Chapter 243: Getting Bolder

After lunch, Su Ruan began planning the itinerary. She researched and found that around Lijiang there are several villages where old Embroiderers still live.

Just as she was about to call Lin Xiaoyu, the office door was knocked.

"Su laoshi, are you looking for me?" Lin Xiaoyu peeked in.

"Yes, come in and sit." Su Ruan waved her hand. "I want to start a new series and need to go to Lijiang to collaborate with an old Embroiderer. Are you interested in going together? About three or four days."

"Really?" Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up. "That's great! I've always wanted to take some photos of traditional Handicraft."

"Then it's settled." Su Ruan smiled. "I'll have Douzi book the tickets; we'll depart the day after tomorrow."

"Okay!"

Afternoon, Su Ruan continued refining the design Sketch of Dongba Impression. After Jiang Ran finished his meeting and came over, he saw her focused demeanor, didn't interrupt, and simply poured her a cup of tea and placed it on the desk.

After Su Ruan finished drawing and looked up, she only then saw Jiang Ran sitting on the opposite sofa.

"When did you arrive?" she asked.

"It's been a while." Jiang Ran stood up, walked over, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Finished drawing?"

"Mm, a preliminary Sketch." Su Ruan leaned into his embrace. "Look at this, a variant of the character 'shan', I want to use it on the back of a windbreaker."

Jiang Ran examined it closely: "Looks good. But… RuanRuan, have you been pushing yourself too hard lately? The Rebirth Series just finished, and now you have to start a new one."

"No." Su Ruan turned to face him. "Design isn't work for me; it's expression. When inspiration strikes, I want to create it immediately."

She paused: "Also, this trip to Lijiang to invite the Embroiderer is an experience. I want to truly understand those traditional Handicraft, not just talk about them on paper."

"I understand." Jiang Ran clasped her hand. "Then let's do it. I'm here for home, I'm here for the company."

"Thank you." Su Ruan leaned in and kissed him.

The kiss quickly deepened. Jiang Ran lifted her, placed her on the office desk, and leaned down to continue kissing her.

"Jiang Ran… this is the office…" Su Ruan protested softly, but she didn't push him away.

"The door is locked." Jiang Ran kissed her neck. "Besides, you're leaving the day after tomorrow, and we won't see each other for several days…"

His hand slipped into her shirt, stroking her warm skin.

Su Ruan's breathing quickened as she clutched his neck. "Then… faster…"

Jiang Ran chuckled lowly and unfastened her buttons.

Sunlight streamed through the louvered windows, casting dappled shadows on the two of them. The office was quiet, with only faint sounds and each other's breathing.

Afterwards, Su Ruan leaned in Jiang Ran's embrace, her face still flushed.

"You really are… getting bolder and bolder."

"Only for you." Jiang Ran helped her tidy her clothes. "What do you want for dinner? I'll cook it for you."

"You cook?" Su Ruan was surprised. "Can you cook?"

"I can do the simple stuff." Jiang Ran smiled. "Learned a few tricks from Mom. Today Mom and Dad took the kids to Sister Jiang Jiaojiao's house, so it's just the two of us."

"Then… I'd like tomato and egg noodles."

"Okay, I'll make it when we get home."

That night, the two of them rarely enjoyed a private world for just the two of them.

Jiang Ran busied himself in the kitchen while Su Ruan leaned against the doorway watching.

Wearing an apron, Jiang Ran exuded a homely tenderness, completely different from his usual corporate image.

"What are you looking at?" Jiang Ran turned his head to look at her.

"Look how handsome my husband is." Su Ruan laughed as she walked over, hugging him from behind. "A great home man."

"Only for you." Jiang Ran tilted his head and kissed her cheek. "Sit down, it'll be fine right away."

When the dish was placed on the table, Su Ruan took a bite and found it unexpectedly delicious.

"Really good!" she praised sincerely. "Boss Jiang is full of hidden talent."

"That's right." Jiang Ran said proudly. "From now on, whatever you want to eat, I'll make it for you."

The two ate and chatted, talking from work to children, from the past to the future.

"By the way, Jinjin told me today that she wants to learn wood carving." Jiang Ran said. "I promised to take her this weekend."

"Sure." Su Ruan nodded. "It's good when a child is interested. What about An'an?"

"An'an said she wants to learn dancing. I plan to enroll her in a dance class."

"Mm, let the kids try more things to find what they truly like."

After the meal, Jiang Ran washed the dishes while Su Ruan wiped the table beside him. The simple chores carried an ordinary warmth.

"Jiang Ran." Su Ruan said suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Sometimes I feel that the way we are now is really good. We have careers, a family, each other. Though busy, it's fulfilling."

"Indeed." Jiang Ran dried his hands, turned and embraced her. "This is the life I want. But…"

"But what?"

"If we could have more time like this, just the two of us, it would be even better." Jiang Ran lowered his head and kissed her. "Like now…"

He lifted Su Ruan in his arms and headed toward the bedroom.

"Jiang Ran! The dishes aren't finished yet!"

"We'll wash them tomorrow."