Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Another woman was sitting at the table, browsing the menu, her makeup light and elegant. In her forties, she exuded a mature charm.
Chi Jia recognized her as a close friend of her mother's, someone she had met many times before. She greeted her warmly, "Auntie Yang, it's been a while."
"Yes, it has. You've become so beautiful, Jiajia." Yang Lu smiled, glancing at Chi Lishu. "I was just telling your mother the other day that we should have dinner together sometime."
Chi Lishu's expression was unreadable as she looked at Yang Lu.
Chi Jia gave an awkward smile. This unexpected encounter was truly a coincidence.
Chi Lishu was just as surprised as Chi Jia. After a brief pause, she asked, "Didn't you say you had a gathering tonight?"
Both mother and daughter were distracted.
"I brought a… friend for dinner first."
Friend and girlfriend, a single word difference, a world apart.
Chi Jia subconsciously glanced at Jing Rui. Her hand, which had been holding Jing Rui's, was now empty, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
The lingering warmth of Jing Rui's hand was quickly replaced by a sense of emptiness. Chi Jia had let go of Jing Rui's hand too quickly, before Jing Rui could even react.
Being so readily dismissed, Jing Rui felt a pang of sadness. And Chi Jia, seeing the disappointment in Jing Rui's eyes, felt a stab of guilt. Why had she let go?
Just a while ago, she had confidently told Jing Rui that she would tell her mother about them, and now, she didn't even have the courage to hold Jing Rui's hand. She was disappointed in herself, even more so than Jing Rui probably was.
Jing Rui followed Chi Jia's gaze, a polite smile still on her face. Two women were sitting at the table, around the same age, the one with longer hair presumably Chi Jia's mother, the resemblance between them undeniable.
Chi Lishu looked much younger than Jing Rui had expected.
", Auntie, I'm Chi Jia's friend." Jing Rui greeted politely, emphasizing the word "friend" as she looked at Chi Jia.
That look made Chi Jia's heart sink; although Jing Rui was smiling, it didn't mean she wasn't upset.
"Jiajia said she was picking up a friend this afternoon, is that you?" Chi Lishu asked with a friendly smile, her gaze lingering on Jing Rui, who was undeniably beautiful and elegant.
"Yes, thank you for the trouble, Xiao Jia."
"You're welcome." Chi Jia replied quickly.
They played their roles as "ordinary friends" convincingly.
Silence fell again.
The four of them exchanged glances, the atmosphere awkward.
"Just the two of you?" Chi Lishu hadn't seen anyone else. After exchanging a glance with Yang Lu, she said, "Why don't you join us? We were just about to order."
"Mom…" Chi Jia instinctively wanted to refuse, but the situation was already awkward enough. Jing Rui, however, smiled and replied, "Wouldn't that be imposing, Auntie?"
"Of course not, let's just get a bigger table."
And so, they moved to a larger table, the four of them now sitting together.
Chi Jia had been practically dragged there by Jing Rui; she hadn't expected to introduce Jing Rui to her mother under such circumstances.
In fact, the situation was far more complicated than Chi Jia had imagined…
Shortly after they sat down, Chi Jia realized why Jing Rui had wanted to join them; Miss Jing, ever the cunning vixen, had a plan. Within minutes, she had charmed Chi Jia's mother, earning her considerable favor.
Jing Rui started by complimenting Chi Lishu on her beauty and youthful complexion, then they started discussing skincare routines, chatting animatedly, as if they had known each other for years, leaving Chi Jia speechless.
Seeing her girlfriend and her mother getting along so well, Chi Jia wondered if she should be relieved.
Jing Rui, having been in the business world for so many years, was a master of social graces, and now, with her future mother-in-law sitting across from her, she naturally put in extra effort.
Chi Jia, sipping her tea, looked at Jing Rui, thinking, she truly was a natural-born charmer, but it was hard not to like someone as capable and charismatic as Jing Rui. The key now was whether her mother could accept a same-sex relationship.
"Are you and Xiao Jia colleagues, or…?" Chi Lishu asked, enjoying the conversation with Jing Rui.
"I work in L City, just like Xiao Jia. We've collaborated on projects before, we've known each other for several years. Auntie, you can just call me Rui Rui."
Chi Jia, who was drinking her tea, almost choked hearing Jing Rui call herself "Rui Rui," barely managing to swallow the tea without spraying it all over Yang Lu.
Chi Jia coughed, and the other three looked at her simultaneously. She dabbed her mouth with a napkin, pretending nothing happened.
They ordered a few signature dishes and a bottle of wine. Thanks to Jing Rui's smooth talking, the atmosphere wasn't too awkward.
"Rui Rui, so what do you do?"
"I'm in investment management, I own a small company."
Chi Jia glanced at Jing Rui, thinking, a small company? Miss Jing was being modest. And her mother, calling Jing Rui "Rui Rui" so affectionately, it was hard to believe this was their first meeting.
"Starting your own business isn't easy." Chi Lishu and Jing Rui seemed to have hit it off, and as they chatted, Chi Lishu couldn't help but praise Jing Rui. "You're so beautiful and capable, are you currently…"
Chi Jia, thinking her mother was about to try and set Jing Rui up with someone, panicked and interrupted, "Mom! She's taken! Don't worry about her!"
Jing Rui, seeing Chi Jia's anxious expression, smiled and took a sip of wine, amused by her sudden protectiveness.
"I was just saying you should learn from her." Chi Lishu glanced at Chi Jia. "Look at you, twenty-five years old, still acting like a child."
"I like Jiajia just the way she is, she's adorable and very sensible." Yang Lu praised Chi Jia, then added jokingly, "I wish I had a daughter like her."
Chi Lishu cleared her throat, giving Yang Lu a warning look.
"Mom, Auntie Yang has much better taste than you, I'll just be her daughter instead." Chi Jia said playfully, raising her glass to Yang Lu. Having driven, she couldn't drink alcohol, so she had orange juice instead.
"Sure." Yang Lu smiled, then nudged Chi Lishu's arm affectionately, raising an eyebrow, her voice not too loud, but not too soft either. "Did you hear that? Any objections?"
"If you're willing, I have no objections."
"Of course, I'm willing."
Their words held a hidden meaning.
Chi Jia, looking at her mother, wondered, was it necessary to be this happy just from exchanging a few words?
Jing Rui, perceptive as always, seemed to have noticed something.
Since they were on the topic of relationships, Chi Lishu asked Chi Jia, "When are you bringing your boyfriend home for me to meet?"
Chi Jia's hand froze as she picked up some food, thinking, my "boyfriend" is sitting right across from you.
Just as Chi Lishu finished her question…
Chi Jia winced, sucking in a breath through gritted teeth. She glanced at Jing Rui, who was calmly eating, the picture of elegance.
Under the table, Jing Rui stepped hard on Chi Jia's foot. Not only had she not admitted to being her girlfriend, she had even referred to Jing Rui as her boyfriend.
Actually, it wasn't entirely Chi Jia's fault; she had only said she was seeing someone, it was her mother who assumed it was a man.
"What happened?"
"I bit my tongue…" Chi Jia said, making up an excuse, then turned to her mother, "I was going to ask you, when can I meet my future father-in-law?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Chi Lishu gave Chi Jia a warning look.
Chi Jia, thinking her mother just wasn't ready to discuss it yet, winked at her. "You know what I mean."
They chatted and ate for another hour. As they were leaving the restaurant, Chi Lishu, hearing that Jing Rui was staying at a hotel, invited her to stay at their place.
Before Jing Rui could reply, Chi Jia quickly refused, "She's already booked a hotel room, don't worry about it, I know what to do."
Chi Lishu, understanding that young people preferred their privacy, didn't insist.
"Mom, I…" Chi Jia played with her hair, smoothly delivering another lie, "We have another gathering tonight, I might be home late."
Jing Rui, smiling, linked arms with Chi Jia, giving her a look that said, think carefully about what you're saying.
Miss Chi, her survival instincts kicking in, quickly added, "If it's too late… I won't be coming back."
Chi Lishu looked at them. "You and Rui Rui, together?"
Chi Jia nodded. "Yes, together."
Hearing that she was with Jing Rui, Chi Lishu wasn't as worried. "Have fun, but don't drink too much."
Jing Rui smiled. "Don't worry, Auntie, I'll keep an eye on her."
"I'm always at ease when she's with you."
Such a harmonious scene, Chi Jia wished her mother could still say these words after knowing the truth about their relationship.
Chi Jia was still driving Chi Lishu's car. Yang Lu had also driven. "Auntie Yang, could you please give my mom a ride home?"
"See you later."
Light snow was falling.
The air was cold.
Chi Jia and Jing Rui stood side by side, watching Chi Lishu and Yang Lu walk away arm in arm, both lost in their own thoughts.
Chi Jia had always been worried about her mother's single status, but now, she could finally relax. Although her mother had claimed to be happy, she hadn't been convinced until now, seeing the happy glow on her mother's face, a certain… lovestruck air about her. She had finally fulfilled her wish.
"What are you looking at, so intently?" Chi Jia turned to Jing Rui, waving her hand in front of Jing Rui's face.
Jing Rui snapped back to reality and looked at Chi Jia, silent.
Chi Jia took Jing Rui's hand, warming it in hers, blowing on it gently, eager to show her affection, worried that calling Jing Rui just a friend earlier had upset her. "My hands are warm, aren't they?"
Jing Rui, looking at their intertwined hands, sighed softly. "It's a bit cold, let's go back to the hotel."
In the car, Chi Jia drove towards the hotel. They didn't talk much, both preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Back at the hotel, as soon as Jing Rui took off her high heels, Chi Jia embraced her from behind.
The embrace was warm and comforting in the cold winter air.
After a quiet moment, Chi Jia said, "I was wrong."
More than being afraid of Jing Rui's anger, she was afraid of her disappointment. Chi Jia hugged Jing Rui tighter; she would rather Jing Rui yell at her than see that look of disappointment in her eyes.
Jing Rui, feigning ignorance, asked softly, "Wrong about what?"
"I shouldn't have let go of your hand." Chi Jia knew that her action had hurt Jing Rui, and she felt terrible about it.
Jing Rui knew the pressure Chi Jia was under, the difficulty of coming out, and she understood why Chi Jia couldn't introduce her as her girlfriend to her mother in that situation.
"I was wrong." Chi Jia repeated, her voice sincere.
Jing Rui didn't want to pressure Chi Jia further, so she turned around, a smile on her face. "Give me a kiss, and I'll forgive you."
Chi Jia, touched by her words, hugged Jing Rui tightly. She must have been blind before, not to have seen how wonderful Jing Rui was. "Why are you so sweet…?"
"I'm completely smitten with you, you know?" Jing Rui hugged Chi Jia back, exasperated yet completely enamored.
"It won't happen again." Chi Jia was determined to tell Chi Lishu the truth soon, to fulfill her promise to Jing Rui. Jing Rui had said she would be there with her, but she had been avoiding it like a coward.
Chi Jia looked into Jing Rui's eyes, her voice firm. "The next time we see my mother, I'll tell her you're my wife, that I'm going to marry you, no, that you're going to marry me..."
"So you'll accept my proposal this year?"
"You can try proposing."
"Little vixen, always giving me a hard time…" Jing Rui said, leaning in to kiss Chi Jia.
Chi Jia kissed Jing Rui back, then cupping her face in her hands, she asked, "What do you think of my mother? She seems to like you a lot."
Looking at the bright side, at least her mother seemed to approve of Jing Rui, very much so, even singing her praises.
"I just don't understand, your mother is so sweet, how did you end up with such a terrible temper? Like a little tigress."
"Excuse me, everyone at work calls me a goddess, how come I'm either a puppy or a tiger with you…?"
"I'm saying you're special."
"You always have an excuse…"
Jing Rui smiled, silencing Chi Jia with another kiss.
"I'll treat your mother to dinner tomorrow night, let's have a proper talk with her." Jing Rui had come here specifically to be with Chi Jia, who was prone to impulsiveness.
"Tomorrow night?" Chi Jia was surprised.
Jing Rui thought for a moment. "I think your mother will understand."
"How can you be so sure?"
Chi Jia thought Jing Rui would give her some insightful analysis, but Jing Rui simply replied, "A woman's intuition."
A mãe da Chi Jia claramente tá de caso com a amiga kk
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