The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 39

The situation reached a deadlock neither the Zhang parents nor Ji Qingshi were willing to back down.

Ren Jiao discreetly tugged at Ji Qingshi’s sleeve, wanting to say forget it. It was just a casual apology, after all. But Ji Qingshi shot her a glare.

“You weren’t the one in the wrong. He was the one who behaved inappropriately toward you. Hell, even the one who hit him was me, not you. From start to finish, you shouldn’t be the one apologizing.” At this, Ji Qingshi turned a cold gaze toward the Zhang parents. “They’re the ones who owe you an apology.”

The Zhang family held a certain status in Shanghai’s fashion circles. Chairman Zhang had never encountered someone as stubborn as Ji Qingshi in his life. Furious, he sneered, “Us apologize? You’re not even worth it.” Then, glancing at Ren Jiao standing behind Ji Qingshi, he added contemptuously, “Don’t think just because she’s some little idol. Even if she were a top-tier actress, she’d still have to apologize to me today! The spokespeople our company hires are all distinguished figures in the industry. She’s not qualified to disrespect us!”

Ji Qingshi stared at him and asked, “Do you even know what your son did?”

Chairman Zhang shrugged. “He can do whatever he wants.”

Ji Qingshi’s gaze grew colder, the flames in his eyes flaring up. It seemed like he might throw a punch at the man any second.

The commotion grew louder, drawing the attention of the event organizers, the other members of S-Group, and Cen Shu. After quickly grasping the situation, everyone’s expressions shifted in different ways.

The members of S-Group were visibly furious, standing protectively beside Ren Jiao as they glared at Chairman Zhang and his thoroughly drunk son.

The highest-ranking representative of the brand’s China division was a woman. Her expression was grim, her gaze toward Chairman Zhang carrying a subtle scrutiny and displeasure. Eventually, she took the initiative to ask Ren Jiao if she was alright, her tone gentle.

Cen Shu, ever the tactician, observed the situation quietly. After noting the brand executive’s expression, she immediately understood which side held the advantage today.

So, stepping forward in her role as manager, she approached Chairman Zhang to mediate. She began with a few flattering remarks to stroke his ego, then expressed regret over the incident, hoping both sides could let it go without further escalation.

Chairman Zhang’s eyes bulged. “What do you mean ‘both sides’? What right do you have to demand anything? She’s the one who hit my son today! Do you understand? My son is the victim here!”

Cen Shu’s smile remained unshaken, showing no trace of irritation. She merely said softly, “That’s not quite accurate, Chairman Zhang. Wasn’t your son the one who started all this? If he hadn’t laid hands on our artist, our people wouldn’t have had to act in ‘self-defense.’”

“Self-defense?!” Madam Zhang’s face turned pale with rage, her shrill voice echoing down the hallway. “My son was beaten up, and that little bitch walked away unscathed! And you’re calling it self-defense?! Besides, accusing my son of misconduct, I bet it was that little slut who seduced him first!”

The moment those words left her mouth, the expressions of everyone present darkened further. The female executive’s gaze turned even frostier, while the girls of S-Group gritted their teeth in anger. Ren Jiao stood there, her delicate face drained of color.

This Mrs. Zhang is truly foolish. As a woman herself, she completely betrays her own gender just because she gave birth to a son, utterly disregarding how many women are watching and listening in this banquet hall.

Before Cen Shu could respond, Ji Qingshi had already stepped forward: “I warn you to watch your mouth, or I won’t mind making you as disgraceful as your son.”

Her words were sharp, and Ren Jiao instinctively grabbed her hand, only to feel that her palm was ice-cold, her entire body trembling.

Ji Qingshi was furious, having completely lost any semblance of rationality. Her threatening words wouldn’t achieve anything. They would only deepen the conflict between both parties. She probably understood this, but she couldn’t bring herself to think it through. She was never one for tact or diplomacy; her emotions were straightforward, and Ren Jiao had become her bottom line. That line had been crossed, leaving her incapable of rational thought.

“Oh! You dare threaten me!” Mrs. Zhang sneered arrogantly. “Go ahead, call the police! Let’s see how they handle this!”

Mr. Zhang, far more level-headed than his wife, grabbed his hysterical spouse and glared at her. “Will you ever stop? Shut your mouth!”

With so many eyes on them now, calling the police would only bring more trouble to their family.

Ji Qingshi held up her phone. “I was thinking the same thing. Should I make the call?”

Before Mr. Zhang could respond, Cen Shu intervened, stopping Ji Qingshi. “Wait a moment, Miss Ji.”

She held Ji Qingshi back, then stepped closer to Mr. Zhang, speaking in a hushed voice. “I suggest you back down, Mr. Zhang…”

Before Mr. Zhang could react angrily, Cen Shu added quietly, “Officer Ji was on duty when your son drunkenly harassed her friend. Of course, she’d be furious. ”

Officer Ji?!

Mr. Zhang’s expression shifted dramatically as he instinctively glanced at the tall woman standing before him. At 178 cm, Ji Qingshi stood like a towering pine, taller than most men present. Years of training in the SWAT team gave her an imposing presence that dwarfed the portly Mr. Zhang.

“This…” Mr. Zhang hesitated inwardly. This woman is a cop?

For businessmen, profit came first, with so-called “face” a distant second. His stubbornness today was about saving face, but if it clashed with his interests, pride meant nothing.

Had the other party been a celebrity or an ordinary person, he would never have backed down. But a police officer? A low-ranking cop he might have stood up to, but if she held a rank.

As Mr. Zhang wavered, his gaze flickering uncertainly, Cen Shu well-versed in the psychology of such men leaned in and added, “Deputy Captain Ji is a principled person. Your son crossed the line with her friend, so of course she’s angry.”

Deputy Captain!

That unmistakably meant rank. Mr. Zhang’s hesitation deepened.

At this point, any smart person would know what to do. Though the female executive couldn’t hear Cen Shu’s words, she could read the shift in Mr. Zhang’s expression. He had clearly hit a snag and would have to concede.

Since this was their own event, the executive stepped in to mediate the tension.

With the peacemaker stepping in, Chairman Zhang grabbed his wife’s arm, signaling her with his eyes. Seizing the opportunity to back down, he dropped the matter, only instructing his secretary to take their son away: “Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t cause any more trouble!”

It just goes to show that none of these businessmen are fools. With that single remark, he didn’t outright apologize, but he did tacitly acknowledge his son’s wrongdoing.

Ji Qingshi’s anger hadn’t subsided yet, but she understood his implication. Though she wanted a direct apology, not only did Ren Jiao gently squeeze her hand, but even Cen Shu gave her a reassuring look.

The brand representatives had already stepped in to mediate. After all, today’s gathering was their event, and Ren Jiao and the others had just become their brand ambassadors. At the early stages of their partnership, regardless of anything else, they had to show the brand enough respect.

Even in the heat of her anger, Ji Qingshi knew when to stop. Holding Ren Jiao’s hand, she took half a step back, signaling her concession.

Seeing this, the brand executive laughed it off with a few lighthearted remarks. “Alright, alright, it was just a misunderstanding among friends. Let’s all head back and enjoy the evening!”

Once the Zhang family had left, her smile faded slightly as she turned to her assistant. “Isn’t our collaboration with the Zhang family about to expire?”

“Yes.”

“Let it lapse without renewal.”

The assistant nodded. “Understood.”

As the crowd dispersed, Ji Qingshi and Ren Jiao remained standing where they were, neither making the first move.

Cen Shu glanced at them, then gestured for the other six members to leave first. In a low voice, she reminded them, “There are surveillance cameras here. Be careful.”

With that, she didn’t linger, following the six members out.

The hallway fell silent in an instant, leaving only the two of them.

Ji Qingshi had taken Cen Shu’s warning to heart. Tightening her grip on Ren Jiao’s hand, she pulled her into the restroom.

After confirming no one else was inside, Ji Qingshi looked at Ren Jiao, who kept her head lowered without saying a word. Her anger flared up again. “Why did you apologize earlier? If I hadn’t stopped you, you would’ve apologized to those scoundrels, wouldn’t you?!”

Ren Jiao remained silent, her expression unreadable and numb.

Ji Qingshi let out a bitter laugh at her silence. “I don’t understand the rules of this industry, but I don’t want to see you like this. Jiaojiao, you’re someone I care about. I can’t stand seeing you wronged.”

At these words, Ren Jiao’s expression finally softened, like an ice sculpture thawing after years of frost.

She slowly raised her head, staring intently at Ji Qingshi. The person who had just declared her affection, the person she loved in return.

“But, sister, this is my job, this is the world I work in.” Her tone was mocking, though it was unclear whether she was mocking the industry or herself. “This is just how it is, and I operate within it. Sister, there’s no black-and-white justice here. It has its own set of rules, and we artists are insignificant. Earlier, if I’d just apologized without even meaning it, the whole thing would’ve been over easily…”

“But that’s wrong! It shouldn’t be like this! You didn’t do anything wrong!” Ji Qingshi grew even angrier.

“What does right or wrong matter? It just saves everyone a lot of trouble.”

Her submissive attitude was driving Ji Qingshi mad. She gripped Ren Jiao’s hand tightly, enunciating each word clearly: “I won’t allow you to suffer these injustices!”

“But I’ve endured them for many years already.” Ren Jiao smiled disdainfully at herself, at their world. “This was my life before I met you. And you can’t protect me forever, can you?”

“Who says I can’t? I can!”

“But I don’t need it.” Ren Jiao used her other hand to pry Ji Qingshi’s fingers open one by one, releasing their clasped hands. “I’m used to it, sister. Long since accustomed.”

Now she only felt utterly ashamed.

To have Ji Qingshi witness such an unsavory scene even though it truly wasn’t her fault to begin with.

All she wanted now was to flee. She couldn’t bear to see the pity in Ji Qingshi’s eyes. She refused to hang her head any longer. Even if she wasn’t worthy of her, she wouldn’t grovel in the dirt before her. At the very least, she should maintain some final shred of dignity.

Ji Qingshi stood rooted to the spot, watching Ren Jiao walk away without a backward glance. Her words, her finality, cut through Ji Qingshi’s chest like a knife, twisting her heart with unbearable pain.