On the second day of the Lunar New Year, this day was originally meant for visiting relatives and strengthening bonds among family members.
According to past customs, today should have been spent visiting both sets of parents to check on the health of the Elders, but that was how it used to be.
Now, for Jiang Lai, there was absolutely no way to go visit the Elders as before.
It was better for only a handful of people to know about Jiang Lai’s true identity, and the Elders certainly couldn’t accept such things as easily as the younger generation.
At present, Jiang Lai only wanted her daughter and her sister-in-law to know; as for the parents, she didn’t want to add even a hint of fear to their lives.
Jiang Lai had always been the type to share only good news, not troubles, with others—a subconscious habit of not relying on anyone, something Chi Yingyu wished to change.
Chi Yingyu also understood that her brother-in-law would definitely not go to either parents’ house for the New Year this year.
Originally, she thought the three of them would spend these days quietly at home together, but to her surprise, Jiang Lai decided to take her directly on a flight to one of the country’s famous winter destinations.
Even now, Chi Yingyu felt a bit dazed.
Looking through the plane window at the surrounding white clouds and mist, only her eyes kept reminding her that she was indeed already on her way.
Chi Yingyu glanced at Jiang Lai, who was sitting next to her.
They hadn’t brought Jiang Leyi along on this trip.
“Letting Xu Ruobing take care of Leyi—is that really okay? Has she ever looked after a child before?”
Although Jiang Leyi was her niece, in her heart, she had already regarded her as her own daughter.
In the past, Chi Yingyu only wanted to bear Jiang Lai’s child.
Back then, she even worried that if she and Jiang Lai did have a child together, would Jiang Leyi get jealous or something?
Now, looking at the woman Jiang Lai had become, that almost fantastical old worry had naturally dissolved.
One child at home—Jiang Leyi—was enough.
Jiang Lai, of course, had no idea what was on Chi Yingyu’s mind.
She just thought her sister-in-law was worrying too much.
“Sometimes we have to learn to let go a little. Leyi is already twenty this year—she’s long past the age where she needs us to look after her every minute.”
The main reason Jiang Lai had entrusted her daughter to Xu Ruobing was simply that she didn’t want them both to feel lonely.
Xu Ruobing didn’t really have anyone she could call a friend in that city, and what Jiang Lai was about to face wasn’t something she felt comfortable bringing her daughter along for.
Her daughter had never been to Haicheng.
Although she couldn’t bring her along, Jiang Lai still planned to bring some local specialties back for her.
Other than Shen Ruxue, no one in the world received more of Jiang Lai’s care and doting than Jiang Leyi.
Since her brother-in-law had said as much, Chi Yingyu naturally saw no more reason to worry.
Even though she still felt a bit uneasy inside, the thought of spending a few days alone with her brother-in-law, just the two of them, made her heart flutter with excitement.
But why had her brother-in-law suddenly decided to go away with her?
“Why did you suddenly want to go to Haicheng?”
Plane tickets to Haicheng weren’t cheap, especially at such a busy time during the Spring Festival.
“Just felt like I hadn’t been before, and wanted to see it for myself…”
Jiang Lai’s lying skills were really lacking—if Chi Yingyu believed even one word of that, she’d be truly foolish.
Chi Yingyu began to suspect her brother-in-law was treating her like an idiot, and that forced cheerfulness on her face was honestly heart-wrenching.
“That can’t be all, right? Besides, we rushed so much that we didn’t even have time to pack properly.”
Jiang Lai knew well that her excuse couldn’t set her sister-in-law’s mind at ease, but what could she say?
Should she admit she was going to meet another woman?
Jiang Lai truly had no desire to spend New Year’s away from home.
Compared to traveling, staying home quietly with the one she loved and cherished most would be the happiest thing for her.
“Yingyu… I really don’t want to lie to you with some clumsy excuse. I’ll be honest: the reason for all this rush is that someone wants to see me, and I can’t refuse her.”
No matter how she tried, Jiang Lai couldn’t think of a reason to say no.
After all, since she was the one being sought out, and she didn’t have to serve the other party—just have a chat—it would be enough to spare herself one more ordeal, one less time being tormented.
“That’s all I can tell you. No matter how you ask, I really don’t know how else to explain the rest.”
“Alright, that’s fine. If you don’t want me to ask any further, I won’t. As long as I know why we’re going, that’s enough.”
For another woman?
Chi Yingyu couldn’t think of any other close women around her brother-in-law except Xu Ruobing.
She pondered in silence for several minutes and still couldn’t think of anyone who fit.
The moment she was about to give up, her mind flashed to her own sister, Shen Ruxue, but that idea faded as quickly as it came.
If her brother-in-law was really going to meet her sister, why not bring her daughter along? And why would she be showing that look as if heading toward certain doom?
Even if her brother-in-law hid it well, that uneasiness and fear—Chi Yingyu could still sense it from her.
Since she couldn’t help resolve anything for her brother-in-law,
All she could do now was stay by her side at a time like this, and give her all the comfort and security she could.
“The plane won’t land for another two hours… Why don’t you lean on me and take a nap?”
Seeing Jiang Lai edge a bit closer to her, Chi Yingyu boldly took her hand, leaned her body more toward Jiang Lai, and—since only the two of them could hear—finally returned to her usual form of address.
“Brother-in-law, no matter where you go or what you have to face, I’ll stay by your side. If what’s ahead scares you, then when we get off the plane, just hold my hand tight.”
Listening to her sister-in-law’s words, Jiang Lai’s brief surprise was soon replaced by a smile blooming slowly, like a flower in full blossom.
“Thank you so much, Yingyu.”
Right now, Chi Yingyu was her anchor.
In an unfamiliar city, facing someone she despised, if no one accompanied her, Jiang Lai really would have been scared to tears.
“This trip is to see another woman—does that make you completely disappointed in me…?”
Jiang Lai still remembered how, when she first suggested the two of them travel together, Chi Yingyu had been as excited as a child.
It had been a long time since she’d seen her sister-in-law act that way.
“From now on, as long as both of us have time, wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you.”