Forbidden To Be Tempted

For a moment, Cheng Suran was bewitched by that smile.

Looking at this face from a close distance, the outline is deep, the facial features are cold, the brows and eyes are still sharp, and the skin is well maintained. It can't be seen that it is approaching forty years old.

Every frown and smile can charm one's heart.

Seeing her remain silent as if wavering, the smile lines at Jiang Yu's mouth deepened, and she asked again, "Ranran, is it okay?"

Cheng Suran snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she had nearly fallen into a trap, feeling somewhat annoyed.

"I'm sorry, it's not convenient."

"..."

Jiang Yu's smile slightly faltered, a fleeting trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes, but it quickly returned to its natural state: "It's okay, then I won't disturb you."

Cheng Suran didn't linger any longer, turned around, and walked towards the entrance of the community.

Jiang Yu watched her as she leaves.

The wheels of the suitcase rolled over the ground, producing a series of friction sounds. Cheng Suran walked mechanically as if she could sense a gaze on her back, the hand gripping the handle growing tighter.

Passing the corner, she hid behind the bushes, carefully parting the leaves to look outside.

The car was parked there silently.

The person in the driver's seat looked in her direction.

Cheng Suran took a deep breath, pulled her head back, quickened her pace, and continued walking.

Upstairs, entering her home, she changed into slippers, tossed the suitcase aside, and hurriedly ran to the window, looking outside. From this angle, she could see the left half of the community's entrance.

The car hadn't left.

The figure in the driver's seat had become blurry. A tiny dot, lonely and desolate.

Cheng Suran's emotions suddenly became mixed, her chest felt heavy as if a stone was pressing on it, making it hard to breathe.

Stay calm, she needed to stay calm...

It wasn't her who asked Jiang Yu to drive her back, and who's to say it isn't a scheme? Jiang Yu has been trying to find out her address for a while now, and he already knows the name of the community, but not the exact details. Besides, they are partners now, and such casual favors are normal and shouldn't be overthought.

She said to herself in her heart.

After a while, the car turned around on the spot and slowly drove away from the entrance of the community.

Cheng Suran let out a long sigh of relief, walked to the dining table, poured herself a large glass of water, and drank it down. Her racing heart began to calm down as if it had been cooled.

She couldn't help but recall Jiang Yu's every move just now...

Stripped off of the benefactor's coat she seemed childishly innocent, almost like a little kid– a bit unfamiliar yet endearing. Could this be her true self? Who would have thought that the seemingly strong and stern elder sister on the surface had a delicate girl's heart in private, with her room filled with bunny dolls?

Tsk.

Childish devil.

As Cheng Suran thought, she couldn't help but start smiling.

Ah, why was she thinking about her again? Bah bah bah—

Cheng Suran gave her face a gentle pat, banishing that person's image from her mind, and stood up to prepare a meal.

Just then, the living room door opened, and Wen Ruoxian entered from outside.

"Ranran."

The two looked at each other.

She raised the square flat box in her hand and smiled mysteriously, "Guess what this is?"

"Don't make me guess, just tell me directly," Cheng Suran raised an eyebrow, "I never guess right anyway..."

Wen Ruoxian was amused by her reaction, fetched a utility knife, slit open the outer packaging of the box, and Cheng Suran looked at it with anticipation. While she said she wouldn't guess, her mind had already run through all sorts of possible items.

Unexpectedly, it was a steering wheel cover.

"Why?"

"The steering wheel cover you're using now is too stiff. Last time, your arm got bruised because of it. This one is soft, with an airbag between the outer fluff and the inner cushion. It can provide cushioning during strong impacts, and it's thin enough not to affect the steering feel." Wen Ruoxian said while demonstrating.

"I specially chose the milky coffee color, which matches the color of your car's interior. It is beautiful and practical."

Cheng Suran took it and touched it. It was fluffy and soft, and she couldn't put it down. She didn't know whether she was surprised or touched.

The bruises on her arms had faded long ago, and her skin was as smooth as ever, and she herself forgot about it.

"Do you like it?" Wen Ruoxian looked at her expectantly.

Cheng Suran nodded like a pounding garlic: "I like it! I will put it on tomorrow."

Looking at the two shallow dimples, Wen Ruoxian was a little lost, and suddenly remembered something: "By the way Ranran..."

"Mm?"

"This year, I'll be going back for a visit during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I won't be able to accompany you." Her smile faded.

Cheng Suran paused for a moment, then smiled and shrugged, "It's alright, I'm not a child. Being alone at home is normal. Don't worry."

Before she met Wen Ruoxian, she had always spent traditional holidays alone, except for the Mid-Autumn Festival when she was twenty. After getting to know Wen Ruoxian, whenever a holiday came around, no matter how far apart they were, whether in China or abroad, Wen Ruoxian would always be there to accompany her.

To accompany her, Ruoxian has not been home on holiday for three years.

Ruoxian has a family.

Unlike her...

It's the same everywhere.

Hearing what she said, Wen Ruoxian felt even more sad, sighed, and lowered her head.

"You've spent so many holidays with me, one more time doesn't matter. Besides, we live together every day. As long as we want, every day can be a celebration." Cheng Suran hugged her arm, comforting her while playfully acting like a baby.

"Don't be unhappy, Sister Xian... Ah no, Ruoxian, little Xianxian."

She never seemed to remember.

Although Cheng Suran corrected herself promptly, Wen Ruoxian still heard it. She looked at Cheng Suran with gentle eyes, hiding a faint sentiment beneath, and couldn't help but ask:

"Ranran, do you have a real sister?"

"I don't."

"Mm?"

Wen Ruoxian was thoroughly confused, her gaze complicated as she looked at her. "You seem to really like the term 'elder sister'."

Cheng Suran froze.

A face quickly flashed through her mind.

"Oh, isn't calling someone older than you 'elder sister' just right?" She pretended to be calm, sm iling to hide her past slip-up. Wen Ruoxian also nodded in agreement, playing along, "Yes, that's right."

Clearly, it wasn't like that. She knew Ranran had a cousin who had bullied her since childhood. The term "older sister" should exclude the cousin first, and then her own older sister. So, without blood relations, it could only be another female friend.

A bold guess formed in her mind.

No...

She couldn't dwell on it too much because of her own orientation; she viewed every woman through a filter. Sometimes, overthinking leads to endless troubles.

Continuing to inquire would only upset Ranran.

....

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

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the month.

Time passed quickly amid busy work. Cheng Suran had been on business trips for a whole week, traveling to eight different cities in seven days. Finally, on her day off, she felt a bit more alive.

She slept until noon, had a hasty meal, and spent the afternoon in her study, working on repairing the model.

Things have been left in the study room for many days without being moved. The broken arm of the figurine, the broken swing in the garden, and the scattered background decorations are still the same as when they were just brought back.

Cheng Suran looked at it and suddenly felt that even if it was repaired, it would be meaningless.

The gift of the past, the broken gift, let it stay in the past, the defect also symbolizes breaking the past, why repair it? Repairing implies restoration, restoring the item, restoring the relationship...

Cheng Suran was so upset that she simply stopped thinking about it and started working.

According to the repair plan she wrote, the fallen background decorations only need to be glued on with super glue, which is very simple. The broken swing and the little figurine with the missing arm are big projects, and if they fail, they need to be redone.

The afternoon passed like this.

When the phone rang, Cheng Suran raised her head from the table full of materials, and when she looked at the caller ID, she was stunned.

Jiang Yu...

Her heart suddenly leaped, unsure if it was nervousness or something else. It had been a while since they last contacted each other, and it seemed like she had almost forgotten about this person. Yet, the moment she saw the name, all the familiar feelings surged back.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she pressed the green button, her voice was so calm and indifferent: "Miss Jiang?"

"Ranran, where are you? Are you busy?" A woman's gentle voice came from the phone.

Cheng Suran subconsciously said: "I'm resting at home, what's the matter?" 

There was a pause for two seconds, and he said, "I have some clothes here that I want to show you."

"What clothes?"

"I've designed and made a custom collection myself, and I feel like you might like it. How about I send it over now..."

Before she could finish speaking, Cheng Suran interrupted urgently: "No need." The voice stopped abruptly.

The silence was like an invisible hand, pinching Cheng Suran's throat, and she felt a sense of guilt in a trance.

She should have hung up, but she didn't.

The other party didn't hang up either.

"If you don't have anything else, I..."

"Ranran."

This time, Cheng Suran was the one interrupted.

There was a pause on the other end, and finally, they spoke, "It's perfectly normal for partners to exchange gifts. Would you be willing to wait until you see them in person, touch them with your own hands, and then decide if you want them or not?"

The last sentence was soft, with a hint of a smile.

Like a whisper in her ear.

Cheng Suran felt a lump in her throat, hesitated for a while, and whispered, "Okay, give me a call when you're at the door, and I'll come down to get it."

"Sure."

Jiang Yu hung up first.

Cheng Suran put down her phone and only then realized her heart was racing fast. She felt a chilling sensation all over her body. Taking a deep breath, she slumped into her chair.

Just a glance at the doorstep would be enough.

She consoled herself.

....

Twenty minutes later, Cheng Suran hurried to the gate of the community.

The black car stopped there quietly before she approached, the driver's door opened, and Jiang Yu leisurely got out of the car, and smiled faintly at her.

She suddenly regretted that she came down in her pajamas and slippers.

"..."

Jiang Yu circled around to the parking spot, opened the trunk, and waved at her with a smile. "Ranran, come here."

Cheng Suran thought it would be just a few pieces of clothing, to take a quick look, but she didn't expect to see four or five large rectangular flat boxes neatly piled inside the trunk. Each one was sealed with a beige and gold-threaded edge, securely wrapped.

"What's all of these?" She frowned.

Jiang Yu reached out to support one end of the paper box, indicating to lift it up. "Just lift it up, let's do it together."

Cheng Suran: "..."

"The fabrics of these clothes are quite special. If they are wrinkled or have too many creases, they will affect the overall shape and appearance, so they can only be packed in a large cardboard box. It is really inconvenient, but I promise you will like it." Jiang Yu seemed to have seen her hesitation, and she had already prepared her speech, and explained it without haste.

Cheng Suran looked at her, then at the paper box, pursed her lips again and again, and after a while, she nodded slightly.

"Fine…"

She stepped forward and stretched out her hand, held the other end of the paper box, and worked with Jiang Yu to carefully lift it up.

Jiang Yu freed up one hand, touched the key, and the trunk lid lowered automatically, locking the whole car. "Let's go, you lead the way."

The two of them walked sideways into the community, like crabs.

Marina Bay is considered a high-end residence. Its level is only one level lower than Green Shang Mansion. The community had well-maintained greenery, with hills, water, and gardens. There were a total of seven buildings, with the tallest being 22 stories high.

Building five, eighteenth floor, two elevators serving two households each, unit 1802.

Jiang Yu silently memorized it.

As soon as she entered the door, she held her breath and looked around calmly.

The house is decorated in a very low-key, modern style, and the living room has no main lights, which makes the space look very spacious and bright—she likes this design.

"Let's put it on the ground first, and I'll get you slippers."

"Okay."

The two of them carefully placed the paper boxes down.

Cheng Suran opened the shoe cabinet and took out a pair of men's slippers that were usually kept for guests. She placed them by Jiang Yu's feet and said, "You can't fit into the women's slippers, so wear the men's ones."

She remembered that Jiang Yu wore size 42 shoes.

"Mm."

Jiang Yu turned her face slightly, avoiding her gaze, and suppressed a smile. The slippers, neither too big nor too small, fit her feet perfectly as if they were tailor-made for her.

"What would you like to drink? Water, fruit wine, yogurt, or herbal tea?"

"Just plain water."

They carried the paper box to the sofa again, Jiang Yu sat down, while Cheng Suran turned and went to the kitchen, took a clean glass and rinsed it, poured warm water, and put it in front of her.

"Thank you." Jiang Yu said politely.

"Do you have scissors? I'll help you open the box, you can try it now."

Cheng Suran went to get the scissors again.

From the beginning to the end, she kept her eyes down without looking at her, and silently handed the scissors over.

This day would inevitably come, but she hadn't expected it to arrive so soon. She couldn't forever hide her address from Jiang Yu, nor could she prevent her from being a guest. Like all clients, Jiang Yu was just one of them.

But Jiang Yu was also so special.

Seeing her, she would still be drawn in, her heart would race, she would care about her appearance, and she would feel nervous and uneasy...

Jiang Yu crouched down and skillfully cut open the sealed edges. All five boxes were now open, each containing a dress, two tops, a pair of pants, and a skirt. They were covered with a layer of special thin film, making them look exquisite.

"Try these pants first to see if the size is right." Jiang Yu removed the wrapping paper of the pants and picked them up straight.

Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and reached out to take it.

This is a pair of flared pants with black and white letter patterns, side slits on the calf, and a high waist. The moment her fingertips touched the fabric, she knew it was the feel she liked.

Without hesitation, she tore off the wrapping paper of the short skirt with her bare hands and brought it into the room together with the pants.

Jiang Yu sat on the sofa and waited.

A few minutes later, Cheng Suran came out and had already changed back into her pajama pants, but her expression was a little weird, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.

"How is it?" Jiang Yu looked at her with a smile.

Cheng Suran hugged the pants and skirt, stared at her for a while, and then asked: "Why is the size just right?"

"Are they a good fit? That's great," Jiang Yu seemed to exhale in relief.

"You haven't answered my question yet."

"Because... I designed them according to your figure."

After speaking, without waiting for Cheng Suran to respond, Jiang Yu picked up one of the just unwrapped tops and stood up. "Try this one on."

Raising her long arm, Jiang Yu placed both hands on Cheng Suran's shoulders, ready to help her put it on.

—beep

The living room door opened.

Wen Ruoxian came in with her bag.

Jiang Yu looked up.

Author's Note:

Jiang.Scheming.Yu: Plan successful.jpg