Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 88
Extra: Ning Qian and Wen Jin (6)
The drive back to the city center took about half an hour.
A dark blue curtain began to fall over the sky as dusk settled.
Ning Qian looked at the time ticking away on her phone. She hated her own vulnerability, trying to overcome it, yet still failing.
Those words, "She likes you," had been the final straw, the excuse she had subconsciously been searching for, her heart unable to resist any longer. Letting go of Wen Jin wasn't a happy experience; she hadn't felt truly happy for the past year.
Ning Qian had thought she had moved on, that she would never look back. She had indeed been walking away from Wen Jin, but a single glance from Wen Jin was enough to make her stop, and a simple "I like you" could make her turn back without hesitation.
Some people could move on, some remained trapped, deceiving themselves. Ning Qian admitted she belonged to the latter category; she couldn't forget Wen Jin, couldn't let go.
Different endings to a story often stemmed from a single moment of decision. If Ning Qian hadn't wavered at the last minute, she and Wen Jin would have truly reached the end, a scar might remain, but time would heal it. But Ning Qian's choice to get out of the car had changed everything…
She didn't know which choice would bring her true freedom, perhaps she was destined to be entangled with Wen Jin, whether it led to happiness or more heartache. Ning Qian's decision to return was far more resolute than her decision to forget.
As night fell, the city lights began to twinkle.
Wen Jin had been waiting outside the theater for half an hour.
A staff member approached her. "Miss, they've already started checking tickets."
Wen Jin nodded slightly. "I'm waiting for someone."
Although she said that, she wasn't sure if Ning Qian would actually come, in fact, she thought it was highly unlikely, but she had still given Ning Qian the ticket, perhaps to avoid future regrets.
"Miss, the show is about to start, aren't you going in?"
"I'm waiting for someone." Wen Jin repeated.
The traffic was getting heavier as they approached the city center.
Red lights and traffic jams.
Ning Qian, seeing the time, got out of the taxi and ran, her high heels clicking against the pavement as she crossed three streets.
The temperature difference between day and night in April was significant, and with the weather changing, the evening wind was cold and strong.
Wen Jin stood at the entrance, watching people enter in groups and pairs, and as the crowd thinned, the familiar figure she was waiting for didn't appear, a look of disappointment settling on her face.
She was alone.
Wen Jin stared at the large promotional poster.
Why would Ning Qian come? Wen Jin lowered her head, a self-deprecating smile on her lips. If the past could be so easily rewritten, there wouldn't be so many regrets in life. She checked her phone; still no messages from Ning Qian…
Her breath ragged, her heart pounding, Ning Qian realized she wasn't much of a runner. Her gaze was drawn to a tall, slender figure in the distance, and she slowed her pace, catching her breath.
7:30 PM, just in time.
Wen Jin was really waiting for her.
Ning Qian tried to calm her breathing and her racing heart.
She probably wouldn't come. Wen Jin looked down at the ticket in her hand, the thin piece of paper feeling heavy.
As she turned to leave, Wen Jin froze…
Ning Qian was standing right behind her, breathless, her shoulders still shaking slightly.
The sight made Wen Jin's eyes well up.
Just like in the past, whenever she turned around, Ning Qian would always be there, but back then, she hadn't understood what it meant.
They stood face to face, gazing at each other.
Even in the dim light, Ning Qian could see the flicker of hope in Wen Jin's eyes, and the words "She said she likes you" echoed in her mind. Her love for Wen Jin was humble, almost pathetic, but even knowing it might be unrequited, she didn't regret all the silent sacrifices she had made. She hadn't dared to hope for Wen Jin's love, and those words gave her the courage to face the world.
Loving someone like this meant being vulnerable.
Ning Qian knew this, yet she persisted.
Wen Jin should be thankful that it was Ning Qian; anyone else would have moved on, but Ning Qian, always so stubbornly devoted.
Wen Jin couldn't think of anyone more foolish than Ning Qian, loving her so persistently.
At this moment, neither of them was calm, yet both tried to appear so.
After a long silence, they finally spoke.
"I thought…"
"I'm late." Ning Qian's voice was slightly hoarse, probably from running in the cold wind.
Looking at Ning Qian up close, Wen Jin noticed the beads of sweat on her forehead, she must have rushed here. Wen Jin looked into Ning Qian's eyes, shaking her head. "You're not late, it's just starting, let's go in."
Ning Qian hesitated. "I… I forgot my ticket."
She hadn't forgotten it, she had torn it up.
Last night, she hadn't expected to see Wen Jin again today.
The tickets were sold out.
"It's okay…" Wen Jin shook her head, her gaze fixed on Ning Qian. After a moment, she smiled. "As long as you're here, that's all that matters."
Your presence is enough.
Acceptance or avoidance, both were torture. Ning Qian liked what Wen Jin had said about starting over, why should they be bound by painful memories? Perhaps there was another way to move on.
In any case, Ning Qian knew she had lost.
Hopelessly.
Wen Jin's smile was still as captivating as ever.
A smile, long absent, slowly spread across Ning Qian's face. She used to smile so freely around Wen Jin.
Her smile eased Wen Jin's worries, but there was a hint of sadness in Ning Qian's eyes, her mood clearly not as lighthearted as she pretended.
"Because I missed it."
"We can watch it another time, there will be other opportunities." Wen Jin's words held a deeper meaning, a subtle hint, her gaze fixed on Ning Qian, seeking a response.
Ning Qian bit her lip and nodded, her expression slightly awkward, not because she was unwilling, but because she was nervous. Were they… on a date now? A date with the implication of something more?
Wen Jin thought for a moment, then asked, "How about we watch a movie tonight?"
"Okay."
There was a cinema in a nearby mall. As they walked side by side, in the past, it was always Ning Qian who tried to keep the conversation going, but now, it was Wen Jin who spoke more, a quiet admission of her own lack of social skills, especially when it came to relationships.
"Am I really that boring?"
"Yes. And it's not like I just met you." Ning Qian replied. She had always focused on pleasing Wen Jin, rarely interacting with her like this, as equals.
"I'm not good at… making people happy." Wen Jin continued, remembering Ning Qian's sad and worried expression, annoyed at her own inability to comfort or coax her. She looked at Ning Qian and smiled. "You're very good at it."
Ning Qian understood what Wen Jin meant. "You're perfect just the way you are, you don't have to change."
Wen Jin was silent for a moment.
They continued walking.
"But I want to make you happy…" Wen Jin suddenly said.
Ning Qian stopped, stunned by her words. Wen Jin kept surprising her, or perhaps, she had never truly known Wen Jin, she hadn't known she had this side to her.
Seeing Ning Qian's reaction, Wen Jin asked, confused, "What's wrong?"
Ning Qian smiled. "I think you're already very good at it."
They chose a popular sci-fi movie, critically acclaimed for its plot, but neither of them paid much attention to the movie, their attention on each other.
Ning Qian stole glances at Wen Jin throughout the movie, and a couple of times, their eyes met; Wen Jin was also looking at her.
Tonight, regardless of what they did, the air between them would be thick with unspoken tension.
Ning Qian, staring at the big screen, wondered what would have happened if she hadn't gotten out of the car earlier, if she had just left. She didn't know if her decision today was right, but it was what her heart truly desired.
The movie ended past 10 PM.
As expected, the weather had changed; a light rain was falling.
They stood at the entrance of the mall, waiting for the rain to stop. After a while, Ning Qian, seeing a 24-hour convenience store nearby, said, "Wait here, I'll go buy an umbrella."
Wen Jin wanted to stop her, but Ning Qian had already run into the rain.
Five minutes later, Ning Qian returned with a long umbrella. "They only had one left."
"Your hair is wet." Wen Jin said, gently wiping the raindrops from Ning Qian's hair with a tissue.
Standing close to Wen Jin, Ning Qian looked at her, momentarily captivated. "...It's just a drizzle."
"Be careful, you might catch a cold." Wen Jin said softly.
Ning Qian's heart fluttered again.
She looked down and asked, "Where's your car? I'll take you there."
"I didn't drive." Wen Jin lied, her gaze fixed on Ning Qian's. "Can you… take the bus with me?"
Ning Qian averted her gaze. "Let's just take a cab…"
"Taxis are boring, let's take the bus." Wen Jin insisted, wanting to spend more time with Ning Qian, afraid of her sudden mood swings, wanting to be close to her.
Ning Qian, as always, gave in, although the nearest bus stop was still a few minutes' walk away.
They shared an umbrella in the rain. The umbrella wasn't large, and Ning Qian, instinctively wanting to shield Wen Jin from the rain, held it closer to Wen Jin.
"Let me hold the umbrella."
"It's okay."
Wen Jin took the umbrella from Ning Qian; being a few centimeters taller, she had a better reach. And before Ning Qian could react, she put her arm around Ning Qian's shoulder.
Ning Qian looked at Wen Jin.
"So you won't get wet." Wen Jin said, turning her head, their faces almost touching.
Wen Jin's voice was always gentle, and her touch now, as she held Ning Qian close, was also gentle, a simple gesture that made Ning Qian's heart race.
Waiting for the bus at the bus stop brought back memories of their student days.
"It's been a while since I last took the bus."
"It's nice taking the bus," Ning Qian said, looking at the familiar city in the rain, "it goes around the city center, a good way to see the night view."
The bus route was indeed long and winding, thankfully, it wasn't crowded. Ning Qian and Wen Jin sat together in the back, enjoying the view, raindrops creating patterns on the window, the city lights blurring in the rainy night.
Ning Qian looked out the window, and Wen Jin looked at her profile. The forty-minute ride felt short to Wen Jin.
By the time they got off the bus, the rain had stopped.
"We're here."
Wen Jin touched Ning Qian's coat. "Your clothes are all wet, come up and dry them."
Ning Qian followed her upstairs.
Wen Jin went to the kitchen and poured Ning Qian a glass of hot water. "Here, have some water."
"Thank you."
"You should take a shower, so you don't catch a cold." Wen Jin's tone was casual, but inwardly, she was nervous.
"No, thanks, I should…"
"Don't go, it's late."
That same excuse again.
Ning Qian: "It's only a little past ten."
"It's still raining outside."
Ning Qian looked at Wen Jin, and once again, ruined the moment. "It stopped a while ago..."
Wen Jin hesitated, then turned and walked towards the guest room, saying, "I'll go and tidy up the room, you can rest for a bit, I'll get you some pajamas."
Ning Qian, holding the warm glass of water, couldn't help but smile; Wen Jin clearly didn't want her to leave. But was it just reluctance…?
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