Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

There was no one else around.

Wen Zhi halted in her tracks but did not turn around; she was hesitating. However, in the few seconds of her hesitation, the man had already walked up behind her.

A faint smell of fir mixed with the scent of tobacco enveloped her from behind, trapping her in a net-like embrace.

Wen Zhi’s body tensed slightly; she took a deep breath and slowly turned around, her gorgeous lips curving into a smile as she called out to him, "Mr. Shang."

Shang Hexing held a cigarette between his fingertips, his arm angled slightly back to keep the smoke from bothering her, and looked down as he said, "Very beautiful."

Wen Zhi’s apricot eyes sparkled, and she looked up at him with a smile, "Mr. Shang, you also look very handsome tonight."

Shang Hexing raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps it’s because you tied the tie well."

Was this his way of complimenting her for tying his tie that morning?

Wen Zhi lowered her head to hide the subtle emotion that suddenly surged within her.

At the same time, she noticed the cigarette between Shang Hexing’s fingertips; the ash had already burned down a bit.

She said, "You can smoke, I don’t mind."

Shang Hexing looked down at it, then walked a few steps aside and stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray on top of the trash can.

As he approached her again, his presence was refreshing; Wen Zhi’s gaze lingered on him and she asked, "Were you worried the smoke might choke me?"

Shang Hexing said, "Secondhand smoke is not good after all."

He was worried about the smoke choking her, but he was more concerned about her health.

Wen Zhi felt warm inside but she did not show it, instead casually asking him, "Mr. Shang, did you come alone tonight?"

Shang Hexing stared at her quietly for a moment before saying, "Otherwise? Like you, coming in pairs?"

Wen Zhi wasn’t choked by his smoke but was choked by his words, "I came because..."

Suddenly, Shang Hexing pressed closer to her, "Think of a good reason to convince me."

As Wen Zhi stepped back, she mustered up the courage to retort, "Why should I convince you? We have nothing... between... us..."

The last few words came out softer, because the moment she met his eyes, she inexplicably felt guilty.

She changed the subject, bringing up a previous moment, "Just now, Mr. Shang, you deliberately avoided suspicion."

Shang Hexing smiled and asked, "Where did I avoid suspicion?"

She said, "When I arrived with Liang Yin, I saw you, yet you avoided my gaze, even more than a stranger would."

Those strangers did not know her, yet they would still glance at her often.

But Shang Hexing, he simply ignored her.

At that moment, she truly started to feel an illusion, thinking that her recent interactions with Shang Hexing had been just a fantasy, a bubble.

It hadn’t really existed.

Shang Hexing continued to advance until she was backed up against the wall with nowhere else to retreat; only then did he stop.

He lifted his hand and lightly touched the Silver Hairpin in her hair, his tone mingled with a hint of amusement as he asked her, "You show up with other men, and you still expect me to look happy?"

Wen Zhi choked, "I..."

"Making excuses?"

"..."

So it wasn’t her illusion; Shang Hexing really was angry when he saw her walking next to Liang Yin?

Shang Hexing, giving in somewhat, said, "I don’t want a reason anymore, just give me any explanation."

Wen Zhi, seeing him so close, responded, "Any explanation?"

Shang Hexing softly hummed in affirmation, "Even if it’s a perfunctory one, I will believe it."

He was leaning too close, making Wen Zhi’s breathing somewhat disordered, "What do you want to hear?"

Shang Hexing’s hand remained in place as he gazed down at her face, a perfect blend of cold beauty and delicate appeal, "You know what I want to hear."

Wen Zhi was annoyed, "Mr. Shang, are you playing charades with me?"

Laugh lines appeared at the corners of Shang Hexing’s eyes, and he suddenly said, "The Silver Hairpin does not suit you."

Wen Zhi instinctively reached up to touch the Silver Hairpin at the back of her hair but accidentally brushed against Shang Hexing’s unwavering hand.

She flinched as if startled, but he caught her: "You should switch to a White Jade Hairpin, preferably one of mutton-fat jade, to match your skin tone."

Wen Zhi replied, "There isn’t one available, so the Silver Hairpin will have to do."

He slowly took down her hand but did not let go, and Wen Zhi did not intend to break free, merely watching quietly.

"In half a month, Christie’s will hold an auction in Haimarket, and I heard they have a White Jade Hairpin. I’ve asked someone to bid for it and give it to you."

Shang Hexing’s resounding, powerful voice fell into her ears, each word distinctly clear.

Wen Zhi’s face revealed uncontrollable surprise, "Give it to me?"

Shang Hexing replied, "Hmm."

"It’s too valuable." She refused.

He raised his other hand, removed the Silver Hairpin from her hair: "Don’t wear things that don’t suit you."

Wen Zhi stopped him from throwing away the Silver Hairpin, "It’s not like I don’t have a White Jade Hairpin, the Silver Hairpin is fine to look at."

"Accepted?" he asked with a smile.

Realizing what was happening, Wen Zhi opened her mouth, saw the thick amusement in his eyes, and let out a sigh, "It’s really too valuable, and it’s inappropriate too."

The items from Christie’s were frightfully expensive.

But Shang Hexing said, "There’s nothing inappropriate, only the more expensive things deserve you."

His tone, not much different from usual, yet at this moment to Wen Zhi, it was so enticing, making her heart race faster.

She switched the topic, stuttering, "You, you are a public official, where would you get so much spare money to bid at Christie’s?"

Shang Hexing couldn’t help but chuckle, "Do you think I’m poor?"

Wen Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Not poor, but you shouldn’t be very rich either."

His position required him to be upright and incorruptible, otherwise, he wouldn’t withstand scrutiny.

Shang Hexing asked her, "So you are worried that my money is not clean?"

Wen Zhi immediately shook her head, "I didn’t say that."

"Not much money," Shang Hexing looked at Wen Zhi, said, "But if it’s for supporting one person, it’s more than enough."

Wen Zhi blinked, her bright eyes reflecting his face.

When he said supporting one person, did he mean...

Just then, the sound of high heels approached, getting closer and closer.

Wen Zhi nervously pushed Shang Hexing, whispering, "Someone is coming, someone is coming."

"What are you afraid of?" he stepped back a little.

"No, no, no..." Wen Zhi knew very well that since her appearance tonight, she had attracted many sideways glances.

She had come with Liang Yin and couldn’t let people see her now entangled with Shang Hexing.

It’s indefinable.

The sound of high heels grew louder, and just as the person was about to turn the corner, Wen Zhi, extremely nervous thinking she would be seen, was pulled by Shang Hexing beside the greenery.

With a whirl of the world, she was pressed by Shang Hexing behind the greenery.

His tall figure shielded her from all angles that could reveal her face.

"Don’t speak," he whispered slightly bowing his head, reminding her.

Wen Zhi was very nervous, barely daring to breathe as the sound of high heels walked toward the restroom, nearly holding her breath in focus.

Shang Hexing watched her tense brows and eyes.

At the restroom entrance, Meng Fan paused briefly, glanced towards the smoking area’s greenery, as if a man and a woman were standing there.

As for what they were doing.

It was obviously a romantic affair.

Meng Fan stifled a laugh, careful not to laugh out loud and disturb the mood.

Later when she met Wen Zhi, she definitely had to gossip thoroughly about this scene!