Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

"Don’t give me that; my brother isn’t here, and I don’t recognize you as my brother’s wife, so stop trying to flatter yourself."

The resentment Shang Jing had from being driven out of the Zhou Family that day still hadn’t subsided.

Wen Zhi, however, remained very calm, "Whether you recognize me or not is your business, but what I need to do is to accurately relay today’s situation to your brother, so he knows how you’ve treated me."

Shang Jing was so angry he almost ground his teeth to dust, pointing at Wen Zhi he said, "You’re really malicious."

Wen Zhi swatted away Shang Jing’s hand, "Don’t point at me; pointing just makes me hold a grudge even more."

"..."

On the other end, Chong Wanyin saw that Wen Zhi had started chatting with Shang Jing, so she didn’t come over, only reminding Zhao Qin not to disturb them.

With no one else around, Shang Jing got straight to the point, "Why did you conceal your true appearance when you came to our house, what’s your real purpose?"

Wen Zhi lifted her eyelids and gave Shang Jing a sidelong glance, retorting, "How did I conceal it?"

Shang Jing was speechless and choked up.

He had no choice but to put it more bluntly, "You’re different now compared to before."

Wen Zhi asked again, "In what way am I different?"

Shang Jing looked Wen Zhi up and down, pointing at her he said, "This is different, that’s different, everything is different."

Wen Zhi replied, "I’ve always looked like this. Before, I just didn’t like to dress up, and now I do. It’s just the difference between dressing up and not, is it as serious as you say?"

Shang Jing wore an incredulous expression on his face.

He circled around Wen Zhi and said, "Keep making things up."

Wen Zhi couldn’t be bothered with him and walked straight in, but Shang Jing insisted on stopping her, "Wait a minute, I’m not done asking."

Wen Zhi then patiently asked, "What else do you want to ask?"

Although Shang Jing stood in front of Wen Zhi, he turned his face away not looking at her and raised his hand to touch the tip of his nose before asking, "Are you really together with my brother?"

Wen Zhi suppressed the upward curve of her lips, replying in a calm tone, "Yes, I’m with your brother."

Each word was clear enough for Shang Jing to hear.

Shang Jing did hear her clearly, but his face turned even more unsightly than before as he immediately blurted out, "You and my brother are not going to work out."

Wen Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly.

Shang Jing even took pains to say, "I’m speaking from an objective standpoint, telling you an objective fact. Look at your status; how could my brother possibly marry you? You should stop harboring foolish fantasies."

Wen Zhi smiled, "You think I’m harboring foolish fantasies?"

Shang Jing countered, "Aren’t you?"

"Maybe I am."

Far from getting angry, Wen Zhi actually seemed to agree with Shang Jing, "Being with Mr. Shang is indeed beyond my reach. As someone as lowly and humble as me, I should not be harboring foolish fantasies. You’re right, I will keep my status in mind from now on."

Having said that, Wen Zhi pretended to turn away in dejection.

Shang Jing’s heart panicked, and in his haste, he grabbed Wen Zhi’s wrist, "Wait!"

Wen Zhi turned around, her eyes brimming with moisture, trying her best to avoid meeting Shang Jing’s gaze, she said softly, "I’ll go pack my bags and try to move out by tomorrow morning. Don’t worry, you won’t see me, the eyesore, at the Shang household ever again."

"..."

Shang Jing’s expression twitched fiercely.

But even more than that, he felt guilty.

He knew Wen Zhi was sharp-tongued, so he deliberately said those things, thinking she would argue back and retaliate.

But who would have thought that his words would nearly make her cry?

He really deserved to die!

"I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant."

Shang Jing’s tone softened significantly from his earlier venom and assertiveness, "I wasn’t speaking ill of you, I’m just a jerk when I speak."

Wen Zhi tugged at the corner of her mouth in agreement, "You certainly are a jerk."

After that, Wen Zhi shook off Shang Jing’s hand and walked past him.

Shang Jing: ?

By the time he regained his sense and turned around, Wen Zhi had already walked far away.

Frustrated, Shang Jing caught up to her, but this time he did not lay hands on Wen Zhi or utter any unpleasant words, merely followed beside her and said, "About that day at the Zhou Family’s, I gave it some serious thought afterward."

Wen Zhi did not respond.

Shang Jing continued, "Actually, my elder brother throwing me out had nothing to do with you; it was because of Zhou Qin, right?"

Again, Wen Zhi did not take up his words.

Shang Jing simply blocked Wen Zhi’s path: "Since you’re staying by my brother’s side, you must know some things. Share some with me."

Forced to stop, Wen Zhi lifted her eyes to the obstructing Shang Jing: "What do you really want to ask?"

Shang Jing rubbed his hands together, his smile somewhat ingratiating: "Even though I was kicked out that day, the news of the Zhou Family acknowledging their daughter was known by almost everyone the next day—I naturally knew too. But I am more curious about whether Zhou Qin is indeed Mr. Zhou’s biological daughter?"

"You shouldn’t be asking me," replied Wen Zhi.

Shang Jing observed the changes in Wen Zhi’s expression: "But I think, you are precisely the person to ask."

"I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed; I know nothing," said Wen Zhi, then reached out to push Shang Jing aside.

Shang Jing was really not content with gaining nothing.

He stubbornly blocked the way, standing like a wall in front of Wen Zhi: "Do you know, if Zhou Qin really is Mr. Zhou’s long-lost biological daughter, my third uncle will be stuck inside for the rest of his life!"

Wen Zhi paused, a trace of confusion showing in her gaze: "So what?"

Shang Jing frowned deeply: "If Zhou Qin asserts it, and Mr. Zhou adds a single word, my third uncle has almost no chance of overturning the case, even if my elder brother personally intervenes, he’s powerless."

By this point, how could Wen Zhi fail to understand?

Yet she wanted to remind Shang Jing of something: "All you think about is overturning the case for your third uncle. Now that Zhou Qin is acknowledged by the Zhou Family, your biggest concern is that your third uncle won’t get out, but have you ever considered, what if Shang Mingshu really did harm Zhou Qin?"

"My third uncle would never!" Shang Jing wanted to refute without even thinking.

Wen Zhi rebutted him just the same: "Do you really understand your third uncle, Shang Mingshu?"

This question left Shang Jing instantly speechless.

Seeing Shang Jing at a loss for words, Wen Zhi laughed ironically: "If Shang Mingshu really didn’t do anything to harm Zhou Qin, what can the Zhou Family do to him? But if he did, what difference is there between you and your third uncle?"

Having said all she needed to, Wen Zhi turned and left.

This time, Shang Jing did not follow her; he staggered a half-step backward, his mind racing with myriad thoughts.

"Is my third uncle really innocent..." Shang Jing was not sure, but he was eager to find out.

Just then, Shang Jing’s phone rang.

He fumbled for his cell phone in his pocket and, seeing the caller ID, he paused abruptly.

It was a call from Zhou Qin, whom he had tried to contact many times but had always been turned away!

Shang Jing immediately answered the call and got straight to the point: "Hello, Zhou Qin, I want to see you."

"I know you want to see me."

Zhou Qin’s calm voice came through the phone: "Come to the Zhou Family home. I’ll see you today."

Such coincidence?

On any normal day, Shang Jing would not hesitate and would head straight to the Zhou Family’s home.

But today, he was somewhat dubious: "You really want to see me?"

Zhou Qin’s voice came through the phone: "Isn’t that what you wanted?"

Shang Jing: "But I’ve contacted you so many times, and you’ve refused to see me. How come today..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Qin cut him off with an impatient tone: "Come or not, it’s your only chance."

With that, Zhou Qin hung up the phone.

Shang Jing listened to the busy signal on the phone, his emotions a complex mix.

But after some hesitation, he decided to go to the Zhou Family home to see Zhou Qin.