Indulgence - Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Yao Ran wasn't good at sweet-talking people, but she knew what would make Jiang Nian happy, and she was willing to do it. Since they were in a serious relationship, they should be there for each other. She didn't want Jiang Nian to deliberately hide her negative emotions from her, like that time she got hit. It had really pained her.

But Jiang Nian's heart was a tangle of other complexities. The words were on the tip of her tongue, yet they pricked her like thorns, impossible to spit out. Faced with Yao Ran's gentle concern, she acted as if nothing was wrong, leaning in with a smile and saying, "I want more..."

Yao Ran smiled, her red lips pursed. It was that familiar way Jiang Nian had of pushing for more, but she always let her. Her gaze softened as she kissed the corner of Jiang Nian's lips again.

Avoidance was simpler than honesty. Jiang Nian said nothing, simply pressing her lips against Yao Ran's. Perhaps because of her complicated mood, the kiss was more covetous than usual, more possessive.

Yao Ran met her possessiveness, caressing her cheek and kissing her back.

Every time Yao Ran took the initiative, Jiang Nian's heart would pound in her chest. She must really like me, right? Otherwise, why would someone so cool and distant kiss like this?

"Do you like kissing me that much?" Jiang Nian asked, a redundant question as she continued to pepper her with kisses.

Yao Ran wrapped her arms around her. Not everything needed to be said so bluntly.

It was as if the more passionate they were, the more secure Jiang Nian felt. She kissed her urgently and heavily while fumbling with the buttons of her clothes, her movements anxious and clumsy.

Yao Ran had been exhausted tonight with no mind for anything else, but seeing Jiang Nian so enthusiastic, she closed her eyes and let her be.

The walk-in closet was a place they frequented. Jiang Nian liked it; the large, floor-to-ceiling mirror on the wall clearly reflected their bodies entwined in passion.

Tonight, the air in the small space was exceptionally scorching.

On the two-seater sofa, which wasn't particularly spacious, Jiang Nian buried her head, kissing her chin and neck. Every touch was earnest and full of longing. She trailed kisses from the nape of her neck down to her waist and between her legs, carefully kissing every inch.

Lying down, Yao Ran's breathing was a chaotic mess. Her fingertips kneaded the back of Jiang Nian's head as she sighed incessantly. Jiang Nian's deep kisses felt like fire.

Time flowed on, and the two figures in the mirror grew more tightly entangled.

Jiang Nian's hand caressed Yao Ran's cheek, studying her face. She could never get enough of the way she looked when lost in passion. Then, as if losing control, she kissed her again, possessing her.

Yao Ran held Jiang Nian tightly. Their rising body heat made her temporarily forget her fatigue, and she couldn't help but sink completely into the moment.

Jiang Nian wasn't as focused as usual. As she kissed Yao Ran, she asked, "Do you like me a lot?"

Yao Ran bit her lip and pinched Jiang Nian's waist, chiding in a low voice, "A little gentler."

"Okay, but do you?" Jiang Nian pressed, insistent. Right now, she was terrified that Yao Ran would leave her—

Yao Ran closed her eyes and moaned, easily brought to her peak.

Afterward, they held each other on the sofa. Yao Ran was still catching her breath. She had been tired to begin with, and Jiang Nian had thoroughly worn her out.

Seeing her limp and weak, Jiang Nian said, "I'll carry you back to bed."

Before Yao Ran could react, Jiang Nian scooped her up from the sofa by the waist. She opened her eyes but said nothing, letting Jiang Nian carry her. She was truly exhausted.

Her figure was slender and light, so it wasn't too difficult for Jiang Nian to carry her.

Back in the bedroom, as they tumbled into the soft bedding together, Yao Ran guessed that Jiang Nian would kiss her again. She let her for a while before parting their lips to whisper, "Tomorrow... okay?"

Jiang Nian paused.

Yao Ran pressed her cheek into her hair and sighed helplessly. "I'm too tired tonight."

Seeing the weariness on her face, Jiang Nian realized she had been too rough. She grunted an "en," a belated wave of concern washing over her.

Yao Ran breathed a sigh of relief. Her head was spinning; all she wanted to do was sleep.

Jiang Nian behaved herself. After lying down, she burrowed deep into Yao Ran's embrace, her arms wrapped tightly around her, leaving no space between their bodies.

Yao Ran hugged her back, feeling that Jiang Nian was being extra clingy tonight.

Jiang Nian's mind was still racing. After a moment, she nuzzled into the crook of Yao Ran's neck and said in a muffled voice, "I'm not tired of this at all. I want to be with you forever."

"Mm," Yao Ran replied.

"What about you?" Jiang Nian kept her head buried in Yao Ran's neck, not looking at her face as she asked in the same muffled tone, "Can you like me forever?"

Yao Ran smiled silently. For someone their age, she was being so clingy and sentimental.

But Jiang Nian stole a kiss from her neck and pressed relentlessly, "Can you like me forever?"

Yao Ran's eyes were half-closed with fatigue. Helpless against Jiang Nian, she answered softly, "Mm."

When Jiang Nian lifted her head, she saw that Yao Ran had already dozed off. She leaned over and kissed her lips several times, then closed her own eyes, though she didn't feel very sleepy.

---

On Sunday evening, after finishing her work, Jiang Nian went to Moments.

Just as she entered, she ran into Ruan Xin and Xu Xia standing together by the door.

Seeing a familiar face approach, Xu Xia prepared to let go of Ruan Xin's hand to put some distance between them.

Ruan Xin glanced at her, but this time she held her hand tighter and smiled openly. "It's fine."

Jiang Nian walked closer, a playful smile on her face as she looked at the two of them.

Their fingers were intertwined. Xu Xia lowered her head, not out of sadness this time, but out of shyness. Although they were dating, she and Ruan Xin had always kept their relationship "underground," never making it public.

Ruan Xin pulled Xu Xia over to Jiang Nian. "Let me introduce you. My girlfriend."

Jiang Nian laughed. "I know, I know. No need to be so high-profile."

Xu Xia grew even more embarrassed, but she greeted Jiang Nian sweetly, "Hello, Sister."

Jiang Nian found it unexpected that these two had gotten together. Ruan Xin usually had the air of a worldly, queen-like figure, yet she was completely smitten by a quiet, shy, well-behaved girl.

"Here for Yao Ran?" Ruan Xin asked, casually gesturing with her eyes. "She's over there."

"Yeah." Jiang Nian nodded. Yao Ran was treating someone to drinks tonight, which was why she had come over.

"Want to help me out and sing for a bit tonight?" Ruan Xin asked. Jiang Nian was a flashy, eye-catching person. With her girlfriend here, Ruan Xin wanted to show off a little and thought Jiang Nian could help warm up the crowd.

"Sure. Buying me a drink?" Jiang Nian readily agreed.

Ruan Xin laughed heartily. "Your girlfriend is a part-owner of this place. I'd treat you to free drinks even if you didn't sing."

Jiang Nian knew Yao Ran was busy and didn't want to disturb her, so singing a few songs first was fine. After a brief preparation, she went on stage and took the microphone.

By then, Yao Ran had already been chatting with Jiang Yunyun for a while. She had promised to buy her a drink, and since Jiang Yunyun had remembered, she naturally had to make good on it.

The moment Jiang Nian started singing, she captured the attention of most of the bar. The crowd even quieted down, listening intently.

As the familiar voice drifted over, Yao Ran's hand, holding her glass, paused. She looked directly toward the spotlight. Someone's showing off again, she thought with a smile. But she knew Jiang Nian's pattern: she only ever went on stage to sing when she herself was there.

Jiang Nian had told her outright that the first time she ever sang on stage was to get her attention.

Jiang Yunyun had little interest in bar singers. She sipped her drink slowly until Jiang Nian began her second song. Noticing Yao Ran frequently glancing toward the stage, she set down her glass and turned to look as well.

They were some distance from the stage, but the bar wasn't large, and she could still see the face in the spotlight clearly. For a moment, Jiang Yunyun thought she was mistaken. Why did the person on stage look so much like that "little ancestor" from her family?

Jiang Yunyun stared a little longer. It really was Jiang Nian. She frowned. Did she quit tattooing to become a singer now?

Yao Ran continued to watch the stage. When Jiang Nian sang slow-paced love songs, she had a rare air of seriousness about her.

It suddenly dawned on Jiang Yunyun that the girl who had come to pick up Yao Ran that night must have been Jiang Nian. She had thought she was seeing things that day, too. She called out, "Yao Ran."

Yao Ran turned her attention back to her. "Yes?"

"You know Jiang Nian?"

Yao Ran was slightly taken aback but quickly understood. Jiang Yunyun and Jiang Nian were clearly related; no wonder she had felt a sense of familiarity when she first met Jiang Yunyun. She thought for a moment and guessed, "Is Jiang Nian your sister?"

Jiang Yunyun smiled. "She's my niece. Is she singing here now?"

Hearing this, Yao Ran didn't reply immediately...

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yunyun asked.

Yao Ran found it hard to believe and confirmed with her, "She's your niece?"

"Yes. I didn't expect her to know you. What a coincidence," Jiang Yunyun continued. "That little rascal is always so impulsive. She fought with the family to open a tattoo studio, and now she's a singer. Her dad will be furious if he finds out."

Jiang Yunyun went on, but seeing that Yao Ran seemed out of it, she asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well?"

Yao Ran quietly shook her head. She looked up again toward Jiang Nian in the distance, her mind a mess.

After a moment to compose herself.

She asked Jiang Yunyun, "How old is she?"

...

The bar was buzzing with noise, the atmosphere electric.

Jiang Nian finished her two songs to a round of applause, with people shouting for an encore. She had only planned to sing two, so she went straight off the stage.

As usual, she walked toward Yao Ran. Knowing Yao Ran was busy, she normally wouldn't disturb her, just quietly keep her company from the side until Director Yao was finished, and then they would go home together.

Seeing Jiang Nian walk over, Jiang Yunyun sat up straighter and waved. "Niannian."

As she got closer and saw Jiang Yunyun next to Yao Ran, Jiang Nian's steps slowed, and the smile on her face faded. She looked nervously at Yao Ran, only to see her sitting there silently, her expression as cold as ice.

"What are you doing singing here?" Jiang Yunyun asked Jiang Nian with a smile.

At that moment, Yao Ran forced a polite, faint smile and said to Jiang Yunyun, "Director Jiang, I have something to attend to, so I won't keep you company."

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