Indulgence - Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Ruan Xin noticed that Yao Ran was paying quite a bit of attention to Jiang Nian. It seemed a single trip had brought the two of them much closer.
A staff member actually came over to ask Ruan Xin what song she wanted to hear.
"Director Yao is the one requesting a song. I only asked them to sing another one because I saw how much you were enjoying it," Ruan Xin said to Yao Ran with a smile. She had just seen how intently Yao Ran was listening, and it was rare for Director Yao to be so interested in something. But to be fair, Jiang Nian's singing was truly stunning.
Tonight's interactive segment was a huge success, and the people around them were full of anticipation, all waiting for the boss to request a song.
Yao Ran shot Ruan Xin a look.
Ruan Xin got the message. She didn't put Yao Ran on the spot, nor did she let the atmosphere turn cold and awkward. She told the staff member to sing whatever they wanted; anything was fine.
This time, Jiang Nian chose an English song.
The melody was languid and lingering, and the lyrics were laced with a hazy sensuality, sparking the imagination. It was perfectly suited for the restless atmosphere of a nightclub.
The previous song had been gentle, while this one was pure yet alluring. The contrast in Jiang Nian's performance of the two songs made the atmosphere explode, especially when paired with her already eye-catching and beautiful figure, which was even more striking under the spotlight.
The moment Qiu Lan heard it, she thought, Isn't this a risqué song? A show-off is a show-off, unable to stay reserved for even a second.
The people at Yao Ran's table, who had been drinking and chatting, were now listening with great interest, their gazes fixed on the stage.
The song reached its climax.
"She's way too good at singing. So seductive."
Yao Ran glanced over as well. A sliver of a slender, pale waist was faintly visible, swaying gently to the intimate, lingering melody. The sight was indeed enough to make one's face flush and heart race. She picked up her glass and took a drink. The ice cubes inside quickly cooled the warmth in her palm.
Ruan Xin was also staring straight at the stage. She nudged Yao Ran's arm with her own.
Some of the liquid in Yao Ran's glass sloshed out, unexpectedly wetting her fingers.
Ruan Xin looked at Jiang Nian on the stage, then turned back to Yao Ran and asked with an air of gravity, "So beautiful. You sure you're not tempted?"
"Are you drunk?" Yao Ran retorted. She set down her glass and looked down to wipe her fingers with a tissue. The sticky feeling was unpleasant.
Ruan Xin smiled and tactfully stopped her teasing. She was just saying it for the sake of it. How could someone as seemingly desireless as Yao Ran be tempted?
After Jiang Nian finished her song, Ruan Xin invited her over for a drink.
Seeing that the table was full of mature, older-sister types, Qiu Lan gave Jiang Nian a knowing look and told her to go join the fun, not to worry about her.
Jiang Nian chose an empty seat, which happened to be directly across from Yao Ran. Amidst the boisterous crowd, the two of them looked at each other, neither saying a word.
In the blink of an eye, Yao Ran watched as Jiang Nian quickly blended in with the group, clinking glasses and drinking. As expected, this person was a natural with everyone, overflowing with warmth.
After making a round, Jiang Nian finally raised her glass to Yao Ran. Her gaze lingered for a long moment, the curve of her lips deepening.
Yao Ran paused for a moment before picking up her glass and tapping it against Jiang Nian's, offering a polite smile.
The two glasses touched lightly, making no sound in the noisy environment, but a faint tremor could be felt passing between them.
They both took a sip of their drinks at the same time, but their minds were not on the alcohol.
"Jiang Nian, I never knew you were such a good singer," Ruan Xin said from the side. "Next time, let's go to a KTV together so we can hear our fill."
Jiang Nian looked at Ruan Xin and smiled cheerfully. "Sure."
Ruan Xin was about to say something else in her excitement when her arm was tugged. She turned to see Xu Xia, whose cheeks were flushed. She asked, "Have you been drinking?"
"Mhm..." Xu Xia leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I don't feel well."
Ruan Xin told her, "You felt sick last time you drank, too. Haven't you learned your lesson?"
Xu Xia fell silent, hugging Ruan Xin's arm and burying her head in the crook of her neck.
The posture was too intimate. Ruan Xin stiffened slightly but didn't know what to say, figuring she was only being so forward because she was drunk. Xu Xia had known since high school that she liked women, and they usually maintained a proper distance.
Ruan Xin said, "Should I take you back to school?"
Xu Xia hugged her and shook her head.
Seeing her state, Ruan Xin didn't feel comfortable sending her back to her dorm, so she had no choice but to take her home.
Because Xu Xia was drunk, their gathering ended early.
When Jiang Nian saw that Yao Ran was also getting ready to leave, she called out to her, and the two finally spoke. She said to Yao Ran, "Next time you come over, could you let me know?"
Yao Ran didn't understand.
Jiang Nian explained, "I'm getting the photos from our trip printed. When you come next time, I can give them to you."
The two had acted like strangers all night, but now that the others were gone, these few sentences closed the distance between them. Yao Ran thought for a moment. "That's not necessary."
"I always get my photos printed after a trip. It's no trouble at all," Jiang Nian said with a smile. "Besides, you gave me some inspiration that day, so just think of it as a thank you."
After leaving the bar, Yao Ran called a car.
Once inside, she stared out the window, lost in thought. Why had she agreed to see her again...
There was often a tacit understanding of ambiguity between adults. From the trip last time to their encounter tonight, Yao Ran knew that their interactions couldn't be considered "innocent."
Two days later, Jiang Nian and Ruan Xin met up. She and Ruan Xin had become thoroughly acquainted, and Ruan Xin would sometimes drop by the studio when she was bored. After all, they were right across from each other, making visits convenient.
Coincidentally, the photos she had sent to be printed a few days ago had arrived.
Ruan Xin was sitting on the sofa drinking coffee when she glanced at the thick stack of photos and asked Jiang Nian, "Are these the pictures from your trip? There are so many."
"The scenery there is quite nice," Jiang Nian said. "It's a shame you didn't go."
"Let me see," Ruan Xin said, holding out her hand to Jiang Nian.
Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment, but then figured they were just photos; it would be too awkward not to let her see them. She handed the stack to Ruan Xin.
"The scenery really is great. I heard the autumn foliage is even more beautiful. I'll definitely have to go then..." Ruan Xin said, crossing her legs as she looked through the photos. As she flipped through them one by one, she grew quiet. The more she looked, the more something felt off, and the smile on her face gradually became more intriguing.
The first few were landscapes, but the rest were all portraits.
Ruan Xin stopped looking. She raised her head to look at Jiang Nian and asked with a smile, "Were you out doing a portrait photoshoot? Tell me, what's going on?"
"What?"
"Why are they all of Yao Ran?"
Jiang Nian took a slow sip of her coffee, not showing the slightest bit of embarrassment at Ruan Xin's question.
Although they had never openly discussed their sexual orientations, it seemed there was a natural magnetic field between "their kind." Jiang Nian could tell that Ruan Xin liked women, and from their very first meeting, Ruan Xin had a faint inkling that Jiang Nian was gay.
Now, it was a tacit understanding between them.
"Are you pursuing her?" Ruan Xin asked directly. It proved that her feeling that day—that the way Jiang Nian looked at Yao Ran wasn't entirely innocent—had been right.
What chance have I had to pursue her? Jiang Nian grumbled internally. It's hard enough just to see her.
Ruan Xin frowned slightly and smiled. "Are you serious?"
Jiang Nian didn't quite understand her reaction. "What are you smiling about?"
Ruan Xin said seriously, "Don't say I didn't warn you. You'd better not get any ideas about her."
Hearing this, Jiang Nian asked, "Do you like her?"
"Don't worry, we grew up together. I don't eat the grass by my own nest," Ruan Xin said with a helpless smile. "She's very hard to pursue."
Jiang Nian fell silent. She could see that.
"You know she just got divorced not long ago. She won't be considering a new relationship." Ruan Xin had seen the video of Jiang Nian helping Yao Ran out, so she knew Jiang Nian was aware of the situation and spoke bluntly.
"She and her ex... they didn't seem to have any feelings for each other, right?" Jiang Nian could sense that from their argument that day.
"No feelings, no. Their marriage was like a business partnership." Ruan Xin couldn't help but complain, but that wasn't the issue. She looked at Jiang Nian, hesitating, before summarizing in one sentence, "Anyway, you won't be able to win her over. Don't waste your effort."
Jiang Nian couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"You were there that day, you heard it, right...?" Ruan Xin didn't say it too directly. She just rephrased the question. "Can you accept a purely spiritual love? If you can't, then don't go bothering her."
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