Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

She looked down at the photos scattered on the ground, torn apart by herself, "She’s already like this, what if she becomes a vegetable? How to pursue, how to pursue, she still won, she still won..."

Gu Rang’s hand, which was clasping Wen Zhi’s shoulder, fell limply.

These past few days, he had been worried and anxious, but he had never felt as powerless as he did at this moment.

That night, Wen Zhi did not sleep again.

She sat quietly holding the urn until dawn.

Early in the morning, Shang Hexing came by once, he squatted beside Wen Zhi for a while, then reached out to embrace her as usual.

These days, Wen Zhi had resisted everyone’s approach, and he was no exception. When she was awake, he could hardly get close to her, only when she fell asleep due to sleeping pills did he have the chance to stay by her side and touch her.

He wanted to try again, even though he knew he would be coldly avoided by her the next moment.

But when he felt the person in his arms not moving or struggling, only then did he realize, this time she wasn’t resisting his approach.

"Wen Zhi?" he murmured, calling her.

To his surprise, he heard her response, she also called out very softly, "Shang Hexing..."

"I’m here," he responded immediately.

Wen Zhi’s throat felt a bit better, and she rubbed against him in his arms, dependent-like, "I’m hungry."

She didn’t know how happy her words had made Shang Hexing. With a bittersweet feeling in his heart, he gently rearranged her hair, "What do you want to eat? I’ll have someone buy it."

That she was willing to respond to him, willing to let him hold her, was already the happiest thing for him.

The accumulated melancholy between his brows also dissipated at this moment.

As long as she paid attention to him, it was fine.

Wen Zhi said, "I want to eat noodles, the kind sold at the roadside noodle shop in the morning, in hot soup, I really want that right now."

Upon hearing this, Shang Hexing immediately took out his phone to make a call.

Just then, Wen Zhi spoke again, "Can you take me with you, please?"

Shang Hexing agreed to her request without a second thought, "Alright, I’ll take you with me."

Wen Zhi smiled widely, her features radiant and brilliant. She truly looked revived and as if she had really walked out of the shadows.

She placed the urn on the cabinet, went to the restroom, and after coming out, she took the initiative to hold Shang Hexing’s hand.

Her palms were still slightly warm and moist from washing, but her fingertips were cool; she herself hadn’t noticed, and looking up at him, she said, "Hold my hand tightly, don’t let go."

Shang Hexing, gazing at her, replied earnestly, "Okay."

Wen Zhi smiled again.

In these shadow-covered days, she had seemed lifeless, her vivid appearance at this moment made Shang Hexing distracted, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Let’s go out," Wen Zhi urged.

Shang Hexing nodded, holding her hand, and exited the door.

As soon as they stepped out, they met Zhan Feng coming towards them. Seeing Wen Zhi beside Shang Hexing, looking so normal, he felt as if it was like another world.

He uncertainly called out, "Miss?"

Wen Zhi smiled at Zhan Feng, "Did you come to see me? I’m fine now, really."

Zhan Feng was taken aback, instinctively looking at Shang Hexing, "Where are you taking the miss?"

Shang Hexing said, "She wants to eat noodles, I’m taking her out to eat."

Zhan Feng had initially wanted to object, but seeing Wen Zhi smiling and not wanting to spoil her newly recovered mood, he reluctantly stepped aside, only adding, "Miss, your throat has been unwell these days, try to avoid spicy food."

Wen Zhi nodded with a smile, "Okay."

Then Zhan Feng looked towards Shang Hexing, and though no words were exchanged, the look they shared spoke volumes.

Outside the hospital, Wen Zhi looked up at the sky, murmuring, "The sky outside, it doesn’t look the same as the sky you see from inside the hospital."

Shang Hexing tightened his grip on her hand, "Then don’t stay in the hospital today."

Wen Zhi smiled and agreed, "Okay."

Her obedient demeanor, somewhat different than usual, always gave Shang Hexing a surreal feeling.

Passersby hurried along the road.

Outside the hospital, there were always more people entering than leaving.

The two slowly walked to a bustling alley. Shang Hexing seldom visited such places. His refined and ethereal demeanor was out of place amidst the common atmosphere here.

He led Wen Zhi to the entrance of a noodle shop, filled with people. The owner and his wife were too busy to lift their heads or stop their hands.

"Eat here?" Shang Hexing asked her, turning sideways.

Wen Zhi nodded.

Shang Hexing went to place the order, but since he had never frequented such a place, he didn’t know where to start. Luckily, the sharp-eyed owner took a moment amidst his busyness to say, "The wall!"

Shang Hexing looked at the wall.

At that moment, Wen Zhi said, "I want to eat the wonton noodles."

Shang Hexing did not know what wonton noodles were but relayed Wen Zhi’s request to the owner, making sure to specify, "Clear broth."

The owner asked, "Take-out?"

Shang Hexing calmly said, "We’ll eat here."

The owner said, "Find your own seats."

Shang Hexing had already spotted a spot. He led Wen Zhi over and sat down. Wen Zhi asked him, "Aren’t you eating?"

Shang Hexing replied, "I ordered the same as you."

Wen Zhi was puzzled; she hadn’t heard Shang Hexing mention two orders.

She thought Shang Hexing was tricking her, but soon the owner brought over two bowls of wonton noodles, clear broth with no trace of chili oil and sprinkled with green onions.

"So this is wonton noodles," Shang Hexing finally understood.

Wen Zhi smiled broadly, "It’s half wontons and half noodles; smells delicious. This place must make good wonton noodles."

Having said this, she couldn’t wait to start eating.

Just then, Shang Hexing stood up, and Wen Zhi looked up to ask, "Where are you going?"

Shang Hexing took out his phone, "I’ll pay first." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Wen Zhi pulled him back to sit, "At this kind of noodle shop, you pay after you eat. Don’t rush, let’s eat first."

Shang Hexing said nothing, just nodded.

He also started eating, and immediately heard Wen Zhi ask him, "Is it good?"

He earnestly replied, "It tastes better than I expected."

Wen Zhi said, "You’ve never been to places like this; you’ve missed a lot of delicious food."

Shang Hexing asked, "Do you often come to places like this?"

Wen Zhi’s expression brightened, "When I was in college with Meng Fan, we often scouted places like this for noodle shops and stir-fry restaurants."

Shang Hexing’s eyes crinkled with a smile, "You should tell me more about your past."

"Of course," Wen Zhi happily agreed.

Mid-meal, she suddenly said to Shang Hexing, "I want some water."

Shang Hexing stood up, "I’ll get it for you."

Wen Zhi nodded obediently, "Okay."

Shang Hexing walked a few steps away, then suddenly turned back to look at Wen Zhi; she was smiling at him.

He said, "I’ll be right back."

Wen Zhi still nodded obediently.

Shang Hexing asked the lady owner where the kettle was, she pointed it out, and he took a clean bowl to fill it with warm water. When he turned around, Wen Zhi was no longer at the seat.

Shang Hexing’s expression instantly darkened, and he put down the bowl and went out.

The owner chased after him, "Hey! You haven’t paid for the noodles yet!"

Shang Hexing remembered that he was about to pay earlier but was stopped by Wen Zhi... He had been careless.