The situation at the dining table was far simpler than Jiang Lai had imagined. She had initially thought she would have to deal with both of Si Yina’s parents at once; she had even envisioned a scene where she was being interrogated or unceremoniously slapped in the face with a check for millions of dollars.
But how could such drama happen in reality? With the level of sophistication Si Yina’s mother possessed after years of experience, there were countless ways to get a girl to leave her daughter. Making her leave voluntarily would be an effortless task.
Jiang Lai had prepared for every worst-case scenario, yet things were going almost too smoothly. During lunch, Si Yina’s mother had even specifically pulled Jiang Lai to sit right next to her.
Throughout the meal, Jiang Lai could feel two intense gazes coming from both her left and right.
She was mostly used to Si Yina’s annoying gaze by now; no matter how direct or naked the desire in those eyes, she could ignore it.
However, she hadn’t expected the gaze from Si Yina’s mother. Compared to her daughter’s, it was even more intense—a top-to-bottom scrutiny that left nothing unexamined.
The last time Jiang Lai had felt something like this was a very, very long time ago, when she had gone to meet her mother-in-law with her wife.
Back then, she had also felt like a rare animal being inspected from every angle, so she understood why Si Yina’s mother was looking at her this way.
Judging by the way her bowl was being piled high with food, it seemed Si Yina’s mother didn’t dislike her; in fact, she seemed to have a good impression of her. This caused Jiang Lai to reflect on the goal of this meeting.
She was supposed to act as the girlfriend to help Si Yina deal with her parents—but what kind of “dealing with” was it? Was she supposed to leave a bad impression or a good one? Si Yina hadn’t clarified any of that; she had only told her to “cooperate.”
But where was the cooperation?
Jiang Lai couldn’t help but use her peripheral vision to look at Si Yina, who was glued to her other side. Si Yina was acting completely pathetic.
Even though they were sitting in two separate chairs, the woman insisted on pressing her leg against Jiang Lai’s. If it weren’t for the fact that it would interfere with Jiang Lai’s ability to eat, Si Yina probably would have draped half her body over her.
So much for “cooperation” and “signals.” At this point, Jiang Lai felt that the other woman had genuinely lost herself in this fake relationship.
Just as Jiang Lai was about to give up and simply endure the rest of the lunch, Si Yina’s mother asked softly from her side, “I haven’t asked about your family yet. Are your parents retired? Do you have siblings?”
Up until now, Si Yina’s mother had been watching her with a smile, clearly satisfied with her appearance and manners. The individual had passed the test; next was the background.
Hearing these familiar questions, Jiang Lai didn’t know how to answer. Her current “family” was something an ordinary person could never comprehend: she had a daughter who looked only a few years younger than herself, and she lived with her late wife’s sister…
Jiang Lai met the mother’s gaze and pursed her lips. There was no point in lying to someone so calculating. In the end, she simply shook her head and chose not to answer.
Anyone else in this situation would have scrambled to present themselves in the best light, but not Jiang Lai. If she didn’t want to answer, she would simply decline politely.
She had nothing to lose by staying silent. Earning a good impression from Si Yina’s mother wasn’t a necessity.
After all, she didn’t plan on staying with Si Yina anyway. This was just a temporary charade. To marry a senseless, unreasonable lunatic and spend the rest of her life with her? Jiang Lai would rather die.
The mother naturally sensed Jiang Lai’s reluctance. It didn’t matter if she didn’t speak now; if necessary, she could ask her daughter later, or run a slow, thorough background check.
She wasn’t targeting Jiang Lai specifically. Regardless of who her daughter brought home, she instinctively wanted to investigate their background to see if they were “clean.” If someone had an ulterior motive, she would never allow her daughter to have any contact with them.
She had secretly investigated all of Si Yina’s previous friends. When it came to a potential life partner for her daughter, no amount of caution was too much.
Sigh…
Looking at her daughter, who was clinging to Jiang Lai like a needy child, the mother couldn’t help but feel a flicker of disdain in her eyes. Could she not act a bit more dignified? How can she be someone others rely on if she’s this clingy? However, this wasn’t true disdain—it was the “disdain of love.”
In her mind, she had raised her daughter to be independent and elite—someone who would remain calm in the face of any storm. This was the first time she had seen such a “weak” side of her daughter.
Regarding Si Yina’s upbringing, the mother knew she had been extremely strict. But if she hadn’t been, how could they comfortably hand over everything they owned to her?
To the mother, that strictness had been necessary. But as time passed and her daughter grew up, she had begun to let go of that rigidity.
A large part of this change was due to the fact that, in their eyes, Si Yina had successfully become a capable adult and no longer needed the discipline of her childhood.
The lunch ended quickly. Jiang Lai hadn’t eaten much from start to finish; once she finished the small portion in her bowl, she lost her appetite. With the meal over, her agreement with Si Yina was fulfilled.
She had thought meeting the parents would be a grave affair, but it turned out to be just small talk. Jiang Lai sat on a bench in the courtyard, basking in the bright sunlight while waiting for Si Yina.
After lunch, Si Yina had wanted to leave with Jiang Lai immediately, but her mother had stopped her, saying she wanted a private word.
Inside the house, the mother glanced at Jiang Lai on the bench to ensure she was out of earshot, then looked at her somewhat pathetic daughter.
Having been her mother for so long, there were some things she could see clearly. “Momo, I know you like that girl very much, but as your mother, I must advise you: let her go.”
“Why?”
Si Yina didn’t understand. They had acted so much like a loving couple at the table—sticking together sweetly, and Jiang Lai hadn’t rejected her intimate touch at all.
“Affection must be mutual. Listen to me…” the mother said gently. “A forced melon is never sweet.”