Chapter 24: Nothing More Than This-Além da Palma(Em resposta a uma promessa)

In truth, Wen Jin understood that the old man would never have said such a thing. Knowing she was set to return to Guangzhou soon, his mention of introducing her to some talented young men was merely a polite formality. Yet, she could not argue with Sheng Yang now; she was still waiting for him to resolve the matter concerning Wen Chaosheng.

Wen Jin’s silence served as a tacit acceptance of the old man’s arrangements. Sheng Yang watched her, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. "You certainly perked up at the mention of eligible young men."

Wen Jin closed her eyes, suppressing the exhaustion in her heart, and murmured, "You know full well that Grandpa Sheng was only joking. Why take it seriously?"

"At least you have some self-awareness."

Wen Jin did not reply. Truth be told, she had been feeling utterly drained lately. One incident after another had left her with no room to breathe. In the span of just a few days, a cascade of disastrous events had been forced upon her, turning her life into a chaotic mess. All she wanted was a moment of peace.

Sheng Yang’s car drove smoothly, and the scent of the car diffuser—a faint, clean, and comforting note of mint—filled the air. As Wen Jin closed her eyes, she drifted off to sleep. She drifted in a hazy state, unsure of how long she had slept, but when she finally woke, the car was already parked outside the Plum Garden.

She turned her head instinctively, but saw no one. Sheng Yang had already exited the vehicle. Only after a belated check of her phone did she realize it was past midnight. Wen Jin rubbed her temples, chagrined that she had actually fallen asleep in Sheng Yang’s car. Once she had regained her composure, she pushed the door open and stepped out.

However, she stopped at the entrance of the Plum Garden. She did not have a key, and her knocks went unanswered. Wen Jin withdrew her hand, stepped back, and decided to stop knocking. She knew that if Sheng Yang did not want her to enter, he would simply pretend not to hear her, no matter what she did.

The night air was cool, like water, but it was not dark. The Plum Garden seemed illuminated by the rows of streetlights. Wen Jin sat down on the nearby steps, staring blankly at one of the lights. She had only a few days left before her scheduled departure from Beijing, yet this situation with Wen Chaosheng had suddenly erupted. She did not know if she could handle it in time.

It was truly pathetic. After living in Beijing for several years, she not only lacked the ability to resolve a simple issue like this, but she had also failed to cultivate any meaningful connections. In the end, she was still just a pitiful soul who had to beg others for help when things went wrong.

Wen Jin buried her face in her knees, trying to calm her turbulent thoughts. Suddenly, the door behind her opened. Sheng Yang’s cold voice cut through the air: "Are you going to perform your exquisite acting skills even here at the Plum Garden?"

Wen Jin looked back. He had changed into loungewear, his hair slightly damp as if he had just showered. He looked at her as one might look at a stray dog, his indifference palpable. "If your legs still work, come inside yourself."

In truth, Wen Jin felt a certain resistance toward the Plum Garden; everything here was out of tune with her. It wasn't just Sheng Yang—every person here seemed to look at her with a sense of condescending scrutiny. Moreover, Wen You was here. Wen Jin did not believe she could live harmoniously with Wen You unless absolutely necessary. However, she was somewhat surprised that Wen You was not around tonight.

Seeming to read her thoughts, Sheng Yang said, "There are matters at the Wen family household; Wen You won't be coming to the Plum Garden for the next two days. You can flaunt your presence to your heart's content."

"I have no desire to live here," Wen Jin reminded him. It was clearly Sheng Yang who had forced her to come, yet he always turned things upside down, as if she had used all sorts of schemes just to get in.

Sheng Yang watched her quietly. Though he said nothing, his expression made it clear that he did not believe her claims of indifference. Not wanting to squabble over such meaningless things, Wen Jin took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Regarding my father’s matter, what will it take for you to help me?"

Sheng Yang sat on the sofa, his long legs crossed. He looked up, his gaze fixing on her. "I don't like talking to someone who is covered in filth."

Wen Jin stiffened. Following his gaze, she saw the dust on the hem of her shirt. It was barely noticeable, but Sheng Yang was a germaphobe. Or perhaps, he was simply picking a fight for the sake of it. Suppressing the rising tide of emotion, she turned and headed to the bathroom to wash up. She told herself over and over that she needed his help, so this was to be expected. Yet, her hand, gripping the edge of the sink, tightened until her knuckles turned white.

She splashed cold water on her face, finally steadying her nerves. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror. She looked miserable.

When she finished and returned, Sheng Yang was on the phone. He remained on the sofa, conversing in fluent French. It appeared to be work-related. Wen Jin stood still, not daring to approach. Then, she heard Sheng Yang mention her in French.

A poor wretch staying in his home. That was how he referred to her to the person on the other end. She did not know what the other person said, but she saw Sheng Yang’s gaze land on her once more.

Then, he chuckled softly. "She is quite dull and foolish, and incredibly vain. She makes for a decent little pet, but nothing more."

Hearing his description, Wen Jin’s feet felt as if they had taken root; she could not move an inch. Sheng Yang seemed to have forgotten that it was he who had personally taught her French. Her lips curled slightly. She looked at him and replied softly in French, "The same goes for you—nothing more."