Indulgence - Chapter 74
Chapter 74
All night, Jiang Nian had been carefully testing the waters, inching closer bit by bit. Fortunately, Yao Ran didn't push her away with revulsion or resistance.
Her embrace grew warmer, and her whiny coquettishness was sticky and sweet. Yao Ran looked at her and said, "You're drunk..."
"I'm not. I just feel awful." Jiang Nian held on, unwilling to let go. She rested her head on Yao Ran's shoulder, finally finding the chance to speak her mind. "You're ignoring me, and it hurts."
Every time they met, they were like strangers, only able to watch each other from a distance, never getting close. They had to act as if nothing was wrong, as if they had moved on.
The psychological distress seemed to spread to a physical level. Jiang Nian suddenly let go of Yao Ran and hurried toward the restroom.
Seeing this, Yao Ran followed.
In the restroom, Jiang Nian was bent over, throwing up, looking disheveled.
Yao Ran walked over.
Jiang Nian quickly said, "Don't come over."
Yao Ran wondered what was wrong.
But Jiang Nian just hid her face and mumbled, "I don't look good..."
Yao Ran was speechless.
To be concerned with her appearance at a time like this.
Jiang Nian retched for a while. Someone still came to her side and gently patted her back. She stopped hiding and looked at Yao Ran.
Yao Ran handed her a cup of water.
Jiang Nian rinsed her mouth, then took the tissue Yao Ran offered and wiped her lips. She thought about how Yao Ran had also been the first to appear when she fainted last time. She didn't hate her, did she? In fact, she even cared a lot.
She felt much better after throwing up and straightened up. Yao Ran looked at her, frowning as if she wanted to say something but held back.
"It won't happen again. I'll be more careful," Jiang Nian said, guessing what Yao Ran wanted to say.
Yao Ran paused, then prepared to leave.
"Are you still angry?" Jiang Nian called out to her in a low voice. Seeing that Yao Ran still didn't want to pay her any mind, she was sure she was still mad about the deception, not to mention all the people she had flirted with in the past...
Yao Ran looked at Jiang Nian's aggrieved expression. She was the one who had been lying for months, and now she had the nerve to act wronged. She couldn't help but say bluntly, "Yes."
Hearing her admit her anger out loud, Jiang Nian's heart paradoxically ached less.
Yao Ran saw Jiang Nian's eyes were red and thought she was about to cry and act cute again, but she didn't.
"I've thought a lot during this time. I understand why you can't trust me." With red-rimmed eyes, Jiang Nian's gaze and tone were serious. "No matter what, I shouldn't have lied to you. It was my fault."
Yao Ran's feelings were complicated. The deception was real, but she had also seen Jiang Nian's genuine passion for her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so moved, nor would she be in this current state of confusion, unable to let go.
Jiang Nian bit her lip. She didn't rush to ask for forgiveness, only saying, "Can we get to know each other again? I won't lie to you about anything."
She had thought it over. They had started too casually, and their relationship had been shrouded in lies and pretense. Perhaps taking this opportunity to start over was the best solution.
...
When Yao Ran returned home that night, the lights instantly illuminated the empty room.
She went into the bathroom for a shower. The fine stream of water washed over her from above, the hot water soothing and calming her emotions.
She went to bed late. Opening the drawer of her nightstand, she saw the two small wooden dogs still lying inside. She played with them, looking at the carved words, and remembered Jiang Nian telling her they were her "exclusive happy puppies."
She really knew how to make someone happy.
Turned out she was a little liar.
"Can we get to know each other again..."
As Yao Ran closed her eyes, the image of Jiang Nian's earnest, tear-streaked face flashed in her mind.
She turned over. The temperature in Beilin had dropped sharply recently, and it wasn't warm enough under the covers, making her subconsciously think of the warmth of sleeping in an embrace.
Jiang Nian had recently taken up night running. If she was too tired, she would walk Si Mao along the streets. It used to be the two of them walking the dog together, but now she was back to being alone.
These days, apart from work and exercise, Jiang Nian holed up in her studio's art room, carving wood for several days straight.
Wood carving was delicate work that required focus. Her mind wandered for a moment, and the sharp blade slipped across her finger. The glove didn't stop it, and a cut opened up, bleeding freely.
Jiang Nian sucked in a breath. She was terrified of pain. She fumbled to treat the wound, making a complete mess of it.
After that night, Jiang Nian was still uneasy, not knowing if Yao Ran would accept her again. Maybe after thinking it over, she would still feel they weren't suitable. Or maybe, the person she liked was the mature version of her she had pretended to be...
All sorts of thoughts ran through her head. No matter what, she had tried. Even if they couldn't be together, she wouldn't have any regrets.
She suddenly felt much more relaxed. There was always a way to find peace with herself.
After finishing a few carvings, Jiang Nian carefully packed them in a gift box and sent it off.
Yao Ran had been in a meeting for over an hour. When she returned to her office, she found a gift box on her desk.
Her secretary said a courier had delivered it, but she didn't know who sent it.
Yao Ran opened it and froze. She knew instantly who it was from.
Inside were three small wooden dogs: one acting cute and spoiled, one with teary eyes, and one bowing its head in apology.
Yao Ran took them out and couldn't help but smile. She looked at the bottom of the carvings. As expected, her name was carved on each one.
They were exclusive.
That evening, Yao Ran was supposed to go to the Yao family villa for dinner. Yao Qi sent her a WeChat message, saying she wanted to hitch a ride.
Yao Qi had been helping someone with a photoshoot that afternoon and finished earlier than planned. She swaggered into Yao Ran's company as soon as she was done. The employees there recognized her, as her family had forced her to intern there for a while.
"Sis, you're not done yet?"
Yao Ran was still at her computer when Yao Qi walked into the office.
Yao Ran glanced at her. "Almost."
Yao Qi had a boisterous personality, the complete opposite of Yao Ran's quiet demeanor. Unable to sit still, she wandered around the office, her eyes finally landing on the gift box on the desk.
"What's this?" Yao Qi asked, reaching for it. "Can I see?"
Yao Ran looked up, but before she could say anything, Yao Qi had already opened the box.
"So cute!" Yao Qi's eyes lit up at the sight of the little dogs inside. "A gift?"
"Mm," Yao Ran replied.
Yao Qi assumed it was from a business partner and said casually, "I'll take these then."
Yao Ran was silent for a moment. "No."
Yao Qi looked at her. In the past, whatever she took a fancy to, Yao Ran would nonchalantly let her have it. This time she actually said no, and over a few small trinkets.
"Just one." Yao Qi picked up the one with teary eyes. "I'll take this one."
Yao Ran looked at her but still didn't yield. "You can't."
Yao Qi was baffled. She couldn't even have one. She looked at the small dog in her hand and noticed "yr" carved on the bottom, probably initials.
"From someone important?" That was the only explanation Yao Qi could think of.
Yao Ran didn't answer.
"Who sent it?" Yao Qi wondered. "Don't tell me it's my future brother-in-law?"
Yao Ran still ignored her, simply saying, "Not this. You can have anything else."
Yao Qi's expression shifted. She was dying of curiosity. What kind of person could make her sister care so much?
After Yao Ran finished work, Yao Qi hitched a ride home with her. Once in the car, a thought occurred to her, and feeling it was a pity, she sent a WeChat message to Jiang Nian.
Jiang Nian was eating dinner, just a sandwich to tide her over before a client arrived. A message came in, and she glanced at it out of boredom.
【Yao Qi】 Sis, I think you're out of luck.
Jiang Nian replied with a "?".
【Yao Qi】 I think my sister has someone she likes. Her secret admirer sent her a gift today, and she's treasuring it.
After that long message, Yao Qi sent a comforting hug emoji.
Jiang Nian's heart visibly quickened as she read the message. She typed back: What gift?
Seeing the reply, Yao Qi frowned, dumbfounded, and couldn't help but think to herself: What a strange thing to focus on.
Jiang Nian forgot about her sandwich. She saw Yao Qi's reply: Some wood carvings.
That night at home, Jiang Nian stared at her phone in a daze. She wanted to message Yao Ran to ask if she'd received them or if she liked them, but she hesitated and didn't. She'd never been such a coward before.
They met again two days later. While walking her dog, Jiang Nian saw Yao Ran go into Moments. She knew Yao Ran only went there to see Ruan Xin or for business.
A short while later, she also walked into the bar.
Ruan Xin spotted Jiang Nian. Since she was free that night, she pulled Jiang Nian over to chat and kill time.
Two cocktails were served. Ruan Xin pushed one toward Jiang Nian. "On me. Try our new drink."
But Jiang Nian shook her head. "I'm not drinking tonight."
Ruan Xin laughed. "You come here and don't drink? What for, then? To look at the pretty girls?"
Jiang Nian didn't say anything.
Ruan Xin's eyes darted around. "To look at your ex-girlfriend?" Yao Ran was here tonight, so it was no wonder Jiang Nian had shown up.
Jiang Nian silently admitted it.
Ruan Xin said, "Jiang Nian, you're more sentimental than I thought."
Jiang Nian was speechless.
She couldn't just sit there, so Ruan Xin had a waiter bring over some non-alcoholic drinks. She looked at Jiang Nian. Sometimes she felt Jiang Nian and Yao Ran weren't right for each other, but other times she felt no one was more suitable for Yao Ran than Jiang Nian. It probably took someone with Jiang Nian's proactive passion to move Yao Ran's heart.
Ruan Xin didn't say much more. In the end, only the two of them knew if they were truly right for each other.
Jiang Nian and Ruan Xin chatted idly about unimportant things. After finishing her drink, about an hour later, she saw Yao Ran get up.
Ruan Xin knew Jiang Nian was waiting for Yao Ran. Before Jiang Nian could say goodbye, she said tactfully, "Go on, chase after her. Don't mind me."
Jiang Nian smiled and eagerly stood up.
Gusts of evening wind blew, sending withered yellow leaves rustling to the ground. The wind could make you dizzy after drinking, and Yao Ran felt a chill.
"Director Yao, your driver isn't here yet. Should I give you a ride home?"
Yao Ran smiled and politely declined.
The other party was insistent. "Don't be so polite. We're all friends."
When Jiang Nian came out, she saw a man with glasses standing in front of Yao Ran, trying to chat her up. She walked straight over.
Yao Ran turned her head and saw Jiang Nian hurrying toward them.
Jiang Nian stood beside Yao Ran and said, "I'll take her home. I'm her... friend." The word was missing just one character, but it was filled with so much more bitterness.
Seeing this, the man no longer insisted, said his goodbyes, and left.
Only the two of them remained. Jiang Nian looked at her for a moment and said tentatively, "I'll take you home."
Then she waited for an answer.
Yao Ran hummed softly, "Mm."
Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief. She had been prepared, having already parked her car by the roadside, and she hadn't had anything to drink.
After getting in the car.
Jiang Nian put on the instrumental music she usually liked. The traffic was a bit heavy, and she drove slowly, but she wasn't annoyed at all.
The two of them sat in silence, with only the romantic melody filling the air.
"The traffic is so bad tonight," Jiang Nian complained, but her heart was happy. She held the steering wheel and looked at Yao Ran. "If you're tired, you can take a nap."
Yao Ran was a little tired. Whenever Jiang Nian picked her up, she would always rest for a bit in her car. She could relax around Jiang Nian, without any pretense.
Before long, Yao Ran closed her eyes.
The traffic cleared after the intersection, but Jiang Nian kept driving slowly, letting car after car pass them. Because of the traffic and her slow speed, it took over twenty minutes for Jiang Nian to reach their destination.
After parking the car, Jiang Nian turned her head to gaze at Yao Ran's beautiful profile, reluctant to wake her.
Perhaps because she had been so tired recently, Yao Ran's eyes remained closed until she sensed someone leaning over.
Jiang Nian wanted to help her unbuckle her seatbelt.
Yao Ran's eyes fluttered open, and a makeup-free face came into view, just inches away. Since they had broken up, Jiang Nian had stopped pretending to be mature. She was just a young girl, her skin so supple it looked like you could squeeze water from it, exquisitely beautiful even without makeup.
Being stared at like that, Jiang Nian forgot what she was doing. She just looked back at her.
Just waking up and still a bit groggy, Yao Ran's lowered gaze swept over Jiang Nian's soft lips. An impulse flared—to pull her in and kiss her for a while...
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