Indulgence - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Although they were the words of a drunk person, the question was earnest and serious. The last time Jiang Nian had asked this, Yao Ran had said "no." But this time, looking at the person in her arms, she hesitated.
Jiang Nian stared at her imploringly, waiting for an answer.
Faced with Jiang Nian's uninhibited closeness, Yao Ran didn't push her away while suppressing her own feelings like last time. She looked at the still somewhat dazed Jiang Nian and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Why do you want to pursue me?"
In terms of personality, she had never considered herself a suitable romantic partner. Her last "relationship" had been a mess, so when faced with Jiang Nian's pursuit, she had been hesitant and overthought things. Although she knew in her heart that Jiang Nian was an absolutely special existence to her.
She had rejected Jiang Nian once. She had thought Jiang Nian wouldn't be so persistent, but the truth was, even though she had thrown cold water on her, Jiang Nian's passion and initiative remained unchanged.
"Because I just like you. My heart pounds whenever I get close to you, and it pounds whenever I think of you." Jiang Nian didn't hold back her confession. She couldn't hide her feelings. Once she fell for someone, she wanted to pour out all her affection for them to see, to let them know.
It was another direct confession, yet it was sincere, natural, and a little foolish. Yao Ran's heart beat faster. She had never thought she was the type to fall for sweet talk.
"Doesn't your heart pound for me?" Jiang Nian asked in a low voice, her gaze lingering on Yao Ran's face, her eyes teasing yet full of anticipation. She didn't believe that Yao Ran felt nothing. Their kisses had already exposed them both.
As if struck by the truth, Yao Ran's eyes flickered slightly. She had always been reserved and never knew how to respond to Jiang Nian's direct brand of passion. She felt quite helpless against Jiang Nian—not ready to accept, yet unable to push away.
A moment of silence.
"Anyway, don't avoid me anymore..." Jiang Nian said, her arms rubbing Yao Ran's waist as she pressed closer, insisting, "If you don't say anything, that means you agree."
She held her tighter and tighter.
Jiang Nian acted with a sense of reckless confidence, certain that the brooder would indulge her. She continued to take liberties under the excuse of being drunk, wanting to hold on for a little longer.
After a while.
Yao Ran said to her, "If you feel sick, go to sleep and rest."
Jiang Nian was a little reluctant to let go.
Before bed, Yao Ran poured a glass of water and placed it on Jiang Nian's bedside table.
Lying in bed, Jiang Nian watched her, wanting to ask her not to go to the guest room, but she held her tongue, ultimately deciding not to push her luck any further.
Yao Ran returned to the guest room. The small, familiar room and the familiar scent of the bedding made her mind wander slightly. She thought about this and that, unable to sleep. But she was exhausted from the long day, so she closed her eyes to rest.
Not a moment later, Yao Ran was startled awake by a noise. It sounded like a glass hitting the floor. She opened her eyes and immediately got out of bed to check on the room next door.
Jiang Nian had knocked over the water glass, and it had smashed on the floor. She looked at Yao Ran and mumbled:
"It wasn't steady..."
Yao Ran picked up the glass, ready to leave, but her hand was grabbed.
Jiang Nian's head was spinning. She looked at Yao Ran with a dazed expression and unreasonably pulled her onto the bed.
"Hey..."
Yao Ran let out a small cry of surprise.
Jiang Nian pulled Yao Ran under the covers, murmured something, and expertly wrapped her arms around her waist, feeling much more comfortable.
Yao Ran didn't hear what she said, but seeing her frowning in discomfort, she let her continue to hold her.
Being enveloped in a beloved scent was the best comfort. Jiang Nian closed her eyes, pressed her cheek quietly against Yao Ran's shoulder, and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
The room soon returned to silence.
Yao Ran glanced down, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Nian's face before settling on her sleeping features, staring for a long, long time.
Let me pursue you, okay? She thought of the question Jiang Nian had asked her...
She stared at Jiang Nian's face and couldn't help but think to herself: Who pursues someone like this? She started getting handsy before she even started pursuing, holding me all night without letting go, like a shameless rogue.
But their relationship was already a chaotic mess. They had kissed and slept together without any official status. Yao Ran could never have imagined that the first time she felt her heart stir after so many years of indifference, it would develop like this...
The relationship she had envisioned would be between two people with compatible personalities who slowly grew closer and decided to be together only after understanding each other and considering the realities of their situation.
Yao Ran looked at Jiang Nian's face again.
Apparently, matters of the heart could not be planned or predicted.
"...Don't go..."
Such a grown person talking in her sleep. Seeing her like this, so endearing, Yao Ran couldn't help but smile. She leaned over slightly and turned off the lamp.
As darkness enveloped them, Jiang Nian stirred. Yao Ran felt their embrace deepen, a comfortable cuddle for sleeping. She lowered her head, and her lips seemed to brush against the other's forehead, like a fleeting kiss...
Yao Ran closed her eyes. She wasn't asleep. After a while, as if involuntarily, she quietly held the person in her arms a little tighter.
Only then did she realize the warmth was conducive to a peaceful sleep.
...
The drunken headache lasted until the next day. When Jiang Nian woke up, she was once again alone in the bed. She walked out of the bedroom to find the house empty. A set of pajamas was neatly folded on the sofa.
She left without a word again?
Muddled by the alcohol, the events of last night were hazy, like a dream. Jiang Nian stared blankly, lost in recollection.
Why does she always leave without a word...
Jiang Nian was starting to develop a complex. She groggily picked up her phone and sent a WeChat message: When did you leave?
This time, the reply came faster than Jiang Nian had expected, in just two minutes:
【Big Brooder】8 o'clock
She probably had to go to the company. Jiang Nian took a moment to compose herself. She seemed to have confessed her feelings again last night. Yao Ran hadn't rejected her, but she hadn't agreed either... She thought for a moment and sent another message:
【Jiang Nian】You forgot Si Mao's wood carving. Want to have dinner tonight? I can bring it to you
【Big Brooder】I have a dinner party
Jiang Nian frowned. Another dinner party? What a coincidence. But a few seconds later, she saw another message from Yao Ran:
【Big Brooder】I really do have a dinner party
Jiang Nian's face lit up in a smile. Her fingertips flew across the screen as she immediately replied: Send me the address. I'll pick you up when it's over
【Big Brooder】No need, it's a bit far
【Jiang Nian】I'm free tonight
Seeing Jiang Nian's reply, Yao Ran thought for a moment, then sent the time and location of the dinner. She was trying to change her habits, trying to let another person into her life.
Jiang Nian grinned from ear to ear, and her smile didn't fade all the way to the studio. Qiu Lan asked if she had met a new "sister." Jiang Nian couldn't be bothered to explain.
Timing it perfectly, Jiang Nian drove to the destination in advance. Before she went, she made a special trip to a flower shop to have a bouquet arranged. She told the florist it was for someone she liked, and that the flower language should be passionate and direct, not too subtle.
It was hard to know when the dinner party would end, so Yao Ran didn't tell Jiang Nian too far in advance, afraid she would come too early. After the party broke up, she sat in the hotel lobby's lounge area for a while before receiving a message from Jiang Nian.
Dragging her tired body out of the hotel, Yao Ran stared ahead, momentarily stunned. She saw Jiang Nian walking towards her from out of the night, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Yao Ran watched as Jiang Nian approached.
Jiang Nian asked, "Are they beautiful?"
Yao Ran asked her, "Is it a special occasion today?"
"Do I need a special occasion to give you flowers?" Jiang Nian smiled and handed the bouquet over. "I just wanted to give them to you."
Yao Ran looked at her. Her smile, complemented by the vibrant bouquet, was even more radiant and sweet. It was just an ordinary, unremarkable night, but this scene suddenly imbued the darkness with a lively romance.
A very summery romance, coming at her with intense warmth.
Seeing that Yao Ran didn't seem to have much of a reaction, Jiang Nian negotiated, "If you don't like them, I won't give you any more in the future."
Seeing Jiang Nian's slightly crestfallen expression, Yao Ran immediately replied softly, "I don't dislike them."
It was so hard to get her to say she liked something. Jiang Nian smiled helplessly. Was Director Yao only a little less elegant and composed when she was in bed?
Once in the car, Jiang Nian put on the instrumental music that Yao Ran liked, as usual.
"If you're tired, you can rest for a bit."
"I'm fine," Yao Ran said.
"What do you mean, fine? You have dark circles under your eyes," Jiang Nian said bluntly.
"I do?"
Jiang Nian said in a low voice, "You do. I saw them last night."
The single word was filled with ambiguity. Yao Ran paused, then changed the subject. "Drive safely."
So adorably awkward. Jiang Nian held the steering wheel and couldn't help but smile.
Yao Ran: "What are you smiling at?"
Jiang Nian said, "Didn't you tell me to drive safely?"
Hearing her aggrieved tone, Yao Ran inexplicably wanted to smile too. The few lines of meaningless conversation relaxed her. She was indeed very tired today. In the past, she would never doze off in someone else's car, but this time was an exception. She leaned back against the seat and fell into a light sleep.
Jiang Nian turned the music down a little.
Yao Ran slept peacefully the whole way and was still asleep when they arrived.
Jiang Nian parked the car steadily in the underground garage. For a moment, she didn't wake Yao Ran up, just watched her quietly. She leaned over, wanting to help her unbuckle her seatbelt.
Yao Ran's eyes opened at that moment. As she turned her head, their faces were quite close.
Their breaths brushed against each other.
Yao Ran's gaze inadvertently swept past the corner of Jiang Nian's lips—
Jiang Nian found her just-woken-up gaze to be both cold and alluring, almost unbearable. She tried hard to suppress the itch in her heart and said in a slightly unnatural, low voice, "We're here."
Yao Ran came to her senses, a soft "mm" escaping her throat.
Jiang Nian found the gift bag and handed it to her. "Here."
"What is it?"
"The wood carving."
Yao Ran suddenly remembered.
Jiang Nian urged, "See if you like it."
Yao Ran opened the package and was instantly charmed. She lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips.
Jiang Nian said, "A happy puppy."
Yao Ran looked at Jiang Nian's smiling, slightly curved eyes and for a moment thought the name suited her too. She was always smiling so carefreely. She looked at the bottom of the carving and noticed two letters, "YR," had been engraved. "You carved letters?"
"Mm, it's exclusively yours." Jiang Nian looked at her, her voice soft and serious. "Whether you're happy or not, you have a happy puppy with you now."
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