That evening, Jiang Rou meticulously prepared a candlelit dinner at home. The small crystal candlesticks flickered with warm, gentle light, and a faint scent of wax wafted through the air. The living room was filled with a romantic and intimate ambiance.
She changed into a black V-neck silk gown, the neckline daringly low, almost revealing too much. The silk clung to her body like flowing water, subtly rising and falling with her movements, accentuating her perfect waist-to-hip ratio. Eugene's bracelet sparkled on her wrist, the latest design from Shangguan Yun that hadn’t even hit the shelves yet.
She let her long hair cascade down, spritzing it with a seductive fragrance, and her eyeliner was perfectly drawn, enhancing the allure of her gaze. "Lin Yue, you’re back," Jiang Rou said, her voice more sultry than usual as she slowly approached Lin Yue, her hips swaying enticingly yet exuding an air of noble elegance.
"You’ve been working hard lately," Jiang Rou murmured softly, reaching for Lin Yue's hand and lightly caressing her palm with her fingertips. She led Lin Yue to sit at the dining table. "Let’s have some red wine tonight."
"1982 Bordeaux, your favorite," she said gracefully as she leaned down to pour the wine, ensuring that Lin Yue had a clear view of her neckline.
Jiang Rou was clearly well-prepared for the evening, which made Lin Yue feel a mix of nervousness and helplessness. "Try it," Jiang Rou held up the glass almost touching Lin Yue's body. "It’s from Petrus Winery."
The scent of perfume enveloped them, strong enough to be overwhelming, carrying that unique fragrance that quickened the heartbeat. "Another one of those perfumes," Lin Yue thought to herself with resignation.
"Lin Yue," Jiang Rou leaned in closer, her chest brushing against Lin Yue's arm as her red lips grazed Lin Yue's earlobe. "My parents called today; they said they miss us."
She deliberately elongated her words in a teasing manner. "They want us to visit and take a vacation together."
Lin Yue paused as she picked up food from her plate upon hearing Jiang Rou's words and set down her chopsticks. She looked up at Jiang Rou. "Really? When should we go?"
"Next week," Jiang Rou replied quickly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Just the two of us—no work, no interruptions..."
The implication in her words was clear; Jiang Rou's heated gaze seemed almost capable of burning Lin Yue. "If we go to America, it’ll take at least half a month..." Lin Yue pondered silently. "It’s been so long since I last saw her..."
But thinking of her parents made her realize it had indeed been a while since she had seen them. She nodded gently in agreement but didn’t show much joy on her face.
"Is Brother Chen not going?" She recalled Lu Chen. "He hasn’t been back in ages either."
"He’s not going back for now," Jiang Rou twirled a strand of hair around her finger, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "He said he has projects to oversee at work, but..."
She paused deliberately, locking eyes with Lin Yue as if sharing a secret and lowered her voice slightly: "I suspect he’s just afraid of being pressured into marriage."
Lin Yue couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Lu Chen avoiding marriage; she burst into laughter, brightening up considerably.
"That does sound like him," Lin Yue shook her head with amusement. "Even though his family has already arranged blind dates for him, he still avoids them."
Seeing Lin Yue’s long-lost smile lit up Jiang Rou’s eyes; she felt as if she were mesmerized by that radiant expression. She gazed at Lin Yue with affection, her heart racing—ever since meeting Su Yao, it had been a long time since Lin Yue had smiled at her like that.
"I haven’t seen you smile in ages," Jiang Rou said, her voice trembling slightly as she impulsively sat on Lin Yue’s lap and gently cradled Lin Yue’s face in her hands. "You really look beautiful when you smile."
Without any warning, she pressed a brief yet passionate kiss on Lin Yue's lips, the gesture so natural it felt as if they kissed like this every day. This kiss was not born from deliberate seduction but stemmed from a pure affection, a genuine appreciation for the person before her.
"I love you, Lin Yue," she whispered softly, "I truly love you."
Jiang Rou's eyes sparkled with undeniable love, and combined with the aphrodisiac perfume, it almost made Lin Yue feel as if she were dreaming. A flush spread across Lin Yue's face, her heart racing uncontrollably.
Caught off guard, Lin Yue didn't know how to respond; she hurriedly averted her gaze, grabbed her glass, and downed its contents in an attempt to dispel the sudden intimacy.
"I need to visit the Film Set tomorrow," Lin Yue said, shifting the topic as her fingertips unconsciously traced circles on the rim of her glass, desperately avoiding Jiang Rou's gaze. "I haven't been there in a while and want to talk to the director before I leave."
The words fell like a bucket of cold water on Jiang Rou, extinguishing all lingering flirtation. Her smile froze instantly, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She understood perfectly well why Lin Yue was suddenly concerned about the Film Set—who was there and what that person meant to Lin Yue.
Gracefully, she stood up from Lin Yue's lap and returned to her own seat.
"The Film Set?" Jiang Rou's voice remained gentle but carried a note of calmness. "There's no need to worry about the crew; Lu Chen just visited two days ago, and everything is going smoothly. You should just rest well."
She pretended to sip her drink nonchalantly, appearing calm, but her tightly clenched hand around the glass betrayed her unease.
"I still need to go before I leave the country," Lin Yue insisted, meeting Jiang Rou's gaze without compromise.
"Sure," Jiang Rou replied cheerfully, gently setting down her glass with a perfect smile. "Then I'll go with you."
Lin Yue lowered her head, distractedly murmuring an "mm." She had intended to go alone but realized Jiang Rou would never agree to that.
Suddenly, a wave of heat washed over her; Lin Yue unbuttoned a few buttons at the top of her shirt, feeling her cheeks flush.
"Xiao Rou, your new perfume... it makes me uncomfortable. Let's switch it next time," Lin Yue frowned and pressed her forehead with her hand. "I need to take a shower."
In the bathroom, hot water cascaded over Lin Yue's flushed body, yet the heat only intensified. She adjusted the temperature lower in an attempt to cool down both her body and restless heart.
Her thoughts began to drift uncontrollably towards Su Yao and the three small moles on her neck. Tomorrow she would see her.
The thought made Lin Yue even more restless, her heart pounding like a drum.
After showering, wrapped in a bathrobe, Lin Yue entered the living room and called Lu Chen in front of Jiang Rou to inform him that she would be going to the Film Set tomorrow but that Jiang Rou would accompany her.
Lu Chen immediately picked up on the hidden distress in her words on the other end of the line.
After hanging up, she found Jiang Rou standing in front of her with her back turned.
"Lin Yue, can you help me pull down my zipper? I'm going to take a shower too."
As she slowly pulled down the zipper, inch by inch revealing Jiang Rou's smooth and fair back, Lin Yue felt overwhelmed.
"Oh..." Lin Yue closed her eyes and cleared her throat. "All done. Um... I'm feeling a bit tired; I think I'll head to bed now."
A slight smile curved at Jiang Rou's lips as she walked into the bathroom.
After taking a shower, Jiang Rou climbed into bed wearing a sheer silk nightgown. She gently wrapped her arms around Lin Yue's waist from behind and pressed her lips against the nape of her neck.
Lin Yue remained still, eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. Jiang Rou said nothing, only tightening her embrace around Lin Yue's waist. Lin Yue felt the warmth radiating from her back, a mix of restlessness and helplessness filling her heart as she silently endured the moment.
The next morning, a series of urgent doorbell rings interrupted the quiet. Lu Chen stood at the door, looking anxious. "Rou Rou, there’s a problem with the contract at Jinding. Their legal department says you need to sign it in person. If we miss this contract, we could lose over a hundred million!"
"You!" Jiang Rou glared at Lu Chen, the two of them locked in a silent standoff for a few seconds. Finally, reluctantly, Jiang Rou turned to Lin Yue. "Lin Yue, it seems I have to deal with this issue first."
She walked over to Lin Yue and adjusted her collar gently. "You can go to the film set, but remember not to tire yourself too much."
Lin Yue nodded, watching Jiang Rou leave. The moment the door closed, Lin Yue exchanged a knowing glance with Lu Chen, both smiling in understanding.
Lin Yue started the car and headed straight for the film set. The scenery outside sped by—tall buildings flashed past and trees swayed as if the entire city was making way for her. Her emotions were a mix of excitement and anxiety, her heart racing in her chest.
"What will she think when she sees me?" Lin Yue wondered. "Will she blame me for not contacting her all this time?" The thought tightened her chest, a wave of unease washing over her. But more than that was an uncontrollable longing for Su Yao.
Upon arriving at the film set parking lot, Lin Yue parked the car and tidied her hair in the rearview mirror. Today she had chosen to wear a pink shirt paired with beige casual trousers, breaking away from her usual somber attire—youthful and vibrant, reflecting her current mood.
"I hope everything goes smoothly today," Lin Yue whispered as she pushed open the car door. Her heartbeat quickened as she walked step by step toward the film set, each step bringing her closer to Su Yao.
Jiang Rou stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in her office, phone pressed to her ear with an icy tone. "Zhang Zihao, Lin Yue went to the film set on her own today." Her long fingers lightly tapped on the window frame.
On the other end of the line, Zhang Zihao chuckled teasingly. "What’s wrong? Miss Jiang can’t keep track of her little girlfriend?"
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