Indulgence - Chapter 82

Chapter 82

After meeting the parents, Jiang Nian pulled Yao Ran along to have fun in Haicheng for another two days.

Because of Xue Ying, Jiang Nian often came to Haicheng and was quite familiar with the area. Although Yao Ran had also been here many times, it was mostly for business trips; she had never really had a chance to enjoy it.

Yao Ran completely set her work aside and took a full two-day break. The two of them didn't have much of a plan, just wandering around hand in hand.

Jiang Nian was an expert at eating, drinking, and having fun, and she radiated energy all the time. Traveling with her was very relaxing and enjoyable, and one's mood would brighten unconsciously. Yao Ran had felt this way even before they were together, and the feeling was even stronger now.

As usual, Jiang Nian brought her sketchbook. When she got tired of walking, she would find a place to sit down, take the notebook out of her bag, and sketch. Soon, the scenery would appear on the paper.

The sun came out a little in the afternoon; winter sunlight was the most warming.

The two sat shoulder to shoulder, bathing in the sunlight. Jiang Nian focused on her drawing, while Yao Ran watched quietly from the side, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear with her fingertips.

Her fingers brushed past her ear, and Jiang Nian felt both ticklish and sweet. She turned her head and met Yao Ran's focused gaze. Yao Ran wasn't wearing her hair up today; her long hair fluttered gently in the warm breeze, looking languid and gentle.

Jiang Nian smiled.

Seeing this, the smile on Yao Ran's lips deepened.

A silent exchange of glances, the smiles held no specific meaning, but they always made the heart flutter.

When there was no one around, Jiang Nian liked to pull Yao Ran in for a stolen kiss—sometimes on the ear, sometimes on the neck. If Yao Ran gave her a warning look, she would simply press a firm kiss on her lips, bold and fearless, knowing that someone would indulge and even like her "willfulness."

Yao Ran indeed never tired of it. These sweet little tricks added a lot of sweetness to the trip. Occasionally, she couldn't help but kiss Jiang Nian back, and the two would kiss passionately in an undisturbed corner.

She had never thought she would love someone so fervently. But thinking back now, from the moment they met, Jiang Nian's passion and radiance had been attracting her, little by little, making her fall for her uncontrollably.

Their time together passed at a slow pace, yet it flew by quickly. Jiang Nian was completely reluctant for it to end, knowing that as soon as the holiday was over, Yao Ran would be busy again.

After returning to Beilin, just as Jiang Nian had expected, Yao Ran reverted to her workaholic state. In contrast, Jiang Nian was relatively free. There weren't many clients in the winter, so she only did one or two tattoos a day.

Besides work, Jiang Nian's biggest hobby was exercise. Regardless of summer or winter, she was a regular, going to the gym three to four times a week—sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes in the evening, whenever she was free.

Today, she finished work early, and Yao Ran had to work overtime again. She had planned to go to the gym, but Yao Qi suddenly sent her a message on WeChat, asking if she wanted to have dinner together.

Yao Qi had kept in touch with Jiang Nian. The other day, she had even said sentimentally that Jiang Nian was living the life she wanted to live.

Jiang Nian and Yao Qi had a lot in common. They were close in age and both had a rebellious streak. However, Yao Qi was a bit more timid than Jiang Nian; after all, her family's upbringing was very strict, unlike Jiang Nian, who had Xue Ying's support in everything she did.

Since she was free, Jiang Nian met up with Yao Qi that evening at a barbecue restaurant.

Jiang Nian could tell Yao Qi was in a bad mood, pouting sullenly. She didn't have to guess; Yao Qi had probably had another fight with her family.

Sure enough, as soon as they started eating, Yao Qi began to vent nonstop.

Every time Jiang Nian saw Yao Qi talk, her little mouth chattering like a string of firecrackers, she found it strange. It was hard to imagine that this chatterbox was Yao Ran's biological sister.

After eating for half an hour, Jiang Nian received a WeChat message. She glanced at it and smiled. Director Yao was checking in on her again, asking if she had eaten dinner. She casually took a photo and sent it to Yao Ran, telling her that Yao Qi had dragged her out for barbecue.

Yao Ran guessed that Yao Qi would definitely make Jiang Nian drink, so she gave them a heads-up, telling them not to drink too much.

Yao Qi muttered as she drank, "Ugh, I'm so mad. What's wrong with being a photographer? As long as I like it, that's all that matters..."

"Let them be. You've moved out anyway." Jiang Nian was a good listener and always looked out for her friends, and not just because Yao Qi was Yao Ran's sister.

Yao Qi frowned and said, "You don't know how suffocating my family is. Even my sister can't stand it and doesn't want to go back."

Jiang Nian fell silent for a moment. She could feel it; Yao Ran had never been very happy. Yao Qi had also said that Yao Ran was like someone carved from a template of excellence.

"They're trying to rush my sister into getting married again, thinking of introducing her to someone suitable..." Yao Qi mumbled, then sighed. "Sigh, I'm really worried she'll marry someone she doesn't like again..."

Jiang Nian looked at Yao Qi, her eyelid twitching. After they got back together, she hadn't told Yao Qi about her relationship with Yao Ran. She didn't know if Yao Ran was ready and felt she shouldn't be the one to reveal it...

Hearing Yao Qi say this, Jiang Nian gave a faint smile. "She wouldn't, right?"

"It's hard to say. She doesn't seem to care much about relationships, she's quite indifferent. She married someone she didn't like before..." Yao Qi continued.

Jiang Nian was silent for a while.

"Cheers," Yao Qi shouted, changing the subject. "Let's talk about something happy. I've made up my mind, I want to get a full sleeve tattoo, a really cool and badass one."

Jiang Nian looked at her. "..."

Yao Qi chattered all night.

Half an hour later, Jiang Nian saw a message from Yao Ran, saying she had arrived to pick her up.

When Yao Ran parked her car and walked into the barbecue restaurant, she saw Yao Qi talking nonstop, while Jiang Nian looked helpless.

Seeing Yao Ran approach, Yao Qi looked up and said groggily, "Sis, what a coincidence? You're here for barbecue too? Are you alone?"

So much trouble, Yao Ran frowned, seeing that Yao Qi had drunk a lot again.

Jiang Nian gave Yao Ran an innocent look. "I couldn't stop her."

"Jiang Nian, tell me, what's your type? I have plenty of friends, I guarantee there's a type you'll fall for," Yao Qi continued the conversation from before.

"No need..."

Jiang Nian immediately cut her off.

"No need," Yao Ran said, almost at the same time as Jiang Nian. She then looked at Yao Qi and said calmly, "She already has a girlfriend."

Yao Qi: "Huh?"

Yao Ran had no intention of hiding it. Since they happened to meet today, she told Yao Qi directly, "Let me formally introduce you. Jiang Nian is my girlfriend."

Yao Qi stared at Yao Ran, her brain seeming to short-circuit. Her eyes were blank as she uttered an even heavier, "Huh?"

Hearing Yao Ran's frank admission, Jiang Nian smiled.

Yao Qi was still dumbfounded. She looked at Jiang Nian again, shocked. "You... when did you win my sister over?"

Jiang Nian was just as frank with Yao Qi. "A long time ago."

Yao Qi's world was turned upside down. She couldn't believe it. Was her sister that easy to pursue?

Yao Ran said to Yao Qi, "Let's go, I'll take you home first."

Yao Qi was still out of it. She pestered Jiang Nian for details and only then learned that they had been together long ago. The time they met at the studio, they were having a fight. She was once again amazed at how well her sister could pretend.

After dropping Yao Qi off, Yao Ran drove back along the familiar street. Jiang Nian was a bit quiet on the way. Thinking she had drunk too much, Yao Ran asked, "Are you dizzy?"

Jiang Nian shook her head. She was just thinking about what Yao Qi had said that night and was a little lost in thought. But then she felt she was being too sensitive. Yao Ran had told her seriously that they would be together for good.

When they got home, Si Mao trotted to the door to greet them as usual. Jiang Nian patted Si Mao's head, gave him some treats, and bent down to play with him for a while.

Yao Ran felt that Jiang Nian was unusually quiet tonight. She walked over to Jiang Nian, but Jiang Nian didn't cling to her for a hug like she used to. Yao Ran also bent down and played with Si Mao, lost in thought.

"I smell like barbecue," Jiang Nian said, straightening up. "I'm going to take a shower first."

Yao Ran looked into her eyes and asked softly, "Are you mad at me?"

Jiang Nian blinked. "Hmm?"

"Upset that I haven't had time to spend with you lately?" Yao Ran continued to ask. Today she had gotten off work early for once. Normally, Jiang Nian would have eagerly pulled her into the bathroom with her by now.

Jiang Nian hesitated, not knowing what to say. What Yao Qi said tonight was probably because she didn't understand her and Yao Ran's relationship.

Just then, Yao Ran's WeChat buzzed with new messages. She looked; it was from Yao Qi, a string of messages:

- Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

- Sis, I'm so sorry

- I think I said the wrong thing tonight

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