Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Wen Zhi realized she had said too much and quickly shut her mouth.

However, the old master glanced at her, "You seemed quite bold with your thoughts, why did you stop talking?"

Wen Zhi’s face was a picture of embarrassment, "Please pretend I was just talking nonsense just now."

The old master saw right through her, "You seemed pretty sober to me just now."

Wen Zhi’s cheeks heated up with embarrassment, wishing the ground would split open and swallow her right up.

How muddled she was, to have talked about splurging money to be with Shang Hexing in front of the old master!

What nonsense she had blurted out.

"Enough, I will pretend I never heard what you said just now. You should also discard that thought, it’s useless."

The old master clearly noticed Wen Zhi’s embarrassment and dropped the topic.

Wen Zhi felt stifled in her heart, "Oh, I understand."

At that moment, the old master seemed to think of something and suddenly asked, "Do you remember how Chong Wanyin and Wen Yiwan died?"

Wen Zhi’s small face tensed slightly, her eyes full of confusion, "Wen Yiwan... who is that?"

The old master turned his head to look carefully at Wen Zhi’s face. Having read countless people, he could usually tell the difference between someone lying and someone telling the truth.

Convinced that Wen Zhi was not lying, the old master’s brow furrowed even more, "You said you’ve forgotten all the things from the past. You don’t even remember people from before, how did you get back together with Hexing?"

Wen Zhi nervously twiddled her fingers, "I... "

As Wen Zhi hemmed and hawed, the old master pressed on, "Then, do you remember your biological father?"

Wen Zhi shook her head, "I don’t remember."

She didn’t remember anything.

After hearing Wen Zhi’s reply, the old master showed an almost incredulous expression, "What a joke. You don’t even remember your own biological father, but you remember Hexing? Are you saying a man who’s not even married to you is more important than your own biological father?"

In an instant, Wen Zhi’s eyes reddened. She shook her head, feeling wronged, "It’s not like what you’re saying. In these past months, I haven’t seen my father, and nobody has told me anything about him or my family. I haven’t even seen a photo of them, let alone have their contact information. I only met Shang Hexing again not long ago. I felt a kinship with him at first sight. I’m not lying; all of this is true..."

Toward the end of her words, the tears in Wen Zhi’s eyes fell.

Seeing Wen Zhi cry, the old master got flustered and quickly said, "Don’t cry, I didn’t say anything."

Wen Zhi pouted in grievance, "You did say it. You said I could remember Shang Hexing but not my own father. It’s not that I don’t want to remember."

"All right, all right, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have spoken without fully understanding your situation," the old master was at a loss.

Wen Zhi’s crying had softened his heart, and he regretted speaking to her that way.

In his life full of military campaigns, there were few things he regretted to such an extent.

Wen Zhi was an exception!

"So, you met Hexing again after a few months, and it was during his trip to the sea city?" The old master didn’t want to ask any further, but his curiosity got the better of him.

Wen Zhi nodded, "Yes."

The old master let out a laugh, "The sea city is such a huge place. How coincidental that you ran into each other again?"

Wen Zhi hung her head, "Maybe... that’s fate."

Fate is indeed mysterious.

Perhaps Shang Hexing didn’t expect to meet Wen Zhi again in the sea city when he went there.

It was all destined.

"What fate, no fate. Talking about fate, that was in the past. Your generation doesn’t have any fate to speak of," the old master bluntly threw cold water on the idea.

Wen Zhi didn’t argue, because she knew the old master didn’t care for her and such remarks were meant to discourage her.

"Let it be, you don’t remember the past, so let’s not talk about it. You can tell us when you remember," the old master said, feeling guilty as he prepared to leave.

Wen Zhi stood still, silently wiping away her tears. The feeling of grievance in her heart hadn’t dissipated, and the tears kept flowing, blurring her face with streaks.

-

"Hexing, what brings you here!"

The old master’s voice suddenly came through, causing Wen Zhi’s heart to skip a beat as she abruptly looked up.

She saw Shang Hexing walking over with Han Yu by his side.

"Why is Grandfather here?" Shang Hexing asked as he approached.

His expression was impassive, but his hurried steps belied his current mood.

Seeing this, the old master was displeased, his tone also not so friendly, "I came to see the peacocks your grandmother is raising."

Though Shang Hexing had stopped in front of his grandfather, his gaze was on Wen Zhi, his concern and worry apparent in his eyes. It was just that at the moment, Wen Zhi had turned to the side, afraid that Shang Hexing would see her crying and cause more misunderstandings.

"To see the peacocks? Grandfather has indeed found a good spot," Shang Hexing retracted his gaze, the double entendre clear.

The old master could not miss the implication in his grandson’s words, and with a deep humph, said, "Enough, don’t insinuate anything about me. I may not care for her, but I wouldn’t do anything to her. Rest assured, not a single hair on her head is missing."

"Those are not my words, Grandfather," Shang Hexing replied, "I meant no other implication. I also am aware that you came to see the peacocks that Grandmother is raising."

The old master’s face darkened, but he could not get angry.

His grandson was offering no direct blame in his words, but each phrase seemed to remind him, lest he trouble the young girl.

He really was spoiled like a treasured darling.

"I’m tired from the journey. Xiaoyu, take me to rest," the old master said.

Shang Hexing signaled Han Yu with his eyes, who immediately got it and rushed to support the old master’s arm, "Eh, here we go, Great Grandfather, do watch your step."

The two left.

Shang Hexing walked over to Wen Zhi, turned her around to face him, "Let me take a look."

Wen Zhi kept her head down and refused to look up, "There’s nothing to see."

Shang Hexing stretched out his hand and lifted her chin, revealing the tear-streaked face.

"You’ve cried," his brows furrowed, his expression slightly somber, "Did Grandpa say something?"

"I didn’t scold her!"

Being helped to walk a few steps away, the old man suddenly heard Shang Hexing ask Wen Zhi this question, and he immediately stopped to turn around and clarify.

Han Yu tugged on the old man’s sleeve, "Great-grandfather, my uncle wasn’t talking about you."

"Who says it’s not, if I leave, wouldn’t that prove I’m guilty!" the old man turned his head and said, "I just chatted with her for a bit, about some past events, I didn’t scold her, Hexing if you don’t believe me, ask her."

Standing to the side, Han Yu watched in astonishment, thinking whether this was the same rigid old man he knew.

Great-grandfather was actually afraid of his uncle misunderstanding and even specifically clarified! This was indeed rare.

At this moment, Shang Hexing looked at Wen Zhi.

Her eyes were still wet, but fortunately, the tears had stopped.

She sniffled and explained in a muffled voice, "Great-grandfather didn’t scold me, we were just chatting, he asked me about some past things, I seemed to remember some, got a bit sentimental and cried."

Shang Hexing’s brows drew even tighter, "What did Grandpa ask you?"

Wen Zhi turned her head to look towards the old man.

The old man quickly said, "Just asked her about the past, she didn’t remember, so I didn’t continue asking."

Wen Zhi nodded, "It was just like Great-grandfather said, he didn’t ask any further."

Shang Hexing didn’t say anything, his current expressionless face made it hard for anyone to guess what he was thinking.

At this time, Wen Zhi reached out and gently pulled at the hem of Shang Hexing’s clothing, "Shang Hexing, let’s go back to the room."

He took her hand in response, "Okay."

A trace of brightness finally appeared on Wen Zhi’s face, but just then, she suddenly heard Shang Hexing say, "You shouldn’t call him Great-grandfather, you should call him Grandpa."

Wen Zhi’s face stiffened.

She had a flashback to not long ago, when the old man sternly reminded her to follow Han Yu in addressing him, forbidding her to call him Grandpa.

This scene replayed in her mind, prompting her to shake her head at Shang Hexing, "I can’t."

"Fine, fine, everything’s fine," the old man’s voice came through.

Wen Zhi quickly turned towards the old man, a look of surprise on her face.

Han Yu also looked shocked, wondering how the old man had changed his mind so quickly!

The old man didn’t explain further, only saying, "As for titles, you young people should call me whatever you think is appropriate, I don’t mind, I’m leaving now."

With those words, the old man didn’t linger any longer and left there with Han Yu.

Wen Zhi withdrew her gaze and said to Shang Hexing, "Great-grandfather... he..."

Shang Hexing deliberately corrected her, "You mean Grandpa."

Wen Zhi paused for two seconds, and under Shang Hexing’s watchful eyes, she changed ’Great-grandfather’ to ’Grandpa’, continuing, "Grandpa... he doesn’t allow me to call him that."

Shang Hexing said, "He allows you now."

Wen Zhi was slow to catch on, "When?"

Shang Hexing looked at her confused expression, his voice softening, "The words he said as he was leaving just now were his way of giving permission."

Wen Zhi let out an "Oh," then turned and walked away, muttering, "His lordship must have relented for your sake."

When he’s not around, it’s the same as ever.

Shang Hexing grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to his side, "You don’t have to take Grandpa’s words to heart."

Wen Zhi looked away, saying nothing to Shang Hexing, "I know."

"Wen Zhi," he called her softly.

Wen Zhi bowed her head even lower and replied in a muffled voice, "Hmm."

Shang Hexing gently asked her, "Do you feel burdened?"

Wen Zhi shook her head.

Shang Hexing said, "I’m sorry, it’s my fault for not handling these matters well, causing you unwarranted distress."

"It’s not about you, I’m just not good enough," Wen Zhi’s voice was nasal.

Just a second ago, her emotions were low, but then she suddenly looked up and said, "But I’m really rich!"

Shang Hexing was puzzled, "...Hmm?"

Wen Zhi’s mood instantly went back to normal, she patted her chest, "My family may not match up to yours, but we’re genuinely wealthy, really, as Nian Xun said, the money my father left me is enough to scare me to death."

Shang Hexing, seeing her suddenly lively appearance, couldn’t help but smile and nodded, "I believe you."

"Glad you believe," Wen Zhi turned but then sighed sadly, "I just don’t know how much it needs to be to actually scare me to death."

A few million always seemed too little.

Tens of millions were uncertain.

She didn’t dare think about billions, but that seemed unlikely to scare her to death.

Although she didn’t know, Shang Hexing behind her did.

Mu Yanzhou had struggled for a year, leaving Wen Zhi a fortune worth tens of billions.