Captive Moon: Redeemed the Wrong Temptress (GL) - Chapter 10

If it hadn’t been for that sudden chill, Jiang Yunong would never have spoken so decisively. She would have been shy and hesitant.

But the moment Bai Lan turned to leave, it felt as if she had taken Jiang Yunong’s soul with her. Along with this cold-sensitive body and the warmth it had just absorbed.

Jiang Yunong clung to her words to suppress her trembling.

“Would I disturb you?” Bai Lan asked, her eyes still swollen.

Bai Lan blinked, a few lingering teardrops clinging to her lashes.

“How could I?” Jiang Yunong murmured softly, the regret of her impulsive question beginning to fade. “You can’t keep sleeping on the sofa or the floor, can you? With the weather so cold, sleeping there will only worsen your cold.”

“Then… I’ll warm the bed for you,” Bai Lan offered, finally agreeing with a reason she’d found for herself.

“Go wash up. There’s a spare toiletries set in the cabinet—feel free to use it. I’ll tidy up here.”

Jiang Yunong hoped Bai Lan wouldn’t notice that the toothbrushes and cups were a matching set.

“Okay, I’ll be quick,” Bai Lan said obediently, heading to the bathroom.

Jiang Yunong was starting to figure out how to interact with Bai Lan. She needed to give clear instructions and grant Bai Lan full autonomy. Otherwise, Bai Lan would never dare to do anything Jiang Yunong hadn’t explicitly mentioned.

By the time Jiang Yunong finished sweeping, Bai Lan had already washed up. Her hair was still damp at the tips, her cheeks flushed with warmth as she walked toward Jiang Yunong.

Jiang Yunong gazed at Bai Lan’s rosy complexion and glistening face, unable to resist reaching out, hoping to draw some warmth from her.

Bai Lan offered no resistance. She not only obediently allowed Jiang Yunong to embrace her but also pressed closer, gently placing a hand on Jiang Yunong’s waist, transferring a sliver of warmth.

With Bai Lan’s soft, fragrant form in her arms, Jiang Yunong’s consciousness slowly began to unravel.

Jiang Yunong’s breath tickled Bai Lan’s ear, yet it also brought her a profound sense of peace.

“Feeling warmer now?” Bai Lan gently brushed her cheek against Jiang Yunong’s head. The softness of her cheek pressed against Jiang Yunong’s hair.

“Mmm…” Jiang Yunong felt like she was drifting through a warm afternoon dream. “Let’s go to sleep, Yunong,” Bai Lan murmured, holding Jiang Yunong close as she slowly moved them toward the bed.

She lifted the covers and gently pulled Jiang Yunong down beside her.

Jiang Yunong shivered violently, the cold gripping her entire body. Immediately, she was completely enveloped in an undeniable warmth. A single embrace could ward off all the cold.

“You should get some sleep,” Jiang Yunong said, not refusing Bai Lan’s kindness. Perhaps I really do need someone to warm my bed.

Bai Lan watched Jiang Yunong close her eyes, her breathing evening out as she drifted into sleep. She lowered her head slightly, gazing at Jiang Yunong’s sleeping face. Reluctantly, she closed her own eyes.

The next morning, Jiang Yunong was jolted awake by her alarm. Before she could even wriggle out of bed, her hand groped blindly for the alarm clock.

Another hand beat her to it, silencing the alarm. That hand pressed against the back of her own, its touch smooth and warm.

Jiang Yunong sat up abruptly. She stared blankly for a full two minutes before finally spotting Bai Lan beside her and letting out a soft “Ah.”

“Good morning, Yunong,” Bai Lan greeted her. Seeing Jiang Yunong sitting up with her back exposed, she draped a robe over her shoulders. “How did you sleep?”

Jiang Yunong tugged the robe tighter and patted her cheeks. “Pretty well. What about you?”

She reached out to touch Bai Lan’s forehead. “You still seem a little feverish.”

“I feel much better,” Bai Lan replied.

“I’ll give you another dose of medicine later,” Jiang Yunong said, flicking Bai Lan’s forehead lightly. “You can’t just ignore it. You need to take the full course to get rid of it completely. Otherwise, it could cause long-term damage.”

“Okay,” Bai Lan murmured, lowering her head obediently.

“Can I make breakfast?” Bai Lan asked, following Jiang Yunong into the bathroom.

“Hmm…” Jiang Yunong hesitated, thinking about last night’s dinner.

“I-I’ll work harder on my cooking. I know it wasn’t good last night… please don’t be mad at me…” Bai Lan’s face flushed crimson.

“That’s not the issue. I’m not a picky eater. But I usually just grab a piece of bread to eat on the way to work in the morning.”

“The fact that you’re even helping me cook is already a huge help. I’m not mad at you. Just… remember to cook things thoroughly next time.” Jiang Yunong reached out and patted Bai Lan on the head.

She resolved to practice her cooking diligently.

“If you really want to help, you can feed the little ones. Just fill their bowls and leave them alone until five o’clock.”

After washing up, Jiang Yunong gave Bai Lan a quick instruction. Bai Lan went to the balcony to feed the pets.

Jiang Yunong watched her move with a noticeably lighter step, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved upward.

“Woman, woman, food!” Mango flapped his wings wildly.

“Coming,” Bai Lan replied obediently.

Hearing that Bai Lan’s tone was different from Jiang Yunong’s, Mango became unusually chatty. “No eat, no eat this. Tangyuan hungry.”

“You can’t eat Tangyuan’s food,” Bai Lan said. After filling Mango’s bowl, she crouched down to fill Tangyuan’s.

“No eat, food, Luo Yunjian,” Mango mimicked Bai Lan’s words, scoffing at his unchanging feed.

“I’m Bai Lan, not Luo Yunjian,” Bai Lan said patiently.

Mango continued to push his luck, and Jiang Yunong finally came to the balcony.

“She’s Bai Lan. Bai—Lan—not Luo Yunjian. No treats for you this morning.”

“Where did it learn all those swear words?” Bai Lan wondered, itching to tape the parrot’s beak shut.

“I don’t know. I never taught it any. But it used to perch nearby when I was watching palace dramas with… with someone.” Jiang Yunong poked Tangyuan’s fluffy head.

“Sister, you can let Tangyuan out if you’re in the room. Just don’t let her go into the living room—it’s too big and hard to catch her. And remember to close the windows. As for Mango, he’s too bouncy. I’m afraid you won’t be able to control him, so don’t let him out.”

“Okay,” Bai Lan agreed.

After making sure Bai Lan finished her medicine, Jiang Yunong packed up her bag.

“Call me if you need anything. Feel free to use anything in the house, and don’t hesitate to ask if you’re unsure about something. You can do whatever you want. I’ll get a spare key made for you when I get home tonight so you can go out whenever you like.”

She grabbed a bag of bread, gave Bai Lan one last reminder, and headed out.

Bai Lan pondered for a moment, then decided to practice her cooking skills. She went to the kitchen to see what ingredients were available.

When Jiang Yunong arrived at her workstation, she found Deng Hao sprawled in her chair, looking utterly nonchalant.

“How’s the filing going?” Deng Hao asked with a smug grin.

Jiang Yunong’s anger turned into a bitter laugh. She grabbed the thick stack of documents beside her and, without a word, slammed it down on Deng Hao’s head.

“Hey, hey, no need to get physical,” Deng Hao said, finally getting up and moving aside.

“Take your dirty chair with you and stop being an eyesore. If you don’t want to do the filing, then you have no claim to the results either,” Jiang Yunong said, using the tactic Bai Lan had taught her yesterday.

“Weren’t you the one who insisted on doing it?” Deng Hao’s expression darkened slightly.

“Really? But Team Leader Yan heard you say you couldn’t handle it anymore,” Jiang Yunong said, waving the USB drive in her hand. “I’ll have Xiao Ya and the others confirm the contents later. As for the inspection, we won’t trouble you with that.”

Deng Hao’s face turned grim. Where was the smug grin he’d worn earlier? As Jiang Yunong left with the USB drive, his eyes burned with venom.

“It’s already so polished,” Xiao Ya sighed after reviewing Jiang Yunong’s additions. “Will you be presenting the PowerPoint too?”

“It’s fine. You still have your deadline today, right? I’ll just finish it up. I’m afraid I’ll have to present the slides too—my social anxiety is kicking in.”

They were discussing this at their workstations. Hearing Jiang Yunong’s words, one person remained in the corner, watching them intently, nearly crushing the paper cup in their hand.

After Jiang Yunong confirmed the backup plan with other team members, Deng Hao suddenly appeared behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Let me check it over anyway. It’s still a task Team Leader Yan assigned to me.”

He forced a smile, his face wrinkling into a grotesque expression.

“Sorry, I still have some writing to finish. I probably won’t have time for you to ‘check’ it today.”

Support Captive Moon: Redeemed the Wrong Temptress (GL)