Indulgence - Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Yao Ran hadn't had dinner yet either. She got takeout from a familiar restaurant—three dishes: the braised beef Jiang Nian had said she wanted to eat, and two other relatively light stir-fries.

Without much fuss, Jiang Nian cleared the art drafts from her desk, and the two sat there to eat. She had a client appointment later that evening and less than an hour to rest, just enough time for a rushed meal.

Jiang Nian was truly hungry. The recent intimacy had put her in a good mood, and now, looking at the fragrant food, her appetite soared.

Yao Ran quite liked eating with Jiang Nian. Jiang Nian was a bit of a foodie and ate with gusto. She watched Jiang Nian pick up a piece of beef and put it in her mouth, asking, "Is it good?"

"Delicious." Jiang Nian ate heartily. As she spoke, she thoughtfully picked up another piece of beef and fed it to Yao Ran.

Yao Ran paused for a second, looking like she wanted to say something but holding back. Then, she opened her lips and leaned in to accept it.

The two of them sharing a simple dinner in the office was ordinary, yet exceptionally warm. Jiang Nian would glance at Yao Ran from time to time and smile to herself. She loved this feeling, too.

Yao Ran noticed. "What are you staring at me for?"

Jiang Nian blurted out, "My girlfriend is too beautiful."

Yao Ran said in a low voice, "Eat your food properly."

Jiang Nian grinned. She was used to being unrestrained and actually hated being told what to do, but every time she heard Yao Ran's gentle commands, she was more than willing and never tired of it.

They had only taken a couple of bites when a knock sounded at the door.

Jiang Nian had no choice but to put down her chopsticks and open the office door. Standing there was Ruan Xin. Director Ruan was here for another leisurely visit.

"Oh, eating, are we..." Ruan Xin smelled the aroma of the food and glanced inside. Before she could finish her sentence, she caught sight of Yao Ran.

Ruan Xin walked into the office, sizing up Yao Ran with several clicks of her tongue. She said with a smile, "No wonder you said you didn't have time when I asked you to dinner tonight. Turns out you had to eat and work overtime with your girlfriend."

Yao Ran was speechless.

Ruan Xin found it strange. After knowing Yao Ran for so many years, she was only just discovering that Miss Yao actually knew how to dote on someone.

Jiang Nian looked at Yao Ran, her smile growing sweeter. She turned back to ask Ruan Xin, "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"Want to eat with us?" Yao Ran called out to Ruan Xin. "We just started."

"I'd better not. How could I dare to eat Director Yao's dinner of love?" Ruan Xin switched to a more serious topic. "I have a dinner appointment later, but it's not time yet, so I came to hang out. I won't disturb your meal."

Yao Ran didn't press the polite offer.

"Oh, right, Yao Ran." As she was about to leave, Ruan Xin looked at Yao Ran again and asked, "Which hotel is your birthday banquet at this year? Why haven't you sent out the invitations yet?"

Yao Ran explained calmly, "I'm not having one this year."

"Not having one this year? I thought you'd do it like every other year," Ruan Xin muttered. Her gaze shifted to Jiang Nian. "Well, that's fine. At least you have someone to keep you company."

After Ruan Xin left, Jiang Nian sat back down next to Yao Ran, chatting idly as they ate. "You have a birthday banquet every year?"

Yao Ran: "Yes."

"Then why not this year?" Jiang Nian had a vague guess, but she was afraid Yao Ran was accommodating her. She said softly, "You don't have to because of me..."

But Yao Ran turned her head and said bluntly, "It's exhausting to host."

Jiang Nian's brow relaxed, and she understood instantly. She had asked Yao Ran that night, and Yao Ran had also said she only wanted to spend it with her... She smiled. "Then let's have a relaxing one. I'll cook for you, okay?"

Yao Ran's tone and expression were filled with doubt. "You can cook?"

"Yes, and I'm pretty good at it," Jiang Nian said with considerable confidence. "Can't you tell?"

Yao Ran was blunt. "No."

Jiang Nian wasn't having it. She pouted at her. "Director Yao, shouldn't you be praising me?"

Yao Ran's lips curved into a smile.

Yao Ran's birthday was in two days.

A bunch of ideas for celebrating the birthday popped into Jiang Nian's head. In the end, she decided Yao Ran would probably prefer a simple, quiet celebration.

"Happy birthday, Director Yao."

...

Yao Ran went to the office that day and, as usual, received many well wishes. That morning, just as she sat down at her desk, her secretary came in with a bouquet of flowers.

"Director Yao, there are flowers for you."

Yao Ran glanced up.

"Should I dispose of them directly?" the secretary asked. She guessed they were probably from some suitor. Yao Ran didn't really like receiving flowers; usually, when she got them, she had her subordinates deal with them immediately.

Yao Ran: "Let me see."

The secretary had been ready to take them away but was suddenly stopped. She walked over and handed the flowers to Yao Ran.

Yao Ran pulled out the card inside and smiled faintly. There was no signature, but the moment she saw the little dog drawn on the card, she knew who it was from.

A line of beautiful handwriting on the card read: Happy birthday. I'll pick you up after work.

The secretary stood frozen for a moment, but seeing Yao Ran's reaction, she figured she meant to keep them. She smiled and said, "Director Yao, I'll be heading out then."

Yao Ran: "Okay."

She kept the large bouquet.

Yao Ran spent the entire day at the company. It was the end of the month, so there were many meetings, big and small. In the evening, just as it was about time to get off work, a meeting was delayed due to a disagreement.

Jiang Nian had specially taken the day off, pushing back her client appointments. She had timed her arrival to pick Yao Ran up from the company in the evening, but she ended up waiting for a long time.

Yao Ran sent Jiang Nian a WeChat message, telling her to wait in her office.

With special permission, Jiang Nian took the elevator straight up. Today, she was wearing the slip dress Yao Ran had given her. It was cool and eye-catching, and with her bright makeup, she was quite conspicuous walking through the company.

She reached the tenth floor.

"Director Yao is still in a meeting. Please wait a moment." The receptionist led her to the waiting area and poured her a cup of coffee.

It was Jiang Nian's first time at Yao Ran's company. She wandered around the waiting area for a bit. The view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was of the setting sun, a beautiful golden glow.

After she finished her coffee, Jiang Nian heard the clicking of high heels on the floor. She looked toward the sound and saw Yao Ran walking back in the middle of a group of people, her stride brisk and professional.

Yao Ran's presence was too striking in a crowd.

The two of them drew closer...

Jiang Nian remained where she was, a bewitching smile on her face, staring at Yao Ran, lost in thought. Director Yao in the workplace was cool and ascetic, seemingly detached from worldly matters. But she had seen the passion beneath Yao Ran's cold mask, so looking at Yao Ran's aloof appearance now only made her heart race wildly.

Yao Ran walked on, her expression unchanged, but her eyes caught sight of Jiang Nian at first glance—standing before the floor-to-ceiling glass, the soft light and shadows playing on her beautiful face. Jiang Nian was wearing the dress she had given her today. The backless slip dress paired with red lips created a mature, sexy style that drew everyone's attention.

One was excessively passionate, the other excessively cold. Two extremes, a stark contrast. No one would ever guess the relationship between them.

Imperceptibly, Yao Ran turned her head for a brief glance at Jiang Nian. Coming to a place like the office dressed so ostentatiously, she really is shameless.

Just then, someone beside her called out, "Director Yao."

After being addressed, Yao Ran didn't let her gaze linger on Jiang Nian for too long. She just glanced over briefly before quickly looking away, striking up a conversation with another executive beside her as she walked.

Jiang Nian's gaze, however, was naked and bold, following Yao Ran all the way until she entered her office. She continued to wait idly in the lounge area.

More than ten minutes later, after the others had left Yao Ran's office, Jiang Nian prepared to head inside.

She hadn't taken more than a few steps when she came face to face with a tall man in a dress shirt. She glanced at him, her face cold, and prepared to walk around him.

"New here? Haven't seen you before." The man in the shirt, however, struck up a conversation with extreme "enthusiasm," his eyes holding a hint of playfulness.

Jiang Nian was repulsed, but before she could say anything...

The sound of high heels clicked behind her. Yao Ran walked over and said nonchalantly, "Come in."

Jiang Nian looked at Yao Ran, her face instantly lighting up with a bright smile, and eagerly walked over.

Yao Ran closed the office door.

Jiang Nian immediately explained, "I don't know that guy, he was hitting on me..."

"I know." Yao Ran's gaze finally settled on Jiang Nian, taking her in properly. The dress suited Jiang Nian even better than she had imagined. Seeing Jiang Nian suddenly appear in it had been a pleasant surprise.

Jiang Nian asked with a smile, "Is Director Yao getting off work now?"

Yao Ran: "I just have one more document to handle. Wait for me."

Such a busy person. Jiang Nian blinked. "Okay—"

Yao Ran smiled too. Outside, Jiang Nian was cold and alluring, but now, in front of her, she was all well-behaved and coquettish. The contrast was too great.

While Yao Ran was looking through the document, Jiang Nian, with nothing better to do, walked behind her and started massaging her shoulders and neck. "Let me help you with this."

As her palms held the back of her neck, kneading gently then firmly, Yao Ran's pace of flipping through the pages slowed, her mind wandering slightly.

"Does my massage feel good?" Jiang Nian applied a little more pressure, asking with a low laugh.

As she drew closer, Yao Ran caught a stronger scent of perfume—a bewitching, seductive fragrance that matched the slip dress Jiang Nian was wearing today.

"Stop," Yao Ran turned her head and said softly, "go sit over there."

Jiang Nian was still kneading her shoulders and neck. "But you're busy. I'm helping you."

Her body pressed closer. Yao Ran frowned slightly. "Don't mess around, I still have some work to do."

"Can't focus on work when you're looking at me, huh?" Jiang Nian pursed her lips and smiled. She admitted she was being a little provocative. The more Yao Ran maintained her cool, ascetic demeanor, the more she couldn't resist the urge to seduce her.

Yao Ran's frown deepened. Troublesome.

Jiang Nian knew when to stop and didn't go too far. They had plenty of time tonight. She only placed a very light kiss on the corner of Yao Ran's mouth, her voice laced with a smile. "Happy birthday."

It was a sweet enough wish. Yao Ran's heart stirred. Miss Jiang always knew best how to make people happy. She looked at Jiang Nian, knowing that tonight was just the beginning—

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