Looking at Si Yina’s proposal to come find her, Jiang Lai felt her scalp go numb and immediately sent a warning.
[I am checking in with you to tell you I’m going out for a walk to clear my head just to put your mind at ease—so you don’t discover I’m gone and do something drastic. It is NOT so you can accompany me.]
After sending this, Jiang Lai didn’t care what Si Yina replied; she simply switched off her phone. She just wanted to clear her head and breathe some fresh air.
If she stayed in that hotel room any longer, Jiang Lai truly felt her mental state would collapse. As the gentle moonlight spilled down, the depression that had clouded her mood all day finally began to lift.
The air on the resort island was crisp. Even before she could see the ocean, she could smell the cool scent of sea salt. Jiang Lai’s original plan was simply to wander around and find a quiet, deserted place to stay for a while.
Even though she was alone in her room earlier, the mere thought of being isolated with Si Yina and the scene of being bullied made her mood turn sour.
Upon smelling the breath of the sea, Jiang Lai felt as though she had found her destination and walked toward the direction where the salt scent was strongest.
The seaside at night presented a picture of tranquility and mystery. The moonlight was like a fresh wash, pouring over the shimmering surface of the water as if draping the ocean in a silver veil.
The waves gently lapped against the shore. Seeing the glowing ocean, the gloom in Jiang Lai’s heart actually dissipated by more than half.
The fine, soft sand on the beach shimmered slightly under the moonlight. Jiang Lai took off her shoes and stepped onto it barefoot.
Little did she know, Si Yina had been following her all along, watching her silently. Jiang Lai, with her graceful figure, stood quietly by the shore, blending perfectly into the serene landscape.
The moonlight outlined her elegant curves—her upright posture, slender waist, and long legs. Every step she took on the sand radiated an endless charm.
The sea breeze gently tousled her long hair, and her robe fluttered in the wind. Under the moon, Jiang Lai’s skin appeared translucent, as if emitting a faint luster of its own.
Si Yina had excellent vision. Even from a distance, she could see the bite marks she had left on Jiang Lai’s neck.
On this late-night beach, Jiang Lai was like a beautiful piece of scenery that made it impossible to look away. Si Yina didn’t know how long she had been watching secretly, but once she had admired the view enough, she thought about approaching her.
If they didn’t go back soon, they wouldn’t have the energy to wake up the next day.
Si Yina felt she was being merciful enough. Jiang Lai wanted to clear her head without being disturbed, so Si Yina had followed at a distance throughout the process, giving her plenty of personal space.
But this was the limit of her indulgence. Regardless of whether Jiang Lai’s mood had improved, it was now time to rest.
Just as Si Yina was about to step forward to take Jiang Lai back, a second girl appeared on the beach.
Who else would be wandering around here this late?
Jiang Lai had been staring at the sea in a daze, keeping her mind blank. She didn’t know how long this moment of peace would last. Feeling how beautiful this sought-after tranquility was, she didn’t want to go back to the room and face Si Yina at all.
Recalling the message she sent earlier, Jiang Lai didn’t know how Si Yina would reply, but she assumed the other woman must be angry.
Jiang Lai pulled her phone from her pocket—not to check messages, but to turn on the flashlight. After checking the sand around her for debris and ensuring it was clean, she lay down without hesitation.
If I sleep here all night, I wonder if I’ll get sick…
While Jiang Lai was lost in her wandering thoughts, a familiar girl stood before her.
“Lying here so late… if you fall asleep, you’ll be sick by tomorrow.”
When that cold, elegant, yet slightly youthful voice rang in her ears, Jiang Lai identified the person instantly. Wasn’t the owner of this voice Shen Ruxue, her daughter’s best friend?
At the thought that this girl would be by her daughter’s side constantly once school started, Jiang Lai—who had intended to just give up and lie there—suddenly found a burst of strength in her weary body and struggled to sit up.
With slightly flushed cheeks, she answered Shen Ruxue bashfully, “I was just sitting here for a bit…”
The thought of how unrefined and disheveled she must have looked lying on the sand made Jiang Lai feel even more embarrassed.
“Is that so?”
Shen Ruxue looked at her younger sister’s “girlfriend.” Thinking about how much her sister liked this woman, she couldn’t help but adopt the scrutinizing gaze of an older sister.
From Shen Ruxue’s perspective over the last two days, the woman in front of her was absolutely unworthy of her sister’s affection. She remembered how frantic her sister, Chi Yingyu, had been today—eyes bloodshot with worry.
The little girl who used to follow her around clamoring for her “big sister” now had someone she loved to the bone—so much so that she would desperately search for any trace of her, refusing to stop until she was found.
Shen Ruxue couldn’t fathom just how much her sister loved the woman before her.
But while her sister was so worried she was neglecting her own health, what was this woman doing?
Shen Ruxue watched Jiang Lai, noticing that the moment Jiang Lai realized she was being observed, she slightly turned her face away to avoid her gaze. Even with the partial concealment, Shen Ruxue detected a hint of shame on the woman’s face.
What’s wrong? Is there something she can’t let me see?
Shen Ruxue’s gaze grew deeper, as if she could see through everything. Her long, curled eyelashes fluttered slightly, adding to her cold aura.
Feeling the piercing gaze, Jiang Lai instinctively pulled her clothes tighter, wrapping herself up to hide the places that shouldn’t be seen. At the very least, Shen Ruxue must not see those bite marks that looked like they were left by a dog.
Shen Ruxue looked at the woman acting so strangely. Although she didn’t understand the attitude, her mission was complete now that she had found her.
Just as Shen Ruxue was about to call her sister, Chi Yingyu, to tell her the news, Si Yina—as if sensing a crisis—suddenly appeared beside the two of them.