“Xiaoyu, I think it’s better if you don’t hear this…”
“Why… is it bad news?”
Looking at the expression on her sister’s face, Chi Yingyu had already considered several possibilities. In fact, the moment her “brother-in-law” was taken away by that woman, she had prepared herself for the worst. So, it was fine. “I just want news of her. As long as I can confirm she exists and that she’s safe, I’ll be at peace.”
Shen Ruxue looked at her sister’s heart-and-soul devotion to this one person. The bitterness she felt as an older sister made her lose the words to describe what she had just encountered.
Telling the truth would surely break her sister’s heart, but Shen Ruxue didn’t want her sister to be kept in the dark, deceived by someone with ulterior motives.
When Shen Ruxue first met her grown-up sister face-to-face, she had been so happy—happy that her sister had grown into such an excellent woman, independent, with her own career and pride, no longer needing her protection.
Shen Ruxue thought she would never again encounter a situation where her sister needed her protection. But looking at the current state of things, wasn’t this exactly what was happening?
“She… she cheated on you.”
“Cheated?”
Chi Yingyu’s reaction was nothing like what Shen Ruxue had imagined. Even though her sister was an adult now and wouldn’t lose control of her emotions easily, she shouldn’t be this calm.
“Sister, can you tell me… exactly what did you see?”
The fact that her sister used the word “cheated” allowed Chi Yingyu to form a vague image in her mind. The scene must have been quite chaotic. However, she absolutely did not believe her “brother-in-law” would cheat.
In this situation, the word “cheat” was entirely inappropriate. Her “brother-in-law” and she weren’t a real couple; that identity had been a smokescreen she threw up for her sister from the very beginning.
Even if her “brother-in-law” really did “cheat,” what kind of emotion was she supposed to show? Act like a scorned wife? Even if Chi Yingyu wanted to, she didn’t have the right. Furthermore, a person like Si Yina could never gain even a shred of her “brother-in-law’s” favor.
Because Si Yina acted without a lick of reason, completely disregarded the thoughts of those around her, and was extremely selfish—she was exactly the type of person her “brother-in-law” disliked most. Even if something truly did happen, it must have been forced upon him.
Shen Ruxue looked at her abnormally calm sister. This wasn’t how she should be acting. No matter how much self-control she had, a person shouldn’t have zero reaction to such news.
Shen Ruxue could only attribute this reaction to her sister’s brain “short-circuiting” from the shock. Thinking this, she pulled Chi Yingyu into her arms and began to recount everything she had just seen, piece by piece.
As Shen Ruxue described the encounter in detail, she held her sister even tighter. “It’s okay. We don’t need a woman like that. Don’t be sad over her; there will be better people in the future.”
“There won’t be anyone better. Besides, she must have been forced in this matter. I have to save her.”
Chi Yingyu’s reflexive answer left Shen Ruxue stunned. She seriously doubted if her sister had been hit with some kind of “love potion” to be so steadfastly choosing the other person despite such evidence.
Chi Yingyu could feel her sister’s body stiffen the moment she answered. “Sister, I know you want to talk me out of it, but this is my firm choice. I will never change my mind.”
As soon as Chi Yingyu finished speaking, Shen Ruxue immediately cupped her head and looked her over, still unable to believe such words had come out of her sister’s mouth.
“Are you being blackmailed? Does that woman have something on you?”
“Sister, where is your head going?”
Chi Yingyu sometimes had to admire her sister’s wild imagination—how did she suddenly jump to the conclusion that Jiang Lai had some kind of leverage over her?
But then again, it was normal for her sister, who knew nothing of the truth, to think that way. Completely normal…
“I know it’s hard for you to understand my choice right now, but one day you will.”
No matter how tightly she guarded the secret now, there was no wall in the world that didn’t leak. One day, her sister would return and learn the whole truth.
When that time came, her sister would surely understand her current decision—and she would also likely hate her, because she was the one who had stolen everything that belonged to her sister.
“At that time, I believe you will understand me.”
Chi Yingyu could feel her paranoid, dark possessiveness surging out of control. Jiang Lai could only be hers. She must be, she is, and she will be forever!
Even her sister couldn’t take her away…
Back at the hotel, Jiang Lai looked at the message she had sent on her phone. After waiting a long time, there was still no response from the other side. It seemed her image in the other person’s heart had become terrible—so terrible that they didn’t even want to have any involvement with her.
Jiang Lai stared at the unresponsive phone while lying in bed and eventually drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Jiang Lai was awakened by the noisy sound of things being moved in the living room. Although the sound reaching the bedroom was faint, Jiang Lai had been a very light sleeper lately; even the slightest noise would wake her. Her nerves were simply too frayed.
Unable to go back to sleep, Jiang Lai straightened her pajamas and walked out of the bedroom to see what kind of trouble Si Yina was stirring up now.
The moment she opened the door, she was nearly blinded by the sight in the living room. The entire room was filled with haute couture gowns, shimmering like stars fallen to earth. Hanging on exquisite racks, they displayed an unparalleled beauty.
Jiang Lai finally managed to blink her eyes open, only to see Si Yina standing before her with a proud look, like a child seeking praise. “See anything you like? These are all in your size. We’ll wear whatever you prefer.”
“But I can’t wear most of these.”
Jiang Lai’s cold voice shattered the atmosphere. But it was the truth. Under Si Yina’s questioning gaze, Jiang Lai gently pointed to her own neck. “Are these bite marks you left on my neck suitable for other people to see?”
It wasn’t just her neck; even after a whole night, there were clear marks on her shoulders. Most of the beautiful gowns Si Yina had brought were quite revealing—many were off-the-shoulder or backless, and some even showed a bit… Though they were magnificent, Jiang Lai didn’t like them. After all, she still couldn’t quite accept wearing dresses.