Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Wen Zhi had never heard Meng Fan mention anything about the Han family banquet before.

So when Meng Fan suddenly brought it up and asked her if she didn’t want to know, she just felt it was very inexplicable.

Meng Fan came over with a face full of remorse, "I was supposed to tell you last time in Harbor City, but because of the issues with Rong Huaishen and that woman, it was put aside, and as it was put aside... I forgot."

The last few words, Meng Fan spoke extremely softly.

Wen Zhi didn’t know what had happened, so she couldn’t understand Meng Fan’s guilt and unease.

It was not until Meng Fan grabbed her hand that her guilty feelings became agitated, "The old master somehow heard a rumor, knew about cousin and your relationship, and made a point of seeing the cousin alone on the day of the banquet just to talk about this, and then... he started hitting him."

"..."

Wen Zhi recalled that the Han family banquet seemed to have been shortly after her return from Lin City with Shang Hexing.

The old master had learned of her existence.

So he sought Shang Hexing out for a questioning on the day of the banquet.

But...

"I know that Elder Han doesn’t like me, but surely the situation shouldn’t have escalated to him using family discipline on him just because he found out that Shang Hexing is with me?" Wen Zhi was only feeling puzzled.

She had some understanding of Elder Han’s ways: stubborn, old-fashioned, especially regarding the continuation of the prestigious family as the most important aspect. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t have come to the point of using physical punishment just because Shang Hexing was with her, should it?

"No, Zhizhi, the old master certainly isn’t that unreasonable," Meng Fan informed her thoroughly, "That day, I heard the old master warn cousin to break it off with you, but cousin said he wanted to marry you. Elder Han asked several times, and cousin still expressed his determination to marry you, which made the old master so angry that he hit the cousin with his walking stick."

Hearing this, Wen Zhi’s heart trembled.

Hit with a walking stick.

That must have hurt a lot.

"Defying Elder Han like this will only result in physical suffering and won’t change anything," she murmured softly.

"That’s not necessarily true!" Meng Fan’s voice was full of conviction, "Cousin definitely has a way to marry you, and the old master won’t stop him forever."

Wen Zhi’s eyes reddened.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm down after learning all this.

Once she had recovered, she looked at Meng Fan and asked, "Do you think, if one day Elder Han threatens him with a choice between his current position and me, which one do you think he would choose, me or himself?"

But Meng Fan fell silent. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Because she really wasn’t sure.

Cousin might endure a few beatings for Wen Zhi, just to get the old master to give in and accept her. But if Elder Han never accepts Wen Zhi and it really comes down to making cousin choose one or the other, she really didn’t know what cousin would choose.

They say it wasn’t easy for cousin to get to his position.

Could he give it all up?

"Meng Fan, I’ve always had an answer in my heart," Wen Zhi said.

Her voice was very gentle, her expression serene.

After thinking for a moment, Meng Fan said, "But what if, just in case?"

Wen Zhi did not answer this question, but suddenly asked, "Was Elder Han very harsh that day?"

Meng Fan recalled hearing the muffled sounds of blows from inside the room, one after the other, and frowned, "It must have been harsh, I could hear a very loud noise even from outside the room."

Wen Zhi looked down, "It must have hurt a lot."

Meng Fan’s lips parted as if to say something to change the subject, but Wen Zhi suddenly looked up at her and said, "I’ll be fine on my own."

"Don’t you want me to accompany you anymore? You just asked me to be with you," Meng Fan asked again uncertainly.

Wen Zhi shook her head firmly, "No need, I should go by myself."

Meng Fan realized what Wen Zhi meant and couldn’t help but sigh, "Zhizhi, why don’t you also join the officialdom? Climb up, prove yourself to the old master, let him see clearly that you and your cousin can stand shoulder to shoulder."

It was a good suggestion.

To admire someone, to fall in love with someone, means you should chase their footsteps, treat them as a faith, and then continuously improve yourself to stand alongside them, hand in hand.

If Wen Zhi hadn’t had so much to bear, when Old Master Han was dissatisfied with her, she probably would have tried to make herself better, eagerly chasing after Shang Hexing’s footsteps, allowing herself to become a woman capable of standing by his side.

But she didn’t have that many choices.

There was only a dead-end ahead of her.

"No, how can I say that? That doesn’t encourage you to chase your happiness; it binds your free thoughts!"

Meng Fan realized belatedly that what she had just said wasn’t quite right.

She took a few steps forward, walking up to Wen Zhi, and said, "Zhizhi, don’t take what I said to heart. I’m just regretting that you can’t be with your cousin, but you are not indispensable to him. I think Liang Yin is quite good."

Wen Zhi smiled and said, "Liang Yin and I are just friends."

Meng Fan knew not to say any more and simply shut her mouth.

Wen Zhi left Lizhou Riverbank and headed alone to Qionglou. At this time, Shang Hexing must be out working; her going now would ensure she wouldn’t run into him.

Mainly because she was afraid he’d be annoyed to see her.

She knew after that day that all his affection for her had turned to disgust.

And she was somewhat afraid to see the look of disgust in his eyes again.

Aunt Lin came out to open the door for Wen Zhi, saying with a smiling face, "Miss Wen, you’re back."

Wen Zhi nodded, greeted Aunt Lin, and then said, "I’ve come back to get my luggage."

Aunt Lin was stunned for a moment: "Take your luggage?"

Wen Zhi nodded.

Aunt Lin asked, "Are you leaving again right after taking your luggage?"

"Yes, I am leaving right after taking my luggage. I won’t stay long," Wen Zhi saw the surprise on Aunt Lin’s face and knew what it meant.

Aunt Lin probably didn’t know that she had completely broken up with Shang Hexing and was unaware that she was just back to take her belongings.

Aunt Lin, after all, had experience and quickly understood the situation.

She laughed sheepishly and kindly asked, "Does Miss Wen need help?"

"My luggage isn’t much; it will be packed up quickly. Aunt Lin, you go ahead with your work," Wen Zhi tactfully refused Aunt Lin’s offer of help and then headed straight upstairs.

Aunt Lin stood downstairs, looking at Wen Zhi’s departing figure, her face pensive.

The phone rang behind her, and Aunt Lin went to answer it, hearing Chen Zhu’s voice, she immediately became cautious.

Over the phone, Chen Jinhai asked, "Has Miss Wen returned to Qionglou?"

With the real-time surveillance at Qionglou, Chen Jinhai could know immediately on his end. He received a notification that Wen Zhi had returned to Qionglou, so he quickly made this call.

Aunt Lin replied, "Miss Wen just came back."

Chen Jinhai asked, "Did she say why she is back at Qionglou?"

Aunt Lin honestly said, "Miss Wen mentioned she came to take the luggage she left here. It seems like she is planning to move out."

Chen Jinhai was silent then said, "Don’t go far; I’ll call you back in two minutes." After speaking, Chen Jinhai hung up first.

He held his phone, walking nervously to Shang Hexing’s side.

At this moment, Shang Hexing was discussing matters with Tang Qian, talking about crucial points when Chen Jinhai came over with something to say.