The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 25

Ren Jiao had been busy lately with the creation of her new album and frequently had to attend meetings at the company with her fellow group members. Ji Qingshi naturally followed her everywhere. While those who were busy didn’t feel the strain, Ji Qingshi, the idle one, found it incredibly dull.

Still, protecting Ren Jiao was her duty, and she took some pleasure in it, so she didn’t have much to complain about.

That day, Ren Jiao went to the company again to discuss revisions to the songs. Bored out of her mind and unwilling to sit in the break room with a bunch of assistants, Ji Qingshi wandered off to sit on a bench in the hallway, scrolling through her phone.

Online, news about S-Group was everywhere, with all sorts of topics trending daily. Most of it was residual hype from their concerts, especially performances like Soaring Sky, which had broken into mainstream discussions and were being analyzed endlessly on platforms like Weibo and Douban.

Unlike the past three years, the current buzz was mostly positive, with discussions focusing on choreography, vocal skills, and stage effects. Of course, negative voices still existed. The same old vile rumors and slander as before. Some were drowned out by the flood of casual discussions, while others occasionally surfaced, only to be swiftly countered by Cen Shu’s team with legal notices.

Fans were thrilled by the group’s newfound assertiveness, feeling vindicated after three years of frustration.

But those who took pleasure in spreading scandalous rumors especially about female celebrities weren’t happy. Many began making snide remarks.

“Switching to a big company really changes things. Now we can’t even speak freely.”

“Climbing the ladder and suddenly acting all high and mighty? Celebrities can’t be discussed now? Especially when they’re just a bunch of minor idols who aren’t even real stars!”

“Huaying’s really losing goodwill here. A proper film company signing a bunch of jumping-around little idols—what, are they planning to push them into acting now? Count me out! Do we really need more people polluting our screens?”

“Huaying, decades as a prestigious film studio, with so many high-grossing, critically acclaimed movies, so many hit dramas, so many award-winning actors and then suddenly they sign a girl group? Baffling.”

“Guess it’s just the era of chasing clout. S-Group has the number. They’re the hottest girl group in the idol economy boom these past few years. With their old company’s scandal, Huaying probably wanted to snatch this cash cow but I hope they don’t ruin their own reputation.”

“Clout my ass! Who knows whose bed they climbed into? Everyone knows what their old company was like. You think they stayed clean all those years? Only idiots would believe that!”

Comments like these still popped up occasionally. Even though Huaying’s professional PR team suppressed them, the opposition had their own organized groups. As soon as one wave was dealt with, another would emerge.

It was clear someone was systematically orchestrating this behind the scenes. Cen Shu had discussed it with Lian Na, and they decided to temporarily retreat, gather more evidence, and try to uncover who was really pulling the strings.

Lian Na agreed with Cen Shu’s approach. “The PR and marketing teams and resources are all yours to command. Handle it as you see fit. I trust your judgment.”

Cen Shu adjusted her thin-framed glasses and said, “Thank you for your trust, President Lian.”

A boss who offers high levels of trust and autonomy. Cen Shu admired Lian Na’s leadership style of trusting those she employed.

After leaving the general manager’s office, Cen Shu headed toward the conference room. Before she could reach the door, she spotted Ji Qingshi sitting on a bench in the hallway, clutching her phone with a look of fury.

Cen Shu walked over and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong, Miss Ji? With that expression, it looks like you’re about to grab a gun and shoot your enemy in the next second.”

Hearing her voice, Ji Qingshi looked up, her eyes still sharp and brimming with anger.

Cen Shu found this amusing. Since she wasn’t in a hurry to meet the girls in the conference room, she sat down beside Ji Qingshi. “What’s the matter? Did Jiaojiao upset you?”

Ji Qingshi shook her head. “No, it’s not about her. Well, actually, it is.”

“Hmm? So, is it or isn’t it?”

Frowning, Ji Qingshi shoved her phone screen in front of Cen Shu. “Why aren’t these people being sued?”

Cen Shu took a closer look and immediately understood Ji Qingshi’s anger. She had stumbled upon the defamatory rumors.

Pointing at the screen, Cen Shu asked, “Mind if I…?”

Ji Qingshi shook her head.

Cen Shu scrolled through Ji Qingshi’s phone and was surprised to find that she had actually gone into the comments section to argue with the trolls.

“Rumors are illegal!”

“Rumors are illegal!”

“Do you have proof? Spreading rumors is illegal!”

“…”

The SWAT officer wasn’t skilled in online debates, so every retort was just a simple “Rumors are illegal!” so blunt that it didn’t even provoke responses from the trolls.

Cen Shu clicked on one of the accounts Ji Qingshi had confronted. With her experience, a quick glance told her it was a bot account.

“These are all paid trolls. Suing them is pointless,” Cen Shu explained as she handed the phone back.

Ji Qingshi’s frown deepened. “Then sue the people behind them.”

Cen Shu raised an eyebrow. “Officer Ji, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The real targets are the ones pulling the strings—that’s why I haven’t wiped out these comments on a large scale.”

After switching companies, Cen Shu had gained significant leverage. Huaying had provided her with ample resources to swiftly eliminate these trolls’ remarks. But she had chosen not to, opting instead to follow the trail to the masterminds.

“Unlike verified influencers, these troll accounts are bots. With real people, you can pressure the platforms for their personal info and sue them directly. But bots are trickier, you have to trace who’s behind them. I’m keeping these comments up to follow the clues.”

As a SWAT officer, Ji Qingshi grasped the situation immediately. She clenched her jaw and pocketed her phone. “Is this kind of thing common?”

Cen Shu hesitated before sighing. “Very common. The previous company didn’t invest in reputation management for them, so these rumors were left to spread unchecked.”

Ji Qingshi pressed her lips together and fell into a brooding silence.

Cen Shu glanced at her, holding back some words. Over the past three years, ever since the group’s explosive rise to fame, the internet had been flooded with baseless gossip and malicious speculation. The entire group had suffered, but none more than Ren Jiao—the leader, whose popularity, looks, and talent made her the prime target.

Ji Qingshi’s connection to S-Group revolved entirely around Ren Jiao. Having protected her for a while now, they had grown close. If she was this furious over the current rumors, Cen Shu could only imagine how she’d react to the past slander against Ren Jiao.

Since it was all in the past, Cen Shu didn’t plan to elaborate further with Ji Qingshi.

“Regarding these rumors, I’ll expedite the investigation. You can rest assured, Officer Ji.” With these words, Cen Shu brought the conversation to a close. Just then, the meeting room door swung open, and Zhang Meng was the first to bounce out.

Ji Qingshi swallowed the questions she still wanted to ask, stood up, and peered past Zhang Meng into the meeting room.

“Sister Cen! Here to pick us up after work?”

Cen Shu ruffled her little head and smiled. “Yes, it’s about time. I’m here to arrange a ride for you all.”

Ji Qingshi noticed Ren Jiao still sitting inside, deep in discussion with another vocalist, Tan Jiajia probably not finished yet.

“Jiaojiao will need a bit more time,” Zhang Meng chirped. The youngest and most energetic of the group, she practically radiated excess vitality. Seeing Ji Qingshi looking inside, she knew she was waiting for Ren Jiao.

Ji Qingshi withdrew her gaze and gave her a gentle smile. “Alright, I’ll wait a little longer.”

One by one, the members left, heading home in the cars arranged by Sister Cen. Ren Jiao and Tan Jiajia stayed until the end, making final adjustments to the melody of a group song. Only after everything was settled did they finally pack up to leave.

In the midst of work, they hadn’t noticed the time slipping by. It wasn’t until they finished that they realized how late it had gotten. The sky outside the window had long since darkened.

Ren Jiao blinked, suddenly aware of the time, and hurried out of the meeting room. There, she saw Ji Qingshi and Cen Shu chatting in the hallway.

“Sister,” Ren Jiao called out softly.

Hearing her voice, Ji Qingshi stood and walked over. “All done?”

“Mhm. Jiajia and I were discussing changes to the song and lost track of time. I’m sorry for making you wait so long.” Ren Jiao felt guilty. Everyone else had left, and Ji Qingshi had to stay behind just for her while she had been so absorbed in work that she’d completely forgotten.

“Don’t mention it. You’ve been busy for so long. Are you hungry?” It was already 8 p.m., and Ren Jiao had only eaten lunch. She must be starving by now.

She hadn’t noticed before, but now that Ji Qingshi mentioned it, she really was hungry.

Seeing her instinctively touch her stomach, Ji Qingshi chuckled and picked up a food bag from the bench. “I figured you’d be hungry, so I bought dinner in advance. Let’s eat before heading home.”

Cen Shu also stood up, leisurely adding, “Your Sister Ji was worried you’d go hungry. She didn’t want to risk delivery taking too long or the food getting cold, so she went out to buy it herself. Even had the restaurant wrap it in multiple layers of insulation.”

Ren Jiao’s eyes widened as she looked from the bag in Ji Qingshi’s hand to Ji Qingshi herself, whose face had turned red at Cen Shu’s teasing.

Just then, Tan Jiajia emerged from the room and, overhearing Cen Shu’s words, joined in the teasing. “Tsk, seriously. Compared to this, I feel like an unloved little cabbage.”

Now it wasn’t just Ji Qingshi, Ren Jiao’s face burned too. She wasn’t just embarrassed; her heart was also racing with joy, thrilled by the knowledge of Ji Qingshi’s care for her. She had set boundaries for herself to avoid getting too close, yet she couldn’t resist the happiness that came with knowing Ji Qingshi favored her.

Even if this favor was likely just a reflection of Ji Qingshi’s kindness and warmth, to Ren Jiao, it was enough to warm her heart and make her giddy with delight.

Ji Qingshi, a little flustered, rubbed her nose. “Well, I bought plenty. If Miss Tan and Sister Cen don’t mind, you’re welcome to join us.”

Tan Jiajia and Cen Shu initially wanted to decline, but Ren Jiao, along with Ji Qingshi, kept persuading them. They were indeed a little hungry, and since Ji Qingshi had bought so much food, they didn’t insist on refusing.

The four of them had dinner together before leaving the office. Only one company van was available to drop them off, taking them home one by one.

By the time they got home, it was almost 10 p.m. Ren Jiao, exhausted from the long day, greeted Ji Qingshi briefly before heading to her room to shower.

Ji Qingshi reminded her, “Bring out your laundry after your shower. I’m going to start the washing machine. We’ll do it all together.”

They took turns showering. Ji Qingshi finished quickly and waited in the living room, idly scrolling through online updates.

This time, she didn’t come across any negative news, but why did things seem to be getting even weirder?

[“Peerless Beauty Ren” dual lead vocalists, dual visuals CP, S-Group’s ultimate pairing, a guaranteed win! So much sugar you’ll need to bulk-order insulin!]

Ji Qingshi: What the hell is this?!