Shang Hexing had the waiter bring a jacket for Wen Zhi to put on.
The weather was hot, but to avoid being recognized by Liang Yin and Chong Wanyin as they approached, Wen Zhi gritted her teeth and draped it over herself.
She then followed Shang Hexing out.
Unsurprisingly, Liang Yin was left empty-handed. Because they were quite far away just now, neither he nor Chong Wanyin had seen clearly whether the woman with Shang Hexing was Wen Zhi or not.
But on second thought, it couldn't be possible.
What could Wen Zhi and Shang Hexing have in common?
...
In the car.
Wen Zhi was sweating from the heat. As soon as she got in the car, she took off the jacket, folded it neatly, and thanked Shang Hexing, "Thank you for just now."
Shang Hexing crossed his long legs, his gaze fixing on her, "Not calling me 'brother' anymore?"
Wen Zhi obediently repeated her thanks, "Thanks, 'brother,' for just now."
Shang Hexing asked, "Thank me for what?"
Wen Zhi bit her lip.
Shang Hexing wasn't really trying to tease her and let the matter go, only asking, "Where to next?"
He was asking her where she wanted to go next.
It was still early, only ten in the morning.
Wen Zhi didn't want to go back to the Shang residence yet. As for other places... Meng Fan was busy with work this morning and she didn't want to disturb him, leaving her momentarily with nowhere to go.
Without saying a word, Shang Hexing figured it out, "If you don't mind being bored, you can come with me."
Wen Zhi didn't mention going with him, curious about the previous statement, "Bored?"
Shang Hexing casually said, "I delayed a meeting."
That meant he had a meeting to attend.
Wen Zhi clenched her fingers around the fabric of the jacket, suppressing her wild thoughts to ask, "Why was it delayed?"
"Not in the mood," he answered succinctly.
Given his high position and the esteem from those above, he was a man of promising future, and 'not in the mood' were words that shouldn't have come from him.
But since he had said it, it indicated he saw her as a clueless child.
Wen Zhi pursed her lips and then asked, "Then why are you in the mood now?"
Shang Hexing glanced sideways, "How come I didn't notice last night that you talk so much?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
Shang Hexing's expression softened a bit, reminding her, "Don't ask too many unnecessary questions. Even if you're curious, you need to hold it back."
Having spoken, Shang Hexing pressed a button on the side, and the partition slowly rose, blocking the view of the front windshield.
As the partition rose, the space inside the car became much more confined.
Wen Zhi suddenly became vigilant, and Shang Hexing, noting her reaction, reminded her, "Liang Yin is coming."
Wen Zhi was startled and suddenly looked out of the car window.
About twenty meters away, Liang Yin was walking toward Shang Hexing's car, alone, with no sign of Chong Wanyin.
Wen Zhi tensed up, "He knows I came with you."
Shang Hexing soothed her, "Don't overthink it; he might just be coming to say hello."
Wen Zhi looked confused, "Say hello?"
Shang Hexing, observing her trembling lashes and with his voice slightly tightening, casually said, "Don't forget, I'm still above Liang Chengnan."
That meant, if Liang Yin knew Shang Hexing was also here today and hadn't left yet, he would come forward to say hello out of basic courtesy.
Wen Zhi hadn't been quite calm earlier and hadn't thought of this: "But I don't want to see him."
Shang Hexing reached out towards Wen Zhi, who did not understand why.
He said, "If you don't want to see him, come a bit closer."
Wen Zhi was puzzled, wondering how getting closer to him would keep her from seeing Liang Yin. Despite her doubts, she obediently moved slowly to sit next to him.
Shang Hexing found her too slow and imperiously gripped her wrist, pulling her into his embrace.
Before Wen Zhi could react, by the time she realized, she was already sitting in Shang Hexing's lap.
She looked utterly shocked, instinctively trying to get up, but Shang Hexing grasped her slender waist, his voice low and warning, "Don't move."
Wen Zhi's voice was frail, "You, you didn't warn me."
His voice descended from above her head, tinged with a hint of amusement, "Warn about what?"
Wen Zhi looked down and fell silent.
...