My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

Su Ming had no idea what would happen next, whether Yang Tian would forgive him, or whether there would be a future for them.

All he knew was that tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

The hallway was quiet, and the motion-activated lights turned off one floor at a time.

He stood there for a long time before slowly walking down the stairs.

Outside, the night was deep. The streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, making his shadow long.

He walked along the empty streets, his mind filled with Yang Tian's tearful eyes.

He remembered what she had just said: "Put your clothes on and go home..."

There was disappointment, sadness, and a touch of resoluteness in his tone.

Su Ming suddenly felt a little scared.

I'm afraid of losing her.

But he didn't know how to win her back.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the chill of early autumn.

He wrapped his clothes tighter, quickened his pace, and headed towards his cousin's apartment building.

He didn't want to think about it anymore; too much had happened lately. He just wanted to get a good night's sleep. To hell with it, death is death, and those who live will live forever.

Back at his lodgings, Su Ming lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

He took out his phone and sent Yang Tian a message: "Are you asleep?"

I waited for five minutes, but there was no reply.

He sent another message: "I'm sorry, what happened tonight really wasn't intentional. You have to believe me."

Ten more minutes passed, but there was still no reply.

He placed his phone beside his pillow and stared blankly at the ceiling. His mind was filled with Yang Tian's tearful eyes and her words, "Put your clothes on and go home..."

The disappointment and sadness in her tone were like a thorn stuck in his heart.

He rolled over, facing the wall. The wall was cold, and his heart sank in as well.

He turned over again, facing the doorway.

After some time, footsteps echoed in the hallway. They were very light, but exceptionally clear in the quiet night. High heels clicked on the floor, "tap, tap, tap," each step followed by a pause, indicating that the person walking was unsteady.

The key was inserted into the lock and turned several times before it opened.

The door opened.

Qiu Tong walked in.

Su Ming quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Through his squinting eyes, he saw his cousin's wife stagger into the bedroom. She reeked of alcohol mixed with perfume, the scent filling the air.

She walked straight to the bedside, plopped down, and then with a "thud," fell backward onto the bed.

Su Ming wondered: What's wrong with my cousin-in-law today? Usually, even if she comes home late, she'll take a shower and wash her hair. Why did she just collapse into bed and fall asleep today?

Just then, he saw Qiu Tong reach into her clothes and grope around in front of her chest for a while. Then, she pulled something out of her bosom—a thin, black thing with lace trim.

It's a bra!

She tossed it casually, and the bra flew through the air in an arc, landing squarely on Su Ming's face.

A warm breath wafted over him, mixed with a faint smell of sweat and perfume. The soft fabric covered his face, obscuring his eyes.

"No way, what is my cousin-in-law doing?! How did she throw it right in my face?" Su Ming was extremely embarrassed.

He held his breath and remained motionless, afraid that his cousin-in-law would find out he was awake.

A few seconds later, he heard Qiu Tong taking off her stockings again. After the rustling sound, a pair of flesh-colored stockings were thrown on the ground, landing at his feet.

Only then did Su Ming dare to move. He quietly raised his hand, removed the bra from his face, and placed it next to the pillow. The thing was thin, soft, and slippery to the touch, giving him a strange feeling.

He sniffed; the fragrance was still there.

He turned his head and looked at Qiu Tong on the bed. She was lying on her back, one hand on her forehead, and her clothes were loose and baggy because she was no longer wearing a bra, outlining her undulating curves.

Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was a little heavy.

Just as Su Ming was about to look away, he suddenly heard a soft sob.

He paused for a moment, thinking he had misheard.

But then the sound rang out again, intermittent, suppressed, and tinged with a sob.

My cousin's wife is crying? What's wrong with her?

Su Ming's heart clenched suddenly.

He saw her raise her hand and wipe the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. Then she turned over, her back to him, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"Men are all the same..." she murmured, her voice hoarse and drunk, as if she were cursing someone or talking to herself.

Su Ming couldn't hold back any longer.

He sat up gently, leaned closer, and asked softly, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"

Qiu Tong was stunned when she heard his voice, then slowly turned over.

She sat up and brushed her slightly disheveled hair aside. The bedroom was dimly lit, with only the streetlight streaming in from the window illuminating her face and outlining her features. Her eyes were red, and there were tear tracks on her face, but a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Su Ming?" she asked, her voice soft and slightly drunk. "You're not asleep?"

Su Ming nodded, and looking at her like that, his heart ached even more.

Qiu Tong moved closer to him, her scent mingling with her own fragrance. A whiff of red wine mixed with her natural scent wafted into Su Ming's nostrils. She reached out and cupped his face in her hands.

Those hands were slightly cool, and the fingertips gently touched his cheek.

"Su Ming..." She looked at him, her eyes hazy, her voice as soft as cotton candy, "Will you be good to me?"

Su Ming paused for a moment, then nodded: "Sister-in-law, I will be good to you."

Qiu Tong smiled, a smile in the dim light that carried a hint of sadness and anticipation. She moved even closer, almost touching his face.

"Will you marry me?"

Su Ming's mind went blank with a "buzz".

He stared wide-eyed at his cousin-in-law, at her face so close to his, at her tearful eyes, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"Huh?" he stammered, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you today?"

Qiu Tong's smile slowly faded. She loosened her grip, shrank back, leaned against the headboard, and shook her head.

"You're not a good man either," she murmured, her voice filled with disappointment.

As soon as she finished speaking, glistening tears rolled down her cheeks, one, two, and rolled down her face.

Su Ming was startled.

He quickly leaned over and asked anxiously, "Sister-in-law, what happened? Tell me!"

Qiu Tong did not answer.

She suddenly opened her arms and hugged him tightly.

Su Ming froze.

Her soft body pressed tightly against him, smelling of alcohol and warm. She buried her face in his shoulder, her body trembling slightly, and then burst into tears.

The cries were heart-wrenching, as if they had been suppressed for far too long and had finally found an outlet. She held him, trembling with sobs, her tears soaking his shoulder.

Su Ming froze for a moment, then slowly raised his hand and gently patted her back.

"My sister-in-law is alright, alright..." he said softly, his voice full of heartache. "Everything will be alright."

Qiu Tong cried for a while before slowly stopping. She lifted her head from his embrace, her face still wet with tears, her eyes red, but she forced a smile, a smile tinged with drunkenness.

She reached out again and lifted his face.

"Su Ming..." she looked at him, asking each word slowly and deliberately, "You'll marry me, won't you?"