Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Sunlight streamed into the office, bright and almost glaring.

Even her carefully applied makeup couldn't hide the fatigue on Wen Jin's face. She rubbed her temples, her head throbbing—the aftereffects of last night's drinking.

The office intercom rang.

Wen Jin wearily answered. It was her secretary's voice. "President Wen, Director Ning would like to see you."

A brief silence. Wen Jin replied, "Okay."

Half a minute later, Ning Qian knocked and entered the office.

"Why aren't you resting today?" Seeing the faint dark circles under Wen Jin's eyes, Ning Qian felt a pang of heartache, forgetting even the usual polite greetings between a subordinate and a superior.

Wen Jin smiled. "I'm fine."

Those were her most frequent words, just like last night. But Ning Qian didn't believe she was "fine." Wen Jin was always mature and composed; why would she get drunk at a bar?

When Ning Qian rushed over—it should be said, it was the first time she had seen Wen Jin so disheveled, her eyes slightly red, as if she had been bullied. Ning Qian asked her what was wrong, but she only replied with "I'm fine," refusing to elaborate.

"You're just being stubborn." Last night, seeing Wen Jin drinking alone, Ning Qian really wanted to hug and comfort her, but Wen Jin just kept drinking, unwilling to say anything more. Ning Qian couldn't help but ask with concern, "What happened? Can't you tell me?"

"Director Ning, this is during work hours."

"Wen Jin..." Ning Qian swallowed the words "I'm so worried about you."

In front of Wen Jin, Ning Qian was always cautious, afraid that any wrong word or action would cause Wen Jin to avoid or reject her.

"I was being presumptuous last night. Thank you." Wen Jin sighed.

Wen Jin thanked her, but Ning Qian felt she hadn't done anything.

"In the future, if… if you want to drink, just call me. Anytime." Ning Qian forced a casual smile, hiding her true feelings behind a facade of ordinary friendship. "Don't be alone."

"Thank you."

Ning Qian hated it most when Wen Jin thanked her. Their relationship had just become slightly closer, only to be pulled apart again by a "thank you."

Jing Rui said she was willingly being Wen Jin's spare tire, but Ning Qian felt she wasn't even that. If Wen Jin actually considered her a spare tire, she would probably be overjoyed.

She knew there was no future with Wen Jin, yet she couldn't let go.

Liking someone like this was truly exhausting.

But whenever Wen Jin smiled at her or made a slightly intimate gesture, Ning Qian couldn't help herself.

Her separation and reunion with Wen Jin was like quitting smoking and then picking it up again, only becoming more addicted. Sometimes, Ning Qian thought she might end up alone because of this woman...

---

After work, Chi Jia went to Number Nine again.

She couldn't remember how many times she had been there this month.

Stepping into the restaurant, Chi Jia wore a resigned expression.

The waiters at Number Nine were starting to recognize her. "Miss Chi, are you here to see our boss again? I'll take you to her."

Jing Rui said the café renovation wasn't urgent, there was plenty of time, and the details of the design proposal were still under discussion. Chi Jia knew what this meant; it meant she would continue to suffer endless torment from the vixen.

They sat side by side on the sofa, staring at the computer screen.

"Change this part."

"Isn't this what you asked me to change it to?!"

"I think now," Jing Rui glanced at Chi Jia lazily, "I prefer the original version."

"Fine, I'll change it." Chi Jia suppressed her anger.

After Chi Jia obediently made the changes, Jing Rui tucked her hair behind her ear, propped her head up with her hand, and said, "It seems a bit abrupt now. Change it again."

Chi Jia's anger finally reached its peak. "Jing Rui, are you doing this on purpose?! What did I ever do to you?! Stop messing with me!"

She had indeed done something last night, but Chi Jia had completely forgotten.

"Vixen, a homewrecking vixen." Jing Rui changed the subject, speaking slowly. She remembered those words clearly. She was used to hearing flattering words; no one had ever dared to speak to her like that. Jing Rui questioned Chi Jia, "Is this how you usually talk about me behind my back?"

"..." Chi Jia felt guilty. Could it be that she had said something she shouldn't have after getting drunk last night? No wonder the vixen was targeting her today. Chi Jia refused to admit it, acting like she couldn't care less. "I… I didn't."

"Continue revising. If you can't get it right, redo the whole thing."

"Redo it?" Now Chi Jia was certain she must have said something she shouldn't have last night.

Exhausted, Chi Jia stared at the screen for a few seconds, then closed her laptop. "Miss Jing, if you're so dissatisfied with me, then find another designer. I don't want to waste your time."

Chi Jia sounded aggrieved and disheartened. In her year of working, this was the first time she had voluntarily given up on a client.

Packing up her laptop and documents, Chi Jia stood up to leave, prepared to lose this project after what she had said.

Some money was just not meant for her.

"Chi Jia, stop right there." Jing Rui also stood up, calling out to her.

"What do you want?" Chi Jia frowned.

"I said from the beginning that I have very high standards." Jing Rui paused, then continued, "I'm not dissatisfied with you, but I believe you can do better. This is a good opportunity for you. Are you sure you want to give up?"

This project had a budget of several million. Even if Chi Jia took on dozens of smaller projects, the commission might not be as much as this one. Weighing the pros and cons, Chi Jia was silent for a moment, then gritted her teeth, threw her bag back on the table, opened her laptop, and continued. "I'll revise it, I'll revise it until you're satisfied, okay?"

Such a stubborn temper. Jing Rui smiled, checked the time, and went downstairs.

Chi Jia stared at the computer screen, her eyes blurring.

She had gotten home very late last night after drinking, and for the sake of perfect attendance, she hadn't even taken half a day off, having to work overtime on Jing Rui's revisions after work.

When Jing Rui returned upstairs, Chi Jia was leaning against the sofa, sleeping soundly.

Chi Jia's bare legs rubbed against each other, then curled up. She was thin, and looked even more so curled up in the corner of the sofa. She seemed exhausted.

Jing Rui turned up the air conditioning slightly, sat down next to Chi Jia, and nudged her elbow.

At the slightest movement, Chi Jia woke up. She was severely sleep-deprived.

"I asked you to revise the drawings, what are you doing?"

Her head felt heavy, and she could barely open her eyes. Chi Jia rubbed her eyes, forcing herself to wake up. "Okay, I'll revise it now..."

Looking at her tired face, Jing Rui reached out and closed the laptop for her, her voice softening slightly. "Don't revise it anymore."

"What's wrong now?"

Jing Rui stood up. "Eat something first."

The aroma of black pepper steak pasta on the table filled the air.

Chi Jia's stomach rumbled at the smell of food. She was starving.

It was even a double portion.

Jing Rui sat down. "After dinner, you can go home. We'll revise it next time."

"You're so unpredictable! Didn't you ask me to come tonight?" Chi Jia felt baffled. "Didn't you say I had to revise it until you were satisfied?"

"Something came up." Jing Rui looked up, seeing Chi Jia still frozen in place. "Eat quickly, don't waste my time."

"I didn't say I wanted to stay for dinner..." Although Chi Jia sounded reluctant, her stomach betrayed her. "Grumble—"

"I don't want to have to take you to the hospital again."

Looking at Jing Rui, Chi Jia felt conflicted. Jing Rui wasn't entirely unpleasant; some of her actions were clearly well-intentioned, yet they still irritated Chi Jia.

Chi Jia stood there awkwardly for a moment, then finally sat down opposite Jing Rui. Since the vixen was treating her like this, it wouldn't hurt to have a free meal.

She picked up her knife and fork and started eating.

Chi Jia's eating habits were unrestrained, but not unrefined.

Having been hungry all afternoon, she ate with gusto.

Jing Rui stopped eating, looked at Chi Jia, and asked with a smile, "Is it good?"

"You made this?" Chi Jia had almost finished her plate, finding it even more delicious than the last time she ate here.

"Yes."

She hadn't expected the vixen to be such a good cook.

Putting aside her prejudice, Chi Jia thought Miss Jing was quite charming; beautiful, great figure, seductive like a vixen, and an amazing cook.

But since it was made by Jing Rui, no matter how delicious, Chi Jia wouldn't admit it. "It's alright."

Jing Rui looked at Chi Jia's empty plate and her stubborn expression, thinking she might not be full. "Want me to make you some more?"

"No need." Chi Jia wiped her mouth, nitpicking even after a satisfying meal. "Too salty."

Jing Rui: "..."

After eating the pasta Jing Rui made, Chi Jia craved her cooking for quite some time.

Later, Chi Jia didn't mind going to Number Nine as much. Although the revisions were frustrating, at least she could get a free meal, and Jing Rui's cooking was better than the restaurant's chefs.

Jing Rui rarely cooked herself, but whenever Chi Jia came to see her, she was always in the mood to make something. She inexplicably enjoyed watching Chi Jia claim the food wasn't good while cleaning her plate every time.

Eating alone was inevitably lonely, having a noisy companion wasn't so bad.

During afternoon tea, the girls were chatting in the break room again, discussing delicious restaurants. Naturally, the conversation drifted to Number Nine.

"I heard the food cooked by their owner is even better."

"That's no use, their owner doesn't cook often."

Chi Jia, sipping her coffee, casually remarked, "You must be mistaken. Every time I go there, the owner cooks for me."

This statement made Chi Jia the center of attention.

"Xiao Jia, you're close to their owner?!"

She and Jing Rui... Chi Jia firmly replied, "Not close."

"That's impossible."

"Xiao Jia, you must be mistaken..."

Their unanimous disbelief made Chi Jia start to question herself. Could it be that Jing Rui was giving her special treatment?

The topic gradually shifted.

"But their owner is really beautiful, amazing figure, and super rich!"

"Yeah, yeah, I saw her once. She even smiled at me."

"Even as a woman, I want to marry her!"

"If I could be taken care of by a beautiful, rich woman, I'd be happy too..."

The sudden collective infatuation with Jing Rui made Chi Jia uncomfortable. She couldn't stand it anymore and slipped out of the break room.

In her lifetime, she had witnessed the girls in the break room collectively swooning over a woman.

Crazy, they were all crazy.

Back at her desk, Chi Jia continued sipping her coffee, wondering if Jing Rui was really as amazing as they said. She had seen many beautiful women and felt surnamed Jing was… just alright...

---

11 PM, Chi Jia went to N Bar to sing as usual.

She didn't go to other bars because she had known the owner here for several years and could get a discount on drinks.

Tonight, she was drinking alone again.

A familiar voice, singing an English song, ignited the atmosphere.

Jing Rui leaned against the bar, watching the stage.

This was her second time hearing Chi Jia sing here. She had been coming here often to drink alone lately, but hadn't run into Chi Jia.

She had come here partly hoping to hear Miss Chi sing.

Sometimes ballads, sometimes upbeat songs.

Jing Rui didn't realize her gaze was almost entirely fixed on Chi Jia.

Chi Jia's smile was beautiful, bright, natural, and infectious. The kind of smile that belonged to a young woman in her prime.

Like that night, Chi Jia only sang three songs.

Then she stepped off the stage, found a corner, and quietly drank.

Before she had taken two sips, someone sat down next to her. Chi Jia glanced sideways; she really suspected Jing Rui was following her. She pretended not to see her.

Sitting side by side, they drank their own drinks.

Very similar to that night.

A slender, white hand pushed a drink towards her. Chi Jia looked at it, and this time, she didn't refuse, picking up the glass and finishing it in one gulp.

"When do you usually sing here?"

"Whenever I feel like it. Depends on my mood." Chi Jia turned slightly, clinking glasses with Jing Rui. With alcohol involved, everything seemed easier to talk about, and they could get along a bit better.

Seeing Chi Jia drink quite a bit, Jing Rui took the half-empty glass from her hand, brought it to her own lips, and finished it in one gulp, returning the empty glass to Chi Jia. "Don't drink too much if you can't handle it."

"That's not fair!" Chi Jia urged Jing Rui, "No, buy me another drink!"

Jing Rui was also in a good mood tonight. "As much as you want, it's on me tonight."

Drinking together, Chi Jia felt that Jing Rui wasn't so unpleasant after all.

Half an hour later, they were both slightly tipsy.

"Why do you always drink alone?" Jing Rui stared at Chi Jia's flushed cheeks and rosy lips, her gaze lingering.

Chi Jia rolled her eyes. "Duh, if no one accompanies me, of course I'm alone."

"Want to drink together in the future?"

"You?" Chi Jia scoffed. "I'm not interested."

"Cheers."

"Cheers..."

Chi Jia never imagined she would be drinking with the woman she disliked the most, and enjoying it so much.

The atmosphere in the bar was heating up.

In the distance, Jing Rui caught sight of a familiar figure walking towards her.

Jing Rui put down her glass and leaned closer to Chi Jia. "Do me a favor."

The alcohol and the lively atmosphere made Chi Jia feel a bit lightheaded. "What?"

Jing Rui moved closer to Chi Jia, her left hand resting on the bar, her right arm wrapping around Chi Jia's waist. She leaned in, her lips close to Chi Jia's. "Kiss me."

"Huh?!"

Two women, embracing in an extremely intimate posture.

Jing Rui lifted Chi Jia's chin with her left hand and looked down at her. "Kiss me..."

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