After the incident, life went back to normal, like a pebble dropped in still water, the ripples fading away.
When they were busy, they barely saw each other at home.
Lin Ruoyan was always out early and back late.
Xu Jingyi, after the initial flurry of activity, had gradually returned to her usual routine, with little to handle, only needing to check in occasionally.
So, Xu Jingyi, dressed in a cool nightgown, was a little surprised to see Lin Ruoyan walk in. She was lounging languidly on the sofa, the neckline of her nightgown a bit low, revealing a bit too much skin.
Lin Ruoyan only glanced at her before averting her eyes, turning back when she got up to put on a towel. "Sister-in-law, you're not asleep yet?"
Awkward words, awkward tone, awkward greeting.
It had been more than ten days since she'd seen her home so early. Auntie had also gone home, so she was dressed very casually.
Xu Jingyi didn't feel embarrassed, but after seeing the other person's reaction, she slowly pulled a blanket over to cover herself.
Her reaction was strange; Xu Jingyi saw her entire change, but couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. She could only suppress this feeling in her heart.
"No, the show I'm watching isn't finished yet."
She raised her hand, pulling her hair out from under the blanket, stretching her body, her long, wavy hair cascading down her back in a unique style.
"Want to watch for a while?"
Lin Ruoyan had already changed her shoes and was standing at the door with her laptop bag, not yet entering.
She was pressed for time and should be heading back to her room to wash up and get some sleep early. It was rare to get off work early, and she shouldn't waste time watching a drama.
But her body reacted faster than her brain.
Before she could refuse, she took two steps towards Xu Jingyi. "What are you watching?"
Xu Jingyi was a little surprised that the other person would also like to watch dramas. She shifted her body as if to make room for her.
"A Costume Drama.
The plot and the main actor's acting are quite good."
Lin Ruoyan sat down beside her, and the two of them fell silent again.
The only sound in the entire living room was from the television.
On the coffee table in front of the sofa were washed and sliced fruits.
Xu Jingyi ate some herself and also offered them to Lin Ruoyan.
She was used to living alone abroad and rarely had such relaxed moments.
Watching dramas was even less of an activity for her, so the two of them sitting together watching a drama and eating fruit felt a bit strange.
Lin Ruoyan also awkwardly ate a few pieces.
In Lin Ruoyan's opinion, the television was boring and tedious, but Xu Jingyi was completely absorbed, and apart from feeling a little awkward at first, she was quickly drawn into the plot.
Even though she was bored, Lin Ruoyan still sat properly on the sofa, her back straight.
She didn't look like she was relaxing at home watching a show, but rather like a good student listening attentively in class.
"Ruoyan, relax a bit," Xu Jingyi noticed her state after a while and patted her shoulder.
"It's just TV, not a meeting. No need to be so stiff."
With her movement, a pleasant scent of perfume wafted over. It was light and comfortable to smell.
The headache that had come from working all day eased slightly.
Lin Ruoyan obediently relaxed her body, but still felt bored, yet didn't want to leave.
After one episode ended, and the credits rolled on the screen, Xu Jingyi stretched.
During the commercial break, Xu Jingyi casually asked, "Is it good?"
Lin Ruoyan didn't know if it was good or not, she wasn't very interested, but she didn't say it directly.
After some thought, she said, "You can't tell if it's good or not after just one episode, right?"
Xu Jingyi couldn't help but laugh at that typical straightforward way of answering. "Hahaha, that's true. Well, watch a few more episodes then. There's another one tonight."
Lin Ruoyan inexplicably hummed in agreement.
Xu Jingyi didn't dwell on the topic any further. She felt that Lin Ruoyan seemed less cold than usual today, and seemed to want to ease the tension between them, so she asked, "Why did you come back so early today?"
"A lot of things at the company have been sorted out; I won't be working overtime so much anymore."
Lin Ruoyan replied. She was slightly nearsighted and hadn't taken off her glasses after coming home.
Her hair was pulled back for convenience, and perhaps because it was evening, a few rebellious strands had fallen from behind her ears, making her look very intellectual.
Xu Jingyi looked at her for a moment and thought she looked quite nice, the ice beauty.
"That's great.
You can't always be so tense; you need to relax," Xu Jingyi said.
Perhaps she was feeling good; she reclined on the sofa again, raising her legs and curling up, "You'll get sick if you do it for too long."
"Mmh."
Lin Ruoyan wasn't one for talking much.
After the "mmh," she didn't know what to say next and blankly watched the television, but half her mind was focused on the person beside her.
She hadn't spent much time at home before, and most of the time, Xu Jingyi appeared in a mature, sophisticated style, rarely like this.
"Hey, did you eat?"
The television commercial was a bit long. Xu Jingyi waited idly, and after a commercial flashed across the screen, her gaze landed on the fruit on the coffee table, and she suddenly thought of this question.
"Yes, I ate at the company."
"Well… that's true, it's late," Xu Jingyi drawled, humming in agreement.
"Your brother used to be the same, always working overtime, coming home so late."
Lin Ruoyan's eyelids fluttered, as if she was thinking of something.
A strange feeling welled up inside her, and though she tried to suppress it, she couldn't help but ask, "Sister-in-law, do you miss my brother?"