Forbidden To Be Tempted

C/T Warning: Bai Lu

Her voice was hoarse and weird, as if floating from another world far away.

Jiang Yu felt goosebumps all over her body when she heard it, and was a little indescribably annoyed. She hates being threatened the most in her life, especially by those close to her. She cultivated Bai Lu alone. She has tolerated her countless times, but the other party only pushes her forward and challenges her patience to the limit, time and time again.

Speaking all jumbled up, unclear logic, always hostaging her morally.

She called Bai Lu.

And Bai Lu quickly picked it up.

"Have you caused enough trouble? What do you really want?" Jiang Yu restrained her anger.

Bai Lu sneered: "Send your little lover to hell."

"I repeat, she's not a lover."

"For a day, for a lifetime! Being kept is just being used, a cheap thing to be played with!" Bai Lu suddenly became emotional and yelled hysterically over the phone.

The insulting words pierced into Jiang Yu's eardrums, like a sharp thorn, pierced deeply in her heart, and in an instant, her whole body was full of anger rushing to the top of her head.

But reason told her not to be impulsive.

Now Bai Lu's mood is unstable, and she may go to extremes if she is slightly stimulated.

Jiang Yu's hands were trembling, and she was forced to laugh out of anger: "What about you? What kind of thing are you? Are you noble for doing these inexplicable things? I feel cheap for you!"

As soon as the words fell, there was a long silence.

So long that Jiang Yu thought her phone signal might be bad.

"Hahahaha" Bai Lu suddenly burst into a terrifying laugh.

"Okay, you go to bed early."

Without giving her a chance to respond, Jiang Yu hung up the phone and set the phone to silent. Then quickly sent a text message to Bai Lu's assistant Xiao Xu: [I'm going to call you now,  answer it secretly, don't let Bai Lu hear it.]

Xiao Xu replied quickly: [Okay.]

A call is made.

"Miss Jiang, what's the matter?" The young girl's voice was very low.

"Where's Bai Lu?"

"She went back to her room to sleep."

"Go to the small balcony to see if the window in her room is open, and then check if the door is blocked."

Jiang Yu's heart was hanging, and her temples were throbbing. She is quite familiar with the layout and structure of Bai Lu's house. The photo was probably taken while burning charcoal. Whether it was a threat or not, a quick look would reveal the truth.

Last time it was wrist-cutting, gruesome and bloody. This time it was burning charcoal, gentle and quiet.

As long as it doesn't happen on her territory.

Jiang Yu was taken aback by her cold-blooded thoughts. She never thought that one day she would react to Bai Lu to such an extent. Those ugly words should not have come from her own mouth.

The phone was quiet for a while, then Xiao Xu's low voice rang again: "Miss Jiang, the window is open and the door is not blocked, is there any problem?"

"It's okay, she's not in a good mood, I'm afraid she will do something stupid. You work hard tonight and pay more attention to her. If anything happens, remember to call an ambulance before calling the police."

"Mm... okay." The young girl was really frightened.

….

Miss Su reserved a private room and asked her about Cheng Suran's taste preferences. Seeing these questions, Jiang Yu froze.

She carefully recalled various fragmented scenes in her mind - waffles by the hot spring pool, steamed sea bass in the hospital room.

The memories that surfaced first were from five years ago.

And then...

In the hotel restaurant, Wen Ruoxian's instructions to the waiter.

Jiang Yu thought about it and replied: [She has a lighter taste, likes steamed sea bass, doesn't eat garlic, parsley and onions, and likes pudding for dessert...]

As she typed, she couldn't help smiling when she thought of Ranran digging out a pudding cup like a little hamster.

After the conversation was finished, Jiang Yu copied the address and exited, preparing to send it to Cheng Suran.

The entrance to Moments displayed Cheng Suran's profile picture.

She was taken aback, and clicked in. The latest news was posted by Ranran a few minutes ago - she unblocked her.

Jiang Yu clicked into Cheng Suran's Moments. The once icy white line now read "Visible for only three days." In the past three days, she had only posted two updates: one related to work the day before yesterday, and one just a few minutes ago saying "Craving something sweet." It was accompanied by a photo of a delicately placed cup filled with steaming tea on her office desk.

Jiang Yu enlarged the photo and stared at it thoughtfully for a while.

It is three o'clock in the afternoon.

[Ranran, do you have time to have dinner together tonight?]

Half an hour passed with no reply.

Looking at the lonely green message box, Jiang Yu hesitated, wanting to send another message, but also worried that her frequent interruptions would make the other party bothered. After thinking for a while, she stood up, put the phone in her bag, picked up the intercom on the desk and explained a few words to her assistant, and left the office with the bag...

....

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

This translation is originally posted on

love4baihe.blogspot.com

please read it there. and check out other stories too 

Cheng Suran sat in the meeting room while listening to a report.

Just after halfway through, the assistant Xiao Meng came in quietly, walked up to her, bowed her head and whispered: "Miss Cheng, Miss Jiang is here, and she said she needs to speak with you."

Cheng Suran's expression changed slightly, and soon returned to normal.

"Ask her to wait in my office."

"Okay."

Xiao Meng went out in response.

The sudden news disturbed Cheng Suran's mind. She played with the stylus in her hand, drawing circles on the table.

Half an hour later, the meeting concluded. Cheng Suran gave a few instructions and left, clutching her tablet. Unconsciously, she quickened her pace, returning to her office.

The moment the door opened, a faint fragrance of iris entered her nose, calming and pleasant.

Jiang Yu was sitting on the sofa by the window, her long legs were crossed, her face was sideways, and her outline was sharp and distinct. She was dressed in black again, and her cold white skin was like wrapped in beautiful jade.

Cheng Suran felt her heart stop.

"Ranran--"

Jiang Yu turned her face and looked at her with a smile.

Cheng Suran was called back to her soul and her eyes became clear again. She closed the door with her backhand, walked to the sofa diagonally opposite Jiang Yu and sat down: "Why are you here?"

In an instant, she relaxed in front of her, no longer treating her as "Miss Jiang" but more like an old friend.

Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, without saying a word, reached out to open the beautifully wrapped bag on the table, took out a transparent cake box, took off the spoon, and pushed them in front of her.

A small and attractive mousse cake.

Cheng Suran's throat moved, and she raised her eyes in surprise: "How did you know..."

"I saw your Moments," Jiang Yu said softly, "I happened to be shopping at the nearby IFS*, and there was a dessert shop next to it with good reviews, so I bought it for you to try."

*International Financial Center, upscale shopping center 

She told a little lie.

Ripples stirred in Cheng Suran's peaceful heart lake.

She has been busy with work recently, flying four or five cities a week, which made her exhausted. In addition, the temperature in most parts of the country has dropped sharply. She caught a cold two days ago on a business trip. Feeling a bit under the weather and fatigued, her appetite had decreased, and she had been craving for sweets.

Before the meeting, she made a cup of scented tea in the office, just casually feeling that it would be better with dessert. She originally wanted to order a takeaway, but she was distracted and forgot.

"It was just a casual post."

Indirectly turning Jiang Yu into someone who ran errands for her, Cheng Suran felt a little embarrassed.

"Then...do you still want to eat?" Jiang Yu seemed disappointed.

"I'll eat."

Cheng Suran nodded eagerly, afraid of disappointing her. She opened the transparent box, picked up a small spoon, and slowly began to eat the alluring mousse cake, savoring each bite.

The sweet taste melted on the tip of her tongue, awakening her sleeping taste buds.

She ate slowly, her delicate lips slightly pouting, her small face puffing up as she chewed methodically. Her eyes revealed genuine delight from within.

Jiang Yu enjoyed watching her eat, and the curve of her smile grew deeper.

There was no casual shopping.

No incidental visit.

She simply wanted to see Ranran.

With a small piece of cake, Cheng Suran devoured it completely, leaving no trace behind. A little more would be too overwhelming, and a little less wouldn't satisfy her. This portion was just right. After finishing the cake, she took a sip of water, wiped her mouth, and a contented expression spread across her face.

Indeed, sweets could brighten one's mood.

"Is it delicious?"

"Mm, Not Bad."

"Are you busy recently?" Jiang Yu asked casually.

Cheng Suran nodded: "I've been spinning for almost half a month."

"So that's why you have time to post on Moments but not to reply to messages."

"..."

Knowing that she meant something, Cheng Suran was startled, and smiled awkwardly: "I didn't deliberately not reply to you, I was just suddenly interrupted by something, and then I forgot, I only remembered when you mentioned it just now."

Jiang Yu raised her brows.

"Do you remember Su Wenjing? Miss Su, the VIP I mentioned before, the one who wanted to meet you."

"I remember."

"She sent me the address today, what time is convenient for you to meet?"

Jiang Yu lowered her head and fiddled with her phone. She didn't show the chat record directly to Cheng Suran, but copied the address message, forwarded it, shaking her phone slightly and said, "I sent it to you."

"How about this Friday? I have time in the afternoon," Cheng Suran replied after reading.

"Okay, I'll pick you up, and we'll go together."

"No need to trouble yourself, I can go on my own."

After the words fell, Jiang Yu turned silent for a moment, and said carefully: "After all, she's a VIP from our place, and I connected you two. Until we understand her true intentions, I should protect you."

"True intentions?" Cheng Suran sneered "You make it sound like she's out to kill me."

"..."

Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

For some reason, she was vaguely worried. She didn't know that Miss Su well, but after several contacts, she always felt that the other party had other intentions. Years of self-protection had made her accustomed to being cautious around unfamiliar people, especially now when it concerned Ranran.

The most important person in her heart.

"Look at this address. She probably wants to meet me at a dining table. It might be a bit inconvenient for you to go..." Cheng Suran thought she didn't understand her intentions and quickly explained, fearing she had disappointed Jiang Yu.

She knew she cared about her, and she seemed less resistant now.

Jiang Yu shook her head. "I understand. I won't go inside, I'll wait for you in the car."

"But it's dinner time, you will be hungry sitting in the car, are you willing to go hungry just to wait for me?"

"Skipping one dinner won't hurt."

"But…"

Cheng Suran grew anxious, furrowing her brows, and Jiang Yu also felt a little nervous. Leaning forward, she grabbed Cheng Suran's hand. "Don't reject me, okay?"

The sudden touch made Cheng Suran's heart tremble, and her fingers curled up subconsciously.

She stared at Jiang Yu and pursed her lips.

"All right."

....

Friday was cloudy.

Jiang Yu had finished her work before 2 o'clock and returned home to change her clothes. The sky darkened quickly. She parked her car at the entrance of the Marina Bay community and messaged Cheng Suran.

[I have arrived.]

[I'm coming down.]

Cheng Suran replied almost instantly.

Jiang Yu put down her phone and glanced at the sky through the windshield. The clouds are very thick, very low, gloomy, impenetrable, and suffocating.

She doesn't like cloudy days and feels a little heavy.

A few minutes later, Cheng Suran came out and got into the passenger seat. She was dressed more formally, a beige suit-style woolen coat, well-tailored, warm and textured, as if she was going to meet a client.

"This is for you."

She handed over a paper bag.

"What is it?"

Jiang Yu lowered her head and took out something. It was a lunch box with a cartoon pattern printed on it. She cast a puzzled look at Cheng Suran. Cheng Suran explained, "I made some light snacks, low in calories. If you get hungry, you can have a bit."

There are six small pies neatly arranged in the box, and each piece has been thoughtfully cut in half to reveal the colorful fillings.

"Pumpkin, red bean, purple potato, three flavors, the crust is made of oatmeal and low-fat milk, the fillings themselves are sweet, so I didn't add any sugar."

The small snacks were exquisitely tempting.

Jiang Yu looked at the pies, then raised her eyes again, staring deeply at Cheng Suran, with a somewhat moved expression: "Okay."

The restaurant was located next to the Wetland Park, along a scenic path that was quiet with few people around. This establishment was well-known in Jiangcheng, specializing in customizing high-end dishes with premium ingredients. Many celebrities and internet personalities were regular customers here.

Cheng Suran was led by the waiter outside the "laurel room". As the door opened, her relaxed nerves suddenly tensed up. 

There is a sense of heaviness that feels she's about to face the waves.

The light in the private room was slightly dim, and the woman was sitting on the side of the U-shaped sofa, her black hair was coiled up high, the pearls around her ears were white, and the gentle light yellow light shone on her delicate skin, making her ageless at all.

Seeing Cheng Suran, she was stunned for a while, her eyes were in a trance, and she didn't react until the person approached, and stood up. "Miss Cheng, hello, I'm Su Wenjing."

"Hello."

Cheng Suran nodded with a smile.

During this moment of eye contact, much like the last encounter, a sense of familiarity arose once again. Yet, her professional instincts made her notice a subtle difference. She had a faint intuition that Miss Su had something important to say to her.

"Please sit down."

"Okay."

Cheng Suran sat opposite, and Su Wenjing stared at her face for a moment, as if trying to figure out something. Although they didn't know each other, they didn't feel awkward at the moment. Cheng Suran also looked at her with probing eyes.

"When I saw Miss Cheng at the trade fair that day, I thought you looked like...someone I knew before, so I asked Miss Jiang…"

Before she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door, and Su Wenjing immediately fell silent.

Customized dishes are coming up one after another.

Seeing the steamed sea bass, Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, and then noticed that all the dishes were light in taste, but the most common garlic was missing. She couldn't help but sigh secretly, this Ms. Su not only suits her eyes, but also has similar taste preferences.

"I asked Miss Jiang about your dietary preferences, and I don't know if these suit your taste." Su Wenjing looked at her with indescribably gentle and earnest eyes, as well as a little hint of affection.

But Cheng Suran didn't notice this, and only caught the word "Miss Jiang" in her words.

Jiang Yu...

She remembers her preference?