Forbidden To Be Tempted

After saying these words, Jiang Yu fell silent.

She was used to digesting everything alone. When she occasionally felt the urge to confide, she didn't know how to begin. Speaking out means tearing out her wounds, deepening the painful memories, and serving no purpose.

She raised her head and drank the rest of the wine in the glass.

Seeing that she still wanted to pour wine, Cheng Suran got up and took away the glass, "Don't drink anymore!"

Jiang Yu didn't resist or speak, just hunched her body, used her elbow as a pillow, and buried her head deeply.

Cheng Suran's heart softened immediately, she walked around the table, bent down, and gently embraced her shoulder: "You drank too much today, and it will be bad for your health if you drink any more, stop, please?"

"Mm."

Jiang Yu's voice was hoarse.

"I want to go home."

"Okay, let's go home now." Cheng Suran said while stroking her hair.

Jiang Yu was drunk.

They took Cheng Suran's car. The restaurant wasn't far from the Green Shang Mansion, and they arrived in about ten minutes. Jiang Yu leaned against the passenger seat, almost falling asleep. Cheng Suran helped her out of the car. Jiang Yu regained a bit of awareness, but her steps were unsteady. She leaned heavily against Cheng Suran's shoulder, almost putting half of her weight on her.

Cheng Suran, who is 1.65 meters tall, struggled to support her.

Fortunately, the property management of the community was good. The male security guard couldn't have physical contact with Jiang Yu, so he drove a small sightseeing car to take them to the entrance of the building.

Jiang Yu muttered her name.

"Ranran."

"Why."

"Xiao Ranran."

She's both drunk and out of her mind. Cheng Suran sighed.

Entering the house, they met Xiao Zhou, and Cheng Suran explained a few things. Together, they supported Jiang Yu back to the master bedroom and carefully laid her down on the bed. "Could you please tell the auntie to make some hangover tea? I'll take care of things here."

"Okay."

Xiao Zhou nodded and left, Cheng Suran closed the bedroom door and turned to look at the person on the bed.

Jiang Yu lay limp on the bed, like a puddle of mud, her cheeks were as red as if they were about to bleed. Her eyes half-closed, she mumbled to herself and suddenly struggled to sit up.

—thud!

She fell back onto the carpet.

Cheng Suran hurried over to help her.

"I'll just sit here." Jiang Yu shook her head, bent one leg to support her arms, and leaned her head on it. Cheng Suran had no choice but to follow and sat on the carpet with her.

The whole bedroom fell silent.

The breath mixed with the smell of alcohol grew heavier.

Jiang Yu closed her eyes for a moment, then sat up straight. Her gaze wandered over Cheng Suran's face, and she slightly lifted the corner of her mouth. "You look very beautiful today."

There was infatuation in her eyes.

Even though several years have passed, Cheng Suran still blushes for her praise, dimples appearing faintly on her cheeks. She didn't respond but touched Jiang Yu's hand gently. After a moment's hesitation, she clasped it in her palm.

"Birthdays are meaningless to me. They just remind me of how old I am. However, there are always exceptions. The most meaningful and impressive birthday to me was when I was 32.

"That was the first time I have received such a heartfelt gift full of love."

Jiang Yu took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with water.

Cheng Suran's heart skipped a beat.

"Ranran…"

"Mm?"

"Thank you."

It has become a beam of light in her long and uncertain life of more than thirty years.

Jiang Yu tilted her head and leaned on Cheng Suran's shoulder.

Cheng Suran's body turned slightly stiff, and she held her hand tightly, "Thank me for what?"

"For being by my side."

"..."

Only silence filled the room.

They sat together silently, and the shadows of the lights poured down.

Jiang Yu's hand was warm, her face as well, her entire being radiating heat. That warmth curled up in Cheng Suran's palm, like a ball of fire, searing her nerves and emotions. The scene from the office became increasingly vivid in her mind.

Just a little bit.

If she hadn't touched the forgotten greeting card, if she hadn't gone back to find Jiang Yu...

Her chest ached slightly, and she couldn't dare to imagine.

Cheng Suran glanced at the head on her shoulder, gritted her teeth, and asked, "Who is that man this afternoon?"

Jiang Yu frowned and slowly closed her eyes.

No answer.

"It's okay if it's inconvenient to say..." Cheng Suran was a little disappointed, but she suppressed her boiling emotions for a moment. She had already seen Jiang Yu's embarrassment, so she couldn't go any further. Digging deeper would only double the pain. 

Yet, she had acted impulsively.

She patted Jiang Yu's hand comfortingly and wanted to say that she should sleep after drinking the hangover tea, but Jiang Yu suddenly said, "He's the son born to my biological mother and someone else."

Cheng Suran was startled.

After carefully chewing the euphemistic words, she realized that he was her brother, to be more precise, her half-brother from the same mother but a different father.

"Their family members." Jiang Yu added.

The fluttering tone, like a swaying and falling feather, like saying something insignificant. But Cheng Suran heard strangeness and alienation from it——

Their family. Jiang Yu was excluded.

Just like she was at her aunt's.

Cheng Suran's heart trembled, her intuition might touch a world she had never stepped into, she was expecting, but also a little scared. The anticipation is because she wants to explore everything that belongs to Jiang Yu too much, and the fear is because she can perceive that tearing the scar is bound to be accompanied by bloody excruciating pain.

She can't tear Jiang Yu's wounds just to satiate her curiosity.

Jiang Yu didn't intend to continue talking.

"Do you want to listen to a song?" Cheng Suran changed the subject, "I'll sing for you, okay?"

Jiang Yu still had her eyes closed, and the corners of her mouth turned up: "Okay"

"I want to hear you sing 'Winter Garden.'"

Cheng Suran cleared the noise and sang softly: "Je voudrais du Soleil…*"

*I would like some sun…

It was no longer a rainy day; the wind had stopped. Her floral dress turned into a warm wool coat. The sun emerged from behind the clouds, and the imaginary garden filled with fragrant blooms.

The crisp girlish voice in the past has become warm and mature, like a gust of melodious wind, blowing slowly through her heart. Jiang Yu, who was gradually relaxing, felt like she was drifting into a beautiful dream.

She dreamt she became a bird, flying very high, very far, and finally, finding a place as warm as spring, water, and grass, and settling down. This will be her hometown from now on...

After singing a song, Cheng Suran smiled contentedly and asked, "What else do you want to hear?"

The bedroom was eerily quiet.

The sound of breathing rises and falls, slow and deep.

Jiang Yu fell asleep.

Snuggling by her side, she was soft as if she had no bones, the shadow of the lamp fell on her face, her brows were slightly wrinkled, and her thick eyelashes were clearly defined. From such a close distance, the texture of the skin could almost be seen clearly.

Cheng Suran stared at her face, and stretched out her hand, trying to smooth the wrinkles between her brows.

—tok tok

There was a muffled knock on the door outside.

The door opened, and Xiao Zhou came in with a tray in one hand, on which was a steaming bowl. Seeing the situation in the room, she froze for a moment, "Miss Cheng, the fruit tea is ready."

"Shh—" 

The hand that was about to touch Jiang Yu's forehead withdrew and was placed near Cheng Suran's lips. She whispered, "She's asleep. Put it down first, then help me move her to the bed."

"Okay."

Xiao Zhou placed the tray on the table.

Cheng Suran supported Jiang Yu's head with one hand and joined forces with Xiao Zhou to carefully lift her. She was afraid of waking Jiang Yu up, so she didn't dare to move too much, and both of them broke out in a sweat with simple movements.

But Jiang Yu was still awakened by this action.

She frowned, opened her eyes, and saw Cheng Suran's face close at hand, she reached out and grabbed the corner of her clothes, her lips were wriggling, and after a long while, she softly uttered two words:

"Don't go..."

"Okay," Cheng Suran held her hand without any hesitation, and patted it reassuringly, "I'm not leaving." 

Jiang Yu smiled.

"Would you like some fruit tea to sober up?"

"Mm."

Cheng Suran wanted to help her up, but Jiang Yu supported her body and sat up. The effect of alcohol made her dizzy. Although she was awake, her upper and lower eyelids were fighting. She was afraid that Cheng Suran would leave, so she obeyed everything she said.

Xiao Zhou brought the tray over and exited the bedroom wisely.

"Shall I feed you, or can you drink it yourself?"

"I'll do it myself."

Jiang Yu leaned softly on Cheng Suran, took the bowl in her hand, blew on it, took a sip, and slowly finished the fruit tea.

Seeing her dizzy and drooping eyelids, Cheng Suran didn't intend to let her take a bath, she poured a glass of warm water for her to rinse her mouth, and helped her to lie down, "Go to sleep, I'll be right next to you.

Jiang Yu nodded lightly, holding her hand, still unwilling to let go, closing her eyes with infinite nostalgia...

The whole bedroom is filled with soft light, the bed is full of rabbit dolls, starry sky lamps are hung on the wall, and a moon lamp is placed on each bedside table. Various lamps of different shapes are placed in the corners, desk cabinets, window sills, and even behind the doors. The light is without exception a gentle warm color.

A warm and safe bedroom, in which a person can let go of all defenses.

At this moment, Cheng Suran finally understood that this was not the childishness of a nearly forty-year-old woman, but a haven for her body and mind, a paradise for her exiled soul.

The sound of breathing gradually became regular and deep.

Jiang Yu fell into a deep sleep.

Cheng Suran let go of her hand quietly, tucked up the quilt for her, and turned off the two desk lamps smoothly. After putting her to sleep, she should go, but the moment she opened the door, it seemed that an invisible force pulled her, and she looked back again.

She promised Jiang Yu that she would not leave.

If she leaves, when Jiang Yu wakes up the next day and can't see her... The lonely look of that person appeared in front of her eyes, and Cheng Suran's heart swelled slightly, with a tingling pain.

After struggling for a long time, she decided to stay.

The living room is brightly lit, the sweeping robot is working, the nanny has just returned from taking out the trash, and Xiao Zhou is sitting on the sofa with a laptop in her hand, busy with her own business, each busy with their own tasks in perfect harmony. None of them were Jiang Yu's family, yet they cared for her more than family did, taking care of Jiang Yu's life.

Cheng Suran explained the situation to Xiao Zhou, and Xiao Zhou expressed her understanding and gratitude and wanted to arrange a guest room for her.

“There are toiletries in the room"

"No, I'll watch over her tonight."

In case something happens to Jiang Yu at night, such as having nightmares or stomach discomfort, having someone by her side would allow for an immediate response.

What happened in the afternoon really frightened Cheng Suran.

She followed Xiao Zhou to the guest room to get clean pajamas and toiletries, took a shower in a hurry, returned to the master bedroom, and sent a message to Wen Ruoxian with her mobile phone in her hand: [Ruoxian, something happened to my friend. I'm staying with her and won't be coming back, go to bed early, good night.]

She received a reply very quickly.

Ruoxian: [Okay, be safe, call me if you need help, good night.]

Reading the message, Cheng Suran felt a warm sensation in her heart. The image of her own sketch flashed through her mind, accompanied by a touch of sadness, like a cotton stuck in her throat.

Looking at Jiang Yu who was sleeping soundly, she shook her head and didn't have the energy to think too much.

After turning off several lights one after another, the huge room finally went dark. Cheng Suran set her mobile phone to vibrate mode, put it on the bedside, and quietly climbed into the quilt on the other side of the bed.

In the darkness, the faint scent of iris lingered around her nose, mingling with the breath that carried a hint of alcohol. Under the covers, she held Jiang Yu's hand.

"Good night."

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582                    This translation is originally posted on her love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too 

The next day, Jiang Yu woke up with a splitting headache.

Lying in a daze for a while, feeling the softness and warmth around her, she froze for a moment, then turned her head to look, and saw Cheng Suran lying on her side, thinking that she was dreaming.

Ranran?

How did they…

Jiang Yu's mind started wandering into places it shouldn't, and she quickly sat up. Her head spun for a moment, and she instinctively placed her hand on Cheng Suran's arm for support.

"Mm."

After some movement, Cheng Suran moved and slowly opened her eyes.

Their eyes collided.

"It's morning?" she yawned.

The curtains were not drawn last night, and a large swath of sunlight shone into the bedroom, and the gentle warm gold was spread on the carpet as if smeared with cream. Another sunny day.

The wall clock shows half past eight.

Cheng Suran rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking Jiang Yu up and down, "How do you feel? Does your headache hurt? Does your stomach feel uncomfortable?"

Jiang Yu shook her head and found that she was still wearing outer clothes, and finally remembered what happened yesterday... The brand new model, the fierce man, and her embarrassed self made her completely drunk.

She didn't dare to look at Cheng Suran anymore, turned her face away, and brushed her messy hair with both hands.

"Good," Cheng Suran seemed to understand something, and kept silent about what happened yesterday, "Then... get up and have something to eat."

She lifted the quilt and got out of bed, picked up her phone and bag, and left the room. 

"Mm."

Jiang Yu covered her face and rested her head on her knees, motionless. It wasn't until the footsteps outside the room faded that she lifted her head and sighed, looking at the half-open bedroom door.

She was embarrassed enough. 

After sitting quietly for a while, she got up to wash. Standing in front of the mirror and looking at her face, it seems that she has become haggard and sluggish overnight. Getting older really showed on her face if she didn't pay enough attention to her lifestyle and diet.

She changed into clean clothes and went out, but Cheng Suran was nowhere to be seen in the living room.

Did she leave? 

Looking at the empty room, Jiang Yu suddenly felt empty, and contradictory emotions surged up. She didn't want Cheng Suran to see her ugly face, but when she found out that that person had really left, she felt extremely tormented.

As if abandoned by this world, a huge sense of loneliness engulfed her...

"Jiang Yu?"

"Why are you in a daze, let's have breakfast." Cheng Suran came out of the dining room and saw Jiang Yu standing motionless by the sofa, looking towards the door.

It's no different from those wax figures in the wax museum.

She went up to take her hand.

Jiang Yu came back to her senses, unable to tell whether it was joy or surprise, she blurted out and asked, "You didn't leave?"

“?"

"What do you mean?" Cheng Suran looked at her pretending to be dissatisfied, "Last night you were shouting not to let me leave. After all, I accompanied you for so long. Is it not okay for me to have free breakfast?"

"No, I mean..."

"Hahahaha, I'm just kidding."

"..."

Jiang Yu also smiled, and let Cheng Suran lead her by the hand.

Breakfast was made by the aunt, who knew Cheng Suran was staying there and intentionally made a little extra, with both sweet and savory flavors. The two sat down and Cheng Suran ate a steamed dumpling, chewing while keeping her gaze on Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu tied up her hair and was wearing a round-neck home casual dress. There were some faint bruises on her neck.

She was looking down and peeling the boiled egg.

"Remember to apply some medicine later." Cheng Suran said, looking at the bruises.

"What?"

"On your neck."

"Oh..." Jiang Yu said lightly, "It's okay, it will be fine in two days."

Cheng Suran didn't speak anymore and ate the porridge spoonful by spoonful.

Silence condensed between the two, only the crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks colliding from time to time, because it was too quiet, every sound seemed loud. Every nerve is tense, and it trembles for a long time when touched.

Jiang Yu suddenly said, "He came to ask for money."

Cheng Suran paused.

It soon became clear that the "he" Jiang Yu was referring to was the man from yesterday, the half-brother of the same mother. 

"Why does he want money..." Recalling the scene where Jiang Yu was being strangled, anger surged from the bottom of her heart. She wanted to ask clearly, but she immediately controlled herself and fell silent.

Digging deep will only bring pain.

She didn't expose the scar, but Jiang Yu wanted to open it herself.

Jiang Yu looked at the blueberries in the bowl, cut them in half with the edge of a spoon, and said casually: "My biological mother has cancer and needs a lot of surgery fees. He came to me for it, and I told him... that whether she's sick or dead, it has nothing to do with me. "

"I'm so cold-blooded, so dark, devoid of humanity and morality, full of hostility and resentment in my heart, so..." She raised her eyes and looked at Cheng Suran full of self-mockery.

Those eyes were full of scars as if saying: This is the real me.

A glamorous skin wrapping a cold and ruthless heart.

Cheng Suran looked at her, shook her head, and said, "I don't like judging others."

"Don't you think I'm scary?"

"Why would I be afraid of my own kind?"

—ding

The spoon in Jiang Yu's hand fell into the blueberry bowl.

"If a home is not a harbor, it is destined to be left behind, take risks on your own, and from then on, you'll be aware of the warmth and coldness. Other people's family members have nothing to do with us. Cheng Suran didn't know if this was meant for herself or Jiang Yu, but when she remembered, the lessons Jiang Yu had taught her before were mostly the same.

"Jiang Yu, you care about my opinion, just as I used to care about yours..."

As soon as these words fell, it was like drawing a period. 

The sideward sunlight fell on Cheng Suran's face, outlining her features clearly. Her skin seemed glazed, porcelain-white, and delicate. This face remained lively and radiant as ever.

Jiang Yu moved her lips, picked up the cup, and drank the milk in one gulp.

"I'm sorry for showing you a joke."

"You have seen mine, anyway." Cheng Suran blinked, turned to look out of the window, caught a glimpse of a hint of red at the corner of her eye through the glass, and immediately turned back.

"We're even."

"Right."

..... 

After breakfast, Cheng Suran left.

Jiang Yu also went out to the company. On the way, she called her assistant to inquire about Jiang Zhijun's situation. The assistant said that he only suffered some flesh wounds on his head, and it was not serious. After thinking about it, she decided to call the police.

There is no surveillance in the office, but there is one outside the door. It was clearly photographed that Jiang Zhijun entered the office not long before he was escorted out by the security guards. The assistant and the security guard were the witnesses, and the unhealed bruises on her neck and the broken computer and ornaments were the physical evidence. It didn't take much effort for Jiang Zhijun to be detained.

When everything was done, the sun had already set. 

The model was placed safely on the coffee table, Jiang Yu carefully picked it up and put it in a box.

This time, she must take good care of it.