Captive Moon: Redeemed the Wrong Temptress (GL) - Chapter 12

The delicate fragrance of magnolia blossoms overpowered the oily, spicy scent of the noodles. Jiang Yunong instinctively caught the woman who had flung herself at her, wrapping her arms around Bai Lan’s waist as she casually closed the door behind them.

“I missed you so much,” Bai Lan repeated.

Once the intense longing had dissipated through the warmth of their shared embrace, Bai Lan, her ears flushed crimson, pulled away.

“I’m back.” It was a response of sorts.

Bai Lan stood less than half a meter away. Hearing those words, the joy in her eyes overflowed, radiating outward and touching Jiang Yunong’s face. Jiang Yunong smiled in response.

Bai Lan took her bag and carried it into the bedroom, and Jiang Yunong followed.

“Is your cold feeling any better?” Jiang Yunong asked.

Bai Lan stepped back slightly, then leaned in close, tilting her head toward Jiang Yunong. “Much better. Don’t believe me? Feel my forehead.”

“Or…” Bai Lan leaned forward, about to press her forehead against Jiang Yunong’s.

Jiang Yunong had to put her arm around Bai Lan’s shoulder to keep her from falling. Their foreheads touched.

“Ahem, good to hear you’re feeling better,” Jiang Yunong said. Only after they separated did she realize how close they had been. “What did you do this afternoon? Just play with them?”

“Sort of,” Bai Lan said, too embarrassed to admit she’d been trying to cook again.

“Have you fed them dinner yet? How much did you give them?” Jiang Yunong walked toward the balcony and released Mango, who had been cooped up for two days.

Mango, for some inexplicable reason, didn’t say a word. He simply flapped his wings and flew to the living room.

“I haven’t had time yet. You’re home early today,” Bai Lan said, putting food out for the two little creatures.

Tangyuan, nestled in Jiang Yunong’s arms, visibly perked up, squirming wildly to jump down and eat.

“The soup I’m simmering isn’t ready yet,” Bai Lan added apologetically.

“You made dinner too?” Jiang Yunong asked, finally giving in to Tangyuan’s relentless wriggling. She set the ravenous chinchilla down.

“Of course. Even when you get home early, it’s still five or six o’clock. Cooking dinner then would make it even later. Takeout isn’t healthy either. I just wanted to help in any way I could.”

Bai Lan blushed. “I know my cooking isn’t great, but I’m trying. Yunong, I just want you to come home and not be so tired.”

Jiang Yunong gazed at Bai Lan’s flushed cheeks and listened to her sweet words, her heart clenching involuntarily. “I’m not picky. It doesn’t matter if it’s delicious or not. The fact that you’re helping with dinner is already amazing,” she said, quietly reaching out and gently resting her hand on Bai Lan’s back.

Bai Lan felt the warmth on her back and snuggled closer into Jiang Yunong’s embrace. “But I still don’t want to make you something that tastes bad.”

“You’re so good to me. I want to be good to you too,” she murmured, resting her head on Jiang Yunong’s shoulder.

Jiang Yunong couldn’t resist tightening her hold. “You’re already good enough. Besides, it’s not that bad.”

“See? You’re even comforting me,” Bai Lan teased, as if determined to win this playful argument.

Jiang Yunong lowered her gaze and chuckled softly.

“How much longer for the soup?” Jiang Yunong asked, allowing her thoughts to wander for only half a minute.

“Half an hour,” Bai Lan said. “Then let’s go get a key made together and pick up some groceries while we’re out,” Jiang Yunong suggested, still flustered by Bai Lan’s warmth.

“Wear this,” Jiang Yunong said, rummaging through the closet for a new autumn outfit, not giving Bai Lan a chance to cling to her.

When she turned back to hand Bai Lan the clothes, Bai Lan had already unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt.

“Wait, wait a minute!” Jiang Yunong grabbed Bai Lan’s hand.

Bai Lan tilted her head, as if baring her body to Jiang Yunong was no more shameful than revealing her innermost thoughts.

Jiang Yunong’s mind raced as she gazed at the white jade magnolias blooming on Bai Lan’s shoulder and neck. The magnolia’s delicate pink petals, set against Bai Lan’s snow-white skin.

“I’ll go out. You change,” Jiang Yunong said, closing her eyes and exhaling a hot breath.

She hurried out of the bedroom, leaving Bai Lan to scratch her shoulder. Bai Lan quickly changed her clothes. She couldn’t deny she had meant to tempt Jiang Yunong.

If I could start a relationship with her, would I be safer?

“I know this neighborhood like the back of my hand,” Jiang Yunong said to Bai Lan as they walked to the market after getting the key copied. “If you get lost these next few days, feel free to call me.”

“Wouldn’t that bother you?” Bai Lan asked, keeping close behind her.

The evening market was a bustling sea of people, the crowd surging and jostling them.

“Of course not. I always have time to answer a call.”

Jiang Yunong turned to check on Bai Lan, just as two students cut between them, blocking her view. For a moment, Jiang Yunong panicked at the sight of Bai Lan’s absence.

After weaving through a group of people, Jiang Yunong finally spotted Bai Lan. They had only been separated for two minutes, yet the distance between them had already grown so vast.

Bai Lan stood frozen, jostled by the crowd like a lost pet, tears welling in her eyes.

Finally reaching Bai Lan, she reached out and clasped her hand tightly.

“Next time, hold on tight and don’t let go,” Jiang Yunong said, instinctively shielding Bai Lan from the jostling crowd.

“…Okay,” Bai Lan replied, her sobs subsiding as she pressed herself against Jiang Yunong’s back.

“I was so scared when you weren’t there,” she whispered.

“It was my fault for not paying attention,” Jiang Yunong said, tightening her grip around Bai Lan. “I’m sorry, Sister. I’ll hold your hand tighter from now on.”

She sighed, her mind still haunted by Bai Lan’s helpless expression, her heart aching.

Bai Lan lowered her lashes, a hint of tears shimmering beneath them. She gazed at their clasped hands, her lashes concealing a fleeting glint of mischief in her eyes.

“You’ve really improved today!” Jiang Yunong exclaimed, pleasantly surprised after tasting Bai Lan’s stir-fried noodles and soup.

“Really?” Bai Lan’s cheeks flushed crimson.

“Mhm! I’ll send you a recipe later. You can practice with it.”

While clearing the table after the meal, Bai Lan asked about her colleague.

“I followed your advice and mocked him relentlessly. Just as you predicted, he lost his temper and attacked me,” Jiang Yunong said, pulling up the surveillance footage on her phone.

“I’ve always thought the company’s rule against bringing work-related materials home was absurd. Afraid of theft, I installed a tiny camera on my desk.”

“Look.” Jiang Yunong showed Bai Lan the footage marked as “abnormal.”

Bai Lan watched a furtive man approach Jiang Yunong’s desk.

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