Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Chapter 60: For Her

Chapter 60: For Her

Shang Jing knew from the start that helping Wen Zhi wouldn’t be easy, but he hadn’t anticipated it would be this difficult. Just one look from Shang Hexing was enough to make him want to back down.

“Big brother, I…” Shang Jing hesitated for a few seconds, “I was just speaking off the cuff.”

Shang Hexing gestured for his secretary to leave, then turned to face Shang Jing. He repeated what Shang Jing had just said, turning it into a question:

“Just speaking off the cuff?”

Shang Jing suddenly fell silent.

His heart was in turmoil.

On one hand, he was afraid of his brother getting angry, and on the other, he owed Wen Zhi a favor, caught between a rock and a hard place.

“I gave you a chance to continue speaking,” Shang Hexing left him with those words and turned to leave.

Out of desperation, Shang Jing caught up to him. This time, he wasn’t hesitant, “Big brother, I want to take back that string of Buddha Beads from you.”

Shang Hexing paused slightly and looked at Shang Jing, “Is it for you, or someone else?”

“It’s for me, of course, it’s for me.”

Shang Jing extended his hand halfway, blocking Shang Hexing’s path, “Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few treasures and have also sent some your way. Honestly, I know you don’t think much of those treasures of mine, but those Buddha Beads managed to gain your appreciation. I’ve always been puzzled about that.”

Shang Hexing’s gaze was intensely oppressive, “So the reason you want them back is?”

“I want to study it, see what kind of allure it has that could gain my brother’s favor, so that I can send you more of the same kind in the future.”

This excuse was far-fetched.

And lame.

Even Shang Jing thought so himself.

Fortunately, Shang Hexing didn’t directly call him out but simply said, “All matters concern taste, even if you send me another one exactly the same, I might not like it.”

That was Shang Hexing’s stance, he made it very clear.

Shang Jing, however, looked distressed, “If I could find an even better string of beads, would you then do me this favor?”

Shang Hexing casually reminded him, “Shang Jing, remember to match your words when you talk to people.”

Shang Jing, belatedly realizing, “…”

Just a second ago, he claimed he wanted to study it, and now he was talking about doing a favor, his words not matching up. Shang Jing himself had forgotten all about logic.

But what could he do?

Wen Zhi insisted on having them back!

“There’s no sense in wanting something back after you’ve given it away…” Shang Jing couldn’t comprehend what Wen Zhi was thinking, scratching the back of his head, muttering to himself with a furrowed brow and a troubled look.

Even though he spoke softly, his words still reached Shang Hexing’s ears, “Are you talking about someone else, or yourself?”

“Saying…” Shang Jing lifted his head and quickly responded, “My-my-myself, talking about myself.”

At that moment, Shang Jing suddenly thought, what if he confessed the true origin of the Buddha Beads?

If his brother knew they belonged to Wen Zhi, he would certainly return them without a word!

It wouldn’t need to be so troublesome.

But once he told the truth, his brother would find out it was their mother who had secretly instigated this. Their relationship was already tense, and stirring things up would only make it worse.

While Shang Jing was hesitating, Shang Hexing gave in, “If you want them back, I can’t really say much, it’s just that I don’t carry the Buddha Beads with me. I’ll have Chen Jinhai deliver them to you later.”

After leaving those words behind, Shang Hexing turned and left.

Shang Jing was utterly dumbfounded; he had not expected his brother to relent so easily. He thought…

Watching as Shang Hexing walked away, Shang Jing called out, “Big brother, if I find a better string of beads in the future, I’ll make sure to send them to you first.”

The person was already far away.

Shang Jing got back into the car and immediately called Wen Zhi, “I’ll deliver the Buddha Beads to you tonight.” 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

“It doesn’t matter if it’s early or late today,” Wen Zhi would naturally not urge and simply replied with an “Okay.”

–

In the evening.

Chen Jinhai hurried back and handed a box to Shang Jing, “Second Young Master, here’s the item you requested. Please check to confirm there are no issues, so I can report back to Mr. Shang.”

Shang Jing took the box, glanced inside, then promptly closed it, “No problem, it’s the string of beads. I appreciate your effort, Chen Zhu.”

Chen Jinhai asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to check it again, more carefully?”

“There’s nothing much to check.” Shang Jing smiled, “When Chen Zhu personally delivers it, I have peace of mind.”

Chen Jinhai returned the smile, “Thank you for your trust in me, Second Young Master. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

After the handover, Chen Jinhai quickly left.

Shang Jing immediately went to find Wen Zhi with the box in hand.

As he entered the eastern wing of the old house’s backyard, Shang Jing looked at the many fruit trees that had sprung from the ground, surprised for a few seconds, but soon took it as nothing unusual.

“Shang Jing!”

From a distance, under a lychee tree, Wen Zhi was waving at Hexing.

It was already late, she had had dinner, and to wait for Hexing, she didn’t wash up, just eagerly standing there waiting.

The lamplight from the eaves shone down, casting a warm, hazy halo that made Wen Zhi under the tree look like a small sprite.

Shang Jing quickened his pace towards her but paused when he saw the scene, a flash of astonishment crossing his eyes.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“Not too long.”

Since Shang Jing walked over, Wen Zhi’s gaze had been fixed on the box in his hand. As he approached, she immediately reached for the box.

Shang Jing withdrew his hand, chuckled, and said, “What’s the rush?”

Wen Zhi was left grabbing at nothing, looking up at him; “May I have a look at it first?”

“What, you’re afraid I brought back a fake to fool you?” Shang Jing, though saying this, opened the box for Wen Zhi to see.

Her own belongings, Wen Zhi recognized them. After Wen Zhi examined them, Shang Jing asked her, “It’s the string of beads, right?”

Wen Zhi nodded, “It’s right, give it to me first.”

As she spoke and reached out, Shang Jing didn’t give it to her. Wen Zhi’s expression changed, but Shang Jing quickly said, “I didn’t mean anything by it; I just wanted to ask you why you need to retrieve these Buddha Beads?”

Wen Zhi pursed her lips, after a long pause, she said, “Shang Jing, brother, this is my private matter.”

The halo fell on Wen Zhi’s head, shoulders, and her exquisite nose bridge, creating a blurred vision in Shang Jing’s view that made him feel as if Wen Zhi was actually quite beautiful.

He shook his head and said to her, “I was just teasing you, don’t be mad.”

“I won’t.” Wen Zhi reached out, and Shang Jing gave her the box.

Finally back in her own hands, Wen Zhi took out the beads to look closely. Shang Jing smiled, his gaze sweeping around and remarked, “In just a few days, so many fruit trees have been transplanted to the backyard; big brother is something else.”

Wen Zhi paused, looking up at Shang Jing, “What do you mean?”

“You live right here, don’t you know?” Shang Jing was surprised by Wen Zhi’s reaction.

Wen Zhi, confused, “Know what?”

Shang Jing pointed out to Wen Zhi, “Those newly transplanted fruit trees over there, and these here, as well as the ones by your side, were all arranged by big brother to be transplanted.”

Wen Zhi’s demeanor remained unperturbed, “Why would Mr. Shang have so many fruit trees moved to the backyard?”

Shang Jing leaned in a bit closer to Wen Zhi and asked, “You really don’t know?”

Wen Zhi’s heartbeat raced, “No, I don’t know.”