puppy
"elder sister."
Jiang Moyun was pulled back from her turbulent thoughts by the call. She looked down at Lin Bairan and realized that it was just his unconscious murmur in his sleep. Lin Bairan frowned, tears still glistening in his eyes, and he gripped her clothes even tighter, as if dreaming of something.
Jiang Moyun felt a pang of heartache, so she reached out and rubbed his head, then gently smoothed his furrowed brow. Watching his sleeping face gradually become calm and peaceful, she couldn't help but feel at ease.
She felt a peaceful happiness—something that was a luxury for Jiang Moyun, something she had only experienced briefly for a few years before it was taken away.
Lin Bairan brought this happiness back to her, making it simple yet warm, precious yet ordinary.
Her hand remained on Lin Bairan's head, stroking his soft hair. She recalled once again that evening in the screening room when Lin Bairan walked towards her against the light, holding flowers in his hand, becoming the most special audience member in her life.
The two had some contact through work, and because of this accident, they were more familiar with each other than others. They would occasionally chat during breaks, and the conversations were mostly trivial and uninteresting.
Lin Bairan shared many interesting anecdotes from his travels with her, and Jiang Moyun listened attentively. She also learned that Lin Bairan planned to dedicate a month every two years to traveling, gradually piecing together corners of the world…
"A vibrant romantic," Jiang Moyun thought to herself.
She also shared some of the places she had visited, describing the diverse cuisines, cultures, and customs she experienced, though most of it was rather superficial. After all, her way of "exploring" the world is through constant business trips, and these "journeys" haven't given her a proper chance to truly immerse herself in the local atmosphere.
We also got to try the pea flour cake that Lin Bairan brought to share with his company—made by his grandmother. The old lady's skills were superb; it melted in our mouths, and the fragrance of mung beans spread in our mouths, leaving a lingering sweetness on our tongues.
Lin Bairan is very lively every day, just like a vibrant little dog, and gets along well with everyone.
She then recalled that, at some point, their interactions seemed to have crossed a line, revealing a vague and ambiguous relationship. One ordinary afternoon, Lin Bairan began to pursue her openly, his youthful passion almost overwhelming.
But Jiang Moyun didn't think about agreeing. After all, there was a ten-year age gap, and Lin Bairan seemed like a child to her.
Lin Bairan would always bring her a flower when she came to work, and it was different every day—sometimes a carefully wrapped rose or Chinese rose from a florist, and sometimes just an unknown wildflower picked from the roadside... What they all had in common was their pleasant fragrance. Lin Bairan would always arrive at the company early and wait at her office door. When he saw her arrive, he would immediately straighten up, smile, and sweetly call her "sister," wanting to give her the flower.
However, Jiang Moyun would not accept it. In her opinion, Lin Bairan's pursuit was just a momentary impulse of a young man. This affection would come and go quickly, and responding would only delay this inevitable process.
So Jiang Moyun always ignored it.
At this moment, Lin Bairan would be like a puppy that had brought its beloved toy but was rejected by its owner, instantly becoming dejected and looking completely downcast. He would stand there with his head down, looking at her with wet eyes, those eyes seeming to speak, blinking as if saying to her, "You really don't want it? Take it, take it."
Jiang Moyun couldn't stand his gaze, so she would only glance at it casually each time, and after seeing what kind of flower it was, she would casually put on a smile as a greeting, and then quickly escape his sight, afraid that if she looked at it any longer, she would be unable to resist softening her heart.
Lin Bairan wouldn't give up so easily. He would always find ways to send the flowers out. Sometimes he would bring the flowers into her office under the guise of reporting on his work, and then secretly leave them in the corner of her desk when she wasn't looking. Other times he would slip them into a file and have someone else deliver them so that Jiang Moyun could see them as soon as she opened it. However, even though it was a direct department, there weren't that many opportunities to report on work. Besides, what was it like for Lin Bairan, a research and development staff member, to sneak into the boss's office all day long?
This last trick was forbidden by Jiang Moyun, who was both amused and exasperated, so the flower that had been rejected every morning finally disappeared for a few days.
However, it only lasted a few days. Then one day, Jiang Moyun turned her head and found the flower on the windowsill facing inward in her office. This continued for the next few days. She noticed that Lin Bairan would secretly put the flower there each time, and then diligently replace it with a new one the next day.
The office windows were one-way, so Jiang Moyun decided to play a trick on him. She deliberately waited and opened the door abruptly when Lin Bairan sneaked over to put out the flowers, looking at him with a half-smile.
Lin Bairan was caught red-handed. He smiled sheepishly, his face flushing red. He hid the flowers behind his back and his eyes darted around erratically.
He looked like he'd been caught doing something wrong and was feeling guilty—it was just...so adorable! Jiang Moyun couldn't help but think to herself, wanting to give him a good pat on the head, but in the end, reason prevailed, and she didn't do anything outrageous.
Jiang Moyun had thought that Lin Bairan would give up after this incident, but to her surprise, he instead said, "Since we've been discovered, let's just do it openly!"—a completely reckless attitude. He even placed a small vase there to hold the flowers he brought every day, and when he bumped into her, he didn't hide anymore, greeting her openly, "Good morning, sister, Lin Bairan, your personal courier, wishes you a pleasant day." With a playful smile, his bright eyes revealed a cute slyness.
Jiang Moyun really couldn't do anything about it, and perhaps she was even a little happy to see it happen, so she tacitly approved of his actions, and gradually got used to it over time. Every time she left work and walked out of the empty, dark office, her gaze would always linger on the small vase for a while, and she would begin to look forward to tomorrow's flowers.
The story begins like this: a cute little dog brings a beautiful flower, a pure affection intertwined with a little bit of secret expectation.
——
In fact, Jiang Moyun was always worried about that vase—after all, there were always people coming and going outside, and someone might accidentally knock it over. Although nothing seemed to have happened for so many days, she felt that she should still deal with it a little. She was about to ask her assistant to find some glue to stick the vase back on, so that it would be more secure and reassuring.
Just then, the business partner called. Jiang Moyun heard a crisp sound while on the phone, and her heart sank slightly. When she hung up and went outside, she saw Lin Bairan, who shouldn't have been in the office, had already quietly swept up the broken porcelain shards and was emptying them into the trash can. He looked travel-worn, clearly having just rushed back when this happened.
Jiang Moyun, with her sharp eyes, noticed a flash of red in his pocket and immediately understood—he had rushed back to exchange the flowers.
When Lin Bairan saw her coming, he paused for a few seconds, then lowered his head, his expression unreadable, his hair drooping down. He said nothing, and quietly turned and left.
Jiang Moyun simply looked at him without making any move—"Perhaps it's better this way." Jiang Moyun thought, it should have ended long ago, it's been delayed for too long. So she coldly ignored the strange unease in her heart and closed the office door.
She was somewhat distracted for the rest of the day. Finally, she took a sip of tea in frustration. It had been sitting for too long and was now completely cold. She glanced at the dark sky outside and then at the time. It was half an hour earlier than usual. She could do the rest of the work tomorrow, but unable to bear the frustration, she simply closed her laptop, grabbed her bag, and got up.
This was the first time she had done something like this in all these years.
It was well past closing time, with only a few lights still on outside. Jiang Moyun disliked inefficient work practices, so no one in her department ever deliberately procrastinated. It wasn't a busy time either, and usually there were hardly any people left at this hour. Jiang Moyun had expected to see an empty lobby.
As soon as Jiang Moyun stepped out of the office, she saw Lin Bairan huddled up by the door. She was stunned and didn't say anything immediately.
Lin Bairan remained huddled there with his head down, not moving an inch. After a long while, as if sensing the suddenly brighter light, he slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of red, swollen eyes. His long eyelashes were wet with tears, forming clumps.
They look pitiful.
He stared at Jiang Moyun quietly for a while, then sniffed—even the tip of his nose was red. As if he had just realized what was happening, he spoke in a tearful voice, "You, why are you off work already? You're usually..." He suddenly stopped, refusing to continue.
Jiang Moyun astutely grasped the key point in his words, "Usually? Often alone here?"
Lin Bairan didn't respond, but simply buried his head back in his knees, appearing unwilling to communicate.
Jiang Moyun squatted down in front of him, took out a handkerchief, and before she could speak, Lin Bairan suddenly looked up, closed his eyes tightly, and blurted out, "I hate you!"
He paused briefly, then continued immediately, as if he wouldn't be able to speak if he hesitated even a second longer, "I like you so much, but you don't care about those flowers at all! You, you... You can dislike me, but those flowers are so beautiful, why don't you care at all? Why don't you care at all? Can't you just..." He opened his eyes only then.
Upon seeing Jiang Moyun squatting in front of him, he immediately fell silent.
He quietly observed Jiang Moyun's expression for a while, then couldn't help but speak, his voice gradually becoming more tearful, "Can't you... care about me a little more? Even just one more glance would be enough."
He didn't even say he liked it.
Looking at his red, tear-filled eyes, Jiang Moyun scrutinized him for the first time and discovered that Lin Bairan's appearance wasn't particularly cute: a high, straight nose, thin lips, and a slightly aloof air, yet he possessed a pair of droopy, puppy-dog eyes that not only softened the coldness on his face but also made him appear more docile. When he looked at people with affection, he appeared sincere and passionate.
She sighed softly, pinched a small, blunt corner of her handkerchief, and smiled as she wiped Lin Bairan's tears, "You're such a grown man, why are you crying like this?"
Jiang Moyun knew she had crossed a line, but Lin Bairan didn't dodge. Instead, he grabbed her wrist just as she was about to pull her hand back, as if he had made up his mind. He had stopped crying and was staring at her intently, which made Jiang Moyun feel inexplicably guilty. She tried to pull her hand back but failed.
The two remained silent for a while before Lin Bairan finally spoke, "Sister, what am I in your eyes?" His expression was resolute, as if he had given up entirely, with a sense of desperation. Yet his tone was soft and cautious, and the sorrow in his eyes gradually gathered with tears.
Jiang Moyun didn't answer directly, but instead threw the question back at him, "Then what am I to you? I'm ten years older than you, and I have a daughter. We're not a good match. You just..." She paused briefly, "...just acted on impulse."
"But I just love you. Nothing else matters, all I love is you." Lin Bairan's eyes were brimming with tears, but her tone was firm.
Jiang Moyun suddenly felt a pang of pity, and the words of refusal stuck in her throat. They stared at each other silently, neither of them speaking, and a tear gradually formed in the corner of Lin Bairan's eye before slowly sliding down her cheek.
"Don't cry." Jiang Moyun murmured to herself. She seemed a little dazed, and as if possessed, she leaned in and gently kissed away the tear.
I tasted a bitter, salty flavor in my mouth.
Lin Bairan stared blankly as her beautiful face receded, then a smile spread across his face. He happily moved closer to her, hesitated for a moment, and tentatively kissed the corner of her eye, then slowly moved down to the tip of her nose and cheek...
Jiang Moyun silently indulged him, finally turning her head slightly just as he was about to kiss her lips, and accepting a light kiss in return. She gently stroked Lin Bairan's hair, her hand lightly kneading the back of his neck.
Lin Bairan was overwhelmed by the huge surprise, his mind a little blank. He stepped back slightly, then moved closer again. Jiang Moyun obediently leaned against the wall. Lin Bairan placed one hand behind her head and gently cupped her face with the other, straightening up from his kneeling position and deepening the kiss.
In the quiet room, Jiang Moyun let herself sink into the tender kiss, silently answering in her heart.
"Lin Bairan is an adorable little dog."
...
In the quiet darkness, she used the moonlight to examine Lin Bairan's features and smoothed his furrowed brows.
He stroked Lin Bairan's cheek again, feeling Lin Bairan's unconscious nuzzling against him in his sleep. Jiang Moyun smiled, silently completing the words he hadn't said before in his heart:
"Lin Bairan is my little dog."
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