Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Meng Fan asked impatiently, "What else?"

The old lady did not speak, but her expression was intriguing.

At this moment, Huaishen too was looking at the elderly person on the bed. He always felt that the old person had given him a complex look just now, a kind that was indescribable and ambiguous.

Was it disdain?

It seemed not.

Or perhaps it was somewhere between disdain and fondness.

It was also possible that today was not the first time the old lady had met him in person.

If she had met him before, he had absolutely no recollection of it! Nor did he understand why.

"Never mind, let’s not talk about that," the old lady said, seeing how close the two of them were now. She decided to retract her words and change the subject, "I heard you two aren’t planning on having kids yet?"

Meng Fan was startled.

The conversation took a sharp 180-degree turn to the topic of having children, something she internally rejected.

But to her surprise, Huaishen behind her actually responded directly to the question, "Great-grandmother, Meng Fan and I are trying for a baby. If all goes well, you might meet him next year."

Meng Fan swiftly turned her head.

Huaishen disregarded Meng Fan’s looking over, his eyes twinkling with a hidden smile.

Meng Fan bit her lip, "You..."

It was then Huaishen turned to her, "Indeed, it’s my fault. I was completely focused on my career before. Now that things at the company have stabilized, it’s time we thought about having children."

The old lady couldn’t stop smiling, "That’s wonderful news."

Meng Fan chuckled dryly, turning back to the old lady, "Let nature take its course."

The old lady agreed, "The more natural it is, the easier it is to conceive. Trying for a baby is always the hardest part."

Huaishen added, "Great-grandmother is right."

As the old lady was fatigued and couldn’t talk for too long, Tajiguli came in, and Meng Fan and Huaishen had to leave.

But before they left, the old lady stopped Meng Fan and said, "My dear, no matter what happens from now on, remember to keep moving forward."

Meng Fan nodded, "I’ve noted all you’ve said, great-grandmother, and you too must take good care of yourself."

The old lady’s face was full of satisfaction, then she lay down with Tajiguli’s assistance.

A nurse came forward to check the old lady’s blood pressure. During this time, the drowsy old lady drifted off to sleep again, leaving the large room so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Meng Fan and Huaishen walked out together, neither of them speaking until they were far away. Unable to hold it in any longer, Meng Fan was the first to break the silence, "Huaishen, were you serious about what you said in front of great-grandmother?"

Huaishen stopped and said, "I was serious."

Meng Fan, "You didn’t even ask me which sentence."

Huaishen glanced at her, "I knew you would bring it up, and I was waiting for you to start."

"What if I hadn’t asked?" Meng Fan hated that this man always had the habit of controlling everything.

And she herself time and again disappointingly yielded to him.

Huaishen simply turned to face her, then spun her around to face him, "I’m sorry for not consulting you beforehand. So, what do you think now?"

Meng Fan fell silent.

What could she think?

How could she see it? She had initially thought it was just something he said offhand to placate the great-grandmother.

Whatever about trying for a baby, whatever about it being time to have children, it was all just him saying things off the cuff!

"I see it this way and that." She turned and walked away, not intending to waste any more time on this topic.

But she had only taken a few steps when she heard Huaishen from behind her, "Meng Fan, I’m serious this time."

Meng Fan paused mid-step.

Huaishen did not follow her, unsure whether Meng Fan might run away, and also afraid that forcing her to stay every time would only annoy her more and increase her resistance to his touch.

He just stood there watching Meng Fan’s back, "Let’s put the past behind us and start planning for a child, live our lives well together, okay?"

Meng Fan didn’t respond but didn’t leave either.

Huaishen waited a long time for Meng Fan’s answer and turn around, his face unable to hide his dismay.

It was then that Meng Fan suddenly turned and ran back to Huaishen.

She didn’t hesitate or tread lightly. As she flung her arms open, she tiptoed and then threw herself around his neck in a full embrace.

The unexpected hug knocked Huaishen back half a step.

He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist to stabilize himself, then heard her emphatically reply, "Okay."

As the word "okay" settled, Huaishen tightened his arms around Meng Fan’s waist.

Meng Fan cried, her lashes wet. She buried her face in his neck, "Huaishen, I’ve been waiting long for this moment. You have to mean what you say, I can’t take being deceived."

"I’m sorry, it was my fault for speaking too late," he said, feeling guilty.

"You knew it was late," her voice full of plaintiveness.

It had been three and a half years of marriage.

But for her, it was more than just three and a half years; she had liked him long before that, only he didn’t know and she wasn’t planning to tell him just yet.

"So, are we really going to try for a baby?" Meng Fan stepped back from his embrace to ask.

Having just cried, she was a bit shy, her earlobes pink.

Huaishen, "Do you think I was just talking?"

Meng Fan playfully pushed him, turning her head to hum, "But I wasn’t ready to have children with you so soon."

"Then let’s let it be natural." He didn’t say they must have children; it depended largely on her mood.

Meng Fan praised him, "You even consider my feelings. Well done."

Rong Huaishen took Meng Fan into his arms, then walked outside with her, "The weather is also very nice today, let’s go check out the grasslands."

"I want to ride a horse."

"Have you recovered?"

"I’m as lively as a dragon."

"We’ll see later, and if you must ride, then let’s ride together."

"I don’t want to. Riding the same horse is the most boring thing, and it’s not impressive when the horse runs."

Rong Huaishen couldn’t argue with Meng Fan, so he let her have her way.

Meanwhile.

Wen Zhi, Shang Hexing, and Han Yu were also on the grassland.

Han Yu rode horses across the grassland with a few of his cousins, filling the air with joyous shouts.

With his daring nature, Han Yu even flipped on horseback, causing Wen Zhi’s heart to pound; she quickly asked Shang Hexing, "Has he always been this reckless?"

Shang Hexing took his gaze back and replied, "I heard so."

Wen Zhi: "That’s terrifying."

Shang Hexing then put knee pads on Wen Zhi, "He may perform endless tricks on horseback, but he can only afford to slip up once. Don’t follow his example."

"..."

Inside, Wen Zhi thought, just watching Han Yu’s various stunts on horseback was enough to terrify her, let alone trying to emulate him.

After he put on her knee pads, Shang Hexing asked her to check by bending her knees to see if there was any discomfort.

Wen Zhi did as instructed, bending her knees repeatedly, then shook her head and said, "It feels fine, no issues."

Shang Hexing: "You can get on the horse now."

Next, under Shang Hexing’s overly protective care, Wen Zhi put on knee and elbow pads and then mounted the horse.

The reins were in Shang Hexing’s hands, and even though Wen Zhi reached for them, he didn’t hand them over and said, "I’ll lead the horse around slowly for a couple of laps until you’re used to it, then you can ride on your own."

Wen Zhi didn’t dare protest, only muttering quietly, "I got here on horseback though."

After saying that, she noticed Shang Hexing looking up at her, his stare conveying a clear message.

Wen Zhi sheepishly said, "I’ll listen to you."

Although she was anxious, she knew Shang Hexing was looking out for her. The horses on the grassland were different from the rental ones, including how docile they were.

Shang Hexing was concerned that Wen Zhi couldn’t handle them and wanted to prevent any accidents, so he had prepared all the safety measures and planned to lead the horse around a couple of laps before letting her ride alone.

After a couple of laps, Wen Zhi had adapted well, and Shang Hexing handed over the reins to her, "Proceed at a slow trot, and make sure to keep your distance from Han Yu and the others, stay away from them."

"I know already."

By then, Wen Zhi had already ridden the horse far away.

Shang Hexing was still worried, so he gestured for a herdsman to bring over another horse to follow her. He didn’t go himself because the situation with his grandmother was critical at any moment, and his grandfather might call for him anytime, so he needed to stay put.

Only when he saw the herdsman catch up did Shang Hexing feel somewhat reassured.

"Cousin!"

From not far away, Meng Fan hurried over.

Shang Hexing turned around, seeing the two approaching, and asked, "Are you also here to ride horses?"

Meng Fan nodded happily, "Yes, he’s accompanying me."

Shang Hexing’s gaze moved past Meng Fan to Rong Huaishen beside her, finally resting on their intertwined hands.

It seems they are in a good relationship.

Shang Hexing had nothing to worry about then, and simply told Rong Huaishen, "Take care of her, the horses here are wild and unpredictable."

Rong Huaishen nodded.

However, Meng Fan said, "Even the wildest horse, I can tame."

Shang Hexing warned with a solemn tone, "Don’t be careless."

Meng Fan immediately sobered up, "Oh, got it."

Soon after, a herdsman brought over two horses, Meng Fan chose her own, and the other one was for Rong Huaishen.

After Rong Huaishen and Meng Fan rode away, Shang Hexing took out his phone and made a call to Chen Jinhai.

Chen Jinhai had already returned to Bai City.

As there was only Xun An handling matters there and he was overwhelmed, Shang Hexing temporarily couldn’t return and thus had Chen Jinhai go back to Bai City.

"Has Rong Huaishen been to Harbor City in the past few months?" Once the call connected, Shang Hexing asked.

On the phone, Chen Jinhai replied, "Mr. Rong hasn’t been there; he did not attempt any approach, spending most of his time in Bai City after visiting two other provinces."

Shang Hexing looked towards the distant grassland, his eyes locking onto Wen Zhi’s figure, and continued, "How are the people in Harbor City behaving right now?"

"Quite well-behaved," said Chen Jinhai. "Shen Zhiyao mostly doesn’t leave her house much, and that Shen Zhilin, since getting out of the police station, hasn’t stirred much trouble either. Both are staying quiet in Harbor City."

Shang Hexing felt more certain, "Have our people continue to watch them."

After saying this, Shang Hexing was about to hang up when Chen Jinhai hurriedly added, "Wait a moment, Mr. Shang!"

His tone sounded particularly urgent.

Shang Hexing didn’t end the call, holding the phone and asking, "What’s the matter?"

"Actually, before you called me, I was about to call you myself, about something..." Chen Jinhai spoke.

Shang Hexing: "Speak."

Normally, Chen Jinhai reported matters efficiently, but this time he hesitated somewhat, "It’s about Miss Xie, she... she also went to Licheng."

Shang Hexing furrowed his brows.

Chen Jinhai hastily explained, "I advised her, but my words were of no use, and Miss Xie had the pretext of visiting the elderly lady... Calculating the time, she should arrive around eight o’clock tonight."