Si Yina had never expected that her mother would be the one to suggest a meeting. Although the timeline had been moved up significantly, facing it sooner was much better than letting the anxiety fester in her heart.
On her way to find Jiang Lai, Si Yina looked at the series of romantic plans she had written in her phone’s notes. Items at the top of the list—like “watching the sea,” “feeding cats,” and “candlelight dinners”—all had empty checkboxes next to them. But now that time was tight, these preludes for “nurturing feelings” could be skipped entirely.
Si Yina had many other things she wanted to do, but now she scrolled straight to the bottom. At the very end of the list was the adult content: kissing and hugging.
Various forms of physical contact were a shortcut to building intimacy. With time short and the task heavy, she naturally chose the more efficient method.
Jiang Lai was bored to death in her room. She had been observing the environment outside; although she initially harbored thoughts of escaping, she was in an unfamiliar place and didn’t even have a means of transportation to leave.
Under these various constraints, Jiang Lai had long since abandoned her unrealistic fantasies. She wasn’t the type to spend all day on her phone; aside from messaging her family, she had little use for it.
Eventually, she ended up dozing off in the chair by the window. Even the sound of Si Yina opening the door didn’t wake her.
Watching Jiang Lai’s beautiful sleeping face, Si Yina couldn’t help but wonder: How can I possess Jiang Lai completely? What do I have to do to make that beautiful face show a look of pleasing submission toward me?
If only Jiang Lai were a pet that only knew how to please her—not having to think so much, just wholeheartedly devoted to her.
Si Yina’s gaze was too naked, too direct. Just by staring, she made Jiang Lai feel uncomfortable even in her sleep. Jiang Lai opened her eyes, feeling uneasy.
The first thing she saw was Si Yina’s face magnified right in front of her. Jiang Lai didn’t know when she had entered, let alone how long she had been staring like that.
Under such an intense gaze, Jiang Lai felt herself tremble. She stood up from the chair with a forced, unnatural movement.
“Why did you come in so suddenly?”
“I wanted to see you. Is that not allowed?”
Si Yina saw through Jiang Lai’s desire to keep her distance. She reached out and pulled the retreating Jiang Lai directly into her arms.
Feeling the strong yet soft feminine embrace from behind, Jiang Lai instinctively began to struggle. “Don’t move! If you move again, there will be a punishment.”
The threatening words and cold tone made Jiang Lai shudder at the mention of “punishment.”
Though she didn’t know what the punishment would be or why she should have to accept it, she was facing a power far greater than her own. She could only settle down tremulously, adopting a submissive attitude.
Jiang Lai understood that she was now meat on someone else’s chopping block. Until she was faced with something truly unbearable, she had to endure, especially since she had given her word. As long as Si Yina’s actions didn’t violate their agreement, Jiang Lai would continue to uphold her end of the deal.
Seeing Jiang Lai’s resigned expression, Si Yina flashed a satisfied smile. She was pleased with this performance; as long as there was no resistance, it was a good start.
“You shouldn’t resist me. Remember, our current status is that of a couple—and a couple deeply and passionately in love at that. How can you resist my embrace?”
Jiang Lai lowered her eyes. According to her logic, can a fake couple do everything a real couple does?
“We are only pretending. You can’t just put your hands on me.”
“Not touching at all would be too strange! It doesn’t fit my character at all.”
Si Yina continued to tease her, tightening her grip with one hand while the other began to wander around Jiang Lai’s waist.
“Be serious, can’t you? I promised you I would act as your girlfriend in front of your parents, that’s all.”
How can the status of ‘fake girlfriend’ be an excuse for her to do whatever she wants?
As Jiang Lai resisted slightly, a flash of resentment and unease crossed her eyes. Meanwhile, the curve of Si Yina’s lips hadn’t dropped since the moment she took Jiang Lai in her arms.
“With you being so repulsed by me now, do you really think you can fool my parents? As the saying goes, ‘ten years of work for ten minutes on stage.’ We’re about to perform; am I not allowed to build some chemistry with you in private?”
If “building chemistry” meant someone’s hand constantly and slyly taking advantage of her, Jiang Lai felt this wasn’t chemistry at all—it was molestation!
“You won’t produce love like this. You will only make me feel disgusted.”
Jiang Lai continued to argue against her twisted logic. In her eyes, Si Yina was someone completely unfit for a relationship; she had zero regard for other people’s feelings and lacked a heart that cared for others.
Jiang Lai had no sympathy for this “female hooligan” who had no love in her heart and only wanted to take advantage. At this moment, she even wished for a “lady judge” to drop from the sky and toy with Si Yina’s emotions and body, so she could experience just how scummy and loathsome her actions were, and realize how many innocent girls her behavior had poisoned.
But this was just a fantasy. Even if such a person existed, Si Yina’s obsession would likely remain fixed on her.
“Then tell me, how does one produce ‘like’? How does one produce ‘love’?”
As she spoke, Si Yina pressed her body even closer. The hand that had been wandering earlier gently moved up to Jiang Lai’s slender neck, tightening slightly, causing Jiang Lai’s pupils to dilate in shock.
“Don’t… let go…”
Si Yina’s fingers were warm, but all Jiang Lai felt through her skin was an endless chill. She didn’t know why Si Yina was acting crazy again; she hadn’t even done anything.
“Feeling like you’re about to die… does it give you a racing heartbeat? I think they call this the ‘Suspension Bridge Effect’.”
There was no such thing as a suspension bridge effect like this. Si Yina’s voice was like cold water, slowly submerging Jiang Lai’s limbs. As her breathing weakened, her consciousness began to blur, and she felt a wave of dizziness.
Si Yina naturally noticed the signs of oxygen deprivation. She adjusted her posture and lowered her head to kiss her.
In TV dramas and novels, they always said that excessive kissing leads to breathlessness. Si Yina had always been curious: since only the mouth is busy, even if you can’t breathe through your mouth, don’t you still have a nose?
If you really want to lose your breath, squeezing the neck is much faster.
In truth, Si Yina didn’t want to hurt Jiang Lai. If Jiang Lai could be more obedient, cling to her more, and give herself up willingly, Si Yina wouldn’t have to do such things.
But Jiang Lai’s constant resistance meant that Si Yina could only feel that Jiang Lai was under her control through the act of hurting her.