Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

"Inside is fine," Shang Hexing said.

Wen Zhi raised an eyebrow, "Why is it not okay outside?"

His explanation was logical, "If we’re outside and I still call you Miss Wen, who would know we’re married?"

Wen Zhi’s eyes rolled animatedly and she suddenly let out a snort of laughter, "What’s there to worry about? You’re overthinking it."

"With a wife as beautiful as you, I can’t help but worry. Besides, there are so many young talents out there. What if nobody knew you were married and they all pursued you?" At this moment, Shang Hexing’s jealousy reached its peak.

Wen Zhi’s eyes nearly rolled to the ceiling, "I’m already yours and yet you fear losing me."

Shang Hexing suddenly became serious, "I’ve always been like this. After all, I’m several years older than you. It’s normal for me to feel threatened given all the young and talented guys out there."

Wen Zhi was speechless.

Forget it, there’s no reasoning with this vinegar pot.

She nudged him with her knee, urging him to get going, "If you don’t go down soon, Chen Jinhai will come up and call for you."

"It’s not a delay," he said.

"Go on, go on, all the guests at the end of the year are from outside, Chen Jinhai wouldn’t dare to rush you, but your colleagues must be getting anxious." Shang Hexing was in no hurry, but Wen Zhi was clear-headed, urging him to hurry out the door.

Without any rush, Shang Hexing stole another kiss from Wen Zhi before finally picking up his coat and exiting the bedroom.

After Shang Hexing left, Wen Zhi wrapped herself in the blanket and lay in bed a while longer. Recently, she had been eating plainly to lose weight for the wedding, which left her with little energy and no desire to get out of bed.

When the servant brought breakfast to the bedroom upstairs, Wen Zhi, with her light appetite, only took a few bites before asking the servant to take it away.

She lay back in bed and turned on her phone again, the screen still on the comments section she was looking at before.

She casually scrolled down, amused by the various rainbow farts and declarations of love.

"Let me spill some tea about this lady, 1: Doesn’t listen to advice, always rushing to marry me, 2: Rude, ignoring everyone except me, 3: Rough, hugs me tightly every day."

"Actually, I think you resemble someone, not trying to stir up trouble, just genuinely finding you familiar, I mustered a lot of courage to say this fearing online backlash, I feel like you’re my master."

Wen Zhi burst out laughing.

There were many more comments like this, amusing Wen Zhi so much that she almost gave out a marmot-like squeal under the covers.

-

The second day of the new year.

Xiaoxue.

Accompanied by Shang Hexing, Wen Zhi went to Butterfly Cemetery to pay respects to her parents.

Because the snow that had fallen in the wee hours hadn’t melted, and it began to snow lightly again after nine o’clock, the pine trees in the Butterfly Cemetery were laden with thick layers of snow.

The cemetery staff had dispatched several people early in the morning to clear away the snow, and by nine o’clock, they had managed to clear the stairs that ran through the entire cemetery.

"They’ve just cleared the snow off the stairs, walk slowly," Shang Hexing said while reminding her, not forgetting to hold Wen Zhi’s gloved hand tightly, the other holding an umbrella.

Wen Zhi held a white rose in one hand and let Shang Hexing lead her by the other, obediently following at his side and murmured back to him, "I know."

Wen Zhi had always come here alone in the past, but today’s visit held a different significance with Shang Hexing by her side.

As always, each time Wen Zhi visited, she would talk to her parents for a long time, discussing everything big and small—from the upcoming wedding preparations to what she had for breakfast that day.

Shang Hexing stood quietly by her side holding the umbrella, only helping Wen Zhi stand up after she finished speaking all she wanted to say and was ready to leave.

Perhaps from sitting too long, her vision went blank for a few seconds as she stood up, and she also felt a bit dizzy. Wen Zhi thought it was normal after sitting for a while and didn’t pay much attention to it; once steady, she slowly pulled her hand back.

She said, "Let’s go back."

Shang Hexing noticed Wen Zhi’s complexion was paler than when they had arrived and tucked in the scarf around her neck, "Are you cold?"

Wen Zhi shook her head, "Not cold, just that my legs are numb from sitting so long."

Hearing this, Shang Hexing bent down to rub Wen Zhi’s knees and calves.

Wen Zhi felt a warmth in her heart, her earlier discomfort quickly fading.

After she felt slightly better from the numbness, she heard Shang Hexing say, "I’ll say a few words to mom and dad, wait for me over there, I’ll be quick."

After saying this, he handed the umbrella to Wen Zhi.

Wen Zhi took the umbrella, her lips curving into a smile as she agreed, "Okay."

She walked slowly toward the stairs holding the umbrella, then stood there waiting for Shang Hexing to join her.

It wasn’t a great distance, but Wen Zhi couldn’t hear what Shang Hexing said to the tombstone; she could only see his determined profile and his lips moving.

After watching for a while, Wen Zhi felt dizzy once more.