Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

"Could it be... that woman is you?"

Meng Fan asked tentatively.

At that moment, Wen Zhi’s expression said it all. She was feeling guilty, even afraid to meet Meng Fan’s eyes.

"No way! The gossip I heard is actually about my bestie!??" Meng Fan’s world collapsed for a mere three seconds, then immediately switched back to gossip mode, leaning in close and asking eagerly, "Who’s the guy?"

Wen Zhi hesitated, "He..."

Meng Fan felt she definitely wouldn’t get what she wanted to hear from Wen Zhi, so she started guessing herself, "It can’t be Liang Yin, right?"

Wen Zhi: "...!"

Meng Fan interpreted Wen Zhi’s expression at that moment as, "Did you two really hook up?"

Before Wen Zhi could say anything, Meng Fan put up her thumbs, devilishly pressed them together, and wore a lewd expression that Wen Zhi didn’t even want to describe, "Did he corner you for a kiss?"

Wen Zhi’s expression was indescribable.

"Damn! Liang Yin that jerk, to succeed so quickly, it’s just too easy for him." Meng Fan felt outraged on Wen Zhi’s behalf, "He used to ignore you, and now when he finally looks into his heart and wants to win you back, you should make him wait, test him, let him taste the flavor of being kept at arm’s length. You’re just too soft-hearted, he advances and you surrender."

First impressions.

Coupled with Wen Zhi’s lack of outright denial, Meng Fan was even more convinced that the man who cornered Wen Zhi behind the greenery in the smoking area was Liang Yin!

Wen Zhi felt if she didn’t clarify things soon, Meng Fan might really believe she had started dating Liang Yin.

She was about to speak when Liang Yin’s voice came from behind—

"So you’re here."

Wen Zhi turned to look at the approaching Liang Yin, "Were you looking for us?"

Standing before Wen Zhi, Liang Yin casually had one hand in his pocket, "To be precise, I was looking for you."

"My my my, who cares." Meng Fan threw a cold look at Liang Yin, "I have a husband to find."

Liang Yin looked around very seriously, "Then why don’t I see your husband coming for you?"

Meng Fan answered him just as seriously, "My husband doesn’t cling."

Liang Yin wanted to say something else, but Wen Zhi cut off their banter, "All right, all right, you’re not hungry, I am. Let’s go upstairs."

After saying that, Wen Zhi took the lead.

Liang Yin made to follow, but Meng Fan elbowed him out of the way, "You’re blocking the way."

Liang Yin: "You—"

"What about me," Meng Fan turned and glared fiercely at Liang Yin, "There’s a process to everything, a gradual progression, you know? Our Zhizhi is soft-hearted and easy to talk to, but that’s no excuse for you to bully her!"

Liang Yin was confused, "Bully? When have I ever bullied her? Meng Fan, aren’t you being too unreasonable? Let’s talk sense here."

Meng Fan scoffed, "Women are inherently unreasonable."

With that, Meng Fan flicked her long, curly hair back and walked away with flair.

Liang Yin was left feeling somewhat amused yet frustrated, but when he recalled what Shang Hexing had said to him earlier, the smile faded from his face.

...

Standing on the second floor looking down, Wen Zhi noted that there were quite a few guests that evening, with arrangements for roughly six tables, an auspicious number.

Her gaze picked out Shang Hexing among the guests. He was surrounded by elders, all spouting words of high praise for him.

He responded with an air of breezy confidence, his dashing appearance and restrained aura drawing the admiring glances of many young ladies.

"Don’t look anymore, Liang Yin has already come up," Meng Fan’s reminder came from beside her.

However, Wen Zhi was mesmerized by the silhouette of Shang Hexing, her mind filled with the image of him enveloping her in his embrace. She replied casually, "Got it."

Meng Fan sensed something was off, "Aren’t you watching Liang Yin?"

Wen Zhi, without blinking, kept her gaze fixed in the direction downstairs, "I never said I was watching Liang Yin."

Meng Fan turned Wen Zhi’s face toward her, "Then who are you watching?"

Although she turned Wen Zhi’s face, her eyes still looked downstairs. Meng Fan had to let go and followed Wen Zhi’s gaze, curious to discover the truth.

Upon looking, she suddenly paused.

Wen Zhi paused as well.

"Eh, isn’t that Xie Weiyue?" Meng Fan spoke first.

While speaking, Meng Fan quickly nudged Wen Zhi’s arm, pointing in the direction and reminding her, "Zhizhi, look, that person is Xie Weiyue; she’s actually come to Lin City to attend Tan Lao’s birthday banquet."

Wen Zhi saw her, and Xie Weiyue was dressed to the nines tonight, looking extraordinarily bright and luxurious.

In a light golden strapless gown, her hair piled high, revealing a fair and slender swan neck, she was spirited yet enchanting, and her every smile was especially captivating.

With Xie Weiyue’s appearance, guests downstairs frequently cast admiring glances her way.

"She is very beautiful," Wen Zhi commented, watching the elegant figure downstairs.

Meng Fan, however, said, "She is beautiful, but not as beautiful as you, Zhizhi. You are the most beautiful one."

Wen Zhi’s mind flashed back to Shang Hexing’s compliment about her outfit tonight, he had said the same thing—very beautiful.

But tonight, Xie Weiyue looked even more beautiful.

It seemed Xie Weiyue had come for Shang Hexing as she walked straight towards him under the moonlike gaze of all the stars around her.

At that moment, Shang Hexing turned to look at Xie Weiyue.

They made eye contact, appearing to greet each other, and then laughed and talked. Xie Weiyue’s face was especially bright when she smiled, and as they conversed, her hand casually rested on Shang Hexing’s arm, which he did not avoid.

They made a handsome couple, pleasing to the eye and well-matched, and they could freely engage in physical contact under everyone’s gaze.

Those who witnessed this scene could only think—what a perfect match.

Even Wen Zhi thought, "They are very well-matched."

Meng Fan only glanced briefly and did not watch for long; it was only after hearing Wen Zhi’s comment that she looked again, asking, "Are you saying Uncle and Xie Weiyue are well-matched?"

Wen Zhi nodded, "Mhm."

Meng Fan was not fond of Xie Weiyue and shook her head, "So-so I guess. Can’t you tell? It’s all Xie Weiyue taking the initiative; Uncle is not accommodating her at all. He’s probably just staying out of politeness."

Outsiders actually couldn’t tell; Meng Fan was guessing based on intuition.

Wen Zhi shifted her gaze and said to Meng Fan, "Aren’t they considered an official couple?"

"Not by me," Meng Fan declared clearly. "I remember coming across a netizen’s analysis of facial expressions at some point. If you keep your schemes inside, you are ruthless; if they are written on your face, you are foolish. Xie Weiyue’s face, although it has schemes written all over it, never made me feel she is foolish. Dealing with her always makes me uncomfortable."

Meng Fan only confided these thoughts to Wen Zhi.

She wouldn’t dare to say them to anyone else; the Xie Family was not so easy to provoke.

Wen Zhi brought up, "I met Xie Weiyue not long ago."

Meng Fan remembered, "Oh, the thing at Jin Dynasty Hotel, right? You mentioned it."

The two were always sending WeChat messages or calling each other. Wen Zhi would tell Meng Fan about anything that happened either at Shang’s or outside.