Jiang Lai’s life had been disturbed by a ripple of unease. Ever since that first encounter with Si Yina at the supermarket entrance, her previously peaceful days were now punctuated by glimpses of that furtive figure lurking in the corners of the residential complex.
Deep down, Jiang Lai didn’t want to see Si Yina again, but the other woman was like a ghost.
Though there was no hostility, and she never blocked Jiang Lai’s path, she would still catch sight of Si Yina’s sneaky silhouette when coming and going from the complex.
The sightings weren’t frequent, maybe two chance encounters here and there, but that was enough.
Jiang Lai could sense the other woman had no intention of actively harassing her.
Yet, the mere fact that Si Yina was staying within her complex was deeply unsettling.
Si Yina, the former female president who once commanded respect in the business world, was tall and striking. Even now, though she seemed less radiant, her posture remained straight and proud.
Her wavy hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, the ends somewhat disheveled as if tousled by the wind. Her face was pale with sharp features, a high nose bridge, and slightly pale, thin lips beneath it.
Those once-deep eyes, once brimming with confidence and arrogance, were now empty and unfocused, gazing into the distance as if searching for something or utterly lost in her own world.
Such a conspicuous aura made her stand out in any crowd. Even if Jiang Lai tried not to notice, it was difficult.
Despite Si Yina not making any overt moves—never approaching Jiang Lai, even carefully avoiding eye contact—the unease in Jiang Lai’s heart grew like a wildly spreading vine, winding around every nerve.
Every time she saw Si Yina in the complex, Jiang Lai’s heart would clench. Whatever she had planned to do would become rushed.
Whether it was grocery shopping, taking a walk, or picking up a package, she’d hurry through it. Because once she encountered the other woman, only one thought remained: escape the unsettling range of that gaze as quickly as possible.
A week passed, and this feeling of being constantly watched grew stronger. Jiang Lai could finally bear it no longer.
As the city’s clamor faded into the evening, Jiang Lai and Chi Yingyu sat on the living room sofa.
Jiang Lai leaned quietly against her, letting her full weight press into the other woman. To an outsider, they looked like a very loving couple.
The living room lights were soft and warm, a pale yellow glow spilling over them, yet it couldn’t dispel the heavy gloom in Jiang Lai’s heart.
Jiang Lai wore a loose nightdress. Ever since her daughter started school, her sister-in-law’s tendency to get handsy had noticeably increased. If she still wore her old pajama pants, they could easily be pulled down during their playful tussles, something Jiang Lai couldn’t accept.
At the very least, she didn’t want to be undressed.
So, she’d switched to the more convenient nightdress. Lying on the sofa, the hem of her dress draped casually, her head resting comfortably on her sister-in-law’s lap. Her fingers lightly twirled a strand of hair, her eyes filled with weariness and helplessness.
“Ying Yu, I need to tell you something… You mentioned before that Si Yina had run off, right? Well, this past week, I’ve been seeing her around our complex.”
Jiang Lai’s voice was soft but tinged with exhaustion. She sighed lightly, her chest rising and falling slightly.
“She hasn’t done anything, which is why I didn’t tell you for a whole week, but I just can’t feel at ease.”
A flicker of fear showed in her eyes, as if afraid of some unknown trouble on the horizon.
Just thinking about everything Si Yina had done in the past sent a chill down her spine.
Chi Yingyu frowned, her slender brows knitting together instantly, a flash of displeasure in her eyes.
She just thought the woman was a lingering nuisance. How could she, in her current state, still be hanging around here? It was baffling.
“Brother-in-law, it’s okay. This will be resolved soon,” Chi Yingyu said, reaching out to gently pat the back of Jiang Lai’s hand, her movements tender yet firm.
“I’ll go find her tomorrow and have a proper talk with her, make her leave promptly.”
Her eyes held a resolute determination, as if promising to solve this trouble for Jiang Lai, absolutely not allowing her to suffer even the slightest bit more harm.
Her sister-in-law acted quickly. The next day, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting golden dappled light on the pathways of the complex.
Following Jiang Lai’s rough description of the areas, Chi Yingyu began searching the complex for any trace of Si Yina, focusing on the few spots where she’d been seen.
After searching for a while, she finally spotted Si Yina in the complex’s garden.
Si Yina was sitting on a bench. The flowers around her bloomed wildly, a stark contrast to her haggard appearance.
Her hair was even more disheveled, a few strands falling across her cheeks like a crumpled painting.
She wore a simple white shirt, the hem slightly wrinkled, paired with black jeans. Her shoes were dusty.
She looked utterly exhausted. Yet, even so, she exuded an elegance unattainable by ordinary people—even the plainest clothes seemed like haute couture on her.
Chi Yingyu strode over to Si Yina, slightly tilting her chin up, looking down at her with a threatening gaze.
“This situation is completely different from what was agreed upon. Si Yina, what exactly are you trying to do? You promised back then you would never come near us again!”
Her voice was clear but icy, cutting sharply through the quiet garden.
“You made a promise yourself, but you’re not keeping it. Showing up here, clinging on like this—is it fun?”
She stared intently at Si Yina, as if trying to see through her. If she didn’t want to preserve the other’s last shred of dignity, she would have made a huge scene already.
Si Yina looked up at Chi Yingyu, a flash of stubbornness in her eyes. It was a desperate, all-consuming persistence. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something but swallowed it back.
After a moment, she spoke softly, “I don’t want to do anything… I just want to be closer to her. I won’t disturb her.”
Her voice was hoarse, carrying a note of pleading, her eyes full of longing.
Chi Yingyu let out a cold laugh, the corner of her mouth curling into a mocking arc. She didn’t believe a word this woman said.
“I advise you to resolve this peacefully and not make things too ugly. Your mother worked hard to suppress this for your sake. Since you’ve run away from home, you probably don’t want to go back.”
“If you leave here now, I won’t say anything. If not, I’ll tell your mother your whereabouts. When that happens, she won’t be as reasonable as I am. She’ll definitely drag you back.”
As she spoke, Chi Yingyu leaned forward slightly, applying more pressure. If she weren’t worried about the other woman resorting to desperate measures, she wouldn’t be holding back like this.
Si Yina’s face instantly turned even paler, as if all strength had been drained from her. But soon, she regained her composure, her eyes revealing a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.
“Go ahead and tell her. I don’t care. I have nothing left now. My mother cut off my funds. I don’t want to go back.”
“I just want to stay here, to be closer to Jiang Lai.”
Her voice was faint but filled with conviction.
Seeing her stubborn, deluded state, Chi Yingyu’s anger flared. Her hands clenched into tight fists, knuckles turning white from the force. She really wanted to hit her, but she knew that would only make things worse.
Helpless, she could only take out her phone and call Si Yina’s mother.
Watching Chi Yingyu dial the number, Si Yina lowered her head, a flicker of desolation in her eyes. Her shoulders trembled slightly, as if holding back something.
She didn’t speak, just sat there quietly like an abandoned statue. Suddenly, she looked up again, gazing into the distance, at something unseen.
And all of this was witnessed by Jiang Lai, watching quietly from afar.
Jiang Lai felt not a shred of sympathy. She understood clearly that if this matter wasn’t resolved, she would live in constant unease.
Just as Chi Yingyu connected the call, Si Yina finally gave in.
She reached out, gently tugging at the sleeve of Chi Yingyu’s shirt, her voice wretched and pitiful:
“Can you not make the call?”