Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Chapter 28: Loving Wife

Chapter 28: Loving Wife

Butterfly Cemetery was located in a secluded area, shrouded in a large expanse of greenery, making it cool and shady as sunlight could not penetrate.

Wen Zhi bought a bouquet of white roses and hobbled up the steps, with Shang Jing following behind her. He asked her several times if she needed support, but Wen Zhi refused each time.

Shang Jing thought she was too stubborn, “I could help you up in a few minutes, ensuring your safety; if you go up by yourself, it will take at least a dozen minutes, and with that leg injury of yours, which obviously affects your walking, if you are not careful and fall…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Wen Zhi stumble.

In an instant, Shang Jing’s heart leapt into his throat, but he quickly steadied her. Fortunately, it was just a slight falter, and Wen Zhi regained her balance.

“You gave me a scare,” Shang Jing said with a somewhat heavy tone.

Wen Zhi turned to Shang Jing and said, “Nothing will happen, I’ll be more careful.”

Shang Jing replied, “You better not let anything happen, because if you get hurt again, it would be difficult to explain to my mother when we get back.”

Wen Zhi shook her head at him, “Brother Shang Jing, it won’t happen.”

Shang Jing glanced at Wen Zhi and responded indifferently, “Oh.”

When they arrived in front of the grave.

Seeing the inscription on the tombstone, Shang Jing couldn’t help but read out loud, “The tomb of beloved wife Wen Yinxi.”

Wen Zhi said, “Wen Yinxi is my mother, I take my mother’s surname.”

Shang Jing nodded in understanding.

There were no black and white photos on the tombstone, only inscriptions.

The area around the grave was always kept clean by sweepers.

Wen Zhi knelt down, placed the white roses in front of the tombstone, and then spoke to the tombstone, “Mom, Zhizhi is here to see you.”

Shang Jing stood by in silence, watching.

He had thought Wen Zhi would say many words of longing to the tombstone, but after that one sentence, she remained silent.

Thinking his presence might be the reason Wen Zhi didn’t want to speak, Shang Jing discreetly moved away a bit.

Indeed, when he looked back from a distance, Wen Zhi had started talking to the tombstone in a low voice.

However, being too far to hear clearly, Shang Jing could only see a faint smile on Wen Zhi’s face.

Shang Jing did not go back to disturb her, nor did he rush her, waiting quietly for over half an hour. After that time, Wen Zhi walked towards him.

Shang Jing asked, “Are you done chatting with your mom?”

Wen Zhi paused for a moment.

Shang Jing said, “It looked like you two were having a good chat.”

Wen Zhi smiled and her tone lit up, “Yeah, I told her lots of things. She always used to say I was such a chatterbox. I was afraid of going on and on and annoying her.”

“It doesn’t seem like it,” Shang Jing suddenly said something seemingly out of nowhere.

Wen Zhi, puzzled, asked, “Doesn’t seem like what?”

Shang Jing replied, “It doesn’t seem like you used to talk a lot.”

Because the current Wen Zhi was exceptionally silent and reserved.

For instance, on the way there, if Shang Jing did not speak, she would not utter a word, remaining completely quiet as if she did not exist.

However, Shang Jing could understand; having such a family background, it would be strange for her to be cheerful.

The shallow smile on Wen Zhi’s lips faded a little, “We should go, it’s time to head back.”

Shang Jing once again asked her, “Do you need my help?”

Wen Zhi shook her head, “No, I can manage on my own.”

Shang Jing said, “You might not talk much, but you are very stubborn.”

Was she that stubborn?

She was simply trying to keep her distance from him, that’s all.

As they descended from Butterfly Cemetery, it was nearing midday.

Shang Jing voluntarily opened the passenger door for Wen Zhi, and as she bent to get into the car, he mentioned without any apparent reason, “Your mother’s tombstone, it looks like it was erected by your father.”

Wen Zhi’s action of getting into the car paused, and she turned to look at Shang Jing.

Her glasses reflected a cold light, and there was a noticeable change in her aura.

Shang Jing’s expression turned complex as he looked straight into Wen Zhi’s eyes through the lenses, “Moreover, I noticed another detail. The inscription on the tombstone didn’t read ‘late wife’ or ‘former wife,’ but ‘beloved wife.’

Most people wouldn’t notice this.

Shang Jing was attentive. After unconsciously reading the inscription on the tombstone, he had silently memorized it.

Later, he gave it some serious thought. How could a man who remarried less than a month after his wife’s death inscribe ‘beloved wife’ on the tombstone?

Did he still love her?

It was truly inconceivable.

“You don’t need to find it strange,” Wen Zhi said casually to Shang Jing, “because I was the one who erected the tombstone.”

Shang Jing said, “But the person who erected the tombstone isn’t listed under your name.”

Wen Zhi replied, “The name of the person who erects the tombstone doesn’t necessarily have to be the person themselves. My mother deeply loved my father, and I wanted to make her happy, so I took the liberty of writing ‘beloved wife.’

Seeing that Wen Zhi was not in a good mood, Shang Jing immediately dropped the subject, “I was just asking. I won’t bring it up again, sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Wen Zhi replied indifferently, then bent down to get into the car.

Shang Jing closed the car door and ruefully touched the tip of his nose, realizing he had been a bit too talkative today.

On the way back, Shang Jing received a phone call.

He immediately pulled over to the side of the road and asked with a grave expression, “Are you sure she’s there?”

The person on the other end of the call was very certain, “Second Young Master, I’m sure she’s there; I saw her go in with my own eyes.”

Shang Jing inquired, “Do you know who she’s meeting?”

The person on the phone mentioned a name, and Shang Jing’s face immediately darkened, “I’ll be right over… No, that won’t do, I’m still in the countryside, too far away. Even if I rush back, it’ll take me an hour at least.”

The person on the other end said, “Second Young Master, even if you come back now, you won’t be able to see her. Have you forgotten? You need to make a reservation three days in advance to enter Baixi Manor; otherwise, no one can get in.”

Shang Jing fell silent.

How could he have forgotten? It was Baixi Manor!

Bai City’s most elite private estate was not a place ordinary people could enter. Entry required membership and a reservation made three days in advance, and even then, the chance of a successful reservation was slim due to screening. Some people with sensitive identities were not allowed in, nor were those who had caused trouble; in short, the restrictions were very strict.

After hanging up the phone, Shang Jing appeared rather dejected.

Wen Zhi asked, “Is something the matter?”

Shang Jing didn’t want to elaborate and shook his head, “It’s nothing.”

Wen Zhi pursed her lips, “You can talk to me about it.”

“What’s the use of telling you? You can’t solve it,” Shang Jing said, then realizing his tone was a bit harsh.

This was not Wen Zhi’s concern; she was just asking out of care for him. There was no need to display his frustration in front of her.

“Sorry, I’m just a bit upset right now,” Shang Jing said. “I’m looking for a key witness who can incriminate my uncle. If she doesn’t appear before the trial, my uncle will be convicted, so I need to find her and clarify some things.”

Wen Zhi asked, “Where is she now?”

Without much thought, Shang Jing blurted out, “Baixi Manor.”

Being from Bai City, Shang Jing assumed Wen Zhi would have heard of this manor.

“Baixi Manor isn’t an ordinary estate; it has a high barrier of entry. You need to make a reservation three days in advance and go through all sorts of screening before you can get in,” Shang Jing said, his face turning sour, “Who is she, really? And these three days… how can I know when she’ll go again, let alone when she’ll come out?”

Yesterday, a woman was taken away and he was left empty-handed.

Today, another woman had gone to Baixi Manor, making her even harder to meet.

Wen Zhi, seeing Shang Jing’s distressed face, said after a moment of silence, “Just give it a try.”

Shang Jing was taken aback, turning to look at Wen Zhi, “Try what?”

Wen Zhi gave a faint smile, “Maybe if you go, they’ll let you in without a reservation.”

“It seems you don’t know much about Baixi Manor,” Shang Jing said, not mocking Wen Zhi for her ignorance.

Wen Zhi casually said, “But what if it’s possible?”

Shang Jing scoffed, “Do you think Baixi Manor is your own house, where you can just say ‘let me in’ and they’ll obey?”

Wen Zhi fell silent.

He was right, perhaps.