Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 16
Chapter 16
The sulking was short-lived. Chi Jia also felt her mood was unreasonable. She and Jing Rui weren't in any kind of relationship, so why feel upset over those words?
Last night wasn't even an accident, more like a game of indulgence between adults, consensual and mutually beneficial.
But pretending nothing happened was easier said than done. If only people had the ability to forget whatever they wanted, how much less trouble would there be?
Like Chi Jia, knowing she shouldn't dwell on it, she still hadn't slept well for three consecutive days.
Tossing and turning in bed at night, Chi Jia would think of Jing Rui. She was drunk that night, but she remembered every detail vividly. From the bathroom to the bed, how Jing Rui teased her, and how she, under the vixen's suggestive guidance, slept with her.
So it turned out two women could also find various ways to exhaust each other in bed.
The dim light of the bedside lamp fell on Chi Jia's face, her cheeks burning slightly as her mind wandered to thoughts that made her heart race.
Losing her virginity to a woman, and to the woman she disliked the most, was certainly unforgettable. And as Jing Rui had said, Chi Jia had witnessed what a true "vixen" was like that night.
Now, Chi Jia's mind was filled with images of the vixen… naked.
"Crazy..." Chi Jia rolled over, burying her flushed face in the pillow. She was certain Jing Rui wouldn't be like this. Thinking of Miss Jing's casual "I didn't take it seriously," she felt a pang of something.
Some people were born to play the field, and in Chi Jia's eyes, Jing Rui was one of them. She truly admired the vixen's ex-girlfriends; what kind of vision did they have to tolerate such a partner…
At midnight, Chi Jia warned herself for the third time not to think about surnamed Jing. It wasn't until an hour later that she finally drifted off to sleep.
September was a busy month.
Work, commute, overtime, everything as usual.
Chi Jia was still working on two major projects for Jing Rui: the café renovation and the villa interior design. The villa design proposal had been revised several times but hadn't been finalized yet, which meant Chi Jia had to continue meeting with Jing Rui.
They hadn't seen each other since their one-night stand, and it turned out that having a one-night stand with someone you knew was indeed awkward.
Just as Chi Jia was feeling awkward and unsure how to face Jing Rui, Jing Rui called her.
The caller ID clearly displayed: Vixen.
Chi Jia felt a moment of apprehension before answering, but every time Jing Rui contacted her, it was always about work, and this time was no different. Nothing had changed because of that night.
"I've been a bit busy lately, the proposal isn't urgent, we can discuss it when I have time." Jing Rui's tone was natural, her usual commanding voice, handling matters efficiently, no hint of awkwardness.
"Okay..." After the call, Chi Jia felt relieved. It really wasn't a big deal.
She had repeatedly emphasized to Jing Rui to pretend nothing happened. Now, Chi Jia admitted she was overthinking it; Miss Jing hadn't taken it to heart from the beginning.
Sleeping together was as casual as having a drink together.
This was good, no entanglement, everyone happy.
Chi Jia stared at Jing Rui's design proposal, pen in hand, for a full three minutes, completely lost in thought.
Chi Jia had arranged to have dinner with Jian Yi. Jian Yi would be going to S City next week, and it wouldn't be as easy for them to get together then.
"Miss, this dish is unavailable, would you like to order something else?" The waiter called Chi Jia "Miss" three times, but she remained lost in thought, her eyes unfocused.
Jian Yi nudged Chi Jia.
Chi Jia snapped back to reality. "Oh, I'll have this one then."
"Xiao Jia, why are you always spacing out lately?"
"Am I?" Chi Jia continued to rest her chin on her hand. "Maybe I'm just too tired from all the overtime."
Jian Yi felt she was hiding something. "Is your relationship with Sister Jing Rui better now? I haven't heard you complain much lately." Chi Jia used to curse Jing Rui constantly, but recently, she rarely mentioned her. Jian Yi was curious.
"Still the same..." Chi Jia lowered her head and sipped her juice. If Jian Yi knew that her relationship with Jing Rui had progressed to the point of sleeping together, Jian Yi would probably be shocked. Chi Jia decided to keep it to herself, burying the secret deep inside.
"Actually, Sister Jing Rui is a very nice person, good personality, beautiful, and a great cook."
"You think that vixen has a good personality?!" Chi Jia blurted out "vixen" in her excitement.
"Vixen? I know you had a misunderstanding with Sister Jing Rui before, but hasn't it been cleared up?" Jian Yi was referring to the incident with Chi Jia's ex-boyfriend.
"Jian Yi, I'm warning you, don't mention her to me." Chi Jia didn't want to hear the name "Jing Rui," yet Jian Yi kept calling her "Sister Jing Rui." "And if you call her 'sister' again, I'm going to be mad!"
Jing Rui was several years older than them, so calling her "sister" wasn't inappropriate. Jian Yi didn't understand why Chi Jia had such a strong prejudice against Jing Rui.
"I'm going to S City next Friday. Let's go watch the sunrise at Fengshan Mountain this weekend?"
Due to work, Chi Jia was always busy on weekends, but since Jian Yi was leaving L City, she would take time off to accompany her best friend. Without hesitation, Chi Jia agreed. "Okay, should we rent a car and drive there ourselves?"
"No need, Yun Xin will drive, and Sister Jing Rui is coming too." Chi Jia and Jing Rui weren't on good terms, and Jian Yi had been looking for an opportunity to ease the tension. It was originally Yun Xin's idea to watch the sunrise, but Jian Yi suggested inviting both Jing Rui and Chi Jia.
"It's not just the two of us?" Chi Jia felt speechless, especially upon hearing that Jing Rui was also going.
Jian Yi held Chi Jia's hand and smiled. "It's more fun with more people."
Chi Jia pouted and pulled her hand away. "If surnamed Jing is going, I'm not going."
"But I've already agreed," Jian Yi pleaded softly. "Xiao Jia, just come with us, it's a rare opportunity to hang out together..."
"No."
Jian Yi didn't know what to say, her expression troubled.
Jian Yi was a notoriously nice person, terrible at rejecting others, and Chi Jia, despite her harsh words, had a soft heart. Seeing Jian Yi's wronged expression, she couldn't bear it.
They looked at each other.
Chi Jia sighed, giving in. "Fine, fine, I'll go, happy now?"
Jian Yi knew Chi Jia's temper well. "Yes! It's settled then. We'll leave Saturday afternoon."
As Chi Jia picked up her chopsticks, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Jian Yi with suspicion. "You and Yun Xin are that close now?"
Jing Rui was gay, and Yun Xin was close to Jing Rui. Birds of a feather flocked together, and Chi Jia started to overthink. Jian Yi was so innocent, Chi Jia was afraid her best friend would be led astray.
"Yun Xin used to work at our company. She often helps me with work, and she even wrote me a recommendation letter for the S City headquarters."
"Just work?" Chi Jia was still suspicious.
Jian Yi saw Chi Jia's hesitant expression. "Do you have something to say to me?"
"No," Chi Jia took a deep breath, then blurted out, "Is Yun Xin interested in you? Is she pursuing you?"
"Don't be ridiculous! We're both women... how is that possible!" Jian Yi said, her face slightly flushed. "Besides, Yun Xin told me she has a crush on someone already."
"I was just kidding." Chi Jia had just casually asked. It made sense; there weren't that many women like Jing Rui who were only interested in women.
Saturday afternoon, the sky was clear and sunny.
"Going on a date with your little lover, and bringing two third wheels along? Is that appropriate?"
"I can't help it. We initially agreed to go just the two of us, but she said it would be more fun with more people." Yun Xin turned the steering wheel, preparing to pick up Jian Yi and Chi Jia.
"You smile so happily whenever your little lover is mentioned. Really?" Jing Rui teased, then asked seriously, "Are you planning to continue like this? When are you going to tell her?"
Yun Xin looked uncertain when this topic was brought up. "I don't know, I'm afraid Xiao Yi won't be able to accept it."
"This is what you get for pursuing straight girls." Jing Rui said, then thought of Chi Jia; wasn't she also pursuing a straight girl?
Half an hour later, Jian Yi received a call from Yun Xin and went downstairs with Chi Jia. A conspicuous SUV was parked downstairs, and Jian Yi immediately spotted Yun Xin getting out of the car, waving at her with a smile.
Chi Jia wasn't as cheerful as Jian Yi.
What was bound to come would eventually come. After that "unforgettable" night, she and the vixen were finally meeting again.
After putting their luggage in the car, Yun Xin took Jian Yi to the passenger seat. Chi Jia had to sit in the back. As she opened the car door, a familiar, beautiful face came into view.
Jing Rui shifted slightly, looking at Chi Jia lazily, her lips parting slightly. "Long time no see."
Chi Jia ignored Miss Jing's greeting, silently got into the car, and sat by the door, keeping a considerable distance from Jing Rui.
Throughout the journey, Chi Jia and Jing Rui were quiet in the backseat, occasionally looking out the window, their gazes sometimes inadvertently meeting. Yun Xin drove, and Jian Yi sat in the passenger seat, chatting and laughing, making the atmosphere less awkward.
"Give me the villa design proposal in October. If it's not good enough, I'll request a different designer." Jing Rui turned to Chi Jia, speaking calmly, but her gaze lingered on Chi Jia. Chi Jia was dressed casually today, her usually loose hair tied up, looking refreshingly beautiful, her skin seemingly translucent under the sunlight.
"Understood." Chi Jia replied impatiently, her eyes meeting Jing Rui's, her heart suddenly filled with complex emotions. She realized that after that night, she couldn't face Jing Rui calmly. Seeing the vixen's face, she couldn't help but think of things she shouldn't.
Her composure was all an act.
Chi Jia couldn't even meet Jing Rui's eyes. Her evasiveness and awkwardness didn't escape Jing Rui's notice. She didn't say anything, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes.
The car drove smoothly on the highway.
The drive to Fengshan Mountain took about three hours. They arrived at the scenic area at 5 PM, checked into their hotel, and then went for dinner.
Because they booked the hotel rather late, only two rooms with double beds were left.
As for the four of them, how should they divide the rooms…
"Yun Xin, you and Xiao Yi share a room." Jing Rui turned to Chi Jia and said calmly, "We'll share one."
Chi Jia's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Jing Rui, her tongue tied, almost speechless. "Wh… why are we sharing a room?!"
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ReplyDeleteEla ajudando a amiga e se dando bem também kk
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