Wei You had just arrived at Red River Bank when Chong Wanyin and her group hadn't yet boarded the sightseeing car.
Not too distant, Wei You spotted Chong Wanyin from the crowd, as well as Liang Yin standing by her side.
If this had been any other time, seeing Chong Wanyin and Liang Yin together would surely have been a coincidence. But now, with Shang Jing incarcerated and Liang You being the son of Director Liang, what other reason could there be for them to be together at this time? Obviously, Chong Wanyin wanted to curry favor with Liang Yin.
"Chong Wanyin is good at calculating; she even knows to bring a young girl with her," Wei You couldn't help but laugh, "It's just that I don't know what she's planning. Why didn't she bring a prettier girl? Would Liang Yin even take interest?"
Thinking of something, Wei You withdrew his gaze and took out his phone to make a call.
Waiting for the call to be answered on the other end, Wei You immediately said, "Hexing, guess who I saw at Red River Bank?"
Shang Hexing: "I'm busy now, talk later."
Before Shang Hexing could hang up, Wei You said, "I saw Chong Wanyin at Red River Bank, meeting with the son of Liang Chengnan."
As expected, the call wasn't disconnected.
Shang Hexing thought for a moment, recalled that name, then spoke again in a colder voice: "Liang Yin?"
Wei You: "That's right! Liang Chengnan is away on a business trip in another province and won't be back for two days. Shang Jing can't wait that long, and with no other options, Chong Wanyin had to proactively seek out Liang Yin."
Although the greatest authority lay in the hands of Liang Chengnan, as his son, Liang Yin's words carried some weight as well.
Shang Hexing turned to ask Chen Jinhai, "Has that woman not loosened her tongue yet?"
Chen Jinhai's face showed trepidation: "I was a step too slow, and she was picked up by President Song."
Shang Hexing raised his hand, pressing his fingertips against his brow, then said to Wei You on the phone, "Liang Yin might be able to help. Pretend you didn't see Chong Wanyin meeting him."
"Fine, I'll go play ball on the other end," responded Wei You.
Whether Shang Jing could be released before six o'clock this afternoon hinged on how much Chong Wanyin could plead for.
Thinking of the girl Chong Wanyin had brought with her, Wei You couldn't help clicking his tongue, "It's just a shame for that little miss from the Wen Family, unable to stay in her own home, and not finding peace at the Shang's either.
But then again, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Since she's living with the Shang Family, she has to be squeezed for some value."
Wei You merely remarked this casually.
But the speaker is unintentional and the listener is intentional.
As Wei You was about to hang up the phone, Shang Hexing asked, "Did Chong Wanyin take Wen Zhi to Red River Bank?"
Wei You answered, "I've seen that girl before and wouldn't mistake her for someone else."
Wei You didn't know why Shang Hexing was asking him this, and he further asked, "What's the matter, Hexing?"
The hand that Shang Hexing was holding the phone with slowly clenched, the veins on the back of his hand visibly throbbing.
After a while, he said, "I'm coming over now."
Wei You was confused, "Suddenly, just, just coming over now?"
He had been directly refused when he made the call before he left, and now, with a single sentence, Hexing wanted to come over...
Wei You's thoughts raced, recalling the mention of Wen Zhi. Could it be that Hexing wanted to come over because of Wen Zhi?
He had seen Wen Zhi in earlier years, always from a distance, never clearly discerning her features. It was not until his most recent encounter with Wen Zhi, the day she was brought into the Shang Family by Chong Wanyin.
That day, he followed Shang Hexing back to the old Shang residence, where Chong Wanyin's car had parked in the front courtyard ahead of them. As people from the car began to alight, he caught sight of the young girl, seeing her face clearly for the first time.
Dressed in old clothes, standing beside Chong Wanyin.
With a compliant demeanor.
Indeed unremarkable.
And looking pitiful.
...
Elsewhere, on the basketball court.
Liang Yin was doing some simple warm-up exercises.
Tall and well-built, his stature alone exuded the charm of an adult male.
Wanyin Chong quietly asked Wen Zhi, "What do you think about Liang Yin?"
Wen Zhi pursed her lips and chose her words carefully, "He's very good."
Wanyin Chong smiled, "I've checked, Liang Yin doesn't have a girlfriend."
Wen Zhi didn't respond.
Wanyin Chong looked at Wen Zhi, "I don't mean anything by it, I just want to comfort you. Don't feel burdened. Liang Yin, I watched him grow up; his character isn't bad, he won't make things difficult for you."
These words came out of Wanyin Chong's mouth without her blushing or skipping a beat.
Wen Zhi knew what Wanyin Chong was thinking, "I will try to please him."
Sympathy flashed in Wanyin Chong's eyes, "Zhizhi, you were wronged today, just this once."
Wen Zhi always knew the principle, once there was a first time, there would be a second.
If this was one of the ways she pleased Wanyin Chong, willing to cooperate as long as she wasn't threatened, Liang Yin couldn't hurt her; it was just a matter of enduring some humiliation.
"Wen Zhi."
From a distance, Liang Yin was calling her.
Wanyin Chong urged Wen Zhi, "Go on."
Wen Zhi took a deep breath and walked towards Liang Yin.
"The weather looks quite nice." Liang Yin finished warming up, and his eyes casually fell on the approaching Wen Zhi, "I'm in a good mood, how about I teach you to play ball?"
Wen Zhi declined, "I don't have much stamina."
Liang Yin didn't take offense at Wen Zhi's refusal, "You've always been weak, haven't found time to train these past few years."
Wen Zhi looked at Liang Yin's profile, "A person with poor health, no matter how they train, will always be the same."
"Buzzkill," muttered Liang Yin as he turned to grab his club.
As Wanyin Chong played golf with Liang Yin, Wen Zhi watched from the side.
She wasn't good at these active outdoor sports.
It was somewhat related to her frail constitution as a child.
While other children were learning to fight, fence, ride, or play ball at a young age, she could only stay at home to learn the piano, violin, and practice calligraphy and painting.
Meng Fan sometimes teased her, saying she was like a noble lady from ancient times.
But Wen Zhi didn't aspire to be a soaring giant; she thought being a noble lady was quite nice.
During the game, Wanyin Chong happily played two matches with Liang Yin without mentioning any serious matters. It was only in the games that followed that Wanyin Chong began to discuss the purpose of their meeting.
Standing at a distance, Wen Zhi couldn't hear the content of their conversation but saw Liang Yin's lips curved in a careless smile, seemingly perfunctory.
When Liang Yin's ball went in, Wanyin Chong praised him nonstop. Liang Yin just smiled faintly, his gaze passing over to Wen Zhi.
Their eyes met, and Liang Yin gestured for her to come over.
Wen Zhi hesitated and really didn't want to go over, but Liang Yin noticed and said to Wanyin Chong, "Auntie Chong, look, she always ignores my words."
Wanyin Chong laughed and turned to beckon Wen Zhi, "Come here."
Wen Zhi still didn't move.
Liang Yin tossed his club aside, "Boring."
He turned to leave.
Wanyin Chong panicked, constantly signaling to Wen Zhi with her eyes, "Zhizhi, come here quickly!"
The wind on the golf course picked up, blowing Wen Zhi's bangs into disarray. She pushed them aside several times, and even though she felt very reluctant, she still walked over.
But as soon as she approached Liang Yin, she heard his command, "Go fetch the ball I just hit."
Wen Zhi stood firm, "I'm not a caddy."