Little Bodyguard(GL) 74

Chapter 74

The police station wasn’t far, a ten-minute walk at a brisk pace.

And Li Qinyue was practically running.

It was still early, the air thick with fog and a cold dampness.

As she ran, Li Qinyue thought she should advise Zhuo Zhi and her Master not to go running so early in the morning.

The air quality was poor, not good for their health.

The mountain air was much better.

Speaking of the mountain, Li Qinyue thought the Master really knew how to live.

Living with her adorable and obedient disciple, away from worldly troubles, doing whatever she pleased, how carefree.

She just didn’t know where their living expenses came from. The Master didn’t seem to have a job, and if there was no one else on the mountain, they would probably spend the New Year together.

That would be nice, it should be.

If only the Master wouldn’t glare at them every time they showed any affection, that would be even better.

Lost in her thoughts, Li Qinyue stopped when she reached the police station.

She didn’t go in, but stepped back, hiding behind a tree.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Zhuo Zhi: Where are you?

• At work.

Zhuo Zhi’s reply was full of pride.

• Tsk, working where?

Li Qinyue asked.

• The police station, just released two detainees.

• Wow, Officer Zhuo, I need to report a crime.

• Officer Sister Zhuo.

• Okay, Officer Sister Zhuo, I need to report a crime.

• What happened?

• I need to hug the police. Sorry, typo.

• Hahahahahahahahaha…

Li Qinyue chuckled, reading the string of “ha’s”.

She didn’t want to disturb Zhuo Zhi too much, and now that she was here, she wasn’t in such a hurry anymore. She continued texting.

• Someone is trying to kill me.

• Who?

• Officer Xiao Zhuo, she’s so beautiful, my heart is racing, I’ll give her my life, my soul, I’ve already had three bowls of Meng Po soup since I saw her picture.

This time, Zhuo Zhi’s reply was slow. After a while, she said:

• Don’t be like this, Sister.

• Am I disturbing your work?

• Yes, you’re making it impossible for me to focus.

• Hahahahahahahahaha…

This time, it was Li Qinyue who sent a string of “ha’s”.

Standing under a bare tree by the police station, clutching her phone and giggling, she must have looked quite silly. A police officer passing by glanced at her several times.

Noticing the curious stares, Li Qinyue thought that this must be Zhuo Zhi’s colleague. She patted her pockets, but she didn’t have any cigarettes with her. She smiled and greeted him, “Good morning!”

The officer responded with a “Good morning,” but his smile was awkward and confused.

Li Qinyue didn’t mind and continued texting:

• Are you on patrol?

This time, it took ten minutes for Zhuo Zhi to reply:

• Yes.

Li Qinyue immediately put away her phone and stood up straight, her eyes fixed on the police station entrance.

After another ten minutes or so, two people came out: a short male officer, and another short person, Officer Xiao Zhuo.

Zhuo Zhi was wearing her new uniform, the spring/autumn version she had sent a picture of, the lines clean and crisp, looking smart and capable.

She was wearing a thick coat over it, which would have swallowed a smaller person, but on Zhuo Zhi, love truly made her look beautiful in Li Qinyue’s eyes.

She looked so stylish, like a cool rapper in boyfriend-style clothing!

They didn’t have a car and were walking briskly. Officer Xiao Zhuo, her expression serious, didn’t even look over.

Li Qinyue’s heart pounded. She didn’t know what she was thinking, but instead of approaching them, she stepped back and hid behind the tree.

Zhuo Zhi quickly turned a corner. Li Qinyue, keeping a distance, followed stealthily.

It was rush hour now, there were more people on the street, and Li Qinyue, hidden in the morning smog, wasn’t noticed.

Zhuo Zhi and the short officer entered a nearby residential complex. Li Qinyue followed them. Fortunately, the buildings in this area were old, there were no security gates.

They turned a couple of corners and entered a building. It was only a four-story building. Li Qinyue didn’t dare to follow them inside. She walked around and found a small, old playground nearby.

The bright yellow and blue playground equipment were the only splashes of color in this wintery scene.

Li Qinyue sat on one end of a seesaw, waiting patiently at first, then after a while, she took out her phone out of boredom.

She browsed social media, played a couple of games, but Zhuo Zhi still hadn’t come out.

Did it take that long to be on patrol? Li Qinyue pouted, thinking, no wonder the police station was short-staffed.

She started another game, playing seriously this time, killing time until the end of the match.

Zhuo Zhi finally reappeared.

She was still with the short officer, they were talking, and Li Qinyue noticed that Zhuo Zhi’s expression wasn’t very good.

She quickly sent a message:

• How was your first day at work?

Zhuo Zhi’s phone probably didn’t have notification sounds turned on for WeChat. She didn’t take out her phone even after turning another corner.

Li Qinyue stood up and followed her.

They didn’t return to the police station, but walked for about ten minutes to a nearby wet market.

The market was old and run-down. The seafood section was right by the entrance, the smell pungent and overwhelming.

Li Qinyue had always avoided this place.

Now, seeing Zhuo Zhi enter the market and disappear from sight, Li Qinyue stepped into a puddle of dirty water, noticing a few fish scales stuck to her shoe.

She quickly retreated, found a spot to stand, and started playing a game on her phone.

This time, it was a disaster. She didn’t even have a place to sit, she had to stand.

It was a cold day, and her hands and feet were freezing.

She played terribly this time, her mind not on the game, and was killed by a vehicle.

Li Qinyue exited the game, put her phone away, and rubbed her hands together to warm them up.

The owner of a small shop across the street, basking under a heat lamp, had been watching her for a while.

Li Qinyue suddenly felt a wave of frustration. She took a deep breath and asked herself, what was she doing?

Would anyone believe it? The once-carefree and reckless Li Qinyue, standing outside in the freezing cold, waiting for someone.

Just to… just to…

See her for a moment?

Li Qinyue wanted to slap herself. She had never done anything so foolish, not even when she was drunk.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Aijia:

• Do you believe in the power of love?

Aijia, as always, replied quickly:

• I do.

• Give me an example.

Li Qinyue typed.

• You.

Aijia replied.

Li Qinyue: …

Aijia: You started this, don’t blame me for being nosy. Coming out for Zhuo Zhi at your family dinner, you’re already a love icon in our circle.

Li Qinyue: Really…?

Aijia: Yes. Don’t be mad, but there’s a new meme now, they use it whenever someone confesses their feelings.

Li Qinyue: …

Aijia: Want to see it?

Li Qinyue: No.

Aijia: Oh.

A few seconds later, Li Qinyue: Send it to me.

Aijia quickly sent a series of memes:

• Dare to say “I love you” in front of my dad? .jpg

• Dare to say “I love you” in front of my grandpa? .jpg

• Dare to say “I love you” in front of my second aunt’s grandma? .jpg

• Dare to say “I love you” after all this money disappears? .jpg

• Oops, sent one too many.

Aijia retracted the last picture.

The picture was of a room filled with cash.

• Why did you retract it?

Li Qinyue asked.

Aijia: I thought you might be mad.

Li Qinyue: Now you’re worried about me being mad.

Aijia: True. Dare to say “I love you” after all this money disappears? .jpg

Li Qinyue burst out laughing.

It was indeed infuriating, a private family matter turned into a meme, she wasn’t a celebrity, she didn’t need publicity.

But strangely, she wasn’t angry. In fact, she felt a little ashamed.

Ashamed that her actions had been motivated by selfishness, by a desire to rebel against her family.

She hadn’t considered the consequences for Zhuo Zhi. If she had been more rational, less impulsive, and handled her own problems without involving Zhuo Zhi, perhaps Zhuo Zhi would still be happily working as her bodyguard.

Tsk, Li Qinyue lightly slapped her own head.

She must be crazy, her thoughts were so absurdly noble. Wasn’t Zhuo Zhi happy being a police officer? She seemed to be enjoying it.

Thinking about this, she looked up at the wet market again.

• I think those things are quite ordinary.

She continued texting Aijia:

• What makes me believe in the power of love is standing here in the freezing cold, following Zhuo Zhi for a whole morning, and not wanting to disturb her.

Aijia, probably not knowing what to say, replied with a meme:

• You go, girl. .jpg

After three patrols in the morning, Zhuo Zhi was exhausted by lunchtime.

It wasn’t physical exhaustion, but mental exhaustion, which in turn, made her body tired, her throat dry, and her head dizzy.

Officer Sun tapped on his phone and said to her, “Let’s eat first.”

Zhuo Zhi asked, “Is there another case?”

Officer Sun said, “There is, but it’s not urgent.”

“What happened?” Zhuo Zhi asked.

“There was a fight on the overpass.”

“Then we should go quickly!” Zhuo Zhi’s voice rose.

“No need, they’ve already been brought back to the station,” Officer Sun smiled, “We can just go back after lunch, question them, and write the report.”

“Phew…” Zhuo Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good.”

Officer Sun raised his hand, as if wanting to pat her head, but looking at her height and the thick coat she was wearing, he gave up.

He patted her shoulder instead, “Tired? Being a patrol officer is not as easy as you thought, is it?”

“Yeah,” Zhuo Zhi chuckled, “You guys have worked hard.”

“Now it’s us who have worked hard,” Officer Sun crossed his arms behind his back, looking around, “What do you want to eat? I’m familiar with all the restaurants in this area.”

Zhuo Zhi had initially thought she could go home for lunch since it was so close. But judging from the current situation, they probably only had time for a quick meal before returning to the station.

So she gave up on the idea of going home, “Anything is fine, you choose.”

Officer Sun said, “Then let’s go to that noodle shop around the corner. Big portions, delicious, and filling, perfect for a long afternoon.”

“Okay,” Zhuo Zhi readily agreed.

They continued walking briskly, quickly turning a corner and reaching the noodle shop.

Zhuo Zhi took out her phone and saw the messages from Li Qinyue.

She couldn’t help but smile, stopping to reply.

Officer Sun went in first. As Zhuo Zhi was typing her message, a figure suddenly appeared beside her. She moved aside to let the person pass, but the person grabbed her arm.

Zhuo Zhi was about to grab the person’s arm in return when she noticed the familiar figure and, without hesitation, turned the movement into a hug.

Li Qinyue was standing right in front of her, her eyes bright, her body radiating coldness.

Zhuo Zhi hugged her, feeling the accumulated fatigue from the morning melt away. She looked up at Li Qinyue, her voice soft and coquettish, “What are you doing here, Sister?”

Li Qinyue raised an eyebrow, “Just a coincidence.”

“Really?” Zhuo Zhi asked, “Are you here to buy something?”

“Yes,” Li Qinyue pulled her slightly to the side, clearing the entrance of the noodle shop.

“Buying what?” Zhuo Zhi asked.

Li Qinyue couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing her nose. Cupping Zhuo Zhi’s face, her forehead against Zhuo Zhi’s, she said, “Buying a kiss from you.”

Zhuo Zhi’s face flushed instantly. Just as she was about to speak, Officer Sun’s voice came from behind her, “Well, Xiao Zhuo, someone’s looking for you…”