Captive Moon: Redeemed the Wrong Temptress (GL) - Chapter 18

Jiang Yunong frowned, taking a moment to process Bai Lan’s words.

“So, she threw hot water on you?” Jiang Yunong’s grip on Bai Lan’s hand tightened slightly. “That doesn’t make sense. She shouldn’t even know you. Did you two run into each other?”

“No, it’s just… I went to get you some water and saw you confronting two other people. One of them said you’d brought your girlfriend to the office…” Bai Lan hesitated, her words coming out slowly. “I just glanced at her a few times. She’s the tall, slender one with that bookish air, like a student council president, right?”

Jiang Yunong felt a slight sense of relief. “Yes… that’s her.” Jiang Yunong didn’t elaborate. “So, how did you get burned?”

“I was distracted while getting the water, looking around, and… well, I wasn’t paying attention.” Bai Lan’s eyes darted away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Jiang Yunong paused for a moment. Then she burst out laughing.

Bai Lan’s face turned crimson. “How embarrassing…”

“It’s okay, cough cough. At least she didn’t throw the hot water on you.” Jiang Yunong’s anxiety finally eased. She patted Bai Lan’s head. “Just be more careful next time.”

“It’s not a serious burn. I barely feel it.”

The turmoil in Bai Lan’s heart was far more painful than the stinging on the back of her hand. But… Jiang Yunong seemed so genuinely concerned.

“What’s wrong? Is the ointment starting to work?” Jiang Yunong finally noticed Bai Lan’s distress and murmured soothingly.

Bai Lan shook her head. “It’s nothing.” Her denial was instinctive. The tears welling in her eyes betrayed the bitterness in her heart. I just promised not to act this way toward Jiang Yunong, and here I am, doing it again.

“You’re clearly upset. How can it be nothing?” Jiang Yunong remained as gentle as ever. “You’re going to cry again. What’s wrong, Lan?”

Bai Lan flinched at the touch, pulling away and stubbornly biting her lip. Tears welled up again.

She sobbed once, looking up at Jiang Yunong. “I don’t feel very well, but it’s okay. I just need a moment.”

“It’s okay, tell me,” she said, feeling a momentary pang of inexplicable pain. She helped Bai Lan sit down. “I won’t be angry. Just tell me.”

Bai Lan leaned closer to Jiang Yunong, still wiping her tears. “Yunong, did Luo Yunjian come to see you today, or…”

Hearing the question, Jiang Yunong’s nerves tightened for a moment. She froze for a moment, then forced herself to take a deep breath. Bai Lan means no harm.

After five calming breaths, Jiang Yunong finally spoke. “Sister, that was just a coincidence.”

Hearing Jiang Yunong call her “sister” again, Bai Lan’s racing heart finally began to slow. “Their company wants to collaborate with us, so they came for a tour. We just happened to run into each other on the way,” Jiang Yunong added. “I… I don’t want to see her,” Jiang Yunong said.

Did she really not want to see Luo Yunjian? Did she really not want to ask Luo Yunjian even once, “Why?”

“You think I sought her out?” Jiang Yunong’s smile crumbled as she asked the question.

Bai Lan shook her head. “I just saw you two walking together, and it made me feel uneasy.”

Bai Lan took Jiang Yunong’s stiff hand and placed it on her soft chest. “Can you feel it?” Bai Lan tilted her head, looking at Jiang Yunong.

Jiang Yunong’s mouth hung slightly open, too stunned to speak. “…It’s okay, Sis,” Jiang Yunong murmured. “I won’t go looking for her anymore… There was no chance for us after she got together with that director.”

“Then, does it feel a little better here?” Bai Lan asked, taking Jiang Yunong’s hand again.

Jiang Yunong’s fingertips trembled as Bai Lan pulled her hand up and pressed it against her chest. “Mm-hmm.”

Was Bai Lan flirting with her? All she knew was that she genuinely enjoyed this feeling.

She remained silent for a long time. It was the wind seeping in from the balcony that finally snapped her out of her reverie.

She quickly withdrew her hand, afraid to spend any more time with Bai Lan. “I’m a little hungry,” she said, trying to give Bai Lan something to do. “I’ll check if the soup’s ready and then stir-fry a dish.”

Bai Lan, having gotten everything she wanted, left contentedly.

After Bai Lan left, Jiang Yunong wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She became as composed as she was when working at the bar.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yunong sat on the bed, still somewhat dazed. In her hazy state, she suddenly realized: Bai Lan’s actions and questions were all because she was jealous.

“I love you! I want to be in a relationship!” Mango suddenly squawked from the balcony, his voice piercing the air.

Jiang Yunong jumped in fright, then felt her mood plummet as she heard his words. “Woman! Luo Yunjian!”

“Mango, no snacks for you tonight!” Still calling for Luo Yunjian!

Furious, Jiang Yunong confiscated Mango’s treats. Equally enraged, Mango remained on the balcony, deliberately calling Bai Lan “Luo Yunjian” to annoy her. The incessant squawking gave Jiang Yunong a headache.

During dinner, Bai Lan told Jiang Yunong about what she’d learned about Deng Hao that day, including the incident where he’d fallen and gotten his pants dirty.

“Sister, were you sticking up for me?” Jiang Yunong’s mood brightened at the latter news.

“Exactly. I couldn’t stand seeing him bully you so shamelessly. That ‘uncle’ he mentioned must be a high-ranking executive at your company, right? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so arrogant.”

“Definitely. But I’m not sure who it is,” Jiang Yunong said, looking troubled. “Oh, right, Yunong, I meant to tell you this at lunch but forgot,” Bai Lan said, suddenly remembering what she’d wanted to say. “In the future, you should use someone else to do these things. Or at least make it less obvious. Everyone knows you were behind today’s incident. Next time, I’ll definitely plan it better.”

Before bed, the two lay on the bed, scrolling through their phones. As Jiang Yunong was replying to messages from friends and colleagues, she suddenly saw a name.

Her heart clenched.

It was a message from Luo Yunjian.

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