I Married My Love Rival (GL) - Chapter 5

“Why didn’t you turn on the light?”

Ji Ran pushed the door open. The air-conditioning inside was a bit cold, making her shiver and clutch her bathrobe tighter.

“I like the dark.”

Luo Simo lifted her wine glass and took another sip. Tilting her head back, the long, fair curve of her neck tensed into an elegant line. She drained the glass in one gulp. In the silent night, the sound of her swallowing was distinct, as was the soft exhale after she finished drinking, both entering Ji Ran’s ears.

“In the dark, no one can see me clearly.”

The glass was set down on the bar, producing a crisp clinking sound of glass against tile.

Luo Simo’s dialogue was a bit over-the-top, Ji Ran secretly mocked. She was probably a little tipsy.

“But I can see you clearly.” Ji Ran leaned over to look at her, then sat on the high stool next to her, just like they had in the nightclub last night, only the sober person had changed.

“You’re smiling. Did something good happen?”

“Yes, something good happened.”

Luo Simo looked at Ji Ran but only smiled foolishly, without saying what it was.

“How much did you drink?”

This dazed, silly look meant she was definitely drunk.

“Just two glasses.” Pointing to the wine glass, Luo Simo continued to stare intently at Ji Ran. “I’m not drunk. You don’t need to worry.”

“Alright, you’re not drunk.”

Drunk people always say they aren’t drunk.

“Was the pool comfortable?”

“Comfortable.”

“Was the watermelon tasty?”

“How did you know I ate watermelon?”

“You smell sweetly of watermelon.” Saying this, Luo Simo leaned in to sniff, slowly moving closer to Ji Ran’s lips. “Especially here.”

Ji Ran was startled and quickly leaned back, moving away from the approaching Luo Simo. Seeing this, Luo Simo didn’t say anything and quietly returned to her spot.

“Your hair is still wet.”

“I know. I was just about to go dry it.”

“I’ll dry it for you.”

“What?”

Without waiting for Ji Ran to agree, Luo Simo stood up on her own, approached Ji Ran, bent down, and aimed at Ji Ran’s wet hair—”Hoo—”

Ji Ran: ?

What kind of hair-drying technique was this?

“Hoo—”

Luo Simo’s hair-drying continued. Ji Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She was definitely drunk. She didn’t expect this person to be a two-drink lightweight.

And so amusing when drunk.

The manual hairdryer was working persistently. Ji Ran couldn’t help but stand up and escape.

“Okay, okay, don’t blow your mouth out.”

“I won’t! My mouth is very powerful!”

Luo Simo’s eyes shone with a determined, very serious look.

Ji Ran couldn’t bear to see such a beautiful woman acting so foolishly and reached out to cover her mouth.

“Alright, your battery’s dead now, and you need to rest. I need to find an electric hairdryer.”

“Then, after you find the electric hairdryer, will you come back for me?”

Luo Simo spoke, her soft lips touching Ji Ran’s palm without hesitation. Ji Ran quickly retracted her hand as if she’d been electrocuted.

She had to admit, this “hairdryer” still had some residual charge.

“Of course, I’ll come back for you.”

“Pinky promise.”

Drunk Luo Simo was like a child, a stark contrast to her daytime self. She was kind of cute, and Ji Ran couldn’t help but feel a fondness for her. She had the least resistance to cute, beautiful girls.

It had been that way since she was a child.

“Okay, we’ll pinky promise.”

After they pinky-promised, Ji Ran went upstairs to the bedroom to get the hairdryer. Luo Simo followed closely behind, but at least she didn’t continue “blowing” her hair.

“You sit here and rest. Drink some water. I need to go dry my hair.”

After settling Luo Simo on the outer sofa, pouring her water, and patiently calming her, Ji Ran finally felt safe enough to go to the bathroom to dry her hair.

Fortunately, the bathroom door was open, allowing her to see the situation outside. Ji Ran was worried that the drunk Luo Simo might foolishly trip or injure herself.

Ji Ran hadn’t had time to trim her hair this year, so it was particularly long, almost reaching her waist. Unfortunately, the ends weren’t in the best condition, looking a bit like dead grass, or the long hair would have been quite beautiful and flowing.

Long hair was a hassle to dry. Half an hour later, it still wasn’t completely dry.

Luo Simo outside poured herself another glass of water and sat curled up on the sofa with her legs crossed, watching the busy Ji Ran not far away.

She was a little more sober now and completely failed to recall her recent foolishness. She was also entirely different from the dazed look she had moments ago. Her clear amber eyes reflected Ji Ran’s figure, like a dark undercurrent beneath a calm lake, carrying a hint of aggression.

The white bathrobe Ji Ran was wearing was hers.

The robe was very long, almost reaching Ji Ran’s ankles, and tied tightly at the waist. However, the neckline was still loose. As Ji Ran bent over and tilted her head while drying her hair, it slipped slightly, exposing a bit of her shoulder.

And the black strap of a swimsuit.

She clearly knew Luo Simo was sitting there and could see her.

This woman was doing it on purpose.

As this thought surfaced in her mind, Luo Simo’s hand gripping the water glass tightened for a second.

Ji Ran, who was focused on drying her hair, felt Luo Simo’s gaze. She turned, but from a distance, her nearsighted eyes couldn’t see clearly. She only saw Luo Simo sitting obediently and drinking water, so she felt completely at ease and smiled at the cute little sister Luo Simo.

In Luo Simo’s half-drunk mind, that smile instantly made a string snap.

Very well. She is definitely doing it on purpose.

Last night, she was also the one who proactively embraced me and asked for intimacy.

Ji Ran was concentrating on drying her hair ends when she suddenly felt a sense of pressure at the doorway. She lifted her hair to look and saw Luo Simo approaching, staring intently at her.

The atmosphere felt wrong. Ji Ran timidly put down the hairdryer and instinctively retreated towards the sink.

“What’s wrong?”

Why was she so different from her silly self just now?

Luo Simo didn’t speak, but continued to approach, trapping Ji Ran against the sink. Using her height advantage, she looked down at Ji Ran, then raised a hand to touch her hair, twirling a few strands between her fingers.

A strange scent of hair oil, not her own, lingered around her nose.

“Why didn’t you use mine?”

“What?”

“Yours is fine too. It smells good.”

Faced with Luo Simo’s self-questioning and self-answering, Ji Ran was confused. What’s yours and mine?

Putting down the strands of hair, Luo Simo adjusted the sagging collar of Ji Ran’s bathrobe. As her fingers touched the soft fabric, she smiled slightly, as if remembering something.

What is she smiling about now?

Why is this person so strange?

After fixing the bathrobe, Luo Simo frowned slightly, asking in confusion: “Why aren’t you hugging me? Like you did yesterday.”

Ji Ran: ?

“Never mind. If you don’t want to hug, don’t hug.”

Not getting a hug, Luo Simo didn’t mind. She slowly bent down, inching closer to Ji Ran’s lips…

In an instant, Ji Ran’s eyes widened slightly in alarm. She nimbly squatted down, quickly darting out from under Luo Simo’s arm.

Her movement interrupted, Luo Simo turned around unhappily and grabbed Ji Ran’s arm.

“Why did you dodge me?”

“We are legal partners. This is legitimate conjugal intimacy.”

Luo Simo seemed a little upset and was being aggressive. Her words instantly made Ji Ran’s face flush red.

“That… that thing… that thing can’t be forced.”

Hearing the word “forced,” Luo Simo calmed down for a moment.

When did I ever force her?

Did… did I misunderstand, or is she playing hard to get?

Luo Simo stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought. She stared at Ji Ran for a long time, seemingly trying to see right through her.

When she saw Ji Ran unconsciously clutching the neckline of her bathrobe, her eyes darting away, and her whole body in a state of alertness, she quietly let go of her hand.

“If you’re unwilling, I certainly won’t force you.”

“I’ll wait until the day you’re willing. You need to get used to married life eventually.”

An arrogant and unsuccessful attempt at affection left Luo Simo flustered, but she didn’t take her frustration out on Ji Ran or blame her at all. She didn’t even mention Ji Ran wearing the wrong bathrobe. She gracefully withdrew from the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Everything came and went quickly. Ji Ran was still in a daze.

Splashing cold water on her face, the blush finally faded. Ji Ran couldn’t help but think about the future.

The future of “married life.”

Luo Simo was right. They were legal partners, and that thing was legal. As a partner, it was also her obligation.

But, she’d put it off for later.

Tying up her hair, Ji Ran took off the bathrobe and prepared to take a shower. She casually tossed the white bathrobe into the laundry basket.

She had found the bathrobe in a small cabinet by the pool, neatly folded and sealed on the side with a small strip of tape. She figured it must have been an unopened new item, and although the size was a bit large after she opened it, she used it anyway.

Because it was the only one there.

After showering, Ji Ran awkwardly realized that everything had happened so suddenly. In her fright, she had forgotten to go out and get a change of clothes!

She’d only intended to come in and dry her hair!

She hadn’t expected all that to happen later. After seeing Luo Simo close the door, her mind had short-circuited and decided, I might as well take a shower.

Her phone was nearby and was playing loud music to stave off the embarrassment.

Having no choice, Ji Ran messaged Luo Simo, asking her to bring clothes. But after sending the message, she didn’t receive a reply for a long time.

Ji Ran began to panic a little.

Surely, this person wouldn’t use this as petty revenge and intentionally refuse to bring me clothes.

But just as the thought arose, a knock came from the door.

“Don’t worry, I won’t peek. It’s hanging on the doorknob. Come get it yourself.”

The door opened a crack, and Luo Simo’s hand reached in, hanging a paper bag on the handle.

“Okay, thank you.”

It wasn’t until the door had been closed for a long time that Ji Ran went to get the clothes. It was one of the new outfits Luo Simo had ordered earlier—a white, long-sleeved nightgown. It was actually quite pretty, the kind of ethereal, flowing style that young girls liked.

At the bottom of the bag, a pair of small underwear quietly lay there. Hmm, Luo Simo didn’t include a top.

But it didn’t matter. For sleeping, who needed to wear that stuff anyway?

Outside the door, Luo Simo glanced at the closed door and couldn’t help but think again, Is she really not playing hard to get?

She just rejected me, and now she’s asking me to bring her intimate wear.