Forbidden To Be Tempted

How come it's like checking household registration?

Jiang Yu smiled, openly admitting, "Just curious."

"Oh."

Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and stared at the densely packed Spanish and Russian sentences on the tablet screen. Lately, whenever she had free time, she would look at them, much like an elementary school student learning English.

The work was over, and they were about to part ways, not knowing when they would meet again. Thinking about this, Jiang Yu felt a bit reluctant. Suddenly, a phone ring interrupted her thoughts, and she turned around to walk to the balcony to answer the call.

Soon, she ended the call and came back, looking at Cheng Suran with a look of anticipation.

"Ranran, there is an event, and I would like to invite you to participate."

"What?" Cheng Suran finally looked up.

Jiang Yu tapped her phone a few times and handed it to her, "On the 5th of next month, 'ETERNO' China will hold an trade fair for the new spring and summer series. Industry editors, media, buyers, as well as some VIP clients, will be invited to explore the details of the new clothing line, listen to design concepts, and even try on the pieces. Are you interested?"

On the screen is an invitation letter.

After the end of the two fashion seasons every year, the brand will routinely arrange this event, which is also an indispensable part of the operation process in the fashion industry. In the past, the management was at the headquarters in Milan, but starting from the beginning of this year, it's been organized separately in various major regions.

Cheng Suran read the invitation letter and said, "But I'm not a VIP customer."

"It doesn't matter, as long as you are invited, you can go. Besides, haven't you bought ETERNO's clothes? You're both a customer and a partner of our company, so you can join the VIP status without any restrictions," Jiang Yu explained patiently.

"After becoming a VIP, you can enjoy a lot of exclusive rights and services, such as private tailoring, door-to-door selection of new products of the season, one-on-one guidance from stylists, and the opportunity to watch shows at Fashion Week. You seemed to like that black cardigan you bought last time, right? Having more options is always a good thing."

Cheng Suran was thinking about it, and as she listened, she suddenly laughed out loud: "Miss Jiang, is this a sales pitch?" 

"That's right."

"Since the boss is fighting in person, of course, I have to save her some face."

Unexpectedly, she agreed so readily that Jiang Yu was a little taken aback, she was already ready to tire her lips and fight a long battle, and now it went so smoothly, but it gave her a sense of ambiguity.

"Okay, I'll send you the link, fill in the information and submit it directly." She said while operating her phone, her fingertips stopped suddenly.

Cheng Suran didn't have a social media account.

Jiang Yu looked up and asked uncertainly, "Can I send it through text message?"

"..."

The two looked at each other without saying a word.

After a while, Cheng Suran silently clicked on WeChat, called up the QR code, and handed it over: "Scan me."

There was a trace of shock in Jiang Yu's eyes, and the corners of her mouth were curled up again. She pretended to be calm as she nodded and scanned the QR code, which showed a successful addition with a landscape picture avatar and the name "Ran."

"Now you can send it," Cheng Suran urged.

"After I send it, will you delete me?"

"…I won't."

Jiang Yu forwarded the link and casually changed her nickname to "Ranran."

"After submitting, a barcode will be displayed, and you can enter the venue by swiping the code on the day of the event, and I will help you upgrade to VIP after the event is over." 

After speaking she stood up from her seat. "Well, I'll leave first."

"No need to see me off."

Cheng Suran didn't lift her head.

The door was opened and closed, and the room became completely quiet, and the smell of vetiver iris in the air also faded. After doing what Jiang Yu said, Cheng Suran put down her phone and glanced at the closed door.

She's gone.

The medicine Jiang Yu bought last night was still on the table.

Staring at the scattered pill bottles, she felt a bit dazed. Almost involuntarily, she picked up her phone, searching for nearby pharmacies – the closest one was at the top of the list.

682 meters, roughly 1,400 meters round trip.

Excluding the time to buy medicine and checkout, to run so much distance in seven or eight minutes, it must have been a full sprint, an all-out effort, a burst of speed. No wonder Jiang Yu was so out of breath last night; Cheng Suran even heard her heartbeat...

After she became an adult, Jiang Yu was the first person who cared for her and attend to her subtle emotions. Even though she later had considerate friends like Ruoxian, they couldn't replace the feeling Jiang Yu gave her.

The first time is always unforgettable.

It is a blazing flame in the ice and snow, and it is the meticulous and comprehensive comfort after being scarred.

It's the feeling of "so someone does care about the insignificant me."

This feeling came back with Jiang Yu's appearance. Although she is no longer fragile and insignificant, she still feels at ease and extremely happy about it.

Cheng Suran's nose felt a bit sour. She knew she had once again become soft-hearted.

She went back to WeChat and clicked on Jiang Yu's profile.

It is the main account.

With a rabbit profile picture, the nickname "JangCoCo," and very few posts in the Moments section.

and Cheng Suran's heart was filled with complex emotions. She let out a sigh and changed Jiang Yu's nickname to Chinese — "江可可" (Jiang Coco)

….

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

Not long after returning, Jiang Yu met Mina.

The Chief Agent, who had been busy overseas all this time, finally appeared. However, no one knew about it. Mina didn't go to the company to report to Tian Lin first; instead, she bypassed Tian Lin and contacted Jiang Yu directly.

At that time, Jiang Yu was comparing fabrics in her private studio in the ETERNO building.

When she received the call from Mina, she packed up the messy things in the studio and drove to SIENAMODEL. There is still an hour before the end of working hours. Most of the models and agents work flexibly, and there are not many people in the company.

Mina was sitting on the reception sofa outside the office, drinking hot water leisurely. Her face was bare, her hair slightly disheveled, and she wore very plain clothing. No one could tell she was a significant figure in the industry.

But those eyes were as sharp as a knife.

"You're finally back, my esteemed chief agent." When she saw Mina from a distance, Jiang Yu smiled and greeted her while entering the password to open the door.

Mina also smiled and stood up: "I've been waiting for you."

The two entered the office one after another.

Jiang Yu has been busy with ETERNO recently, and hasn't come back for a few days, the office seems a bit empty and deserted. The assistant was working outside, so she poured water for Mina and they sat down together.

"Thank you," Mina said politely.

Without drinking any water, she handed Jiang Yu a tablet. On it were some data, documents, and email send records.

"All the tracking data of the last quarter are here. The newly signed external models are affected by the contract process, so there will be delays or inaccuracies. I will make up for it after a while. As for the rest..." She provided a summarized report on her work over the past six months. Her speech was as fast as ever, and her thoughts were clear.

Jiang Yu read and listened, with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Did you talk to Tian Lin about this?"

"Not yet."

"Actually, you should have talked to her first."

"But I'm more accustomed to talking to you." Mina remained calm.

Jiang Yu looked at her and didn't speak.

Before promoting Tian Lin to the position of Executive Vice President, Mina had always reported her work directly to Jiang Yu and approached her for other matters as well. Unlike other agents who had to follow the company's rules and regulations, Mina had the privilege of direct access to Jiang Yu, a power she gave herself.

Later, Tian Lin became the Vice President, just when the company was developing overseas business, Mina was sent out, and Tian Lin became responsible for all affairs of the brokerage department.

She could feel that Mina was not so pleased with Tian Lin.

In terms of qualifications, contacts, and resources, Mina is superior to Tian Lin in everything, but in terms of comprehensive ability, Tian Lin is definitely not inferior to Mina, and she is a person who has been cultivated by her. Placing these two generals in roles that suited them best was the only way to truly unleash their potential.

She had her own considerations.

Seeing that she was silent, Mina smiled tactfully: "I'm usually too busy to take care of so much, so let's do things conveniently, it's all for the good of the company."

Jiang Yu nodded, expressing her understanding, and said meaningfully: "For the company and for me, both you and Tian Lin are very important and indispensable."

Mina just smiled.

"How is Bai Lu recently?"

"Her? Pretty good. In this fashion season alone, she walked in 58 shows, and she can't even finish all her photoshoots. Her overseas schedule is booked until before Christmas. Personally, I think with her current fame and status, she doesn't need to walk in so many shows just for exposure, but she has her own ideas, and I usually don't interfere."

"Besides work?"

"Eating, drinking, and self-management are all good. Everything is normal."

"Mm."

Jiang Yu didn't dwell on it further.

Mina observed her expression and continued: "Bai Lu is stable now, we don't need to worry too much, but the other models in the company, I think several have great potential. For example, Song Jiayao..."

A trace of coldness flashed in her eyes.

"She did a good job on the cover this year." Jiang Yu didn't realize it and continued to discuss this topic.

The sun outside the window slowly penetrated the thick clouds.

....

After adding each other on WeChat, Jiang Yu didn't exchange a single word with Cheng Suran, and sometimes she would look at the profile picture in a daze, wanting to say something, but worried that it would arouse Ranran's resentment. Apart from work, they have no personal affairs to talk about, and the only thing she can look forward to is the next meeting.

In a blink of an eye, the city has entered late autumn, and the day of the trade fair is getting closer and closer.

Today is Jiang Yu's thirty-eighth birthday.

From 12 o'clock, she kept receiving well-wishes from friends, including red envelopes and gifts. She was on WeChat all day long, from dawn to sunset, but never heard from Cheng Suran.

Her brimming expectations turned into brimming disappointments.

In the evening, Jiang Yu stood on the balcony of her home, watching the last ray of light in the sky disappear from a distance. Her mood was like the setting sun, gradually dimming from brightness to darkness.

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

For a moment, she thought it was Cheng Suran's call, but when she looked down, the ID showed "Tian Lin".

A faint sense of loss welled up in her heart.

"Hello?"

"Sister Yu, Ms. Ye called me today and said that she was hospitalized with a serious illness and was going to undergo an operation. She's asking you for 500,000 yuan." Tian Lin spoke quickly as if she was reporting about work.

Jiang Yu was startled, her attention was attracted by the "serious illness", and the corners of her mouth curled up: "What serious illness?"

"It seems to be breast cancer. Her accent was a bit heavy, and I couldn't hear very clearly..."

"Cancer."

She couldn't conceal the hint of satisfaction in her tone.

If it weren't for this phone call, she might have forgotten that she still had a mother.

There are only fragmentary images in her memory, but each frame is a sharp knife cutting her heart. The things she saw, heard, and experienced during her childhood would follow her throughout her life like a birthmark, reminding her of her inadequacy and ugliness.

After a long silence, Tian Lin seemed to sense her emotions, and asked tentatively, "Sister Yu, do you want me to give the money?"

"No."

Jiang Yu said lightly.

The last rays of the setting sun disappeared into the sky.

"Alright, but..." Tian Lin hesitated for a moment. "From her tone, she seems very anxious. I'm worried that if she can't get the money, she might resort to extreme measures that could be detrimental to you. For example... in terms of public opinion."

If they stir public opinion, they must find a way to calm it down, which means that Jiang Yu has to tear open her old wounds with her own hands and expose her bloody self to the public's view.

That's what she's worried about.

Jiang Yu also understood.

"I'm not that vulnerable."

"Mm..."

"From now on, don't answer her calls again."

"I understand."

After hanging up, Jiang Yu closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

From the age of 25, she paid Ms. Ye 5,000 yuan a month, a form of alimony, a legal obligation she couldn't escape. Only those closest to her knew how much she longed to sever ties with her biological family.

Her so-called "family members" all know that she is now famous, rich, and influential, and want to suck her blood. There have been a lot of small troubles these years, but she suppressed them all.

She could give alimony, but nothing more.

Hearing such news on her birthday was bitterly ironic.

The sky had turned completely dark. 

Jiang Yu turned back into the house, where the aunt nanny had prepared dinner. With her mood less than cheerful, she hastily ate a few bites, tidied up, and retreated to her bedroom.

She just held the phone and waits...

Waited until late at night.

11:58 PM.

Jiang Yu leaned back against the bed, so sleepy that she couldn't keep her eyes open, she opened WeChat without giving up, staring at the motionless profile picture of the large tree. Ranran probably forgot.

11:59 PM 

The dim light enveloped her solitary figure. The screen of her phone illuminated her dazed eyes.

At exactly midnight.

She really had forgotten.

Looking at the deserted chat box, Jiang Yu smiled sadly, exited to get ready for bed, and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the red dot at the entrance of Moments, showing Ranran's profile picture.

Mm?

She tapped curiously.

My Ranran: Happy birthday to my dear little mosquito*~

*wenzi

Below are two photos.

A piece of birthday cake, a photo of Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian, Wen Ruoxian was wearing a crown ornament on her head, and making a "heart gesture", the two of them were almost cheek to cheek, smiling happily.

It is now November 1st.

There is only one minute difference between 11:59 and 12:00.