Xu Ruobing’s breath was heavy at this moment, the anger burning inside her with no outlet.
Just before her emotions were about to collapse, she still glanced at the surrounding employees eagerly waiting for gossip, clearly aware that she had just lost control.
Xu Ruobing had always considered her emotions quite stable.
Having seen all kinds of grotesque characters in the entertainment industry, there were few things left in this world that could make her lose control.
But Jiang Lai’s situation broke through her defenses again and again.
What, after all, was truly important to Jiang Lai?
To prevent some of Jiang Lai’s private matters from being overheard by the employees nearby, Xu Ruobing pulled Jiang Lai into her office, her heart filled with a rage that had nowhere to vent.
Xu Ruobing felt pain for Jiang Lai and indignation over the injustices she had suffered.
Yet, in the end, she didn’t even know what exactly she was angry about—was it Jiang Lai’s lack of a clear goal, or was it hatred toward Jiang Lai’s bewildered other half?
“Jiang Lai, do you trust me?”
This time, Xu Ruobing was serious and earnest; even her voice was steadier, no longer carrying that teasing tone it once had.
Her hands gripped Jiang Lai’s slender shoulders tightly, desperately hoping Jiang Lai would say the words she longed to hear.
Yet Xu Ruobing couldn’t help but wonder if Jiang Lai’s hesitation to decide and her wish to consult others before signing the contract was because she didn’t find Xu Ruobing very reliable.
“I know we haven’t known each other long, but I wouldn’t hurt you… I truly want what’s best for you.”
Listening to her lonely tone and disappointed, desolate expression, Jiang Lai answered Xu Ruobing’s question simply, “I believe you. I believe you wouldn’t want to harm me.”
After all, if a big star wanted to trick or deceive her, there was no need to go to such lengths.
Besides, what could she possibly be deceived about?
“But whether or not to sign the contract, I really need to go back first before giving you an answer.”
Going back wasn’t just about resolving her identity issue.
She also needed to tell her younger sister-in-law that she had found a job, so she wouldn’t worry.
Watching Jiang Lai still unable to decide, Xu Ruobing’s eyes welled up with tears.
She turned her head, blinking pitifully, tears glistening in the corner of her eyes as her voice grew muffled, “Then I’ll take you back now.”
In that instant, Jiang Lai could feel the sorrow radiating from Xu Ruobing—the reddened eyes, the furrowed brows; she looked unmistakably upset.
Jiang Lai clearly understood that her two rejections had hurt Xu Ruobing deeply.
She had wasted Xu Ruobing’s goodwill.
But even if she agreed on the spot, she had no ID to use for the contract.
Jiang Lai pursed her lips, silently pondering how to make Xu Ruobing feel better.
“Ruobing, can I call you that?”
Looking at how close they were standing, Jiang Lai recalled that Xu Ruobing had always been the one to take the initiative to approach her.
No matter the situation, Xu Ruobing was always the one to close the distance.
From their chance encounter on the street to this morning when Xu Ruobing came to pick her up, Xu Ruobing had always openly expressed her feelings.
Taking a step forward, Jiang Lai gently hugged the sorrowful Xu Ruobing.
“I’m really happy, really happy. Everything you’ve done for me—I’m not refusing. I just want to talk to my family first. I look forward to working with you in the future.”
Jiang Lai saw tears spilling from Xu Ruobing’s eyes.
She reached out carefully to wipe them away, but just as she was about to withdraw her hand, Xu Ruobing—her face still full of sorrow and even grievance—grabbed Jiang Lai’s hand stubbornly.
Xu Ruobing’s fingers were long, white, and delicate—a result of constant care and refinement.
Yet such beautiful hands gripped Jiang Lai’s wrist tightly.
Without giving Jiang Lai time to react, Xu Ruobing bent her head and kissed her again.
Because of holding her hand, Jiang Lai couldn’t stop her like she had when getting into the car.
This kiss was gentle.
Their lips merely pressed softly together without tongue or extra movements.
During the kiss, Jiang Lai could clearly feel only her heartbeat and the soft, sweet sensation on her lips.
Normally, Jiang Lai would close her eyes shyly when kissed by others, but this time, the kiss lasted long enough for her shyness to slowly fade away.
When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Xu Ruobing’s long, dense eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings and her gaze burning like fire.
Xu Ruobing seemed to be suppressing the desire in her heart, looking a little adorable in her hesitation to do something more intimate yet not daring to.
Jiang Lai said nothing and made no move, and Xu Ruobing’s boldness stopped there.
They just shared a long, simple kiss before parting.
Jiang Lai wasn’t sure how long their lips had been touching.
When they left the office, the studio’s employees had already gone out for lunch.
In a place where Jiang Lai couldn’t see, her originally pale pink lips had been stained with the same color as Xu Ruobing’s from their long kiss.
Jiang Lai returned earlier than she had expected because she wanted to take care of her younger sister-in-law.
At noon, when it was time for lunch, she wasn’t with Xu Ruobing.
Instead, she had gone back to the apartment early.
But upon entering, she found the apartment pitch black.
For some reason, the curtains she had pulled open before leaving were now drawn tightly shut.
Without the lights on, it felt like entering a dark night the moment she stepped inside.
Her younger sister-in-law, who had been on her mind the entire way back, was curled up alone on the living room sofa.
Jiang Lai didn’t know why Chi Yingyu was sitting on the sofa instead of resting, but seeing her so unusual made her heart ache sharply.
She hurried over and frowned, her eyes full of concern.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again? Your face looks terrible. Why aren’t you lying down to rest…”
Jiang Lai’s nonstop stream of concerned words fell on deaf ears.
As for why Chi Yingyu was on the sofa, it was because the balcony in the living room offered a view of the apartment building below.
Drawing the curtains was to avoid seeing a scene outside that annoyed her.
Chi Yingyu raised her head tiredly to look at her brother-in-law, her throat dry and hoarse.
Seeing him had slightly warmed her previously empty heart.
“Brother-in-law, did I disturb you…”