Chapter 004 He Actually Has Feelings for Wen Ni!

Wen Ni closed the lid of the incense burner on her bedside table.

Shen Qinglan smiled faintly. “You have rather unique tastes.”

Wen Ni’s brows relaxed. “I suppose it’s just a little personal quirk.”

Shen Qinglan took a seat on the sofa in the small sitting room. “You’ve probably met me before.”

Wen Ni obediently sat across from him. “Yes, you’re Shen Xue’ning’s cousin, and, if I remember right, a psychiatrist.”

Back then, when Wen Ni’s mother was in the late stages of pregnancy, Wen Ni’s biological father stole the Wen family’s prized Kesi silk heirloom and presented it to the Shen family. He thereby became the Shen family’s favored son-in-law and ended up as Shen Xue’ning’s stepfather.

The Wen family’s Kesi silk fell from grace overnight.

Shen Xue’ning’s mother was Shen Qinglan’s aunt.

Wen Ni had no fondness for anyone in the Shen family.

Zhou Jingyi lifted his eyelids, glancing at Wen Ni.

Shen Qinglan looked a touch awkward. “I’m a psychologist.”

Wen Ni responded with a nonchalant “Oh.”

He went on, “I heard about Mingfan. It’s truly a shame—talent envied by the heavens. My condolences.”

Wen Ni pulled a tissue from the box and pressed it to her eyes.

“Forgive me, I get so upset whenever the topic comes up.”

Shen Qinglan’s gaze shifted from gentle to sharp. “It’s only natural. After all, he was your newlywed husband.”

Wen Ni nodded, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Shen Qinglan remarked, “If you look out your window, you’ll see the peonies in full bloom. They’re beautiful.”

Wen Ni replied, “I have no heart for scenery at the moment.”

From his bag, Shen Qinglan produced a small potted succulent, with round, pink leaves, and set it before Wen Ni. “A little plant for you.”

Wen Ni said, “I probably won’t keep it alive. By the time you come for my next counseling session, it’ll be dead.”

Shen Qinglan replied, “I’m here to visit, not to counsel you.”

Wen Ni stared at Shen Qinglan for a long moment.

Suddenly, she stood up. “If that’s the case, I don’t need it. Master Shen, please see yourself out.”

With that, she walked straight to the window. As she passed Zhou Jingyi, she gave him a sharp nudge with her elbow.

Turning her back to them, she stood before the window.

Shen Qinglan shook his head at Zhou Jingyi.

The two of them left together.

In the hallway, Shen Qinglan said to Zhou Jingyi, “Wen Ni is quite guarded. I didn’t sense any real sorrow, but I did feel… that she thinks I’m utterly unnecessary.”

Zhou Jingyi was silent.

Shen Qinglan shook his head. “How am I supposed to explain this to your grandmother?”

The look in Zhou Jingyi’s eyes was inscrutable. “You’ll know what to say.”

…

Shen Qinglan braced himself and told a lie.

Zhou Mingfan and Shen Xue’ning were accompanying the old lady, listening to an opera.

The old lady had loved opera since her youth.

So the old master kept a troupe in their own backyard, with a stage built just for her pleasure.

Shen Qinglan stayed by her side. “Grandmother Zhou, there’s nothing serious. Mingfan’s death is still fresh, and Wen Ni hasn’t come to terms with it yet. Let her process things in her own time.”

Zhou Mingfan frowned.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Second Brother, is Wen Ni truly stricken with grief?”

Shen Qinglan was second in his family; Shen Xue’ning called him Second Brother, and Zhou Mingfan did the same by her example.

Shen Qinglan had always looked down on the pair.

At the question, his cold voice took on a note of displeasure. “Mingfan, are you questioning my professional skill?”

The old lady looked at Zhou Mingfan. “Your second brother is the best psychologist in the capital—could he be mistaken? And you have the gall to speak, after what you did at the wedding…”

She left it at that. It was all ancient history, best not dredged up.

She took Shen Qinglan’s hand fondly and asked, “So you’re saying Wen Ni is all right?”

Shen Qinglan nodded. “Just give her some time alone. She’ll come around.”

The old lady nodded quickly.

With business concluded, she squinted and smiled again. “Still haven’t found a girlfriend?”

Shen Qinglan coughed lightly. “No rush. I’m still young.”

The old lady chided him, “Still young? You and our fifth are the same age—twenty-six this year!”

Shen Qinglan cast a pleading look towards the men in the back row.

Zhou Jingyi didn’t so much as glance at him.

Wearing loungewear, he sat with his eyes lowered, the spring sunlight lingering on him, gilding his features as if he were a sacred, untouchable deity.

His fingers slipped unconsciously into his pocket.

When he touched a small, hard, sharply edged square object, the perfectly sculpted face finally showed the faintest hint of a crack.

Zhou Jingyi’s expression was unreadable.

This Wen Ni.

Audacious beyond measure.

A true enchantress.

He withdrew his hand without reaction, his long, well-defined fingers resting on his knee, tapping lightly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw “Zhou Mingfan” and Shen Xue’ning exchange a few words, then leave the opera garden.

A shadow passed behind Zhou Jingyi’s eyes.

—

Taking advantage of the inattention around him, Zhou Mingfan went upstairs and knocked on Wen Ni’s door.

Wen Ni opened it, expecting Shen Qinglan had returned, only to find Zhou Mingfan standing there.

She frowned and moved to close the door.

But Zhou Mingfan pressed hard against it, preventing it from shutting.

Wen Ni glared at him, hands planted firmly on the door. “What are you doing, Zhou Mingfan? If Shen Xue’ning sees you here, there’s no way you’ll talk your way out of it.”

With his superior strength, Zhou Mingfan forced the door open and stepped inside.

He took out his phone, switched on the camera, and moved to strip Wen Ni’s clothes.

“Still feigning grief? Wen Ni, what act are you putting on? There are kiss marks on your shoulder, and I bet there are more in places you don’t dare show. I want to see for myself if this is what you call loving Zhou Mingfan.”

Deep down, Zhou Mingfan knew he didn’t love Wen Ni.

Even though they’d shared countless romantic moments, it had always been a pretense.

Since the beginning was false, the process and the result could only be false as well.

But…

He couldn’t stand everyone going on about how much Wen Ni loved him, when none of them saw her betrayal behind his back.

He felt like the world’s most ridiculous cuckold.

He wanted to gather evidence of Wen Ni’s betrayal and drive her out of the Zhou family.

Then, out of sight, out of mind.

Otherwise…

Even last night with Xue’ning, his mind was filled with the kiss marks on Wen Ni’s body.

He couldn’t even get aroused.

For years, he’d pined for Xue’ning, yet for their first time together, he couldn’t even perform.

He only left her with a mess of saliva.

For a man, it was a crushing humiliation.

Xue’ning was furious.

He had no idea how to explain.

All he could say was that witnessing “Zhou Mingfan’s” death had left him with psychological trauma.

Zhou Mingfan became frenzied.

He propped his phone on the bedside table.

With one hand, he grabbed Wen Ni, pinning her to the bed like a wild animal.

Wen Ni’s hand flew to his face, clawing at him.

With one hand, Zhou Mingfan seized both her wrists, holding them above her head and leaning in.

Wen Ni struggled desperately.

Her loose neckline slipped from her shoulder, exposing a swath of pale skin below her collarbone.

Their bodies were pressed close.

So close that Zhou Mingfan could see the fine down on Wen Ni’s face, illuminated by the afternoon light.

A faint scent of rosemary and citrus lingered on her skin.

The subtle fragrance wafted between them.

Zhou Mingfan’s breath suddenly grew hot.

He felt it acutely.

What had failed him last night was now very much alive.

His throat worked.

He slowly lowered his mouth toward Wen Ni’s chest…