Little Bodyguard(GL) 76

Chapter 76

When Li Qinyue returned home, the Master was practicing Tai Chi in the middle of the living room.

Her movements were slow and graceful, accompanied by calming music playing on her phone.

Li Qinyue entered, but the Master didn’t even glance at her. Li Qinyue put down her bag and coat, changed her shoes, but the Master was still completely focused on her practice.

Li Qinyue was amazed by her concentration.

She went to wash her face with warm water, the chill from the morning quickly dissipating.

Then, holding a cup of hot water, she stood and watched the Master practice.

The Master finally finished a set and stopped.

She turned to Li Qinyue, who immediately said with a smile, “Practicing Tai Chi, Master?”

The Master thought it was a pointless remark and didn’t respond.

Li Qinyue tried again, “What did you have for lunch, Master?”

The Master said slowly, “Grilled fish.”

Li Qinyue froze, her face flushing. She felt like she had been caught cheating.

Having just been exposed by Zhuo Zhi, and now exposed by the Master again, Li Qinyue felt her cheeks burning. She must have used up her lifetime quota of blushes.

As she stood there awkwardly, the Master changed the music on her phone, then stood on the left side of the living room and said, “Come here.”

“Okay,” Li Qinyue hurried over, holding her cup, “Are you thirsty, Master?”

The Master: “Tai Chi.”

“Huh?” Li Qinyue was surprised, pointing at herself, “Me?”

“Is there anyone else here?” the Master retorted.

Li Qinyue quickly put down her cup, “Okay! I didn’t expect to be able to learn from a master like you!”

She stood on the Master’s right side, carefully observing her movements, “I’ve never done this before…”

“Quiet,” the Master said.

Li Qinyue closed her mouth.

The starting posture was familiar, the music was familiar. Although the Master’s movements were smooth and graceful, it was undeniably the same Chen-style Tai Chi that Li Qinyue had learned in high school and college.

Was a master actually practicing something so… basic?

Li Qinyue followed the Master’s movements, feeling a little surprised. She wasn’t familiar with other martial arts styles, but she could still mimic this one.

One big watermelon, cut it in half, one half for you, one half for me…

After slowly completing a set with the Master, she was slightly sweaty.

After finishing, the Master picked up her book and stood by the window, continuing to read.

Li Qinyue, seeing that there were no further instructions, went to take a shower. When she came out, the Master was already in the kitchen.

She noticed that both the Master and Zhuo Zhi enjoyed cooking, not as a chore, but as a hobby.

Knowing that she would only be in the way in the kitchen, Li Qinyue went to her small guest bedroom.

She was bored. She didn’t want to watch TV, there wasn’t even a computer.

She picked up her phone, about to play a game, but then saw Zhuo Zhi’s pinned chat and changed her mind.

Zhuo Zhi was working hard, running around in the cold. With her, Li Qinyue’s, temper, she would probably have gotten into a fight after just a few words.

Zhuo Zhi had said she would work hard to support her. Li Qinyue clicked her tongue, thinking that the little girl was truly ambitious, then felt a wave of warmth.

The little girl was working so hard, shouldn’t she, Li Qinyue, also make an effort?

So, she messaged Aijia: Send me a couple of books on bar management.

Aijia replied: Sister, let’s talk this over, okay? You have so many companies, any one of them is better than my little bar. This is my only source of income.

Li Qinyue: I think you’re getting a little too comfortable after having me as your employee for two days.

Aijia: Are you still my employee then?

Li Qinyue: I am.

Aijia: I have two books on bartending, I’ll send them to you.

Li Qinyue: …

After a while, the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.

Li Qinyue wasn’t a foodie, but she found the food cooked by the Master and Zhuo Zhi very tempting.

And expressing your desire for food was a basic courtesy towards the cook.

Following the scent, she entered the kitchen, where the Master had just placed a plate of pastries on the counter.

“What’s that? It smells so good,” Li Qinyue said, sniffing the air.

“See for yourself,” the Master said without looking up.

“Okay,” Li Qinyue quickly entered the kitchen, “You usually don’t let me in here.”

The Master glanced at her sideways, her expression neutral, but her eyes seemed to be reproaching Li Qinyue for her theatrics.

Li Qinyue chuckled, “Pumpkin cakes?”

“Yes,” the Master picked up a freshly baked cake and held it out to her.

“Oh, oh, oh,” Li Qinyue said, feeling honored, “I haven’t washed my hands yet, I’ll wash them, wait a minute.”

She hurried to the sink, washed her hands, and rushed back.

“Ouch, hot, hot, hot…” Li Qinyue juggled the small, golden cake in her hand.

She was about to put it in her mouth when the Master’s chopsticks landed on her wrist.

Li Qinyue stopped.

The Master stared at her.

“Can’t… I eat it?” Li Qinyue had never been so timid, so cautious about eating a cake.

“Eating food that’s too hot can cause esophageal cancer,” the Master said bluntly.

“Oh, okay, okay,” Li Qinyue’s voice was full of concern, “I’ll let it cool down, cool down.”

The Master turned away and continued her work.

Li Qinyue tried to make conversation again, “Master, I’m not usually a foodie, but your cooking is so good, the smell is making me crave it. And you just gave this to me, I have to eat it no matter how hot it is, I’d even walk through fire for you…”

“Do you know why I gave you the hot cake?” the Master interrupted her flattery.

“Huh?” Li Qinyue was stunned, was there a reason for that?

“To warn you,” the Master cleared her throat, “Don’t eat something you’re not supposed to, it’ll burn your mouth.”

Li Qinyue was speechless.

The Master pushed the plate of cakes towards her, “Go eat outside.”

Li Qinyue took the plate to the dining table and continued to be speechless.

After a while, she couldn’t help but message Zhuo Zhi:

• What did you tell Master?!

Zhuo Zhi’s first day at the police station was quite eventful. She witnessed several types of cases and learned a few interrogation techniques.

And her dear girlfriend had secretly accompanied her all morning. They had a pleasant lunch together, and her girlfriend had even come to pick her up from the police station.

Officer Sun had told her about it.

Zhuo Zhi felt a little embarrassed that Officer Sun kept seeing Li Qinyue, but she also knew that, with Li Qinyue’s clinginess, this would be a common occurrence in the future.

So she took her partner to a corner of the office and said sweetly, “Brother Sun, how was my performance today? Did I hold you back?”

“No, definitely not,” Officer Sun said earnestly, “It’s great having you here, we’ve been much more efficient, and also…”

He paused.

Zhuo Zhi quickly said, “Go ahead, it’s fine, we’ll be working together from now on, I’m open-minded, just say what’s on your mind.”

Officer Sun scratched his head and said, “Before you came, we were short-staffed, I didn’t even have a partner, I was always following Brother Zhao around. Now it feels good to have a partner.”

“Hahaha…” Zhuo Zhi laughed, surprised by his words.

He was an official police officer, her senior, and Zhuo Zhi respected him. But it seemed like her senior was also a newbie eager to grow and improve. Zhuo Zhi felt a sense of responsibility and patted Officer Sun’s shoulder. “Brother, just leave the dangerous tasks to me. You saw that video, right? I’m just a reckless fighter. I’ll have to learn everything else from you.”

Officer Sun smiled, “Yes, I saw it, you’re amazing, I feel safe with you around.”

“Heh,” Zhuo Zhi, after establishing a good rapport with her colleague, steered the conversation back on track, “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Go ahead, no need to be so formal, we’re all friends here.”

“It’s about my… sister,” Zhuo Zhi looked around, blushing slightly, “She might come to visit me often. If you happen to see her…”

“Don’t worry!” Officer Sun raised his hand to interrupt her, “I won’t tell anyone!”

“Ah…” That wasn’t what Zhuo Zhi meant.

“I’ll keep it a secret!” Officer Sun said seriously, “I believe everyone’s private life should be respected, as long as they’re not breaking the law.”

“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi agreed with that.

Officer Sun leaned closer to her and whispered, “I know it’s not easy for you two, I support you.”

He even raised his fist in solidarity.

“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi couldn’t think of anything else to say.

She had achieved her goal, and even exceeded it.

She hadn’t expected Officer Sun to be so accepting, so understanding, so… perceptive?

After he finished speaking, Officer Sun straightened up, frowned seriously, and said, “That’s all for today’s work, well done. See you tomorrow.”

They actually still had a statement to finish, but he was letting her off early.

Zhuo Zhi’s heart was filled with gratitude.

Police officers were so nice!

Officer Sun winked at her, pointing at the door.

He was like a messenger, building a bridge for her reunion with Sister Qinyue!

“See you tomorrow!” Zhuo Zhi bowed to him, grabbed her bag, and hurried out.

Li Qinyue was waiting under a tree some distance away. When Zhuo Zhi ran out, she headed straight for her, like a puppy greeting its owner, her face beaming.

Li Qinyue opened her arms, and Zhuo Zhi threw herself into her embrace, like a cannonball. But the cannonball was wrapped in thick layers of clothing, the impact soft and gentle.

Zhuo Zhi looked up at her, her face glowing.

Li Qinyue pinched her cheek.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?” Zhuo Zhi’s smile was so wide it almost reached her ears.

“If it weren’t for your doing, would I have come all the way here?!” Li Qinyue tried to look serious, her brows furrowed.

“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi remembered and said, “I really didn’t say much.”

“You didn’t say much, but Master knew that we had grilled fish for lunch,” Li Qinyue said.

“What we ate, does that even matter? If she asked, then I told her,” Zhuo Zhi said.

“Then what else matters?” Li Qinyue rephrased her question, “What do you think is important, something you can’t tell Master?”

Zhuo Zhi thought for a moment, then said, “Nothing.”

Li Qinyue gave her a knowing smile.

Zhuo Zhi took her hand and led her back, “Master is easy to talk to. And her personality is such that if you tell her the truth, it’s fine. But if you lie to her or hide something from her, the punishment will be doubled.”

“Master is so domineering,” Li Qinyue said.

“That’s because she cares about me,” Zhuo Zhi said immediately.

“Oh, so you only have eyes for your master now? I’m nothing compared to her now that she’s here?” Li Qinyue teased.

Zhuo Zhi burst out laughing, squeezing Li Qinyue’s hand, “Why are you guys like this? Master thinks I only have eyes for you, and you think I only have eyes for Master. What’s going on? Should I just split my vision? One eye for you, one eye for Master…”

Li Qinyue couldn’t help but laugh, “Did Master actually say that?”

“Yes, she even asked me which one of us is prettier!”

“Oh my god…” Li Qinyue couldn’t imagine the Master asking that question.

“She’s just hiding her true self in front of you, just like you’re doing in front of her,” Zhuo Zhi said perceptively, “It’ll be fine after you two get to know each other better.”

“Hahaha…” Li Qinyue suddenly felt that Zhuo Zhi’s inability to hide her thoughts around people she was close to was a good thing. It would help her and the Master understand each other better.

With this matter resolved, Li Qinyue’s reason for coming here had vanished.

But when Zhuo Zhi opened her big police coat, wanting to wrap Li Qinyue in her arms as they walked, Li Qinyue realized that her true purpose might have just been to pick up Zhuo Zhi from work.

It was cold, but the warmth in her heart dispelled the chill. Li Qinyue chatted with Zhuo Zhi about everyday things, “Master made pumpkin cakes…”

“The ones with the six little petal marks?”

“Yes.”

“I love those!”

“Wait, shouldn’t you love the taste of pumpkin? What does the number of petal marks have to do with it?”

“Master always makes them with six marks, and I love everything Master makes.”

“Tsk, Master’s biggest fan, I give up.”

“I’m also your biggest fan.”

“Who knows,” Li Qinyue said.

“It’s true, it’s true, I always praise you in front of Master.”

“Ahem, then remind Master that I was reading about bartending on my phone, not playing games. I don’t have a computer now, that’s the only way I can learn.”

“Hehe, okay! You’re so hardworking, Sister!”

“Don’t make it sound too deliberate! Just casually mention it… Can you even do that?”

“Yes, yes, listen to this…”

The walk home wasn’t long. They were chatting animatedly as they entered White Birch Lane.

The community committee had put up festive lanterns on the trees. The trees in Nanhai City were bare in winter, and the small lanterns looked like persimmons from afar.

As Zhuo Zhi and Li Qinyue reached the center of the complex, before it was completely dark, the lights suddenly came on.

Glowing little persimmons, tacky, but beautiful in Li Qinyue’s eyes.

She hadn’t spent many holidays at White Birch Lane, but the days with her mother felt like lingering particles in the air, resurfacing at moments like this.

Like practicing Tai Chi, like eating Master’s pumpkin cakes, like the warmth of Zhuo Zhi’s hand in hers.

Li Qinyue looked up at her home, the lights were on.

She couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s almost New Year’s.”

“Yes, just a few more days,” Zhuo Zhi echoed her sentiment.

“Just the three of us this year,” Li Qinyue said with a smile.

“Yes, it feels special.”

“Happy?” Li Qinyue looked at her.

“Happy,” Zhuo Zhi nodded vigorously.

“Me too,” Li Qinyue replied sincerely.