Indulgence - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Having known each other for decades, Ruan Xin knew better than anyone how hard Yao Ran was to pursue.
Yao Ran was gentle and beautiful, a top student and a workaholic, outstanding in every way. She was the unattainable ideal for countless people. But Yao Ran was naturally indifferent to romance. Now, in her mature thirties, she had become even more frighteningly rational, with no desire for love. Otherwise, she wouldn't have married someone she didn't like in the first place.
When Ruan Xin saw that Jiang Nian wanted to pursue her, her first reaction was that it was hopeless. Yao Ran had just gotten divorced. Although there were no feelings in the marriage, it had still been a hassle. Yao Ran was probably even less interested in romance now.
Jiang Nian was taken aback for a moment. She couldn't say much to Ruan Xin, but she knew for a fact that Yao Ran was by no means "frigid." That night, Yao Ran hadn't resisted at all. On the contrary, she had been immersed and lost control, like an unrestrained outburst after a long period of suppression.
"You'd have a better chance pursuing me," Ruan Xin joked.
Jiang Nian came back to her senses, smiled, and replied in a similarly joking manner, "Don't you already have a girlfriend?"
Ruan Xin was puzzled. "When did I get a girlfriend? How come I don't know about it?"
"Wasn't that the girl who was drunk and hugging you that night?" Jiang Nian still remembered; they had seemed quite clingy.
Xu Xia? Ruan Xin frowned and immediately explained awkwardly to Jiang Nian, "You've misunderstood. She's my little sister."
"Your biological sister?" Jiang Nian had a feeling she wasn't.
Ruan Xin took a sip of her coffee. "Not biological. We met while traveling."
Jiang Nian raised an eyebrow. "Don't you know that little sisters like their big sisters the most?"
"Hey, don't talk nonsense. She's really just a little sister." Ruan Xin did like young, pretty girls, but Xu Xia... The first time she met Xu Xia, the girl was only in middle school, just a little kid. Later, when Xu Xia came to Beilin for university, she called her "sister" this and "sister" that, treating her like family. Ruan Xin wasn't so lacking in propriety.
After a cup of coffee, Xiao Chen came to find Jiang Nian, saying her scheduled client had arrived. Seeing this, Ruan Xin didn't linger any longer and left after her free coffee.
Jiang Nian was busy until dark. The client was afraid of pain and kept taking breaks, so a tattoo that should have taken three hours ended up dragging on for five.
After finishing, she returned to her office and replied to the new messages on WeChat. Her fingertips slid across the screen, finally tapping on her chat with Yao Ran from several days ago, which ended with a simple "Thank you." Yao Ran rarely posted on her Moments, occasionally updating with some scenery from her travels, and that was it.
Jiang Nian took a photo of the developed and stacked pictures and sent it to Yao Ran.
When Yao Ran received Jiang Nian's message, she had just finished dinner with Ruan Xin and they were browsing in a mall.
【Jiang Nian】The photos from last time are developed. When will you be at Moments again? I can give them to you.
Yao Ran looked at the message, lost in thought, and didn't reply immediately.
Ruan Xin was picking out lipsticks at a counter and asked Yao Ran, "What do you think of this shade?"
Yao Ran glanced up. It was a very vibrant, girly color. She looked at Ruan Xin and said faintly, "As long as you like it."
"What are you talking about? I'm buying it for the little brat." Ruan Xin smiled, murmuring to herself, "I've noticed she's started wearing makeup. I feel like something's a bit off with her lately. I wonder if she has a crush on someone? It's about time for her to have a crush at her age..."
Yao Ran was used to it. Ruan Xin often had Xu Xia on her lips.
"What kind of color do you think would suit her?"
"You should know best what suits her," Yao Ran said. Her gaze also swept over the dazzling array of lipsticks before her, then suddenly paused as she picked one up. For a moment, she thought, this color would probably suit her very well...
"Is Director Yao thinking of trying a new style?" Ruan Xin looked at the one Yao Ran had chosen. How strange. It was quite a "sultry" color.
Yao Ran thought for a moment, then told the staff member beside her that she wanted this shade, gift-wrapped.
"A gift for someone?" Ruan Xin asked.
"Mhm," Yao Ran nodded. She had taken Jiang Nian's wood carving last time, and now there were the photos. She felt indebted if she didn't give something in return, and it made her uneasy.
Ruan Xin didn't pry about who it was for. Knowing Yao Ran's personality, it was most likely for some business partner. There was no point in asking.
After leaving the mall, Ruan Xin prepared to make a trip to Xu Xia's university, which was nearby. Yao Ran said her goodbyes and drove alone toward Spring Breeze Lane.
Half an hour later, Jiang Nian received a reply from Yao Ran.
【Yao Ran】Are you at the studio tonight?
Seeing the reply, Jiang Nian's drowsiness instantly vanished, and a deep smile bloomed in her eyes. The meaning of this sentence—
Does she want to see me too?
Jiang Nian then thought of Yao Ran's perpetually composed demeanor...
Is she always this reserved on the outside?
Jiang Nian quickly replied: I'll be here tonight. You can come over whenever.
【Yao Ran】Okay, see you later.
After messaging Yao Ran, Jiang Nian touched up her makeup in the mirror, looking from left to right, and then changed her clothes.
Yao Ran rolled down the car window, letting the evening breeze rush in. The scent of summer was growing stronger.
She turned into the familiar lane again. She didn't know when it started, but every time she drove through Spring Breeze Lane, she would subconsciously glance at the tattoo studio. On several occasions after work, she had glimpsed Jiang Nian outside, feeding stray dogs.
Tonight, Jiang Nian wasn't outside. Yao Ran parked the car by the roadside and walked directly into the studio.
She had been here several times, and the girl at the front desk recognized her. "Hello, are you here to see Sister Nian?"
Yao Ran: "Mhm."
The girl said, "She should be in her office upstairs."
"Thank you." Having been here before, she knew which one was Jiang Nian's office.
Jiang Nian had just organized the photos and was about to head downstairs. As she pulled open her office door, the two came face to face.
They both fell silent for a moment.
Jiang Nian smiled silently. These sudden encounters always made one's heart race.
Yao Ran felt awkward; they had almost bumped into each other.
"I was just about to go downstairs..." Jiang Nian looked at her. "Come in."
Yao Ran followed Jiang Nian into the room. Just like last time, it was filled with sketches.
"Sit anywhere. Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thank you. I won't be long," Yao Ran said, handing over the gift bag in her hand. "This is for you."
Jiang Nian had noticed the gift bag in Yao Ran's hand when she opened the door, but she hadn't thought it would be for her. "For me? Why the sudden gift?"
Yao Ran explained earnestly, "You've given me several gifts as well."
"You don't have to worry about it," Jiang Nian said, but she quickly took the bag anyway and asked eagerly, "Can I open it now?"
"..."
Since she had asked, Yao Ran naturally nodded.
It was lipstick. What an intimate gift... Jiang Nian looked at Yao Ran, staring for a good while before smiling. "Thank you, I love it."
It hadn't been a big deal, but under Jiang Nian's gaze, Yao Ran also realized that this return gift was a bit too "intimate" and not very appropriate. She should have chosen something else.
Jiang Nian's heart pounded. She looked at Yao Ran's calm expression again. Is this how reserved people flirt? But the more poised and subtle she was, the more Jiang Nian found it unbearable...
They both fell into an inexplicable silence for a moment.
Yao Ran frowned slightly. She had only wanted to clear the slate, not create a new awkward situation. She felt it was necessary to explain. "Miss Jiang."
"Don't call me Miss Jiang. You can just call me Jiang Nian," Jiang Nian said immediately.
Yao Ran didn't get a chance to continue.
Jiang Nian added enthusiastically, "You can call me Nian Nian, too."
Yao Ran: "..."
"What I wanted to say," Yao Ran persisted in clarifying, as this was her purpose for coming tonight, "is that this is just a return gift. It has no other meaning. Please don't misunderstand."
With anyone else, she wouldn't have needed to explain, but there was, after all, a "special relationship" between her and Jiang Nian.
It was a very clear and calm "don't misunderstand," as if she were afraid of any connection forming between them, carrying a clear sense of rejection.
It really was just a return gift.
Jiang Nian felt as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over her. The smile on her face stiffened, but she maintained it. She went along with Yao Ran's words and responded graciously, "Okay. I won't misunderstand."
Yao Ran breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll be going then. You're busy."
Just then, Jiang Nian reminded her, "The photo album."
Only then did Yao Ran remember she had forgotten to take it. She silently accepted it from Jiang Nian's hand.
Jiang Nian watched her quietly. She didn't believe Yao Ran had no feelings for her. When they were staying in the same hotel during their trip, the look in their eyes when their bodies drew close was anything but innocent on either side.
But why did she always have to avoid her? Why pretend to be completely unfazed when there were clearly feelings? Or was it as Ruan Xin said, that she didn't want to consider a new relationship?
Yao Ran prepared to leave.
"Can we be friends?" Jiang Nian called out to her. "I like to travel too. If you ever want to get away, you can call me. We can go together."
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