Indulgence - Chapter 35
Chapter 35
"You're already so skilled, Director He. You hardly need my instruction," Jiang Nian said with a smile, politely declining He Qin's suggestion.
"Such a sweet talker." He Qin turned to the side, studying Jiang Nian with focused attention. "Hmm, how about this? Shall we have a little competition?"
Yao Ran didn't know what He Qin was up to, but the way she was sizing up Jiang Nian was laden with meaning.
Jiang Nian remained modest. "My skills are just average."
"Is that so?" He Qin teased with a smile, her gaze falling to Jiang Nian's hands. Her words carried a double meaning. "I have a feeling your skills are quite good."
Jiang Nian was speechless.
Yao Ran also fell silent.
Jiang Nian said, "Then let's just compete for fun."
"Just competing for fun is so boring." He Qin thought for a moment, looking from Yao Ran and Ruan Xin to Jiang Nian. "If Miss Jiang wins, we'll finalize the partnership right away. If I win..."
They had briefly introduced themselves earlier, so Jiang Nian knew He Qin was Yao Ran's potential business partner. She asked He Qin, "And if you win, what then?"
He Qin looked at Jiang Nian and said casually, "You just have to go on a date with me for a day."
Ruan Xin, who was taking a sip of water, nearly choked. To be honest, a woman like Jiang Nian was indeed very popular with wealthy women, but she hadn't expected He Qin to be so direct, not bothering with any pretense tonight.
Yao Ran frowned slightly. This Director He was just as Ruan Xin had described—a bit improper. She quickly interjected, smiling faintly, "Director He, you must be joking."
He Qin said, "I'm not joking. I mean what I say."
Yao Ran didn't know if He Qin was serious, but she replied earnestly nonetheless, "Director He, business is business, and personal is personal."
Although she had been the one to initiate contact with He Qin, the negotiation should be based on merit, not on things like this. The proactive party didn't necessarily have to take a subservient position; lowering your stance makes you easy to manipulate.
So this was what it was like to negotiate business. Standing beside Yao Ran, Jiang Nian felt a solid sense of security and peace.
Jiang Nian didn't overthink it. Fairly confident in her own abilities and seeing that He Qin's skill wasn't that strong, she felt sure she could win. She whispered to Yao Ran, "It's okay to compete. I won't lose."
Yao Ran looked at her and said in a low, serious voice, "No." This wasn't about winning or losing.
Jiang Nian said no more, pressing her lips together.
"Director Yao truly lives up to her reputation for being principled," He Qin said, changing her tone to smooth things over and prevent the atmosphere from becoming too tense.
Yao Ran smiled. "And Director He lives up to her reputation for loving a good joke."
After a few more words, the two began discussing the partnership.
Jiang Nian couldn't contribute to these matters. She just felt there was too much strategic maneuvering, like a game of tai chi. No wonder Director Yao was usually so good at putting on a front. Both her parents were in business, but she hadn't inherited an ounce of their talent. She was used to being direct and couldn't stand all the beating around the bush. That was why she just wanted to be a simple tattoo artist, making a living with her skills, living comfortably and freely.
Jiang Nian nocked an arrow and drew her bow, occasionally glancing at Yao Ran. She and He Qin seemed to be getting along. Though Yao Ran's demeanor was elegant and gentle, her presence was in no way inferior to the heavily made-up Director He. She was even more captivating when she was focused.
The group spent over an hour at the archery range. Jiang Nian patiently taught Yao Ran the proper form, and Yao Ran learned quickly, looking the part in no time.
Drawing the bow, holding the tension, and then releasing it decisively in an instant—it was a very stress-relieving sport. Yao Ran was starting to fall in love with it.
As she taught, Jiang Nian asked, "Director Yao, is it fun?"
Yao Ran thought the tone was as childish as if she were talking to a kid. She replied, "It's not bad."
"Isn't it very relaxing?" Jiang Nian said. "When I'm in a bad mood, I come here for a couple of hours. It's incredibly cathartic."
Hearing this, Yao Ran's first reaction was, "You get in bad moods too?" In her mind, Jiang Nian was always surrounded by a lively, happy group of friends.
"Everyone has their bad moods," Jiang Nian said with a blink and a wry smile. "Do you think I don't get sad?"
Yao Ran thought for a moment, then turned her head toward the target and replied quietly, "It's just that you seem to live so freely."
Jiang Nian detected a hint of envy in her words. She also heard a weariness in Yao Ran's voice that made her want to hug the woman standing before her.
It wasn't until nine in the evening that they prepared to leave.
As they were leaving, He Qin specifically called out to Jiang Nian. She took a business card from her wallet and handed it over, saying with a broad smile that Jiang Nian could contact her anytime, for any reason.
Jiang Nian stared at the gold-stamped business card in her hand, frozen in awkwardness. What kind of person did this Director He take her for?
Ruan Xin couldn't help but steal a glance at Yao Ran. All evening, it seemed Director Yao hadn't been her usual composed self.
Yao Ran went to the restroom. The running water slowly washed away the lather from the hand soap. She felt a slight ache in her arms; it had been too long since she'd exercised.
After rinsing her hands, Yao Ran came face to face with Jiang Nian, who was walking toward her just outside the restroom door.
They both stopped in their tracks, standing opposite each other.
Without a word, Jiang Nian took the initiative and held out the business card in her hand to Yao Ran. It was the one He Qin had just given her.
Yao Ran didn't take it, unable to stop herself from asking, "...Why are you giving this to me?"
"I'm afraid you'll misunderstand me again," Jiang Nian explained promptly. "I won't contact her."
Yao Ran was speechless.
She was really fixated on this.
Seeing that Yao Ran wouldn't take it, Jiang Nian simply tossed the card into a nearby trash can.
"And this. Remember to massage it in when you get home tonight. It'll help with the muscle soreness." Jiang Nian then handed her a tube of ointment. First-timers at the archery range were always sore the next day. She urged Yao Ran, "Take it."
She had a habit of exercising and always kept such things in her bag.
Yao Ran didn't readily accept favors from others. "You don't have to..."
"You do," Jiang Nian interrupted.
After a brief silence.
Jiang Nian said earnestly, "If you think we weren't clear-headed before, that it was just an impulse, then let's start over and get to know each other..."
Just as she was speaking—
"Are you two done yet?" Ruan Xin walked over toward the restroom and found them standing together.
Night fell, and the neon lights flickered.
After leaving the club, Yao Ran drove Ruan Xin home first. The ride was quiet. Ruan Xin seemed a bit tired and dozed off for about ten minutes in the car.
She only woke up as they were nearing their destination.
"Didn't you sleep well? Why are you so tired?" Yao Ran had noticed Ruan Xin seemed out of sorts all day.
"Yeah, a little," Ruan Xin answered lazily, rubbing her neck. Whenever her little wolf cub stayed the night, they never got to bed before midnight. One in her early twenties, full of energy, and one in her thirties with a strong libido—it was hard for the two of them to be abstinent when they were together.
Ruan Xin didn't get out of the car right away. She looked at the perpetually cool-faced Yao Ran and said languidly, "It seems He Qin has taken a liking to Jiang Nian. Did you see the way she gave her that card? It was hilarious, like she wanted to be her sugar mommy."
Yao Ran was silent.
Observing Yao Ran's reaction, Ruan Xin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is Director Yao unhappy?"
"Unhappy about what?" Yao Ran asked.
"You and Jiang Nian. Don't tell me you two are 'innocent.' I saw everything tonight," Ruan Xin said bluntly. "When He Qin said she wanted Jiang Nian to go on a date with her for a day, you should have seen yourself. Your face was practically green."
Yao Ran was speechless.
Ruan Xin was exaggerating a little.
Yao Ran had been quite angry at the time. In response to Ruan Xin's words, she simply asked, "Would you make that kind of bet with a friend?" It was so disrespectful.
"Of course not." Ruan Xin looked at Yao Ran, then added, hitting the nail on the head, "But I don't think your concern for Jiang Nian is like that of a friend. It's more like you're concerned about a girlfriend."
Yao Ran couldn't win an argument with her and looked out the window at the night scenery.
Ruan Xin became even more certain. Lately, Yao Ran's concern for Jiang Nian had been too obvious. Others might not see it, but she could—for someone who was indifferent to everyone to suddenly act this way, how could it not be her heart fluttering?
Ruan Xin was surprised. It was truly hard to imagine Yao Ran falling for someone like Jiang Nian. She suddenly felt that Director Yao must be quite wild on the inside.
The two sat in the car for a while.
"She was pursuing you before. Why didn't you say yes?" Ruan Xin was full of curiosity, relishing the rare chance to gossip about Yao Ran's love life.
Yao Ran couldn't explain the messy relationship between her and Jiang Nian in just a few words, and it was difficult to bring up. It was truly something she never would have done.
Yao Ran said simply, "You know I wasn't planning on considering a relationship again."
That was also the truth. She had been prepared to live a quiet life alone, without all the messy complications of romance. And then, she met Jiang Nian.
"Can you really prepare for something like that beforehand? Love has never been a rational thing," Ruan Xin said helplessly, inevitably thinking of her and Xu Xia. There wasn't a shred of rationality involved, but it had just happened.
Ruan Xin's thoughts shifted, and she asked, "Are you afraid Jiang Nian would mind that you can't accept physical intimacy?"
That had been one of the reasons she hadn't wanted to get involved in a relationship before. Images flashed through Yao Ran's mind. That was not a problem at all between her and Jiang Nian. In fact, the two of them were even a bit... unrestrained.
Ruan Xin also sensed that Yao Ran hadn't been resistant to being close to Jiang Nian tonight. She continued her curious questioning, "Do you have feelings for Jiang Nian? Not even a little?"
Fearing Yao Ran wouldn't understand, Ruan Xin put it more plainly, "It's that sexual impulse you get when you like someone. Don't you want to sleep with her?"
Yao Ran still didn't know how to answer Ruan Xin. Before, she had never felt it. Now, it was just too difficult to say out loud.
She was too embarrassed to talk about what happened in bed, so she changed the subject, hurrying Ruan Xin along. "It's getting late. Aren't you going home?"
Ruan Xin realized this topic might be too stimulating for Director Yao.
"Anyway, congratulations."
"Congratulations for what?"
"It's not easy," Ruan Xin said, half-joking but speaking the truth. "I thought I'd never see you fall for anyone in this lifetime."
Could it be called falling for someone? Yao Ran lowered her eyes, but Ruan Xin was right. For her, having her heart moved was indeed not easy. For some reason, she thought of what Jiang Nian had said—that they could start over and get to know each other...
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