Indulgence - Chapter 67
Chapter 67
People occasionally passed through the underground garage, and their entanglement was attracting attention.
"Let go of me," Yao Ran blurted out, held tightly in Jiang Nian's embrace. "Can you stop being so childish?!"
In the past, when she called Jiang Nian childish, it was mostly teasing. But not this time.
Jiang Nian heard it too. She dejectedly released her arms and watched her quietly, continuing to plead silently with her eyes.
They faced each other in silence for a moment before Yao Ran looked away.
Jiang Nian was still waiting for her to speak.
After a stalemate, Yao Ran said to Jiang Nian in a low voice, "What do you expect me to say?" She still couldn't process all of this; it felt like a farce.
Jiang Nian said earnestly, "Can you get angry at me? Don't hold it in."
Yao Ran paused, then replied calmly, "I need some quiet." With that, she strode briskly around Jiang Nian, opened her car door, and got in.
Jiang Nian was left standing there again, her heart aching. She would rather see Yao Ran lose her temper at her. The calmer Yao Ran was, the more uneasy she felt.
The night had grown deep.
Yao Ran drove aimlessly for a while. After nearly an hour, she still hadn't gone back. In the end, she called Ruan Xin.
"You're coming over tonight?" Ruan Xin was doing a face mask when she got the call. "Is something wrong?"
She just didn't want to go back to her own place for the time being. Yao Ran belatedly remembered that Ruan Xin was in a relationship now, and this might be an intrusion. She was about to say never mind.
But on the other end, Ruan Xin said cheerfully, "Sure, just come on over. I'm home."
Yao Ran asked, "Will it be inconvenient?"
"What's inconvenient about it?" Ruan Xin guessed Yao Ran was considering her relationship and said with a laugh, "I'm home alone. The little brat went out of town for an internship. She only comes back on some weekends."
Yao Ran had to admire Ruan Xin for still calling Xu Xia "little brat" one after another, even though they were together. Hearing this, she drove to Ruan Xin's place.
Half an hour later, Ruan Xin was quite surprised to see Yao Ran arrive in her work clothes. With Yao Ran showing up so suddenly, her first reaction was to ask, "What's up? Why are you here?"
Yao Ran entered the apartment. "It's nothing."
Ruan Xin's eyes widened. That "it's nothing" made it sound even more like something. She turned and went to the kitchen, returning with a glass of water for Yao Ran.
Yao Ran took it and said, "Thanks."
Ruan Xin studied her. "Really nothing? Director Yao is gracing my humble abode for no reason?"
Yao Ran was sipping her water slowly.
"Did you and Jiang Nian have a fight?" Ruan Xin ventured a bold guess based on her intuition.
Yao Ran put down her glass, silent.
Ruan Xin was talkative. When she was with Yao Ran, Yao Ran would usually say one sentence for every few of hers. Seeing Yao Ran's reaction, she knew her guess was right. "What happened?"
Yao Ran lifted her eyes. "I just found out she's been lying to me the whole time."
Ruan Xin was stunned. "What?"
Yao Ran briefly explained the situation. Ruan Xin was shocked as well. So Jiang Nian had been hiding her age all this time, and she had put on such a convincing act in front of them.
"Are you okay?" Ruan Xin asked softly with concern. Although Yao Ran was usually emotionally stable, she could tell that this time, Yao Ran was truly disappointed and hurt.
Yao Ran let out a weary breath. "I'll stay at your place tonight."
Ruan Xin understood Yao Ran's personality. She was meticulous and couldn't stand being lied to, especially not in a relationship she had taken seriously.
Deception could be a big deal or a small one. Ruan Xin didn't say much more, trusting that Yao Ran had her own considerations. She simply told her, "If your mind is in a mess, just stay here for now."
Yao Ran gave a faint "Mhm."
Ruan Xin could see that Director Yao had truly fallen for her this time. Otherwise, with Yao Ran's previously cool and detached personality, this matter could have been resolved with a breezy "let's break up," without a moment's hesitation.
"I can take your afternoon appointment. Do you want to take a break?" Yu Zhao had noticed Jiang Nian's listlessness over the past two days.
Jiang Nian took a sip of coffee to wake herself up and smiled. "No, it's fine."
"Didn't you sleep well? You look exhausted."
"A little, I guess." Jiang Nian answered perfunctorily, completely lacking her usual energy. For the past two days, Yao Ran still refused to talk to her.
Moments was having a themed event that night. Jiang Nian went, but she didn't see Yao Ran. She did, however, run into Ruan Xin.
The two sat down for a drink and a chat.
Jiang Nian asked impatiently, "Is she still angry?"
"What do you think?" Ruan Xin raised an eyebrow. "Jiang Nian, you're quite the actress, aren't you?" No wonder she had spoken up for her and Xu Xia so much during that dinner. Turns out she had a guilty conscience.
"..." Jiang Nian was at a loss for words for a moment, then said miserably, "Does she mind the age that much? Is it completely unacceptable?"
Ruan Xin hit the nail on the head. "She's more upset about being deceived."
"If she had known how old I was from the start, she definitely wouldn't have let me pursue her." Jiang Nian could imagine the scenario. She was always so rational and restrained.
"Does liking someone give you the right to be disrespectful?" Ruan Xin retorted lightly. "She cares a lot about these things." Yao Ran was a woman of principle.
Jiang Nian fell silent.
"To be honest, I was really surprised when you two got together. I never expected it," Ruan Xin said bluntly. When she first found out Jiang Nian was pursuing Yao Ran, she thought Yao Ran would never accept someone like her. So the day she saw Yao Ran passionately kissing Jiang Nian, she was shocked to the point of questioning reality.
"Why?" Jiang Nian didn't understand.
"You don't exactly inspire a sense of security. You're usually surrounded by so many adoring 'sisters'." Ruan Xin had seen it all and could guess how much of a player Jiang Nian used to be, even if she had been well-behaved after getting with Yao Ran. She tapped her glass leisurely with her fingertip and said unhurriedly, "And Yao Ran is the kind of person who lacks security the most. She doesn't trust people easily... Now that you've lied to her about being so much younger, it must be very hard for her to accept."
"Are you serious about her?" Ruan Xin got to the point. "What I'm about to say might not sound nice, but if you just wanted to pursue her and try dating her without thinking about taking on much responsibility, then it's best you don't mess with her. She's more practical and considers many things."
Some people date for the novelty and excitement, while others want stability and a long-term relationship. Neither is wrong, but these two types of people just aren't suited for each other.
"Of course I'm serious." Jiang Nian was very clear that her feelings for Yao Ran were different from her feelings for anyone else. But she also admitted she hadn't thought too far ahead. If two people liked each other, they should be together. She had always thought it was a simple matter. Why overthink things so much? Isn't it exhausting...?
When Jiang Nian was frustrated and uneasy, she liked to have a drink. At least it helped her sleep a little more soundly at night. She went to Moments again that evening, even though she knew she wouldn't run into the person she wanted to see.
After a few more drinks, she was bored and alone. She wanted to call Yao Ran but was afraid she was still angry and would only get more annoyed with her.
Scrolling through her long contact list, Jiang Nian dialed a number. It rang for a long time before the other person picked up.
"Want to come out for a drink?"
"...I'm busy right now." Ji Xi's short reply came from the other end. Hearing the drunken slur in Jiang Nian's voice, she asked, "Where are you drinking?"
Jiang Nian said, "Where else? Moments."
The more Ji Xi listened, the more she felt something was wrong. "What's the matter with you?"
The moment she was asked, Jiang Nian's sense of grievance surged. Her nose tingled, and she said, slightly drunk, "I got dumped. She doesn't want me anymore."
Ji Xi was silent for a moment. "Did Sister Ran find out your age?"
Jiang Nian slumped onto the bar. "Mhm. She doesn't want me anymore..."
Ji Xi was worried. "Are you alone right now?"
...
Yao Ran had just gotten out of the shower when she received the call from Ji Xi. She had been staying at Ruan Xin's for the past two days. She listened to the call for a long time before hanging up.
Ruan Xin noticed her looking unsettled after the call and asked, "What is it?"
Yao Ran frowned. "Jiang Nian is drunk at Moments."
Ruan Xin paused for two seconds, then smiled. "If you're worried, just go and check on her."
"She's an adult. What's there to worry about?"
Ruan Xin said nothing, just quietly watched her being stubborn while eating her fruit. Then she went along with Yao Ran's words, "Mhm, just have one of the kids at the bar keep an eye on her."
Yao Ran silently put down her phone.
Ruan Xin continued to study her. "If you really can't bear it, just go see her. I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep tonight."
Yao Ran: "..."
Not long after, Yao Ran changed into some simple clothes and decided to go to Moments after all. In the past, she might have been less worried, but now, she no longer thought of Jiang Nian as someone with much sense. She was both willful and childish.
Jiang Nian rarely drank alone. It was too easy to run into an acquaintance in a nightclub.
This time, she ran into a friend she had drunk with before. The other woman had waist-length wavy hair and glamorous makeup. "Jiang Nian, this is the first time I've seen you so down."
"Is that so?" Jiang Nian was listless.
"Tell your big sister what's wrong."
Jiang Nian had no desire to talk and just clinked glasses with her.
"Heartbroken?" the woman guessed.
Jiang Nian still didn't speak. Her heart ached terribly. She had a feeling that once Yao Ran calmed down, she wouldn't want her anymore.
...
When Yao Ran rushed to Moments, she found that Jiang Nian wasn't alone after all; she had company. She watched from the side for a long time, only to see a mature woman tilting her head and showering Jiang Nian with concern, looking gentle and attentive.
She didn't go over. How could Jiang Nian ever be short of company? She had been overthinking things.
Jiang Nian hadn't eaten anything that evening, and on top of her sadness, she had drunk too much. Her stomach suddenly churned, and she quickly stood up, wanting to go to the restroom.
Seeing this, the person next to her, afraid she was unsteady, tried to wrap an arm around her waist to support her.
Jiang Nian pushed her hand away, habitually keeping her distance from others. "No need..."
The woman laughed. "Are you afraid I'm going to eat you up?"
Yao Ran couldn't rest easy and followed them.
In the restroom, Jiang Nian felt sick for a while but didn't throw up. She turned on the faucet and wretchedly splashed her face with water to sober up a little.
"Jiang Nian, you're really something else. Is it worth getting into such a state? You little flirt, you have so many sisters. What kind of woman can't you get? The next one will be even better."
The restroom was relatively quiet, and every word was loud and clear.
Yao Ran lowered her eyes, feeling ridiculous. Coming here tonight had been completely unnecessary.
When Jiang Nian straightened up, she saw Yao Ran. She should have been happy, but after what just happened... for a moment, she was at a loss for words, unable to defend herself.
Seeing her, Yao Ran parted her lips and just said softly, "Go home if you're drunk." There seemed to be nothing else to say.
Jiang Nian ignored the other person and followed Yao Ran out.
"Don't misunderstand me."
Yao Ran retorted, "Misunderstand what about you?"
Jiang Nian felt that even jumping into the Yellow River couldn't wash her clean. She explained anxiously, "I was serious about pursuing you, and I'm serious about being with you. Please believe me."
Yao Ran looked at her in prolonged silence.
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