The words buzzed in her ears like a blow to the head.
When Jiang Lai heard “I’ll just kiss her after you’re done,” her mind went completely blank.
It was a longing so frank it bordered on blatant, laced with a stubbornness that smacked of “nothing left to lose.”
She stood frozen in place, forgetting even to press her hand against Shen Ruxue’s chest, only staring at the reddened outer corner of the other woman’s eye and those glittering pupils, which held an expression that seemed to say she’d accept even “sharing” as long as she could stay by Jiang Lai’s side.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Jiang Lai was equal parts exasperated and amused, her fingertips instinctively pinching Shen Ruxue’s cheek, yet the force was as gentle as a caress.
“This isn’t something you can just ‘take turns’ at. If Yingyu heard that, who knows what kind of scene she’d make.”
Even as she said it, her heart had already softened into a complete mess.
She knew all too well what lay beneath Shen Ruxue’s “I don’t mind.”
Jiang Lai wouldn’t deny she was a two-timer, but if it involved both of them together, that was admittedly a little beyond what she’d imagined.
Unexpected, even.
As for sharing or whatever—that could wait, one at a time.
For now, Jiang Lai chose to treat Shen Ruxue’s words as delirious rambling, the panic of someone afraid of losing her home again, so afraid she wouldn’t risk even the slightest chance of being pushed away, even if it meant compromising to this degree.
But Jiang Lai had no idea that Shen Ruxue had been completely serious just now.
And Shen Ruxue couldn’t be bothered to explain either—if her younger sister was truly willing, then she wouldn’t mind either.
Having considered her own bottom line, Shen Ruxue stopped worrying about it and simply nuzzled her face into Jiang Lai’s palm like a clingy little cat, her fingers still lightly working at the nape of Jiang Lai’s neck, unwilling to let go.
“I don’t care… as long as I achieve my goal, that’s all that matters.”
Her voice softened again, carrying a whining nasal tone.
“I just want to stay with you.”
The moment the words left her mouth, she dipped her head toward Jiang Lai’s lips again.
This kiss was softer than the last, tinged with cautious probing, yet laced with a clingy persistence that brooked no refusal, as if she wanted to tangle Jiang Lai’s very breath around herself.
Jiang Lai’s rationality was crumbling piece by piece.
The bedroom door was still ajar, and from outside came the sound of Chi Yingyu telling Le Yi not to spill the dish soap, along with the child’s crisp acknowledgment.
Those fragmented noises should have made her more vigilant, but Shen Ruxue’s kiss was too hot, her fingertips too warm, and Jiang Lai couldn’t summon the strength to push her away.
She could feel Shen Ruxue’s body trembling slightly—not from fear, but from excitement, like someone who had finally grasped what she’d dreamed of and never wanted to let go again.
“Alright, alright, enough. We should go wash up in a bit.”
Jiang Lai let out a soft sigh, reached around to encircle Shen Ruxue’s waist, and pulled her closer into her embrace.
The kiss softened too, no longer passively accepted but actively tender, responding bit by bit.
She knew she was “indulging” her, but looking at the light of having regained something lost shining in Shen Ruxue’s eyes, she simply couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Just this once, she thought.
Indulge her just this once, and slowly make up for all the gentleness she’d owed her over the years.
Their breathing grew increasingly rapid, their lips and tongues tangling more and more intimately, until even the air seemed to take on a cloying warmth.
It wasn’t until Chi Yingyu’s voice came from the living room—”Le Yi, hand me the trash”—that Jiang Lai snapped back to her senses.
She gently pushed Shen Ruxue away, her fingertips still tingling with heat.
“Okay, if we keep this up, we’re really going to get caught.”
She reached out to smooth the loose hair from Shen Ruxue’s forehead, her voice impossibly soft.
“After everyone’s sound asleep, I’ll keep you company, alright? And tonight, if you still want to kiss, a little touch here and there isn’t out of the question.”
Seeing Shen Ruxue’s flushed lips and sparkling eyes, she couldn’t help adding,
“But you have to keep the promise, okay?”
Shen Ruxue mumbled softly, yet her eyes were frighteningly bright, carrying an expectant joy, as if she’d wait an entire night if Jiang Lai said the word.
Jiang Lai smiled and nodded, her fingertip lightly tapping the tip of Shen Ruxue’s nose.
“I’m not lying to you. When have I ever lied to you? We just have to wait until Yingyu’s asleep.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a voice came from outside:
“Sis, Jiang Lai, what are you two doing in the bedroom? I washed some fruit for after dinner. We can have it together.”
Hearing the voice from outside, Jiang Lai steadied herself, cleared her throat, and tried to make her voice sound as natural as possible:
“Nothing much. I was just putting a compress on Xiaoxue’s eyes. We’ll be right out.”
With that, she turned to glance at Shen Ruxue and couldn’t help but laugh.
The two of them leaned into each other, held each other in a brief hug, and only then walked out of the bedroom.
The moment Jiang Lai and Shen Ruxue stepped out of the bedroom, they saw Chi Yingyu emerging from the kitchen with a plate of cut fruit.
Chi Yingyu set the fruit plate on the coffee table, looked up at the two of them, and her gaze lingered for a moment on their slightly reddened ears.
But she didn’t ask, simply smiling as she handed over two toothpicks.
“Just cut, best eaten fresh. Cuts through the heaviness.”
Her expression was candid and warm, as if she hadn’t noticed the intimacy that had just taken place in the bedroom, which quietly eased the “caught in the act” tension in Jiang Lai’s chest.
“Le Yi, you eat first. It’s sweet.”
She picked up a strawberry and brought it to Le Yi’s lips, her voice soft and tender.
Le Yi opened her mouth and bit into it without any fuss.
Shen Ruxue took a toothpick, her fingertips still carrying lingering warmth, and simply ate one herself.
After they finished the fruit, Chi Yingyu took the initiative to clear the plate, while Jiang Lai accompanied Le Yi to the bedroom to go over a few things.
Shen Ruxue stood in the living room, watching Jiang Lai hold Le Yi’s hand as the two spoke in hushed voices.
When it was time for Le Yi to sleep, Jiang Lai walked out of her daughter’s room and closed the door behind her.
As she came out, she saw Shen Ruxue and Chi Yingyu sitting on the sofa talking, the soft light spilling over them both in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
Seeing her come out, Chi Yingyu stood and stretched.
“It’s getting late. Time to wash up and go to bed.”
Shen Ruxue rose as well, a barely perceptible anticipation flickering in her eyes as she quietly edged closer to Jiang Lai.
In the bathroom, Jiang Lai had just turned on the faucet when Shen Ruxue followed her in, holding both of their towels.
She stood beside Jiang Lai, looking at the two of them in the mirror, then suddenly reached out to smooth the loose hair on Jiang Lai’s forehead, her voice soft and syrupy.
“Tonight… don’t forget the promise.”
Jiang Lai saw the little nervousness in her eyes and couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to pinch her cheek.
“I won’t forget. Wash up properly first, or Yingyu’s going to get impatient waiting.”
Shen Ruxue nodded obediently and began squeezing toothpaste, though her movements were a beat slower, stealing glances at Jiang Lai from time to time like a child nursing a little secret.
Chi Yingyu leaned against the bathroom doorframe watching them, wearing loose light-gray pajamas with her hair casually pinned up—less of her usual sharpness, more of a homey gentleness.
Jiang Lai found herself caught between exasperation and amusement under her gaze, and had no choice but to speed up her washing.
Once the two of them were done and came out, Chi Yingyu stepped aside to let them pass, and only after they entered the bedroom did she follow, being the last one in.
Chi Yingyu observed Jiang Lai’s bed.
A bed she should know intimately, yet had never really paid attention to before.
Jiang Lai’s bed was indeed wider than average—two point two meters—plenty for two people, but with a third, it was starting to feel a bit cramped.
Chi Yingyu walked over to the outermost edge and lay down, deliberately shifting farther to the side to leave enough room in the middle.
She still remembered very clearly what Jiang Lai had said when they went to buy the cake today.
A warmth spread through Jiang Lai’s chest.
She’d originally thought she could finally get some good rest tonight, but the moment she lay down in the middle, Shen Ruxue followed, pressing her body gently against her and inching closer until her shoulder touched Jiang Lai’s.
Only then did she stop.
Chi Yingyu turned onto her side, looking at the two of them, then suddenly reached out and took Jiang Lai’s left hand, her fingertips lightly stroking Jiang Lai’s finger pads, her voice very soft.
“I won’t lean on you, but if I don’t do this, I won’t be able to sleep.”
Before Jiang Lai could respond, Shen Ruxue, as if deliberately mirroring Chi Yingyu, gently took her right hand.
The warmth of her palm seeped through the thin pajama fabric, carrying a nervous tremor.
Jiang Lai could clearly feel two warm palms wrapping around each of her hands.
On the left was Chi Yingyu’s hand—defined knuckles, even pressure, carrying a familiar sense of stability.
On the right was Shen Ruxue’s hand—slender fingertips, gently holding on, with that clingy, dependent energy.
“Like this… it really isn’t cramped anymore.”
Jiang Lai smiled helplessly, her heart melting into a puddle.
She’d originally been thinking about her promise with Shen Ruxue tonight, but now, with both hands firmly held and the two people on either side lying quietly, even their breathing growing soft, her more amorous thoughts quietly faded, replaced by nothing but a full chest of contentment.
The bedroom was very quiet, broken only by the occasional sound of wind from outside and the three of them breathing softly.
As if savoring this rare moment of quiet, Shen Ruxue kept her eyes closed but inched closer to Jiang Lai again, resting her head lightly against her shoulder, her nose filled with the scent of laundry detergent from Jiang Lai’s clothes.
Her heart felt extraordinarily at peace.
Chi Yingyu lay with her eyes closed, her fingers still gently stroking Jiang Lai’s finger pads, carrying a warm, tingling sensation.
Jiang Lai could feel Shen Ruxue’s breath landing softly on her neck, and could feel Chi Yingyu’s hand holding hers steadily, never letting go.
Jiang Lai had thought she’d sleep well tonight, but with both hands bound like this, how could she possibly sleep well?
Especially with the promise she’d made to Shen Ruxue, with no idea how long she’d have to wait before that promise could be fulfilled.
Jiang Lai felt the two distinctly different small movements on her hands.
Chi Yingyu was a night owl—if she wanted to stay up, she could pull an all-nighter straight through; even if she followed a normal sleep schedule, there was no way she’d fall asleep that quickly.
If she had to wait, it would truly take forever.
Meanwhile, Shen Ruxue beside her was hoping Chi Yingyu would fall asleep quickly, so she could fulfill the promise with her.
Sometimes, it really was hard to balance the two.
Time passed, who knew how long.
With both hands held, Jiang Lai couldn’t check her phone, couldn’t chat with either of them—and under such miserable conditions, she was somehow on the verge of falling asleep…
Just as she was about to close her eyes and drift off, Shen Ruxue called out in a very soft voice,
“Little sister, are you asleep?”
Shen Ruxue was calling out to her sister, wanting to confirm whether she was truly asleep—because if she was, then Shen Ruxue could do what she wanted to do.
Whether Chi Yingyu was asleep or not, Jiang Lai knew perfectly well, because the moment Shen Ruxue called out to her, Chi Yingyu even tightened her grip on Jiang Lai’s hand.
That reaction made it clear she hadn’t fallen asleep at all.
But Chi Yingyu had a bit of a mischievous streak.
Despite being wide awake, she didn’t respond at all when Shen Ruxue first called out.
But just as Shen Ruxue was about to make a small move and do what she wanted, Chi Yingyu, as if deliberately teasing her, finally responded:
“What is it? Ruxue, I haven’t… I’m not…”
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