Hints at GL - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

L’oscar

On Whitehall, adjacent to 11 Downing Street, L’oscar is a Victorian luxury hotel that boasts not only two world-class restaurants but also an ESPA five-star flagship spa.

Ruan Mu, stepping in ten-centimeter heels, had just crossed the vast lobby to the service counter when she unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure.

The woman held a light-colored coat over her arm and wore a sleeveless, slim-fit short dress. her supple black hair was meticulously tied back—her usual simple and elegant style.

“Please fill out this form. We also offer treatment rooms, private spa suites, ice fountains, and private sleep pods…” a waitress was explaining something to her.

“Alright, thank you.”

Ruan Mu walked slowly to Jing Han’s side. Before she could say a word, the other woman seemed to sense something and looked over.

Jing Han was surprised; she hadn’t expected to run into Ruan Mu here. The moment their eyes met, she sensed a subtle shift in Ruan Mu’s gaze. It seemed that since that conversation which she wasn’t sure counted as a reconciliation or not, Ruan Mu hadn’t been as fervent toward her as before.

The Christmas holiday was almost over, and Jing Han hadn’t even intended to hold a grudge over the fact that the woman had forcibly kissed her. Was Ruan Mu really planning to keep this cold war going?

Jing Han gave her a polite nod, not expecting much of a response.

However, Ruan Mu glanced down at the book Jing Han had placed on the counter and asked out of the blue, “Jing Han, is it necessary to be this hardworking?” Ruan Mu pursed her thin lips. “Coming out for a spa day, yet you’re still carrying Investment Banking?”

Jing Han hadn’t expected Ruan Mu’s first words to be like this. She was surprised, but the natural way Ruan Mu initiated the conversation quickly dispelled her reservations.

“No,” Jing Han paused as she was about to pick up her pen, her tone softening slightly. “I just finished listening to a lecture by Joshua Pearl and brought it along.”

As soon as she said this, Ruan Mu’s fine brows knit together.

“So you went to a lecture by yourself again and didn’t invite me?” Ruan Mu looked directly at Jing Han, seemingly getting angry again. “Jing Han, do you intend to keep treating me this way?” She tapped her fingertip lightly on the table.

Ruan Mu’s words caused Jing Han to frown as well.

Admittedly, when they first started at UBS, although Jing Han always found Ruan Mu’s values bizarre and her habit of attracting “bees and butterflies” annoying, she had to admit that Ruan Mu was a very diligent worker.

So, no matter how much she resented Ruan Mu’s pestering, she would still read every book Ruan Mu recommended and occasionally go to UCL or LSE with her to attend lectures.

But that was in the past; it seemed she hadn’t done that once since her return.

As for the reason, both she and Ruan Mu knew it perfectly well.

She didn’t understand why Ruan Mu was asking her this now. Even putting everything else aside, their relationship had been so strained these past few days—there was no way she was going to go over and coax Ruan Mu.

What exactly did Ruan Mu think they were? Did she have to be responsible for her?

“Weren’t we fighting just a few days ago?”

Jing Han originally wanted to respond coldly, but Ruan Mu’s intense reaction from the other day had left a deep impression on her. She made a subtle concession. “If you really mind, I’ll notify you next time.”

Her words didn’t move Ruan Mu much. Instead, the woman pursed her crimson lips.

“Excuse me, are you both here for a spa treatment?”

Seeing them stop talking, the receptionist politely interrupted. “Since you know each other, would you mind being arranged in the same room?”

Before Jing Han could react, Ruan Mu spoke up immediately: “I mind. Please separate us.”

Jing Han frowned at Ruan Mu. The woman’s expression looked serious. Was she really not finished being angry?

“Separated, then?”

The receptionist confirmed once more and lowered her head to take out another form. “One moment…”

The atmosphere remained stiff.

Jing Han sighed inwardly. Finally, as the form was handed to Ruan Mu, she compromised. She gave the receptionist a faint smile. “I don’t mind. Please arrange us together.”

As if knowing Ruan Mu wouldn’t refuse twice in a row, she asked softly, “Can we go now?”

Ruan Mu truly didn’t say anything else.

Inside the black-marble-themed room, there were only two white loungers. One section of the wall featured a built-in flame decoration; just looking at it made one feel a bit warm.

Ruan Mu had already taken off her dress, her body wrapped only in a towel.

In truth, the reason she had been at odds with Jing Han for so long was entirely because she was infuriated by that woman.

Ruan Mu had promised Jing Han she wouldn’t use mind-reading on her, and she had indeed kept that promise. Thinking about it now, the duration of this single promise had far exceeded the length of any of her previous relationships.

But she had promised Jing Han; she hadn’t promised not to use it on others.

Before their argument that day, Ruan Mu had privately met with Jing Yang and asked again about what happened during the three years Jing Han spent back in China. Although Jing Yang knew her intentions and was very reluctant to answer, it didn’t matter whether she answered or not—Ruan Mu read her mind directly… It was an unexpected result.

In those three years, Jing Han had actually almost gotten married?

Ruan Mu didn’t know what she was angry about. Choosing to remain single was Jing Han’s own choice; a loveless marriage was also Jing Han’s choice; and finally returning to London because she couldn’t stand the surrounding pressure was also her own choice.

So what exactly was she angry about?

After learning this fact, Ruan Mu thought she would be disappointed by Jing Han’s compromise and eventually lose interest in her.

But that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, she found it increasingly unbearable—why, out of so many choices, did that woman not choose her? Was she really worse than a loveless marriage?

Jing Han entered, her supple black hair unusually let down. Since only her vital areas were wrapped in a towel, her long legs and shoulders were exposed, making her look sexy in a way that differed from her usual self.

Ruan Mu leaned back on the lounger watching her, but the moment her gaze met Jing Han’s body, she looked away.

Jing Han frowned, Ruan Mu’s reaction was indeed a bit strange.

She remembered that they used to run into each other at the hotel swimming pool occasionally. Back then, the look Ruan Mu gave her was as if she wanted to devour her whole. Jing Han disliked that, so she never went back to that hotel again.

But honestly, she didn’t like the way Ruan Mu was being silent now either.

She didn’t understand why, even after she had conceded so much, the woman still wanted to act this way.

Two Black female massage therapists entered the room, finally breaking the silent atmosphere between the two.

Ruan Mu closed her eyes slightly as the therapist applied essential oil to her legs, pressing with balanced pressure. Unhappy or not, Ruan Mu’s mind was quite honest; images of Jing Han’s fair, slender legs and exquisite collarbones kept appearing in her mind.

Just thinking about it made her feel a bit overwhelmed.

“…Please turn over and lie face down.”

Ruan Mu steadied her mind, sat up from the lounger, and prepared to unwrap her towel. She unconsciously glanced to the side, and the beautiful curve of Jing Han’s back immediately came into view.

She saw those slender arms pressing the towel against her chest. Though it wasn’t perfectly clear, a glimpse of her side was visible the moment she leaned forward.

Ruan Mu caught her breath.

She tried to tell herself repeatedly that she couldn’t go on like this, but after pining for so many years, the mere fact of Jing Han lying naked beside her was enough to torture her.

After three years, the only person who could still make her heart itch like this was truly Jing Han and no one else.

Just then.

“Mhm…”

A weak, muffled groan came from the side. The therapist quickly lightened her movements. “Sorry, I’ll go easier.”

“Mhm,” Jing Han’s brows knit together in pain.

“What’s wrong?”

Ruan Mu glanced at her lower back and couldn’t help but ask, “Does your back hurt?”

Ruan Mu’s concerned tone made Jing Han feel a bit better. “Mhm, lumbar muscle strain,” she frowned, adding as the pain lingered on her skin, “I got it from working too hard in the China region for those three years.”

This was the first time Jing Han was willing to mention her time during the transfer.

Is this a slow compromise toward me?

Ruan Mu didn’t know, nor did she know when she would finally move this woman. Ruan Mu stared directly at Jing Han’s exquisite profile for a long time, then suddenly asked, “Do you still like this job?”

Jing Han was startled; she hadn’t expected Ruan Mu to ask that.

She remembered that three years ago, when they were still at UBS, there was a case that required daily overtime for several months. One night, Ruan Mu ran into her in the pantry. She was leaning against a cabinet, exhausted, with no energy to deal with Ruan Mu.

Ruan Mu had stayed there to rest with her, and neither of them spoke. Finally, when she mentioned she had to go back to work, Ruan Mu suddenly grabbed her. “Don’t go back. Tell me why you wanted to do investment banking, okay?”

Her thoughts drifted back to the present.

“I don’t know,” Jing Han replied softly. “I suppose I liked it once. I don’t know.” To the question Ruan Mu had asked three years ago, she now gave a different answer.

“I’m a bit tired now.”

For some reason, Jing Han’s heart felt heavy. “I don’t know if it’s my own problem or the environment.” Perhaps only when talking seriously about life could their emotions return to the times when they could occasionally get along in peace.

“But if this passion burns out, I don’t know what I should do.”

Perhaps because of that belated kindness, she was slowly letting down her guard.

“If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself to hold on.”

Ruan Mu looked at her, her gaze showing a rare expression of seriousness. “You can do whatever you want, but don’t do something you don’t like.”

The two made eye contact, and it seemed all those arguments melted into their hearts in an instant.

Jing Han pursed her lips and finally said two words: “Thank you.”