“Do I not even have the right to whisper a few words to Jiangjiang?”
Xu Ruobing was in a great mood today and didn’t want to get into a spat with Chi Yingyu. She was already looking forward to saying good morning to Jiang Lai tomorrow.
“Jiangjiang?”
Chi Yingyu hadn’t expected the other to use such an adorable nickname for her brother-in-law. Just how close had they become? Compared to Xu Ruobing’s frankness, Chi Yingyu felt like she herself was nothing but the embodiment of hidden desires.
Clearly, she could have just asked her brother-in-law directly and openly. With Jiang Lai’s personality, as long as her questions weren’t too excessive, he would explain everything to her in detail.
But Chi Yingyu worried that if she asked too much, her brother-in-law would start to put up his guard around her. That was why she always tried to learn about what had happened from others instead.
Although Chi Yingyu’s attitude towards others could seem a little cold, it was just her normal social manner—she was never aggressive, and at the very least, never proactively hostile.
Yet whenever she was with Xu Ruobing, the atmosphere between the two of them would inevitably grow tense. Even in a bedroom, a place that should be gentle and soothing, there was always a faint scent of gunpowder in the air.
“Why don’t we talk about something else tonight? Let’s not discuss Jiangjiang.”
The more time Xu Ruobing spent with Jiang Lai, the more she realized her world was full of contradictions she couldn’t explain. Among them was the role Chi Yingyu played by Jiangjiang’s side.
“Don’t you think, lying on the same bed like this, we’re kind of like in a University Dormitory? What do you think people usually talk about at times like this?”
“What would they talk about? It’s always just venting about what happened during the day, or discussing love lives and personal issues.”
These topics were so dull they could put one to sleep. Even back in college, Chi Yingyu had never bothered with such conversations. She had matured early—by the time she started university, her mindset was already well ahead of her peers.
While other freshmen were still thinking about how to enjoy their blissful college days, Chi Yingyu was already mapping out her future. As long as it didn’t interfere with her studies, she took on part-time jobs and internships whenever she could.
Not only did this add to her real-world experience, but it also let her save up some money to do the things she wanted.
Jiang Lai always did everything he could for Chi Yingyu, providing the best support possible. He never waited for her to ask—her living expenses were transferred to her even before the month began.
Sometimes he would even send a Red Packet, hoping she would eat well at school and not worry about money.
Chi Yingyu managed her living expenses meticulously. With what she saved and the extra money earned from her part-time jobs and internships, she had already amassed a tidy sum even before graduating.
When she realized she could support herself, she handed her bank card to her brother-in-law. It had taken a lot of persistence before Jiang Lai reluctantly accepted it.
She wanted to lighten his financial load, but when she started her own law firm, the bank card found its way back into her hands. Not a single cent was missing; in fact, there was a large sum specifically set aside to help her start her business.
Chi Yingyu had always wanted to shoulder the family responsibilities as soon as possible, to carry more so that her brother-in-law could be more at ease. But even after all these years, she still felt like a child in front of him.
She had always been remarkably sensible. Jiang Lai’s deepest regret was about Chi Yingyu. She was his little niece, lively and cheerful when they first met, sometimes even a little mischievous.
She’d been a fun little girl, but overnight, she matured and became so thoughtful. If only he had been more capable, Chi Yingyu could have had a life like everyone else, free of burdens at such a young age.
Xu Ruobing had no idea what Chi Yingyu was thinking right now. She was lost in her own thoughts about what had just been said. “So that’s how it is?”
Xu Ruobing’s situation was much the same as Jiang Lai’s—she had no real friends around her. Even the ones she socialized with were only for appearances’ sake.
Besides Jiang Lai, Xu Ruobing had no one else she could talk to in private. Having someone like Chi Yingyu as a rival, openly hostile towards her, was a new and oddly interesting experience.
If Jiang Lai wasn’t between them, she would actually be quite willing to get along with Chi Yingyu.
“Then let me go first! Even though at dinner we were at each other’s throats, almost ready to fight, I don’t actually hate it. In fact, I find it really interesting. I’ll probably remember what happened today for a long time to come.”
“Well, I can’t remember things that long. I don’t want to leave any trace of you in my memories.”
“So stingy. Can’t you spare even a tiny spot for me?”
Xu Ruobing’s voice lowered. Her words sounded so aggrieved, but she said them with a bright, smiling tone.
“I know you like Jiangjiang, so you hate me, and you can’t stand my presence. The two of us, in a way, are rivals in love. I don’t expect you to change your opinion of me, but I want to thank you. No one’s ever directly shown me their dislike before—thanks to you, I’ve felt something I’ve never felt before.”
Xu Ruobing’s tone was just a bit too cloying. The bed was warm, but Chi Yingyu still shivered under the covers.
Xu Ruobing really was impossible. Chi Yingyu had no idea how to deal with her, and that sense of helplessness made her want to give up.
Xu Ruobing was perfect. Even if Chi Yingyu didn’t like her, she had to admit that Xu Ruobing treated her brother-in-law incredibly well—so well she had nothing to criticize. But maybe it was precisely because Xu Ruobing was too perfect that Chi Yingyu couldn’t help but hate her.
That hatred was born of inferiority, jealousy, and envy. In her eyes, Xu Ruobing was almost flawless. Her dazzling brilliance was blinding. It was a feeling of being unable to measure up.
Xu Ruobing had done nothing wrong, yet as long as she remained by Jiang Lai’s side, Chi Yingyu couldn’t help but loathe her.
“Xu Ruobing, I really hate you! You have no idea how much, how deeply I love Jiang Lai.”