“Is a single kiss really too much for you to handle?”
Si Yina had no idea how long she had been kissing her. The beauty who had haunted her dreams and thoughts for so long was finally within her grasp. Si Yina could barely wait to strip Jiang Lai and savor her deliciousness to her heart’s content.
After that simple taste, Si Yina finally experienced the softness and smoothness of Jiang Lai. That somewhat rough kiss was like a stone thrown into a still lake, stirring up waves that could no longer be hidden.
That brief moment of having and possessing her hadn’t soothed the loneliness and longing that had gnawed at Si Yina these days—instead, it felt more like an appetizer, utterly arousing the hunger in her heart.
Compared to Si Yina’s triumph, Jiang Lai was left hoarse from struggling and crying. Her sobs turned to hiccups as her shoulders shook, like a wounded, abandoned little animal trying desperately to hug herself for comfort.
Her wet, blinking eyes resembled those of a newly born beast, abandoned at birth—adorable and pitiful all at once.
Jiang Lai’s brows drooped. Si Yina had been truly rough just now, not a hint of gentleness in her actions. It hurt—a lot.
When Si Yina’s tongue forced its way in, Jiang Lai tried to push her away with her own, only to have the tip of her tongue bitten. Even now, the tingling pain lingered, making her feel as if Si Yina was still kissing her.
“That’s enough!”
Jiang Lai shivered, her lashes trembling violently as she slowly opened her eyes. Her dark pupils brimmed with grievance and sorrow.
Her slender hands clung tightly to her down jacket, as if that was the only thing that could give her a shred of safety.
“Our agreement wasn’t supposed to be like this. Except for those Three Chances, the rest of the time, we’re just strangers. Don’t you dare try anything like this again!”
Si Yina met Jiang Lai’s tearful, accusing gaze and paused, finding it rather amusing. It had been ages since anyone bargained with her like this. Clearly, much more intimate things were bound to happen next, and yet Jiang Lai was still fussing over a mere kiss.
“Alright, alright, if you say no, then I’ll let it be for now. But from here on, whenever I want, I hope you’ll serve me properly—don’t just lie there like a corpse.”
Si Yina stared at Jiang Lai as if she were a fish on the chopping block, waiting to be gutted. Either way, she’d end up in Si Yina’s stomach sooner or later, so what did it matter if she flailed for a bit?
“Then move aside. I want to go home.”
Si Yina wasn’t angered by Jiang Lai’s near-command. Instead, she gracefully stepped aside for her. All she cared about was how best to make use of these Three Chances.
Si Yina swore—these three times would be experiences Jiang Lai would never forget for the rest of her life.
Though she could hardly wait to devour Jiang Lai right now, she still hadn’t prepared some fun equipment yet. If everything wasn’t set up just right, she wouldn’t enjoy herself at all.
Jiang Lai could feel those scorching eyes on her back the entire way out. She didn’t know how long she walked before that sense of danger finally faded.
Jiang Lai didn’t rush home. Even without a mirror, she could feel just how miserable she looked. Her eyes were puffy from crying, still shrouded in a pitiful mist, shimmering with a thousand sorrows.
She exchanged her own grievances for the safety of those around her, and though Jiang Lai felt it was worth it, that didn’t mean she accepted it willingly.
Three Chances might sound like too few, but she truly didn’t want even one. Being kissed by someone she didn’t like—or could even call a bastard—filled Jiang Lai with a visceral disgust. She wanted to brush her teeth, rinse her mouth, scrub away any trace of Si Yina.
Before entering the Convenience Store, Jiang Lai tidied up her appearance. Her delicate face streaked with tears, she didn’t want anyone to see her in such a sorry state, nor did she want to trouble others, so she crouched in an unnoticed corner.
She wiped her face with some tissues she carried, unwilling to cry any longer, utterly exhausted. Once her face was clean and dry, Jiang Lai found herself so drained that she couldn’t even stand up.
In the end, she propped herself up against the wall, relying on the last of her strength to pull herself up.
Jiang Lai furrowed her brows and walked into a Convenience Store. Without caring about brands or flavors, she grabbed a bottle of mouthwash and left—at the very least, she wanted to clean herself up before going home.
Dragging her weary body home, Jiang Lai saw her daughter, who had returned earlier, and her aunt, who greeted her the moment she opened the door. The heart that Si Yina had shattered was finally soothed, just a little.
At that moment, the composure Jiang Lai had forced on herself outside collapsed completely…
Jiang Lai was exhausted. Her body felt unbearably heavy. The sleepless fatigue from last night and all the troubles of today pressed down on her at once, leaving her almost breathless.
Even after all she’d been through, Jiang Lai had no idea how to deal with Si Yina’s harassment.
Jiang Lai had always kept her emotions in check before others. Even the few times she let them show, she always suppressed herself, never daring to act out, for fear of making trouble.
But now, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She truly needed a safe harbor to rely on for a while.
Jiang Lai looked at Chi Yingyu, hung her warm down jacket on the hook behind the door, and walked straight to her little aunt. Even with her daughter watching, she boldly hugged Chi Yingyu, wrapping her arms tightly around her shoulders and back.
Jiang Lai’s shoulders and chest no longer felt strong and dependable—her whole body seemed so thin, as if she might dissolve into Chi Yingyu’s embrace at any moment.
“I’m so hungry…”
“I’ll go make you something to eat right now.”
Chi Yingyu was about to rush to the kitchen when Jiang Lai grabbed her hand. “I’m not finished yet…”
Jiang Lai tilted her face up, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she looked at Chi Yingyu. For the first time, she clearly expressed her feelings to her little aunt, acting spoiled as she voiced her heart’s desire. “Can you bring it to the bedroom and feed me later?”