Our Love, A Public Service - Chapter 90

Extra: Ning Qian and Wen Jin (End)

S City and L City were almost a thousand kilometers apart, and from the moment Wen Jin disappeared from sight, Ning Qian started missing her. Now, she could finally let herself think about Wen Jin freely.

From boarding to landing, Ning Qian replayed that moment in her mind, smiling like a lovesick fool. The first thing she did after landing was call Wen Jin.

Having just started their relationship, being apart was difficult.

Wen Jin, as if she could read Ning Qian's mind, always called at the right moment, just as she had promised, she would be the one taking the initiative from now on.

Liking Wen Jin was no longer a burden for Ning Qian, but a source of happiness and anticipation. With Wen Jin, she finally felt loved and cherished, easily contented with even the smallest gestures of affection.

Even her colleagues were gossiping about how Director Ning seemed like a different person after her business trip, radiant and full of energy.

On Friday, as soon as Wen Jin had some free time, she flew to S City, never having been so eager to see someone before, even though they had just met five days ago.

Wen Jin didn't tell Ning Qian beforehand, not wanting to disturb her work, and also, wanting to surprise her. She didn't know when it had started, but just thinking about Ning Qian's smile would bring a smile to her own face.

The April breeze was warm and gentle.

Everything was proceeding as usual.

5:30 PM, end of workday. Ning Qian was still at her desk, she rarely left on time, having dedicated herself to work for the past year.

Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. She looked at the caller ID, and her expression softened, a smile replacing her furrowed brow, just from seeing that name.

"Not off work yet?" It was Wen Jin's voice.

Wen Jin was Ning Qian's cure; just hearing her voice was enough to ease her exhaustion. Ning Qian walked over to the window, looking at the dusky sky. "Working a little overtime. Are you done with work?"

"Yes, I am." Wen Jin, sitting in a cafe, was also looking at the sunset, a smile on her face. She asked Ning Qian, "Can you leave work early today?"

"Hmm?" Ning Qian didn't understand.

Wen Jin's voice softened. "I want to have dinner with you tonight."

Ning Qian paused. "You're in S City?!"

"Yes."

Wen Jin's surprise visit caught Ning Qian off guard. "Why so suddenly…?"

"I happened to have some business in S City." Wen Jin said, stirring her coffee.

"Where are you now?"

Wen Jin could hear the eagerness in Ning Qian's voice, and she smiled. "Downstairs."

Downstairs. Wen Jin had clearly planned this surprise, despite her casual tone.

A wave of happiness washed over Ning Qian, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I'll be right down!"

Wen Jin always seemed to make Ning Qian flustered, just like all those years ago. Even in her haste, Miss Ning still took the time to touch up her makeup.

In the elevator, Ning Qian ran into Vice President Gao, known for her flirtatious nature. "Well, well, leaving work early today?"

Ning Qian's eyelid twitched, and she forced a smile, her mind elsewhere. "So are you, VP Gao."

Wen Jin, having been told that Ning Qian was coming down, waited outside the cafe. A few minutes later, she saw Ning Qian, but she wasn't alone; another woman was walking beside her, their shoulders touching.

It was hard for Ning Qian not to notice Wen Jin, a natural beauty who stood out even in casual clothes.

Before Ning Qian could even greet Wen Jin, an arm linked hers, a playful voice calling out, "Babe, I didn't drive today, mind giving me a ride?"

Wen Jin stopped, her smile fading, and she watched them in silence.

Ning Qian wanted to strangle surnamed Gao, especially that overly sweet "babe." Ning Qian usually rejected people politely, but this time, she firmly pushed Gao's hand away. "Not today, VP Gao."

After a few more excuses, Ning Qian finally managed to get rid of her.

"She's my colleague, from the marketing department." As soon as Gao was gone, Ning Qian quickly explained, afraid Wen Jin would misunderstand.

Wen Jin simply replied, "Mmm."

Ning Qian relaxed, realizing she had been overthinking it, Wen Jin clearly knew it was just a joke. "You should have told me earlier, I would have come to pick you up."

Wen Jin smiled without replying.

They found a restaurant for dinner.

It was rush hour, and the traffic was terrible.

"So many people, so much traffic, such a fast pace, I still prefer L City." Ning Qian said as she drove, her words hinting at a deeper meaning, missing a certain someone in that city.

Wen Jin, lost in her own thoughts, didn't reply.

"Are you tired?" Ning Qian asked with concern.

Wen Jin shook her head, then couldn't resist asking, "You seem close to your colleague."

Bringing up the previous incident again.

Ning Qian, realizing Wen Jin was still bothered by it, quickly said, "We're not close."

"Then why did she call you 'babe'?" Wen Jin's tone was casual.

"She calls everyone that." Looking at Wen Jin's calm expression, Ning Qian wondered if Wen Jin was… jealous?

Wen Jin's jealousy was subtle, hidden beneath a calm facade.

"Really," Ning Qian quickly reassured her, "she's just very friendly, and likes to joke around."

Ning Qian's eagerness made Wen Jin smile. Seeing a few stray strands of hair around Ning Qian's face, she gently tucked them behind her ear, her touch gentle and lingering.

Even such a brief moment of intimacy made Ning Qian's heart flutter. Being alone with Wen Jin like this, she wished time could stop.

After dinner, Ning Qian drove to Wen Jin's hotel to pick up her luggage, then took her back to her apartment. She had rented an apartment in the city center for the convenience of work, and she liked the view from her high-rise apartment, overlooking the city.

Ning Qian enjoyed red wine; she had a small collection, usually drinking alone, but sharing a bottle with someone you liked was a different kind of pleasure. She walked over to Wen Jin and handed her a glass of wine.

They sipped their wine and chatted.

"You came here and didn't even look for me, you stayed at a hotel instead."

Wen Jin clinked glasses with Ning Qian, taking a sip, the rich aroma and lingering aftertaste of the wine filling her senses. She looked at Ning Qian and said softly, "I came to S City six months ago, I thought about looking for you, but I was afraid of bothering you, afraid you wouldn't want to see me."

"I didn't mean what I said that day…"

"I know, so I won't let you run away again."

How could she bear to run away? As long as Wen Jin showed her even a little affection, Ning Qian was willing to give her everything in return. She couldn't get enough of looking at Wen Jin, and putting down her empty glass, she took a step closer to Wen Jin, her gaze lingering on her beautiful face, her eyes, her nose, her lips.

They were alone now, no interruptions.

Ning Qian was still holding back; she had wanted to kiss Wen Jin the moment she saw her. Wen Jin was so aloof and reserved, Ning Qian was afraid her own enthusiasm would scare her away. Every intimate gesture was carefully considered, a habit she had developed over the years.

But prolonged silence could also be a form of intimacy.

Ning Qian's face was now inches away from Wen Jin's…

Actually, Wen Jin didn't mind being kissed by Ning Qian; in fact, she enjoyed it, and as Ning Qian leaned closer, she closed her eyes expectantly.

Just then, Ning Qian's phone rang, interrupting the moment, just as their noses were about to touch, their lips almost meeting.

A hint of awkwardness crept into the air.

"Answer your phone." Wen Jin said, instinctively licking her lips.

"Okay." Ning Qian's heart was pounding, and she answered the phone, a work-related call, nothing urgent.

As Ning Qian talked on the phone, Wen Jin continued sipping her wine, a smile playing on her lips.

Half a minute later, Ning Qian hung up.

"Was it something important?"

"No, nothing important. Do you want to take a shower and rest?"

Wen Jin said, "Wait..."

"Wait…?" Before Ning Qian could finish, Wen Jin's lips were on hers, continuing what she had wanted to do earlier.

Wen Jin's gentle initiative was more than Ning Qian could handle, and she closed her eyes, savoring the sweetness. It felt even sweeter than their kiss in the car because they had all the time in the world now.

Ning Qian opened her eyes slightly, looking at Wen Jin, her expression focused and passionate, and a warmth spread through Ning Qian's heart, knowing Wen Jin was enjoying it just as much as she was. She hugged Wen Jin tighter, returning the kiss with equal fervor, years of suppressed longing finding a sweet release.

Wen Jin's arms tightened around Ning Qian, her voice slightly breathless. "I like this."

"Mmm." Ning Qian held Wen Jin close, unable to stop smiling.

After all the heartache and near despair, hope had finally arrived. Ning Qian had thought love would never find her. Meeting Wen Jin had been both a blessing and a curse, years of unrequited love, a painful experience, but compared to others, she was lucky; most unrequited loves remained just that, unrequited.

Later that night, after showering.

"Which room do you want?"

"Any room is fine."

"Then you can sleep in this one. Get some rest, call me if you need anything." Ning Qian tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'll take you out tomorrow."

Wen Jin looked at Ning Qian for a moment. "Okay, you should also rest early."

Back in her room, Ning Qian lay in her empty bed and immediately regretted it, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Why was she being so reserved? They were in a long-distance relationship, finally together after so long, she wanted to spend every moment with Wen Jin.

In the other room, Wen Jin was also awake…

Ten minutes later, a knock came at the door.

"It's unlocked." Wen Jin replied, then seeing Ning Qian enter, she waited for her to speak.

Ning Qian fidgeted with her hair, a nervous habit whenever she was trying to come up with an excuse, just like back in university when she had been trying to get close to Wen Jin. "It's gotten a bit colder lately, are the blankets warm enough?"

Her words made Wen Jin smile, remembering all of Ning Qian's clumsy attempts at flirting back in university. At first, she had thought Ning Qian was a bit silly, but later, that silliness had become endearing, especially when she smiled.

Wen Jin, seeing through Ning Qian's pretense, didn't say anything but pulled back the covers on the other side of the bed, a smile on her face, a silent invitation.

Ning Qian smiled, closed the door, and got into bed.

Wen Jin chuckled, a playful side she only showed around Ning Qian.

Ning Qian pulled the blanket up to her chin. "What's so funny?"

"You." Wen Jin moved closer to Ning Qian. "After all these years, your flirting skills haven't improved."

"I don't have much experience, I've only ever pursued you."

"Never confessing your feelings, can that even be considered pursuing someone?"

"I was afraid of scaring you away if I told you I liked you." Ning Qian still remembered the girl who had confessed to Wen Jin and been brutally rejected.

Perhaps it would have been different if it were you? Wen Jin didn't say the words out loud; it was all in the past now.

Wen Jin turned and embraced Ning Qian.

"What are you doing in S City this time?" Ning Qian asked, snuggling into Wen Jin's embrace. She had only mentioned having some business here.

"Nothing in particular."

"Then why did you come…?" Ning Qian trailed off, realizing the answer.

Wen Jin admitted, "I wanted to see you."

Ning Qian looked at Wen Jin, then, feeling playful, she said, "Say it again, without the 'to see.'"

Wen Jin indulged her. "I miss you." Seeing Ning Qian smile made her happy; it wasn't just sweet talk, seeing her also meant missing her.

Ning Qian smiled, a contented smile, her simple request fulfilled.

Ning Qian's hand gently moved to Wen Jin's neck, her lips brushing against Wen Jin's, a soft kiss that deepened quickly, becoming passionate and unrestrained. Wen Jin caressed Ning Qian's flushed face, responding eagerly, their lips locked in a fervent embrace.

All the lost time, all the missed opportunities, they were making up for them now.

"Wen Jin," Ning Qian whispered, holding Wen Jin close, those two words her entire world. Even now, feeling Wen Jin's warmth, she still couldn't quite believe it. "I can't believe this is real."

"Silly." Wen Jin's heart ached, and she held Ning Qian tighter, giving her all the warmth and comfort she could.

Explore Previous Contents Next

Support my work!

Become a Patron Buy me a Coffee