Indulgence - Chapter 10
Chapter 10
A misunderstanding. Yao Ran's thoughts were a mess tonight. She turned and said awkwardly, "Sorry."
Seeing Yao Ran's reaction, Jiang Nian became more certain of her guess. She smiled relaxedly and said, "I know. That night... we drank too much."
With her personality, she would never have gotten intimate with someone unless she was drunk. As for what that man suspected—that she had someone else on the side—how was that possible? She looked disgusted if any other man even got slightly close to her.
Yao Ran was quiet. In truth, she hadn't been drunk that night. She couldn't explain it herself. It was as if she suddenly felt something, her heart pounding out of control. For some reason, she just wanted something to happen, so she used the alcohol as an excuse and let it all unfold.
"Mm, don't worry about it," Yao Ran finally said.
Don't worry about it...
Jiang Nian looked at her, silent, just a smile on her face.
Yao Ran felt a sense of relief. Ruan Xin had now pulled Jiang Nian into her circle of friends. She figured they would inevitably run into each other in the future. It was better to clear the air to avoid awkwardness every time they met.
The rain kept falling. They hadn't paid it any mind before, but now the drops were getting bigger and impossible to ignore.
Passersby were hurriedly looking for shelter.
The rain tonight was like a temper tantrum, coming on suddenly and soaking their hair and clothes without warning.
"Let's go to my place first," Jiang Nian said. If they didn't get out of the rain, they'd be soaked to the bone. Without waiting for Yao Ran's opinion, she took her hand and led her away.
The raindrops were now falling like beads from a broken string, getting denser and faster.
Yao Ran had no choice but to quicken her pace. It was best to find a place to shelter from the rain first.
The mist completely blurred their two figures.
Although the studio was just across the street, in that short time, they were still drenched and miserable. Raindrops clung to their hair and cheeks, sliding down their skin.
"Oh my god, how did you get so soaked?" Xiao Chen saw Jiang Nian rush back in. She turned to the girl at the front desk and urged, "Quick, get two clean towels."
Their clothes were also mostly wet. Jiang Nian was fine; she was wearing dark, tight-fitting clothes, so it wasn't too noticeable. But Yao Ran was different. The light-colored fabric clung to her body when wet, making her figure, which was usually modestly hidden, faintly visible and fully outlined.
"Ooh..."
Jiang Nian heard a disgusting sound.
Two men on the first floor were using the pretense of looking at tattoos to shelter from the rain. When they saw Jiang Nian and Yao Ran come in soaked, their gazes became improper, their demeanor that of leering hooligans.
"What are you looking at?!" Jiang Nian snapped at them, simultaneously stepping to the side to block Yao Ran.
"The girl's got a hot body and a hot temper."
Jiang Nian was disgusted. She glanced at the apprentices inside, signaling them to get rid of the troublemakers.
"If you're drunk, then get lost. Don't come here looking for trouble." A boy and a girl, both quite young, but their heavily tattooed arms and necks were intimidating enough.
Most troublemakers are just paper tigers. They can't stand being intimidated and a few shouts will make them behave. If that doesn't work, just call the police. There's nothing to be afraid of. The more you tolerate, the more you get bullied.
Jiang Nian turned her face and said softly to Yao Ran, "Let's go upstairs."
Yao Ran nodded. It was a complete mess. What a miserable night.
As they walked upstairs, people passed them by in twos and threes. Yao Ran could feel the person beside her constantly shielding her from others' views, as if afraid someone might steal a glance.
Jiang Nian took Yao Ran to her office. Besides Qiu Lan, no one else usually came in.
"I have clean clothes. I'll get them for you to change into."
Yao Ran subconsciously said, "No need."
"Are you sure?" Jiang Nian asked, her gaze darkening and unintentionally falling on her full chest. The ample curves were almost fully visible. She quickly looked away.
Yao Ran: "..."
In truth, they had seen each other completely soaked in the bathroom before, but that day was that day. Now, they were both sober.
That casual glance was all it took. Yao Ran noticed and changed her mind, saying softly, "Go get the clothes."
Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment. Although they had seen each other several times, they had always pretended not to know each other. This was the first time she had spoken to her like this, with a hint of intimacy rather than cold distance.
Yao Ran saw her still standing there, staring at her face, and couldn't help but urge, "Hurry up."
"Mm." Jiang Nian felt a little like smiling.
Jiang Nian found the only black shirt that was relatively suitable for her to wear, along with a pair of light-colored jeans. She was slightly taller than Yao Ran, but their figures were quite similar, so it would do for a temporary fix.
"It's not new, but it's clean." Jiang Nian handed her the clothes and pointed to a break room behind her. "You can change in there."
"Thank you."
A few minutes later, Yao Ran came out in a fresh set of clothes.
Jiang Nian looked up and was momentarily captivated. She had let down her meticulously tied-up hair, which was now semi-damp and slightly messy. The shirt, which should have been casual and laid-back, became an ascetic style on her, but it was very easy on the eyes.
"You should go change too," Yao Ran told her. It was easy to catch a cold in this weather.
"Okay." Jiang Nian's voice couldn't help but become soft and gentle as well. She had a very nice voice; when she spoke softly, it was comfortably gentle.
Yao Ran waited outside. The room was more like a large art studio than an office, filled with sketches and design drafts. The tattoo designs were exquisite and beautiful.
It wouldn't be right to rifle through them without permission, so Yao Ran just casually looked at the ones that were out in the open.
She must have studied art. Her sketches and oil paintings were outstanding, and her style had a unique, bright, and unrestrained quality.
The art was like the artist.
After a while, Jiang Nian came out too, drying her long hair. She had changed into a more form-fitting top.
Yao Ran's gaze briefly swept over her. "I'll return the clothes to you another day."
Jiang Nian looked at her. "Mm."
Yao Ran said again, "I'm leaving now."
Jiang Nian instinctively called out to her, "Wait."
Yao Ran: "What?"
Jiang Nian looked out the window. "It's still raining outside. Let's wait until it lets up a bit."
Hearing the sound of the rain still pouring outside, Yao Ran was about to say something, but then she saw Jiang Nian walk over to the water dispenser to get some water.
"Make yourself comfortable."
Jiang Nian said with her back to her.
In a daze, Yao Ran sat down. She had been living in a daze recently. Everything was a mess. The recent events were all outside of her plans, especially... the person in front of her.
Jiang Nian poured two cups of water. "Careful, it's hot."
"Thank you for today," Yao Ran said, feeling she should express her gratitude properly.
Jiang Nian didn't say anything. She had so many questions about her but didn't dare to ask presumptuously. Her intuition told her that this woman wouldn't easily share her story with others.
After drinking a cup of hot water, her rain-soaked body gradually warmed up, feeling much more comfortable.
Yao Ran put down the disposable paper cup in her hand. Her gaze shifted to a wooden puppy on the desk. It looked familiar, seemingly from the same series as the one on the first floor.
"Can I have a look?" Yao Ran asked. The atmosphere was too stiff just sitting there.
"Of course."
Yao Ran reached out and held the small puppy in her palm, playing with it. Upon closer inspection, the puppy's expression was lifelike. "Is this your shop's mascot?"
She remembered Jiang Nian telling Ruan Xin that.
Jiang Nian: "Mm, the lucky puppy."
Lucky puppy, what a cute name. Yao Ran's eyes were still lowered as she examined it, her fingertips stroking it. "The craftsmanship is fine, and the colors are beautiful."
"Do you like it?" Seeing her interest, Jiang Nian smiled and said, "If you like it, I'll give it to you."
Yao Ran's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. That day, Ruan Xin had wanted it, but she had refused to give it away... Perhaps she was trying to comfort her after seeing the terrible and embarrassing situation she was in.
"No need," Yao Ran said with a faint smile.
The sudden downpour stopped as quickly as it started. Hearing the rain outside quiet down, Yao Ran put down the wooden carving and stood up. "I should go."
Jiang Nian stood up too, happening to block her way. Face to face, she said softly, "Let's exchange contact information."
Did they need to keep in contact? Yao Ran was silent for a moment, then replied in a polite but distant tone, "I don't think we need to."
"I took the necklace to get it repaired. I'll return it to you when it's done. I wanted to tell you last time, but you left."
For a moment, Yao Ran didn't remember the necklace.
Jiang Nian reminded her, "That night, I was too rough and broke your necklace..."
Every word was ambiguous. Yao Ran instantly remembered. As if giving an order, she said in a low, flustered voice, "Don't mention that night."
Jiang Nian pursed her lips and replied obediently, "Okay."
They still added each other on WeChat. Yao Ran thought that they were both adults and should tacitly understand the boundaries between adults.
As Yao Ran was about to leave, Jiang Nian stuffed the wooden dog into her hand. "A gift for you. Good luck to you too."
Yao Ran held it, looking at the puppy's happy, brilliant smile. For a moment, she felt a bit of warmth.
Jiang Nian added, "I made this myself. I can just make another one."
"You know wood carving?" Yao Ran was a little surprised. Judging from the craftsmanship, it was very professional.
"Mm." Thinking of Yao Ran's earlier compliment, Jiang Nian was delighted. She asked bluntly, "Director Yao, am I amazing?"
Yao Ran had never met such an immodest person, but to be fair, she praised her honestly, "Very amazing."
Jiang Nian felt even happier. She blinked and asked, "Is it cute?"
Yao Ran was momentarily stunned by her charming and playful smile.
Jiang Nian pointed to the wooden carving in her hand. "I was asking about this one."
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