Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin-Chapter 54 - Ambiguity abounds

Chapter 54: Ambiguity abounds

Chapter 54: Ambiguity abounds

Back then, the matter of the Wen Family was always a topic of gossip among the elite circles after dinners and tea.

Wen Zhi also went from being the envied golden girl of the Wen Family to being the butt of jokes about improper family conduct.

People would say to her face, “Wen Zhi, isn’t she the one whose mom just died and her dad quickly married her young aunt, tsk tsk tsk.”

Some said, “Mu Yanzhou and Wen Yiwan were messing around for a long time, perhaps Wen Yinxi was angered to death?”

Others claimed, “Being angered to death is too improbable, I think, maybe that adulterous couple had something to do with killing Wen Yinxi.”

Another person remarked, “Wen Yinxi was pitiable, and so was her daughter, saddled with jokes about improper family conduct from such a young age. How could she ever marry into a noble family? Living a life as suffocating as swallowing needles is not better than becoming a nun.”

These words had reached Wen Zhi’s ears.

It was then that Wen Zhi disappeared overnight.

Some speculated that the family issues had caused Wen Zhi to develop depression and she went for treatment. Others guessed that Wen Zhi had committed suicide and the Wen Family just didn’t make it public. Some even speculated that Wen Yiwan had bartered Wen Zhi off to some big shot as a mistress, living a life she couldn’t lift her head from.

Regardless, there were many guesses, all rather grim.

Not until recently, when Wen Zhi returned to the Wen Family, did those absurd rumors break.

In fact, within a year, everyone had nearly forgotten about Wen Zhi; unexpectedly, she returned home very publicly and indeed, she was alive. It was rather poignant…

Lost in the past, Wen Zhi didn’t notice the sink was filled with water, about to overflow. Shang Hexing came over and turned off the faucet, “Were you planning to wash the vegetables or drown them?”

Shang Hexing’s voice caught her attention, and coming back to her senses, Wen Zhi looked down to see the sink almost overflowing.

“I’m sorry,” she said reproachfully.

“There’s nothing to apologize for.” Shang Hexing touched another switch, visibly lowering the water level in the sink.

When it reached a proper level, he pressed it again to maintain the water level.

Looking up, Wen Zhi could see Shang Hexing’s profile—calm and composed, albeit always with a hint of pallor. Noticing her gaze, he didn’t look away, his lips parted slightly, “I’m not interested in your family’s matters.”

Wen Zhi started to say something, but hesitated.

Then, he turned towards her, his eyes looking down at her, “However, I am quite curious about you.”

“…”

Wen Zhi’s heart leapt suddenly.

This wasn’t from fright, but from some indescribable, inexplicable reason. Her eyes darted around several times, but eventually, she found herself looking at him, asking, “What about me are you curious about, Mr. Shang?”

The two were very close now, their eyes met, teeming with ambiguity.

Soon after, Wen Zhi heard Shang Hexing ask her, “Where were you a year ago?”

A year ago was when she had disappeared, while a year later was now.

Without much thought, Wen Zhi replied, “I went abroad.”

Shang Hexing glanced at her, “Lying.”

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Wen Zhi hesitated for a second, still maintaining her composure, she retorted, “Mr. Shang seems curious about where I was last year. It appears no matter where I say I went, you have a reason not to believe me, but whether you believe it or not is your affair; I’ve already answered.”

Shang Hexing watched her as she put up sharp defenses, like a hedgehog instinctively protecting itself when in danger, “My reason isn’t arbitrary.”

Wen Zhi picked up an unwashed small green vegetable.

Shang Hexing said slowly, “You have no records of leaving the country in the past three years.”

The small green vegetable fell back into the sink, splashing some water onto her dress, which she ignored, remaining calm as she replied, “I went to a visa-free country.”

Shang Hexing’s lips curved into a shallow smile.

Wen Zhi asked him what he was smiling about, and he told her, “Visa exemption is good, but so far, the longest duration for visa exemption in any country is only about one hundred and eighty days.”

Wen Zhi’s face stiffened, and she heard Shang Hexing asking her, “Wen Zhi, which visa-exempt country did you manage to stay in for a year?”

A lie full of loopholes didn’t need overnight, he could debunk it immediately.

Shang Hexing moved closer to her, leaning on the kitchen counter. He leaned in slightly, “Or did you forge documents to go abroad?”

In front of Shang Hexing, Wen Zhi felt utterly exposed. She took a deep breath, intentionally distancing herself, “That has nothing to do with Mr. Shang, does it?”

“How could it have nothing to do with me?” he said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, the pressuring atmosphere palpable, “If you forged documents for illegal immigration, then it’s a serious matter, and I must get involved.”

Wen Zhi’s gaze darted around, “I, I…”

Her attempt to explain stuck in her throat, unable to come out. Then she saw Shang Hexing suddenly turn and leave.

He left the kitchen and went to the living room couch to get his phone.

Wen Zhi had a bad feeling, immediately followed him and came up behind him. She saw him pick up his phone to make a call, and Wen Zhi blurted out, “Mr. Shang, what are you doing?”

Shang Hexing glanced sideways at her.

That one look made Wen Zhi exceptionally nervous and anxious, her heart almost leaping to her throat. She saw Shang Hexing with a stern expression, who then said two words to her, “Calling the police.”

Wen Zhi was shocked, “Call… call the police?”

Shang Hexing looked at her panicked appearance, a smile appearing at the corner of his eyes, “Illegal immigration, calling the police to arrest you.”

Wen Zhi, “…”

The heart of a man is as fickle as dust in a frying pan, easily blackened with a single wipe.

So he had been scheming all along to keep her in Qionglou, just to trap her in her words and then call the police to catch her?

As she realized this, the call had already been made. Shang Hexing raised his phone ready to listen. Wen Zhi quickly grabbed Shang Hexing’s wrist and pulled it down. Shang Hexing wasn’t surprised and let her pull, but when she tried to grab the phone, he skillfully diverted his wrist and didn’t let her succeed.

His wrist maneuvered left and right, not letting her win. After several tries, she didn’t lose her patience or become agitated, focused intensely on snatching the phone away.

Until her small face turned red, and she was panting. Tears welled up in her almond-shaped eyes, not crying but seemingly natural to her, making it ever so tempting to bully her, enough to ensnare anyone’s soul.

Shang Hexing’s gaze deepened as he held down her hands causing trouble, “It’s connected now.”

Wen Zhi’s body stiffened, and she looked up at him intently.

Shang Hexing thought she had given up, but unexpectedly, she suddenly lunged at him.

It was intentional, and she even gathered her strength. Though her strength was insignificant against him, her actions became desperate, pushing him down onto the couch backward, nearly straddling him, then clumsily attempting to snatch the phone.

“Give it to me, give it to me…”

“Brother…”

She deliberately changed her tone, aware of Shang Hexing’s unique status, knowing his need to maintain a respectable image, particularly averse to scandals. Although the tactic was slightly despicable, it was bound to work.

She guessed right, and Shang Hexing indeed handed her the phone.

As she was about to hang up, she saw the caller ID—Chen Jinhai.

Wen Zhi was stunned.

Wasn’t he supposed to call the police on her?