Si Yina held her tightly in her arms, her grip on Jiang Lai’s wrists unyielding.
No matter how Jiang Lai struggled, she realized all her efforts were in vain—every bit of strength she used seemed only to amuse Si Yina even more, as if it was all a part of her twisted pleasure.
“Don’t make too much noise. You wouldn’t want anyone to see you like this, would you?”
Although this was a rarely visited alley, people could still pass by. If her voice was any louder, it would only draw more Good Samaritans over, and then it wouldn’t be just Si Yina enjoying the sight of Jiang Lai.
Si Yina pulled open Jiang Lai’s down jacket and started biting her neck, one hand pressing firmly against her back, the other deftly slipping under Jiang Lai’s clothes, exploring for even warmer places.
Jiang Lai stiffened violently at Si Yina’s intrusion, her hands wedged between their bodies in an attempt to push the wretched woman away.
But her push did nothing—Si Yina’s grasp was like iron pincers, trapping her in her arms.
“You can’t do this. You’re forcing yourself on someone; do you know that? I can scream right now and have people come over. Let them see just how hypocritical you truly are. Aren’t you afraid they’ll discover your real face?”
Jiang Lai’s voice was icy and firm, her brow furrowed.
It finally seemed to have a little effect: although Si Yina still refused to release her embrace, the hand undoing her clothes and exploring inside suddenly stopped.
Jiang Lai thought her intimidation had worked, but Si Yina’s next words dragged her impression of this woman even further into the depths.
“I don’t care. So what if others find out? I don’t give a damn about any of that. Even if everyone knows, it doesn’t affect me one bit.
But you—if you keep struggling, you’ll only make it easier for others to see you in such a sorry state.”
Jiang Lai’s once neatly bundled clothes were now in complete disarray from Si Yina’s rough treatment, her whole body exuding a fragile helplessness, as if she had just been violated.
She really did look pitiful. Despite Si Yina’s earlier harsh words, she had no intention of letting anyone else see Jiang Lai’s tender side.
As for whether she herself might be seen, Si Yina couldn’t care less about others’ opinions. In her mind, life only lasted a few decades—if you didn’t do what you wanted, it was just too much of a waste.
When Jiang Lai first began streaming and chose to walk the path of the Video Track, Si Yina had been extremely displeased.
Jiang Lai’s allure should belong to her alone—she only needed to shine for Si Yina.
But now, holding Jiang Lai in her arms, Si Yina’s feelings had become far more complicated.
Jiang Lai had debuted through Xu Ruobing, her image deeply tied to that superstar. If anything happened to Jiang Lai, it would inevitably affect Xu Ruobing as well.
Jiang Lai understood this clearly. That’s why, for every action on her account, she needed approval from the studio. If anything went wrong, it wouldn’t just affect Jiang Lai; it would drag Xu Ruobing into the mess as well.
Since her debut, Xu Ruobing had maintained a spotless record, and Jiang Lai did not want to implicate her because of her own actions. That’s why she was so meticulous at work, terrified that even a single slip would cause trouble.
Yet this very carefulness gave Si Yina the leverage she needed—once someone has a weakness, they’re easy to control.
And she’d found more than one weakness in Jiang Lai.
“You should know, there are far more people who know you than know me.”
If it wasn’t for those in the company, no one would even know Si Yina. She didn’t need anyone else’s attention or money; her greatest asset was being able to live as she pleased.
“If my reputation is damaged, do you think I wouldn’t strike back?”
She might not care much about her own image, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t use the opportunity to threaten Jiang Lai. After all, this was a knife Jiang Lai had handed to her herself.
“If your image suffers, won’t Xu Ruobing be implicated? If her reputation takes a hit, she’ll lose future gigs, big-name endorsements—these are things you can’t even imagine… Even if nothing happens, I’ll make sure she pays the price for defying me and taking you away.”
Si Yina was a true master manipulator. Just by spending some time with Jiang Lai, she could figure out exactly how to threaten the beauty before her.
In the past, Jiang Lai had avoided her to the point of never wanting to meet again. But now, for the sake of her family, Jiang Lai was willing to face Si Yina head-on and even issue threats of her own.
Si Yina finally understood: no matter how many cruel things she said to Jiang Lai, the woman would never submit. Jiang Lai was like a spring—no matter how hard she pressed, she always bounced back in resistance.
But if someone close to Jiang Lai got hurt because of her, Jiang Lai would drown in guilt and become vulnerable.
Instead of wasting effort directly on Jiang Lai, it would be much more effective to threaten or entangle the people she cared about.
They say misfortune shouldn’t befall one’s family, but Si Yina didn’t care about such sayings. Whatever worked, whatever could control Jiang Lai, she’d choose that route.
“If you’re not even afraid of this, then there’s nothing I can do. If you don’t even care about that, I really can’t find any weakness in you.”
Si Yina feigned retreat, showing a look of regret as she let go of Jiang Lai, turning away without a hint of reluctance.
Yet as she left, her parting words struck right at Jiang Lai’s most fragile, fearful spot.
“It’s a pity I can’t have you. Maybe I’ll just keep looking for those two girls from earlier. They’re much more obedient than you, and they won’t have such a fierce reaction just from a little hug.”
Si Yina’s voice was filled with regret, but her heart brimmed with calculation. As she strode away, Jiang Lai finally couldn’t hold it in.
“Stop right there! What exactly do you want?!”
Jiang Lai couldn’t let the tiger return to the mountain. Whether it was her daughter or Xu Ruobing, she couldn’t let them be affected by her.
“What I want to do most—don’t you know?”
Si Yina turned around, her gaze nakedly hungry as she stared at Jiang Lai’s exposed chest. Who knew what kind of reaction Jiang Lai would have if she really pressed her face there now?
As Si Yina’s mind raced with all kinds of filthy ideas, Jiang Lai was consumed by fear and anxiety.
Compared to direct verbal harassment, Jiang Lai was even more terrified of Si Yina’s current silent demeanor—she simply couldn’t imagine what was going on in this lunatic’s mind.
To Si Yina, Jiang Lai was a woman full of contrasts.
Wrapped tightly in a down jacket, she looked like the perfect gentle wife from a good family.
But the moment that jacket was peeled back, her enchanting figure and perfect curves revealed a mature allure.
Jiang Lai seemed to radiate a cold, elegant fragrance, constantly tempting Si Yina.
Yet despite such seduction, Jiang Lai’s present vulnerability and timidity were impossible to hide—her darting eyes, shrinking steps, her whole posture screamed fear.
Faced with such a perverse person, how could Jiang Lai not be terrified—especially when Si Yina was being utterly unreasonable.
Not content with pestering her alone, Si Yina was even willing to go after the people close to her.
If it was Xu Ruobing, Jiang Lai could at least talk to her and prepare in advance. But if Si Yina decided to harass her daughter, Jiang Lai had no idea how to truly stop it.
Her daughter was still so young, so innocent. If someone as depraved as Si Yina started harassing her, Jiang Lai feared her daughter would be left with trauma that could never be erased. After all, who could guess what Si Yina might do in such a situation?
In this moment, images of all the vile things Si Yina had done to her flashed through Jiang Lai’s mind.
Even after so much time had passed, remembering it still filled her with dread—her back felt icy cold.
“Why do you have to keep pestering me…”
Jiang Lai was close to tears now. All she wanted was a peaceful life—why did Si Yina have to keep ruining it?
Jiang Lai’s emotions teetered on the brink of collapse, but in the end she forced herself to remain calm. “Si Yina, what will it take for you to let me go?”
What would it take for this woman to stop fixating on her?
“What will it take?”
Si Yina stepped toward Jiang Lai, bringing with her a cutting chill that pricked at Jiang Lai’s exposed skin.
A cruel smile played at Si Yina’s lips. “I don’t even know what would make me let you go.
With others, maybe once I get bored, once I’m tired of playing, I’ll forget them completely.”
Jiang Lai raised her face, looking into those deep eyes.
Si Yina didn’t bother to hide her wicked thoughts—everything was so blunt, so unashamed.
“Does it really have to reach that point before you’ll let me go? Is that it?”
Jiang Lai was caught in a dilemma. Watching Si Yina come closer, she shivered uncontrollably, retreating two steps. Right now, she was stuck—unable to advance or retreat.
She could, of course, bravely slap Si Yina and walk away without a word. As long as she was determined, Si Yina could never hurt her.
But what about her daughter and Xu Ruobing?
With Si Yina’s hateful personality, she would definitely take her anger out on them in revenge.
As Jiang Lai floundered in confusion, Si Yina watched every subtle shift in her expression.
The face of this cold beauty was now etched with fear and panic, tears glimmering in her eyes. Her once alluring gaze had lost its former charm, her beautiful lips pressed tightly together—this soft, aggrieved appearance only made Si Yina’s desire to possess her burn stronger.