The Exclusive Bodyguard of the Top Idol - Chapter 50

When Cen Shu mentioned the car accident, Ji Qingshi instinctively frowned.

Regarding that accident years ago, Ji Qingshi had asked Ren Jiao as soon as she found out, questioning whether everything had been thoroughly investigated.

“I asked her, and she said everything had been checked. It was an accident,” Ji Qingshi said, her brows tightly knit. “Could there still be some hidden issue with that accident?”

Cen Shu hadn’t expected her to misunderstand and quickly waved her hand. “No, no, it really was an accident. What I meant was that Jiaojiao has always blamed herself for her mother’s car accident.”

“Blaming herself?” Ji Qingshi was slightly surprised, clearly not having considered this possibility before.

“Yes, she’s always believed it happened because of her.”

Ji Qingshi’s frown deepened. “What kind of reasoning is that? The responsibility for the accident lies with the driver at fault. Why would she blame herself?”

Cen Shu sighed and explained slowly, “Because she thinks her mother was distracted because of her. During that time…”

Cen Shu succinctly conveyed Ren Jiao’s thoughts to Ji Qingshi. She didn’t elaborate much, but it was enough for Ji Qingshi to understand.

“…Officer Ji, you know her too. She’s young but has a sharp mind—too sharp, in fact. She thinks far more than others her age. I’ve met many kids her age, plenty in the entertainment industry, but none like her. She’s almost excessively harsh on herself. If something doesn’t go well, or if something bad happens, she instinctively wonders if it’s her fault.”

“Living like this is exhausting. I’ve tried to talk to her about it, but she always has her own logic. She believes that if she hadn’t been in this industry, attracting all kinds of scandals, her mother wouldn’t have had to endure people’s gossip during that time, wouldn’t have been so unsettled, and might have avoided that car.”

At this point, Cen Shu glanced at Ji Qingshi’s expression and decided to go all the way. “Officer Ji, she likes you. She cares about you deeply, cherishing you in her heart just like she did her mother. That’s why she doesn’t want you to end up like her mother. Because of her, being pointed at, talked about behind your back. In her eyes, you’re perfect not even a single strand of your hair should be tainted by dust.”

Ji Qingshi pressed her lips tightly together, remaining silent for a long time without uttering a word. She had imagined many possible reasons, but this one had genuinely never crossed her mind. Suddenly, she felt she didn’t understand Ren Jiao well enough perhaps deceived by the image the girl projected. She had never considered that Ren Jiao might have mentally diminished herself to the dust.

In the ensuing silence, Ji Qingshi’s gaze drifted to the set, where Ren Jiao was listening to the director explain a scene. She stared at her intently for a long time.

Finally, when Cen Shu checked her watch again, Ji Qingshi spoke at last. “Sister Cen, thank you for telling me all this today.”

Cen Shu sighed. “It’s nothing. As an outsider, I really shouldn’t meddle in your affairs. But I’m just a motherly figure at heart. These girls are like little sisters to me. If I can help or guide them in any way, I want to try. Officer Ji, I’ve said a lot today that perhaps I shouldn’t have. But I truly hope this child can find happiness in the future.”

She had carried burdens that weren’t hers to bear, and now that the shadows weighing her down had dissipated, she deserved the happiness she longed for.

After Cen Shu left, Ji Qingshi stood on the set for a long time. Her thoughts were a tangled mess. She pondered many things yet felt as if she hadn’t thought at all. But in the end, all those threads converged into one, tied to that girl.

When she finally snapped out of it, Ji Qingshi checked the time. It was almost 2 PM. She frowned slightly. There had been no break all morning, and for some reason, the filming had been particularly difficult. To maintain continuity, the director had pushed on relentlessly.

With no end in sight, Ji Qingshi glanced at Ren Jiao before turning and walking away briskly.

The moment Ji Qingshi left, Ren Jiao exhaled in relief. She had felt the weight of that scorching gaze fixed on her and knew it was Ji Qingshi watching. It made her inexplicably nervous. Though her scenes today were mostly background appearances, she still wanted to be at her best. Just in case Ji Qingshi was looking.

Now that Ji Qingshi was gone, she relaxed. Only to hear the director shout through a megaphone, “Two more takes! Just two more and we’re done. Stay sharp! Once we wrap, we’ll eat. The afternoon shoot is postponed to tomorrow, everyone can rest. We’ll film the night scenes first.”

The announcement of an afternoon break instantly lifted the crew’s spirits. The midday sun was brutal. Even if the temperature wasn’t high, the glare was exhausting. Everyone was tired and hungry.

After two more takes of the morning’s final scene, the director called it a wrap.

At this hour, the cafeteria might be out of food, and whatever remained would be leftovers. Filming at the SWAT base meant relying on their canteen, outside deliveries weren’t allowed. It was all down to luck.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, a cargo shuttle pulled up. Ji Qingshi jumped out from the driver’s seat and called out to the director, “I ordered boxed meals for everyone. They’re freshly made, but since it was last-minute, the ingredients are whatever was available. Hope no one minds.”

“Ah, Officer Ji, this is really, we’re so grateful.” The assistant director in charge of logistics hurried over, effusive with thanks.

Ordinarily, such arrangements were his responsibility, but the morning’s delays had distracted him. He’d forgotten they were at the SWAT base and hadn’t arranged lunch in time.

If not for Ji Qingshi stepping in, he’d have faced the director’s wrath. The man’s expression had already darkened.

Ji Qingshi smiled, indifferent to his gratitude. She had done this for Ren Jiao.

From a distance, Ren Jiao spotted her and wanted to run over but hesitated, wary of drawing attention from the crew.

Noticing her hesitation from the corner of her eye, Ji Qingshi helped the assistant director unload the insulated food containers from the shuttle. Then, she pulled out two boxes and walked unhurriedly toward Ren Jiao.

“Come on, let’s eat together.” She had come straight from training to watch Ren Jiao film and hadn’t eaten lunch either.

Ren Jiao looked up at her, eyes sparkling like stars.

Today, Ji Qingshi was different; softer, more tender than ever before. Even gentler than she had been before their cold war and arguments.

With two boxed meals in hand, Ji Qingshi led Ren Jiao back to the dorm.

On the way back, Ren Jiao couldn’t help but glance at her curiously. She noticed but said nothing, allowing Ren Jiao to look her fill.

Standing at the dormitory door, Ren Jiao reached for her own meal box: “Should I head back to my room now?”

She thought this was where they’d part ways, each returning to their own dorms to eat.

But Ji Qingshi pulled the food back with a playful motion. “Didn’t we agree to eat together?”

Ren Jiao blinked, belated joy bubbling up inside. “You mean… we’ll eat together in your room?”

“Obviously. How is eating separately ‘together’?”

With that, Ji Qingshi had already opened her dorm door, tilting her head at Ren Jiao. “Come on in. Or do you plan to stay hungry?”

“Oh! Right!”

Hands clasped behind her back, Ren Jiao followed with happy little steps.

The dorm layout was identical to hers – one small room with an attached bathroom, so compact everything could be taken in at a glance.

As Ji Qingshi set their meals on the table, she noticed Ren Jiao still dazed by the doorway. “Close the door. Come eat.”

“Right, right.”

Obedient as a puppet, moving only when commanded.

Ji Qingshi eyed her with amusement. “What? Need me to teach you how to eat too? Or should I feed you?”

She suddenly leaned in, making Ren Jiao jump. “N-no! I can feed myself. ”

This is ridiculous! Ren Jiao suddenly realized something felt off. Wasn’t she usually the one flustering Ji Qingshi?

Ahem “Sis, let’s eat! I’m starving.”

Ji Qingshi’s eyes curved as she opened the meal box and handed over chopsticks. “Your favorite dishes.”

“Huh?” Ren Jiao was puzzled. “But I thought the kitchen just prepared whatever ingredients they had?”

“Mmm. I asked what was available and had them make what you like.”

Ji Qingshi said this completely seriously, then leaned close to whisper deliberately: “The others don’t matter.”

With just the two of them present, there was no need to lower her voice. The gesture felt like creating an intimate secret between them, a way to bridge the distance.

Ren Jiao froze, turning to face the person now mere inches away. Ji Qingshi didn’t retreat after speaking, maintaining that proximity while gazing at her, pupils reflecting nothing but Ren Jiao’s image.

Thump-thump! thump-thump!

The quiet room amplified their accelerating heartbeats, indistinguishable as to whose was whose.

After a long moment, Ji Qingshi finally pulled back. “I can’t take it anymore! I’m starving after watching you perform all afternoon.”

Only with the distance restored could Ren Jiao breathe normally again. She unconsciously touched her burning cheeks with the back of her hand.

Their meal proceeded in silence, yet the charged atmosphere only grew thicker with time.

After eating came rest. The assistant director had notified them about night filming at 7pm. Ren Jiao had a nighttime training scene and needed to prepare, so she thought about returning to her room after the meal.

“Sis, I—”

Before she could finish asking to go rest, Ji Qingshi caught her hand. “Stay here. There’s something I want to tell you.”

Ren Jiao suddenly widened her eyes, her breathing rhythm thrown into disarray once more.