Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Whenever Jian Yi was mentioned in front of Yun Xin, Jing Rui always referred to her as "little lover."
"Don't be ridiculous, we're not even officially together yet."
"I think that girl likes you too. With a beauty like you, Miss Yun, making the first move, who could resist?" Jing Rui joked with Yun Xin. Yun Xin had taken years to recover from her previous relationship; it was comforting to see her finally interested in someone again.
"She's so dense, she never thinks in that direction." Yun Xin was exasperated. No matter how close she got to Jian Yi, no matter how she tried to hint, Jian Yi just didn't get it.
Jing Rui couldn't help but sigh, "I really admire you for daring to pursue straight girls."
Yun Xin smiled without saying a word.
Sometimes, liking someone wasn't something one could control.
"Just do what you think is best, no need to give me special treatment." Yun Xin knew Jing Rui had high standards for design and craftsmanship. She worried that Chi Jia, as a budding designer, wouldn't be up to the task.
"Naturally. You know I'm not one for giving face." Jing Rui lowered her head again, looking at the business card in her hand.
The inky black LOGO on the business card read: AS Design.
It seemed familiar, she felt like she had heard of it somewhere before.
AS was one of the top interior design companies in the country. Countless graduates would do anything to get in. Chi Jia felt she was extremely lucky.
To be precise, before meeting Jing Rui, Chi Jia thought her life had been quite smooth sailing.
Although she came from a divorced family, her parents had separated amicably; from elementary to middle school, she was a typical underachiever, but in her senior year of high school, it was like a switch flipped, and she performed exceptionally well in the college entrance exam, scoring eighty points higher than usual; later in university, she participated in several design competitions, unexpectedly winning first place; and when her classmates were frantically searching for jobs in their senior year, she was recommended by her professor and directly offered a position at AS.
The only area where things weren't so smooth was probably her relationships.
Each one ended without a clear resolution.
Fortunately, Chi Jia now felt that love wasn't a necessity in life, it was optional.
The 25th, the end of the month was approaching.
As usual, the AS executives held their monthly summary meeting.
Curve graphs, line graphs, bar graphs, pie charts...
All kinds of data, as always, dry and boring.
Ning Qian sat at the head of the conference table, drowsy.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting." A woman in camel-colored high heels and a fitted dress strode into the conference room, exuding a mature and capable aura.
Ning Qian's eyes lit up, and a smile bloomed on her previously bored face.
Wen Jin gathered her hair and gave her a gentle smile. "Let's start the meeting."
Ning Qian had just joined AS last month as the Design Director. Other companies had offered her more attractive salaries, but she refused. She chose AS because the person who interviewed her in the final round was Wen Jin, the goddess she had secretly admired for three years.
Wen Jin and Ning Qian were classmates, both graduating from L University.
In their senior year, Ning Qian had mustered the courage to confess to Wen Jin, but another girl beat her to it.
As a result, that girl was mercilessly rejected by Wen Jin. From then on, Ning Qian understood that Wen Jin and she weren't from the same world, and her admiration could only remain hidden in her heart.
Later, Ning Qian went abroad to study, thinking that this unrequited love would finally come to an end. Unexpectedly, she met Wen Jin again last month and, without hesitation, decided to work for her.
Continuing her hopeless crush.
"...This month, the design department's output has increased by 20% compared to last month, thanks to Director Ning's efforts. Director Ning, would you like to say a few words..." Wen Jin looked at Ning Qian, who was clearly looking at her, but didn't respond. Wen Jin felt awkward. "Ning Qian?"
"Oh..." Ning Qian had been slightly distracted.
After the meeting, Ning Qian lingered in the conference room until only she and Wen Jin remained.
"Is there something else?" Wen Jin asked with a smile.
Her smile was still as pleasant as ever. After a few years, Wen Jin was even more beautiful than when they graduated. Elegance truly came with time.
"I..." Ning Qian was impeccable in her professional abilities, eloquent when dealing with clients, but in front of Wen Jin, she would occasionally stutter.
"Hmm?"
"I'd like to treat you to dinner tonight."
Wen Jin hesitated. "Tonight?"
"Yes." Ning Qian joked, "President Wen, even though I like women, you don't have to keep your distance from me like this, right? We're old classmates, after all."
Ning Qian's sexual orientation was known throughout their department back then.
Wen Jin thought for a moment and agreed. "I'll treat you. I'm really grateful that you came to AS to help me."
"It's settled then. See you tonight."
"Okay."
AS was located in L City's most prosperous business district, and its executive offices were luxurious.
In preparation for the evening's date, Ning Qian touched up her makeup in her office.
Her secretary knocked on the door. "President Ning, Miss Jing is here."
When Jing Rui entered Ning Qian's office, Ning Qian was beaming.
Her mood was brighter than the sunshine today.
"President Ning seems to be in a good mood today." Jing Rui had previously found AS Design familiar, and later remembered that it was the company Ning Qian had recently joined.
Ning Qian was a regular at Number Nine and had become acquainted with Jing Rui after a few conversations.
Jing Rui opened the restaurant not for profit, but purely out of interest. Meeting different people, hearing different stories, adding a bit of fun to her otherwise monotonous life.
"The usual." Ning Qian got up and walked over to Jing Rui. "What would you like to drink?"
Jing Rui sat down on the sofa. "Anything is fine."
Ning Qian knew that Jing Rui had come regarding the café renovation. "You didn't have to come in person. I could have sent a designer to discuss it with you."
Jing Rui took a sip of tea. "It's good to understand things firsthand."
A client like Jing Rui was considered a big deal, so Ning Qian usually handled it personally. "We have a few designers who specialize in the style you want, all with seven or eight years of experience. Let me show you their portfolios."
Jing Rui looked through dozens of pictures on the iPad, noncommittal.
"So many, and none of them to your liking?" Ning Qian was surprised. The portfolios she showed Jing Rui were AS's most classic works.
"They're good, just a bit too conventional."
"Or I could handle it myself, but my design fee is quite high." Ning Qian joked, even if she wanted to help Jing Rui, she didn't have the time.
Staring at the screen, Jing Rui suddenly remembered, "Do you have a designer named Chi Jia here?"
"Chi Jia?" AS had plenty of designers, but Ning Qian remembered Chi Jia because her monthly output consistently ranked among the top three, despite being a recent graduate. "Yes, we do. Do you know her?"
Jing Rui wasn't sure if this "Chi Jia" was the Miss Chi she knew, but she became interested. "A friend mentioned her. I'd like to see her portfolio."
Ning Qian asked her secretary to bring Chi Jia's resume and portfolio.
"This young lady just graduated this year. She has good ideas, but not much experience." Ning Qian handed the resume to Jing Rui.
Jing Rui recognized the person in the photo on the resume. It was that Miss Chi.
What a small world.
Jing Rui carefully flipped through Chi Jia's portfolio.
Ning Qian thought Jing Rui was just casually browsing, but she was surprised when Jing Rui said, "Let her handle it."
"Are you sure?" Ning Qian was even more surprised. The owner of Number Nine was known to be picky, as evidenced by the rules in her restaurant. But she chose a novice designer. Ning Qian kindly reminded her, "Jing Rui, think carefully. She has never designed a restaurant before."
Jing Rui closed the portfolio and smiled. "It's better that she hasn't. More room for creativity."
"Alright, you two can discuss the specifics yourselves."
Chi Jia stood in the corridor, leaning against the wall, hanging up the phone dejectedly.
A client she was about to close, who was supposed to sign the contract this afternoon, suddenly changed their mind and signed with another design company.
Just one more project, and she could have been number one this month.
"Xiao Jia, a client is looking for you. Come with me." Ning Qian's secretary beckoned to Chi Jia.
"Okay, coming."
A client? It was the end of the month, Chi Jia had already contacted every potential client she could think of. Where would another client come from?
Chi Jia had a good personality and was outgoing, so she was on good terms with almost everyone in the company. The secretary couldn't help but tell her, "You're so lucky. They specifically requested you for the project."
"Really?!" This was like manna from heaven. Chi Jia thought the secretary was joking. "You're not kidding, are you?"
"Why would I lie to you? It seems to be a friend of President Ning."
Chi Jia was moved to tears. Finally, she had met a discerning client.
A blessing in disguise.
After the heartbreak, the hospital visit, and losing six thousand yuan, Chi Jia thought her luck was about to change.
Chi Jia carried her documents to the client reception area. "Sorry to keep you waiting, I'm..."
Upon seeing the other person, Chi Jia stopped mid-sentence.
It was that stunning yet irritating face again.
Jing Rui looked up, giving her a smile. "We meet again, Miss Chi."
Hmm
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