Chapter 34: Why Not Consider Me?

With her return to Yangcheng imminent, Wen Jin arranged to have lunch with Ning Lang the very next day.

The first thing Ning Lang said upon seeing her was, "That social media post of yours last night was quite interesting."

Wen Jin’s ears flushed slightly. She had been shocked herself when she saw the post the night before. Unfortunately, Qiaoqiao had threatened her with their friendship, forbidding her from deleting it. Not only was it still there, but it had also been pinned to the top of her profile.

"It was posted by a friend of mine," she murmured.

"Is that so?" Ning Lang didn't seem to care much. "But the comment I left was my own."

His dark eyes held a smile as he looked at her. "Little Wen Jin, why don't you consider me?"

Wen Jin was stunned by his words. To be honest, she and Ning Lang weren't particularly close; they had simply spent more time together recently. However, before she had any time to react, disaster struck.

Wen Tao was dead.

By the time Wen Jin and Ning Lang arrived at the hospital, a crowd had already gathered. Wen Tao had committed suicide by jumping from the roof of the hospital. The problem was that he had left a suicide note, but it contained no message other than the accusation that Wen Chaosheng and Wen Jin were his murderers.

Wen Jin had no choice but to accompany the police for questioning. It was an absurd situation that had unfolded in the blink of an eye. Even though doctors testified that Wen Tao had been in the terminal stages of cancer and had chosen to end his life because he could not accept that fact, the mere mention of Wen Jin in his note changed everything.

She spent two hours at the police station before finally being released. Qiaoqiao and Ning Lang were waiting for her outside. As she walked toward them, she was suddenly blocked by someone.

Sheng Yang looked down at her without speaking, yet the pressure he radiated was intense. Wen Jin, however, was in no mood for this; she shot him a single glance and tried to walk away.

"The old man wants you to come back," Sheng Yang said in a low voice.

At the mention of Old Master Sheng, Wen Jin’s emotions steadied slightly. "I will go back on my own shortly," she replied.

She needed to be alone for a while to collect her thoughts, and being around Sheng Yang would inevitably lead to an argument. He had never believed her, anyway.

He grabbed her wrist, his cold scent filling her senses. "At a time like this, you’re still throwing a tantrum?"

"Then tell me, why would Wen Tao write that in his suicide note?" Wen Jin couldn't help but retort.

Anyone would lose their composure in this situation. Wen Jin didn't just find it baffling; she found it repulsive. Both Wen You and Wen Tao were far too skilled at these kinds of tactics—not quite grave enough to be easily debunked, but sickening enough to be like swallowing a fly.

Sheng Yang watched her, his brows knitting together as if he didn't understand why she was so upset. "Wen Tao was hostile toward you to begin with," he reminded her.

"Was it Wen Tao who was hostile to me, or was it Wen You?" the words slipped out before she could stop them.

At the sudden mention of Wen You, Sheng Yang’s expression darkened. He looked down at her with a warning in his eyes. "Holding a grudge against the deceased? Do you despise Wen You that much?"

Wen Jin swallowed her emotions. Sheng Yang seemed to have forgotten one thing: the Wen family was powerful, and if they wanted revenge, they had plenty of ways to get it. Especially with Wen Chaosheng still in prison.

The thought of her father finally calmed her down. After a quick word with Qiaoqiao and Ning Lang, she followed Sheng Yang back to the old family estate.

The Old Master was waiting for them, but his face lacked its usual warmth. Instead, he let out a sigh. "Little Jin, come to the study with me."

Wen Jin followed him inside and stood before him. The Old Master studied her for a long time. "Little Jin, I know the matter with Wen Tao has nothing to do with you. You’ve been wronged."

Wen Jin kept her lashes lowered, saying nothing.

"But Little Jin, you also know that Sheng Yang and Wen You will be married."

He said "will be married," not "are going to be." The distinction was enough to make his stance clear. Wen Jin finally looked up at him, and the Old Master waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve had the housekeeper prepare gifts for your family. Head back to Yangcheng tonight."

His tone was weary, as if he were deeply reluctant to see her go. Wen Jin’s face remained expressionless. Many envied her for being adopted by the Sheng family, but only she knew the look in the Old Master’s eyes when he looked at her—the look one gives to an object.

She wasn't a child they had taken in out of kindness. She was merely a small trinket used to add a bit of prestige to the Sheng family name. And like any object, when the time came, she was only meant to be discarded.

The Old Master still insisted on dinner out of a sense of propriety, but Wen Jin declined. "The situation is too sudden," she said softly. "I have other matters to attend to."

The Old Master nodded, not stopping her, but said with profound meaning, "Rest assured, I will resolve these matters for you."

Wen Jin nodded. She knew exactly what he meant. Back in the study, his intentions had been clear: as long as she left the city and stopped causing trouble for the Sheng and Wen families, he would handle the situation regarding Wen Chaosheng.

Wen Jin didn't feel like she was losing out. She had intended to leave the city anyway, and if this could provide an extra layer of protection for her father, then why not?

She turned and left the estate, intending to call a taxi, when the roar of an engine sounded behind her. She turned to see Sheng Yang’s car idling in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing his indifferent face. "Get in."

Wen Jin stood still.

Sheng Yang’s brows pressed down. "You are still a member of the Sheng family. The family cannot afford to lose face because of you."

Wen Jin wanted to tell him that she had never been a part of the Sheng family to begin with, but then she heard him add, "Don't you want to see how Wen Chaosheng is doing?"

Wen Jin paused and looked up at him. Sheng Yang’s expression remained unchanged. "Get in."

Halfway through the drive, Sheng Yang suddenly slammed on the brakes. He turned to look at her, a faint, mocking curve touching the corner of his lips. "Before we go see Wen Chaosheng, I’d prefer it if you explained your social media post from last night."

Wen Jin frowned. "I didn't post that."

Sheng Yang let out a soft, cold laugh. "I didn't realize you had grown so bold."

His gaze made her uncomfortable. She bit her lip and said slowly, "Actually, it wasn't wrong. You really shouldn't look for a boyfriend who is prone to amnesia."

"After all, every time he loses his memory, he comes back with a new girlfriend."

"It's quite filthy."