I Married My Love Rival (GL) - Chapter 17

What did she call Luo Simo over for again?

The sudden interaction had made Ji Ran almost forget what she wanted to show her.

“It’s nothing big. I just wanted to show you a few sketches I drew this afternoon.”

She had a sudden burst of inspiration this afternoon and drew a few drafts for a brooch and a bracelet.

Pressing Luo Simo into the nearest office chair, Ji Ran picked up her portfolio and eagerly flipped it open for her.

“It’s these ones. Take a look. What do you think?”

Luo Simo looked at the sketches on those pages. It was clear she was looking intently. However, lacking any sense of aesthetics, she didn’t know how to comment.

She had never had any artistic talent.

“They’re quite good-looking. Well-drawn.”

After struggling for a long time, Luo Simo could only manage those dry words.

Ji Ran blinked, looking at Luo Simo, seemingly still expecting her to say something more. So, Luo Simo continued to praise:

“They’re very beautiful. The finished products should turn out excellent.”

Saying this, Luo Simo nodded as if affirming her own judgment.

Ji Ran realized that Luo Simo wasn’t an expert in this but was trying to be supportive, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“I don’t need your professional critique. I just need you to think they’re pretty.”

Luo Simo immediately replied, “They’re pretty!”

“I also have a digital rendering here. Take a look. If it were you, would you buy it? The materials aren’t expensive. The price would probably be around two thousand [Yuan].”

The rendering on the screen had color and luster, making it easier to judge.

“Yes, it’s worth the price.”

“That’s good enough!”

Although Ji Ran knew Luo Simo’s answer was biased due to their relationship and couldn’t be a proper reference, she was still delighted.

“Could you print out those sketches and send me the rendering? I can take them to the branch company manager. It will be more convincing.”

“You want to show these to them?” Ji Ran was surprised.

“Yes.”

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just a little excited.” Calming down, Ji Ran continued, “These are too casual. Let me organize them in the next couple of days and create a portfolio. Then I’ll send it to you, okay?”

“Of course.”

Closing the portfolio, Luo Simo saw another slightly older bound book next to it.

“May I look at this one?”

This was Ji Ran’s high school book. She had kept it with her. Whenever she drew something she liked or had a new inspiration, she would bind it in there, and she still used it today.

“Go ahead. It’s fine. It happens to have my competition entry too.”

Ji Ran pulled her small round stool over and sat next to the desk. Because the stool was a bit short, the desk came up to her chest.

Leaning on the desk, Ji Ran opened the book for Luo Simo.

“There are some childish works and strange things in there, don’t mind them.”

The book was opened. The first few pages were already slightly yellowed, emitting an old scent.

“These are childhood scribbles. I didn’t have the heart to throw them away.”

Luo Simo flipped backward as Ji Ran explained.

“This is the competition entry. I drew this series inspired by the wisteria flowers on the corridor outside our art studio.”

Luo Simo couldn’t help but look at Ji Ran. Ji Ran, looking at the drawing, continued, “My spot in the art room was by the window. I could see the corridor outside just by looking up. After observing the wisteria through the four seasons, I suddenly got the inspiration.”

In this moment, Luo Simo really wanted to ask her, Did you ever see the other person under the corridor?

However, Luo Simo ultimately held back and didn’t ask.

But when she turned the page, what appeared was a sectional view of the corridor seen from the window. The wisteria vines wrapped around the wooden frame formed the roof, and the hanging branches created a green curtain. There were four scenes, from spring to summer, from autumn to winter. Whether it was the green leaves or the clustered small purple-red flowers, every stroke was exquisitely detailed.

Only the person sitting on the corridor was merely sketched with a few lines, outlined as a dark shadow.

“People sometimes came to the corridor. I once accidentally saw a couple kissing at night, so I felt awkward about looking down later. However, one person came here often to eat and read, but I’m slightly nearsighted and couldn’t see clearly who it was.”

Ji Ran recalled with a smile, then pointed to her eyes.

“Especially after painting, my eyes would be dizzy from concentration. Also, I only had laser eye surgery two years ago. So, regarding that person, I had to draw them this way. After all, all I saw from far away was a blurry figure.”

So that was it. After hearing this, Luo Simo couldn’t help but recall: Maybe when I looked up at the window, Ji Ran upstairs was rubbing her eyes and looking down.

Thinking this, Luo Simo’s lips curved upward. She rested her elbow on the table, cupped her chin, and stared intently at Ji Ran.

“Can you see me clearly now?”

“Of course, I can see you clearly.”

Luo Simo didn’t reply again, just quietly watched Ji Ran, her gaze somewhat intense, causing Ji Ran to swallow hard. She couldn’t help but slowly sit up straight from her leaning position on the desk.

“Why are you staring at me?”

It’s a little scary.

And that look in her eyes is not normal.

The setting sun spilled onto the desk. Due to the angle of the window, it perfectly divided the desk into light and shadow. As Ji Ran slowly retreated, she hid her entire body in the shade, leaving only Luo Simo bathed in the reddish sunset light.

Cupping her cheek, Luo Simo’s distinct features, which often made her look a bit severe, now seemed gentle and, in a different way… playful?

Ji Ran doubted her own eyes.

In the sunlight, Luo Simo’s pale skin seemed to have a layer of glow. Through the light, the tiny downy hairs seemed to sparkle softly, making her look soft and delicate.

There was no sharpness in her eyes. The deep amber pupils reflected the light streaming in from the sunset. In that light, Ji Ran saw herself. Ji Ran, who had recently rehabilitated her understanding of light and shadow through painting, couldn’t analyze the light and shadow on Luo Simo now.

Because…

She was so beautiful that she was glowing everywhere.

And this person, who was glowing, suddenly crossed the line between light and shadow in the room and leaned in to ask, “Ji Ran, may I kiss you?”

They rarely called each other by name. They usually referred to each other with pronouns when communicating or seeking each other out.

Hearing Luo Simo call her name so formally all of a sudden gave Ji Ran an indescribable surge of emotion. And following such a formal name was such an intimate request.

Ji Ran, predictably, grew nervous and her face flushed.

“May I?”

Luo Simo supported herself, moving a few inches closer.

It was clearly a soft question and a request, yet the movement of approach carried a subtle pressure.

“Wh-where do you want to kiss?”

Ji Ran tilted her head up, her hands instinctively gripping the edge of the desk.

“Where do you think I want to kiss?”

A light laugh escaped Luo Simo’s curved lips. She countered Ji Ran’s question, which also seemed to answer it. Then she tilted her head slightly to the left, seemingly finding the right angle.

Everything was under Luo Simo’s rhythm. As she gently leaned closer, Ji Ran obediently closed her eyes.

A soft sensation came from her lips.

It felt as though a feather was gently brushing against her wildly beating heart.

An itch…

The itch wasn’t just in her heart. The round stool Ji Ran was sitting on had no back. Worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep herself steady, Luo Simo held her waist. Instantly, Ji Ran sensitively straightened her back.

But as the kiss deepened, Ji Ran’s long-strained back finally relaxed, resting against Luo Simo’s palm, allowing the pressure to shift.

Ah, my brain is oxygen-deprived. I can’t keep this up.

Finally, Luo Simo pulled away from Ji Ran’s lips, raising her head. Still seeming unsatisfied, she licked the corner of her own mouth, her eyes holding a deep, hazy look.

Ji Ran gasped, staring blankly up at Luo Simo. Only now did she realize that Luo Simo had moved from the office chair at some point and was sitting directly on the edge of the desk, leveraging her long legs.

That was how she had been leaning over and holding Ji Ran’s waist.

This, this, this…

This is too embarrassing!

This is my office—a super formal place!

Ji Ran’s face was red, and she couldn’t speak.

What was wrong with me just now?

Why did I act like I was seduced by a temptress?

Although the two had been intimate before, the memory of that night was ultimately hazy, covered in a veil.

It was nothing like the vividness of what had just happened.

“I’m going to cook dinner now. Do you want to join me, or rest in the art room for a bit?”

Luo Simo’s eyes twinkled with amusement. She stretched out her long legs and slid off the desk.

I don’t need to “rest a bit,” that’s too exaggerated! This person is clearly making fun of me!

Ji Ran shouted inwardly, but in reality, she blushed and replied softly, “You go ahead and cook.”

“Alright, I’ll call you for dinner later.”

Luo Simo left. Ji Ran buried her head in her hands.

This person is too good at this!

Calm down, calm down. They are legally married partners. This is very normal, very normal.

I need to get used to it. I need to get used to it.

And, as a matter of fact, she didn’t object.

Ji Ran’s turbulent heart finally calmed down by the time dinner was ready.

Luo Simo, meanwhile, appeared to be in a great mood.

In the evening, Jiang City was still very hot in late September. Luo Simo didn’t go to the gym, opting instead to swim a few laps in the outdoor pool.

Mainly, after watching Ji Ran, she felt she needed to cool down.

The gym would only make her hotter, but swimming wouldn’t.

Ji Ran showered upstairs. Standing on the balcony, she saw Luo Simo below. Her vision was now perfectly clear after her laser eye surgery.

She had to admit, Luo Simo’s figure was truly excellent.

No excess fat, slender yet not bony. It was an athletic physique, but without overly exaggerated muscles. And, most importantly.

She had a shapely chest and hips, and long legs.

In contrast, Ji Ran’s own figure was quite ordinary, plain enough to blend instantly into a crowd.

But thankfully, she wasn’t bad-looking. She had even been called a “campus goddess” once.

Luo Simo stepped onto the ladder to get out of the pool, wiped the water from her face, looked up, saw Ji Ran, waved at her, and walked toward the indoor area.

Ji Ran followed her downstairs and found Luo Simo in the small bar area by the pool.

This area was designed by the villa’s previous owner for parties and entertaining guests, but the two of them rarely used it.

Luo Simo was simply too lazy to walk to the kitchen, so she poured herself a glass of water nearby. Seeing Ji Ran approach, she took out another glass from the bar cabinet.

Ji Ran sat down on a stool, her gaze fixated on the bathrobe Luo Simo was wearing.

Is this the same one she wore last time?

“What would you like to drink?”

Walking around the bar, Luo Simo sat down beside Ji Ran.

Seeing her whole body, Ji Ran was even more certain.

No wonder it didn’t fit me well last time. It was Luo Simo’s bathrobe!

It fits Luo Simo perfectly right now!