Jiang Lai was caught somewhat off guard by Xu Ruobing’s sudden embrace.
Perhaps it was because she hadn’t had contact with Xu Ruobing for a long time, but this intimate gesture made her extremely shy.
The warm breath near her ear made her cheeks flush even more.
More importantly, the three people in the room were all watching her.
Previously, Jiang Lai had very much enjoyed Xu Ruobing’s proximity.
After all, anyone would be thrilled if a superstar was willing to be close and affectionate with them.
But now was not the time for enjoyment.
Jiang Lai subconsciously tried to break free, only to find that Xu Ruobing’s grip was quite firm, as if she were terrified Jiang Lai might disappear, yet also afraid her strength might hurt her.
Jiang Lai knew very well that Xu Ruobing was worried about her.
Facing this hug filled with care and love, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away.
Sighing helplessly in her heart, she gently patted Xu Ruobing’s back and whispered, “I’m fine. I don’t have a single injury. I really made you worry.”
Xu Ruobing had likely dropped her work and rushed here from a great distance.
‘How could I fail the kindness of the person before me?’
Jiang Lai wondered.
So, Jiang Lai did not immediately let go.
Instead, she buried her face in the crook of Xu Ruobing’s neck, her voice muffled and tinged with a bit of a spoiled tone.
“I’m truly grateful for everything you’ve done for me. If you hadn’t sent so many people to save me, I wouldn’t have known how to escape.”
“But I still want to say I’m sorry. I should have rushed back the moment I found out you were missing, but I returned 1 day late.”
Xu Ruobing had been overwhelmed with various matters over the past few days.
Her phone had been on silent, and sometimes she couldn’t even check it once a day.
By the time she learned of Jiang Lai’s disappearance, several days had already passed.
Just thinking about this, Xu Ruobing pursed her lips with guilt and explained softly, “I’m sorry. Too much has happened lately, and I simply couldn’t get back immediately. I’m so sorry.”
After saying her piece, Xu Ruobing slowly released Jiang Lai.
She cupped Jiang Lai’s face with both hands, carefully examining her expression.
In those deep eyes, there was guilt mixed with an irrepressible concern.
Jiang Lai felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at like that, especially with others around.
She could only stammer an explanation.
“Am I not standing right here in front of you now? Don’t think so much about it. Let the past stay in the past.”
“Mm, as long as you’re okay.”
Xu Ruobing finally cast off her self-reproach and guilt.
A trace of a smile appeared on her face as her fingers gently brushed Jiang Lai’s cheek.
“It’s only been a few days since we last met. Why do you look thinner?”
Before Jiang Lai could respond, Chi Yingyu, who was standing to the side, couldn’t help but speak up.
Watching her Brother-in-law and Xu Ruobing showing off their affection at the doorway was an eyesore.
Her jaw had been clenched the entire time, and she spoke almost through gritted teeth.
“Xu Ruobing, why don’t you two come inside to talk? People passing by outside will see you.”
If someone saw them and took a photo, given Xu Ruobing’s influence, all sorts of gossip would appear online within 2 hours.
When that time came, the peace of this home would be shattered, and they would likely be hounded by paparazzi.
“Alright. I was just so excited that I lost focus. I only had eyes for Jiang Lai just now.”
Xu Ruobing’s casual statement was practically a declaration of her claim to everyone in the room.
she looked inside, her gaze sweeping over Chi Yingyu and Shen Ruxue.
A faint smile touched her lips.
“I see there’s another guest here. I’m afraid I didn’t prepare a gift.”
Shen Ruxue had witnessed everything that happened at the door.
Compared to Chi Yingyu’s visibly dark expression, Shen Ruxue hid her surface emotions quite well.
A slight smile appeared on her beautiful, somewhat youthful face as she greeted the other woman calmly and politely.
“Miss Xu, I often hear Jiang Leyi mention you.”
But beyond that, she didn’t know what else to say.
This was her First Time officially meeting Xu Ruobing.
Just as Shen Ruxue wanted to learn more about the relationship between this woman and her Husband, the perceptive Jiang Leyi had already grabbed Shen Ruxue’s hand to lead her away from the living room and back to their room.
On the way back, she whispered, “The rest is grown-up talk. We should go back to the room.”
Although Shen Ruxue wanted to stay a bit longer, she looked at her daughter, who was intent on taking her away, and complied.
She planned to slowly learn about what had happened between her Husband and Xu Ruobing through her daughter later.
After Shen Ruxue left, the room suddenly grew quiet, leaving only Jiang Lai, Chi Yingyu, and Xu Ruobing.
Jiang Lai looked at Xu Ruobing and then glanced cautiously at her Sister-in-law.
She noticed their relationship was just as stiff as before.
‘We’ve shared days of fighting side by side, so why has it gone back to this?’
She spoke with some helplessness.
“Can you two try to get along a bit more kindly? I really don’t want you two fighting right now. You are both the most important people to me. If you can live in peace, I would be very happy.”
Hearing her Brother-in-law’s words, Chi Yingyu shrugged dismissively.
Her thoughts were simple: as long as Xu Ruobing didn’t think about possessing her Brother-in-law, she had no objections.
“I don’t mind either way. The key is Xu Ruobing—as long as she doesn’t think about things she shouldn’t.”
Xu Ruobing naturally understood the underlying meaning.
She frowned, a hint of displeasure in her tone.
“I don’t know if I’ll do those things or not; that depends on others. I only want Jiang Lai to be happy. As long as she is happy, I’ll do anything.”
Jiang Lai looked at the two most important people before her.
Even though she had tried to mediate, they were still like two little hedgehogs, secretly pricking each other.
She fell silent for a moment before finally sighing, her tone softening.
Jiang Lai knew very well that she couldn’t just keep the balance between her “two bowls of water” fairly.
It wasn’t enough to treat them equally; she had to make both sides feel, from their own perspective, like they were the favored one.
Only then would they stop fighting.
She remembered how her Sister-in-law had been jealous just because her daughter’s Best Friend had cooked with her.
Xu Ruobing’s possessiveness was easily on par with hers.
At that moment, Jiang Lai truly wished she could split herself in two to give a half to each of them.