Little Bodyguard(GL) 77

Chapter 77

On New Year’s Eve, Zhuo Zhi was still on duty.

But because she was young, she had the morning shift, much luckier than her colleagues on the night shift.

Over the past few days, the Master had been preparing the ingredients for the New Year’s feast with Li Qinyue, who had graduated from being banned from the kitchen to being allowed to peel potatoes and wash vegetables.

Zhuo Zhi was out on patrol this morning. Li Qinyue wanted to follow her, keeping a safe distance of ten meters, but the Master’s watchful eye prevented her from doing so. Any movement from Li Qinyue would earn her a glare, so she had to give up.

The hours dragged on. Li Qinyue felt like she was going to wear a hole in the floor from pacing around the small apartment.

When the clock in the living room finally reached the designated time, Li Qinyue practically jumped up and rushed out, “Master, I’m going to pick up Zhuo Zhi!”

“Is it time already?” the Master’s voice came from the kitchen, not loud but clear.

“Yes, yes, look! It’s already been a minute!” Li Qinyue had already put on her shoes and opened the door.

But just as she was about to rush out, she heard footsteps approaching, quick and steady, large strides, she recognized Zhuo Zhi’s gait.

Li Qinyue was surprised. She stopped and took a step back.

The footsteps drew closer, then stopped abruptly as a figure appeared.

Li Qinyue spread her arms wide and shouted, “Woohoo!!!”

Zhuo Zhi flinched slightly, her reflexes fast. Without even pausing, she burst into laughter.

Li Qinyue let out two more “Woohoos!” Zhuo Zhi was laughing hysterically.

Li Qinyue said in a deep voice, “Where did this little girl come from, all she does is laugh, aren’t you afraid of being eaten by this tiger?”

Zhuo Zhi said between bursts of laughter, “Your mouth isn’t big enough to eat me, Sister.”

“Then I’ll tear you apart,” Li Qinyue said, her voice back to normal. She poked Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder repeatedly, “This piece, braised today, this piece, steamed tomorrow, and this heart… sliced and grilled!”

“Are you hungry, Sister?” Zhuo Zhi grabbed her finger and held it, “Didn’t Master feed you enough?”

Li Qinyue leaned closer and whispered, “I’m your girl, you’re the one who should be feeding me.”

Zhuo Zhi blushed, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “Okay then.”

“Okay then,” Li Qinyue brushed a few strands of hair away from Zhuo Zhi’s forehead, “Okay then my ass.”

“No swearing,” Zhuo Zhi stood on tiptoe and gave her a quick kiss.

“Tsk,” Li Qinyue said, “You’re getting bolder and bolder, Comrade Xiao Zhuo.”

“Let’s go home,” Zhuo Zhi took her hand, led her to the door, and opened it.

“Master,” Zhuo Zhi shouted as soon as she entered, “Captain Li said I’m dedicated and a good worker, so he let me off ten minutes early!”

The Master said, “If you’re such a good worker, why didn’t he give you a year-end bonus?”

“I’ve only been working for a few days, hahaha,” Zhuo Zhi said cheerfully, her hand still holding Li Qinyue’s as she went to the kitchen. “What are you making? Do you need my help?”

The Master glanced at them with disdain, “No.”

Zhuo Zhi pouted and pulled Li Qinyue away, “Then we’ll just wait for dinner.”

The New Year hadn’t even started, and they were already having feasts every day.

Lunch lasted a long time. After they were full, the three of them had nothing to do, so they sat in the living room and watched TV.

It was the Spring Festival Gala preview show. Zhuo Zhi tried to convince the Master to play games with them. The Master finally agreed after much persuasion. Zhuo Zhi took the Master’s phone to download the game, then realized that it was already installed, tucked away in a folder named “For Leisure”.

“Hey!” Zhuo Zhi exclaimed, moving closer to the Master, “You have it! Have you played before? Do you have an account? What rank are you?”

“I have an account,” the Master took back her phone, “It’s linked to my WeChat.”

“Impressive,” Zhuo Zhi gave her a thumbs-up, then said to Li Qinyue, “Master is amazing, right? Have you ever met anyone her age who plays this game?”

“No, you’re the first, Master,” Li Qinyue immediately flattered her, “Other people, they get old in their hearts as they age, but Master, you look so young! If we walked together, people would think we’re…”

“Shut up,” the Master said.

Li Qinyue shut up.

“Log in,” the Master leaned back on the sofa, looking relaxed, “Just match with random people, you can talk, no need to use the microphone.”

Li Qinyue’s eyes widened.

Zhuo Zhi nudged her arm, “Show Master your skills, Sister.”

“No problem, no problem,” Li Qinyue quickly focused on her phone, “I’ll be at the front, protecting everyone.”

They matched with a newbie. After landing, the newbie kept circling the houses, clearly inexperienced.

Li Qinyue was the fastest, sprinting from house to house, quickly gathering supplies and looting two airdrops.

She ran to the Master and said, “Master, this gun is good, take it, and these two first-aid kits.”

She dropped the items, but the Master didn’t even bother picking them up. She just turned and ran away, “No need, I have my own.”

Zhuo Zhi, amused by the failed attempt to please the Master, said, “Sister, do you have any scopes? Give me one.”

“Yes, but I’m not giving it to you,” Li Qinyue said coldly, “It would be a waste on you.”

Zhuo Zhi protested, “Favoritism!”

“You’re on your own, I have to protect Master, I’m not reviving you if you get knocked down,” Li Qinyue followed the Master closely, acting very attentive.

Zhuo Zhi: “The newbie doesn’t even have a gun yet, you’re protecting Master, I’ll go protect him then.”

Li Qinyue ran over and hit Zhuo Zhi’s head with a frying pan.

The start of the game was smooth. Li Qinyue was proactive, eliminating any enemy she saw.

Although the newbie wasn’t very skilled, he was obedient and followed Zhuo Zhi closely, doing everything she told him to.

The safe zone shifted, and they had to cross a bridge. As they drove, they saw an airdrop landing near the bridge.

This was perfect, all the danger concentrated in one spot.

Li Qinyue stopped the car on a hill and said to the Master and Zhuo Zhi, “Stay down, I’ll…”

Before she could finish her sentence, the Master had already rushed out, running straight towards the airdrop. Gunfire erupted.

Li Qinyue aimed and fired, but the enemies were dropping one by one, the kill feed constantly updating.

“Damn!” Li Qinyue couldn’t help but exclaim, “Are you hacking, Master?!”

A knitted cat doll flew through the air, hitting Li Qinyue’s head.

The Master looked at her, her expression indifferent, “Zhuo Zhi has never cheated on a test in her life.”

Li Qinyue, ignoring the comment, said, “Master, stop looking at me, look at the enemies!”

The Master: “There are two more to the southeast, they’re yours.”

For the rest of the game, no matter how dangerous the situation, Zhuo Zhi didn’t have to worry.

She just had to tell the newbie to stay down, and the Master would take care of everything.

Zhuo Zhi rarely played this game, she was just a beginner. With Li Qinyue and the Master, all she had to do was lie down and win.

By the time it was dusk, Zhuo Zhi was tired of winning.

The Master tossed her phone aside, glanced at the darkening sky, and said, “I’m done.”

Li Qinyue immediately exited the game. She couldn’t help but go to the sofa where the Master was sitting and started showering her with compliments, “I never thought, I would never have thought, that you’re so multi-talented, Master. You know my father, right? He’s about your age, you wouldn’t believe it, he doesn’t even know how to use a food delivery app…”

“Does he even order takeout?” the Master asked.

“No,” Li Qinyue said honestly.

The Master said, “Then stop flattering me.”

Li Qinyue readily agreed, “Okay.”

The Master pointed at the kitchen, “There’s still a bowl of celery and pork filling left, my hands are tired, Zhuo Zhi can do it.”

Making dumplings together on New Year’s Eve was a family tradition. The Master had probably intended for the three of them to do it together, but with their unusual family dynamic, it had become Zhuo Zhi’s solo task.

“Okay!” Zhuo Zhi obediently went to the kitchen.

“Then I’ll…” Li Qinyue gestured.

“You sit down, don’t waste the ingredients,” the Master said.

“Oh,” Li Qinyue looked pitiful.

They watched TV, even paying attention to the commercials.

Li Qinyue, trying to make conversation, asked, “When did you start playing that game, Master? You’re so good at it.”

“When Zhuo Zhi came down the mountain,” the Master said.

“Huh?” Li Qinyue was confused.

“When Zhuo Zhi came down the mountain,” the Master looked at her and repeated.

Li Qinyue was speechless. When Zhuo Zhi first came down, she was using a brick phone and didn’t even know how to use mobile payments.

Her upbringing hadn’t exposed her to these things. She had found joy in nature and human interactions.

Li Qinyue hadn’t thought much about it before, but now, realizing this, she felt a surge of respect for the Master.

Even living on the mountain, the Master hadn’t neglected Zhuo Zhi’s education. Zhuo Zhi had excelled in her studies.

And the Master had even set an example, exploring new things with her, nurturing her enthusiasm for the world.

But she had shielded her from all forms of modern distractions and addictions. There were no frivolous worries or rebellious phases in Zhuo Zhi’s life. Her world was like a fairy tale.

If all of this was intentional, the Master’s efforts were truly remarkable.

And this parent had only started learning and adapting to the modern world when her child entered it.

Her complete integration with this world was solely for Zhuo Zhi’s sake.

For a long time, Li Qinyue couldn’t speak. She stared at the Master, lost in thought, then suddenly realized that the Master had started playing the game because of Zhuo Zhi, and she had become so good at it probably because she was lonely.

How sad it must have been for her, living on the mountain alone, without Zhuo Zhi.

Li Qinyue’s nose tingled, her heart aching with empathy.

She was the one who had taken Zhuo Zhi away from the Master. The Master’s hostility towards her was justified.

The Master had raised such a wonderful girl. No matter how kind she, Li Qinyue, was to the Master, it wouldn’t be enough.

The Master’s gaze remained fixed on the TV. Li Qinyue’s fingers twitched, she finally mustered up her courage and tugged at the Master’s sleeve.

The Master turned to look at her. Li Qinyue took her hand, her voice sincere, “Master, please stay after the New Year.”

The Master’s brows furrowed, her indifferent facade crumbling, replaced by shock, “Stay, or not stay?”

“Stay!” Li Qinyue shook her head vigorously, “How can I bear to let you leave? How can I let you go? Master, let’s live together from now on, let Zhuo Zhi and I take care of you!”

After a long silence, the Master said, “Have you been drinking?”

“No, I’m being sincere…”

“Then are you being sarcastic, hinting that I should leave?”

“Of course not, I really think…”

“Then there’s only one possibility…” the Master looked at her, then suddenly yelled, “You want a free nanny?! In your dreams! Get lost!”

She pulled her hand away forcefully, making Li Qinyue lose her balance and fall onto the sofa.

The Master’s movements were swift and graceful. One moment she was in front of Li Qinyue, the next she was in the furthest corner of the living room.

There was a small stool in the corner, and the Master sat down on it, her posture imposing, her expression furious.

Zhuo Zhi rushed out of the kitchen, “What’s wrong, what’s wrong? We were just fine, why are you arguing?”

Just as Li Qinyue was about to explain, the Master turned to Zhuo Zhi, her voice cold and hard, “Pack my bags after making the dumplings, I’m leaving tomorrow.”