Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 80
Chapter 80
"Just some small gifts. You mentioned your skin has been dry lately, so I picked out some skincare products that are suitable for your skin type, they're very moisturizing."
"I was just casually mentioning it, you didn't have to…"
"It's my pleasure." Jing Rui sat down on the sofa with Chi Lishu, and started unpacking the gifts. "Auntie, look at this bag, it matches your style perfectly."
"Really? Is this the latest model…?"
They chatted animatedly.
Chi Jia, standing behind the sofa, pouted. Her mother had never been this happy when she bought her gifts, but Jing Rui was indeed better at pleasing people, her silver tongue could charm anyone.
"Jiajia, you're back." Yang Lu, her sleeves rolled up, came out of the kitchen.
The same four people tonight, but their relationships had completely changed overnight. Chi Jia was still slightly stunned, not yet used to it. She held up the gift bags. "Auntie… we bought you some gifts."
"Thank you." Yang Lu looked at Chi Jia, then at Jing Rui behind her. She hadn't expected things to turn out like this, but it was a happy ending nonetheless. "Go rest for a bit, I made your favorite dishes."
Chi Jia, glancing at Chi Lishu, who was completely engrossed in her conversation with Jing Rui, smiled at Yang Lu. "You're always so good to me, Auntie Yang. I haven't had your cooking in so long, it smells delicious!"
"If you like it, come home more often, and I'll cook for you."
"Okay!" Chi Jia called out towards the living room, "Mom, aren't you cooking anymore?"
"Later." Chi Lishu replied.
Yang Lu smiled. "I'll do it, she's in a good mood today."
"I'll help you, Auntie." Chi Jia took off her coat and followed Yang Lu into the kitchen.
Laughter came from the living room, the clanging of pots and pans from the kitchen, a peaceful and happy atmosphere.
Having helped Jing Rui in the kitchen countless times, Chi Jia's knife skills were now quite decent. Yang Lu, seeing this, commented, "I remember you didn't even know how to cook before."
Chi Jia's lack of cooking skills was entirely due to Chi Lishu's pampering. "You learn by watching."
Yang Lu, taking out seasonings from the cupboard, praised Chi Jia, "Your girlfriend is very beautiful. How long have you two been together?"
"Almost two years." Chi Jia slowed her chopping, still finding it hard to believe. "I never thought you and my mom would…"
Thinking back, Chi Jia realized there had always been a certain intimacy between her mother and Auntie Yang. Chi Lishu never brought anyone else home, but Auntie Yang was a frequent guest. But Chi Jia had never thought of it as anything more than a close friendship.
"She was worried you wouldn't be able to accept it, so she kept it a secret." Yang Lu said as she worked. "I told her you would understand, but she wasn't so sure."
"I'm actually very happy for you two." Chi Jia said sincerely, then after a moment of calculation, she asked, "Auntie, you and my mom have known each other for almost twenty years, haven't you?"
"Exactly twenty years." Yang Lu remembered it clearly. "The first time I met you, you were six years old, crying in my office, remember?"
"Of course, I remember, you gave me chocolate to stop me from crying. I called you 'sister' back then, and my mom told me to call you 'auntie' instead." Chi Jia smiled, remembering her childhood. Yang Lu and her mother were the same age, but back then, she had looked so young that Chi Jia had always called her "Sister Yang."
"Time flies, you've grown up so much."
"Yes, it does." Chi Jia's thoughts drifted to the past.
Chi Lishu had been a stay-at-home mom since Chi Jia was born, only returning to the workforce after her divorce. It hadn't been easy, especially raising a child alone. Back then, Chi Jia was still young, and sometimes, when Chi Lishu had to work late, not wanting to leave Chi Jia alone at home, she would bring her to the office.
Yang Lu was Chi Lishu's boss at the time, young but successful. Chi Lishu's later career success was partly due to Yang Lu's support and encouragement; she wouldn't have been able to get through those difficult early years alone with Chi Jia without Yang Lu by her side.
And that support had lasted for many years. Chi Lishu hadn't expected their relationship to turn romantic, she had even tried to suppress her feelings, but in the end, she couldn't escape it; they had become an integral part of each other's lives.
"Auntie, thank you for being there for my mom all these years." Twenty years, a significant part of one's life.
"Being with the person you love is enough, isn't it?" Yang Lu replied with a smile.
"Yes." Chi Jia understood; as long as you were with the right person, even the most mundane moments were precious. Her mother and Auntie Yang, knowing each other for twenty years, together for eight, their love story both touching and inspiring.
After chopping vegetables for a while, Chi Jia suddenly looked up and called Yang Lu, "Mom—"
Yang Lu looked at her, surprised.
Chi Jia had been thinking about this for a long time.
"My mom said… I can call you that now." Chi Jia smiled. "Is it okay if I call you 'Mom' from now on?"
Yang Lu's face lit up with a smile. "Of course, it is."
"What are you two chatting about, so happily?" Jing Rui walked into the kitchen and stood beside Chi Jia, watching her clumsily chopping vegetables. "You're so clumsy, let me do it."
"No, no, I'll do it." Chi Lishu quickly intervened. "You two go and relax."
The kitchen was bustling with activity, filled with the comforting aroma of home-cooked food.
It had been a while since the house had been this lively.
Chi Jia looked at Chi Lishu and Yang Lu, a couple together for eight years, their comfortable intimacy evident. From youth to old age, a lifetime together with the person you loved, a beautiful thought.
She wanted to get married. The thought crossed Chi Jia's mind as she looked at Jing Rui. "Forever" didn't seem so distant anymore. Would she and Jing Rui be like her mother and Auntie Yang twenty years from now?
She hoped so.
"Rui Rui, how's the food?"
"It's delicious, Auntie, I'm stuffed."
"Don't be so polite, have some more if you like it." Chi Lishu said, then turned to Chi Jia, her tone slightly disapproving, "Look at your table manners, just stuffing your face, not even looking after your girlfriend."
Jing Rui looked at Chi Jia playfully. "Did you hear that? Auntie wants you to take better care of me, stop bullying me."
Chi Jia picked up a piece of beef and held it to Jing Rui's lips. "Here, let me feed you, is that good enough?"
Jing Rui smiled, taking the beef from Chi Jia's chopsticks. "Not bad."
Young love, Chi Lishu and Yang Lu exchanged amused glances, their public display of affection.
"Rui Rui, if she ever bullies you again, just tell me, I'll teach her a lesson."
"Mom, you're being biased, I'm your daughter!" Chi Jia felt her position being threatened; she had been worried about her mother not accepting Jing Rui, but now, it seemed like Jing Rui was the favored child. What kind of spell had the vixen cast on her mother?
"Alright, alright, I love you both equally. Eat more, I made these especially for you. Even if you're busy with work, you have to eat properly. What else do you want to eat? I'll make it for you tomorrow…"
"Auntie, you can rest tomorrow, we'll cook."
"Yes, we'll cook." Chi Jia quickly agreed; her vixen's cooking skills were exceptional, and since her mother liked people who could cook, this was a perfect opportunity to impress her.
"You know how to cook?" Although Chi Jia had mentioned that Jing Rui was a good cook, Chi Lishu seemed to have forgotten, seeing Jing Rui's elegant and delicate appearance, assuming she was just like Chi Jia, someone who rarely stepped into the kitchen.
"I cook when I have time."
"Don't let her fool you, she's an amazing cook, that's how I gained weight." Chi Jia praised Jing Rui's cooking skills without holding back.
Chi Lishu, always worried about Chi Jia not taking care of herself living alone, was finally relieved. "With you taking care of her, I'm at ease."
"I promise, Auntie, I'll take good care of Xiao Jia."
A promise for a lifetime.
Chi Jia smiled at Jing Rui, her gaze soft and affectionate. Whenever Jing Rui made a serious promise like this, Chi Jia felt incredibly lucky to have her.
Late at night, Jing Rui sat on the bed, looking through an old photo album filled with pictures of Chi Jia from childhood, a smile playing on her lips.
"What's so funny?" Chi Jia asked, leaning her head against Jing Rui's shoulder, looking at the pictures.
Jing Rui, looking at a picture of a young Chi Jia with a fierce expression, couldn't stop laughing. "Seems like you've always had a bit of a temper."
"I had to be tough, or I would be bullied for not having a father." Chi Jia still remembered many things from her childhood.
Jing Rui closed the album and pulled Chi Jia into a warm embrace.
"I don't mind, I just feel bad for my mom." Chi Jia snuggled closer to Jing Rui, reminiscing. "When I was in kindergarten, my mom was always the last parent to pick me up, but I never cried or made a fuss, because I knew she was tired…"
Chi Jia looked up at Jing Rui. "I've always been afraid of upsetting my mom."
Jing Rui finally understood why Chi Jia had been so afraid of falling in love with a woman, so resistant to coming out. Although it had gone surprisingly well, it had taken all of Chi Jia's courage.
"Everything's alright now."
"Yes, I'm so happy now, my mom finally has someone." Chi Jia caressed Jing Rui's face, a bright smile on her face. "And I'm also happy for us..."
Chi Jia thought she would be smiling even in her dreams tonight.
Jing Rui kissed Chi Jia softly. "Me too."
"You were putting on such an act in front of my mom," Chi Jia couldn't help but tease Jing Rui, "clearly a vixen, pretending to be so…"
"So what?"
Chi Jia looked at Jing Rui, thinking for a moment. "…Virtuous?"
Jing Rui pinched Chi Jia's waist. "Say that again…"
Chi Jia, knowing when to stop, wrapped her arms around Jing Rui's neck and kissed her, a sweet, deep kiss.
Jing Rui held Chi Jia close, eagerly returning the kiss.
After a while, in the soft light, Chi Jia looked at Jing Rui and whispered, "I love you."
Chi Jia rarely said those three words, but every time she did, Jing Rui cherished the moment.
Jing Rui gently rolled over, pinning Chi Jia beneath her, her gaze lingering on Chi Jia's face.
"Ahem, the walls here are thin…" Chi Jia said awkwardly, lying beneath Jing Rui.
"Want it again tonight?"
Chi Jia glared at her. "Aren't you the one who's thinking about that…?"
Jing Rui didn't reply, just smiled and kissed Chi Jia.
Chi Jia, despite her half-hearted resistance, couldn't resist Jing Rui's seduction, her arms wrapping around Jing Rui's waist as the kiss deepened. Then, turning the tables, she flipped Jing Rui over, pinning her down, kissing her passionately as she started undressing her.
"Be quiet tonight," Chi Jia whispered against Jing Rui's lips, "don't moan too loudly…"
Jing Rui, kissing Chi Jia, her voice breathy, said, "Babe, promise me something first, then I'll let you…"
Chi Jia was about to reply when Jing Rui placed something in her hand. From the shape and feel of it, Chi Jia had a pretty good idea what it was. She opened her hand…
It was a diamond ring.
"Will you marry me now?"
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