Si Yina’s mother had experienced far more in life than her daughter. At a single glance, relying on intuition alone, she could roughly guess what kind of person someone was.
She could form a definitive impression in an instant, let alone after spending the entire lunch hour sitting right next to Jiang Lai.
Through her observations, she had come to understand Jiang Lai’s temperament. She was actually quite pleased that the first person her daughter brought home wasn’t someone greedy for the family’s wealth.
Jiang Lai wasn’t a gold-digger, and her personality was excellent. She didn’t flatter Si Yina recklessly. Moreover, in their interactions, while Jiang Lai allowed Si Yina to be physically intimate, Jiang Lai never once initiated contact.
Based on this alone, the mother could guess that their relationship was nothing like what her daughter claimed. “Passionate lovers”? Setting “passion” aside, she doubted they were even a couple at all.
Instead, it was her own daughter who was clinging to the other girl like a desperate dependent, terrified that Jiang Lai might vanish.
“Nana, how many things have you actually been able to hide from me since you were little? Your relationship… I suspect it’s not at all what you said it was!”
Her mother spoke bluntly, believing directness was better for everyone. “I can see that girl doesn’t have a shred of romantic feeling for you. I believe you brought her here because you’re serious, not just playing around—but the more serious you are, the more mutual affection matters.”
The mother looked out at Jiang Lai again. The girl was sitting on the courtyard bench, her profile clear and exquisite—elegant and captivating. From her appearance to her temperament, everything about her was impeccable.
She sat there like a moving painting, radiating a unique charm. Her eyes were deep and gentle, yet buried within them seemed to be endless stories.
Gentle yet mysterious. It was no wonder her daughter was infatuated; anyone would be tempted to delve into her secrets.
“If you just want to play, a ‘forced melon’ can quench your thirst. But if you want to walk a long path with her, you have to make her love you back.”
The mother watched her daughter sink into thought. When Si Yina was a child, her thoughts were easy to read. As she grew, she became better at masking her mind and hiding her secrets.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking. If you just brought a girl home to see if we’d accept the fact that you like women, then I’m telling you now: I don’t object to you being with a girl. But this one… you should give up on her sooner rather than later.”
When Jiang Lai looked at Si Yina, her eyes appeared gentle and sweet on the surface, but they held a deep sense of detachment. Like a sheet of ice in winter, there was no warmth. No matter how brightly she smiled, her emotions remained stagnant.
That indifference toward her daughter was like looking at an irrelevant object; she was merely going through the motions.
The mother understood perfectly: that girl would absolutely never fall in love with her daughter.
“So, whether you’re real or just pretending so we’ll give our blessing, I hope you don’t fall too deep.”
If it was just a physical obsession, fine. But if she gave her heart, it would be a disaster!
The mother gently took Si Yina’s hand, looking every bit the compassionate parent—tolerant and all-encompassing. But this sweet maternal love had come far too late for Si Yina.
Si Yina knew people changed over time. When she had needed maternal love most, her mother had been strict to the point of cruelty. She wasn’t allowed a single mistake, or she would face harsh rebukes.
Now, when she no longer craved family warmth, this caring and tolerant love was suddenly thrust upon her. It felt uncomfortable, almost repulsive. She would have preferred her mother to stay the way she used to be.
These gestures were futile now. Si Yina’s heart wouldn’t change; she couldn’t be truly honest with her mother.
Furthermore, in Si Yina’s eyes, this “late” love was something she had earned through her own strength. If she weren’t as outstanding as she was now, if she hadn’t fulfilled their goals for an heir, this tenderness wouldn’t exist.
She didn’t care about her family’s approval. She only wanted to confirm they wouldn’t stop her from being with women. The obedient child of the past was gone; now, she only wanted to follow her own desires.
“I know what I’m doing…”
But was the truth really as her mother said? Was it impossible for Jiang Lai to love her? But why…
The light in Si Yina’s eyes dimmed as a heavy gloom settled over her.
The mother and daughter talked for a long time—so long that Jiang Lai had begun staring blankly at her phone, specifically at the chat window with her sister-in-law.
Jiang Lai wasn’t curious about their conversation. she was just there to finish a task. Everything else was irrelevant. All she cared about was when she could leave the island.
Just as Jiang Lai felt like she was being dried out by the sun, Si Yina walked out with a dark expression. Seeing Jiang Lai in the yard, she grabbed her wrist tightly and pulled her along, walking at a reckless, rapid pace.
Jiang Lai couldn’t keep up and stumbled, nearly falling, but she scrambled to adjust her steps and follow.
Though Jiang Lai was desperate to go home, she saw that Si Yina was in a terrible state. Saying anything now would be like pouring oil on a fire.
So, even though her wrist throbbed with pain from the grip, Jiang Lai remained silent. She was terrified that Si Yina might snap and vent all that toxic emotion on her.
When they reached a secluded spot, Si Yina suddenly slammed Jiang Lai against a wall. Her voice, sounding almost like an indictment, rang in Jiang Lai’s ear:
“Why don’t you love me?!”