro who had long sought only a peaceful retirement volunteered to contribute to the album’s production.

Just how deeply had Ren Jiao’s mother been cherished by Master Guo?

The elder chose not to dwell on the past, especially with outsiders’ present.

Throughout his illustrious career, Master Guo had mentored countless gifted students, many of whom achieved notable success in music, whether grand or modest. Yet among them, only Ren Xiuxian, Ren Jiao’s mother occupied such a special place in his heart, not for any extraordinary reason, but because of lingering regret.

Unlike her peers, Ren Xiuxian had been forced to abandon further studies and a performance career due to health issues, eventually losing contact altogether. This unfulfilled potential had left Master Guo with an enduring sense of loss.

Leaving the company, Ren Jiao remained dazed, struggling to process the surreal turn of events.

Ji Qingshi drove her home, noting her distraction. Only after they arrived did she ask, “Are you okay?”

Ren Jiao snapped out of her reverie, recognizing the concern in Ji Qingshi’s tone. “I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m just shocked. I never imagined this connection to Master Guo. My mother never mentioned it.”

Ren Jiao excelled at emotional regulation, rarely allowing herself to be overwhelmed.

“Recently, I’ll mostly be at home preparing new songs, occasionally going to the company for meetings with the other members,” she said, fetching two glasses of juice from the kitchen. “What about you, sis? Any important work coming up?”

The term “sis” now rolled off her tongue with effortless ease, and Ji Qingshi found it increasingly pleasing to hear. Both had silently embraced this form of address, finding it mutually comfortable and natural.

“My job is to protect you. Wherever you go, I go,” Ji Qingshi replied. “Unless temporarily summoned by the task force for sniper missions or meetings. I’ll be right by your side.”

Her words brought Ren Jiao joy, but at the same time, she faintly realized the inevitable parting that lay ahead. Ji Qingshi was only by her side now because of the mission assigned to her by her superiors. Once the task was completed, she would leave immediately and return to the SWAT team; that was where she truly belonged.

In the end, Ji Qingshi didn’t belong to her. She had only come into her life because of the mission. Their connection had begun with the mission, and naturally, it would end when the mission did. This was something she should have accepted from the very beginning. There was nothing unacceptable about it.

She should accept it. No matter when that ending came, she should face it calmly. Just having the chance to know Ji Qingshi was already a stroke of luck in her life, a brief blessing after crawling out of the mud. She should be content, there was nothing to be dissatisfied about.

Ren Jiao lowered her gaze to conceal her emotions and handed the juice to Ji Qingshi, saying, “If you need to go out, Sister, I’ll wait for you at home.”

Ji Qingshi thought for a moment and suggested, “If it’s a crime scene, there’s no way around it. But if it’s just a meeting, you can come with me if you’re free.”

“Hmm?” Ren Jiao looked up at her.

“You should go out for a walk every day. Keeping active is good for your health. Even for songwriting, staying cooped up at home all the time won’t put you in the right state, right?”

“True.” Ren Jiao didn’t refuse Ji Qingshi’s kindness. Besides, she really wanted to spend more time with her. “Then if you have a meeting, I’ll go with you. But won’t that be inconvenient?”

After all, if it was a meeting for the task force, Ren Jiao, as an outsider, might cause trouble for Ji Qingshi.

“It’s fine. You’re not entirely unrelated to the case. And the provincial department has a dedicated lounge. You can wait for me there.”

Though there wasn’t even a hint of a meeting scheduled yet, the two had already reached an agreement on the matter.

After that, Ren Jiao threw herself into another round of busyness, spending most of her time at home composing and occasionally going to the company to discuss progress with the other members and Producer Javen. Under Ji Qingshi’s supervision, she went out for half an hour of exercise every day. Staying indoors all the time wasn’t good for her health.

Time quickly moved into March. The weather in Bincheng entered the unpredictable phase of lingering spring chill, with temperatures fluctuating wildly. Many people fell ill during this period.

Thanks to Ji Qingshi’s insistence on exercise, Ren Jiao’s health improved significantly. This year’s harsh spring chill didn’t bring her down instead, she was full of energy every day.

During this time, the production of the new album was well underway. The musical style had been finalized, and the title track had even entered the arrangement stage. Producer Javen lived up to his reputation as a golden producer not only was he highly skilled with impeccable taste, but he was also diligent and responsible. Under his guidance, the quality of this album was bound to be the strongest since S-Group’s debut.

This excited Ren Jiao. It seemed she could finally set aside all those unhappy things and focus on the music she loved. She had contributed to many of the songs on this album, which was why she had pursued music in the first place.

True to his word, Mr. Guo had stepped in to arrange the title track for S-Group’s new album. He even incorporated cello elements into the arrangement, personally performing the cello part for the studio master recording.

This would absolutely be a bombshell in today’s music industry. If marketed properly, this new album which doesn’t even have a shadow of existence yet would attract widespread attention, potentially becoming the year’s hottest topic.

However, after discussing it with Javen, Cen Shu decided to suppress the news and refrain from early marketing. Appropriate promotion can yield positive feedback, but excessive or premature marketing often triggers backlash and aversion among the general public.

Cen Shu had an excellent grasp of this balance. Currently, only the title track of the album had been finalized. Although Elder Guo had confirmed his participation, releasing the news too early for marketing purposes would indeed generate massive short-term hype. But over time, it would also invite unnecessary discussions.

The members focused solely on their creative work, leaving the promotional matters entirely to Cen Shu. They trusted her capabilities implicitly.

On the day of the title track recording, Ren Jiao took Elder Guo to the sanatorium to visit the student he had been longing to see.

The sight of Ren Xiuxian lying frail and pale on the hospital bed stirred deep emotions in Elder Guo. Memories of the past flooded back, and his eyes reddened. He even offered to contact international medical specialists in this field to examine his former student.

After leaving the ward, Elder Guo spoke privately with Ren Jiao. “Though I don’t know the specifics, seeing your mother like this, that child in military camouflage in her room, and the one who’s always by your side. This old man can roughly guess what kind of trouble you and your mother are facing.”

His voice was low and earnest. “If life is too difficult, perhaps you should consider my suggestion. Come abroad with me to further your cello studies at a higher level and perform internationally in the future. On one hand, it’s a brilliant path with a radiant future. On the other, it’s also a much safer option. Moreover, your mother could receive treatment from more advanced medical teams overseas.”

Ren Jiao pressed her lips together and fell silent.

Elder Guo, with his sharp insight and rich experience, had discerned the danger she and her mother were in. His proposal was indeed tempting. Going abroad would not only secure a brighter, smoother future but also allow her to evade the potential threats posed by the Wei family once and for all.

In the end, Ren Jiao smiled and shook her head. “No, Teacher Guo. Thank you.”

Elder Guo sighed. “You don’t have to reject me so quickly. Take your time to think it over. As an idol now, you’ll inevitably face a difficult transition period in the future. It’s an unavoidable trend in this industry, whether here or abroad. But if you choose to study classical music with me overseas, my connections will ensure you don’t have to worry about such things. You’d only need to focus on your craft. And your mother could receive better treatment abroad.”

Ren Jiao glanced at Ji Qingshi before replying, “I understand what you mean, Teacher Guo. But I still want to see the path I’ve chosen through to the end. Besides, I’m not alone. ”

Becoming an idol had been her choice, and even if the transition later proved arduous, it would remain her choice. On this journey, she wasn’t walking alone, she had six teammates by her side. Years of living and working together had long transcended mere colleague relationships; they were now like sisters. If she accepted Elder Guo’s offer and left for abroad now, it would mean abandoning the group and these sisters prematurely. A decision she simply couldn’t make.

The S Group belonged to the seven of them. It was their collective efforts that had brought them to where they were today, and they had promised to take this group even further into the future. Even after they had all transitioned to new paths, the group would never disband. They would reunite every year, and she couldn’t possibly be the first to break that promise.

Besides, she didn’t want to be so far away from Ji Qingshi. Even if this was a love with no hope, one that would never come to pass. Even if Ji Qingshi would leave once her mission was complete, and their chances of meeting again would be rare, she still wanted to be in the same city as her.

Seeing her firm resolve, Elder Guo didn’t press further and simply said, “Take your time to think it over. If you change your mind, just let me know anytime. After all, I’m retired and staying in the country for good. I’ll reach out soon and arrange for some specialists to examine your mother’s condition. Hopefully, we can find a better treatment plan.”

Ren Jiao felt genuine gratitude toward Elder Guo. “Thank you so much, Teacher Guo.”