Indulgence - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Taking advantage of the last two days of the Spring Festival holiday, Jiang Nian invited a bunch of friends for drinks and a small gathering.

The bar was bustling with excitement that night.

Ruan Xin and Xu Xia were back from their trip abroad, Ji Xi came with her girlfriend Qiao Zhiyu, and Qiu Lan was there with her partner. Yao Qi also brought a few friends to hang out.

"Well, look at you two being so high-profile now," Ruan Xin remarked, spotting the matching rings on Yao Ran's and Jiang Nian's fingers.

Jiang Nian glanced at Ruan Xin and her little brat, then said with a smile, "Not as high-profile as Director Ruan, showing off your love on social media every day."

Xu Xia's face flushed, embarrassed by the comment.

Seeing this, Ruan Xin smiled quietly. This girl, who blushed at the drop of a hat, seemed like a harmless, sweet little thing to everyone. But when it was just the two of them, she could be quite reckless.

"Congratulations on getting your act together again." Ruan Xin raised her glass to them. She had guessed that with Yao Ran being so hung up on her, the two of them wouldn't just break up for good.

Yao Ran clinked glasses with her, smiling without a word.

"Come on, Jiang Nian, drink up."

Jiang Nian was always the life of the party, and with so many of her friends there tonight, they all took turns trying to get her to drink.

Yao Ran shot her a discreet look.

Jiang Nian knew what it meant.

"Jiang Nian, your girlfriend is so cool and aloof. How did you win her over?"

Jiang Nian glanced at Yao Ran.

Yao Ran glanced back at her, then took a sip of her drink.

Jiang Nian understood immediately. It was too shameless to say out loud.

The atmosphere was too good that night, and Jiang Nian couldn't resist everyone's enthusiasm, ending up drinking quite a bit.

Yao Ran was usually very proper in public, so Jiang Nian behaved herself too, at most secretly holding her hand under the table. But after drinking, she threw caution to the wind. With everyone watching, she wrapped an arm around Yao Ran's waist and leaned against her.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Someone made a teasing sound.

Yao Ran looked at her. "Drink less."

Jiang Nian hugged her tighter, rubbing her face against Yao Ran's. "I'm just so happy today. Just this once, I won't do it again."

With so many people watching, Yao Ran whispered, "You reek of alcohol, don't hug me."

But Jiang Nian whined softly, "You'd get jealous if I hugged someone else."

Yao Ran: "..."

The drunkard made her laugh.

Just hugging wasn't enough for Jiang Nian; she leaned in and kissed her neck.

Yao Ran quickly held her head. "Don't mess around, we're still outside."

"Mmm..."

Jiang Nian agreed verbally, but the light kisses didn't stop.

Yao Ran had no choice but to ruffle her hair and whisper, "Be good."

"Okay." Jiang Nian finally settled down a bit, just holding her.

The trick worked. Yao Ran looked down at her and smiled. She had figured out Jiang Nian's temperament: she responded to soft persuasion, not harshness, especially after drinking. She was like a child who needed to be coaxed.

Yao Qi, watching from the side, was stunned. Is that my sister? she wondered. She knew Yao Ran must really like Jiang Nian, which was why she came out to their family right after the New Year... but she never expected Yao Ran to change so much for one person.

Yao Ran wasn't sure how long Jiang Nian would behave, so she said to the others, "Sorry, she's had too much to drink. We're going to head back first."

Ruan Xin glanced at Yao Ran and teased, "In such a hurry?"

Yao Ran frowned. "..."

Ruan Xin laughed happily, thinking about how she had once told Jiang Nian that Yao Ran was only interested in a spiritual connection. What a needless worry that was.

Jiang Nian was dizzy and was led home by Yao Ran.

Back home, Yao Ran received a call from her mother. Ding Mengwei still thought her being with a girl was just a phase and that she needed to get back on the "right track."

But Yao Ran's attitude was firm.

Ding Mengwei was silent for a long time on the other end of the line before ending the call.

Yao Ran hung up and turned around to find Jiang Nian had walked over.

"Was that your mom?"

"It's nothing," Yao Ran said with a smile.

"If there's anything, you have to tell me," Jiang Nian said, her tone a little slurred but serious.

"It was just too sudden for her. She needs time to accept it."

Jiang Nian nodded in understanding. Jiang Yuanheng still couldn't accept that she liked girls either. Not everyone around them would be respectful and supportive, let alone a traditional family like the Yaos.

She smiled and hugged Yao Ran, kissing the corner of her lips comfortingly.

Yao Ran could feel that Jiang Nian had been trying to cheer her up and share her burden lately. "You smell like alcohol."

Jiang Nian pouted. "Are you complaining about me?"

Yao Ran smiled gently. "Mmm."

She's teasing me again. Jiang Nian smiled too, nibbling on her lips and wrapping her arms around her neck for a deep kiss, intentionally breathing all the alcohol fumes her way.

A tipsy kiss. Yao Ran could never resist her, and she hugged her tighter and tighter.

---

After the holiday, the studio reopened for business.

In the evening, after discussing a design with a client, Jiang Nian saw a rather elegant woman walk into the studio. She stood up to greet her. "Auntie."

Ding Mengwei's gaze shifted from surveying the studio to Jiang Nian. She asked, "You're Jiang Nian?"

Jiang Nian smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Ding Mengwei paused. It was hard to imagine that Yao Ran had found such a young girl, who looked to be about the same age as Yao Qi, and a tattoo artist at that...

"Auntie, please come in and have a seat."

Jiang Nian was polite and welcoming. She had answered Ding Mengwei's call the other day when Yao Ran was in the shower. Ding Mengwei had said she wanted to meet her, and she had readily agreed.

The two went upstairs. Jiang Nian led Ding Mengwei to her office and brought her a cup of coffee.

Ding Mengwei asked her, "How old are you this year?"

"Twenty-four, almost twenty-five." Jiang Nian sat down across from Ding Mengwei. She was a very serious woman; no wonder Yao Ran was so proper.

Ding Mengwei sighed and was silent for a long time before saying, "You two are not suitable for each other."

Jiang Nian remained composed. "Auntie, we're the ones who know best if we're suitable or not. Yao Ran and I are serious, and I will treat her well."

Ding Mengwei frowned slightly and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Auntie is being realistic, so don't be upset. Girls your age tend to think love is everything, but Yao Ran is not like that. She considers many more things. She might have never met someone like you before and is just intrigued for now. Once the novelty wears off, the feelings will fade, and she will return to her proper path. Do you understand? You're still young, Auntie is just giving you some well-intentioned advice."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian retorted, "Auntie, do you not understand her at all?"

Ding Mengwei chuckled. "Am I not supposed to understand my own daughter?"

"But the 'proper path' you mentioned, she doesn't like it. She's been living a very tiring life," Jiang Nian said frankly. "All I know is that she's very happy and relaxed when she's with me, and we've already planned our future..."

Although Ding Mengwei's expression soured, she maintained her usual composure and avoided any harsh words.

...

Yao Ran got off work early that evening and, as usual, drove to pick up Jiang Nian. When she walked into the office, she saw Jiang Nian leaning against the window, staring into the distance, lost in thought.

Hearing footsteps, Jiang Nian turned around.

Yao Ran could see her low spirits at a glance and guessed, "Did you run into an unreasonable customer?"

Jiang Nian shook her head.

"Then what's wrong?" Yao Ran pressed.

Jiang Nian told her the truth. "Your mom came by earlier."

Yao Ran was slightly taken aback. "Why did she come here?"

Jiang Nian: "She told me before that she wanted to meet me."

Yao Ran was silent for a moment, then asked, "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Jiang Nian replied matter-of-factly, "You didn't tell me when you came out to your family either. We're even."

Yao Ran frowned. "What did she say to you?" She knew that with Ding Mengwei's personality, she wouldn't say or do anything extreme, but she would definitely say things that were hard to hear.

"She said you're only with me for the novelty and that you'll return to the 'right track' in the future..."

Before Yao Ran could say anything, Jiang Nian quickly added, "It doesn't matter. I know you. You won't leave me." As she spoke, she felt a little upset, and her eyes reddened slightly.

Yao Ran had a general idea of what Ding Mengwei would say to Jiang Nian. She gently pulled Jiang Nian into a comforting hug. "Mmm, don't overthink it."

Jiang Nian hugged her tightly and murmured with a smile, "I told her that you're especially happy with me, and you wouldn't bear to leave me."

Yao Ran laughed.

Jiang Nian pressed on, "Isn't that true?"

Yao Ran looked at her reddened eyes and stroked her head. "It is."

Jiang Nian smiled and rested her head on Yao Ran's shoulder. She was easy to please, and her bad mood vanished instantly.

The embrace was silent but warm.

After holding her for a long time, Yao Ran stroked Jiang Nian's hair, lowered her head slightly, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "I've always been very lucky to have met you."

A romantic confession.

Jiang Nian looked up at her as if she had misheard. "What did you say?" She had heard clearly but wanted to hear it again.

Yao Ran kissed her forehead. Seeing the joy in Jiang Nian's eyes, she felt that some things needed to be said directly—

"I love you."

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