The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 38

That night ended on a sour note, and the two didn’t see each other for a long time afterward. Ji Qingshi had spoken harshly in her anger that evening, leaving herself heartbroken while also striking a nerve in Ren Jiao. In the end, both wounded parties chose to avoid each other to preserve their dignity.

To ensure she wouldn’t run into Ji Qingshi, Ren Jiao had to stay home as much as possible. Fortunately, there wasn’t any urgent work lately preparing for her new album could be done through online meetings.

When Sister Cen learned about her situation, she sighed repeatedly, her expression full of unspoken words.

Ren Jiao had no energy to analyze Sister Cen’s expression. She was in too much pain. Even if there were work right now, she feared her current state would only drag things down.

Seeing the heavy dark circles under Ren Jiao’s eyes, Sister Cen couldn’t help but ask with concern, “Are you okay?”

Ren Jiao forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

Had her smile not looked more miserable than tears, Sister Cen might have believed her.

Matters of the heart were something outsiders couldn’t meddle in. Sister Cen knew the root of the problem lay entirely within Ren Jiao herself. She had tried to advise her, but it hadn’t made much difference. Pushing further would only breed resentment.

In the end, she could only sigh again. “Take some time to rest at home these days. As for that commercial we discussed earlier, the contract is being finalized. Once it’s done, we’ll see when the brand wants to shoot the ad. You’ll have to go out for that.”

Work was unavoidable, and Ren Jiao understood that. She nodded. “Got it. Thanks, Sister Cen.”

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, quietly ushering in May. During the Labor Day holiday, the brand sent a notice. They were to head to Shanghai in the next couple of days for the ad shoot.

This was a major event for the entire S Group, their first top-tier commercial since switching companies. Everyone took it very seriously.

Two days in advance, Ren Jiao sent Ji Qingshi a message, informing her about the Shanghai work trip.

The two hadn’t spoken in half a month. Despite living just a floor apart, they hadn’t crossed paths, and their chat history had gathered dust.

When Ji Qingshi received the message, she was at home, punching a sandbag. Heartbreak had left her restless, and she vented her frustration on the bag daily.

Seeing Ren Jiao’s message about going to Shanghai, she pressed her lips together, her emotions a tangled mess.

Avoiding each other for half a month hadn’t achieved what Ji Qingshi had hoped. She thought time apart would dull her feelings, at least easing the pain of heartbreak, allowing her to gradually let go of her affection.

But reality proved her completely wrong. On the surface, she seemed calmer day by day, but it was all a facade.

The moment she saw Ren Jiao’s message and realized their paths would cross in Shanghai, the first emotion that surged from the depths of her heart was joy. No matter how much she tried to suppress it, she couldn’t lie to herself. Only after the joy came hesitation, awkwardness, unease, and the lingering embers of anger she hadn’t fully extinguished.

Ji Qingshi felt she was beyond saving. She had never considered herself the lovesick type. After all, she had never truly liked anyone before and didn’t know what it felt like.

No matter how lovestruck she was, she knew there was nothing she could do. Ren Jiao had rejected her outright, and she wasn’t about to keep banging her head against a wall.

Forget it. At least they could still see each other, that was good enough. Just being able to look at her was enough. Every day they spent together now was one less day remaining. Soon, she would have to move out of here anyway.

The task force had already made their final arrangements. By May 17th at the latest, everything would be over. That would also be the day she completed her mission and returned to her team.

…

On May 5th, all members of Group S took a car to Hu City, with Ji Qingshi still following Ren Jiao closely to protect her.

But Tan Jiajia, who was in the same car as Ren Jiao, quickly noticed something was off. Today, Ji Qingshi had taken the passenger seat, leaving Qianqian to sit in the back. Throughout the entire ride, Ren Jiao and Ji Qingshi didn’t exchange a single word not even a glance.

Tan Jiajia kept looking back and forth between them, puzzled about what had happened between the two. Meanwhile, Qianqian quietly hid in the back seat, her eyes sparkling.

Never underestimate the imagination of a fangirl. While Tan Jiajia was agonizing over what had gone wrong between them, Qianqian was secretly shipping them.

If Tan Jiajia knew what Qianqian was thinking, she’d probably knock her head open to see what was inside. These two were clearly not on good terms. They weren’t even acknowledging each other anymore. What was there to ship?

But then again, Tan Jiajia just didn’t understand fangirls. In Qianqian’s mind, this kind of cold war between them only made it feel more real! Seriously, what real couple never had any friction and just stayed polite and cheerful all the time?

Take Tan Jiajia and Ren Jiao, for example. So many fans shipped them. They were even the most popular pairing in the group but Qianqian often scoffed at it. Not because they lacked chemistry, but because they were obviously just close friends. There was no sexual tension whatsoever.

Not like Ji Qingshi and Ren Jiao. Even their cold war carried a unique tension that only real couples had.

Unlike their last trip to Hangzhou for the concert, this time Ji Qingshi instructed Cen Shu to book her a separate room. She wouldn’t be staying with Ren Jiao.

Cen Shu froze at the request, giving her a long look before finally shaking her head and sighing.

Ji Qingshi’s room was arranged directly across from Ren Jiao’s, making it easier for her to keep an eye on the opposite room at all times.

When Tan Jiajia found out, the questions and curiosity in her eyes only deepened. Ren Jiao’s expression darkened further, but in the end, she said nothing.

Their work in Hu City involved shooting advertisements, which took three consecutive days, followed by a private gathering arranged by the brand.

The gathering wasn’t publicly announced. It was an exclusive, high-end dinner held in the banquet hall of a hotel owned by the brand. Aside from the top executives of the brand’s China division, other brand ambassadors were also present. The global luxury ambassadors were A-list celebrities. Oscar-winning actors but they had other commitments today and couldn’t make it. Instead, those with slightly lower-ranking titles attended.

Apart from the celebrities, there were also business partners invited by the brand. High-ranking executives from various industries, all unfamiliar faces to the young girls.

Cen Shu led them into the venue, quietly briefing them on who was who before guiding them to mingle with a few industry seniors.

Ji Qingshi followed Ren Jiao at a distance, close but not too close. For some reason, ever since arriving at this banquet, Ren Jiao had become visibly anxious, her reactions sluggish and uneasy.

Noticing Ren Jiao’s unusual reaction, Ji Qingshi’s sharp gaze swept around, thinking someone had entered who might have triggered an unpleasant feeling in Ren Jiao.

But after scanning the room, she found nothing suspicious. Just celebrities and business tycoons.

During the meal, the members of Group S sat together at one table. The private banquet organized by the brand wasn’t overly formal, and as everyone became more familiar, the atmosphere relaxed.

With fellow senior artists seated nearby, conversation flowed easily, and the mood was pleasant for a while.

Ren Jiao remained somewhat tense, though she didn’t show it overtly. Others hardly noticed, but Ji Qingshi, whose attention was entirely fixed on her, saw it clearly.

Ji Qingshi sensed that Ren Jiao seemed afraid of something or perhaps subconsciously resistant. But after searching the room, she couldn’t identify any problematic individuals. Was Ren Jiao resisting the banquet itself? But why?

Ji Qingshi didn’t understand. Given the awkwardness between them now, she couldn’t ask directly, so she simply continued observing silently.

After several rounds of drinks, the executives who frequented such gatherings were thoroughly intoxicated. The chatter grew louder, punctuated by unrestrained laughter.

That laughter seemed to flip a switch in Ren Jiao, dredging up unpleasant memories. Her face paled as she abruptly stood up and said flatly, “I’m going to the restroom,” before quickly walking away.

Ji Qingshi followed at a distance, mainly out of a sense of duty, but to her surprise, she witnessed an unexpected scene.

Ren Jiao had barely reached the restroom entrance when she was cornered by a drunken young man.

The man appeared to be in his late twenties, with a fair, delicate face, dressed in a pink suit and groomed to a slick, polished look.

He blocked Ren Jiao’s path, refusing to let her pass, even stepping forward to pin her against the wall. His drunken speech was slurred, but that didn’t stop him from spouting offensive remarks.

“Hey, have you made up your mind yet? Are you coming with me or not? Let me tell you, if you stick with me, you’ll have it all—my dad, my mom, with me backing you, you’ll get whatever you want in this industry.”

Ren Jiao retreated step by step until her back pressed against the wall. She raised her hands to push him away, frowning as she raised her voice. “Mr. Zhang, please behave yourself!”

“Behave myself? Hahahaha, what’s that? Do I need to behave? Who dares to say I don’t?”

With that, the man lunged forward, trying to grab Ren Jiao.

But before he could touch her, a sudden figure appeared before him. His vision blurred. He barely registered anything before a fist smashed into his nose, sending him staggering backward. Already drunk and unsteady on his feet, the force of the punch made it impossible for him to stay upright. He stumbled a few steps before collapsing onto the floor.

Ji Qingshi’s eyes blazed with fury. Seeing him on the ground didn’t quell her anger. She stepped forward, bending down to yank him back up.

She didn’t say a word. Rage burned white-hot in her chest, obliterating all rational thought. All she wanted was to beat this man senseless.

After a brief moment of shock, Ren Jiao snapped into action. She grabbed Ji Qingshi from behind in desperation, pleading urgently, “No, sister, don’t!”

Ji Qingshi finally understood what it meant to be “so angry that one’s hair stands on end.” She couldn’t think straight. No amount of pulling from Ren Jiao could quell her fury.

Seeing her truly enraged, Ren Jiao grew desperate. She threw her arms around Ji Qingshi’s waist, using all her strength to drag her back.

“Jiejie, calm down! Listen to me! You can’t keep hitting him!”

Ren Jiao’s voice still had an effect on Ji Qingshi. Feeling the warmth of the soft body clinging to her from behind, she instinctively eased her strength, but the fire in her chest still burned. She turned her head, fuming. “And you’re stopping me?! If I hadn’t followed, who knows what would’ve happened?! Let go! I’m teaching this bastard a lesson today!”

“Jiejie! Please, listen to me. Don’t hit him anymore! Someone like him isn’t worth it, but you… I don’t want you to get hurt.”

At that moment, Ji Qingshi froze. She heard the unspoken meaning in Ren Jiao’s words; her job, her career. She couldn’t keep laying hands on this man.

The commotion had drawn attention. Soon, security and event staff arrived. Upon realizing who the beaten man was, they hesitated, unsure how to handle the situation.

The man’s parents were present tonight. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have had the moral high ground, but seeing their son with a bruised nose bridge and blood streaming down his face, any parent would be furious. Spotting Ren Jiao, a minor celebrity. They immediately lost all reason, demanding she apologize.

A flash of humiliation crossed Ren Jiao’s face. Every moment of this night had been witnessed by Ji Qingshi, sending her heart plummeting. The most shameful side of her had still been exposed.

Numb, Ren Jiao stood there, ready to mutter an apology just to end things peacefully. But Ji Qingshi stepped in front of her.

“You think an apology is enough just because you demand one? Let’s see who’s really at fault here. Check the surveillance.” She waved her phone in one hand while pointing to the security camera in the corner with the other. “The footage is right there. How about we call the police and let them handle it?”

Then, her sharp gaze locked onto a security guard trying to slip away. Her voice turned icy. “I’d advise you not to try anything shady. Otherwise, you’ll regret it soon enough.”