X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the Server“Brother-in-law, that hurts, hurts, hurts!”
“Easy, easy, easy!!”
“Don’t press so hard!”
“Stop squirming. It’s normal for it to hurt a little.”
Qin Liang’s palm was warm, carrying the clean, slightly pungent scent of safflower oil as it settled on Tang Yunke’s reddened skin. His movements weren’t rough, but that tender flesh was already hot and sensitive—the slightest touch made her flinch.
“But it hurts so much…” The girl’s voice was soft and syrupy, her cheek buried in the throw pillow. The nape of her neck flushed pink, rising and falling faintly with each breath.
She tried to shift away, but Qin Liang held her waist firmly. His hand was broad and strong against her skin, the warmth of his palm so hot it made her numb.
He said nothing, only leaned down, his gaze fixed on the glaring red marks. His fingertips dipped into the oil and slowly massaged along the marks with a force that was neither too light nor too heavy—a tenderness that brooked no resistance.
The cool liquid seeped into the burning flesh, pain mingling with a strange, numbing tingle. Tang Yunke couldn’t help but whimper, instinctively pressing her legs together, only to have him press one hand on her knee and spread them wider.
His fingertips worked over her skin, gradually easing up, taking on a soothing quality as he rubbed the oil in completely. Even the searing pain faded.
“Done.” He finally stopped, pressing lightly against her tailbone. The skin there was as delicate as fine porcelain.
Before Tang Yunke could recover, she felt the pressure at her waist loosen. Qin Liang reached down and tugged up her black lace bra that had slipped, his fingertips brushing inadvertently against the soft flesh of her side, making her tremble again.
The lace edge of the bra grazed the freshly medicated skin, tickling slightly. Tang Yunke turned onto her side, strands of hair sticking messily to her cheeks, her eyes glistening with moisture.
She looked up at Qin Liang and met his deep eyes, which seemed to hold an ocean. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away.
“Thanks, Yunke.” His voice was hoarser than before, his fingertips still carrying the warmth of her skin.
Tang Yunke draped her legs over the sofa, crossing her fair thighs as she swayed them. She curved her lips leisurely, her tone lazy and unconcerned: “No need to thank me. Just remember to transfer the money.”
That’s right—she was double-dipping!
Not only did she have a deal with Tang Yunle, but she was also putting on an act for Qin Liang. What the brother-in-law was really after by staging this scene, she didn’t know. All that mattered was that she was just an actress, and she got paid.
“By the way, brother-in-law, what about you…”
Her gaze flicked downward. Her fingertips tapped lightly on the sofa armrest, her tone teasing: “Seems like something’s not quite right down there.”
Qin Liang followed her gaze, his ears reddening and his face darkening. He raised a hand, bent his fingers, and flicked her smooth forehead with just enough force to show his irritation. “No manners.”
His voice was strained. His eyes fell on her collarbone, half-hidden by her hair, and his Adam’s apple bobbed twice. “I’m your brother-in-law—your sister’s boyfriend. But don’t forget, above all that, I’m a man first.”
He unconsciously rubbed his palm, still smelling of safflower oil. “Sometimes a man’s… mind can’t control his body.”
Tang Yunke understood instantly—the little head was controlling the big head.
She jerked back, her spine stiffening, deliberately creating half an arm’s distance between them. But her gaze was drawn to him like a magnet. “So… brother-in-law has feelings for me?”
Seeing her react like he was a threat, Qin Liang shook his head with a light laugh. Just like her sister—before Yunle had fully fallen into submission, she’d been the same way, wary at the slightest disturbance.
“Don’t worry. No feelings.”
His eyes swept over her crossed legs, the skin beneath the lace skirt dazzlingly white. His voice dropped a few notches, brutally honest but tempered with rational restraint: “Just a little instinctive male desire.”
Tang Yunke understood again.
The big head held steady, but the little head didn’t.
“So, brother-in-law, does the big head control the little head, or the little head control the big head?” She blinked, curiosity piqued.
Qin Liang’s gaze lingered on her open collar, where a patch of fair skin rose and fell with her breath.
His Adam’s apple moved. He didn’t answer, just pulled out his phone. The screen lit up, and a soft “ding” rang clearly in the quiet living room.
“I’ve transferred the money.” His voice was rough. He turned, his shoulders tense, and walked straight toward the bedroom.
Tang Yunke watched his retreating back—it was ramrod straight, but somehow carried the air of a hasty escape. She looked down at her phone. The bank notification in red was glaring, and the corners of her mouth curved into a crescent moon.
Who cared which head was controlling which? As long as the money came in.
Still…
A thought crossed her mind.
She’d just figured out why Qin Liang had her put on that act for Tang Yunle’s benefit.
The reason was simple—to mislead her.
Qin Liang was a good man, a good boyfriend, a good brother-in-law. And above all that, he was a man with normal physiological functions.
Men had emotions and desires—a craving for beauty, the instinct for food and s*x. It was all etched into their genes.
If Qin Liang had low moral standards, he could just lower his bottom line and accept Yunle’s proposal of a “sister combo.” But he’d been raised by his mother to be a pure romantic.
The tug-of-war between his inner principles and bodily instincts could also be seen as a struggle between the little head and the big head.
If Yunle found the right approach and kept seducing, tempting, and provoking him day and night, perhaps one day desire would overpower emotion, and he’d breach that bottom line to accept the sister combo.
So he needed Yunke to act, to mislead Yunle, to make her find a path that was both wrong and right.
Tang Yunke swung her legs, tapping a light rhythm on her phone screen. A knowing smile hung on her lips. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Brother-in-law isn’t stupid, after all.”
She leaned back on the sofa, staring at the crystal chandelier above her, lost in thought.
How did things stand in this family? Her sister, Tang Yunle, was dead set on offering herself up to her brother-in-law, itching to make the “sister combo” happen. Meanwhile, brother-in-law Qin Liang was clinging to his pure-love principles, battling his own instincts—a character as tangled as a knotted thread.
And what about her?
Tang Yunke twirled her phone, her eyes brightening. Was she the “pre-ordered combo” in her sister’s words? The pawn her brother-in-law used to mislead his opponent?
Neither seemed quite right.
She was a part of this little family. Since they were family, she couldn’t just watch them fight from the sidelines, could she?
Her sister wanted the sister combo; her brother-in-law insisted on keeping his bottom line. Wasn’t that a natural tug-of-war?
Stuck in the middle, she could help her brother-in-law fool her sister while playing along for her sister’s money—playing both sides and reaping the benefits. She was practically the perfect “fisherman.”
She licked her lips, grinning like a fox that had stolen candy. “I’ll stay close to the two of you and drain both your wallets!”
After all, big sister was generous with money, and brother-in-law was no slouch either. Being a “double agent” was a sure win. In the end, whether sister succeeded or brother-in-law held the line, what did it matter?
The important thing was that in this play, she’d be the one laughing last!
She would!!!
Loving this chapter? You'll be hooked on Illusionary Dream! Click to explore more!
Read : Illusionary Dream
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂