Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

"This table sure is lively," came a teasing voice.

Wen Zhi looked up and met Liang Yin’s gaze. He smiled, asking her, "Did you win?"

Wen Zhi replied, "Won one game."

Liang Yin praised her, "You’ve got good luck."

Just as Wen Zhi was about to say that it wasn’t her luck, Huaishen stood up, causing everyone to look at him.

Huaishen scanned the room and finally settled his gaze on Liang Yin, "Mr. Liang is here, perfect to take my place. I’ll go rest."

Liang Yin didn’t stand on ceremony and threw Huaishen a line, "Thanks, Mr. Rong."

Huaishen nodded slightly and before leaving, his gaze returned to Meng Fan, reminding her, "Return to the villa by ten o’clock, don’t wander off after the game."

Meng Fan, impatient, "Alright, go on, I’m not a child anymore."

Huaishen’s brow furrowed at Meng Fan’s impatience, but ultimately he said nothing more. Buttoning his suit, he turned and walked away.

As soon as Huaishen left, Liang Yin took his place.

He casually picked up a card, his gaze shifting to the man beside Wen Zhi, "Second brother, why are you here? I just saw Xie Weiyue looking for you."

Wen Zhi turned to Shang Hexing, curious to see his reaction to hearing Xie Weiyue was looking for him.

However, Shang Hexing showed no reaction and instead reminded Wen Zhi, "Roll the dice."

Wen Zhi didn’t move, just quietly watched him.

Shang Hexing asked with a smile, "Why are you looking at me?"

Wen Zhi reminded him, "Mr. Liang said Miss Xie is looking for you."

Shang Hexing’s mood seemed to diminish, "I am not going."

Wen Zhi didn’t understand his implication and didn’t want to, so she turned her head and no longer paid him any attention, pressing the button to roll the dice.

Everyone reached out for their cards, and Meng Fan glanced at Liang Yin with a gossip-like inquiry, "Mr. Liang, how did you know Miss Xie was looking for my uncle?"

Liang Yin laid down a card, casually replying, "Just happened to come across her, if I knew earlier that Second Brother was here, I’d have clarified it to Miss Xie, so she wouldn’t have to look everywhere."

Meng Fan, "Ha, you’re quite kind."

Liang Yin smirked slyly, "Miss Xie is deeply infatuated with Second Brother. What’s wrong with helping her find her way? I’m just doing a good deed."

With that, Liang Yin threw out another card.

Wen Zhi directly claimed that card and then met his gaze, "Never saw you being so kind before."

Liang Yin sheepishly replied, "Few years of experiences, now I understand empathy better."

Wen Zhi didn’t respond and continued to play in silence.

Liang Yin had come late solely because he saw Shang Hexing here and had gone out of his way to find Xie Weiyue.

He couldn’t stand to see Shang Hexing monopolizing Wen Zhi.

And now, Xie Weiyue had arrived.

"Hexing."

Xie Weiyue, with her swaying steps, approached their table, standing beside Shang Hexing.

Liang Yin totally had the air of someone watching a good show; Wen Zhi seemed to be engaged in the game, but really, she was distracted by listening to their conversation. Meng Fan occasionally glanced at Xie Weiyue, while only the gentleman opposite was concentrated on the game.

Xie Weiyue stood beside Shang Hexing and said, "Hexing, so you are here, I’ve been looking everywhere for you."

Shang Hexing lifted his gaze, but his eyes did not wander upwards. He spoke in a distant manner, "What do you need?"

The intimacy was all on Xie Weiyue’s side, so even though Shang Hexing’s tone was cold, Xie Weiyue’s expression remained very natural, "Actually, Mrs. Tan wanted to have a chat with you; I am here on behalf of Mrs. Tan."

Shang Hexing nonchalantly replied, "I will go later, thanks to Miss Xie for personally coming to find me."

This distant attitude would make it difficult for most people to approach again.

But Xie Weiyue was no ordinary person. She had a very strong mindset and had long understood Shang Hexing’s temperament. There wasn’t a flicker of change in her expression, as if she wore a perfect mask, "Okay, I will let Mrs. Tan know."

Just as she was about to turn around, Xie Weiyue paused slightly, her gaze landing on Wen Zhi.

Just as Xie Weiyue was about to speak, Meng Fan called out to her before she could speak to Wen Zhi, "Xie Weiyue!"

Xie Weiyue turned her gaze in surprise, "Meng Fan?"

Meng Fan smiled, "I saw you earlier tonight, but you were always surrounded by many people, so I did not feel comfortable coming over to greet you."

"We’ve known each other for so many years, if I hear your voice, of course, I’ll respond," Xie Weiyue said, her gaze returning to Wen Zhi.

At that moment, Shang Hexing suddenly leaned forward, getting close behind Wen Zhi to remind her, "Kong."

He had come close several times, and Wen Zhi had grown accustomed to it, showing little reaction and adeptly laid down her tiles, then drew another.

In an instant, Wen Zhi’s eyes smiled brightly, and behind her, Shang Hexing announced, "Winning on a kong."

Slightly distracted, Meng Fan: "..."

Liang Yin was silent.

The gentleman across wore a look as if the sky had fallen, "I thought I was the only one playing seriously, but it turns out it was just me thinking so."

Wen Zhi’s laugh was light and clear, "Thanks for letting me."

Shang Hexing watched Wen Zhi with a doting gaze while laughing. Meng Fan could hardly believe her eyes, her uncle was looking at Wen Zhi with such gentleness.

Only Liang Yin grimaced, pushing the tiles forward, "Another round."

Wen Zhi, "Bring it on."

Xie Weiyue, standing to one side, did not try to call Wen Zhi again, but she also did not leave; she simply stood watching the mahjong game until its end.

In the following rounds, Wen Zhi played even more vigorously. When she couldn’t remember all the tiles, Shang Hexing kept track for her. The two of them coordinated flawlessly, making Liang Yin, who otherwise had good luck, trigger the win several times, leading him to start questioning his life.

Meng Fan was initially stubborn, then conceded, and finally, she just gave up.

After a few rounds, Wen Zhi had a pile of chips in front of her.

She was as happy as if in a festival, her smile never fading. Meng Fan was happy seeing Wen Zhi happy because it had been a long time since Wen Zhi had been this happy.

Liang Yin had mixed feelings, but seeing Wen Zhi so happy, he said nothing.

"Thank you." Wen Zhi grabbed a chip and stuffed it into Shang Hexing’s hand, "Take this, my strategist."

Shang Hexing couldn’t help but smile, "Am I the strategist?"

Wen Zhi said, "Without you today, I couldn’t have won so much. You deserve the title of strategist."

Shang Hexing stuffed the chip back into her hand, "It’s all yours."

He nearly said that line—what’s mine is also yours.

Seeing this scene, Xie Weiyue, who had not left, narrowed her long, slender eyes. She quickly adjusted her demeanor, calling out loudly, "Wen Zhi!"

Wen Zhi looked up, her reaction as if she had just realized Xie Weiyue was there, "Miss Xie!"

Xie Weiyue smiled softly, praising, "Nice skills in mahjong."

Wen Zhi asked, "Were you watching just now, Miss Xie?"

Xie Weiyue nodded, "I’ve been here for a while now. I saw you were very focused, so I didn’t want to disturb you. You guys play an intriguing game."

Wen Zhi offhandedly mentioned, "Would Miss Xie like to play a couple of rounds?"

Xie Weiyue’s eyes swept across the table, her tone gentle but her words sharp, "The table is full with no spare seats. By saying that, Wen Zhi, are you offering me your place?"

A double entendre.

Giving way, and giving way.