Chi Yingyu’s breathing suddenly grew rapid, her eyes deepening at Jiang Lai’s straightforward and fervent words, as if they held two clusters of burning flames.
Because she had finally waited for this day, finally waited for the day when her brother-in-law would take the initiative to ask for her.
The joy of sweetness after bitterness filled her heart.
Chi Yingyu slowly raised her hand, gently stroking Jiang Lai’s cheek, her fingertips trembling slightly, as if she couldn’t believe what was happening before her.
“Brother-in-law, do you know what you’re saying?”
Chi Yingyu’s voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of temptation.
She wanted to confirm one last time.
If her brother-in-law still nodded, then what happened next would be beyond Jiang Lai’s control.
The warm breath from her sister-in-law’s words lightly brushed past Jiang Lai’s ear, causing a shiver to run through her.
This time, she didn’t retreat.
Instead, she looked firmly at the sister-in-law before her.
Chi Yingyu had liked her for over a decade, had been thinking of her for over a decade.
Jiang Lai’s gaze remained fixed on her, her hands actively wrapping around Chi Yingyu’s neck.
“I won’t resist. I’ll like it all, I’ll endure it all properly. I know, so no matter what you do, I won’t resist.”
Chi Yingyu could no longer suppress the impulse in her heart.
She leaned forward, gently pulling Jiang Lai into her embrace.
At first, it was a tender exploration, as if confirming each other’s feelings, then gradually becoming fervent and urgent, the movements tangled with endless attachment and deep affection.
The night grew deeper, yet the two of them had no intention of sleeping.
***
Chi Yingyu held up her phone; the dial tone was already beeping in the receiver.
Si Yina’s heartbeat suddenly quickened.
Her hand trembled uncontrollably, as if pulled by an invisible force.
At this critical moment, she abruptly reached out and grabbed Chi Yingyu’s sleeve.
The action carried a hint of panic and urgency.
“Can you not call?”
Si Yina’s voice held a trace of a sob.
Her eyes were red.
The usually haughty look in her eyes was now replaced by pleading and fear.
Once, she was the pride of heaven in everyone’s eyes, the object of everyone’s pursuit.
No matter what she did, someone had her back; her every move exuded an innate sense of superiority.
But now, in this small garden, before Chi Yingyu, before this woman she had originally looked down upon, she was in such a sorry state.
Hearing this, Chi Yingyu frowned slightly, a flash of hesitation in her eyes, but she quickly returned to coldness.
She turned her head, looking at Si Yina, her tone icy:
“Do you think I can still trust you? Your previous promises were like the wind, forgotten as soon as they were spoken. In this matter, we’ve already suffered a great loss. Do you think we’ll trust you again?”
Si Yina bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
She said urgently:
“I really won’t do it this time, I swear. I know my previous actions disappointed you, but I just wanted to get close to Jiang Lai so badly, I couldn’t control myself…”
Her voice was choked, her words full of self-blame and regret.
Seeing her pitiful and desolate appearance, Chi Yingyu sneered:
“Swear? Your vows hold no credibility with me anymore. You keep saying you just wanted to get close to her, but your presence has already caused her too much trouble. As long as you exist, that is the greatest threat. Even if you don’t want to do anything, this is the karma you created before.”
A flash of anger appeared in her eyes.
She gripped her phone tighter, as if with one more gentle press, she could completely shatter Si Yina’s last hope.
Si Yina’s body trembled slightly.
She tightly clutched Chi Yingyu’s sleeve, as if it were her last lifeline:
“Please, give me one more chance. I promise, from today on, I’ll stay far away from her, I won’t appear in her life again…”
Her voice carried a trace of despair.
It was as if all her strength had been drained, and she slumped onto the bench.
Seeing her like this, the anger in Chi Yingyu’s heart gradually subsided, replaced by a hint of pity.
She knew she shouldn’t have this emotion—she should be merciless in eliminating anyone who might harm her brother-in-law.
But she also understood that the current Si Yina could no longer stir up any waves.
Plus, her mother’s existence had become the final means of restraint.
It could be said that the current Si Yina posed no threat at all.
Even so, she absolutely could not let Si Yina stay by her brother-in-law’s side.
That would be far too dangerous.
Thinking this, Chi Yingyu sighed, slowly lowering her phone:
“This is the last time. If you break your promise again, I definitely won’t show any more mercy.”
“Thank you. This time, I will definitely keep my promise.”
Si Yina quickly nodded, tears finally spilling from her eyes.
Her voice trembled slightly, her face showing an expression of relief.
Because she knew very well that she couldn’t go back yet.
Once she went back, everything she had done before would be in vain.
She didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to leave this city.
But before she escaped, her mother had already decided to send her abroad, to have her stay outside for a few years and not come back to cause trouble.
Her mother had originally thought she had grown enough to bear the weight of the family, but in the end, still needed to clean up her mess.
Si Yina was an immature heir.
Although her mother handled all her problems, she was also thoroughly disappointed in her.
So, to avoid being sent abroad, she had to escape like a madwoman.
No matter what happened next, as long as she could stay in this city, it was fine.
She knew very well that once she went abroad, it would be hard to come back.
As long as she could hold on long enough, there was still a chance to regain the initiative from her mother.
So she had to abandon her dignity, become what she was now.
And all of this was caused by herself.
The conversation between Si Yina and Chi Yingyu was all seen by Jiang Lai, hiding in the bushes not far away.
Watching the once haughty and arrogant Si Yina now begging so humbly, Jiang Lai’s heart was filled with mixed emotions.
She couldn’t help but think, if it had been like this earlier, why would they have had to reach this point?
She also wondered if Si Yina now regretted it—for the obsession in her heart, she was willing to break with her family, lose her financial support, even become so disheveled.
What was the point?
Jiang Lai stood there quietly, her thoughts in turmoil.
She remembered the former Si Yina, though detestable, had to admit she was once so confident and dazzling.
And now, she had been tormented into such a haggard state.
Besides resentment, her heart held a complex feeling of reflection.
After resolving Si Yina’s problem, Chi Yingyu turned to leave.
She walked slowly along the garden path, still thinking about how to explain all this to her brother-in-law.
Just then, a familiar figure caught the corner of her eye.
“Brother-in-law, have you been here all along?”
Seeing she was discovered, Jiang Lai stepped out from behind the bushes.
A faint smile on her face, she walked to Chi Yingyu’s side and, with a hint of possessiveness, took her hand.
“You saw everything?”
Chi Yingyu asked softly.
Jiang Lai nodded:
“Yes, I saw everything. Thank you for helping me resolve this trouble.”
Her voice was gentle, her eyes full of gratitude.
Chi Yingyu smiled, not minding at all:
“This is what I should do. After all, you are my…”
Her words suddenly stopped, a blush spreading across her face.
Jiang Lai was slightly stunned, then understood her meaning, a warm current rising in her heart.
She said softly: “Then let’s go home.”
“Okay.”
Chi Yingyu nodded.
The two walked side by side on the way home.
The evening glow of the setting sun fell on them, stretching their shadows long.
Along the way, they chatted simply, sharing their feelings.
Though the words were few, a sense of tacit understanding flowed between them.
After returning home, Jiang Lai felt particularly relaxed.
The problem that had troubled her for so long was finally resolved.
She felt as if she had shed a heavy burden.
That night, lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
The events of the day kept surfacing in her mind.
She remembered how Chi Yingyu had stood up for her, and her heart filled with emotion.
She suddenly realized that Chi Yingyu’s position in her heart was becoming more and more important.
She was beginning to learn to rely on her, no longer burying everything in her heart like before, but willing to lean on her.
Thinking and thinking, Jiang Lai suddenly sat up.
She looked at the night outside the window and made a decision.
She quietly walked out of her room, came to Chi Yingyu’s door, hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open and went in.
Chi Yingyu was lying in bed, wearing loose pajamas, her hair somewhat messy.
She looked at Jiang Lai in surprise:
“It’s so late, why are you here? Isn’t it my turn for a night raid today?”
Looking at her, Jiang Lai’s original nervousness suddenly vanished.
She smiled slightly:
“I can’t sleep. I want to chat with you.”
Chi Yingyu was stunned for a moment, then showed a smile, like a child who had received a reward, patting the spot beside her:
“Come here, brother-in-law, lie here.”
The room’s lighting was dim, creating a warm atmosphere.
Jiang Lai sat on the edge of the bed, Chi Yingyu sitting beside her.
The two were silent for a while before Jiang Lai broke the silence.
She reached out, took Chi Yingyu’s hand, and asked softly:
“Yingyu… would you want me?”
She had already realized that her feelings for her sister-in-law were growing deeper.
Liking someone meant wanting to keep them by your side, and it also brought about feelings of inferiority and unease.
“It’s also because of Si Yina’s appearance that I understood one thing,” Jiang Lai said quietly.
“That time before… when I was tied up, I was resisting in my heart, even resenting myself, wondering why it wasn’t you who took my first time.”
She smiled somewhat awkwardly.
“I don’t know when I became so bold… but if I don’t say it now, I might not be able to say it later.”
She looked at Chi Yingyu, her voice light but firm: “I’m not giving up on myself… I want to give myself to you because I want you.”