Indulgence - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Yao Ran looked over. The woman leaning against the table had a face as overtly charming as her voice. Her long hair, in natural, loose curls, fell almost to her slender waist.
"I didn't touch her," the man said. He then asked, "Are you two together?"
Jiang Nian nodded seriously, as if declaring her territory.
Seeing Jiang Nian approach, the man's gaze turned much more flippant. He smiled and looked her up and down, his tone suggestive, "How about I buy you two a drink? It's fate that we met tonight."
Jiang Nian was all too familiar with this kind of stare from sleazy men. She turned her face away impatiently. Just as she was about to refuse, another voice beside her spoke first:
"Not interested."
The voice was soft but cold, carrying an undeniable presence.
Many people who came to bars were looking to socialize, so being hit on was commonplace. Perhaps it was because she had drunk a little too much tonight, but Yao Ran didn't suppress her annoyance. Instead of politely refusing with a smile as usual, she gave the man a cold look.
The man took the hint and left.
Jiang Nian wondered if she had been meddling. The woman was a boss here; did she really need her to step in?
Yao Ran raised her head, her gaze meeting the person beside her. She looked again, feeling a vague sense of familiarity. Out of politeness, she said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Only then did Jiang Nian get a clear look at her face. She was wearing only simple, everyday makeup, but her features were captivating without any need for embellishment. Beneath an excessively calm maturity, she seemed to be full of stories.
She was wearing a solid-colored silk shirt, very tasteful, though it was hard to make out the exact color under the flashing lights.
Many women liked to wear shirts to places like this, but they would "cleverly" undo a few more buttons to reveal their attractive necks and collarbones. Not like her, who kept her figure completely covered, exuding a cold, ascetic vibe.
The way the two of them had just chimed in together had invisibly closed the distance between them. "My name is Jiang Nian. I'm a friend of Ji Xi's. We met the other day," Jiang Nian said, getting straight to the point of getting acquainted. She introduced herself over the noise.
Yao Ran didn't quite hear her but then remembered they had met by the bar a few days ago. Although it was only for a moment, she had an impression because the other woman had beautiful, alluring eyes and a very striking figure.
"Can I join your table?" Jiang Nian asked, quite shamelessly. The alcohol made her even bolder.
Yao Ran was silent for a moment, then nodded lightly.
Jiang Nian made herself at home and sat down directly. She had been frequenting Moments recently precisely for the chance to "run into" the person before her. Now that they were sitting face-to-face, she suddenly didn't know what to say.
She had a gut feeling that this woman wasn't as easy to approach as most people.
Afraid of an awkward silence, Jiang Nian was about to call a waiter over to order a drink.
"If you don't mind, it's on me." Yao Ran's posture was casual. She was here to taste-test some drinks anyway, so having someone join her was fine. Besides, the woman had just helped her out of a jam.
Jiang Nian was pleasantly surprised. "Really? Then I won't be polite."
Drinking together made it much easier to chat. Jiang Nian asked, "Are you alone tonight too?"
Yao Ran hummed in acknowledgment, but in the noisy environment, it was as good as no answer. She continued to quietly sip the drink in her hand.
Jiang Nian: "In a bad mood?"
The other woman remained silent, either because she hadn't heard or because she wasn't in the mood to talk.
An awkward silence fell.
Seeing this, Jiang Nian didn't press the conversation. Although the woman's demeanor was calm as she drank, her whole body exuded a tense energy, a low pressure that was clearly palpable. She was indeed a difficult woman to get close to.
The two of them drank their own drinks in silence. Although there was no communication, it was a form of "company" in itself.
At least it was better than being alone, Jiang Nian thought. It was just that the two of them were excessively quiet amidst the fiery atmosphere.
A few more glasses went down.
Is she drinking away her sorrows? Jiang Nian noticed from the corner of her eye. "You should drink less."
Yao Ran was holding her glass when her wrist was suddenly grabbed by a very beautiful, eye-catching hand. The fingers were long and slender, the nails neatly trimmed. This touch didn't particularly bother her, but she still discreetly moved her wrist away, unaccustomed to intimate contact.
Jiang Nian's fingertips met empty air. She was indeed very resistant to people getting close, pulling away even from an accidental touch.
Her head was a bit dizzy. That was enough for tonight. Yao Ran didn't reach for her glass again. She looked up and met the gaze that was staring straight at her.
Suddenly, Jiang Nian heard the gentle but cold voice from across the table float over:
"Why do you keep staring at me?"
Yao Ran's tone was a bit languid, and she herself seemed lazy, in a weary state of having no energy for anything. She had noticed that the other woman had been staring at her all night, and her gaze seemed... a bit restless.
This bar was a joint venture between her and her childhood friend, Ruan Xin. Although it wasn't a lesbian bar, Ruan Xin liked women, so many of the regular customers were from her circle.
She was well aware that many women who came here had ideas about other women.
Jiang Nian hadn't expected her to initiate a conversation, and to ask so directly. Being called out, she felt neither awkward nor guilty. She answered frankly, "You're very beautiful."
It was a cliché pickup line, but her forthrightness made it less offensive. Hearing it, a tiny smile touched the corners of Yao Ran's lips before quickly fading.
A smile tinged with drunkenness. Jiang Nian didn't understand its meaning, only that it was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Take your time." It was getting late, and Yao Ran didn't plan to stay any longer. When she stood up, she realized she had really drunk too much tonight; she was unsteady on her feet. She was a veteran of the business world and could hold her liquor, but tonight's drinks were strong, and she had had quite a few different kinds. After standing, she steadied herself against the corner of the table.
Seeing her state, Jiang Nian also stood up. "You've had too much to drink. Should I call a friend to pick you up?"
Yao Ran shook her head. "No need." With that, she continued to walk out.
Jiang Nian: "Hey..."
It was crowded in the bar, and the temperature was much higher than outside. Coupled with the alcohol kicking in, Yao Ran felt hot even though she was only wearing a shirt. She quickened her pace, wanting to leave the enclosed space and get some fresh air.
Jiang Nian was a little worried about her and followed.
The music was excessively loud, making one's scalp tingle.
Yao Ran walked ahead with her head down. Someone bumped into her carelessly, causing her already unsteady body to sway.
"Didn't see you, sorry beautiful."
Jiang Nian rushed forward to steady her before the other person could, thoughtfully putting an arm around her. Recalling Yao Ran's "Don't touch me, you'll make me sick" when rejecting someone, and her clear aversion to physical contact, she quickly let go after a brief moment of support.
"..." Yao Ran hadn't expected to be let go so suddenly and hadn't regained her footing.
Jiang Nian quickly stepped forward and caught her again. In the chaos, she ended up holding her securely in her arms. Jiang Nian had also had a lot to drink. She held her, pressing her against the wall behind them until they were both steady.
Encircled in a warm embrace, Yao Ran looked up and saw the same face from before.
Chest pressed against chest, the waist under the shirt was slender and soft. Holding Yao Ran face-to-face, Jiang Nian's heart suddenly trembled in confusion. They were very close, their noses almost touching.
They were standing in a corner untouched by the lights. Their breaths gently brushed against each other's faces, lips. Their chests rose and fell, almost rubbing together.
It was those same alluring eyes. For some reason, Yao Ran felt her heart burn under that gaze. This posture, even between two women, was ambiguous.
A flush of heat. Jiang Nian's face reddened as the same feeling rose within her. She was already dizzy from the alcohol tonight, and now she was even dizzier. She shifted slightly, her nose accidentally brushing against the other's. The arm around her waist no longer wanted to let go.
Yao Ran didn't understand why her heart was beating so fast.
She thought that she should push the other person away, maintain a proper social distance, and then leave politely. That would be in line with her usual style.
But she didn't do that.
Perhaps it was because she had been lacking the feeling of a racing heart for too long?
She allowed the scent of the other's perfume to completely envelop her, allowed the ambiguous intimacy to spread, stimulating her nerves. The fragrance was bold and seductive, with an aggressive quality, perfect for a flirtatious atmosphere. It was a style she would never try.
Jiang Nian's mind was already elsewhere. Her gaze fell on her beautiful features, and she couldn't help but glance at her lips.
This blatant gaze distracted Yao Ran, and her red lips couldn't help but part slightly.
In a place like this, the closer it got to midnight, the more unspeakable the atmosphere became. The music, the alcohol, the accidental touches—all of it could easily fuel the flames.
A boundary-crossing posture, a drunken gaze, silently stirring up emotions from the depths of the heart, beyond the reach of reason.
The carnal impulse between two adults exploded in an instant.
As the music swirled around them, their alcohol-tinged kiss came naturally. At first, it was just a tentative brushing of lips, but soon, their breaths intertwined uncontrollably.
Jiang Nian had never been a reserved or shy person, and she had been drinking—
The soft warmth pressed continuously against her own lips. Yao Ran found this passion hard to resist. It was something she had never experienced before, leaving her even more breathless. But in the chaos, the sweet entanglement gained the upper hand. After closing her eyes, she found herself subconsciously craving it.
Her heart rate quickened, to a degree that was foreign to her.
Meeting the response, Jiang Nian kissed her while pressing her tightly against the wall, then tilted her head for a deeper kiss.
In the dimness, their red lips repeatedly savored each other's, moving from gentle to deeply entangled, a passion that muddled the mind.
"Mm." Her usually ironclad rationality was washed away. Yao Ran's dangling hand slowly rose to wrap around the other person, and the almost frantic kiss made her feel a spreading heat.
It wasn't because of the high temperature in the cramped space. It was—
She was actually feeling something.
Yao Ran held the person in front of her tightly, frowning, allowing herself to drown in the kiss. It felt unreal, illusory. How could this feeling belong to her?
She thought that a state of eternal calm was what belonged to her.
But now...
The outside was still noisy with chatter, while they embraced in the shadows, both losing control, forgetting themselves, almost unable to breathe.
At midnight, the throbbing music stopped and was replaced by a lyrical, romantic melody.
Jiang Nian wasn't sure how long they had been entangled. When they parted, the lipstick on their lips was smudged, staining the corners of their mouths and their chins.
The two stood in the corner, foreheads touching, breathing heavily.
Jiang Nian stared intently at the person before her, reaching out with her fingertips to wipe the lipstick smudges from the corner of her mouth. The messy lipstick marks were completely at odds with her cool temperament.
Yao Ran hadn't fully recovered. It wasn't the first time she had drunk too much, but she didn't know what was wrong with her tonight. Even the simple touch of fingertips on her lips unsettled her. She didn't turn her face away, but instead glanced at the other's rosy, slightly parted lips.
Jiang Nian couldn't hold back any longer. She gently cradled her neck, moved closer, and started kissing the corner of her mouth again.
Her lips were sealed once more. This time, Yao Ran actively parted her lips.
The romantic, gentle music only fueled their impulse further. They kissed, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow. When their eyes met again, their faces were flushed with a deeper crimson than what the alcohol alone could cause.
This feeling was inexplicable...
Their alcohol-tinged breaths mingled. Neither wanted the night to end just like this.
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