Forbidden To Be Tempted

Two million.

Cheng Suran silently recited the number, afraid of misreading it, and carefully counted the string of zeros once again, confirming that it was two million yuan.

Her face turned pale in an instant, she looked up, and murmured, "What does this mean..." However, she already had an answer in her heart.

Break up fee? Compensation?

"Miss Cheng has devoted precious time and energy, accompanying the boss for such a long time. Not only has she provided emotional support, but she has also saved the boss's life. It is only natural that she receives this reward." Tian Lin spoke the prepared words, like a perfect robot, with a hollow and formulaic smile, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.

Beneath the smile was a hidden sigh of helplessness.

This is too cruel.

If it were her, being treated like this by someone she likes... No, she wouldn't be kept as a mistress, she wouldn't fall for a benefactor.

When she was twenty years old, carefree and focused on her studies, she didn't have to worry about tuition fees, and her living expenses were taken care of. Her grades were decent, and her relationship with her ex-boyfriend was harmonious. Her life was smooth sailing, completely different from Cheng Suran.

Tian Lin felt a pang of pity for this girl.

Although she was mentally prepared, when Cheng Suran heard the answer, she was struck like lightning, and her heart shattered into countless pieces.

She stared blankly at Tian Lin, opened her mouth, but her throat suddenly went hoarse. Tian Lin calmly met her gaze.

After a long pause, Cheng Suran lowered her head, biting her lip, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. Two streams of hot, sour tears rolled down her face and fell heavily onto the check.

She turned her head, her long hair covering her face.

Two million.

In addition to the six months' contract fee and pocket money, a total of two million six hundred thousand. It's enough to buy a small house on the outskirts of Jiangcheng, and in her hometown of Lingzhou, she could buy four large houses in total. She was an ordinary person who only knew how to measure the value of money in terms of houses.

Money comes too easily.

There are countless people who work themselves to death and can't earn this amount in their entire lifetime.

And she, just by taking off her clothes and lying down, in a mere six months, went from a poor student to a wealthy woman.

What does she have to be unsatisfied with? What does she have to complain about? What right does she have to be upset?

To put it bluntly, she is nothing more than…

The insulting word flashed in Cheng Suran's mind, causing a piercing pain and a painful sob in her throat.

Tian Lin's heart twisted.

In the past, when facing those girls, she treated it as just part of her job, completing the task and leaving. But today, sitting here facing Cheng Suran, she had personal emotions, feeling like she was "committing a crime."

Being a "villain" is difficult, but she had no choice but to do it.

"Also, Miss Cheng, winter vacation is coming up. You can continue staying at the hotel until the new semester starts. The car is yours, and we'll handle the transfer procedures tomorrow. Considering that I've visited your dormitory before as your aunt, we'll continue the act until the end of the semester, and I will help you pack your things when you graduate. Apart from these, there will be no further contact between you and the boss."

This is more uncomfortable than making her slaughter chickens and gut fish.

"Is it Sister's intention?" Cheng Suran wiped her face and raised her slightly reddened teary eyes. Tian Lin hesitated, "Yes."

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Suran smiled self-deprecatingly. "Since we can't contact each other anymore, why bother considering so much for me? Aren't you afraid that I'll throw a tantrum, make a scene, and cling on?"

"No, this is just the boss's way of doing things. She has always been lenient towards girls, especially those younger than herself. Once things are settled, she believes in parting ways amicably." Tian Lin responded quickly, knowing how to answer from the right standpoint and attitude. After all, this was business and couldn't accommodate her personal emotions.

Cheng Suran said word by word, "I want to meet her."

"If you have something to say, I can convey it for you."

"I want to speak to her in person."

"Sorry, Miss Cheng, the boss doesn't want to see you." Tian Lin shook her head.

Cheng Suran's heart trembled, and she pressed her lips tightly.

The person in front of her represented Jiang Yu. Perhaps she could convey Jiang Yu's literal intentions clearly, but beyond that, there were things hidden in her heart, buried in her eyes—yes and no. Only by seeing Jiang Yu with her own eyes could she catch a glimpse of the truth.

That day was too rushed, and she couldn't calm herself down, but she had no regrets. Despite the heartbreak and sadness in these past few days, it was a level of ease she hadn't experienced in months.

She could finally look Jiang Yu in the eye.

"Why doesn't she want to see me? Is she afraid?" Cheng Suran sneered.

The girl had a confrontational yet childish appearance, like a little beast baring its teeth and growling while still unsteady on its feet. Looking at her only evoked feelings of pity and helplessness.

Tian Lin made an effort to maintain her smile but still shook her head. "Because there's no need to meet anymore. The boss is very busy and likes to resolve things quickly. Miss Cheng, let me remind you that being persistent and clingy isn't enjoyable."

Cheng Suran clenched her teeth, her eyes becoming even redder.

Flashes of the past few days flickered in her mind—countless tender nights, soothing kisses, whispered words by the pillow, subtle care, and the words "Sister likes you," so many of them... The scenes shattered into fragments, embedded in her bleeding heart.

It was all over.

"Thank you. I won't stay at the hotel anymore, I don't need the car, and I don't need to play pretend. I can handle it myself."

Cheng Suran lowered her head, crumpled the check into a ball, and tossed it lightly to Tian Lin. She opened the door, got out of the car, and floated towards the school gate like a ghost.

….

In the evening, a fine drizzle started falling from the sky.

The room was dim, with no lights turned on. Jiang Yu stood alone by the French windows, gazing at the hazy rain and mist. The dim halo cast a gloomy light upon her.

—tok tok tok

The office door opened.

Tian Lin poked her head in, scanned the room, and her gaze landed on the solitary figure by the window. She approached quietly, "Sister Yu."

"She seems to be fine. I didn't ask about the exam situation. I've delivered all the instructions you gave me, but she refused to accept them."

Tian Lin hesitated for a moment, then took out a crumpled check from her bag and handed it over. "It has come to this."

Jiang Yu lowered her eyes.

The thin paper was deeply creased, crumpled almost beyond recognition. She could imagine the anger of the person who had crushed it.

She seemed to see that little face furrowed in a ball, flushed with anger, those clear deer-like eyes filled with tears, filled with despair and pain. And then fiercely crumpling the paper and leaving in frustration.

"Did she say anything?" Jiang Yu's voice was calm.

Tian Lin answered truthfully, "Miss Cheng said she wanted to see you, she had something to say to you in person. I told her you wouldn't see her, and she thought you were afraid. Also, she asked why, if you don't want any more contact but you still went out of your way to help her..."

Jiang Yu smiled.

What a clever little fool.

Clever enough to see through her intentions, yet foolish enough to refuse this money.

Jiang Yu had done her research. There was a high probability that Ranran could go abroad for her major. In her senior year, she would likely participate in a one-year exchange program in France. If she wanted to pursue a career in translation in the future, she would need further education. And if she didn't plan to work in her current field, the competition in the society was fierce, and having at least a master's degree would provide more security. During the master's program, she could choose a different major and acquire multiple skills for more options in the future.

Everything required money.

Although it was possible to study and work part-time at the same time, a person's energy is ultimately limited. Jiang Yu wanted Ranran to fully devote herself to her studies without worrying about the cost of living. Only when a person had no worries could they be free from anxiety and have the confidence to move forward.

Ranran was like another version of her.

Jiang Yu had never attended university, and there was always a sense of regret in her heart. Therefore, she didn't want Ranran to be bound by money. The little bird she had raised should spread its wings and fly to a broader sky.

Unfortunately, that heart was too pure.

She couldn't face it directly, nor could she respond.

"Truly foolish," Jiang Yu sighed, lifting the check and murmuring to herself.

Tian Lin observed her expression, hesitated for a while, and cautiously asked, "Sister Yu, to be honest, I also want to know... why?"

"It's just a breakup fee," Jiang Yu replied lightly, her tone indifferent.

Tian Lin spoke frankly, "Do you still remember Zhang Nan? You liked her so much back then, but in the end, you only gave her three hundred thousand. The difference between two million and three hundred thousand is not insignificant. You work hard to earn money, there's no need to be so extravagant."

"Ranran saved my life, and she has been by my side for the longest time. Isn't that worth it?" Jiang Yu's voice trailed off.

"..."

Tian Lin fell silent.

Outside the window, the rain and mist were thick. The glass was adorned with tiny water droplets, and a chilling cold seeped in through the cracks.

The room suddenly became cold and filled with a suffocating sense of heaviness.

Jiang Yu straightened the check, tore it into pieces one by one, opened the window, and scattered them with a wave of her hand.

If she doesn't want it, then so be it.

When they were children, Jiang Yu saved Cheng Suran at the train platform, and as they grew up, Cheng Suran saved her in the deep mountains. They didn't owe each other anything, and she no longer needed to feel guilty for that scar.

As these days passed and she calmed down, Jiang Yu also understood that people develop habits towards things that stay with them for a long time. She had simply grown accustomed to that girl, but time could resolve everything.

There would be countless other girls who would leave their mark on her life in the future.

Paper flowers fluttered down in the flowerbed, gradually becoming soaked by the rain.

Tian Lin: "..."

Jiang Yu turned and walked to her desk, sitting down. In front of her was the broken clay model, scattered in pieces. She frowned as she looked at the fragments.

After landing from the flight last night, she immediately started trying to fix it. She followed repair tutorials she found online and worked on it until the late hours of the night, but she couldn't restore it no matter what.

With something on her mind, she couldn't find peace, and her hands were restless.

She wasn't cut out for handicrafts.

It was too difficult. She wondered how much time and effort Ranran had put into making it. Why did she have to act so impulsively?

Haah...

Jiang Yu furrowed her brows and let out a sigh.

"Sister Yu, shall I throw it away for you? So you don't have to look at it and feel bothered," Tian Lin offered, approaching and holding the base of the model.

"Don't touch it!" Jiang Yu lowly exclaimed, "Put it back."

"..."

Tian Lin placed it back in its original position.

Jiang Yu glanced at her and said, "What frustrates me is how to repair and restore it."

"Just find a professional to fix it. There are many local shops online," Tian Lin suggested helplessly.

"No."

Jiang Yu stared intently at the model, her expression distant, as if speaking to herself, "I broke it, and I want to fix it with my own hands."

Other people's hands are dirty.

Tian Lin couldn't help but ask, "Don't you think of the person when you see an object?"

Jiang Yu was taken aback, and the conversation from that night echoed in her ears once again. Gradually, the girl's face came to her mind, and she felt restless. She picked up a transparent box, covered the model, and locked it in the safe.

"..."

Tian Lin quietly watched her, her eyes filled with a hint of pity.

"Tomorrow, inform the front desk and security that if Cheng Suran comes to look for me, say that I'm not available. Don't let her in. And also, inform the studio." Jiang Yu leaned back tiredly against the chair, closed her eyes, and took out her phone from her pocket.

Tian Lin replied softly, "Okay."

Jiang Yu opened WeChat, switched to her alternate account, and found the only contact on the list—Ranran.

Delete friend.

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 February, the autumn-winter fashion season kicked off, and Jiang Yu immersed herself completely in her work.

This was her final time walking the runway, showcasing for multiple top designers. Afterward, she would officially retire, bidding farewell to her fourteen-year modeling career.

From New York to London, from London to Milan, and then from Milan to Paris—on average, two shows per day. Although the workload was slightly lighter compared to previous years, Jiang Yu remained incredibly busy, completing a total of sixty-one shows throughout February.

Her friends in the industry knew about her plans to step back from the spotlight, and they continued to invite her to dinners and parties scheduled for two months later.

Busy times always flew by quickly.

In early March, it was Paris Fashion Week.

After several consecutive days of major shows, Jiang Yu was exhausted. After completing her final show in the afternoon, she politely declined the invitations from the designer and creative director and left early with her team.

In the evening, she attended a cocktail party. She planned to sleep the next day and then fly to Milan the day after to attend another event.

The schedule was tightly packed.

As long as she kept moving, staying busy, she wouldn't have much time to think.

Leaving the venue, Jiang Yu wrapped herself tightly in a black down jacket and walked alongside her assistant, heading towards where her car was parked. There were a few scattered reporters outside, holding cameras up to capture her:

"Jiang Yu—"

"Look this way."

Jiang Yu instinctively turned her head, flashed a smile, and the camera flashes flickered.

After all these years, it had become almost reflexive.

The area outside the venue was filled with various vehicles—most were for the media, celebrities, and brand representatives, while a few were for transporting models. Established models like her, with fame and a team, had dedicated drivers for pick-up and drop-off, while new models had to walk or take public transportation.

This year, she had seen many new faces, full of energy and boundless potential. It couldn't help but remind her of herself over a decade ago and that challenging period of her life.

The sky was gloomy, drizzling with a cold wind blowing fiercely. Her breath turned into white vapor when exhaled.

Winter in Europe is colder than in Jiangcheng.

As she approached her car, Jiang Yu's phone rang.

It was Pei Chutong calling.

She gestured for her assistant to get into the car first and walked towards the railing while answering the call, "Hello? Tongtong..."

"No, just finished. I won't be heading back that quickly."

"We'll talk about it later."

With long strides, she leisurely descended the stairs, speaking and smiling. As she turned, her gaze casually swept past the flowerbed and stone pillar, catching a glimpse of someone crouching nearby.

Very familiar.