Indulgence - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Yao Ran had completely thrown everything to the wind. Before this accidental encounter with Jiang Nian, she had never imagined she had such a side to her. From the bathroom back to the sofa, their intermittent kisses never stopped.
In the living room, only the mood lamp by the sofa was on, its warm orange light casting shadows on their fair skin, revealing the fine hairs.
After their shower, the two of them snuggled together on the sofa, their bodies still carrying a warm, humid fragrance that was comforting and relaxing.
Jiang Nian picked up a lipstick. "Help me put this on."
Yao Ran looked at it; it seemed to be the one she had given her.
"The one you gave me. I thought I'd try it on for you." Jiang Nian wrapped an arm around her slender waist. She figured the sultry Director Yao would want to see it.
Yao Ran had to admit, she did think this shade would look good on Jiang Nian. That's why she had wanted to buy it back then.
After speaking, Jiang Nian took the liberty of presenting her lips to Yao Ran, waiting obediently.
Yao Ran was helpless against her, so she could only twist up the lipstick and carefully apply it along the shape of her lips, the stick slowly gliding over their soft surface.
Jiang Nian smiled, having gotten her way.
"Don't move," Yao Ran said seriously.
After the gentle reprimand, Jiang Nian behaved, simply staring straight at her. Once Yao Ran was finished, she asked, "Is it pretty?"
Yao Ran stared for a moment. Jiang Nian's features were striking, beautiful even without any makeup. She admitted it honestly, humming softly, "Mhm."
At that, Jiang Nian lowered her head and kissed her, stamping the same mark onto her lips.
Yao Ran could never guess these little tricks she came up with from time to time, but they always managed to effortlessly make her heart race.
Later, as she watched the faint lipstick marks spread from her ankle to her lower abdomen, Yao Ran narrowed her eyes and bit her lip, regretting it once again: she shouldn't have given her that lipstick.
Jiang Nian still wanted to argue. How was she cold? A single kiss was enough to ignite her passion.
That night was another one of wild abandon that stretched into the early morning. It was a night of sustained fervor, of truly indulgent and unrestrained pleasure, where they considered nothing and acted purely on feeling and instinct.
A shattered, hazy look that was never there on a normal day colored Yao Ran's eyes. She caressed Jiang Nian's cheek, the skin delicate beneath her fingertips. She had marveled more than once in her heart how someone could maintain such good skin.
Seeing how much she liked touching her cheek, Jiang Nian took the initiative to nuzzle her face into her palm.
"Actually, the first time I saw you wasn't at the bar."
Hearing Jiang Nian suddenly say this, Yao Ran looked at her. "Hm?"
"It was by the white begonia tree outside the bar. I accidentally captured you in a photo I was taking. I thought then that you were as beautiful as a begonia flower." Jiang Nian's breathing was a little ragged as she spoke. She asked Yao Ran, "Do you know when begonia flowers are the most beautiful?"
Listening, Yao Ran didn't know what to say at that moment, nor did she have the capacity to answer.
"It's… it's after it rains," Jiang Nian said, her words broken. She looked down at Yao Ran, then leaned in close to her ear. "When they're soaked through."
Yao Ran closed her eyes, biting her lower lip before releasing it.
Jiang Nian held her quietly, unable to suppress a laugh.
"Don't laugh."
Yao Ran's tone was commanding, but her voice was gentle.
Jiang Nian was still laughing. "Yao Ran, are you being reasonable?"
Yao Ran ignored her.
Jiang Nian immediately admitted her mistake. "I was wrong, don't ignore me—"
She burrowed into Yao Ran's neck like a puppy. Helplessly, Yao Ran laughed at the ticklish sensation, having never seen someone so shamelessly affectionate. She subconsciously called out, "Jiang Nian."
Hearing her laugh and suddenly call her name, Jiang Nian paused for a moment before being unable to resist kissing the corner of her mouth.
They kissed lightly, both of them smiling. At this moment, Yao Ran felt that rather than a release, this was clearly more like indulgent bliss.
Jiang Nian was also a little dazed. She thought that after tonight, it would be even harder for her to let go. Tonight, they were too much like lovers.
Seeing the way she smiled, Yao Ran suddenly pulled her into an embrace.
Jiang Nian was pleasantly surprised and let out a soft hum.
"What's wrong?" Yao Ran asked gently.
"I can't take it when you touch me," Jiang Nian said bluntly.
"…"
After a long time of fooling around, Yao Ran was exhausted and drowsy.
Just for tonight…
Thinking of this, Jiang Nian reached out and touched the box on the bedside table.
"Mmm." Yao Ran had been dozing off, but a moment later, she awoke from an unnatural sensation with a hum. Her eyes fluttered open as she reached out to grip the back of Jiang Nian's neck, starting to bite her lip again.
Can it only be for tonight? Jiang Nian desperately wanted to ask, but she didn't say the words out loud. She buried her head, her descending kisses growing ever more possessive.
It wasn't until after two in the morning that they rinsed off in the bathroom. Even though they were both drained of energy, they couldn't help but go at it one more time.
The bed in the master bedroom was already a complete mess. That night, they slept in the guest room. The bed was smaller, but it was just right for two people to sleep in each other's arms.
The next day, Yao Ran couldn't get up. She just held the warmth in her arms and slept soundly. Perhaps because she had been so exhausted the night before, this night's sleep was exceptionally peaceful.
Jiang Nian woke up once in the middle of the night. She opened her eyes and was surprised to find that Yao Ran hadn't left. Seeing that it was still early, she snuggled back into Yao Ran's embrace and went back to sleep.
When Yao Ran woke up, her whole body was sore and weak. The two of them were holding each other tightly. She quietly gazed at Jiang Nian's face, inevitably recalling all the madness of the previous night—
Another night of indulgence.
Yao Ran checked her phone. It was already twelve. She still had to go to the company this afternoon.
The movement of her getting her phone woke Jiang Nian. Half-asleep, Jiang Nian poked her head out from her embrace and then buried her face in Yao Ran's shoulder. She fumbled for Yao Ran's waist under the covers and murmured lazily, "It's the weekend anyway, let's sleep a little longer."
Her drowsy appearance was so childish that Yao Ran wanted to pinch her cheek. But it was just a fleeting thought. Although they had slept together twice, they weren't real lovers.
Jiang Nian went back to sleep, holding the person in her arms even tighter.
Any later and she wouldn't make it to the office. Unable to pull away, Yao Ran had no choice but to whisper to her, "I should go."
Jiang Nian awoke from her daze, her voice clearly hoarse as she spoke. "You're leaving now?"
These two gentle lines of dialogue could easily create a false impression. Yao Ran pushed her slightly. "Could you look away?"
Jiang Nian: "Huh?"
Yao Ran explained, "I need to get dressed."
Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment. They had already seen and kissed everything. Sure enough, once the alcohol wore off, she was a different person. Hearing Yao Ran say that, she could only roll over silently to the other side, turning her face away.
Yao Ran got out of bed naked and walked toward the bathroom.
As expected, there were even more hickeys than last time.
She turned on the tap, splashed water on her face, then got dressed and fixed her hair.
By the time Yao Ran was ready, Jiang Nian was up too. She was wearing only a loose-fitting long shirt with no pants, her bare feet on the floor.
The two met right at the bathroom door.
Yao Ran paused, her gaze not lingering on Jiang Nian for too long. She said in a calm tone, "I'm leaving."
Jiang Nian watched her revert to her impeccable demeanor, as if the person who had helped her with her lipstick and kissed her with a smile last night wasn't her at all.
"It's already noon. Do you want to have lunch before you go?" Jiang Nian asked casually.
"No, thank you."
Yao Ran didn't say anything more.
That "thank you" successfully drew a line between them. Jiang Nian was now wide awake. They had agreed last night that it was just an exception. Was she supposed to continue acting like a couple today?
Jiang Nian smiled at her and said nothing more.
Both of them acted straightforward and decisive. What happened in bed didn't change the fact that they were still strangers, and last night was simply a mutual satisfaction of physical needs.
Only after she stepped into the elevator did Yao Ran's expression change. She lowered her head. For a long while, the elevator didn't move, and only then did she realize she had forgotten to press the button.
Yao Ran went to the company at two in the afternoon to work overtime.
Shen Fangyi came to deliver some documents and asked with a concerned smile, "You didn't get too drunk last night, did you?"
Yao Ran looked up. "No."
Shen Fangyi studied her face. "You don't look well-rested."
Ruan Xin had said the same thing last time. It was always hard to get a good rest whenever she was with Jiang Nian. Yao Ran replied, "I stayed up late last night."
Shen Fangyi hesitated for a moment, but her curiosity got the better of her. "What's your relationship with Jiang Nian?"
Yao Ran fell silent. She didn't know what her relationship with Jiang Nian was either. After last night, she knew even less. She could sort out anything, but when it came to Jiang Nian, she couldn't explain it herself.
Seeing that it was inconvenient for her to answer, Shen Fangyi made a bold guess. "Is she your girlfriend?"
Yao Ran came back to her senses. "No."
Shen Fangyi breathed a sigh of relief. She vaguely caught sight of a mark on Yao Ran's neck. Because it was Yao Ran, she didn't think of anything improper and just said, "Did you get a bug bite on your neck?"
Yao Ran immediately touched her neck, instantly realizing it must have been Jiang Nian.
Shen Fangyi tilted her head to look, and this time she saw it clearly—it was a hickey. She was dumbfounded. Yao Ran had been led away by Jiang Nian last night; it was almost obvious whose hickey it was.
Yao Ran was embarrassed as well.
So careless. How did she leave one on my neck?
For some reason, Shen Fangyi suddenly felt a sense of finality, as if the dust had settled. It turned out that Yao Ran wasn't cold to everyone; she just never had a chance. She had once accidentally photographed Lin Xuan cheating and anonymously sent the pictures to Yao Ran. Later, Yao Ran did get a divorce, and she had thought she might have a chance.
Shen Fangyi just found it hard to imagine how Yao Ran could like someone of Jiang Nian's type. She gave a bitter smile and said quietly to Yao Ran, "And you still say she's not your girlfriend."
Yao Ran found it hard to defend herself and chose to remain silent.
…
After Yao Ran left, Jiang Nian stood in the living room in a daze for a while, feeling empty and somewhat agitated.
When she picked up her phone, she felt even more agitated. There was a pile of missed calls and unread messages. She knew she definitely wouldn't be able to get up today, so she had told Qiu Lan in advance that she wouldn't be at the studio in the morning. She hadn't expected to wake up at noon.
Qiu Lan, on the other end, was worried sick. As expected, she hadn't seen a trace of Jiang Nian all morning. Even by noon, she hadn't shown up. She wasn't replying to WeChat messages, and several of her calls went unanswered.
Jiang Nian opened WeChat. The person who had sent her the most messages was Qiu Lan.
—Where are you?
—Still not up?
—The sun's already up your butt, big sis.
—Answer your phone!
—Jiang Nian, where the hell are you?
…
—Still not up? What were you doing last night?
Jiang Nian looked at the long string of messages with a headache. She tapped her finger a couple of times and replied with a single, concise word.
Qiu Lan was eating her lunch box when she saw Jiang Nian's reply and nearly choked on a mouthful of rice.
【Jiang Nian】Love.
【Qiu Lan】????????
【Qiu Lan】Say that again.
Jiang Nian soon received a call from Qiu Lan, which she answered.
"What were you doing last night?" Qiu Lan asked in shock.
"Didn't I already answer you?" Jiang Nian said, lacking energy.
Qiu Lan focused on the main point. "Holy shit, you screamed your voice hoarse? When did you get a girlfriend? How come I didn't know?"
"I don't have one."
Qiu Lan was completely confused. "What on earth is going on with you?"
When they met at the studio that afternoon, the first thing Qiu Lan did was grab Jiang Nian to ask about it. "Did you have a hookup last night?"
Hookup. That wasn't wrong.
Jiang Nian sipped her iced soda. "Mhm."
"When did you get this…" Qiu Lan knew that although Jiang Nian was a flirt, she didn't have a "hobby" of randomly hooking up with people; it was too messy out there. She was sharp and remembered another time Jiang Nian hadn't been able to get out of bed. "That time you couldn't get up, were you hooking up then too?"
Jiang Nian nodded. "Mhm."
Qiu Lan guessed, "Same person?"
Jiang Nian continued to nod.
"Don't tell me you like her?"
Jiang Nian couldn't deny it. Liking someone was liking someone.
Qiu Lan's guesses were spot on. After all, they had known each other for years, and she understood Jiang Nian. If she didn't like the person, Jiang Nian would never get involved in this kind of thing. "You like her and you're still just hooking up with her? Don't tell me you're trying to turn a fuck buddy into a girlfriend. Get a grip, that's really hard."
Fuck buddy. The term was truly unpleasant to hear. Jiang Nian fell silent, thinking of Yao Ran's calm reaction after waking up. Did she only see her as a physical partner? Did she not feel even a little bit of attraction at other times?
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