Marriage at Thirty - Chapter 33

Lin Ran smiled silently, closing her eyes and allowing the warmth of the embrace to envelop her.

The room was quiet.

The silence was broken by footsteps. They turned their heads and saw Feng Ming walking out of the study.

Feng Ming paused upon seeing the scene, then turned and went back into the study.

Lin Ran let out a laugh, exchanged a glance with Fu Linling, and then went to get her gift—a wool blanket that was incredibly soft and comfortable.

Since the study was taken over, Fu Linling had been mostly staying in the living room, so as soon as Lin Ran touched the blanket, she felt she had to bring it back for Fu Linling.

She also brought lanolin cream for Zhang Wu, and a few jars of Manuka honey for her friends.

“Feng Ming, this is for you.” Lin Ran picked up a jar and ran into the study to give it to Feng Ming.

“Thank you,” Feng Ming said.

“You’re welcome. Want to stay and eat with us tonight?” Lin Ran asked.

“No need. You just got back, so I won’t intrude on your time,” Feng Ming said, taking her notebooks and honey and bidding them farewell.

Fu Linling went into the kitchen and turned on the range hood. She felt the hood was particularly energetic today, rumbling away. Outside, she could hear Lin Ran putting things away, sometimes running, sometimes humming a song.

Like the green plants on the balcony, the apartment was blooming with life again.

“Wow, so many dishes!” Lin Ran sat down, looking at the four dishes and one soup—a spread usually reserved for guests.

“Welcome home,” Fu Linling said.

Lin Ran tapped her can of cola against Fu Linling’s warm water glass. After dinner, she said: “Qingzi wants to have a meal with you. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it is, though I will be a bit busy this week,” Fu Linling said. Although she wasn’t fond of socializing, she was willing to meet Lin Ran’s good friend.

“Then let’s aim for the weekend.”

“Mhm, you arrange it.”

The next day, Lin Ran went to the cafeteria for lunch and was greeted by many people. She answered numerous questions about her trip before finally finding time to eat.

As people began to disperse, Lin Ran took a few jars of honey from her bag for Qin Shanshan, Wang Ke, and several other colleagues Fu Linling got along with.

The trip had been long, and it wasn’t practical to prepare souvenirs for everyone in the cafeteria, so she could only give gifts to those she and Fu Linling were close to.

Qin Shanshan and Wang Ke were quick to understand, immediately tucking the jars into their pockets and thanking her profusely.

Two days later, after Fu Linling finished dinner at home, Lin Ran pulled her to the sofa.

Lin Ran took out a brand-new shoulder and neck massager and placed it on Fu Linling’s neck: “It finally arrived. Come and try how effective this is.”

“When did you buy this?” Fu Linling asked.

“A couple of days ago.”

To be precise, it was the day her father visited. His unintentional remark had reminded her—Dr. Fu was indeed straining herself, constantly bending over.

“How is it? Does it help?”

“It’s not bad. You should try it too.”

Lin Ran tried it herself. It wasn’t as good as a massage therapist, but it certainly provided relief.

Fu Linling was usually busy and couldn’t go for a massage anytime she wanted like Lin Ran. Being able to use this right after dinner was quite convenient.

“How much was it?” Fu Linling asked.

Lin Ran simply said: “If you use it often, you’ll get your money’s worth.”

Fu Linling smiled and didn’t reject her kindness again. Besides, it was something both of them could use, and Lin Ran’s work was also hard on her neck.

On Saturday, Fu Linling wore another dress Lin Ran had bought for her—the one she had worn to meet her mentor. It was elegant, sophisticated, and highlighted her long legs.

Lin Ran, however, was dressed casually in a tank top and cargo jeans. She wore different studs in her five or six ear piercings, looking effortlessly cool as they headed out.

Their styles were quite different. Fu Linling secretly glanced at her a few times, which Lin Ran noticed.

“What are you looking at?”

“Does this… hurt?” Fu Linling carefully pinched her ear cartilage, where a diamond stud was embedded, sparkling under the light.

“It hurt a lot right after I got it. I couldn’t even turn over in my sleep for half a month, or the pain would wake me up,” Lin Ran finished, then turned to look at Fu Linling’s ear, surprised. “You don’t have ear piercings?”

“Mhm.”

“No wonder. I’ve never seen you wear earrings,” Lin Ran said.

“I’m afraid of pain.”

Lin Ran laughed, playing with her earlobe: “Doctors are afraid of pain?”

“Of course. Doctors are human, too. I’m not just afraid of pain; I’m also afraid of dying,” Fu Linling said, hooking her lip into a smile.

“What are you two doing in public?” A voice came from diagonally behind them. Liang Qingbo walked up and looked at them. “Oh, my mistake. I thought you were kissing.”

“You’re late. You’re paying tonight,” Lin Ran joked.

“I’ll pay,” Fu Linling said from the side. She paused when she saw Liang Qingbo’s outfit.

Liang Qingbo’s style was similar to Lin Ran’s, only trendier and edgier. Her short tank top exposed a sliver of her waist. She had even more ear piercings, and her arm had a tattoo that covered half of it. She also had one on her chest.

“I don’t care who pays, as long as you don’t fight over it,” Liang Qingbo picked up the menu and began ordering.

Although they both knew each other’s names, Lin Ran formally introduced them.

Fu Linling drank her water, covertly observing Liang Qingbo. She had a small, oval face and narrow, almond-shaped eyes that gave her an intimidating look when she stared directly at someone, but seemed pure and harmless when lowered.

Liang Qingbo finished ordering and handed the menu to Lin Ran. She noticed Fu Linling’s gaze, followed it, touched her own arm, and quirked a smile: “Did I scare Dr. Fu?”

Lin Ran looked up, puzzled.

“No, I was just curious if that’s a tattoo or if it’s painted?” Fu Linling asked.

Lin Ran added: “I drew a henna tattoo on Dr. Fu last time, so she probably thinks yours is drawn too.”

“Mine is a real tattoo,” Liang Qingbo smiled. “I’m a tattoo artist.”

“That’s cool,” Fu Linling blurted out.

Liang Qingbo raised an eyebrow. Seeing that Fu Linling was sincere and not just being polite, she laughed: “I thought intellectuals looked down on our line of work.”

“It’s undeniable that some people have prejudices against tattoos.” Fu Linling paused, looking up at her. “Just as some tattoo artists may have prejudices against intellectuals.”

Liang Qingbo was momentarily stunned, then shook her head, laughing: “Dr. Fu is indeed humorous and witty.”

Lin Ran proudly raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not humorous,” Fu Linling said very seriously.

Both Lin Ran and Liang Qingbo were amused by her earnestness.

Liang Qingbo dropped the pretense, ordered two bottles of wine, and boldly started a conversation with Fu Linling: “I’ve never had a doctor friend. Can you tell me about your daily work?”

“There’s not much to tell. I spend my day looking at other people’s mouths. I’m afraid it might ruin your appetite if I talk about it,” Fu Linling said.

“How bad could it be?” Liang Qingbo was curious.

Fu Linling opened a picture of a tobacco-stained tooth. Liang Qingbo peered at it, and her face immediately twisted: “Oh, good, good. Good thing I quit smoking early!”

Lin Ran laughed from the side: “Showing you pictures of lungs wouldn’t work. Turns out we should be looking at teeth.”

By the end of the meal, Liang Qingbo and Fu Linling had chatted happily. They both formed a more concrete opinion of the other, having previously only gotten bits of information from Lin Ran.

All three had consumed wine, so they called a designated driver.

“I’m heading back first. Lin Ran, think carefully before answering me about what I said earlier,” Liang Qingbo waved.

“Will do.” Lin Ran and Fu Linling also got into the car.

“What did she say?” Fu Linling asked curiously.

“She’s planning to go independent and open a tattoo studio. She wants me to invest,” Lin Ran said.

“Does she need a lot of capital?” Fu Linling asked.

“Not really. She won’t open a huge place to start with. My main worry is that she’ll suddenly quit. She can’t stand being bossed around, and when she quits, she goes traveling,” Lin Ran admired this quality in her friend, but as a business partner, it made her worry.

“Maybe once she becomes the boss, she’ll develop a sense of responsibility,” Fu Linling said.

“Maybe. So I’m weighing that factor now.” Lin Ran suddenly smiled. “What if all the money is lost?”

Fu Linling considered it seriously: “Based on my savings and salary, supporting the two of us won’t be a problem. Besides, your paintings are so good. You’ll be able to get rich again with your own hands soon enough.”

Lin Ran smiled silently. The car took a turn, and she leaned into the curve, resting her head on Fu Linling’s shoulder: “I’m a little dizzy. Let me lean on you for a bit.”

“Mhm.” Fu Linling adjusted her shoulder to make her more comfortable.

The back seat was quiet.

Lin Ran looked up at Fu Linling’s profile. Her gaze slowly fell to her ear. She couldn’t resist reaching out to play with it again. It was a little cool and soothing. She quickly played with the earlobe until it was red.

She really wanted to bite it.

“Can I stop the car here?” the designated driver asked.

“A little further ahead, in that parking spot,” Fu Linling directed the driver.

The two walked into the elevator. Lin Ran looked at their reflection in the mirror and took Fu Linling’s hand.

Fu Linling turned her head to look at her.

“It feels like it’s been a long time since we held hands,” Lin Ran said.

There weren’t many opportunities to hold hands at home. It only happened occasionally when they went out together.

“Let’s go for a walk in the park tomorrow and see the lotus pond during the day,” Fu Linling spread her fingers. The gap was quickly filled by the other hand.

“Sure.” Lin Ran readily agreed, completely forgetting that she had complained that it was too hot to go to the park during the day last time.

The two walked into the apartment hand-in-hand, didn’t let go when they opened the door, and didn’t let go after sitting down.

Lin Ran looked over at Fu Linling, rested her head on her shoulder again, and thinking of something, asked: “You really don’t dislike tattoos?”

Fu Linling thought she was referring to Liang Qingbo’s profession and the investment matter and replied: “I don’t dislike them, and you don’t need to worry about my personal feelings.”

“I do care.” Lin Ran sat up, turned to face her, and smiled: “I have a tattoo.”

Fu Linling subconsciously looked at her arm: “Didn’t that one wash off?”

“That was drawn, but I have a real one.”

Fu Linling blinked in surprise, studying her closely: “Where?”

Lin Ran stood up and lifted her shirt, revealing a small section of her waist. A small tree was tattooed near her right hip.

A few roots trailed down along her hip bone, but the very ends were obscured by her underwear, preventing a full view and subtly leading to a suggestive area.

“When did you get that tattooed?” Fu Linling’s finger traced a leaf.

The cold touch made Lin Ran involuntarily shiver. She held her breath, and the lines on her waist became more prominent, especially the one that followed the roots, angling down and disappearing beneath her underwear. Her voice was slightly strained: “A few years ago, I think.”

The finger brushed the edge of her underwear. Lin Ran’s breathing quickened slightly. She looked down at Fu Linling, her arms drooping softly to her sides. Her shirt then fell back down, covering her lower abdomen.

And then, the hand was withdrawn.

Lin Ran stared at her, her expression seemingly innocent but carrying the bewildered feeling of desire cut short.

At that moment, Fu Linling pulled her phone out of her pocket, and it was vibrating non-stop.

A phone call had come in.

Lin Ran let out a sigh of relief, but then felt as if she was the only one whose heart was racing.

So, while Fu Linling answered the phone, Lin Ran placed both hands on her shoulders. Before Fu Linling realized what was happening, Lin Ran lowered her head and pressed her lips against hers.

As Fu Linling froze in shock, Lin Ran’s tongue quickly slipped in, touched the other’s tongue, and immediately retreated. She then pinched Fu Linling’s stunned cheek.

Fu Linling couldn’t hear what the person on the other end of the phone was saying. She instinctively reached out to grab Lin Ran’s hand, but Lin Ran escaped.

“Answer your phone,” Lin Ran said with a laugh and ran away.