Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

After a glass of cold water, Chi Jia gradually regained her composure, a smile on her face, her attitude impeccable. “Anything else you’re not satisfied with?”

“…”

Jing Rui’s pickiness about the design proposal hadn’t changed. Fortunately, having been tormented by Jing Rui, Chi Jia’s resilience had greatly improved. Even if Jing Rui criticized her proposal to the point of being worthless, she could still maintain a smile.

“I’ve made a note of it.” Chi Jia scribbled down notes on her laptop. “I’ll revise it according to your suggestions and send it to your email.”

Chi Jia felt that meeting with Jing Rui wasn’t a good idea at the moment; their relationship was too sensitive and awkward.

Jing Rui frowned slightly. Chi Jia’s overly formal tone made her uncomfortable. She placed her hand on Chi Jia’s laptop. “Revise it here. I’m free tonight. We can continue after dinner. What do you want to eat?”

They were very close now, close enough for sparks to fly.

They used to be like this too. Chi Jia deliberately chose dinner time to come to Number Nine, so she could get a free meal from the vixen.

But today, even the lure of good food couldn’t pique her interest…

Chi Jia didn’t know if Jing Rui acted like this with every woman, or if she was truly delusional. Jing Rui’s eyes were seductive, especially during moments of quiet eye contact.

“I’ve already eaten.” Chi Jia lied, despite being hungry. She turned away from Jing Rui, packing her things, eager to leave the office. She wasn’t feeling well today, her mind in turmoil. She forced a smile and said apologetically, “Miss Jing, I might not be able to finish the revisions tonight. Could you give me two more days?”

Completely treating her like an ordinary client.

Jing Rui naturally noticed Chi Jia’s deliberate distancing. She stood up, her smile still present, but fainter. “Just send it to me by email, you don’t have to come here anymore.”

Jing Rui’s words, “you don’t have to come here anymore,” caught Chi Jia off guard.

So, it was her who was being delusional, assuming Jing Rui was persistently pursuing her. Jing Rui hadn’t taken their two nights together seriously at all. It was probably just a casual fling for her.

This was good. Chi Jia felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. She smiled, her voice crisp and professional. “Alright, I’ll try to finish it as soon as possible. Sorry to bother you today.”

“Mmm.” Jing Rui hummed softly, not saying anything else.

Chi Jia quickly walked out of Jing Rui’s office, thinking she was finally free, no longer having to face the vixen. But as she left the office, there was no smile on her face.

Assistant Wu bumped into Chi Jia at the door. Chi Jia looked like she had swallowed a firecracker, storming off without even a greeting. Assistant Wu was puzzled until she saw her boss’s equally frosty expression, thinking, did they just have a lovers’ quarrel?

The relationship between her boss and Miss Chi was indeed ambiguous. Assistant Wu wouldn’t be surprised if they were a couple. She had been working for Jing Rui for so many years and had never seen her boss cook for anyone so often, but whenever Miss Chi came, her boss would personally cook. Moreover, she had heard gossip from the other secretaries that her boss had even bought an unfurnished villa specifically for Miss Chi to design.

Truly a wealthy woman, spoiling her girlfriend in such an extravagant way.

Shortly after Chi Jia left, Jing Rui rested on the sofa for a while, then called her assistant in and continued working.

“Ms. Jing, do you want to take a break?” Assistant Wu saw the fatigue on Jing Rui’s face and her sullen mood, further convinced that her boss had a fight with her girlfriend, because before Chi Jia arrived, her boss seemed to be in a good mood.

“No need.” Jing Rui’s tone was neutral.

“Should I… bring you dinner?”

“I’m not hungry.” Jing Rui stood up and walked to her desk. “Bring me the documents I need to review tomorrow.”

Assistant Wu wanted to say something but didn’t dare, afraid of saying the wrong thing and triggering Jing Rui. Her boss was usually easygoing, but when she was serious, few dared to approach her.

Chi Jia walked out of Number Nine, her stomach empty, but she had no appetite.

The subway was crowded, as always, seemingly impossible to find a seat. Chi Jia leaned against a corner, her gaze unfocused.

Actually, Chi Jia knew she was starting to like Jing Rui. She was very sensitive to even the slightest flutter of attraction, especially after having slept with Jing Rui twice. But she just didn’t want to admit it, didn’t want to face the fact that she was attracted to a woman, a woman who clearly wasn’t serious about her.

Cursed with attracting players, Chi Jia thought, if Jing Rui had been serious, if their relationship hadn’t started with a one-night stand, she might have actually accepted the vixen. So was this a good thing or a bad thing? Chi Jia still felt that being with a woman… it was better not to go down that path.

Chi Jia was waiting for time to pass, to wash away these feelings for Jing Rui.

Just like when she had liked Qin Dong, so passionately that she had even asked his senior for his number and confessed her feelings. Back then, she thought if Qin Dong liked her back, her life would be complete. A year later, now that Qin Dong liked her and was pursuing her, so what? She didn’t feel anything.

Jing Rui and Qin Dong were similar.

Lost in thought for half an hour, Chi Jia realized she had missed her stop. She listlessly got off the train and waited for the next one in the opposite direction.

Chi Jia revised the proposal according to Jing Rui’s feedback and sent it to her email. Six hours later, she received a reply. Just as she braced herself for a long list of revisions, Jing Rui’s email only contained two words: Approved.

This was probably a designer’s favorite client response.

Chi Jia stared at the computer screen, not celebrating like she usually did after closing a big deal. Instead, she slumped over her desk, feeling listless.

“Xiao Jia, keep up the good work, the money is waiting for you!” A colleague, seeing Chi Jia’s recent dejected state, assumed she was dealing with a difficult client and was exhausted from revisions.

Chi Jia held her face in her hands, sighing. Why did she feel so unmotivated when the vixen wasn’t around to torment her?

Since Jing Rui had been frequenting N Bar recently, Chi Jia decided that if the vixen went there again, she would find a different bar. However, the next time she went to N Bar to sing, she scanned the room and didn’t see Jing Rui.

Now, she didn’t have to change bars.

Chi Jia had been going to the bar to sing quite often lately, sometimes four times a week, because according to her horoscope, her romantic prospects were excellent at the end of October, with high chances of meeting a quality partner.

Perhaps she would meet a new “Prince Charming” soon, and with a new target, she wouldn’t be so hung up on the old one.

So every time she went to the bar, Chi Jia dressed up meticulously.

Chi Jia was obsessed with horoscopes, checking her financial and romantic fortunes daily. She even chose to sing at the bar based on her romantic prospects.

She had to admit, horoscopes could be quite accurate sometimes. Her financial luck had been excellent these past few months, seemingly ever since she met Jing Rui. Indeed, the commission she received from Jing Rui this time was equivalent to over a year’s salary.

Now, whenever she felt down, Chi Jia would look at her growing savings, finding some comfort in it.

On the night with the best romantic prospects this week, Miss Chi, singing a ballad, successfully became the center of attention.

Her gaze still drifted towards that corner, where Jing Rui usually sat.

Sometimes unintentionally, sometimes subconsciously.

And tonight, Chi Jia saw the vixen in that spot.

Just a coincidence. Chi Jia averted her gaze, focusing on the music, thankfully not messing up the melody this time.

But that corner seemed to have a magnetic pull, and Chi Jia couldn’t help but glance over as she sang.

Chi Jia was the most eye-catching presence on stage, and Miss Jing was undoubtedly the most striking woman in the crowd. As Chi Jia’s gaze casually swept over again…

Tonight, Jing Rui wasn’t alone. She was dressed seductively, a young man’s arm around her shoulder, the two of them chatting and laughing as they drank.

So, Miss Jing had a new target.

Chi Jia lowered her head, her expression unchanged, focusing on her singing. Jing Rui could flirt with whoever she wanted; she would sing her songs, no longer fixating on anyone in the audience.

“That girl singing is gorgeous.” The young man turned to Jing Rui. “Hey, I’m going to ask for her WeChat later. If I get it, you’re buying drinks tonight, deal?”

Jing Rui scoffed. “Not interested in betting with you.”

“What’s wrong with you lately? Looking all gloomy. Find yourself a girlfriend, being single for too long is bad for you.”

Jing Rui pinched Jing Wei’s cheek hard. “Say that again?”

As Chi Jia walked off stage, she happened to see Jing Rui’s back, pressed close to the young man. From this angle, it looked like they were kissing. “Damn, she really does swing both ways…”

“Ouch, that was brutal! I need to check if my face is ruined. I’m telling you, if it is, you’re responsible for finding me a wife.” Jing Wei rubbed his face and went to the restroom to admire himself in the mirror.

Jing Rui turned around with a smile, looking at Chi Jia. “Long time no see.”

Chi Jia didn’t avoid Jing Rui this time; deliberately avoiding her would make it seem like she still cared about what happened before. She walked over to Jing Rui. “Long time no see, Miss Jing. Not into women anymore, switched to younger men now? Well, younger guys are good, they’re clingy and romantic, perfect for someone like you…”

Listening to Chi Jia’s rambling, Jing Rui smiled, her eyes fixed on Chi Jia’s face. “Someone like me, what?”

Chi Jia wanted to say “vixen,” but stopped herself. “I’ll be going now, don’t let me interrupt you two.”

Miss Chi thought she had handled the situation perfectly, expressing a casual and dismissive attitude. In reality, her tone and expression were incredibly sour…

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