Chapter 54: "Help Me"

The diary that Sheng Yang mentioned was the one Wen Jin had once filled with his name.

She turned her face away. "I don't know where I threw it."

Sheng Yang's gaze remained fixed on her, shifting from indifference to scrutiny.

Finally, he lowered his eyelashes, his voice deep and chilling. "Good. That saves us from leaving any evidence behind."

Wen Jin did not catch the shift in his tone.

She was simply thinking of that diary.

It had been placed inside the cookie tin where she kept all her important belongings.

The very same tin that Sheng Yang had thrown away back then.

Had Sheng Yang merely opened it and taken a glance at that time, he would have discovered it.

Unfortunately, he had not.

Wen Jin reined in her thoughts. She took back the photo frame from Sheng Yang's hand and placed it squarely on the desk.

"If you're worried about anyone noticing anything amiss, you should leave my room right now."

The entire room was scented with her favorite subtle lemon fragrance, and the decor was bathed in warm tones.

In truth, Sheng Yang felt entirely out of place here over these past few years.

Sheng Yang narrowed his eyes. He reached out and pinched Wen Jin's chin.

The expression on his face was both playful and freezing cold.

"Now you know to tell me to get out of your room, but who was it clinging to me and refusing to let me go that night?"

Wen Jin's expression soured instantly.

Her black-and-white eyes looked at Sheng Yang, as calm and undisturbed as a stagnant pool.

"Don't you find it ridiculous saying something like that?"

"Do you need me to remind you who slipped me the drug?"

Clearly, he knew it was Wen You.

Yet hadn't he remained completely indifferent—

Even attempting to force Wen Jin to accept it and let it end there.

The hand Sheng Yang had clamped around her chin loosened slightly.

Instead, he began pressing against it rhythmically, absentmindedly.

His breathing was visibly heavier.

His eyes held an emotion Wen Jin had no desire to decipher ever again.

Sheng Yang's eyes were the most adept at deception.

She could not afford to believe a single fraction of them.

This stalemate was broken only when Chen Jin came upstairs.

He announced that Jiang Yuan had already arrived at the Sheng residence.

Sheng Yang released his grip on Wen Jin. "Jiang Yuan is not someone you can afford to offend. Fix yourself up and come downstairs on your own."

He truly left Wen Jin no room for negotiation.

Yet, deep down, she knew there was no escaping it.

After tidying up slightly, Wen Jin went downstairs anyway.

It was then she learned that no one from the Wen family was present at the Sheng family's banquet.

The official reason given was that since Wen Tao had passed away not long ago, everyone in the family was still plunged in grief.

Consequently, they had temporarily cancelled all public engagements.

Only Zhao Yimo, who knew the inside story, shook his head continuously as he remained isolated in a corner.

He kept his mouth shut.

Better to say nothing, lest Sheng Yang find out and implicate him.

Regardless of how things stood, Wen Jin was currently a registered member of the Sheng household.

Chen Jin led her directly to the garden to find Sheng Yang.

Sheng Yang was deep in conversation with someone. Standing before him was a woman draped in a qipao, exuding an effortless, mesmerizing charm.

Jiang Yuan.

Wen Jin had seen her countless times in newspapers and magazines.

Seeing Wen Jin approach, Jiang Yuan was the first to halt her conversation.

Her gaze fell directly upon Wen Jin.

She nodded slightly at Wen Jin. "Hello."

It sounded entirely different from the gentle, concerned voice on the telephone.

However, Wen Jin showed no reaction.

Jiang Yuan was simply that kind of person.

She nodded in return, and alongside Sheng Yang, exchanged a few polite pleasantries with her.

Suddenly, Jiang Yuan spoke up, "I am very much looking forward to this collaboration with Lingyue."

"However, President Sheng is a man after all. There are certain topics I would prefer to discuss with the younger women."

She looked at Wen Jin. "Miss Wen, would that be alright?"

Wen Jin replied, "Alright."

Sheng Yang raised no objections; after all, Jiang Yuan had always carried a heavy public persona as a devoted mother.

He merely glanced at Wen Jin once more, and seeing no signs of distress, turned and walked away.

The moment Sheng Yang was out of earshot, Jiang Yuan's tone softened instantly. "Xiaojin, you've grown prettier."

Wen Jin took a step back, maintaining a cool distance. "Ms. Jiang, didn't you say you had important business to discuss with me?"

Jiang Yuan looked at her with a trace of heartache. "Xiaojin, I only acted that way earlier because outsiders were present."

"Now that it's just the two of us, can you please not use that attitude with me?"

Wen Jin remained silent.

Jiang Yuan had never been willing to acknowledge their mother-daughter relationship in front of outsiders.

Yet in private, she always insisted on playing the role of the deeply affectionate mother.

In truth, this made her no different from Sheng Yang.

Wen Jin clenched and relaxed her palms, her voice soft. "Ms. Jiang, there are many people here at the Sheng estate today, and walls have ears. It would be best for you to mind your behavior."

Jiang Yuan seemed entirely unprepared for such a response.

She stiffened for a moment, an awkward expression washing over her face.

"Xiaojin, don't you want to leave Jing City? Why don't you come back to Los Angeles with me this time?"

"Once I finish my work here, I'll take you away."

"There's no need."

Wen Jin looked at Jiang Yuan.

This biological mother of hers by blood.

Yet they were absolute strangers.

Sometimes, when she saw her on television or in magazines, she could distinctly feel that they belonged to entirely different worlds.

Wen Jin paused for a moment, shifting her gaze toward the nearby flowers. "If Ms. Jiang has nothing else to discuss, I will head back first."

Returning to the main areas of the Sheng residence, her mood was somewhat heavy.

And yet, she happened to run into Zhao Yimo.

Zhao Yimo raised his wine glass, eyeing her critically. "Honestly, I still don't see what's so special about you."

Wen Jin cast a cold glance at him. "Step aside."

Zhao Yimo continued to block her path. "What's the rush? We're old acquaintances, at least."

"How come your attitude toward Ning Lang and your attitude toward me are so vastly different?"

Wen Jin felt it was completely impossible to find common ground with him.

She walked straight past Zhao Yimo, only to hear his unhurried voice drift over:

"You can brush me off like that, but Sheng Yang is hurt—aren't you going to go check on him?"

"Don't look at me like you don't believe it."

Zhao Yimo shook his head. "He just came back from the garden, must have run into something he's allergic to, and went straight back to his room to rest."

Wen Jin wanted to retort that an allergic reaction called for a doctor, not her.

Yet, her footsteps pivoted, carrying her away from her original destination.

Severe allergic reactions could be fatal.

And Sheng Yang happened to be exceptionally delicate and high-maintenance.

After all, she was still living under the Sheng family roof.

She couldn't simply stand by and let something happen to Sheng Yang today.

The door to Sheng Yang's bedroom was not fully closed, so Wen Jin pushed it open and walked straight inside.

To her sight, Sheng Yang was sitting on the sofa.

The buttons at his collar had been violently torn open, leaving his clothes in disarray.

Wen Jin stopped in front of his bedside table, reached inside, and retrieved a box of allergy medication.

"There is medicine right here in the cabinet. Why didn't you take it?"

She had specifically instructed the household staff to prepare this long ago.

Knowing that Sheng Yang was allergic to numerous things, Wen Jin had always worried.

Eventually, she had simply made it a habit to keep various allergy medications stocked for him.

Even Wen Jin herself frequently carried them on her person.

Hearing her voice, Sheng Yang raised his eyes.

Due to the allergic reaction, the corners of his eyes were tinged with a raw, flushed red.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, his voice raspy and hoarse. "I thought you wouldn't come."

"Zhao Yimo said you were severely injured."

Sheng Yang paused, then pulled his collar open a fraction more.

His gaze unabashedly locked onto Wen Jin, and he reached out his hand.

Instead of taking the medicine, however,

He grabbed Wen Jin by the wrist.

With a sudden, forceful yank, he pulled her directly in front of him.

"Help me."

"You know what needs to be done."