I Married My Love Rival (GL) - Chapter 7

Ji Ran discarded what needed to be discarded and packed what needed to be packed. Finally, she returned to the villa with a car full of luggage, arriving just in time to meet the cleaning lady.

“Miss Luo just told me today to clear out an empty room for you to use as a studio. Now, you can pick a room.”

The cleaning lady was friendly and kind. They had met yesterday, but Ji Ran had been preoccupied and only exchanged a quick greeting. Today, they chatted.

The cleaning lady said Luo Simo had only moved into this villa a little over a month ago. Before that, she lived in another place far away, which the cleaning lady also cleaned. This time, Luo Simo specifically gave her a raise and asked her to continue working for her at the new location.

“Miss Luo is so nice! She’s not demanding, very self-disciplined, and never brings people home. She always keeps everything clean and tidy. The jobs I’ve had before, those second-generation rich kids, always made a mess that took several people to clean up.”

“I hear Miss Luo is also the CEO of some company, a big boss. Very successful. No wonder she has the money to live in such a nice place. By the way, Miss Ji, what’s your relationship with Miss Luo? Her younger sister?”

Looking at the cleaning lady’s innocent yet slightly gossipy eyes, Ji Ran tilted her head and gave an embarrassed little cough.

“Well, we just got married.”

The cleaning lady was only surprised for a brief moment, then smiled and praised, “A young couple! No wonder Miss Luo is so attentive. That’s wonderful. You two look so compatible! The times are good now. You must seize this opportunity to openly love each other! Stay happy together!”

The cleaning lady’s exclamation reminded Ji Ran of the struggle it took for the same-s3x marriage law to pass. She had participated in several advocacy activities during college. Finally, it passed in recent years.

She also recalled the fear and anxiety she felt when she first realized her sexual orientation but dared not speak the truth due to her parents’ opposing views. Fortunately, after hiding it for a few years, she came out openly after leaving home. Although she encountered malice and verbal abuse, there was also a lot of acceptance and support behind her.

After chatting with the cleaning lady for a while, Ji Ran finally chose an empty room downstairs, and with the cleaning lady’s help, they set up a studio.

She originally studied art in high school, painting for two years, but in her final year, due to some unforeseen circumstances, she ultimately gave up on the art exam. She couldn’t attend her dream design school, but she still worked hard to get into a decent university in Jiangcheng for graphic design based on her academic scores.

After graduation, due to her family’s debt crisis, she quickly plunged into work, becoming a money-making machine. These years of experience had long eroded her former dreams and confidence.

Now, she just wanted to relax and be a couch potato.

She once again thanked Luo Simo for the opportunity to relax.

The organized studio was quite sparse because she hadn’t drawn much on paper over the years. After all, she didn’t have much space to draw at the previous landlady’s house, and now most of her work was done on a computer. She didn’t have many materials or tools.

Calling it a studio, it was more like a small personal workspace.

At eight in the evening, Luo Simo still hadn’t returned. Ji Ran hesitated, wondering whether she should fulfill her partner duty and ask about Luo Simo’s meal plans and when she would be home.

Normal couples would do that, right?

But as a novice, Ji Ran hesitated for a long time, carefully choosing her words, writing and deleting, deleting and writing. In the end, she was too embarrassed to send the message.

Eating alone in the large house, Ji Ran couldn’t help but recall what the cleaning lady had said earlier.

“It’s great that you’re here to keep Miss Luo company now. Maybe the loneliness of this house will disappear, and Miss Luo can become a little more outgoing.”

She had to admit, it felt a little lonely.

But before she could feel lonely for long, car lights flashed outside. Ji Ran immediately looked out—it was Luo Simo’s car, pulling into the underground garage.

A moment later, Luo Simo, dressed in formal wear, emerged from the basement door.

After a day apart, Ji Ran felt an inexplicable flicker of eager excitement upon finally seeing her, a feeling she didn’t even recognize herself.

What was strange, though, was that Luo Simo was carrying a bouquet of roses and a small box of cake.

Seeing Ji Ran look at her, Luo Simo seemed a little embarrassed.

“What are you… doing?” Ji Ran didn’t understand but instinctively took the flowers Luo Simo offered.

“I was in too much of a hurry yesterday. I didn’t realize it was your birthday. I apologize.”

She only suddenly realized it was Ji Ran’s birthday yesterday morning when she took out their marriage certificate to look at it.

Since it was her birthday, how could they not celebrate?

Ji Ran herself was surprised: “It was my birthday yesterday?”

She didn’t like celebrating her birthday. For the past few years, she had been too busy making money. Her only close friend was unreliable and had long forgotten her birthday, so no one reminded her. She truly hadn’t realized.

Luo Simo put down the cake and frowned slightly, as if scolding Ji Ran for forgetting her own birthday, but quickly, her expression turned to one of sympathy.

She didn’t know what Ji Ran had gone through all these years. She only remembered that at their first meeting, little Ji Ran looked like a princess from a wealthy family, with an air of sophistication in her features, but she wasn’t arrogant or annoying at all. She was completely different from the other children in the compound. She would spread her arms to protect her, shoo away the other annoying children, tell them she was under her protection, and spend the entire afternoon training the dog with her.

The second meeting was in high school. Ji Ran had become the sudden transfer student. The aristocracy and refinement in her features had been replaced by a girl’s carefree spirit. She was no longer wearing princess dresses and little leather shoes, but simple canvas shoes and a school uniform. But one thing was the same: this time, she once again stood in front of her, arrogantly warning that anyone who dared to bully her would be crossing her.

For the third, unexpected meeting, Luo Simo had noticed when she was undressing Ji Ran that her life was overly ordinary. Luo Simo was always a keen observer, accurately judging Ji Ran’s critical needs from her clothes and demeanor, and she decided to keep her close.

She didn’t know what Ji Ran had encountered, perhaps a family decline or something else. It didn’t matter anymore. She now wanted Ji Ran to be like she was before—to shine brightly again.

“It must have been hard for you to prepare all this. Thank you.”

It was false to say Ji Ran wasn’t touched right now. She was far less composed than she appeared on the surface, with an ineffable feeling surging in her heart.

Even her friend of two decades had forgotten her birthday, but Luo Simo, whom she had only met the day before yesterday, was so careful and thoughtful to make up the celebration for her. What an excellent partner!

Ji Ran felt guilty that she hadn’t even sent a message to check on Luo Simo.

She needed to learn from Luo Simo and strive to be an excellent partner herself!

“There’s a gift, too. I hope you like it.”

Luo Simo pointed to the flowers. Ji Ran looked over and pulled out a long, rectangular black velvet gift box from the bouquet.

The sense of occasion was overwhelming. Ji Ran, the eternal loner, expressed her surprise.

“The new L-brand necklace?” Ji Ran recognized it immediately upon seeing the box. “I heard this one incorporates Chinese classical style, inspired by lotus leaves and flowers.”

Luo Simo nodded approvingly. As expected of Ji Ran. She knew she was still keeping up with jewelry and accessories news.

“Such cute lotuses. So delicate, with diamonds set in them like dewdrops.” Looking at the necklace, Ji Ran unconsciously started her professional analysis. “Their brand usually favors a three-dimensional effect, but this time they went with a flat design. It looks very much like the lotuses in Chinese meticulous painting…”

Luo Simo listened quietly until Ji Ran finished her excited commentary and slowly stopped, looking at her a little shyly.

“Just my humble opinion, humble opinion! Don’t mind what I said.”

“As long as you like it. Happy Birthday.”

Luo Simo had intended to offer to help Ji Ran put it on, but Ji Ran closed the lid with a quick, crisp clack. Luo Simo decided not to press the issue.

Wait a little longer. Wait for Ji Ran to slowly adjust to their life together, and for herself to work on their relationship more.

Starting with celebrating every holiday together.

The cake was only slightly larger than her palm, with no fancy shapes or decorations. It was simply and crookedly inscribed with the words “Happy Birthday Ji Ran.” Because the name was written so largely, the “Happy Birthday” was two font sizes smaller.

“Did you make it?”

“Only the words were piped by me. The cake base and the cream were done by the baker.”

She had tried to make it herself, but time was too short, and there was no room for error.

“I can tell, hahaha.”

Seeing Ji Ran smile, Luo Simo felt satisfied. It was worth the effort, even if Ji Ran was laughing at her bad handwriting. She didn’t mind.

“Next time, I’ll definitely do better.”

“Alright, I’ll look forward to your next cake.”

Ji Ran smiled and nodded.

For the age candle on the cake, Luo Simo specifically requested a ’18’.

“Why 18? Don’t you remember my age?”

“Of course, I remember. We’re the same age. But I hope you can always be 18, sunny and full of youthful vigor.”

18.

Ji Ran’s smile briefly froze, but she quickly masked it, continuing to laugh: “You talk as if you’ve seen what I looked like when I was 18.”

“I haven’t, actually.”

But I’ve seen your vibrant youth at 16 and 17. It was so dazzling.

The living room lights were turned off. Ji Ran held the cake. The candlelight flickered playfully, making her eyes look brighter and happier.

“Make a wish and blow out the candle.”

“Okay.”

She closed her eyes, but Ji Ran’s mind was completely blank.

What wish should I make?

Never mind. I’ll wish for good health.

The candles were blown out, and Luo Simo cooperatively turned the lights back on.

“What did you wish for?”

“Wait, I don’t think you sang me the birthday song! I knew some part of the procedure was wrong.”

Ji Ran’s answer was completely irrelevant to the question.

Mentioning singing, Luo Simo pretended not to hear and immediately changed the subject.

“Come on, Birthday Girl, cut the cake.”

The small cake was neatly split and consumed by the two of them.

The belated birthday celebration quietly came to an end, leaving behind only the burnt, incomplete ’18’ candle.