Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Wen Zhi shook her head and said with a reassuring tone, "I won’t run."

Shang Hexing seemed half-convinced as he handed over the new cellphone to Wen Zhi without giving her an ID, "The SIM card is already set up with a new number, and I’ve saved mine in it. It’s more convenient to contact you with a phone."

He couldn’t always let her use his private phone, though it wasn’t a public one, several colleagues contacted him through it, which could easily lead to misunderstandings.

Wen Zhi looked at the new phone, which had the same appearance as her original one, including the color.

But after she glanced at the phone, her gaze immediately fixed on the ID card in Shang Hexing’s hand and she asked eagerly, "What about the ID card?"

Shang Hexing’s lips curved into a half-smile, "I’ve changed my mind, I’ll hold onto it for now."

Wen Zhi’s eyes were upturned almond-shaped, and when she blinked, her wet, sparkling eyes were especially pitiable. She remarked, "Then you might as well have not taken the ID out in the first place."

After speaking, she set the new phone aside without giving it another glance and got up to walk toward the balcony, leaving him in the cold.

She was throwing a fit, and how could Shang Hexing not see it.

He stepped up behind her, his tall, broad figure overshadowing her petite one. He tilted his head down, his voice at her ear, offering a compromise, "I can give you the ID."

Wen Zhi lifted her chin, but thinking he might be just teasing her again, she quickly regained her composure.

Shang Hexing leaned in closer, his gaze sliding from behind to capture the twinkle in her eyes and eyebrows, grasping her thoughts tightly, "This time I’m really giving it to you."

Wen Zhi couldn’t keep her composure this time and suddenly turned her head to meet his gaze, which was so close at hand.

She remained doubtful, initially stretching out her hand, "Then give it to me first."

Shang Hexing did as he said and placed the ID card in the palm of her hand.

Wen Zhi clenched it, but Shang Hexing didn’t let go completely. She looked up at him and saw he was smiling, as if toying with her, so Wen Zhi wrinkled her nose, "You’re lying again."

"I’m not," he said. "It’s in your hand now."

Wen Zhi: "Then let go of it."

Shang Hexing did as he was told and released his hand, the ID card now fully in Wen Zhi’s possession. She didn’t have time to rejoice when Shang Hexing raised his arm to pull her into his embrace, "Wen Zhi, the flight back to Bai City at two this afternoon won’t be rescheduled again."

Wen Zhi looked up to meet his gaze, the moisture in her eyes still not dry, itching at one’s heart.

Moved by an impulse, he lowered his head to kiss her eyebrows and eyes.

Wen Zhi instinctively closed her eyes, lifting her chin, reciprocating the gesture.

At first, it was just a gentle nuzzling between their brows and eyes, but gradually the two found themselves locked in a deeper kiss, creating a tantalizing atmosphere that made Shang Hexing feel slightly out of control.

After a good while, Wen Zhi’s cheeks blushed, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, "Then will you come back to Bai City with me?"

Shang Hexing: "Together."

Wen Zhi was still somewhat worried.

Shang Hexing knew what was on her mind, his arm around her waist, his palm rubbing gently and reassuringly, "I’ll arrange everything in advance, don’t worry."

Only then did Wen Zhi feel somewhat at ease.

At that moment, Shang Hexing suddenly brought up, "Do you know who exposed your whereabouts in Harbor City?"

She did know! But after hesitating for two seconds, Wen Zhi shook her head and said, "I don’t know."

She wanted to first make sure whether Shang Hexing knew or not or whether he had found out.

As it turned out, Shang Hexing was indeed quickly informed; he had understood the whole situation while on his way to see her.

"The middleman in the entire affair is that man named Shen Zhilin. As for his real relationship with Shen Zhiyao, we need to investigate further," Shang Hexing said in a steady voice.

Wen Zhi said, "Meng Fan also suspects that man’s relationship with Shen Zhiyao is problematic, but Shen Zhiyao says that he’s her brother."

Shang Hexing tugged at the corner of his lips, "She does indeed have a brother, nominally."

Nominally...

Wen Zhi guessed from Shang Hexing’s words, "Not blood relatives?"

Shang Hexing nodded.

As for the specifics of their relationship, they would have to wait for Chen Jinhai’s update since the investigation was ongoing.

...

As noon approached, Meng Fan ordered a pile of takeout, and Jian Yingqing very consciously took the initiative to help. Meng Fan didn’t stand on ceremony and variously enslaved him, making Jian Yingqing’s hands full.

"Sister, look at my biceps." While his hands were full, Jian Yingqing didn’t forget to take the opportunity to show off his arm muscles to Meng Fan.

Meng Fan glanced at him, "Keep training."

Jian Yingqing asked, "Sister, what kind of physique do you like? Muscles that are exaggerated like a bullfrog’s, or the kind that look good when the clothes come off?"

Meng Fan found him noisy, "I only like myself, you go appreciate yourself."

After saying that, Meng Fan quickly walked ahead of Jian Yingqing.

Following behind, Jian Yingqing laughed wickedly, "Sister, you’re not at all sentimental."

Meng Fan snorted, "I’m naturally not sentimental."

Jian Yingqing joked, "Then how about unbuttoning your brother’s shirt?"

Meng Fan glowered, "Scram!"

Jian Yingqing couldn’t stop laughing, his whole chest trembling, and he almost dropped the takeout he was carrying.

Not long after lunch, Chen Jinhai rushed over to report the latest developments.

The matter was complicated and far-reaching, and Chen Jinhai very professionally organized the entire case into a document and handed it over to Shang Hexing.

"Mr. Shang, that’s as much as we can find out from Licheng right now, I’m still following up. They said they’d send me the latest news as soon as they have it," Chen Jinhai said.

Shang Hexing sat cross-legged on the couch, with Wen Zhi sitting beside him. He reached out to take the document Chen Jinhai handed over and opened it, with Wen Zhi looking on eagerly, craning her neck to see.

A gentle glint in Shang Hexing’s eyes, he moved the hand holding the document slightly so that Wen Zhi could see.

Inside, besides text, there was also a photo, color printed.

After briefly looking over it, Shang Hexing turned to Wen Zhi and asked, "Do you understand what’s going on?"

Wen Zhi shook her head, then extended her hand, "Let me see it again."

Shang Hexing chuckled and handed the document to Wen Zhi.

As Wen Zhi carefully examined the document, Shang Hexing turned to Meng Fan, who was sitting across from them, and succinctly said, "There’s a problem with Shen Zhiyao’s identity."

Meng Fan immediately perked up, "Ah? What kind of problem? Uncle, can you give me more details?"

At that moment, Wen Zhi put down the document and passed a photo to Meng Fan across the table, "You take a look at the photo first."

Meng Fan took the photo.

Although it was color-printed, it was already quite fuzzy. One could only make out with difficulty that the photo was a snapshot of two girls.

"This photo is way too blurry!" Meng Fan looked it over but couldn’t make out who the two girls in the snapshot were.

Wen Zhi hesitated before asking, "Don’t you think the girl on the left in the photo looks a bit like you?"

"Like me?"

Meng Fan was obviously surprised to hear Wen Zhi say this.

Because she hadn’t seen it herself.

Especially after Wen Zhi had mentioned it, she looked at the photo even more closely. Even though it was unclear, it didn’t look like herself at all!

"Not like me," Meng Fan shook her head. "Not at all."