The hangover made her body and mind ache.
Even after going out, she didn't want to work.
She thought for a moment and went to the beauty salon. She'd been working hard lately and deserved a break.
A woman still needed to be good to herself.
She arranged to meet a friend, and they got beauty treatments and massages together.
They enjoyed afternoon tea and had dinner, killing time until almost midnight before Xu Jingyi went home.
The hangover made her body and mind ache.
Even after going out, she didn't want to work.
She thought for a moment and went to the beauty salon. She'd been working hard lately and deserved a break.
A woman still needed to be good to herself.
She arranged to meet a friend, and they got beauty treatments and massages together.
They enjoyed afternoon tea and had dinner, killing time until almost midnight before Xu Jingyi went home.
Meeting was indeed awkward.
Avoiding it was better than facing it, at least for a while, right?
But she hadn't expected that when she got home, Lin Ruoyan was still sitting on the sofa watching TV.
The TV was showing the news, which was neither entertaining nor relaxing, yet the person was sitting there, very upright, watching it.
"Sister-in-law is back?"
Lin Ruoyan greeted her, the tone neither warm nor cold.
Xu Jingyi took off her high heels, changed into comfortable house shoes, and was debating whether to go and sit over there.
She responded with an "Mmh" and then said, "Ruoyan isn't asleep yet?"
Lin Ruoyan: "Mmh, I'm watching the news. I'll go to sleep soon."
"Okay."
The atmosphere was a little awkward, so Xu Jingyi decided not to go over and just head upstairs to her room.
It was almost time to wash up and go to bed.
"You go ahead, I'm going back to my room."
Lin Ruoyan didn't speak immediately, waiting until she had taken two steps before saying, "Sister-in-law, about that day… it was my fault.
I shouldn't have said those things. I apologize. You're right, you're single now, and I have no right to interfere with what you want."
Xu Jingyi's steps stopped. She was a little confused.
Which day? What happened?
But she quickly understood that Lin Ruoyan was talking about the incident in the changing room that day.
"Oh, that…" Xu Jingyi turned to look at Lin Ruoyan. "It's nothing.
I know you were also because of Ruofeng.
Let bygones be bygones. Sister-in-law won't take it to heart."
Lin Ruoyan said, "It's good that Sister-in-law doesn't mind."
She paused before saying, "Sister-in-law was drunk last night, and doesn't remember what happened.
That's quite dangerous. It was fine yesterday because I was there, but… you shouldn't drink so much in the future."
Xu Jingyi's expression remained unchanged, but her heart was in turmoil.
"Thank you for the reminder, Ruoyan. I'll remember that for next time."
"That's good."
She always spoke slowly, pausing for two or three seconds before continuing, "Also, I hope you don't misunderstand, I wasn't trying to control you.
I just think it's dangerous to drink too much outside, so try to drink less."
"I know."
The other person was sincere. Having said that, there wasn't much else to say. She added dryly, "Get some rest, sis."
"You too."
Xu Jingyi went up first, and Lin Ruoyan followed, turning off the TV before going up as well.
The news hadn't finished broadcasting yet, and Xu Jingyi understood why she was still downstairs watching TV so late.
Wasn't she specifically waiting for her?
Just to say these things? Was it an apology, or was it to say those later things? Or was the apology just a prelude to saying those things later?
He just kept telling her to drink less.
Was he worried she'd make a fool of herself outside if she drank too much?
He was being so roundabout about it.
Xu Jingyi understood what was going on without saying anything more.
Last night's events were completely over.
She was even somewhat relieved that Lin Ruoyan was a woman. If she'd done those things with her brother-in-law last night, she didn't know how she'd handle today.
Doing those things with her sister-in-law was just an embarrassing exposure of her private life, a loss of face.
But with her brother-in-law, it would be more than just embarrassment.
He might think she was pretending to be drunk to seduce him, and a man might not be able to resist such a seduction.
She closed the door to her room and shook her head.
She really couldn't drink like that again.
But she hadn't gotten this drunk before.
She didn't know what had happened last night to make her so muddled.
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