Sharing Dreams with My Bestie’s Cousin

Chapter 22: Perilous Chapter 22: Perilous This was the worst possible outcome.

And the most direct one.

The old master sighed, “I received a call from the third brother’s lawyer this afternoon, the result can be out by tomorrow morning at the latest, it’s indeed very uncertain.”

After speaking, the old master looked at Shang Jing, “And you, keep yourself in check recently, if you can avoid going out, do so, just honestly stay at home for me.”

Shang Jing nodded, “I know.”

This incident was not only dangerous but also beyond any normal comprehension.

Without any knowledge of what was happening, he was inexplicably implicated in a criminal case. However, he wasn’t the suspect; the real accused was his third uncle—Shang Mingshu.

The incident occurred just half a month earlier when Shang Mingshu took a fancy to a young woman at a dinner party, but the woman was unwilling to follow him and had openly rejected him.

Shang Mingshu was direct in his approach, inundating the woman with branded bags and clothes until she could hardly refuse.

Far from being pleased, the woman was only more fearful and eventually took the initiative to meet with Shang Mingshu to return the luxury goods, but ended up being violated by him.

Under normal circumstances, Shang Mingshu’s methods would have kept this matter under wraps.

But the woman exposed the affair in a different way and, in the end, Shang Mingshu was arrested.

The whole affair seemed to have nothing to do with Shang Jing, but when the police questioned the woman, she insisted that it was Shang Jing who introduced her to Shang Mingshu at the dinner party, claiming that she was promised the lead female role, and it was also Shang Jing who encouraged her to meet Shang Mingshu to return the gifts, which led to the tragic incidence…
But in fact.

The woman had begged Shang Jing to take her to that dinner.

And the reason Shang Jing agreed was that the woman was a college classmate of his. He was always quite unguarded around her, not to mention they were classmates.

A simple meet-up, a meal—these were no trouble at all for Shang Jing, thus he helped without much thought.

The result, however, turned out to be such a huge mess.

The old master had been angry all day yesterday, having barely slept at night. Fortunately, Wanyin went to Liang Bureau’s son today to pull some strings, and only then could Shang Jing come back.

“This time the opposition not only planned it during your big brother’s promotion period, but also cunningly picked the moment when Liang Chengnan was away on a business trip.” The old master had been mulling over it all day and sighed, “Your third uncle is more likely to face misfortune than fortune this time.”

Shang Jing asked, “Is there any news from Big Brother’s side?”

The old master shook his head, “With so many eyes staring from above, your big brother can’t afford any mistakes right now.”

Shang Jing understood and nodded.

The anger in the old master’s heart had yet to subside; he turned his head and glared at Shang Jing, scolding him for his lack of competition, “Tell me, when you first took over the business, how did you assure me? You said you would surely make a success that would impress me, but this first stroke is indeed ‘spectacular’.”

Shang Jing bowed his head and listened to the admonition, not daring to utter a word.

This attitude seemed to have satisfied the old master, and his tone became somewhat gentler, “You should feel fortunate that this blot is only drawn on your resume, not carved onto it, else your life in your early twenties would have already come to a premature end.”

Shang Jing listened with lingering fear.

“Haven’t eaten yet?” the old master asked.

“Not yet,” replied Shang Jing.

The old master waved his hand, “Go have your meal then get some rest early after eating.”

Shang Jing nodded.

He went back to have dinner at his mother’s, and the moment he stepped through the door, he raised his eyes and saw the slender figure seated at the table.

“Wen Zhi?” Shang Jing walked over.

Wen Zhi looked up and called out, “Brother Shang Jing.”

Shang Jing’s already drained face completely fell upon seeing Wen Zhi, “What are you doing here?”

Wen Zhi answered truthfully, “The lady asked me to come over for dinner.”

This was the first time since Wen Zhi moved into the Shang residence that Wanyin had invited her here for a meal.

Shang Jing, though displeased, wouldn’t make things difficult for a delicate girl. He sat down, “Do you come here to eat every day?”

Wen Zhi replied, “Today is the first time.”

As for the reason, she had a pretty good idea.

Shang Jing’s face grew even more unsightly, thinking that his mother was dead set on bringing him and Wen Zhi together.

“You’re back, Shang Jing. Your grandfather didn’t scold you, did he?” Chong Wanyin personally brought a plate of dishes to the table.

Shang Jing shook his head, “No, Grandfather’s anger has subsided.”

Chong Wanyin was relieved, “I was worried he might scold you again. You’ve been down all day; if you had been scolded again, you probably wouldn’t be able to eat dinner.”

“I can’t eat now either.” Having said that, Shang Jing’s gaze swept over to Wen Zhi.

Wen Zhi was no fool; she could read between the lines of Shang Jing’s words.

He simply didn’t want to dine with her.

She got the hint and stood up to say to Chong Wanyin, “Madam, I have something to attend to in my room. Please go ahead and eat.”

“Don’t go,” Chong Wanyin stopped Wen Zhi. “Whatever it is can wait until after dinner.”

Wen Zhi looked at Shang Jing; he remained expressionless, his demeanor cool and indifferent. She pursed her lips, “I have important matters to attend to. Please, go ahead.”

After saying this, she turned to leave.

But Chong Wanyin reached out to stop her, “Sit down.”

Wen Zhi looked at Chong Wanyin, her eyes showing difficulty, but Chong Wanyin insisted, pulling her back, “You can go after you’ve eaten.”

Eventually, Wen Zhi sat down again.

Shang Jing, however, didn’t add any more harsh words and silently picked up his chopsticks.

Chong Wanyin served Wen Zhi some food, inquiring with concern, “Is your leg feeling any better?”

Wen Zhi responded, “Much better.”

Shang Jing cast a discrete glance at Wen Zhi’s leg.

Seeing this, Chong Wanyin didn’t miss the opportunity to bring it up, “In fact, you were able to get out so quickly today thanks to Wen Zhi. She was the one who helped.”

As Shang Jing was about to bite into a piece of sweet and sour pork, he turned to ask upon hearing his mother’s words, “She helped?”

Chong Wanyin explained, “I met with Liang Yin today. My words alone probably wouldn’t have persuaded him to help, but luckily we had Wen Zhi. She knew Liang Yin from before.”

Shang Jing was unimpressed, “Friends?”

“Right, friends,” replied Wen Zhi. She didn’t want Chong Wanyin to continue.

Shang Jing glanced at Wen Zhi, “Thanks.”

Wen Zhi gave a faint smile and lowered her head to continue eating.

Chong Wanyin had nothing more to say, and the meal proceeded in silence.

After dinner, Wen Zhi helped clear the table. Zhao Qin suggested she rest, but Wen Zhi said, “I’d be idle anyway.”

After the dishes were cleared, Wen Zhi spoke to Chong Wanyin before she left.

Immediately, Chong Wanyin called for Shang Jing to escort her, but Shang Jing was naturally unwilling, standing there silently without responding.

Wen Zhi didn’t wish for further contact with Shang Jing and also feared Chong Wanyin might insist, so she left on her own initiative.

Once Wen Zhi had left, Chong Wanyin glared at Shang Jing, “What’s with you? Why be so cold and harsh with Zhizhi? Don’t you know that hurts her?”

Shang Jing appeared indifferent, “If you must mend a pair of mandarin ducks, I can only act this way, to make you give up such thoughts sooner.

“How could I dare to arrange anything?” Chong Wanyin’s tone grew harsher, “Do you know how smoothly you got out today because of the humiliation Zhizhi endured from Liang Yin?”

Shang Jing narrowed his eyes, “What do you mean?”