Chapter 40: Brother-in-law, please lend me your hand.

Chi Yingyu rested her head against her brother-in-law’s exposed neck.

Jiang Lai could feel the burning heat radiating from the skin there, each wave searing her heart, scorching the fragile defenses she had just managed to rebuild.

The warm breath of her sister-in-law fell softly against Jiang Lai’s neck, stirring a subtle shiver that soon blossomed into tingling numbness, spreading down her spine and making every cell in her body hyper-aware and restless.

Even as Jiang Lai told Chi Yingyu not to act like a child and make a fuss, her hand was gently, tenderly stroking her sister-in-law’s hair.

Chi Yingyu’s body was so hot it was almost alarming—was she coming down with something?

When Jiang Lai realized her sister-in-law might be ill, her concern for her family’s health instantly overpowered those rekindled, forbidden thoughts.

She immediately stood up from where she had been sitting, and hurriedly pulled her sister-in-law over to the sofa.

Chi Yingyu’s condition was clearly not right.

Her skin, white as snow, was tinged with a delicate pink, and every breath she took was accompanied by a faint, trembling whimper.

Jiang Lai quickly reached out and gently touched Chi Yingyu’s forehead.

She hadn’t noticed anything unusual earlier when she’d removed her makeup—so why was her sister-in-law’s forehead so hot now?

It wasn’t just her forehead.

As Jiang Lai’s slender fingers brushed over her, she carefully checked Chi Yingyu’s cheeks, neck, and even the back of her neck.

Jiang Lai was now certain her sister-in-law’s temperature was definitely higher than normal.

Thinking of this, she hurried off to search for the Medicine Box, wanting to get the Thermometer and properly check her sister-in-law’s temperature.

If it turned out to be very high, she’d have to call a cab and take her to the hospital.

But why had her sister-in-law suddenly developed a fever?

As Jiang Lai thought about it, she remembered that when she’d come home, Chi Yingyu had been waiting for her at the apartment entrance.

The cold wind outside—had Chi Yingyu really waited for her in such weather?

As Jiang Lai searched for the Thermometer, guilt welled up in her heart.

But she had no way of knowing that the slight fever burning in Chi Yingyu’s body was not because of the cold, but rather the longing that was blazing inside her—a fire that no amount of water could ever hope to quench.

Chi Yingyu stared fixedly at Jiang Lai’s back, her gaze filled with both disappointment and softness.

Her throat tightened, a hint of predatory intent in her eyes. “Brother-in-law…”

She couldn’t help but call out, her voice dripping with tender affection, as if she wanted to steal Jiang Lai’s very soul.

Realizing she’d carelessly called out to Jiang Lai, Chi Yingyu snapped out of her daze, wiped the longing from her eyes, and forced herself to act normal, hastily coming up with an excuse for her earlier slip.

“Brother-in-law, the Thermometer should be in the cabinet under the fridge.”

Chi Yingyu had never expected that she would be the first to lose control.

She frowned, thinking that if only she’d let herself go earlier, she wouldn’t be suffering in this torturous limbo now.

She wondered if she should just give in to her desires.

After all, it was just her and her brother-in-law in the room—if anything happened, as long as she kept quiet, no one else would ever know.

Her brother-in-law was good in every way, except sometimes too concerned with saving face—he definitely wouldn’t tell anyone either.

Chi Yingyu loved Jiang Lai, loved her down to her very bones.

All along, whenever she was with her brother-in-law, she always wanted to show her most perfect self—always working hard to appear flawless, hiding her true nature, never daring to be willful.

Because of this, every time she wanted something, she never felt satisfied, never dared to act recklessly, afraid of ruining their relationship.

In front of outsiders, Chi Yingyu was confident and outstanding, never timid or afraid.

Yet in front of her brother-in-law, she was always hesitant and cautious.

Chi Yingyu had always lacked courage, because in her heart, she believed her feelings would only ever end in rejection, destined never to succeed.

She was always bracing herself for the worst possible outcome.

She’d never dared reveal even a hint of her love in the past—this constant repression was suffocating.

But the changes happening in her brother-in-law were like a fire, burning away the thorns that had always stood between them.

Chi Yingyu slowly stood up.

As her brother-in-law walked over with the Thermometer, she took the chance to dive into Jiang Lai’s arms, crystal tears glimmering in her eyes, her waist trembling as she pressed herself close.

Jiang Lai watched as her sister-in-law staggered over, her face flushed a deep red, a tempting fragrance emanating from her whole body as she threw herself into her arms.

Her shoulders were so slender, it felt as if she would melt into her embrace.

At thirty years old, never having been with anyone before, Chi Yingyu was both passionate and gentle, like a ripe, juicy peach—just one bite and you could taste the rich, sweet nectar inside.

“Brother-in-law.”

Chi Yingyu laughed softly, as if mocking her own lack of courage, and gently took Jiang Lai’s cool hand. “Tonight, I want to sleep with you…”

As for the two of them sleeping together, Jiang Lai didn’t think too much of it.

She just assumed her sister-in-law was feeling insecure because she was sick, so she agreed without a second thought.

Before bed, Jiang Lai made a packet of Ganmaoling for Chi Yingyu.

After she finished drinking it, they crawled into the same bed together.

Lying next to her sister-in-law didn’t feel all that different.

Once they were both settled in bed, Jiang Lai actually thought the soft sofa was more comfortable than the bed.

The only unusual, almost strange thing was the beautiful woman beside her, radiating fragrance and warmth.

“I can’t seem to fall asleep…”

Hearing her sister-in-law’s voice, Jiang Lai turned slightly, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

For a moment, it was as if she’d been transported back decades, and the person lying next to her wasn’t her sister-in-law, but her late wife.

Jiang Lai knew it wasn’t real, but in the persistent darkness, her sister-in-law’s features blurred, making it hard not to recall the person from her past.

Still, she bit her lip and forced herself to keep looking at Chi Yingyu.

“Brother-in-law, I usually hug a pillow when I sleep, but now you’re using my pillow.”

Chi Yingyu’s voice was intimate, and in the darkness of night, unbearably teasing.

She had no idea just how alluring she was in this moment, how much she was making Jiang Lai’s heart pound, her limbs go weak.

“If I don’t have something to hold, I just can’t settle down. So, brother-in-law, can I borrow your hand for a while?”