Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Early evening in midsummer—muggy and nothing but muggy. Stray dogs on the street panted with their tongues lolling out.
Today was Qixi Festival, the traditional Chinese Valentine's Day.
Cheesy love songs filled the air, roses were everywhere, and couples strolled hand-in-hand, the stench of romance permeating the atmosphere.
"Driver, stop here." A girl in a light-colored casual shirt hopped out of the backseat of a taxi, her steps hurried as if she had something urgent to attend to.
The sky grew darker, and a light drizzle began to fall.
At this moment, a street singer was holding a guitar, softly and affectionately singing, "I hear raindrops falling on the green grass..."
The lyrics were quite fitting.
On this particular holiday, Chi Jia felt like she might be getting cheated on.
Standing on the brightly lit street, Chi Jia wiped the raindrops from her forehead and stormed into a restaurant called "Number Nine" with a fiery gait.
The man who had just walked into the restaurant with a large bouquet of red roses was Jiang Shen, her boyfriend of almost a year. But clearly, those flowers weren't for her.
If she hadn't finished work early today and followed Jiang Shen here, she would have missed this good show.
Number Nine was a well-known, upscale casual restaurant in L City. Chi Jia had never eaten here before, but she knew their signature dishes. Also, it was said that the owner of Number Nine was a real beauty, which was why the business was so booming.
In today's appearance-obsessed society, looks were also capital.
"Miss, do you have a reservation?" The waiter greeted her warmly and politely, unaware of the tiger-like guest he was welcoming.
"I'm looking for someone." Chi Jia curtly threw down three words and marched straight into the restaurant.
"Hey! Miss..."
The restaurant wasn't huge, but not small either, a two-story duplex decorated with a Valentine's Day atmosphere.
Out of occupational habit, Chi Jia's first reaction was to note the commendable interior design, but she was here to catch a cheater, not to leisurely appreciate the decor.
Table 19—Chi Jia quickly found her target, but didn't act immediately.
Sure enough, Jiang Shen was presenting that gaudy bouquet of red roses to a woman, and that woman...
Chi Jia froze. The other woman was beautiful, beautiful like a vixen incarnate, especially her curvy figure, outlined almost perfectly by a tight black dress.
It was the kind of figure that made other women jealous, even more so for the flat-chested Chi Jia.
Chi Jia suddenly felt a sense of defeat. They said one shouldn't lose in presence, and she regretted not putting on proper makeup and dressing up. Now she had rushed here in a shirt and jeans, looking disheveled and lacking impact.
But that wasn't the point. The point was, she was really being cheated on!
Standing at Table 19, Jing Rui observed the man showering her with flowers and compliments, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on her lips.
Her features were picturesque, but with a touch of allure. Her facial features were perfectly arranged, her thin lips slightly pursed, exuding a mature yet languidly sexy charm. Undoubtedly, this woman's smile was incredibly pleasing and captivating.
Even Chi Jia silently acknowledged her beauty, but so what? Her face screamed "vixen." Chi Jia stared fixedly at Table 19, her initial impression solidifying.
"These are for you. Actually, every time I come here to eat, I've noticed you. You're truly beautiful." Jiang Shen was completely focused on the person in front of him, oblivious to Chi Jia behind him and the impending storm.
Jing Rui didn't accept the flowers, maintaining her smile instead. She touched her left arm, continuing the conversation with interest, "Mr. Jiang, do you know? I personally select all the ingredients for our restaurant. I have very strict standards."
Seeing her willingness to engage, Jiang Shen felt his chance had arrived. He smiled, "Of course, I know. Otherwise, so many people wouldn't come here just for the reputation."
"I'm even stricter with choosing people."
Jing Rui's consistently alluring smile boosted Jiang Shen's confidence. He asked in a suggestive tone, almost flirting, "Oh? How strict?"
Pausing, Jing Rui looked him up and down once more, then slowly leaned close to his ear, drawling out four words: "You're not good enough."
Caught off guard, Jiang Shen's smile froze, utterly embarrassed. He finally understood that her constant smile was simply one of disdain.
Seeing them whispering and exchanging glances, Chi Jia finally lost her patience. She strode forward, grabbed a glass of red wine from a neighboring table, and without a word, poured it over Jiang Shen's head.
Her reaction was swift, her posture impressive. But that wasn't enough to quell her anger.
Red liquid dripped down his hair. Jiang Shen turned around, and before he could react, he received a fiery slap across his face.
Chi Jia's movements were seamless.
The "slap" attracted a crowd of onlookers, eager for a good show.
Chi Jia shook her hand—Newton's third law; the slap had been too hard, her hand was numb.
"Xiao Jia..."
Chi Jia didn't give Jiang Shen a chance to speak. Switching hands, she gritted her teeth and delivered another slap. "There, for symmetry!"
The crowd gasped.
Jing Rui had seen all sorts of things. She seemed to have grasped the situation, although this slender girl had quite a temper.
Chi Jia had always been like this, straightforward, hot-tempered, never provoking others unless provoked, but not one to back down from a fight.
"You misunderstood..." Jiang Shen rubbed his face, still attempting to explain.
"Oh, you're quite something!" Chi Jia glanced at Jing Rui, fuming. As she spoke, she shoved Jiang Shen, "Two dates in one night, pretty efficient!"
"Listen to me, it's not what you think. I was planning to bring you here for dinner after work, I just wanted to surprise you. Don't be so impulsive, okay..."
Chi Jia frowned, hesitating slightly.
At that very moment, Jing Rui chuckled and said to Jiang Shen, "You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend."
This blow was perfectly timed.
Hearing Jing Rui's words, Chi Jia completely exploded. She had almost believed the scumbag's words. With her high heels, she stomped on Jiang Shen's foot, her voice venomous, "You're disgusting!"
After cursing him, she turned and left.
"Ah..." Jiang Shen winced, glaring at Jing Rui.
Jing Rui simply flipped her hair and smiled, still alluring.
"Xiao Jia..." Jiang Shen threw the roses down and limped after Chi Jia.
The restaurant drama concluded, returning to its peaceful state. Jing Rui watched the girl's departing figure for a while until she disappeared from sight. She then turned and softly instructed the waiter, "Clean up. Cancel Table 19's order."
The rain stopped shortly after.
The air was fresh and invigorating.
As Chi Jia rushed out of the restaurant, a strong hand grabbed her wrist. She turned, flung Jiang Shen's hand away, and yelled, "Don't touch me!"
"There's really nothing between us."
Chi Jia continued walking, and Jiang Shen chased after her, explaining as he ran, "I know I was wrong, I swear I'll keep my distance from other women from now on."
"Jiang Shen, be careful what you say, don't get struck by lightning before you get home." Chi Jia stopped, sneering, "Also, let's break up. You can find whoever you want from now on."
Her tone was resolute.
Chi Jia didn't like dragging things out. Once her bottom line was crossed, she could be more ruthless than anyone. Like now, there were no old feelings to discuss, nothing to linger over, no room for maneuver.
"I won't agree, I can't live without you..."
This line belonged in the classic scumbag quotes hall of fame, but Chi Jia wasn't blinded by love. This tactic wouldn't work. One second he was flirting with another woman, the next he was playing the devoted lover; even Sichuan opera face-changing wasn't this fast. Chi Jia rolled her eyes. "Are you not disgusted with yourself?"
"It was a misunderstanding, I was just joking... Forgive me this once."
She had eyes; she could see for herself. Chi Jia didn't want to hear any excuses. "Get lost! Don't disgust me."
Seeing his apologies and pleas falling on deaf ears, Jiang Shen finally aired his grievances. "Chi Jia, think about it, what normal man could stand you?! We've been together for a year, and you won't even let me touch a finger..."
There it was, his true feelings revealed.
These words completely triggered Chi Jia, adding fuel to the fire. She retorted, "So liking me was fake, wanting to sleep with me was real, right?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"No need to explain. You're free. Go sleep with whoever you want from now on. Nobody cares." Chi Jia turned around gracefully, hailed a cab, and sped away.
All contact information blocked.
Breaking up on Valentine's Day—a memorable experience, to say the least.
During her four years of university, Chi Jia had gone through several relationships, almost earning the title of "Scumbag Harvester." Today's events only confirmed her mother's frequent words: Money is more important than feelings, bread is more reliable than love.
Leaving Number Nine, Chi Jia didn't go home to cry and vent—it wasn't worth it. She went straight back to the company, turned on her computer, and continued working on the design drafts that had been revised countless times, as if nothing had happened tonight.
Although she felt a certain heaviness in her heart, she'd rather take on more projects and fill her coffers than waste time wallowing in self-pity.
This was the poorest time of her life. Having just graduated this year, the transition from campus to workplace wasn't easy. "Recent graduate" was written prominently on her resume, and in many cases, these three words were synonymous with exploitation. HR representatives smiled sweetly, interviewing you only about your willingness to endure hardship, while vaguely mentioning salary, saying things like young people should have a long-term vision and prioritize self-improvement after graduation.
Fortunately, Chi Jia was relatively satisfied with her current employer. She had joined AS as a design assistant in the second semester of her senior year. After almost a year of hard work, she had finally been promoted from assistant to designer a few days ago, with a substantial increase in base salary.
They said that designers were angels with broken wings in their past lives. Chi Jia felt she must have been an angel with multiple fractures, which was why she became an interior designer in this life.
Before working, Chi Jia was the department beauty. After starting work, she stayed up late drawing blueprints, creating models, and constantly running to construction sites. At this rate, she would become a haggard housewife before thirty.
Under such harsh conditions, Chi Jia considered finding a boyfriend a miracle. But now it seemed this miracle wasn't worth keeping.
Jiang Shen was several years older than her. They worked in the same office building and had run into each other a few times, exchanged contact information, and chatted quite well, becoming a couple soon after.
Fast-food love—it came and went quickly.
Thinking back, Chi Jia felt that breaking up with Jiang Shen was inevitable. She never thought they would last, so breaking up today felt…just like that.
Perhaps she had become numb to relationships.
Before she knew it, it was 10 PM.
Closing her laptop, Chi Jia stretched and realized the office was empty. She was the last one left in the department again.
Although Chi Jia seemed unreliable on the surface, always talking about marrying into a wealthy family as her ultimate life goal, she was a typical workaholic in private. Otherwise, a recent graduate like her wouldn't have been promoted to designer in the highly competitive AS.
Chi Jia often gave herself pep talks: never try to rely on others, nothing beats being self-reliant.
In the restroom, water gurgled from the tap. Chi Jia looked up at herself in the mirror, lost in thought. She had put on light makeup in the morning, but sweating from running around construction sites and squeezing onto buses had washed most of it off. She was practically bare-faced now, tired and exhausted from the day.
She splashed cold water on her face, letting the droplets slide down her cheeks. It was much more refreshing.
The world kept turning even after a breakup. Jiang Shen tried to see Chi Jia a few times, but she gave him the cold shoulder. Overall, the breakup hadn't affected her life much; instead, it gave her more time and energy to focus entirely on work.
In August, several assistants in Design Department Three were promoted to designers, so a post-work celebration was in order. Chi Jia readily agreed; she enjoyed lively gatherings, often going to bars and drinking to relax after work.
Coincidentally, the dinner was at Number Nine again.
Chi Jia had a strong impression of this restaurant, as it held a chapter of her humiliating history that she couldn't erase.
Not long after Chi Jia entered the restaurant, something even more coincidental happened. She saw a familiar face that she had only seen once, wearing the same alluring smile as that night, chatting and laughing with a man.
Only this time, it was a different man.
It wasn't difficult for Chi Jia to notice Jing Rui. First, Jing Rui was sitting in a prominent spot. Second, some women naturally possessed an outstanding aura and appearance that made them hard to ignore.
Women were accurate judges of other women. She really was a vixen. Chi Jia glared in Jing Rui's direction, thinking to herself.
When Jing Rui looked up, her gaze happened to fall on Chi Jia. She recognized the face and, noticing Chi Jia staring at her, simply turned her body to look directly at Chi Jia, openly.
Even their eye contact felt like a competition. Chi Jia was wearing a very feminine short skirt today and had put on careful makeup, thinking she wouldn't lose out this time. After giving Jing Rui a classic Chi-style eye roll, she turned back to chat with her colleagues.
Within a few seconds, Jing Rui had also taken in Chi Jia's appearance. She did look much more striking than that night. However, after seeing that unfriendly eye roll, Jing Rui couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ms. Jing, what are you laughing about?"
"Nothing. You all enjoy your meal. I have something to attend to." Jing Rui collected herself and stood up gracefully, the corners of her lips turning upwards as she walked towards Chi Jia...
Hmm, well it seems to be an interesting start?
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