The Shadow Queen and Her Little Bodyguard (GL) - Chapter 6

Yu Jing listened, her face flushed and ears burning. She wanted to say something, but couldn’t quite find the words, so she simply pressed her lips together.

After the two celebrities finished their cigarettes, she trailed closely behind them.

As they walked up the stairs, Yi Lanyin glanced at her phone. Yu Jing had almost forgotten about the red envelope incident, but Yi Lanyin’s action suddenly made her tense up again.

When Li Jiqing reached the stairwell landing ahead, Yi Lanyin abruptly called out, Xiao Qing, you go on ahead.

Li Jiqing turned back with a cheerful grin, giving her an okay sign. He then raised an eyebrow at Yu Jing behind her, adopting a roguish, swaggering demeanor that clashed sharply with his on-screen persona of a seductive heartthrob.

As the handsome actor disappeared, Yu Jing found herself alone with Yi Lanyin in the empty stairwell.

Those beautiful eyes held a sharp, scrutinizing gaze. Yi Lanyin raised her phone and shook it slightly, then stepped up to the next stair, placing herself at eye level with Yu Jing. In her signature commanding voice, she asked slowly, Is this one yuan a bribe to keep quiet?

Keep quiet about what? With no one else around, Yu Jing dropped her pretense. She turned to face Yi Lanyin directly, her hands clasped behind her back, staring intently at the familiar face. She tried to discern, beneath the layers of practiced acting, a trace of the expression that belonged solely to Li Zhi.

How would I know? Yi Lanyin shook her head, her eyes fixed on Yu Jing’s expression. You’re the one who sent it. You should be explaining it to me.

A flawless response, yet with a hint of aggression. My sister is still my sister, Yu Jing thought.

Yu Jing raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, then leaned closer. When Yi Lanyin didn’t flinch, she boldly stopped just centimeters from Yi Lanyin’s face. I just wanted to see if you’d blocked me. Is that so wrong?

Yi Lanyin finally let out a cold laugh. She curled her lip, raised her hand, and shoved Yu Jing’s face away before striding off.

In the naturally amplified stairwell, Yu Jing faintly heard Yi Lanyin mutter, Stubborn child.

Her head had been pushed aside, but her heart was pounding wildly.

She unconsciously rubbed her palm against her trouser seam, trying to regain her composure before following Yi Lanyin.

They left the styling studio just as the film began screening. By the time the end credits rolled nearly two hours later, the director and main cast had taken the stage.

In her short life, Yu Jing had never attended a film premiere, nor had she ever properly sat in a movie theater, popcorn bucket in hand, to watch a film. While the cast and crew chatted animatedly on stage, she leaned against the soft wall of the theater, her crooked staff badge dangling from her neck, her gaze fixed intently on Yi Lanyin.

Yi Lanyin’s face hadn’t changed much, but the moment she stepped onto the stage, she radiated the aura of a female celebrity—like a star or the moon, embodying an unattainable beauty and grace. The fans in the theater were fervent, and it was only then that Yu Jing truly grasped the reality of her ex-girlfriend’s rise to stardom. She sniffled and turned away.

Where are you going? Xiao Tao asked, glancing back at her. It’ll be over in ten minutes. Don’t wander off—they’ll need to find you afterward.

Yu Jing seemed surprised that Xiao Tao had noticed her. She hesitated before stammering, N-nowhere. I’ll just wait by the door.

Xiao Tao smiled and strolled over. Okay, I’ll wait with you.

You don’t need to watch over me, Yu Jing said, racking her brain for the proper way to refer to Yi Lanyin. Finally, she settled on, Boss Yi? Just in case she gets grilled or says something wrong.

Xiao Tao covered her mouth and chuckled in the darkness.

As the audience streamed out of the theater amid applause, Xiao Tao finally answered Yu Jing’s question directly. Sister Yi knows what she’s doing. Even if something goes wrong, don’t worry—we have people in high places.

No sooner had she finished speaking than she abandoned Yu Jing to greet Yi Lanyin.

Yu Jing followed mindlessly, recalling Sheng Tian’s words about box office numbers and connecting them to Xiao Tao’s earlier remark. A bitter feeling welled up inside her. Yi Lanyin now had money, fame, and status. For Yu Jing to come crawling back at this point, from Yi Lanyin’s perspective, she must look like a shameless gold digger. Even if she weren’t Li Zhi, if Yu Jing put herself in Yi Lanyin’s shoes, she’d have to admit that Yu Jing was truly a despicable person.

Yi Lanyin seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. Though she was walking ahead, the moment Yu Jing hesitated, she turned around to look at her.

Xiao Tao is going back to the company soon, Yi Lanyin paused, then turned fully to straighten Yu Jing’s employee badge with her artistically slender fingers. After that, I’ll need your help. When I go onstage, she lowered her hand and looked up at Yu Jing earnestly with her gem-like eyes, you need to watch me.

Oh, Yu Jing nodded instinctively.

After Xiao Tao hurriedly left, Yu Jing became Yi Lanyin’s shadow. Around her neck hung not only her work ID but also a light purple thermos. Xiao Tao had kindly left her bag, but Yu Jing, unwilling to carry it, wrapped the fluffy, adorable strap around her hand several times, gripping it tightly with a fierce air.

Once the event at this cinema concluded, they had to rush to the next venue.

Yi Lanyin’s styling team had their own vehicle, leaving only the two of them in the car.

Are you adjusting alright? Yi Lanyin asked, breaking the silence from the passenger seat.

Yu Jing, who had just pulled the car out of the underground parking garage, nodded quickly. Yes, I’m fine.

Are you tired?

Not at all.

This mechanical exchange quickly grew tedious, and Yi Lanyin stopped asking questions.

The car fell into a slightly melancholic, yet strangely comforting atmosphere, accompanied by the folk songs playing on the radio.

As they stopped at the first intersection, Yi Lanyin suddenly turned to look at Yu Jing, her gaze intense and unwavering.

Yu Jing, flustered, nervously raised a hand to wipe her cheek. Is there something on my face?

No, Yi Lanyin replied, shaking her head. I’m just curious. She paused, like Jiang Taigong waiting for the fish to bite, before turning her gaze back to the window with an air of profound detachment.

Yu Jing, emboldened by their growing familiarity, countered, Curious about what?

Yi Lanyin didn’t turn around, pressing her forehead against the car window as she murmured, I’m curious how you fought tooth and nail to pass the Fierce Tiger selection, only to return so dejected at such a young age. She concluded, her voice blending with the drowsy folk music playing in the car, This isn’t like you.

Yu Jing opened her mouth to reply, but the red light turned green. She gave Yi Lanyin a self-deprecating smile. You were right back then. We were both too young.

Yi Lanyin couldn’t bear to see Yu Jing looking so defeated. In her memory, Yu Jing had always been fiercely determined and full of youthful vigor. Seeing her now, resigned to her fate, Yi Lanyin felt an involuntary urge to reach out and save her.

She hated how she always softened toward Yu Jing.

Four years ago, on an ordinary Saturday…

Yi Lanyin had finally landed a small role in a film with three lines of dialogue. Thrilled, she drove to pick up Yu Jing herself. Right in front of the Physical Education School’s narrow gate, she witnessed Yu Jing’s awkward expression upon seeing her.

Yu Jing was surrounded by a group of classmates, both male and female, laughing and joking as if they had just won a competition. Their young faces radiated uncontainable joy.

Yu Jing stood at the center of the crowd, frozen in place as if contemplating whether to greet her own sports car-driving self in front of everyone.

Li Zhi didn’t want to disrupt Yu Jing’s college life or put her in an awkward position. Before Yu Jing could decide, Li Zhi slammed her foot on the accelerator and sped away.

After an hour of brooding alone in the hotel room, Yu Jing’s face appeared outside the door.

Li Zhi wanted to ignore her, to punish her this way. But the moment that thought formed, her disobedient hand had already reached for the doorknob.

Yu Jing was a natural at playing the pitiful act. Dressed in a white T-shirt under a green basketball jersey, she hadn’t even wiped the sweat from her face before launching her counterattack the moment she stepped inside.

Why did you leave as soon as you saw me, Sister? I had to take two buses to get here!

Li Zhi glared at her, but when her pent-up resentment landed on that pure, untainted face, she immediately waved the white flag and surrendered.

I didn’t want your classmates to see my face, Li Zhi explained. You know, even though I’m washed up, I’m still considered someone in the industry.

The young woman’s face instantly bloomed into a smile, her hand emerging from behind her back to reveal a thornless rose masquerading as a rose, wrapped in the cheapest, clearest plastic.

Yu Jing was undoubtedly a bastard.

Because she knew Yi Lanyin would genuinely be won over by this cheap flower.

Yi Lanyin rubbed her temples and glanced at Yu Jing, who was focused on driving.

Yu Jing looked much more mature now, as if her loose green basketball jersey had transformed into a fitted black shirt.

Hmph.

I thought you wouldn’t come back without a whole crate of medals, Yi Lanyin said, deliberately using a sarcastic tone to express her displeasure.

The driver blinked, her grip on the gearshift loosening before she finally removed the silver chain from her neck.

This is for you.

What’s this? Yi Lanyin instinctively accepted it.

I earned a few minor honors, but I didn’t bring any back. Only this, she gestured with her lips toward the silver chain lying in Yi Lanyin’s palm. Every member of the Wild Tiger Special Forces gets one. The pendant has a white tiger on the front and my nationality and bl00d type on the back. It’s for you.

What’s this for? Yi Lanyin asked, her fingers tracing the inscription on the pendant before tossing it back onto Yu Jing’s lap.

Yu Jing pressed her lips together, falling silent.

When they reached the next Shadow City, Yu Jing picked up the silver chain from her lap. She gently draped it over Yi Lanyin’s shoulder with a single finger. Seeing that her mistress didn’t resist, she boldly fastened the chain around Yi Lanyin’s neck, tucking the pendant discreetly beneath her collar.

No ulterior motive, Boss Yi, Yu Jing said as she slipped Yi Lanyin’s pale purple canteen over her shoulder. Just wanted to show you I’m the real deal. A true Fierce Tiger—no discounts.

Yu Jing maintained her composure, but Yi Lanyin let out a long exhale. In her summer attire, the sudden chill of the icy metal pendant against her chest sent a shiver straight to her heart.

Clutching the chain in one hand, she suddenly asked Yu Jing, Do you remember that one day I drove to school to pick you up without telling you?

Which time? Yu Jing turned her entire upper body, answering without hesitation, Was it the time you made me fall twice on the bus?

Stunned by this unexpected response, Yi Lanyin immediately turned to open the car door. But just as she was about to step out, Yu Jing effortlessly pulled her back like a rabbit.

I’m sorry, Yu Jing said, gripping Yi Lanyin’s wrist tightly and looking at her earnestly. I was immature back then. I was afraid my classmates would mock me if they found out I was your kept man, so I panicked for a moment.

Even after hearing this explanation, Yi Lanyin showed little reaction. She simply stared back at Yu Jing with unwavering intensity. I just wanted to tell you that roses have fewer or no thorns on their stems. Don’t get tricked when you buy flowers for someone in the future.

Oh, you mean that? Yu Jing gradually loosened her grip on Yi Lanyin’s wrist. That was the first and last time I ever gave someone flowers. I never did it again. But thank you for telling me. I’ll remember that.