The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 36

Cen Shu was absolutely right. When faced with Ji Qingshi’s confession, Ren Jiao couldn’t utter anything beyond the words “I’m sorry.” Even her rejection was nothing but repeated apologies. Something that was undoubtedly unfair to Ji Qingshi. Ren Jiao was too clever not to realize this, yet she had no other choice.

In Cen Shu’s eyes, Ren Jiao had sunk into a quagmire of self-doubt and insecurity, making no effort to struggle free, almost as if she had resigned herself to drowning in it.

Faced with this situation, even Cen Shu didn’t know how to advise her. Honestly, as a manager, Cen Shu wasn’t keen on her dating right now. If she successfully transitioned her career in a few years, she could date however she pleased the company would naturally have its own strategies to handle it. But at the moment, she was still an idol. Although domestic standards weren’t overly strict in this regard, the potential damage to her fanbase was easy to imagine. And on top of that, the person in question was another woman.

Rubbing her throbbing temples, Cen Shu finally sighed and said, “I think you should really take some time to think this through. Whatever you decide, just make sure it’s not something you’ll regret later.”

Truth be told, Cen Shu genuinely doted on the young women under her management. Right now, she should have just gone along with Ren Jiao’s decision. After all, if Ren Jiao herself had given up on the relationship, it aligned perfectly with a manager’s interests.

But Cen Shu couldn’t bring herself to do that. She truly cared about Ren Jiao’s well-being. Dating aside, what Ren Jiao needed most right now was to break free from the chains she had bound herself with.

If this relationship with Ji Qingshi could serve as a turning point, Cen Shu wouldn’t actually mind if the two ended up together.

Public relations were always manageable. Cen Shu wasn’t completely helpless in that regard. The fact that Ji Qingshi was a woman actually made things easier in some ways. No matter how intimate two women appeared, it could always be explained away. As long as there were no explicit photos, even kissing wouldn’t be a problem.

Still, despite these thoughts, Cen Shu had no idea how to handle the situation moving forward. Matters of the heart were ultimately personal, and no matter how much of a manager she was, she couldn’t interfere.

After much deliberation, she still couldn’t come up with a solution. The key lay with Ren Jiao herself, but she was stuck in a mental rut, and no amount of persuasion seemed to help.

Cen Shu decided to drop the subject entirely and move on. “I came here today to discuss work. I won’t meddle in your love life anymore aside from telling you to think carefully, there’s nothing else I can say.”

At the mention of work, Ren Jiao straightened slightly. “What work?”

“A new endorsement, a brand ambassador for a luxury cosmetics line under an international top-tier fashion house. It’s a group contract with a six-month probation period, after which the title will be upgraded.”

Cen Shu showed her the contract draft. It was indeed a globally renowned luxury brand, and securing a legitimate titled collaboration like this in the domestic market was already a huge achievement.

Ren Jiao was surprised. “Cen-jie, you even managed to land this brand?”

Cen Shu smiled. “It’s not just me! President Lian played a big role. The brand was already interested in collaborating with Huaying, and President Lian took me to a dinner with their business department.”

She didn’t elaborate on the negotiation details. There was no need. She and the artists each had their own roles to fulfill.

“Once the contract is finalized, we can schedule the ad shoot. It’ll be in Shanghai, probably by the end of the month.”

“Got it, sis.”

Cen Shu glanced at her and couldn’t help adding, “Don’t pay attention to the nonsense online. We’ve already taken legal action against most of the offenders, and the PR team will handle the follow-up with a unified debunking campaign.”

“Sis, I really don’t care,” Ren Jiao said, looking up at her earnestly.

Cen Shu sighed again and poked her forehead. “You’re only fooling yourself with that. If you truly didn’t care, you wouldn’t feel like you’re not good enough for Officer Ji.”

Ren Jiao frowned slightly and retorted, “Those two things aren’t related…”

“How aren’t they? It’s just your subconscious trying to separate them. If you really didn’t care, you’d be confident and certain that you’re just as good as anyone else not shaken by whatever strangers say online. Jiaojiao, you’re not inferior to anyone. That’s not just me comforting you; it’s the truth. You shouldn’t have to pay for those baseless rumors. Spreading lies is illegal, and the company and I will deal with them. We’ll clear away all the slander from these years, bit by bit.”

“I’m not saying all this just because I’m worried you’ll miss out on love. I’m saying it for your career. If you keep obsessing over this, it’ll seriously affect your future growth.”

Cen Shu spoke with unusual gravity, her tone firm. Ren Jiao suddenly realized. Cen Shu was subtly addressing her refusal to take on acting roles recently.

Ren Jiao lowered her head slightly, hesitating for a long time before speaking. “If it weren’t for me, my mom wouldn’t have had that emotional breakdown that day and then…”

“Whether you were there or not, that drunk driver wouldn’t have magically stayed sober that day!”

Cen Shu was tired of hearing her self-deprecating remarks and couldn’t help raising her voice, her tone sharper.

Ren Jiao pressed her lips together and fell silent. Unable to read her expression, Cen Shu frowned. “All you’re doing is blaming yourself for other people’s mistakes. It’s pointless! Just self-destructive.”

Knowing that Ren Jiao’s current emotional state wouldn’t benefit from too much lecturing, Cen Shu stopped herself in time. She stood up and said, “What do you have to eat at home? I was going to take you out, but given your mood, I doubt you’d want to go.”

Whether she wanted to go out or not was secondary. If she did, she’d have to invite Ji Qingshi along, which would only torment her. Cen Shu was being considerate, and Ren Jiao, sharp as she was, understood that.

“Sis, let me cook something for you.”

The fact that she was offering meant she probably hadn’t eaten all day. Cen Shu wanted to make sure she ate something. Heartbreak shouldn’t wreck her health.

Following Ren Jiao into the kitchen, Cen Shu leaned against the doorway and sighed after a moment. “I wonder if Officer Ji has eaten yet.”

Ren Jiao’s hands paused briefly. Her expression didn’t change, but Cen Shu could see the turmoil beneath the surface.

It was exasperating. She clearly cared deeply but insisted on pretending otherwise.

Because of Cen Shu’s remark, Ren Jiao unconsciously made extra food. She packed a portion into a thermal container and, after dinner, asked Cen Shu to take it downstairs on her way out.

Cen Shu looked at the insulated lunchbox being handed to her and was momentarily speechless, then couldn’t help but retort, “Did you even check the time? If she was hungry, couldn’t she have figured it out herself? What’s the point of this afterthought? If you were really worried, why didn’t you do something earlier?”

Ren Jiao pressed her lips into a thin line, saying nothing as she shoved the lunchbox into Cen Shu’s arms.

Cen Shu rolled her eyes internally but maintained her composed “big sister” demeanor on the surface. “Alright, I’m leaving. You stay home and think things over.”

With that final remark, Cen Shu turned and walked out the door, taking the emergency staircase downstairs.

The apartment the provincial bureau had rented for Ji Qingshi was just one floor below. Cen Shu descended the stairs and pressed the doorbell.

The bell rang three times before someone answered. The moment the door opened; Cen Shu couldn’t help but sigh. these two really were beyond words.

Ji Qingshi didn’t look too well. Her shoulder-length hair was disheveled, completely unkempt, a far cry from her usual sharp and polished demeanor.

Years of training in the SWAT team had instilled an exceptional level of discipline in Ji Qingshi. Even during these past few months when she’d left the unit to carry out a mission near Ren Jiao, Cen Shu had never once seen her slack off.

Every moment of every day, her posture was ramrod straight, her hair always neatly kept. Even at home, she’d tie it into a small ponytail at the back of her head.

This was the first time Cen Shu had ever seen her so defeated.

But then again, even in this state, Ji Qingshi still looked better off than Ren Jiao.

Seeing who was at the door, Ji Qingshi seemed surprised. “Cen-jie? What’s this about?”

Cen Shu studied Ji Qingshi and couldn’t help but lament inwardly about how hopeless her own kid was. If not for Ji Qingshi’s uncharacteristically messy appearance today, Cen Shu would’ve thought the officer hadn’t been affected at all by the breakup, given how calm she seemed.

At the end of the day, people are biased toward their own. Cen Shu was definitely partial to Ren Jiao. No matter how much she rationally questioned whether Ren Jiao was in the wrong, emotionally, she still wanted to speak up for her. What could she do? That was her kid.

“Jiaojiao was worried you hadn’t eaten, so she asked me to bring this to you.”

With that, she shoved the lunchbox into Ji Qingshi’s hands and made as if to leave immediately.

Her bluntness, however, didn’t sit well with Ji Qingshi. The moment Cen Shu appeared; Ji Qingshi had assumed she was here on Ren Jiao’s behalf to relay some message. She’d considered possibilities like being notified about work the next day or some other matter but never expected it to be food delivery.

“What is this supposed to mean?” Ji Qingshi frowned, her tone unusually petulant. “What is she playing at? She just rejected me last night, and now she’s sending you to bring me food?”

Cen Shu paused, turning back to look at her with an expression that seemed to say, Do I even need to spell it out?

Ji Qingshi’s temper flared. She thrust the lunchbox back toward Cen Shu. “Cen-jie, take it back to her. Thank her for the kindness, but I’ve already eaten. Just because I’m not staying at her place doesn’t mean I’ll starve to death.”

Cen Shu could tell she was just being stubborn and felt even more like sighing. Love really did make people act foolish. Officer Ji was usually so level-headed, yet now she was talking like some sulky kid.

“I’m just here to deliver something. Mission accomplished. I’ve got things to do back home later. If you want to return it, go give it to her yourself.”

“Big Sister Cen…” Ji Qingshi wanted to chase after her to hand over the meal box.

Cen Shu didn’t give her the chance, turning around to dissuade her: “There are cameras in the hallway, and my face isn’t exactly unfamiliar to the media. Officer Ji, don’t make things difficult for me.”

Ji Qingshi froze instantly. Though her temper was flaring, by nature, she would never willingly cause trouble for others.

“By the way, Officer Ji, whatever happened between you and Jiaojiao is none of my business. But if your mission isn’t over yet, and if she still needs to go out for work, please don’t let any issues show on the surface. Otherwise, it won’t be good for either of you.”

With those words, Cen Shu stepped into the elevator. Ji Qingshi felt deeply wronged, she was the one who had been rejected, and Ren Jiao hadn’t even given her an explanation beyond an apology. It hurt.

Bringing the meal box Cen Shu had delivered into the apartment, Ji Qingshi considered tossing it aside without a second thought, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

In the end, she opened it and started eating, cursing herself between bites for being so weak.

She hadn’t eaten anything all day. Her appetite had been nonexistent. Her earlier defiance in front of Cen Shu had just been bravado. Now, tasting the food Ren Jiao had made, the familiar flavor she had grown accustomed to over the past two months nearly brought tears to her eyes.