Online Love, Based on the Real Object - Chapter 48

After Wang Daba was sent to the Public Security Bureau, he made a full confession regarding his criminal actions. However, there was still absolutely no progress in identifying the mastermind behind the scenes.

Chu Yunjing did not expect to catch the black hand easily. She simply intended to treat this incident as a hard-earned lesson and strengthen the factory’s security and inspection protocols in the future: provided the factory could stay in business at all.

 

When she returned home that evening, Qi Ning doubled over with laughter after hearing the full account of the day’s events.

 

“Serves him right! Doing something so wicked for a bit of cash. Being legally illiterate is no excuse for committing a crime!” Qi Ning clutched her stomach, leaning weightily against Chu Yunjing. “Your ‘entrapment’ tactic was pretty good!”

 

Chu Yunjing pursed her lips and smiled, remaining quite humble. “It was just a stroke of luck.”

 

“Any news from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce today?”

 

Chu Yunjing shook her head.

 

Qi Ning rubbed her head. “A whole day has passed and still no word from Sister Shu. What on earth is going on?” She grew restless and quickly added, “Maybe I should give her a call to ask.”

 

“Who is so impatient when asking someone for a favor?” Chu Yunjing stopped her from reaching for her phone. “Why are you more anxious than I am?”

 

“It is because you are too calm, okay?” Qi Ning poked her shoulder with a finger. “Look at you. This whole situation has taught me one thing: honest people are easily bullied!”

 

“Am I honest?” Chu Yunjing rubbed her nose, considering herself quite shrewd.

 

“You certainly are,” Qi Ning said, grabbing the red wine on the table and taking a sip. The alcohol was starting to go to her head, and she suddenly remembered something, snapping into an upright sitting position.

 

“What is it?” Feeling the weight against her disappear, Chu Yunjing turned to look at her.

 

Qi Ning slammed the table, assuming a commanding air to lecture her. “Let me tell you, online dating is unreliable!”

 

The topic took such a sharp, ninety-degree turn that Chu Yunjing could barely react.

 

“What?”

 

Qi Ning pulled out her phone, opened the Zuire app, and went straight to Chu Yunjing’s personal profile. The actions were seamless.

 

The screen displayed Chu Yunjing’s latest updates. Qi Ning pointed at the screen and demanded, “Look!”

 

Chu Yunjing looked at the screen but failed to see anything wrong. “What is the matter?”

 

Qi Ning pointed at a specific ID in the comment section and asked directly, “Is this woman trying to hit on you?”

 

Chu Yunjing was quite familiar with that ID. It was an online acquaintance she had known for a long time, one of those connections that had never really progressed. They interacted occasionally.

 

Unsure why Qi Ning was bringing this up, she initially planned to say no, but the words stayed in her throat. Instead, she said, “I don’t know,” with a rather innocent expression.

 

Qi Ning tapped on the person’s profile. Seeing the signature “Single and available,” she reacted exactly as she had the first time, letting out an unconscious “Tsk” of disdain.

 

“Let me tell you, this kind of person is just looking for a suitable prey to flirt with, act suggestive, and then hook up with.”

 

“How do you know?” Chu Yunjing asked instinctively.

 

She had seen this user post about their relationships every few days, never with the same person twice. They were quite the player. Seeing Qi Ning hit the nail on the head was surprising.

 

“What? She actually asked you out?!” Qi Ning’s eyes widened, and her volume rose involuntarily. “I told you online dating is unreliable! Look at the kinds of people on there! Do not let yourself be fooled!”

 

“Uh.” They had not reached the point of meeting up; they were strictly online acquaintances. Chu Yunjing put on a troubled expression to see how Qi Ning would react.

 

Qi Ning was speechless for a moment. After a long silence, she asked, “Have you ever hooked up?” Her gaze changed as she spoke.

 

“No!” Since it concerned her reputation, Chu Yunjing answered seriously.

 

“Really?” Qi Ning wore a look of utter disbelief.

 

“Really, no.” Chu Yunjing felt a bit frustrated. Did she look like someone who would casually hook up with strangers? “I haven’t even responded to some of the ‘winks.’ It isn’t an issue. Sometimes it is actually quite annoying.” To be precise, the last person she had responded to was 70; she had ignored many others.

 

Qi Ning gulped down the remaining red wine in her glass and continued, “Are you currently chatting with anyone else?”

 

“No.”

 

“Will you keep dating online?”

 

This question was difficult to answer. Chu Yunjing was momentarily stuck before replying sheepishly, “There are currently no suitable candidates.”

 

The way she lowered her head and avoided eye contact made her look like a husband being interrogated by his wife for staying out late.

 

Qi Ning sighed, truly worried about her friend’s safety. “Stop trying to pick up girls on Zuire. Some of the people on there are truly questionable. It is much better to find someone in real life whom you actually know.”

 

Online dating was unreliable. She herself was a heart-wrenching example of that.

 

“Oh.” Chu Yunjing wanted to say that she only downloaded the app because she couldn’t find anyone in real life, but seeing Qi Ning like this, she didn’t dare speak up. When this woman drank, she tended to blow small issues out of proportion. It was best to just agree for now.

 

A fair, slender hand appeared in front of her. “Give me your phone.”

 

Chu Yunjing obediently handed it over. She watched as Qi Ning performed a series of operations.

 

Qi Ning actually linked their two accounts as a couple and changed Chu Yunjing’s status from “Single” to “In a Relationship.”

 

After finishing, Qi Ning tossed the phone back. Seeing Chu Yunjing’s stunned expression, she tilted her head up and said haughtily, “Do you have a problem with that?”

 

Chu Yunjing shook her head quickly. She didn’t dare to have one.

 

Qi Ning was finally satisfied. She had originally intended to have a little wine to help her sleep, but the courage provided by those two glasses of red wine had led her to nip Chu Yunjing’s future potential romances in the bud.

 

Having completed her task, Qi Ning stood up from the floor and patted Chu Yunjing’s head. “I am going to take a shower!”

 

As she watched Qi Ning walk back to her room, Chu Yunjing looked down at her phone. A line now connected their two avatars. After a long while, she suddenly laughed.

 

“Well, this little troublemaker is actually quite cute.”

 

There was half a bottle of wine left. Chu Yunjing drained her glass and headed to her own room to shower.

 

When Chu Yunjing came out, the living room was empty. It was only 9:00 PM; usually, Qi Ning would be watching TV or curled up on the sofa playing on her phone. She pushed open the door to the guest bedroom, but Qi Ning was not there.

 

“Could she still be in the shower?” she muttered, walking toward the main bathroom.

 

She knocked twice, but there was no answer. The light was on, which made Chu Yunjing worry that something might have happened.

 

“Qi Ning?” she called out. Still no response. In a moment of urgency, she pushed the door open.

 

A faint mist of heat remained in the air. Looking down, she saw Qi Ning sprawled out in the bathtub, fast asleep.

 

Chu Yunjing’s heart immediately settled. She felt a bit speechless. She walked to the edge of the tub and toyed with the surface of the water with her finger. The water had turned from hot to lukewarm; if she had been any later, it would have been cold.

 

“Wake up.” Chu Yunjing nudged the sleeping woman. Falling asleep in the bath was quite a feat.

 

Her gaze lingered on Qi Ning’s face, then drifted unconsciously down to the water’s surface. Bath salts had been added, and a layer of fine bubbles floated on the surface, smelling of lavender. Qi Ning’s head was tilted back at an uncomfortable angle against the rim of the tub. Her long, white neck was fully exposed under the light, her collarbones clearly defined. Beneath the pale purple water, full curves were vaguely visible.

 

Chu Yunjing quickly looked away.

 

The person in the tub stirred, her eyelids fluttering open.

 

“Ah, my neck!” Upon waking, she felt a massive wave of stiffness and pain. Her face twisted into a grimace.

 

“Serves you right,” Chu Yunjing scoffed. “Falling asleep in the bath. Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?”

 

“Mm.” Qi Ning stretched her neck until it felt a bit better. She glanced at the towel on the rack. “Help me get the towel.”

 

Chu Yunjing stood up to get it. Just as she grabbed the towel, she heard a splash behind her. She turned around and met Qi Ning’s gaze, as well as her completely bare body.

 

In that split second of eye contact, Chu Yunjing threw the towel directly at her face, covering her completely.

 

Hearing the door slam, Qi Ning pulled the towel off her head, feeling a bit miffed. What was that for? So fierce.

 

A draft of cold air blew in through the open door, making Qi Ning shiver. She moved to the shower stall to rinse off. Her head had been a bit foggy, but the alcohol had evaporated during the bath, and she felt much more sober now.

 

When she came out after her shower, she immediately saw Chu Yunjing leaning against the balcony railing, talking on the phone. Thinking there might be progress with the factory, she tiptoed over.

 

What she heard was not about work, however.

 

“Yes. I have been quite busy lately.” Chu Yunjing’s voice was lazy. Compared to her usual cold tone, it held a touch of tenderness and a relaxed quality.

 

But not as tender as she is with me, Qi Ning grumbled to herself. She figured it was a private matter.

 

Just as she was about to leave, she heard Chu Yunjing say, “No need. Do not come over.”

 

Qi Ning narrowed her eyes, a dangerous signal flickering in her gaze. Something is up.

 

…

 

Chu Yunjing ended the call. The moment she turned around, she was confronted by a giant gecko, which gave her a massive fright.

 

Qi Ning had approached silently and was now peeking around the doorframe, her eyes fixed intently on her.

 

“You, why are you here?” Chu Yunjing’s heart was still pounding, and she stammered slightly.

 

“What, did I disturb your good thing?” Qi Ning’s voice was dripping with jealousy.

 

“Hiss.” Chu Yunjing walked back inside and slowly closed the glass door. “Who knocked over the vinegar jar?” She looked steadily at Qi Ning and smiled. “Oh, it’s mine.”

 

“Who is yours!” Qi Ning huffed, walked to the sofa, and pointed at the armchair. “Sit down!”

 

Chu Yunjing sat down obediently.

 

Qi Ning put her hands on her hips. “Are you secretly dating someone behind my back again?” She still hadn’t settled the score regarding the dress incident; if she was being deceived again, she was ready to blow up on the spot!

 

Chu Yunjing was confused. “What? I just made one phone call and now I am dating?”

 

Seeing her silence, Qi Ning exploded. Her finger trembled as she pointed. “Look, look! You hid your sexual orientation from me, and now you are hiding a relationship! Can we still be friends?”

 

Chu Yunjing watched her blow her top with a calm that stood in stark contrast to the drama.

 

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Qi Ning had been ranting for a while without a single word from Chu Yunjing, which made her feel a bit foolish and even more annoyed.

 

Chu Yunjing crossed one leg over the other and looked up at her. Despite being in the lower position, she didn’t show a hint of fluster.

 

She said unhurriedly, “What I wanted to say is that I was just on the phone with a friend.”

 

Qi Ning instantly deflated like a popped balloon. She slumped onto the sofa, regaining her usual composure. “Oh.” So, it was just a misunderstanding.

 

Chu Yunjing raised an eyebrow, resting her chin on her hand as she watched her with interest. “Why were you so worked up? Are you jealous?”

 

Her voice was lazy, the corners of her eyes turned up in a good mood. Her beauty mark was prominent under the bright lights. A perfect smile curled her lips, carrying a hint of playful mockery.

 

Qi Ning looked at her and suddenly felt she was like an enchanting spirit; if one wasn’t careful, they would fall into her trap and have their soul snatched away. Clearly, this spirit was currently teasing her on purpose and waiting to enjoy the joke!

 

“Who is jealous?” Qi Ning kicked her shin. “Shameless!”

 

Chu Yunjing shrugged noncommittally. If you say you aren’t, then you aren’t.