[Are you home now? You were truly beautiful during the stream—Le Yi even told me that we have to buy you lots of pretty clothes in the future and let me do your makeup.]
[Did you eat there? Do you want me to bring you some late-night snacks when I get off work, just so you have something in your stomach?]
[Haven’t gone home yet? I’ll come pick you up after I get off work, alright?]
[I miss you.]
At her own desk, Chi Yingyu rubbed her knuckles. Though she was tall, her bones were delicate by nature. Her hands were especially slender and long, the joints as smooth as if polished.
The stream had ended two hours ago, and Chi Yingyu had sent her brother-in-law a flurry of messages—all of them disappeared into the void.
Not a single receipt came from the other end of the phone. Had Jiang Lai’s phone died, or had she seen the messages but chosen not to reply?
Chi Yingyu’s face remained calm as she stared at the street near the window. The street lamps had long been lit; both the lampshades and the posts were a retro shade of copper, casting a dim yellow light.
Chi Yingyu lightly touched the windowpane, staring at her reflection. During the stream, her brother-in-law had been beautiful and refined, those alluring eyes, cherry-red lips, and radiant fingertips—yet such peerless beauty was never revealed at her side.
During the broadcast, Xu Ruobing had fixed Jiang Lai’s falling hair several times. Every time Chi Yingyu witnessed that scene, she wished it was her hand smoothing Jiang Lai’s hair.
Chi Yingyu opened the office window. The cold night breeze sent her disheveled hair flying. At this moment, only the chill of the night could calm her chaotic heart.
The charm her brother-in-law displayed surpassed even the celebrities like Xu Ruobing. Now that her brother-in-law hadn’t replied, could it be she was with Xu Ruobing?
It could be said that every time Jiang Lai went off the grid, it was always related to Xu Ruobing.
Chi Yingyu, as another woman, didn’t feel hatred or disgust when she first learned of Xu Ruobing’s existence. Instead, she felt a deep sense of inferiority.
In terms of looks, career, or any other aspect, she simply couldn’t compare.
She had loved Jiang Lai for more than ten years, suppressing those feelings all the while, never daring to reveal them. The moral relationship between them bound her tightly, so no matter how deep her longing or desire, she had to keep it buried.
Chi Yingyu knew very well that wanting to be with her brother-in-law meant facing countless obstacles—not just the courage to cross the line between them, but also a responsibility to those around her.
But Xu Ruobing was different. She could boldly and fearlessly express her affection for Jiang Lai.
And when facing Xu Ruobing, Jiang Lai could also freely reveal her true self.
Despite the intimate relationship between Jiang Lai and Chi Yingyu, it had become the biggest obstacle between them.
She had tried for over a decade, yet it wasn’t even as effective as one month of Xu Ruobing’s appearance. The huge sense of loss kept crashing over Chi Yingyu’s heart.
Chi Yingyu stared at the window, seeing her own reflection looking so pitiful. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She felt miserable…………
Why could everyone else do it, but not her?
In Xu Ruobing’s restaurant, the two of them hadn’t eaten much of their food, yet had finished all the red wine.
Jiang Lai leaned against Xu Ruobing’s shoulder, breathing steadily. Under the influence of alcohol, she had fallen asleep beside Xu Ruobing. It seemed that tonight’s candlelight dinner would have to end just like this.
Xu Ruobing carried Jiang Lai into her own bedroom, wiped her lips with a warm towel, and sat by the bed watching Jiang Lai’s peaceful sleeping face. Jiang Lai must’ve been exhausted today, or she wouldn’t have wanted to rest so early.
But the gift for the celebration still hadn’t been given.
Thinking of this, Xu Ruobing took out a small box from her pocket, revealing a delicate ring. As Jiang Lai slept, Xu Ruobing gently slipped it onto her finger.
At this moment, Jiang Lai was at her most defenseless. If Xu Ruobing wanted to do anything, this would be the perfect opportunity.
But she didn’t want to. Everything she wanted to do was based on Jiang Lai being awake and not resisting. No matter what, she could never bring herself to force Jiang Lai into anything.
All Xu Ruobing did was gently kiss Jiang Lai’s cheek. As Jiang Lai slept so peacefully, it was Xu Ruobing who suffered—after all, Jiang Lai’s makeup hadn’t been removed yet.
Now, with her head a little dizzy from the wine, Xu Ruobing couldn’t sleep. She could only take some makeup remover pads and carefully serve Jiang Lai, not stopping until the task was finished.
After the first stream, Jiang Lai’s previously chaotic life gradually found its rhythm. She still remembered the confusion and anxiety she felt when she first transformed into a woman, how uncertain she’d been about her future.
Jiang Lai never liked going to bed not knowing what would happen the next day. After decades of life, what she cherished most was having everything under control—a life where she could see the end at a glance was the best.
This life now couldn’t compare to before, but to Jiang Lai, it was already satisfying enough. Xu Ruobing’s studio demanded almost nothing from her; streaming was something she only had to do occasionally to maintain her presence.
Most of her time was spent creating content for her own account videos, and with the studio’s help, it was hardly a challenge.
This kind of peaceful and harmonious life was genuinely comforting to Jiang Lai—except for one thing: cohabiting with her sister-in-law. She could never recapture the feeling from before.
By logic, having one more person at home should’ve made things livelier, but in reality, Chi Yingyu spoke much less than before.
The scenarios Jiang Lai had imagined about living together—such as Chi Yingyu taking advantage of her—never once occurred. Jiang Lai didn’t exactly feel regret over this, but she was deeply worried about Chi Yingyu’s strange behavior.
As for the awkward relationship between Jiang Lai and Chi Yingyu, Jiang Leyi, caught between the two, felt especially embarrassed. After a few days, she finally couldn’t stand the weird atmosphere anymore. Pulling Jiang Lai aside, her daughter began a private conversation just for the two of them.
Looking at the elegant beauty sitting beside her, Jiang Leyi laid out her plan: “Dad, can you act cute with Auntie for me? Please?”