Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Chapter 46: Breaking the Precepts

Chapter 46: Breaking the Precepts

Wen Zhi wanted to pretend to have amnesia.

To act as if nothing had happened today.

But how could Shang Hexing not see through such a petty trick? He sat down at the edge of the bed, and Wen Zhi felt the bed dip, her spine instantly stiffened, and she dared not move an inch.

“Wen Zhi, get up and let’s talk.”

Wen Zhi felt a searing gaze on the back of her neck.

She held her breath, the vast bedroom so quiet you could hear a pin drop, the slight rustle of clothing magnified, as if it were approaching her…

Wen Zhi suddenly turned over and sat up, clutching the blanket to her chest, a look of panic and defense on her face.

In fact, Shang Hexing had not approached; it was just that Wen Zhi’s nerves were too tense, mistaking that faint sound for the sound of him coming closer.

At that moment, the panic on her face was fully visible to Shang Hexing. He pretended to think she was still out of sorts and asked her, “Do you remember what happened in the car?”

Wen Zhi shook her head instinctively: “I forgot.”

Shang Hexing gave her a deep look: “Then what’s the meaning of this ‘on guard’ act?”

Wen Zhi swallowed, and as she became more anxious, she blurted out a confusing explanation: “I just… zoned out, thought I was still at Donglou.”

The scene still haunted her.

Had she been a step later, given Boss Hu’s size, she surely wouldn’t have escaped today.

Initially, she wanted to ask Gu Rang to take her to the hospital, but now she thought about it, she couldn’t let Gu Rang know—not that she doubted him, but she feared he would go mad.

Seeing Wen Zhi’s small face turn pale after losing its flush, Shang Hexing braced his palm against the bed and softened his tone slightly: “Do you recognize me now?”

Wen Zhi held her breath.

Shang Hexing observed her reaction: “Still don’t recognize me?”

“Mr. Shang,” she whispered, lowering her eyelids, trying hard to hide the embarrassment.

He chuckled nonchalantly: “You recognize me but forget only what happened in the car; selective amnesia?”

“No, not at all, I…” She became so flustered that her words came out in stammers.

The truth was she didn’t want to mention it, but he insisted, almost making her defenses crumble, she almost knelt before him, begging him to drop it.

Although she was bold in her dreams the past few days, those were just dreams. The things that happened in reality, which she truly experienced, were what mattered. On the car, he helped her when she was not fully conscious, but she remembered that it was her pleading, and now that she was sober, she wished there was a crack in the bed for her to crawl into.

Shang Hexing looked at Wen Zhi’s face, red as if it were bleeding, his heart stirred lightly, aware that she was easily teased, so he changed the subject: “Tell me what happened.”

He had already called Chen Jinhai to investigate while washing his hands in the bathroom just now. Now that Chen Jinhai hadn’t arrived yet, the situation might be more complicated.

“My head feels a bit muddled, I can’t recount the events clearly, I might need some more rest,” Wen Zhi said, wrapping herself up in the blanket.

Shang Hexing asked: “Is there something unspeakable?”

Wen Zhi shook her head.

Shang Hexing’s eyes narrowed slightly: “Did Liang Yin do this? Are you afraid that if you speak up, he’ll bear criminal responsibility and you don’t want to ruin him?”

“No, it has nothing to do with Liang Yin,” Wen Zhi was startled.

She kept silent because it involved her family affairs, not expecting Shang Hexing to misunderstand and nearly pin a crime on Liang Yin.

“Then why were you taken away by Liang Yin?” He was determined to get to the bottom of it.

He wanted her to say it herself.

Wen Zhi explained: “I ran into Liang Yin after escaping Donglou, not knowing how long the effects of the incense would last, going to the hospital was the only way to ensure my safety, so I asked Liang Yin to take me there.”

She believed her explanation was quite clear.

Yet to the man, it didn’t sound right, especially the part about ensuring her own safety.

How could she ensure her safety in such a situation?

“So you thought it was safer to go with Liang Yin? Don’t you know…” He trailed off, Shang Hexing’s brows furrowed.

Wen Zhi asked him blankly, “Know what?”

Shang Hexing didn’t make a sound; his thick gaze fixed on her.

— Do you have any idea how tempting you looked at that moment?

But those words were not suitable to come from his mouth.

Wen Zhi didn’t hear the man speak again, so she took the initiative to ask, “Did Mr. Shang forcefully take me away from Liang Yin’s side because he mistakenly thought that my condition was arranged by Liang Yin?”

Shang Hexing raised his eyebrows but didn’t deny it.

In a moment of urgency, one tends to subconsciously trust the first scene they behold. He indeed thought that Wen Zhi’s appearance was Liang Yin’s doing, believing Liang Yin harbored improper thoughts towards her, and that’s why he rushed over to take her away without a second thought.

All because he feared she might have been bullied by Liang Yin.

He swallowed these words back and stood up, instructing her, “Rest well, Bei Sheng will bring you some clothes later.”

Seeing Shang Hexing about to leave, Wen Zhi thought he didn’t believe her explanation and was worried he would trouble Liang Yin, so she raised her voice and said, “Mr. Shang! My encounter with Liang Yin was purely coincidental, and he had nothing to do with the incense incident—really, it had nothing to do with him.”

She anxiously repeated herself.

Shang Hexing paused in his steps and turned to look at her.

That kind of look, for a long time afterward, lingered in Wen Zhi’s mind and wouldn’t leave.

Sharp, blazing, like an abyss without a bottom, it sent shivers down one’s spine.

“When you sought help from Liang Yin, did you trust him a lot?” he asked this way.

Wen Zhi didn’t respond immediately and didn’t answer, just staring blankly at him.

“Forget it.” He retracted his aura and turned to leave.

The door closed.

Wen Zhi felt like she had been granted amnesty, her chest heaving with relief, and it took her a long time to recover.

She lay down slowly, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, today’s events replaying in her mind like a fleeting glimpse—ending with the scene in the car. Wen Zhi closed her eyes and let out a helpless sigh, “The less I want to be involved, the more our paths cross…”

Close to eleven o’clock, there was a knock at the door.

Wearing a bathrobe, Wen Zhi went to open the door, having just taken a bath.

Standing outside was Bei Sheng, she held up the bag in her hand and winked at Wen Zhi, “I brought you some clothes.”

Wen Zhi took them with both hands, “Thank you, Sister Bei Sheng.”

Bei Sheng’s mouth curved into a smile, “Is it convenient now? I’d like to come in and sit.”

“Sure.” Wen Zhi smiled softly.

She turned around with the bag of clothes to go back inside, and Bei Sheng followed, saying, “I already know about your situation.”

Wen Zhi paused in her steps.

Bei Sheng circled to Wen Zhi’s side, her teasing smile unabated, “He broke his own rules this time, even stopping Liang’s car for you.”

Wen Zhi turned to Bei Sheng and said, “I’m staying at the Shang residence now. If anything happened, my family would definitely hold the Shang family accountable. Mr. Shang’s gesture was a small effort to avoid giving the Shang family these troubles.”

Bei Sheng suddenly leaned in close to Wen Zhi.

Wen Zhi moved her head back; she had already gotten used to Bei Sheng’s unexpected behavior, thankful that this time she wasn’t startled.

Bei Sheng looked straight into Wen Zhi’s eyes, “You’re very good at finding reasons.”

Wen Zhi didn’t flinch, “I’m only stating the facts.”

Bei Sheng stood up straight, her lips curling into a smile, “Your reason is to disassociate yourself, not to harbor any fantasy, like thinking he did it for you…”

Before she could finish, Wen Zhi interrupted, “It has nothing to do with me, Mr. Shang is thinking of the bigger picture.”

Bei Sheng’s eyes reflected a complex emotion, “You’re really stubborn, but from now on, you might as well consider yourself his nemesis.”