Indulgence - Chapter 23
Chapter 23
"If you're just hooking up, it's supposed to be purely physical, but you're actually catching feelings. I never realized you were such a romantic," Qiu Lan said, incredulous but mostly worried about Jiang Nian. When it's just for fun, catching real feelings is the last thing you want to do.
Jiang Nian sipped the somewhat harsh-tasting soda. Although she didn't want to admit it, Qiu Lan was right. It seemed Yao Ran only… to vent her emotions. Their intimacy was limited to the physical; they couldn't even be considered friends in daily life.
"You're not serious, are you?" Qiu Lan found Jiang Nian's reaction deeply unsettling. "Could it be that you've just been lonely for too long, and you just like sleeping with her? Not that you actually like her as a person."
Jiang Nian glanced at Qiu Lan and answered clearly, "I like both."
Qiu Lan was speechless.
It was a little strange seeing a flirt like her suddenly get so sentimental.
Qiu Lan usually didn't pay much mind to Jiang Nian's declarations of "like" and "infatuation." After all, Jiang Nian's crushes came and went in a flash; she tired of them quickly. But she could be certain that this time, Jiang Nian was hooked. The way she had rushed out in such a hurry last night—Qiu Lan had thought it was some kind of emergency, but it turned out she was just running off to tumble into bed with someone?
"If you're just hooking up, I think you shouldn't get too invested," Qiu Lan said after a moment's thought, giving her friend a reminder.
Jiang Nian was already listless because of Yao Ran's cold departure that morning. Hearing Qiu Lan's words only made her feel even more empty.
Seeing her spirits drop, Qiu Lan smiled and tried to console her. "Maybe you'll lose interest after a while. You're pretty fickle anyway."
Jiang Nian shot her a sidelong glance and retorted, "You really know how to comfort someone, don't you?"
Qiu Lan wanted to ask more.
But Jiang Nian stood up, tossed the empty soda can into the trash, and started walking out.
Fearing she might suddenly disappear again, Qiu Lan asked nervously, "Where are you going now?"
With her back to her, Jiang Nian said lazily, "To work hard."
Qiu Lan warned, "You'd better be. We have a lot of clients lately, and you've already stood up a few."
"I know."
Summer was approaching, the season for showing some skin. It was their busy season, and appointments were gradually piling up.
Night fell once more.
After getting home from working overtime, Yao Ran started filling the bathtub with hot water, wanting a soak to relieve her fatigue.
The exhaustion from this round of overindulgence was even worse than the last. Her waist and arms were sore. It was probably because they were much more familiar with each other this time. All she could remember was that they had nearly fucked their brains out last night, and she couldn't recall how many times she had come.
Yao Ran took off her top. The hickeys on her chest were a mottled mess; it would be a while before they faded.
Sinking into the tub, the hot water soothed her body's weariness. Yao Ran took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Perhaps she was just too exhausted from the previous night's exertions, because she leaned back against the tub and, in no time at all, dozed off.
She had a short dream, one as scorching as the hot water she was soaking in.
She dreamed that as she entered the bathroom, Jiang Nian had once again wrapped her arms around her from behind, domineeringly. Before she could turn around and say anything, she was caught in a deep, passionate kiss.
They soaked in the tub together. Jiang Nian was as unruly as ever, clinging to her. As they kissed fiercely, water sloshed out of the tub, soaking the floor.
When Yao Ran woke up, she was a little thirsty. Her cheeks were flushed, and her whole body felt hot. She frowned and closed her eyes again. How had she become like this, as if she were sexually frustrated, her mind constantly filled with those things?
She didn't know how long she had been dozing. The water had turned lukewarm. She stood up from the tub and, feeling a bit sticky down below, had to take another shower.
When one's mind is troubled, sleep rarely comes easy. Yao Ran's entire night was filled with dreams, a jumble of illogical, fragmented scenes. Matters concerning the Yao family, the bar, and Jiang Nian disturbed her sleep one after another.
One second she was dreaming of Jiang Nian sleeping comfortably, snuggled up to her in bed, and the next second she was at the bar—
Jiang Nian was there drinking, on the prowl for other beautiful women. She would wrap her arm around one and lead her to a corner, flirting suggestively. "Want me to keep you company tonight?"
With her bewitching yet sunny smile, she effortlessly charmed several women, sweet-talking them and juggling them all, almost too busy to cope…
When she woke from her dreams the next day, Yao Ran still hadn't recovered. Fortunately, it was Sunday, so she could rest at home for a day.
Jiang Nian's Sunday was not so relaxed. A client arrived at the studio early in the morning, and this Sunday rush would typically last late into the night.
After that wild night, they hadn't contacted each other for quite some time. On reflection, Jiang Nian realized they had never really been in contact to begin with. But she felt a knot of unease in her heart.
Perhaps it was the way Yao Ran had smiled while kissing her that night that had given her the wrong impression, the illusion that there was something real between them…
In any case, it had left her mind in a mess.
Jiang Nian went to Moments once after that, but of course, she didn't happen to run into Yao Ran. Ji Xi said Yao Ran hadn't been back, probably busy with work.
On her way home from work, Yao Ran would always pass by the street where the studio was. She had noticed a pattern: Jiang Nian would often step outside at night for a bit, either to enjoy the breeze or to play with the stray dogs.
So, when she passed through Spring Breeze Lane in the evening, she would occasionally catch a glimpse of Jiang Nian. It was only ever a glimpse; she never stopped to greet her.
Summer had truly arrived. The pedestrians on the streets and in the alleys had all switched to cool T-shirts and dresses.
This evening, as Yao Ran was heading home after working late, she once again spotted Jiang Nian outside the studio, getting some fresh air. She was wearing only a tight, waist-baring crop top. Her figure was indeed excellent, and she knew how to show it off.
On a whim, Yao Ran pulled the car over to the side of the road. Classical music was still playing inside. She looked toward the studio again, feeling that her actions were inexplicable. What was she doing, stopping here?
A gentle evening breeze blew, causing Jiang Nian's nearly waist-length curly hair to lift slightly. She turned, her face breaking into a brilliant smile.
Yao Ran was slightly stunned.
She saw a tall, hot woman walking toward the studio. The moment Jiang Nian saw her, she waved enthusiastically in greeting.
From a distance, Yao Ran naturally couldn't hear what they were saying. She only saw that as the woman in the dress got closer, she smiled and gave Jiang Nian's waist a familiar pat. Then, Jiang Nian led her into the studio, talking and laughing.
So she was waiting for someone…
Yao Ran turned her face away and lowered her head. After a moment of silent, expressionless stillness, she continued driving forward, the hazy night scenery receding behind her.
Had she found a new target?
After driving for a stretch, Yao Ran lowered all the car windows. The wind blew, slightly messing up her hair, but the look on her face remained unchanged.
Even if she has a new target, it has nothing to do with me.
After getting home, Yao Ran habitually glanced at the small wooden dog in the entryway. Just a light glance, and then she changed into her slippers and walked into her room.
Her routine at home was unchanging. After her shower, she read for a while as usual, but she turned the pages more slowly than normal, her mind wandering several times.
She can sweet-talk me today, so naturally she can sweet-talk someone else tomorrow. It's a perfectly normal thing to do.
Had she not seen enough people who liked to flirt around? Never mind single people, there were plenty of married ones who were like that too. It was nothing strange.
Yao Ran rubbed her forehead. She checked the time; it was almost eleven. She put down her book and prepared for sleep as usual.
Just then, her phone received a WeChat message.
As Yao Ran stood up, she casually picked it up and glanced at it. She stared at the phone screen.
【Jiang Nian】Are you free tomorrow night?
Yao Ran stared blankly for a moment, then coolly put the phone down.
Miss Jiang is certainly busy.
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