Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Shopping with Shang Hexing was not your traditional definition of shopping.

He took her from Peninsula Hotel through a different passageway directly into an international mall, then rode up on the VIP elevator to the top luxury brand store.

The store had designated personnel to assist, so Wen Zhi didn’t need to wander around making selections. She just had to sit on the sofa, flip through the brand’s latest ready-to-wear collection, and if she liked something, a model would showcase it up close for her.

At the moment, a female model was presenting Wen Zhi with a simple patterned blouse.

After Shang Hexing finished his phone call and came back, he caught a glimpse of Wen Zhi’s expression and immediately waved to signal the manager, "Take them away."

The manager promptly notified the model, then removed the remaining sets of clothes.

"These styles don’t really suit you," he said as he sat down beside her.

Wen Zhi thought he would ask—Don’t you like anything?

Because that’s what most men would ask!

To her surprise, he read her mood.

She said, "I don’t really like the clothes from this brand."

Shang Hexing leaned in, his voice laced with the tenderness of coaxing, "Sorry, I didn’t do my homework in advance. I only knew that some of my colleagues’ wives like to wear this brand, so I thought you might like it too."

Wen Zhi turned her head and said, "That’s their wives."

Shang Hexing agreed, "Fair point, theirs is theirs, mine is mine."

His insinuation was too obvious, making Wen Zhi’s fingertips curl slightly, and his hand naturally reached out to cover the back of hers, then led her, "Let’s go, take a look around."

Wen Zhi rose with him, "Where shall we go?"

"You decide this time."

His tone suggested he was humoring her, as if the two were truly in a romantic relationship.

In the end, accompanied by Shang Hexing, Wen Zhi went to an ordinary brand store and bought two dresses she liked.

Shang Hexing rarely saw such a brilliant smile on Wen Zhi’s face, "It seems this is the style you like."

Wen Zhi twirled in front of him, "Doesn’t it suit me well?"

Shang Hexing’s response was, "Very pretty."

"Doesn’t it suit me?" she persisted.

Shang Hexing chuckled, "Of course it suits you, I was just distracted."

Wen Zhi bit her lip, "You men sure know how to charm."

"Us men?" he raised an eyebrow, "Has a man ever broken your heart?"

See? Who says only women have sharp instincts? Men are just as good at getting to the point!

"You want to hear about it?" she said, tilting her chin defiantly at him, "If I start talking about my past romances, it could take days and nights to cover them all."

Shang Hexing’s lips curled into a smile, "Days and nights?"

Wen Zhi deliberately made a smug expression, "Yeah, of course."

Shang Hexing said with depth, "Do you know what else can be done in those few days and nights?"

Wen Zhi wasn’t naive but felt her ears flush with understanding, pretending to be angry, "Shang Hexing!"

Shang Hexing handed her the unlocked phone, "The password is 920810."

Wen Zhi was stunned.

Shang Hexing added, "For payments."

Without taking the phone, she crossed her arms and asked, "Is this considered a loan?"

Shang Hexing laughed softly, "If you say it’s a loan, then it’s a loan."

Wen Zhi lifted her delicate neck, "And if I don’t return it, you won’t hold it against me, will you?"

"Would you want me to hold it against you?" he countered.

"Of course, it’s your money," she replied without hesitation.

Shang Hexing responded, "Then I’ll hold it against you, keep pestering you about it."

"..." Wen Zhi took the phone, took a deep breath, and maintained her smile, "I’ll return it to you when I get back."

Shang Hexing hooked his lips into a smile, "I’ll wait."

Wen Zhi turned to pay, but within five seconds, she was back, handing over the phone with both hands, her voice soft and delicate, "It’s locked."

The screen would have locked itself during such a long conversation.

Shang Hexing gave the unlock code and asked her to enter it herself, but Wen Zhi appeared subtly expressive, "You are even telling me the unlock code, aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your secrets?"

Shang Hexing replied, "This is not a government phone; it’s my personal one."

After saying so, he asked, "Did you remember the unlock code?"

Wen Zhi was startled, then shook her head.

He repeated it, and watched attentively as Wen Zhi unlocked the screen before suggesting, "Later, I’ll set up face recognition unlock for you."

This was his phone!

Wen Zhi’s breath hitched, she didn’t respond to his comment and turned to pay.

When they left the mall, it was nearly five o’clock.

Shang Hexing took Wen Zhi to have dinner.

Around seven o’clock, Chen Jinhai drove the car to the restaurant’s exterior, and Wen Zhi followed Shang Hexing into the vehicle.

As the car started, Wen Zhi asked, "Are we going back to the hotel?"

Shang Hexing said, "Not for now."

Wen Zhi asked again, "Then where are we going?"

"To a place that should be fun for you," he still did not specify where.

Wen Zhi was quite curious.

And quite, expectant.

The drive wasn’t very long, and under Wen Zhi’s anxious yet curious mood, they finally arrived at the destination.

As she got out of the car and saw the dazzling castle in front of her, she was momentarily stunned.

Shang Hexing came up to her side, "I consulted with an experienced friend of mine, who said that girls of your age most yearn for innocence and all things beautiful, so I thought, you might like the Disney fireworks."

In addition to surprise, Wen Zhi’s eyes were also shocked by his explanation.

He had actually consulted with friends?

It was undeniable, Disney was indeed a dream deep in the hearts of many girls. In fact, such a wonderful place could be visited anytime, but going with friends, with a lover, with a paramour, as a married couple, all represented completely different concepts.

She had visited Disney in the coastal city with Meng Fan a long time ago. The two laughed and talked, took lots of photos, and left behind many happy memories.

But this time, for Wen Zhi, it was a completely different first time.

"The fireworks start at half-past eight, and we arrived just in time," he said and took Wen Zhi’s hand.

Only to have her pull away unexpectedly.

Shang Hexing’s eyes showed a slight shift, as he looked at her without a word, knowing she had a question to ask.

Wen Zhi looked at him, hesitantly asking, "In what role do you intend us to enter together?"

Friend, lover, paramour... there were many identities.

She wanted to know, which relationship Shang Hexing would claim?

Or was it another evasive question?

In the end, and as she had guessed, he did not clarify their status directly, but instead asked her in return.

However, unlike what Wen Zhi had thought, he didn’t ask her—what do you think?

Instead, he said, "That depends on whether you’re willing to give me a title."

Give him a title?

Wen Zhi was astonished, "Are you... asking me for a commitment?"

Shang Hexing replied frankly, "I thought I had made myself quite clear."

Wen Zhi avoided eye contact, dismissively saying, "Oh, is that so?"

She was nervous, made so by his recent words, and felt guilty about her evasive reply. She always failed to give him a direct answer but couldn’t help but ask things she shouldn’t.