Forbidden To Be Tempted

"Hello, Miss Wen." 

Xiao Meng, who was walking by Jiang Yu's side, greeted her.

All three of them stopped.

Wen Ruoxian nodded and looked at Jiang Yu, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. "This is Jiang..."

"This is Miss Jiang,  Miss Cheng's client." Xiao Meng introduced to Jiang Yu, "Miss Jiang, this is our boss Miss Wen."

Wen Ruoxian was even more surprised. In her memory, Jiang Yu was a "national supermodel," and she couldn't imagine her having any connection to their industry. However, a realization dawned on her, and she understood.

"Miss Jiang," Wen Ruoxian smiled and proactively extended her hand.

That day at the building entrance, Jiang Yu saw Cheng Suran getting out of this person's car, and in her mind, there were intimate scenes of her arranging Cheng Suran's hair. Shaking off the daze, she calmly reached out and shook Wen Ruoxian's hand.

"Miss Wen."

She let out a sigh of relief.

It turned out they were just colleagues. Cheng Suran didn't lie to her.

The two had exchanged greetings, Wen Ruoxian told Xiao Meng to treat Jiang Yu well, and then went on to work.

Before arriving at the general manager's office, Xiao Meng pushed the door open, and Jiang Yu walked in without haste, her eyes moving around the office.

The area is small, but the space design is very particular. Many elements make her feel familiar, such as the use of large lines, the single crystal glass curtain wall, and the full sense of geometry. The more she observed, the more it looks like her own company.

Jiang Yu suddenly had a certain guess.

Could it be...

"Miss Jiang, please sit down." The assistant's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Jiang Yu snuffed out her thoughts, went to the sofa and sat down.

Xiao Meng brought a cup of warm water and put it in front of her, then handed over a thin notebook, and said politely: "Miss Cheng will be back soon, you can take a look at this first to get a preliminary understanding of our company." She left after finishing speaking.

It's a beautifully designed brochure.

Jiang Yu took a sip of water, opened the album, as if she was holding some rare treasure, and carefully read each page word by word.

For her, this is not a simple brochure, but a window to understand Ranran. Every word and picture tells her how Ranran has grown in the past few years.

After reading for a few minutes, the door of the office was pushed open, and a gust of fragrant wind blew in.

They're gazes met.

Jiangg Yu unconsciously became nervous.

Jiang Yu forgot to check herself in the mirror again. Did she smudge her lipstick when she took a sip of water earlier? Did she need to touch up her makeup? Was her outfit too bright for today's meeting? She didn't look like someone there for business...

Messy thoughts swirled in her mind.

Cheng Suran gazed at her, her black eyes slightly shining, and her heart felt a bit flustered.

In her memory, Jiang Yu always wears solid colors, black, white, gray and beige in daily life. All kinds of suits are her favorite, and she only wears them brightly when filming or attending events. Although this person can manage any style, the impression she left on her is always cold and detached, seemingly both distant and close.

She had never seen her wear such a skirt in front of her.

She seems to be another person, and also seems like someone who came from the past, a brand new person, without the indifferent sense of distance in the past, familiar and strange.

Cheng Suran couldn't move her eyes, but her reason quickly restored her calm, she closed the door with her backhand, and smiled slightly: "Miss Jiang."

She walked to Jiang Yu and sat down.

Jiang Yu was still a little uncomfortable with the unfamiliar address, so she immediately woke up and nodded.

"Did Miss Jiang come here alone?" Cheng Suran was very puzzled that she didn't bring any assistants or related personnel from the company. It didn't look like she was here to discuss business, but rather... a date.

Jiang Yu nodded, "Mm, just here to inspect and see." She looked around again and praised, "The office decoration and design are well-done."

"?"

What does this have to do with the collaboration?

Cheng Suran felt puzzled in her heart, but she maintained a faint smile on her face. Memories from the past started to resurface again.

Admittingly, her taste had been greatly influenced by Jiang Yu. At the age of twenty, when she was about to step into a broader world and felt curious about everything, it was during that time that someone like Jiang Yu intruded into her life, leaving a profound impact.

"It's due to the guidance of an old friend."

"Which old friend? Can you introduce me?" Jiang Yu asked tentatively.

Cheng Suran looked directly at her, and said one word openly: "You."

Jiang Yu didn't expect it, she didn't know whether it was joy or sadness for a moment, and she said after a while: "Am I considered a friend in your heart?"

"Otherwise what else?" Cheng Suran raised the corners of her lips.

Benefactor?

She must have wanted to hear this kind of answer, right? She thought and smiled with a bit of sarcasm.

Jiang Yu said with emotion: "I thought we couldn't even be friends."

This time it was Cheng Suran's turn to be dazed.

The sarcastic smile froze on her lips, and Jiang Yu looked at her, feeling puzzled. She could read a sense of shock from those eyes, and suddenly, it seemed like she had realized something.

"Ranran?"

Cheng Suran snapped back to reality and smiled casually, as if nothing had happened, saying, "A collaboration can also be a form of making friends."

Jiang Yu looked at her and said, "It's all in the past."

"What?"

"The former you, the former me, and the previous relationship are all gone. Now we are two completely independent and equal individuals. Only on this basis can there be cooperation and communication, right?"

After speaking, she smiled, her eyes were gentle and sincere.

Cheng Suran looked at her, her eyes were gradually out of focus, the face was the past for a while, and the present for a while, either overlapped or separated, making people feel like a dream.

She understood what Jiang Yu meant.

—she didn't treat her as a canary, and didn't regard herself as a benefactor.

Really?

So, asking her about her so-called "girlfriend" twice wasn't out of any desire for control. Then, why...

Cheng Suran realized in despair that she still cared about Jiang Yu, cared about her gaze, her actions, and her words. She underestimated the influence Jiang Yu had on her - whenever this woman appeared in front of her, it would disrupt her peace of mind.

She shouldn't think about it anymore.

She halted her thoughts, putting on a flawless professional smile, and stood up. "Let me show you around the company, Miss Jiang."

"Sure."

Jiang Yu followed suit, her gaze still fixed on Cheng Suran's face.

They walked out of the office one after the other.

The company's business was divided into two main areas: translation training and translation services. The former was managed by Wen Ruoxian, while Cheng Suran mainly oversaw the latter. The office areas for both segments were separated, each occupying half of the entire floor. The company, including both of them, had a total of 172 employees.

Cheng Suran led Jiang Yu around the office area, introducing the main businesses, partners they had collaborated with, clients they had served, and outstanding translators.

Although Jiang Yu has long since retired, her fame is still there, and there are many people who know her. After walking around for a while, everyone looked sideways, and the gossip group inside the employees was like boiling water.

"These are all our excellent translators." Cheng Suran came to the display wall with a proud expression on her face.

Jiang Yu looked at it carefully, but she didn't see Cheng Suran's name and photo. She turned to look at the person beside her: "You should count yourself in."

"Isn't it excellent to be admitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and become a high-level person? It is outstanding in the entire industry."

Cheng Suran looked into those gentle watery eyes, and suddenly there was a rippling in her heart.

When receiving compliments from others, she just smiled politely, but Jiang Yu's compliments, she could feel the throbbing in her heart, it was a long-lost real joy, she almost forgot to hide her emotions.

"Miss Jiang is too kind."

"Ranran..." Jiang Yu suddenly lowered hernvoice and took a step closer.

Cheng Suran became nervous immediately, and quickly glanced at the glass wall. Every move here can be seen in the office area. She thought Jiang Yu was going to do something, words rushed to her lips.

But Jiang Yu just looked at her with burning eyes: "I'm really happy seeing you become what you wanted to be. I knew you can do it."

Cheng Suran choked, and the softest part of her heart was hit.

Excellence, brilliance. This has been her obsession for many years. Not sure if she wants to prove it to Jiang Yu, or to prove it to the young, weak and fledgling self in the past, but she has already achieved "excellence" and "brilliance" in the eyes of others, but she still felt that something is missing.

She recognizes her professional ability, but never dares to call herself the "best".

Jiang Yu's praise dispelled the obsession in her heart.

It doesn't make sense anymore.

"Thanks."

Thinking of this, Cheng Suran smiled politely and avoided that gaze.

After visiting the entire company, Jiang Yu followed Cheng Suran back to the office to discuss specific plans. She came this time only for inspection first, and after an agreed time, the high-level officials of both parties will meet again next time to formally sign a contract.

Cheng Suran was aware that Jiang Yu had personal motives for choosing her company over a larger one. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for Jiang Yu to opt for them. However, the project was significant, offering both lucrative earnings and the opportunity to enhance the company's qualifications, which would be highly beneficial for future expansion.

She accepted the meat delivered at the door.

"Does your company also have another boss named Miss Wen?" Jiang Yu played with a pen in her hand. Cheng Suran was surprised, "Do you know her?"

"I met her when I arrived earlier."

Cheng Suran nodded without saying much, but she couldn't help but wonder about Jiang Yu's repeated inquiries about her "girlfriend." She couldn't figure out the reason and couldn't grasp Jiang Yu's thoughts.

"Can I invite you both for lunch? Is it convenient?" Jiang Yu asked eagerly, secretly plotting her plan.

Cheng Suran pondered, "We should be the one treating clients to a meal."

"I'm not a client now; we are partners."

"We haven't signed the contract yet."

"It's a matter of time."

"..."

....

Jiang Yu insisted on treating the two bosses to a meal, and Cheng Suran didn't refuse anymore. She informed Wen Ruoxian and then found a local restaurant in Jiangcheng that served authentic cuisine, reserving a private room.

Inside the private room was a round table with a comfortable sofa and a private bathroom on the side. The room was spacious enough to accommodate ten people.

The three came in one after another, Cheng Suran went straight to the window, put down her bag, turned her head and said to Wen Ruoxian: "Ruoxian, I'm going to the bathroom, you guys order first."

"Okay." Wen Ruoxian nodded, and sat down next to her.

Ruoxian?

Jiang Yu was extremely shocked in her heart, her whole body froze, and her eyes were glued to Wen Ruoxian's face.

At the hotel that night...

The person she reminded to "eat the cake in the fridge" and "take in the clothes from the balcony" is her.

Feeling her gaze, Wen Ruoxian smiled gently, about to say something, but Jiang Yu spoke first: "Are Miss Wen and Miss Cheng classmates? It seems like you have a great relationship, like best friends."

"Not classmates, but we are indeed like close friends."

"You've known each other for a long time, right?"

"Mm, for five years."

Jiang Yu wanted to say something else, but the waiter brought a carved porcelain kettle and two menus: "Would you like to order now?"

"Yes," Wen Ruoxian made a gesture, "Miss Jiang, please order first."

Jiang Yu nodded and opened the menu.

Wen Ruoxian picked up the porcelain kettle, poured some hot water into the tableware on Cheng Suran's seat next to her, stirred the chopsticks gently, soaked for a while, and then washed the plates, bowls, and cups one by one, with meticulous and careful movements.

Then she started washing her own dishes.

As soon as Jiang Yu ordered a dish, she noticed her movements, and couldn't help feeling a subtle emotion in her heart.

"Do you need anything else?" the waiter asked.

Jiang Yu regained her senses, tightened her fingers pinching the paper slightly, continued to look at the menu, ordered another dessert, and handed the menu to the woman opposite: "MissbWen."

Wen Ruoxian accepted it with a smile.

At this moment, the bathroom door opened, and Cheng Suran came out, returned to her seat and sat down, and asked politely, "Have you ordered any food, Miss Jiang?"

"Yeah." Jiang Yu nodded lightly.

Cheng Suran withdrew her gaze, moved closer to Wen Ruoxian, leaned one arm on her shoulder casually, and the two looked at the menu together.

"It's hot, I don't want to eat something too greasy, do they have water spinach?"

"Mm, I ordered it, I know you like it." Wen Ruoxian smiled sideways.

The two were very close, their hair entwined, and their faces almost touching. Cheng Suran's lips curved slightly, and occasionally spoke in a playful tone, appearing very relaxed.

Jiang Yu stared at them intently.

"The garlic in the water spinach, please cut it into large pieces. My friend doesn't eat garlic, and if it's too small, she'll vomit if she accidentally eats it. Also, for the fish, please make it less spicy and use fewer Sichuan peppercorns. And for this dish... please use fewer onions as she doesn't eat them. Is there cilantro in the ingredients? If so, use it sparingly, just a few pieces will be enough..."

Wen Ruoxian instructed the waiter carefully, her voice was gentle and her tone was calm, which made people feel at ease.

"Ranran, is there anything else to mention?"

"You've covered everything," Cheng Suran replied with a smile, her dimples showing and a glimpse of her small white teeth.

Sensing the gaze on her, she turned her head and met Jiang Yu's stare.

"..."

Her eyes were as deep as a cold pool, seemingly revealing a faint sense of loneliness, yet also appearing ambiguous, quietly gazing at her, enigmatic and unclear.

Cheng Suran's heart beat violently, silently avoided that gaze, and lowered her head to fiddle with the tableware.

The atmosphere at the dinner table fell into an eerie silence.

"Miss Cheng is the same as me; if I eat garlic, I'll also feel sick," Jiang Yu casually remarked, concealing her emotions.

Cheng Suran pretended to be calm and smiled, "Natural nemesis."

"Oh, do you both avoid dishes with garlic then?" Wen Ruoxian raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Ranran, I remember you really liked garlic-roasted eggplant, right?"

"Well, that's not quite the same..."

"Cough cough."

The three chatted, from food preferences to industry knowledge, the atmosphere became lively again.

The dishes came up one after another, Wen Ruoxian asked the waiter for two extra gloves. Seeing that Cheng Suran peeled the shrimp too slowly, she peeled a few by herself and put them in her bowl. While doing this calmly, she chatted with Jiang Yu with ease.

You can pick up whatever you are talking about, and you will not be left alone when you are talking about anything.

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, who would believe that one of the two bosses of a company peeled the shrimp for the other with her own hands.

Jiang Yu had no chance to intervene at all.

Noticing that Cheng Suran's glass was empty, she glanced at the drink on the table, and Jiang Yu was about to reach for it immediately, but Wen Ruoxian was one step ahead of her, already took the bottle and filled half a glass for Cheng Suran.

"..."

Jiang Yu silently withdrew her hand.

A faint sourness filled her heart, like blocked with stones, stuffy and airless, she couldn't describe exactly how it feels like…