Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 46
Chapter 46
"Why?" Jing Rui's gaze, fixed on Chi Jia, wasn't a question, but more like waiting for Chi Jia to finally admit her feelings, to stop running away.
They were both good at deceiving themselves, pretending to be indifferent despite knowing the other person held a special place in their hearts.
Chi Jia felt Jing Rui was asking knowingly, but with her personality, she would never reveal her true feelings, not now.
A cold gust of wind blew past, and Chi Jia brushed her hair aside, feigning nonchalance. "We weren't compatible, so we broke up."
Jing Rui continued to look at Chi Jia, but didn't press further. She thought she was starting to understand Miss Chi's personality, but when would she finally soften up a bit?
Jing Rui guessed Chi Jia's breakup with Qin Dong must have been that night. She had seen Chi Jia push Qin Dong away, refusing to get into his car, instead standing in the cold, staring blankly at her office, her cheeks red from the cold.
Jing Rui's heart had ached for her.
In past relationships, Jing Rui had never considered things from the other person's perspective, but with Chi Jia, despite claiming not to care, she unconsciously found herself thinking about Chi Jia, about what she was running from, what she was afraid of.
"I'll take you home."
"I'll take the subway…" If stubbornness was a disease, Chi Jia was terminally ill. She had felt disappointed when Jing Rui didn't offer her a ride, and now that she did, she instinctively refused.
A moment of silence.
Jing Rui, frowning in exasperation, decided to play along. "Fine, go home yourself then."
Chi Jia was taken aback. She looked at Jing Rui, surprised by her response, then muttered, "I'm leaving," and turned to go.
It was just a small test from Jing Rui, but Chi Jia's emotions were written all over her face, too quick for her to hide.
"Chi Jia."
Chi Jia heard footsteps approaching her from behind, then her wrist was grabbed.
"I'll take you." Jing Rui stood in front of Chi Jia, her gaze fixed on Chi Jia's face, repeating her offer.
"…No need to force it." Chi Jia mumbled, looking away.
Tonight, it wasn't a cold rejection. Last time, Chi Jia had hailed a cab and left without a second thought, leaving Jing Rui standing there alone in the rain, her mood as gloomy as the weather.
Seeing Chi Jia's awkwardness, Jing Rui wanted to laugh, and she did. She didn't let go of Chi Jia's hand, her voice gentle. "I was just kidding, don't be angry."
Chi Jia knew being alone with Jing Rui was dangerous, dangerous to her heart, just like now.
Although Jing Rui usually acted like an arrogant queen, she would occasionally show a softer side, and Chi Jia couldn't resist it, because Jing Rui's gentle voice, just like her looks and figure, was incredibly seductive.
"Let's go." Jing Rui didn't say much, just held Chi Jia's hand and led her towards the car. She wasn't as calm as she appeared; she was also worried Chi Jia would refuse.
But this time, Chi Jia followed her into the car.
The car slowly drove out of the underground parking lot. The air outside was cold, but the car was warm.
Chi Jia looked out the window at the receding city lights, lost in thought.
Jing Rui, driving, occasionally glanced at Chi Jia, also deep in thought. If Chi Jia needed time and courage, Jing Rui was willing to give it to her, as long as Chi Jia didn't push her away again like last time.
Jing Rui had always believed that relationships should be enjoyable, so she didn't want to invest too much effort. Now, she seemed to understand that giving could also be a form of joy, as long as the other person didn't keep rejecting her.
When had it become a source of joy for her just to have Chi Jia not avoid her? Jing Rui didn't understand why she was so affected by this girl, but she just couldn't forget her, even deliberately taking detours on the way to Chi Jia's place, just to spend a little more time with her.
They didn't talk much in the car, but the silence wasn't awkward; they were both lost in their own thoughts.
Accepting Jing Rui and rejecting Jing Rui, these two conflicting thoughts had been battling in Chi Jia's mind. She had wanted to give in countless times, every time Jing Rui made her heart flutter. But Chi Jia stubbornly kept her feelings for Jing Rui in the forbidden zone.
Deep down, Chi Jia desperately wanted to cross that line, which was why she had repeatedly tested her mother's reaction.
Seeing her family accept her cousin and his husband, Chi Jia's resolve had started to waver, as if she had finally found an excuse to indulge her own feelings. She no longer resisted Jing Rui's advances, in fact, she had never truly wanted to resist, only suppressing her true feelings.
Chi Jia clutched her phone, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window. Was she giving herself and Jing Rui a chance now? Their interactions were casual, neither of them crossing any lines, yet the air between them was thicker with unspoken tension than before.
Jing Rui took a long detour, the drive lasting almost an hour.
Chi Jia, tired from a long day at work and several hours of shopping, was drowsy, leaning against the seat, wondering why they weren't there yet.
After another ten minutes, Jing Rui stopped the car and turned to see Chi Jia fast asleep. She was about to wake her when Chi Jia turned slightly, her face now towards Jing Rui.
Looking at Chi Jia's sleeping face, Jing Rui's heart softened, and she didn't wake her, a smile playing on her lips. Miss Chi really could eat and sleep.
Jing Rui couldn't help but think of the times they shared a bed, Chi Jia's terrible sleeping habits, but she preferred Chi Jia asleep, clingy and adorable, unlike her usual stubborn and contrary self when awake.
Jing Rui gazed at Chi Jia, lost in thought for several minutes.
Chi Jia's eyelashes fluttered, then she slowly opened her eyes, only to find Jing Rui staring intently at her face, clearly having been doing so for a while.
"We're here." Jing Rui quickly averted her gaze.
Chi Jia rubbed her eyes, murmuring, "Why didn't you wake me up…?"
Jing Rui replied casually, "We just arrived."
"Oh." Chi Jia didn't call her out on her lie. She had sensed the car stopping earlier, thinking it was a red light, but they had actually arrived at her apartment building.
They sat in silence for a couple of seconds, then Chi Jia picked up her bag and said indifferently, "I'm going now."
Just as Chi Jia was about to open the door, Jing Rui said, "Wait..."
Chi Jia's hand froze on the door handle. "Huh?"
Jing Rui hesitated, then said, "Never mind, you can go."
Jing Rui stared at Chi Jia's retreating figure for a long time, until she disappeared from view, then drove away. She had wanted to tell Chi Jia that she had a gift for her…
A gift she had prepared for Chi Jia last Christmas Eve.
Ning Qian felt that Jing Rui had become strangely sentimental lately. President Jing, who used to change girlfriends like she changed clothes, was no longer surrounded by admirers.
"Jing Rui, don't you think you've changed a lot?" The place Ning Qian met Jing Rui the most was probably Number Nine; that was where they first met.
"How have I changed?"
"It's like you're a different person." Ning Qian seemed to see through her. "Is it because of Chi Jia?"
Jing Rui always fell silent whenever Chi Jia was mentioned, a clear sign that she hadn't moved on. Ning Qian understood that feeling all too well.
"Are you free this weekend? The café renovation is finished, want to come and celebrate?"
"The one Chi Jia designed?"
Jing Rui raised an eyebrow. "Why do you keep bringing her up?"
"I'm just mentioning her name, unlike some people, who think about her constantly, yet refuse to admit it." Ning Qian teased Jing Rui.
Jing Rui glanced at Ning Qian. "I don't have time for your nonsense."
Ning Qian actually envied the bond between Jing Rui and Chi Jia. Although they were both stubborn and refused to admit their feelings, they hadn't forgotten each other. As long as they held each other in their hearts, the connection remained, perhaps, an entanglement that would last a lifetime…
"Chi Jia, a client is looking for you."
"Again?"
"Yes, they specifically requested you."
Chi Jia was almost making the entire design department jealous. It was only a few days into the month, and while other designers hadn't even secured a single project, Miss Chi was already overwhelmed with high-budget projects, seemingly falling from the sky.
Actually, Chi Jia suspected that these projects were related to Jing Rui.
10 PM, Jing Rui, after showering, lay in bed, tossing and turning, then finally picked up her phone and dialed Chi Jia's number.
Work had been hectic lately, leaving Jing Rui exhausted. She wanted to hear Chi Jia's voice, even though it wasn't gentle, even a little loud and boisterous, she just missed her.
Jing Rui had been contacting Chi Jia more frequently lately, using work as an excuse, even for trivial matters.
She had completely fallen for Chi Jia, even thinking that as long as Chi Jia didn't push her away, she was willing to be patient, to slowly close the distance between them.
Chi Jia, also freshly showered, was sitting up in bed. Every night, she couldn't help but wonder if the vixen would call her, gradually turning into a subconscious anticipation.
Tonight, the call came.
"?" Chi Jia answered quickly.
Jing Rui told Chi Jia about the weekend gathering. "…Are you free to come?"
Chi Jia thought for a moment and agreed. As the lead designer, she should be there, it was her project, after all.
A brief silence followed.
Before Jing Rui could hang up, Chi Jia quickly asked, "By the way, were you the one who referred those clients to me?"
"Yes," Jing Rui didn't deny it.
"Why…?"
Jing Rui's reply was concise. "I do what I say."
Besides the "no contact" rule, Jing Rui had fulfilled almost every other promise she made to Chi Jia, even remembering her offhand remark about wanting a box of chocolate bars.
Chi Jia was speechless. Jing Rui's sincerity made her heart skip a beat. She wondered, could Jing Rui also fulfill her promise of "being serious?"
"It's settled then, see you this weekend."
Chi Jia: "Okay."
Barely five minutes after hanging up, Chi Jia's phone vibrated again. It was Jing Rui again.
"What is it?"
Jing Rui hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Can I pick you up this weekend?"
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