Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 45
Chapter 45
"Didn't you say you didn't have time?!" Chi Jia, used to being "fierce" with Jing Rui, didn't realize how subservient others were to President Jing, nor did she realize how special she was to Jing Rui.
Chi Jia always thought Jing Rui was a rich, idle woman, not understanding that Miss Jing's limited free time was almost entirely spent entangled with her.
Hearing Chi Jia's familiar, almost explosive tone, Jing Rui chuckled. She didn't know what she had done in a past life to deserve this; Chi Jia had such a terrible temper, yet she willingly tolerated it.
"Miss Chi, did I say I didn't have time?" Jing Rui retorted, then continued in her usual picky tone, "I'm not at ease, all proposals must be personally reviewed by me. Don't even think about slacking off."
Chi Jia was about to explode again. "I'm a professional, I never slack off."
This conversation made it seem like they were back to their initial dynamic; Jing Rui was just her most difficult client. It had been a while since Chi Jia had heard the vixen's arrogant and irritating tone, and she held the phone close to her ear, reluctant to hang up.
Jing Rui felt the same, listening intently to the voice on the other end. She had been thinking about Chi Jia all this time. Perhaps she was destined to be tamed by this innocent little lamb? In any case, hearing Chi Jia's voice made her feel at ease.
They chatted back and forth, neither of them mentioning ending the call.
"Then… let's meet tomorrow night to discuss it." Chi Jia paused for two seconds, then continued, her voice slightly softer, "If you have time, we can also go look at furniture and lighting fixtures…"
Chi Jia's excuse sounded like she was deliberately looking for reasons to see Jing Rui. But Miss Chi still needed a legitimate reason, such as, being responsible to her client.
Jing Rui was surprised; she hadn't even brought it up yet, and Chi Jia had already suggested it. If Chi Jia truly didn't want to see her, she could have just handled everything by email.
Chi Jia, always wanting to save face, hearing Jing Rui's silence, immediately changed her tune. "If you don't have time, then forget it, I'll just email you…"
"I have time," Jing Rui interrupted.
"Oh."
"Come to Number Nine at 7 PM tomorrow night, we'll discuss the details then."
"…Okay."
In the end, Chi Jia, unable to find anything else to say, hung up the phone.
Chi Jia buried her face in her pillow, her hair a mess. She realized she couldn't even fool herself anymore. Did she… really want to see the vixen that much?
At the end of February, the temperature in L City still hovered around zero. The streets were sparsely populated, everyone bundled up in warm clothes, their steps hurried.
Before 7 PM, Chi Jia arrived at Number Nine. This place was quite significant to her; she had broken up with two boyfriends here. Or rather, both breakups were because of the same woman. The first time, she broke up with her boyfriend because she thought Jing Rui was the "other woman"; the second time, she broke up with her boyfriend because she had fallen for Jing Rui.
She had lost two relationships because of Jing Rui.
Number Nine was closed today, as usual; whether it was open or not depended entirely on Miss Jing's mood.
Jing Rui was sitting alone in the restaurant. Hearing footsteps, she instinctively looked towards the entrance. Chi Jia, bundled up in a heavy winter coat, a hat, and a scarf, was about to knock on the door, her posture more comical than graceful.
"Come in," Jing Rui said casually, a faint smile playing on her lips.
The restaurant was warm, and Chi Jia looked at Jing Rui, who was dressed much more elegantly, always graceful and composed, exuding charm. Chi Jia had never seen Jing Rui looking disheveled.
She was here to talk business today.
"We've already confirmed the style before, this is the detailed proposal for the interior decoration, there shouldn't be any major issues. As for the specific lighting effects, it's better to see them in person…" Chi Jia was most comfortable when discussing work with Jing Rui, her tone completely professional, a dedicated and efficient designer.
Jing Rui closed the proposal and looked at Chi Jia. After Chi Jia's lengthy explanation, Jing Rui simply asked, "Have you eaten?"
Caught off guard by the question, Chi Jia instinctively replied, "No."
Just as Jing Rui expected. She stood up. "Let's eat first, then we'll talk."
"Oh, no need…" Chi Jia sat alone in the empty restaurant as Jing Rui walked towards the kitchen.
A short while later, a bowl of noodles was placed in front of Chi Jia, the most generous serving of beef noodles she had ever seen.
But there was only one bowl.
"Aren't you eating?" Chi Jia looked up at Jing Rui. She had thought she would just be getting a small bite, she hadn't expected Jing Rui to cook for her specifically.
"I've already eaten."
Chi Jia remembered being told more than once that the owner of Number Nine rarely cooked herself. She hadn't believed it initially, the vixen always cooked for her, but later, hearing Jing Wei say the same thing, she realized she was indeed receiving special treatment from Jing Rui.
Now, remembering those words, looking at the steaming bowl of noodles, Chi Jia felt a warmth spread through her heart.
"Don't you love meat? Isn't this enough?"
"But this is too much! Are you feeding me like a… like a…" Chi Jia trailed off, realizing her words, inadvertently insulting herself.
"Like a what?" Jing Rui looked at Chi Jia, unable to contain her laughter, teasing her, "I know how much you can eat, Chi Jia. I've never seen a woman eat as much as you."
"Jing Rui!" Annoyed at being teased by the vixen, Chi Jia called out her name, then realized it had been a while since she last called her that. She rolled her eyes at Jing Rui. "It's called having a healthy appetite!"
Jing Rui couldn't stop smiling now, her gaze fixed on Chi Jia's face, her voice suddenly softening. "Then finish it all, don't leave anything behind."
Chi Jia met Jing Rui's gaze, the silent affection between them amplified, especially when their eyes met, a shared moment of unspoken understanding.
They looked at each other for a few seconds, a charged silence, but it was just a look, no further intimacy.
They were both being cautious.
In the past, prolonged eye contact would lead to Chi Jia kissing Jing Rui, then naturally, to them ending up in bed. But now, just looking at each other felt more intimate than their previous passionate encounters.
Jing Rui handed Chi Jia a pair of chopsticks. "Eat."
"Okay." Chi Jia picked up the bowl and took a sip of the hot broth, the warmth spreading through her body.
Jing Rui still enjoyed watching Chi Jia eat. She would look away, then her gaze would involuntarily return to Chi Jia.
After a while, Chi Jia couldn't help but ask, "Why do you keep staring at me?"
Jing Rui blinked. "Do I?"
"…" Chi Jia ignored her and continued eating her noodles, a secret smile playing on her lips.
As planned, Chi Jia accompanied Jing Rui to a furniture store that evening, selecting furniture and decorations that matched the restaurant's overall style. Once these were finalized, the café renovation project would be officially completed.
By the time they were done, it was already past 10 PM.
"I'll be going then." Chi Jia put her hands in her pockets, said goodbye to Jing Rui, and headed towards the subway station. Although Jing Rui had driven, she hadn't offered her a ride… Chi Jia thought as she walked away, her head slightly lowered.
"Chi Jia..." Jing Rui called out to her.
Chi Jia stopped, thinking Jing Rui would offer her a ride. She turned around. "Yes?"
Jing Rui looked at Chi Jia for a moment, then asked casually, "It's so late, isn't your boyfriend picking you up?"
Chi Jia suddenly remembered that she had introduced Qin Dong as her boyfriend to Jing Rui before the New Year. Jing Rui probably didn't know they had broken up yet.
Chi Jia stood there, silent for a long time, then smiled. "We broke up a while ago."
Jing Rui had guessed as much, having seen them arguing that night, but she wasn't sure if they were still together.
They stood face to face, less than a meter apart, looking at each other, a sudden silence making the atmosphere awkward.
"Why?" Jing Rui asked, her gaze fixed on Chi Jia's eyes.
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