Jiang Lai appeared to be the image of an ice-cold beauty, but Si Yina knew well that this was nothing but a façade. Beneath that mask, she was soft and brimming with a mature allure, simply irresistible.
And Jiang Leyi, on the other hand, was like an unripe honey fruit—still a little green, not nearly as sweet and delectable as Jiang Lai, but refreshing in her own way.
Though Si Yina’s hand was teasingly caressing another young girl’s hand, her melancholy gaze never left Jiang Lai’s daughter. Si Yina’s eyes bore into her, a hint of enchanting mischief glinting deep within.
Si Yina was indeed beautiful, just as Jiang Lai remembered. With her stunning looks alone, she could draw the attention of countless admirers. She carried herself with an air of haughtiness and nobility, her cold and exquisite aura instantly overwhelming the two young girls by the cashier desk.
In this respect, Si Yina was practically cheating; she was the very image every girl wished to become. Elegant, untouchable—like a rose with thorns, her frosty allure made people keep their distance.
The way Si Yina looked now was exactly how Jiang Lai remembered her from before. Before Si Yina revealed her true colors, Jiang Lai had looked up to her immensely. She was young, but the cunning she displayed at the company was that of a true leader.
But now, all of Jiang Lai’s respect for her was a thing of the past. Now… Jiang Lai could only see her as someone who looked good on the outside, but was rotten to the core beneath the surface—so meticulously disguised, yet so corrupt inside.
Jiang Leyi was clever—meticulous and thoughtful when it came to certain matters—but all that was laughably inadequate before Si Yina.
The two university girls, not even graduated yet, seemed like harmless lambs before Si Yina. With just a bit of her own disguise and a little kindness, she could easily earn their wholehearted trust.
Though Jiang Leyi was nowhere near as cunning as Jiang Lai, it was precisely her innocence and naivety that made her so easy to trick with a few sweet words.
As Si Yina teased them bit by bit, watching the two young girls flustered and at a loss, a hint of wild delight flashed in her eyes.
The raw, youthful innocence of the two girls reminded Si Yina of the time she’d had her eyes on a certain Intern before—she’d worked hard to engineer that moment in the elevator.
At the time, Si Yina had relished the Intern’s hesitant resistance and subtle struggle. That feeling of forced humiliation, when one clearly doesn’t want it but has no choice but to endure—everything was going perfectly.
Si Yina was sure she would have a perfect experience that time, if only Jiang Lai hadn’t come and ruined everything.
But in the end, it was a blessing in disguise. That was when Si Yina discovered the delicacy she truly desired the most.
She might not be able to have Jiang Lai just yet, but one day, she would. When that day came, she would devour Jiang Lai—bones and all—leaving not a single piece behind.
While Jiang Leyi and the others were chatting happily, her phone began to buzz. Seeing it was a message from her dad, Jiang Leyi realized he must have arrived at the restaurant.
But when she opened the message, her dad was simply asking what she was up to. If he was already here, wouldn’t he just come find her directly?
The reason Jiang Leyi was at the cashier desk, chatting with her High School Classmate, was partly to catch up with her old friend, but also because it was right by the door—she could see everyone coming in and out of the restaurant.
But why hadn’t she seen her dad yet?
Jiang Leyi scanned the area and still didn’t spot her father, but it was getting late. If she kept chatting, not only would her dad be waiting, but even her aunt would get anxious.
So, Jiang Leyi exchanged contact info with her High School Classmate again, getting ready to leave the cashier desk.
Just then, Si Yina ambiguously grabbed Jiang Leyi’s wrist. This girl in front of her, with traces of Jiang Lai’s likeness—Si Yina wasn’t about to let her slip away so easily.
“We had a great chat just now. Can I get your contact info?”
Si Yina gave her a smile. The smile was faint, but even so, it made both girls in front of her blush.
People are drawn to beauty—society favors those with good looks. Even Jiang Leyi, who was usually aloof with strangers, found it impossible to refuse such a gorgeous woman’s request to exchange contact info.
After Jiang Leyi left for the private room, Si Yina no longer had a reason to linger by the restaurant entrance. Before stepping out, she looked at the two new contacts on her phone and curved her lips in a subtle smirk. Before she truly had Jiang Lai, a few appetizers weren’t so bad.
But just as she was about to leave the restaurant, Si Yina suddenly sensed a familiar presence. She looked around, but didn’t see the familiar figure she was hoping for, so she left for good.
What she didn’t know was that her casual glance back had scared Jiang Lai so much her legs almost gave out. Jiang Lai had been standing right by the glass. If she hadn’t reacted quickly, Si Yina would have surely spotted her.
Jiang Lai had always lived upright and aboveboard, but this was the first time she’d ever had to hide from someone so desperately. She wanted nothing to do with Si Yina, who felt as dangerous as a wild beast.
One careless move, and she’d be dragged into an abyss. From now on, she had to remind her daughter to be cautious of these strange advances.
Even though Si Yina had long since disappeared, on the way to the private room, Jiang Lai couldn’t shake her feeling of unease, trying to keep her presence to a minimum among the crowd.
When Jiang Lai opened the private room door, the rich aroma of food greeted her. Sitting inside were Chi Yingyu and Jiang Leyi, both beaming as they looked at her.
Seeing this, Jiang Lai felt a sincere gratitude for these moments she could enjoy.
“With just the three of us, isn’t this a bit much?”
Jiang Lai glanced at the table covered in dishes. If it had been her old self, she might have finished it all, but now that she’d become a woman, her appetite was much smaller. Just looking at the spread was a little overwhelming.
“It’s fine! If we can’t finish, we can just pack it up and put it in the fridge, right?”
Chi Yingyu said this as she picked up Jiang Lai’s favorite dish with her chopsticks and held it up to her, “Brother-in-law, open up!”