Before getting in the car, Jiang Lai turned back to look at Chi Yingyu, who was trying to pull her back.
Although she also wanted to stay with her sister-in-law a little longer, what she wanted now was completely beyond her control.
Right before getting in, Jiang Lai glanced at Si Yina sitting in the back seat, then looked again at the Malu, which was empty except for them—not even a single car in sight.
“Even though I really, really hate you, since I’m leaving with you, can you at least have someone send Yingyu into the city?”
It was so late, and so cold. Without her by her sister-in-law’s side, Jiang Lai was truly worried. If this wasn’t agreed to, even if she had to get in the car, Jiang Lai would scratch up Si Yina’s face.
Si Yina, seeing her goal accomplished, naturally agreed to such a minor request from Jiang Lai. With a casual order, she arranged for a car to handle Jiang Lai’s concern.
With this, Jiang Lai’s last worry finally faded.
When Jiang Lai sat down in the rear compartment, for some reason, a sudden and intense drowsiness overtook her as she leaned next to Si Yina. Her eyelids grew heavy, uncontrollably closing, until in the end she couldn’t even support herself, slumping against Si Yina and passing out.
Si Yina looked at Jiang Lai, who was asleep with her eyes closed, leaning on her shoulder. She gently raised her hand, her fingertips softly tracing Jiang Lai’s lips.
Though the awake Jiang Lai was lively and possessed a unique beauty, it was like a rose with thorns—gorgeous but liable to prick her deeply at any moment, such an alluring danger.
But now, with Jiang Lai quietly asleep on her shoulder, all her energy gone, there was a bit less spirit—but at least like this, she could hold her in her palm and play with her carefully.
Both versions of Jiang Lai had their own charms and drawbacks. Si Yina was torn—why couldn’t she have both at once?
After Si Yina’s car disappeared down the Malu, Chi Yingyu was left behind, standing next to the woman in the suit.
Though her heart was filled with too many negative emotions, desperate to be vented, right now all she wanted was to know where her sister-in-law was going.
Even if she couldn’t ask Si Yina, she’d get the answer from the woman beside her.
Jiang Lai didn’t wake up until noon the next day.
When she finally became conscious and saw herself lying in the Haohua Suite, she felt a burst of confusion, only then recalling her current situation.
But why did she suddenly pass out yesterday? She couldn’t remember anything that happened after getting in the car, nor how she’d ended up on this bed.
Jiang Lai could only vaguely recall falling asleep soon after getting in the car, but it was all so strange.
Looking at the sleepwear that had been put on her, she quickly tidied the wrinkled pajamas, then got out of the soft bed and briefly examined the room.
During this process, Jiang Lai noticed that some things from her pocket had been neatly laid out on the table, including her phone, her house keys, and even the receipts from her purchases, all spread out.
She tapped her phone out of habit, intending to let her sister-in-law know she was safe, but the phone was dead, and it seemed her charger was packed in her luggage.
Jiang Lai sighed, her gaze shifting to the drawn Chuanglian.
She shuffled over to the Chuanglian and gently pulled it aside a bit.
Outside, it was bright—the sun hung high, and golden sunlight poured over her, warm and comforting.
Her weary spirit eased a little.
Having been in a dim environment for so long, the glare was a bit much; she had to blink several times before she could see clearly.
Below was a huge expanse of lawn, and in the far distance, a vast, beautiful ocean.
Just what kind of place had Si Yina brought her to?
Judging from the height, Jiang Lai realized she must be on a high floor, with a perfect view to take in her surroundings.
Looking out at the endless ocean all around, Jiang Lai discovered she seemed to be on a small island.
Once she realized where she was, she understood how hard it would be to escape.
Her heart filled with despair; she barely had the strength to hold onto the Chuanglian, and as soon as she let go, the Chuanglian dropped down.
That beam of sunlight from outside vanished, and with the sudden darkness, Jiang Lai felt herself plunged back into an ice cellar—colder than ever, chilled to the bone.
Unconsciously, Jiang Lai shivered.
She turned, preparing to go back to bed and lie down for a while.
She stepped back, nearly tripping over the Chuanglian, and only managed to steady herself by holding onto the table.
But before getting back in bed, there was something more important to do.
Her phone was dead, and she didn’t know if the suite provided a charger.
Unable to contact the outside world, the feeling of being cut off terrified her.
Her sister-in-law was still outside, alone in an unfamiliar city. Jiang Lai didn’t know if she’d even gotten any rest last night, and was truly worried.
Jiang Lai nearly searched the entire suite before finally discovering a Wuxian Chongdianqi on the table.
Although wireless charging was a bit slow, it was still much better than a dead phone.
Wrapped in her blanket, Jiang Lai sat in the chair, silently waiting for her phone to power on.
Just then, she heard the door open.
Even bundled up in the blanket, when she saw Si Yina standing in the doorway, Jiang Lai couldn’t help but shiver.
Si Yina stood there, watching her steadily.
Only a small, dim lamp was on in the room, so Si Yina could only see a blurry outline, not Jiang Lai’s expression.
When she switched on the main lights, the room became bright at last, and she finally saw what Jiang Lai was up to.
Bundled up in the blanket, she looked like a little penguin, guarding her phone with a kind of desperate hunger.
Si Yina approached, and Jiang Lai instinctively wrapped herself tighter, acutely aware of Si Yina’s gaze fixed directly on her.
She didn’t dare look up as Si Yina entered, only glancing with the corner of her eye as the smell of Haixian Zhou drifted over.
She saw Si Yina carrying a tray—she’d brought food for her.