Jiang Lai, now a woman, was pinned down by her sister-in-law’s single hand in the hotel room.
She wanted to explain, but she could feel Chi Yingyu’s grip tightening, her palm tingling with numbness.
Chi Yingyu stared at the delicate woman before her, who looked barely older than her niece, perhaps just out of college.
How could she do something so filthy?
With a cold scoff, Chi Yingyu’s favoritism toward her brother-in-law made her pin all the blame on this woman.
Having known Jiang Lai for over a decade, Chi Yingyu understood him better than anyone, even her late sister.
Yet, as the one who knew him best, she could only watch from the sidelines.
Why, why was this young, inexperienced girl wearing her brother-in-law’s clothes?
What happened last night?
A fierce sense of injustice surged in Chi Yingyu’s heart.
They were the closest, bound by years of companionship, yet Jiang Lai pushed her away and chose an outsider.
As Chi Yingyu teetered on the edge of collapse, nearly ready to lash out, Jiang Lai, her wrist aching from the grip, spoke through red eyes, “Yingyu… I’m Jiang Lai.
I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m your brother-in-law.”
Her words sounded like a joke, fueling Chi Yingyu’s anger further.
“Little girl, even if you’re scared, don’t tell such easily debunked lies.”
Chi Yingyu wanted to punish the girl, but more than that, she wanted to know where Jiang Lai was.
Why were his clothes here, but not him?
Was he in the bathroom?
Glancing at the translucent bathroom and seeing no one, her suspicions deepened.
As Chi Yingyu looked around, Jiang Lai’s mind raced.
Her sister-in-law didn’t believe her, but who could imagine a grown man turning into this?
Yet, the impossible had happened to her.
Not only had she become younger, but her gender had changed entirely.
Even the closest people wouldn’t recognize her immediately.
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Lai shared a secret only she would know.
“Yingyu, I’m really your brother-in-law.
Your name is Chi Yingyu, twenty-nine, born on February 14, Valentine’s Day.
You love spicy food, are very particular about your bed, and always sleep with a teddy bear from high school.”
Jiang Lai recounted her memories of Chi Yingyu, and as she spoke, Chi Yingyu’s grip lightened, her angry expression turning to confusion.
Why did this girl know so much?
Even if her brother-in-law had told her, he wouldn’t share such details.
Seeing Chi Yingyu’s skepticism, Jiang Lai revealed something only the two of them knew, unknown even to her daughter.
“The month before your college entrance exam, you couldn’t sleep, and when you did, you had nightmares.
I told you bedtime stories for a whole month, and the night before the exam, you fell asleep on my arm…”
Before she could finish, Chi Yingyu clamped a hand over her mouth.
If she had been skeptical before, hearing about that exam period convinced her completely.
That night was a secret known only to them, something her brother-in-law would never share.
“Are you really my brother-in-law, Jiang Lai?”
Despite her mouth being covered, Jiang Lai nodded frantically to confirm her identity.
Chi Yingyu’s emotions shifted from impulsive rage to confusion.
Even if she could confirm this was her brother-in-law, why did he look like this?
Calming down, Chi Yingyu closely examined the new Jiang Lai.
Blinded by anger earlier, she now saw similarities to her brother-in-law in this woman.
Chi Yingyu stared intently, her gaze no longer cold but invasive, as if she could see through every inch of Jiang Lai.
Her hand unconsciously began caressing Jiang Lai’s face.
It was so similar—though her appearance and gender had changed, some parts were still her brother-in-law.
“The eyes, the nose, the ears, even the shape of the mouth are so alike, but you’d miss it if you didn’t look closely.”
Only their shared memories and this face, almost a female version of her sister—or a younger female Jiang Lai—confirmed it.
No matter how absurd, the truth was undeniable: the woman before her was Jiang Lai.
But if her brother-in-law was now a woman, should she call her sister-in-law?
Chi Yingyu gently touched Jiang Lai’s face with her fingertips, the cool sensation and intimate proximity throwing Jiang Lai off balance.
At that moment, Jiang Lai saw Chi Yingyu anew.
Specifically, she was now shorter—once looking down slightly at her sister-in-law, she now had to tilt her head up.
Chi Yingyu seemed to have dressed up specially, every part of her glowing, radiant.
The little girl who once clung to her clothes, crying, had become an exceptional woman.
The faint scent of jasmine lingered around Jiang Lai’s nose as Chi Yingyu’s smooth fingertips traced her face, their distance mere inches apart.
“Yingyu, can you let go? We’re too close.”
As if she hadn’t heard, Chi Yingyu moved closer, so near they could feel each other’s breath.
Jiang Lai’s tear-streaked eyes were red, her lips parted, her collarbone pronounced, more alluring than when she was drunk the previous night.
As Jiang Lai’s heart raced, nearly leaping out, Chi Yingyu’s voice turned icy again.
“You reek of alcohol. Where were you drinking yesterday? Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t drink?”