“Brother-in-law, let me help you pull it up now………………”
Jiang Lai’s long hair lazily cascaded down her back, her smooth, jade-like shoulders faintly visible, and below her hair’s end was that alluring willow waist, so slender and delicate that a single hand could easily encircle it.
Chi Yingyu gently gathered all of Jiang Lai’s hair together, and as she tidied up the long dress she had messed up herself, she once again confirmed the question in her heart.
“Can you promise me not to seek out anyone else?”
“I can, but Yingyu……………you also have to understand that there’s no possibility between us.”
Once again hearing her brother-in-law reject her, Chi Yingyu felt as if a huge emptiness had opened up in her heart.
“Yingyu, you are the most important person in my heart, but the affection I have for you is limited to that of family. There is no chance for us.”
If we really got together, even if we don’t have a blood relationship, it would still be against morality. How would Leyi and your sister see us?
Jiang Lai also knew her words sounded a bit harsh now, but if she didn’t say it forcefully enough, if she didn’t make things clear, what if Chi Yingyu still harbored fantasies in her heart? Then what?
Chi Yingyu could feel a strict, forbidden red line being drawn right in front of her. Inside that red line, the safe zone, she could still enjoy all the privileges and kindness she used to have.
But once she crossed that line, all of it would disappear. Now that this red line existed, from now on she no longer dared to act so brazenly, relying on her brother-in-law’s doting to do whatever she pleased.
She fell into deep sadness, but Chi Yingyu still believed that one day, someday, she would slowly change her brother-in-law’s mind. Even if it wasn’t blessed, so what? As long as the two of them could be happy together, that was enough.
No matter how many times or how often her brother-in-law told her, Chi Yingyu would still stubbornly hold onto the affection in her heart. She would stay by Jiang Lai’s side with all her heart and sincerity.
She absolutely would not give up. She pursued Jiang Lai, longing for her with all her being.
The awkward atmosphere between the two gradually returned to how it used to be after what happened in the underground garage. They went back to their most familiar and best state.
Bickering, laughing, talking; no more distance between them. Everything returned to how it had been at the start. Jiang Lai continued to keep the promise she made to her sister-in-law in the underground garage: every time she went out, she would report to her in advance. At least this made her sister-in-law much more at ease.
But those peaceful and tranquil days hadn’t lasted long when a woman named Si Yina appeared around them—a woman even more aggressive and unreasonable than Xu Ruobing.
There were only four days left until New Year. The entire city was enveloped in the festive atmosphere unique to the season, with bright red Red Lanterns hanging on every street.
Walking along the road, Jiang Lai felt warmth well up in her heart just seeing those blazing red lanterns.
Today was a special day: Chi Yingyu’s law firm was finally on holiday. After being busy for so long, her sister-in-law could finally get some proper rest.
But thinking of all the things that needed to be done before the year’s end, Chi Yingyu still had to be busy for a day or two. There was still a lot of New Year’s shopping to prepare, so many things to buy, and someone needed to drive it all back.
Jiang Lai had a car, but it was still parked in the garage. Even though she’d been a veteran driver for over a decade, she couldn’t drive.
After all, her old Driver’s License was no longer valid. To drive again, she’d have to wait until after the New Year to retake the test for a new Driver’s License.
For now, she could only rely on her sister-in-law these days. Not being able to drive was really inconvenient. Back when the apartment was close to Chi Yingyu’s law office, Jiang Lai could walk over and accompany her sister-in-law home from work.
But ever since her sister-in-law moved back home, even though the distance wasn’t far, driving was still the most convenient. If she tried to go pick her up herself, it would be pointless and cause even more trouble.
Now, Jiang Lai only wanted to get her Driver’s License as soon as possible. That way, if her sister-in-law worked hard, she could pick her up herself, and if anything happened at home, being able to drive would make everything much more convenient.
Especially in winter—even though it was lively outside, the cold wind still stung her face. It didn’t matter much to her, but when she looked at her daughter beside her, Jiang Lai thought that if she had her Driver’s License, she could just drive over for such a short trip.
“After New Year, I’ll go take the driving test with you! That way I can teach you how to drive myself.”
Jiang Lai made the suggestion mainly because she wanted to make memories with her daughter. After finally getting to spend time happily together, she was eager to make up for all the lost time.
“That would be great. I guess then, practicing won’t feel so dull.”
But with Dad’s appearance, even if he went back to college, nothing would seem out of the ordinary. How about Dad joins me for a few classes? Who knows, maybe after just one class, someone will come over asking for his contact information.”
“Is that how people hit on each other at university these days?”
Jiang Lai still remembered back when she was in college, there weren’t such convenient chat apps, and not everyone even had a cell phone.
Back then, if two people wanted to get to know each other, most communication was done through letters—writing out what you wanted to say, then handing the letter to the other person the next time you met. It was a bit troublesome, but handwritten letters carried a feeling that texting on a phone simply couldn’t.
“So, Leyi, has anyone ever asked you for your contact information?”
“There have been………………but I always turned them down.”
Jiang Leyi thought quietly about her father’s question. Lots of people had tried to hit on her and wanted to be friends, but after all the comings and goings, in the end, besides Shen Ruxue, she didn’t really have any close friends from university.
Jiang Leyi’s eyes were very similar to Jiang Lai’s when she was a man: cold and quiet. When facing anyone but family, she looked pristine and detached, like a gemstone isolated in a display case.
Because of this, most of the people who approached Jiang Leyi were girls.
On the way to the reserved restaurant, Jiang Lai chatted with her daughter in a leisurely, unhurried manner—not too much enthusiasm. Jiang Lai enjoyed this kind of life most.
If only every day could be like this. But how could the people around Jiang Lai ever let her stay peaceful forever?
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