Online Love, Based on the Real Object - Chapter 11

Qi Ning finally managed to get up from her office chair. The moment her feet touched the floor, she felt the world spin around her. If Chu Yunjing hadn’t swiftly caught her, she would have collapsed right then and there.

Her cheeks flushed pink as she lightly smacked Chu Yunjing’s arm in retaliation. “I’ll tolerate your little mischief this time, sister,” she huffed.

After taking a moment to steady herself, Qi Ning straightened up. “What’s for lunch? I want Sauerkraut fish.”

“Alright,” Chu Yunjing agreed. “Which restaurant?”

“Not takeout.” Qi Ning lifted her chin defiantly. “You’re cooking it for me.”

Chu Yunjing’s Sauerkraut fish was quite delicious, one of her signature dishes. Having just been thoroughly teased by her, Qi Ning naturally wanted to return the favor.

There was a phrase called “love-hate relationship,” and Qi Ning felt it suited them perfectly at times.

“There’s only eggs at home, no other ingredients.”

“Then go buy some!”

“…” Fine.

Chu Yunjing didn’t argue further, lest Qi Ning start listing off an entire Manchu Han Imperial Feast menu.

Qi Ning quickly changed into fresh clothes. Even for a simple grocery run, as a refined city girl, she took the time to apply a natural no-makeup makeup look and even shamelessly spritzed herself with Chu Yunjing’s perfume.

Watching from the side, Chu Yunjing couldn’t hold back a scoff. “Look at you, all dolled up.”

“You don’t get it!” Qi Ning screwed the perfume cap back on and sniffed her wrist appreciatively. “This is called being polished!”

“Ever heard that song? ‘How do I describe you most fittingly? Like the scent of perfume lingering on my wrist, like those irresistible red high heels~ Oh~'”

She struck a pose in the mirror, running her fingers through her sand gold hair and flashing a sultry expression before blowing a dramatic kiss at Chu Yunjing’s reflection.

“My god, I’m stunning,” she concluded, never missing a chance to praise herself.

“…” Chu Yunjing burst out laughing at her theatrics, her lips quirking uncontrollably before she quickly schooled her expression. She coughed to suppress her amusement, not wanting to provoke Qi Ning’s temper.

Beautiful, yes but far too vain. Anyone else would be utterly charmed, but Chu Yunjing had known her for years. Watching Qi Ning was like looking in a mirror.

“So gorgeous. I’m totally falling for you, oh my goddess,” Chu Yunjing deadpanned, though her flat delivery ruined the effect.

Qi Ning arched an eyebrow, well aware of the sarcasm. The fleeting smirk hadn’t escaped her notice, but she magnanimously let it slide since the response was satisfying enough.

Smoothing her hair, she stood and naturally grabbed Chu Yunjing’s hand. “Grocery shopping, let’s go!”

There was a market near their neighborhood, though by noon most stalls had closed, leaving the place nearly empty.

They bought a fish, some ribs, and vegetables before heading back.

Qi Ning could cook, albeit averably, and couldn’t be bothered to try. Once home, she lounged on the sofa scrolling through her phone while waiting for Chu Yunjing to prepare lunch.

Remembering the yuri novel she’d read last night, she was surprised by how easily she’d embraced the genre. Delighted, she pulled up another one and began reading with relish.

Chu Yunjing brought out the dishes she had prepared and saw Qi Ning sitting on the floor, laughing at her phone, looking utterly silly as she enjoyed whatever she was reading.

“Time to eat,” Chu Yunjing reminded her.

“Coming!” Qi Ning immediately put down her phone and went to the table.

The sauerkraut fish looked as appetizing as ever. Just the sight of it made Qi Ning’s mouth water. The sour cabbage was particularly stimulating to the appetite, and Qi Ning, who usually didn’t eat much, went for a second helping.

For some reason, though, this batch of sauerkraut fish was exceptionally spicy. Even in the air-conditioned room, Qi Ning was reduced to a teary, snotty mess, completely devoid of any semblance of grace. Between bites, she lamented how her best friend could be rich, beautiful, and an excellent cook, while she herself was good at nothing except eating.

What a pity she wasn’t a man. If she were, she’d drag Chu Yunjing to the civil affairs bureau to get married without a second thought.

In a romance novel, Chu Yunjing would undoubtedly be the decisive, domineering CEO type gentle only to her loved ones. In a lesbian novel, she’d probably be the cold, aloof older sister type who could make little lesbians swoon with just a glance, a woman of few words but formidable presence.

Chu Yunjing was taken aback by Qi Ning’s state. She set down her bowl and chopsticks, handing her a tissue. “Why are you crying over nothing? I’ll use less chili next time.”

Qi Ning took the tissue and blew her nose. “It’s because you made it too spicy.” She didn’t need a mirror to know her lips were now a vivid red.

“Honestly, you don’t even need lipstick now. You’ve got the hottest, trendiest ‘fiery red lips’ look going on,” Chu Yunjing teased with a grin.

“Shut up!” Qi Ning kicked her under the table, her pouty expression oddly endearing.

After dinner, Qi Ning dutifully washed the dishes. When she came out, Chu Yunjing was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. Spotting Qi Ning, she beckoned her over.

“What do you think of this?” She handed her the phone. Qi Ning took it and saw an advertisement for a “Luxury Oceanview Suite at the five-star Guiyue Bay Resort Hotel—wake up to the sea right outside your window.”

The promotional images of the azure ocean and spacious suite instantly captivated Qi Ning. “Yes!” she blurted out immediately.

“You’re really taking me?” Qi Ning laughed, her face lighting up brighter than if she’d won the lottery. She’d wanted to go to the seaside, and now someone was whisking her away—how could she not be thrilled?

Guiyue Bay wasn’t just about the ocean; nearby, there was also a charming little town and a seafood market, perfect for both photo ops and gourmet delights.

Chu Yunjing glanced at her. “When have I ever lied to you?”

True to her decisive nature, Chu Yunjing immediately checked the calendar to confirm this year’s public holidays and started booking the room.

“How many days do you want to stay? Seven? Or five days with two to rest afterward?”

Worried about being too exhausted to work after the trip, Qi Ning chose the latter. Without another word, Chu Yunjing said two minutes later, “I’ve booked the room from October 1st to 5th. We can either go the night before or leave on the morning of the 1st.”

“Oh, we can decide later,” Qi Ning said, tilting her head. It was still early, and with the room secured, they could plan the details at their leisure.

For the rest of the evening, Qi Ning lounged on the long sofa in the living room, reading a novel. Chu Yunjing sat in the single-seater beside her, typing away on her laptop, though what she was working on remained a mystery.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Chu Yunjing’s phone rang. She answered the call, listening quietly to the person on the other end before responding with just a single “Okay” and quickly hanging up.

A while later, she called Qi Ning’s name.

“Hmm?” Qi Ning looked up from her phone screen to see Chu Yunjing turning her laptop toward her. “What do you think of this packaging design?”

The screen displayed a flat design draft of the packaging box. Qi Ning set her phone aside, leaned over to take the laptop onto her lap, and examined it carefully.

Chu Yunjing then moved from her single sofa to sit beside Qi Ning, joining her in studying the design. Not being professionally trained in design, she couldn’t discern deeper technical aspects, but something felt off to her. Since Qi Ning was right there, she decided to ask for her opinion.

Back when Ver was just starting out and couldn’t afford a dedicated product designer, all packaging designs had been entrusted to Qi Ning. Now that the company had grown and employed its own designers, Chu Yunjing still sought Qi Ning’s input whenever packaging was updated not just from a designer’s perspective but also from a consumer’s viewpoint, which Qi Ning always nailed perfectly.

“It’s good, but I think there are too many layers. From a professional standpoint, it looks great, but consumers might find it overly flashy and inconsistent with the previous design style.”

“Mmm, since this is a new product line, we wanted to make it stand out.”

Though product design wasn’t Qi Ning’s specialty, having done so many side projects for Chu Yunjing, she had a firm grasp on how Ver’s products should be designed. Compared to the company’s professional designers, she was clearly the one Chu Yunjing trusted more.

“I’ll ask him to revise it.”

“Okay.” Qi Ning nodded. “I’ll draft one for you too when I’m back at work on Monday, and you can compare them.”

While Chu Yunjing continued discussing with the product designer, Qi Ning grew drowsy. On her days off, she was particularly lazy. She let out a big yawn and glanced around for a pillow but couldn’t find one. Turning her head, she noticed Chu Yunjing’s bare legs peeking out from her shorts.

She leaned over and rested her head on them.

“Ha? I’m gonna take a nap.”

Chu Yunjing gently shook her leg as a reminder. “Go sleep in the bedroom. You’ll catch a cold.”

Qi Ning nuzzled her cheek against the leg, settling into a comfortable position. “Good afternoon.”

“…”

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