Forbidden To Be Tempted

Before walking out of the building, Cheng Suran adjusted her emotions.

The car was waiting at the corner, and as she looked at it from afar, her chaotic heart calmed down slightly. She walked over and got into the car as if nothing had happened.

The song "Winter Garden," which she loved, was playing from the speakers.

"Ranran..."

Sitting by the window, Wen Ruoxian turned her head and smiled at her, handing her phone. "I bought you a suitcase, it just arrived. You can use it for your business trip tomorrow."

On the screen was the logistics information of an order from the official website of RIMOWA.

Cheng Suran was stunned: "But I have a suitcase."

"It's been used for several years, and it's time to get a new one. Last time you said that it was badly scratched at the airport. If the old one doesn't go, no new one can take its place." Wen Ruoxian spoke in a gentle tone.

Cheng Suran insisted: "It's okay, it can be used for a while, but since you bought it, we can keep it at home as a spare." She unconsciously rubbed her fingers, her smile was weak, "Thank you Ruoxian."

She has always been used to frugality, and she doesn't like to spend money recklessly. She wants to save even a little bit of money, and to ensure that her income is continuous, so that she has enough sense of security.

Wen Ruoxian's gaze fell on her hand, his expression froze, and she was silent for a while and asked, "Did the signing of the contract go well?"

"Huh? Cheng Suran looked puzzled.

"You're not in a good mood."

"..."

Wen Ruoxian stretched out her index finger, lightly poked her forehead, and laughed teasingly: "You can't hide any emotions from me."

"How?" Having been exposed, Cheng Suran was slightly embarrassed, and was curious how she could see that she was different from usual.

"Every time you're in a bad mood, you rub your fingers and it turns red."

Wen Ruoxian grabbed Cheng Suran's hand and covered the reddened skin as if cradling a treasure.

Between her fingers, she felt the warm touch, and Cheng Suran shrank back slightly, feeling a bit uneasy. She looked into the deep and gentle eyes of the woman in front of her, and her emotions gradually calmed down. Wen Ruoxian had this kind of magic; she could effortlessly soothe all the ripples in her heart.

"It's nothing. It went smoothly, and I've already signed. I'll be staying at that hotel for three days and two nights next Wednesday." Cheng Suran avoided discussing the reasons.

Wen Ruoxian stared at her for a moment, and then glanced at the file bag before nodding gently, "Let's go. Take a good nap this afternoon, and I'll drive you there."

"Mm."

Cheng Suran withdrew her hand.

The car drove onto the main road, and Wen Ruoxian glanced at the shadow of the building in the rearview mirror, lost in thought...

Ever since meeting Jiang Yu again, Cheng Suran felt as if a certain mechanism inside her had been triggered. Memories from the past occasionally startled her at first, but later on, she got used to them, accepting that both memories and reality were part of her.

No one loved herself more than herself.

With work becoming busy, time passed by quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was already Wednesday.

In one week, Cheng Suran had almost finished reviewing the meeting materials. The client requested her to be ready at the hotel by 2 o'clock in the afternoon. She packed her luggage early and prepared a simple lunch for herself.

Ruoxian went out of town for a meeting yesterday, so she was the only one at home.

Working in this field meant constantly flying to different places according to the changing meeting locations.

After finishing lunch, Cheng Suran took a short nap. Then, she put on a relatively formal black silk half-sleeved shirt and loose straight-cut trousers. To avoid appearing dull and dark, she deliberately wore a pair of pearl earrings.

Her dressing style had been influenced a bit by Jiang Yu. It emphasized simplicity and comfort, with a focus on texture and design. In her daily life, she often dressed in "black, white, gray, beige, and camel" colors. Only when going out for fun or feeling particularly good would she try some bright colors and trendy styles.

Ten minutes before two o'clock, Cheng Suran arrived at the entrance of Yunjin Lihua Hotel.

After many years, the hotel's main entrance remained unchanged, with its magnificent fountain square and two rows of lush tree-lined paths. Everything looked familiar.

In the past few years, every time she passed by this area, she deliberately avoided looking, thinking that returning to this place would be a daunting challenge for her. But now, as she stepped into the hotel lobby, she felt surprisingly calm.

She looked at the elevators and recalled how she had run out of here years ago, stumbling and chasing after Jiang Yu's figure. Then, she helplessly watched her leave, chasing after her car, running and running until she couldn't run anymore...

How foolish.

Cheng Suran turned her head away, and then she walked towards the front desk.

The conference will last for three days, and the organizers arranged for the attendees to stay in hotel rooms, one person per room. Cheng Suran wasn't the first to arrive; the foreign guests had arrived yesterday, and the male interpreter she was paired with also arrived earlier than her.

"Please take your room card. It's a suite on the twentieth floor, in the middle," the front desk staff said with a smile.

A suite?

A single person staying in a suite?

Cheng Suran was puzzled as she took the elevator to the twentieth floor. She swiped the room card to enter and took a look around. It was indeed a two-room suite, with a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom.

As expected of a luxury brand, they were really generous.

She pushed her luggage into the bedroom, organized her things, and then returned to the living room. Suddenly, she heard a knocking sound on the door.

Opening the door, she was stunned to see the person standing outside. "Miss Jiang, is there something you need?"

The woman stood there quietly, with one hand in her pants pocket, and her tall and straight figure exuded a cold and imposing aura. When she saw Cheng Suran, the corners of her lips curled up in a faint smile.

"Is it convenient to go in and talk?"

Cheng Suran stepped aside, "Yes."

Jiang Yu stepped into the room, glanced around, and then turned to her. "Are you satisfied with the room?"

"Mm."

"Intensive mental work requires the utmost comfort for the body, so I arranged a suite for you, hoping you'll be comfortable."

"Miss Jiang, you really took the trouble," Cheng Suran politely nodded, but her intuition made her ask one more question, "Is it the same for everyone else?"

Jiang Yu shook her head, "They are all on the eighteenth floor."

"..."

As expected.

Jiang Yu continued, "I'm next door to you."

For a moment, Cheng Suran almost asked if it was intentional, but if she said it out loud, the nature of the matter would change from business to personal. She didn't want to talk about personal matters with Jiang Yu, nor did she want any interactions outside of work.

"Okay," Cheng Suran held back and just nodded.

Today, she wore all black, exuding a sense of steadiness with a touch of solemnity. However, it wasn't dull; the pearly white and round pearls added a touch of luster to the dark color, making her even more charming.

Jiang Yu gazed at her, seemingly able to sense what was on her mind, and slowly said, "I did arrange it on purpose."

"I wanted to be closer to you."

"Miss Jiang, I don't want to discuss personal matters."

"I want to."

Cheng Suran's words got stuck.

The silence became a bit awkward.

"Ranran..." Jiang Yu called her softly, "Do you hate me?"

Cheng Suran was taken aback by the question, her eyes lowered, and after a long while, she finally uttered two words, "I don't."

How could she hate her?

Without Jiang Yu, she probably wouldn't have been able to smoothly start her own business and take a step forward. She had only harbored some self-hatred in the past, but it had already passed, it was all over.

"Then you..."

Jiang Yu wanted to say something more, but she saw Cheng Suran raise her head and point at her watch, saying, "Miss Jiang, it's two o'clock. Don't we need to prepare in advance?"

"Right."

She swallowed her words back.

…

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The meeting started at three o'clock, and foreign guests began to enter the hall in succession. The large conference hall was filled with around two to three hundred people, and every seat was occupied.

In the southeast corner of the hall, there were three gray interpretation booths, resembling three small houses. Each booth was about two meters apart, and inside were the interpreters corresponding to each language. They worked in pairs, allowing for smooth cooperation. The tables in the booths were equipped with the necessary devices, meeting materials, and the interpreters' personal computers.

Both the English and Italian interpretation teams were from Yisheng, and when they saw Cheng Suran, they were nearly astonished. As for the French interpretation team, the other male interpreter who partnered with Cheng Suran was hired by the organizers from another company, and his skills were quite good too.

The interpretation for the three languages proceeded simultaneously, with each team taking turns every fifteen minutes, allowing the other to rest.

Simultaneous interpretation required maintaining high levels of concentration. When her partner was translating, Cheng Suran didn't idle either. She repeated key words repeatedly while considering various ways to rearrange sentences. When it was her turn, she felt no pressure at all.

The small interpretation booth was like a world of its own.

About half an hour into the meeting, Jiang Yu took the stage to speak. It happened to be Cheng Suran's break, so she drank some water and stepped out of the interpretation booth to take a breather.

From her vantage point, she could clearly see the whole stage.

Jiang Yu stood tall and elegant, with a side profile that resembled a perfectly sculpted masterpiece. The corners of her eyes and eyebrows were faintly drawn, and her lips had a dark crimson color. From head to toe, she exuded a captivating aura of cold aloofness.

She stood there, exuding a commanding aura as if looking down upon the world.

After all these years, she seemed to have changed, and yet remained the same.

She had become even more alluring, with a mature charm adding to her presence, like a ripe and luscious red fruit waiting to be plucked. And that face, up close, Cheng Suran remembered that her skin was still as delicate and smooth as before, with no sign of a single wrinkle near her eyes.

Cheng Suran gazed at her intently and couldn't help but admit that even now, she still couldn't resist being enchanted by this beautiful woman.

When she encountered someone so stunning in her youth, she would never forget them in this lifetime, and her heart couldn't hold anyone else...

The meeting lasted for two and a half hours, and the first day's work had come to an end. However, for the interpreters, their tasks were not over yet. The dinner event followed, and they were assigned to accompany and interpret for several industry leaders.

Cheng Suran had the privilege of being once again paired with the "fashion freak" Aunt Morgane.

However, Aunt Morgane didn't remember her anymore.

Being an accompanying interpreter during a dinner was more demanding than simultaneous interpretation or consecutive interpretation. At the banquet table, the wine flowed freely, and everyone enjoyed themselves, except for the interpreters.

As soon as the industry leaders spoke, whether the interpreters were eating or not, they had to immediately be on high alert and ready to interpret at any moment. So, after such a meal, the interpreters usually couldn't eat their fill. Some even dared not drink water, afraid that going to the restroom might delay their work.

Cheng Suran had only eaten a few scallops and caviar, and her stomach growled with hunger, but she couldn't fully relax and enjoy the meal.

After dinner came the banquet.

The foreign guests changed into evening gowns, and Cheng Suran continued to accompany "Fashion Freak" Morgane. This kind of occasion was her first experience, and the novelty outweighed her hunger. She was so hungry that she lost her appetite...

At nine o'clock in the evening, the banquet ended.

Cheng Suran no longer felt hungry. After returning to her room, she couldn't wait to take a shower, dry her hair, and then sit down to review the materials for the next day's meeting.

There was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

From outside came Jiang Yu's muffled voice, "It's me."

Cheng Suran's heart fluttered, hesitated for a moment, and then got up to open the door.

A soft, warm yellow light spilled out, blending with the corridor's illumination. Jiang Yu stood outside the door, holding two bags. Her cold and aloof demeanor showed a touch of softness.

She was still dressed in her evening gown, a champagne-colored long dress with a deep V-neck that trailed elegantly on the floor, revealing a high slit on the side up to her thigh, both elegant and seductive.

Cheng Suran looked at her, her heart inexplicably fluttering. "Is there something you need?"

"I noticed you didn't eat much for dinner, so I brought some snacks. Consider it a late-night supper," Jiang Yu raised the paper bag in her hand, gracefully passing by Cheng Suran and entering the room.

Cheng Suran: "..."

The hem of Jiang Yu's dress brushed against her feet, feeling cool and silky, very comfortable.

Jiang Yu placed the paper bag on the table and took out the food containers, one square and one round, both made of ceramic with wooden lids adorned with the hotel's logo.

She opened each container, revealing waffles in the square one and fruit yogurt parfait in the round one. The dishes were delicately presented, inviting to the eye.

Cheng Suran gazed at the waffles, and her calm heart rippled ever so slightly.

"I remember you used to like these," Jiang Yu smiled and handed over the utensils.

That year, they went on a trip together, visited hot springs, and after some activities by the pool, they got tired and hungry. They had some snacks while resting. She would never forget how Ranran ate like a little hamster.

[So you like these.]

[Thank you, sister.]

Their conversation echoed in Cheng Suran's ears, and felt nothing but irony and amusement. Her just-washed and blow-dried hair was fluffy and messy, covering half of her face and concealing her expression.

"Ranran?" Jiang Yu moved the tableware.

Cheng Suran regained her focus, shook her head, and said, "I don't feel like eating now."

Jiang Yu was stunned, "Why?"

"People's preferences and tastes can change."

"..."

The two stared at each other.

The air solidified like the skin on yogurt.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Yu said softly, "Then what do you like to eat? I'll go check the restaurant again."

Cheng Suran was about to speak when her phone, placed nearby, rang.

"Sorry," she whispered, picked up the phone, and glanced at it. It was Wen Ruoxian. She quickly rushed into the bedroom to answer the call.

Before she closed the door, Jiang Yu heard a name:

"Ruoxian..."

Ruoxian?

Who is it?

Could it be a partner?

The hotel room had excellent soundproofing; people in the bedroom couldn't hear anything from the living room, leaving only the silence in the air. Time passed, one minute after another, as Jiang Yu stared fixedly at that door.

She waited until it finally opened.

Cheng Suran came out from inside, holding her phone, with a hint of unfinished smile in her eyes. Two dimples appeared on her cheeks, and when she looked up and saw Jiang Yu, the slight curve of her lips gradually flattened, and her smile faded.

It seemed like she just remembered there was someone else in the room. Her gaze swept over the desserts on the table. "Miss Jiang, thank you for your kindness, but I won't be eating anything tonight. It's better to take them back."

Jiang Yu stared at her phone for a moment, "Okay."

She silently packed the food box, lifted the paper bag, turned around, and walked towards the door. At the moment her outstretched hand was about to touch the door, it paused.

In a prolonged silence, she turned back around.

"Girlfriend?"

The light and shadow were sparse, and Cheng Suran stood under the lamp, wearing a thin nightgown. Her slender legs looked as white as paper, like a pure and elegant white lotus, only to be admired from afar.

Gentle and beautiful.

Jiang Yu gazed deeply at her, with an inscrutable darkness in her eyes.

She imagined Cheng Suran treating others with tenderness, being spoiled in someone else's embrace, and experiencing all emotions for someone else. Suddenly, she felt an indescribable feeling, feeling somewhat suffocated.

"What?" Cheng Suran was puzzled.

"The call."

"No."

Jiang Yu nodded and prepared to leave. Cheng Suran seemed to remember something and her expression changed slightly. "Miss Jiang, I hope you won't pry into my privacy anymore. There needs to be some boundaries between people."

"Sorry," Jiang Yu said softly, "I offended Miss Cheng."

After saying that, she immediately left and closed the door.

...

Cheng Suran stood silently in place, staring at the closed door in a daze.

She sensed a subtle feeling of strangeness.

Did she unintentionally show something that could be misunderstood? The call was answered in the bedroom, and to prevent eavesdropping, she kept her eyes on the bedroom door, speaking softly, and the conversation was nothing more than casual greetings.

How did Jiang Yu jump to the conclusion that she was someone's girlfriend?

It was the same during the last contract signing too.

Why...

She seems to care a lot.

Is it the benefactor's desire to control or is it due to genuine affection and concern?

Thoughts surge like tides, unstoppable in an instant. Those hidden and subtle thoughts break through the surface. Suddenly, she wonders what would happen if she were to say "yes." How would Jiang Yu react?