"My name?"

Jianglai hesitated, not revealing her full name. Instead, she vaguely mentioned her surname. "If you don’t mind, you can call me Sister Jiangjiang."

"Sister Jiangjiang..."

Same surname. Shenruxue felt her mind spiraling. Her thoughts scattered wildly, plunging her already fragile mood into an abyss—like drowning in weeds, unable to surface, unable to grasp any hope of happiness.

Outwardly elegant and pure, Shenruxue hid a deep hunger within—not for physical desire, but for emotional solace. Her greatest obsession was witnessing Jianglai’s emotions: she’d glow when Jianglai smiled, thrill when Jianglai was excited. She craved seeing Jianglai comfortable, unrestrained, losing control just for her. Every captivating expression Jianglai ever made was seared into her heart—memories that wouldn’t fade even after decades.

But now, Shenruxue was bewildered. Different gender, different age—yet this woman’s mannerisms mirrored her Jianglai exactly. As she pondered, a familiar scent drifted from the elder sister before her. Familiar, yet oddly muddled.

Shenruxue gently grasped Jianglai’s towel-holding hand, stopping her from brushing off the snow. The dry towel carried a faint coffee aroma. Her nose, stiff from the cold earlier, had dulled her sense of smell. Only now, as it thawed, did she finally catch that deeply familiar scent—one she’d inhaled countless times before. Not just the faint trace rising from the body now, but the unique essence that belonged solely to Jianglai. She’d memorized every variation, rich or subtle.

Leaning forward, Shenruxue closed the distance between them. Jianglai’s fragrance grew stronger. Unnoticed, Shenruxue took slow, deep breaths, drawing the scent deep into her lungs. Beneath the thick down jacket, she detected that unmistakable body warmth. This greedy inhale confirmed it: Sister Jiangjiang carried not just her husband’s scent, but her sister’s too.

Jianglai didn’t understand why the girl leaned so close. But when she heard the audible sniff near her neck, her cheeks flushed. *Do I smell strange? Why would a stranger sniff me like this?*

Silently, Jianglai withdrew her hand. She placed the dry towel beside Shenruxue, left her spare umbrella with a few quick words, and swiftly left the café. She couldn’t keep her sister-in-law waiting—she’d promised to bring an umbrella. Every minute wasted here mattered. Knowing Yingyu Chi’s nature, she’d been waiting expectantly since the text message.

Between Jianglai and Yingyu Chi lay a quiet understanding. Their daily life together was rather plain. Yet this very plainness brought them both comfort—a silent certainty that having the other nearby was enough. For Jianglai, sometimes a single gesture or a mere thought was enough to predict Yingyu Chi’s next move.

After Jianglai left, Shenruxue stared at the umbrella in her hand, then at the door where the woman had vanished. She seemed headed toward her sister’s office. Burning to uncover their connection, Shenruxue followed without hesitation.

——

——

Warm air flooded the office. Bundled in her thick down jacket, Jianglai felt instantly overheated. Just as she’d expected, Yingyu Chi sat waiting by the entrance—eager to be the first to see her. To her sister-in-law, missing even a glimpse felt like a loss.

"Was it cold outside? Your cheeks are all rosy."

Yingyu Chi’s warm fingers traced Jianglai’s chilled neck. The cold had flushed her fair skin—nose, ears, cheeks—all adorably pink. *I’ve always wanted to leave my marks on him*, Yingyu Chi thought. She cupped Jianglai’s icy face with her palms. The office staff barely glanced up; they’d seen far more intimate moments before.

Yingyu Chi’s slender fingers caressed Jianglai’s cheek as she whispered near her ear, "I’ll warm you up later."

Jianglai gently removed her sister-in-law’s hand. "Why do you always say such nonsense?"

The moment Jianglai entered, Yingyu Chi had scanned her from head to toe. Her gaze settled on the single umbrella in Jianglai’s hand.

"Only one umbrella? Walk home with me then. We can share it."

Yingyu Chi stood, helping Jianglai out of the cumbersome jacket. She took her husband’s hand and led him straight to her office. Her urgency raised no eyebrows among the staff—but Shenruxue, who’d followed Jianglai inside, watched with mounting confusion.

*Why is my sister so clingy?* Shenruxue thought, heart tightening. *Her whole world seems to revolve around that woman. I never felt this way for her—not even as her sister.* It mirrored her own obsession with Jianglai: a devotion that needed no one else. Her sister had fallen for a woman who resembled her husband. A sour pang shot through Shenruxue. She’d had people investigate both before, but never in such detail. So much remained hidden from her.