Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

He fished out his phone from his pocket, dialed a number, and, fighting back tears, said, "Come pick me up, I want to go home."

Shang Hexing replied, unhurried, "Try it, see who dares take you from this grassland without my permission."

Han Yu’s phone dropped straight to the ground.

Wen Zhi kindly picked it up for him, "It’s okay, you might be more formidable than a sheepdog."

Han Yu glared at Shang Hexing and said, "Uncle, look, Aunt just insulted me by saying I’m more capable than a dog."

Wen Zhi’s mouth twitched.

Aunt?

She didn’t see that Shang Hexing, because of Han Yu’s recent mention of Aunt, seemed to have improved in complexion a bit.

"I’ll allow one sheepdog to help you," Shang Hexing slightly relented.

The desire to die vanished from Han Yu’s face as if spring had returned to withered wood, and he tried to push his luck by negotiating, "Uncle, Grandma’s two thousand sheep really are too many, with one more sheepdog I probably still can’t manage, usually it takes five sheepdogs working at the same time, maybe we could add one more sheepd—"

He hadn’t finished saying "sheepdog" when Shang Hexing cut him off briskly, "No bargaining."

Han Yu had no choice but to look at Wen Zhi, "Aunt, see, Uncle has no compassion, speak on my behalf."

Wen Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, "Don’t call me that, I’m not yet."

The last sentence she uttered very softly.

Han Yu declared with conviction, "You are, you must be, I, Han Yu, will only recognize you as my Aunt in this lifetime, no one else will do."

Wen Zhi: "..."

This repeated calling of Aunt almost had Wen Zhi bewildered.

She laughed, feeling quite embarrassed, and turned to tug at Shang Hexing’s sleeve. Seeing her hands were still very dirty, she withdrew them, murmuring softly, "Maybe we can add another sheepdog?"

"Yeah yeah yeah!" Han Yu bobbed his head vigorously like a pecking chicken, "If Grandma finds out I lost her sheep, she’ll kill me!"

Shang Hexing said indifferently, "Then we’ll do as your Aunt says."

Han Yu felt revived and began to think that if he kept sweet-talking, maybe he wouldn’t have to herd sheep at all!

Determined, Han Yu was ready to continue flattering Wen Zhi.

However, Shang Hexing had already seen through his intentions and promptly took Wen Zhi by the hand and left.

"Hey, cellphone, your cellphone, catch it." Wen Zhi didn’t forget to toss the phone to Han Yu as Shang Hexing pulled her away.

Han Yu caught the phone, his face downcast, "Can’t we just not herd? I don’t want to be better than a dog, and I really don’t want to end up worse than one..."

...

In Licheng, lunch is generally eaten at two in the afternoon.

Worried Wen Zhi wouldn’t be accustomed to the local flavors and food, after consulting with her, Chen Jinhai had the kitchen avoid preparing pilaf and flatbread as they normally would for lunch.

The other elder cousins were eating in another room.

The younger generation was here.

But the only younger family member present was Han Yu. The other younger cousins were still on their way. Since Wen Zhi was accompanying Shang Hexing, she was elevated in status, not counted among the younger generation, but Shang Hexing stayed with her here, worried she wouldn’t feel comfortable among too many people. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

As for Meng Fan, she didn’t come over at lunch.

Saying she had a headache and no appetite.

Concerned upon hearing this, Wen Zhi set down her chopsticks, wanting to check on Meng Fan, but Shang Hexing stopped her: "She’s resting, you finish your meal before going."

Wen Zhi asked, "Has the doctor seen her yet?"

Chiming in from the other end of the table, Han Yu reassured, "Don’t worry, Aunt, the doctor looking after Meng Fan is from the medical team Uncle especially hired for Grandma."

Hearing what Han Yu said, Wen Zhi was somewhat relieved, but not completely.

Right then, a hand rested on the back of hers. She cast a sideways glance, noting the long, well-defined knuckles, then lifted her head to look at Shang Hexing beside her.

He understood her worries. "There’s nothing seriously wrong with Meng Fan’s health, it’s most likely a headache caused by the change in environment."

Wen Zhi brought up again, "I remember on the way here, Meng Fan said that the moment she closes her eyes, all sorts of jumbled images flood her mind, and those images make her very uncomfortable."

She’d even mentioned Huaishen.

Wen Zhi knew of this person; she’d seen him at the Peace Hotel. He was Meng Fan’s husband.

However, it seemed their relationship varied between good and not so good at times.

Wen Zhi wished she could instantly recall everything about Meng Fan, feeling that if she had her memories, she should know something.

"Don’t overthink it," Shang Hexing noticed her dilemma, "If you’re curious about anything, you can ask her later when you see her after the meal."

"Okay."

Encouraged by Shang Hexing, Wen Zhi decided to pay Meng Fan a visit after finishing her meal to see what she could learn.

No one mentioned the old lady’s health during the meal, and Wen Zhi was sensible enough not to ask.

After the meal, with Chen Jinhai guiding her, Wen Zhi went to another building called the Red Mansion to see Meng Fan.