Deng Shangwei wanted to explain to Wen Ying, but it suddenly hit him that she was only sixteen.
In Chinese culture, people shy away from discussing sex, let alone with Wen Ying being a minor; even if she were an adult, Deng Shangwei, as her uncle, shouldn’t be talking about such things with his niece.
All he could do was repeatedly stress he hadn’t had the chance to mess up and ask Wen Ying for some time.
“I’ll find proof!”
Wen Ying was half-convinced.
Really no chance to mess up?
Those TV tropes where a scheming side chick spends a night beside the hero and demands accountability the next morning—Wen Ying found them absurd if applied to real life.
She weighed it for a moment before nodding slightly, “Is half a month enough?”
Deng Shangwei gritted his teeth and nodded, “Deal, it’s settled.”
To focus on finding evidence to clear himself and uncover Yu Wenhao’s plot, Deng Shangwei made a three-point pact with Wen Ying, hoping she wouldn’t act too oddly around him for the next two weeks, so Chen Li wouldn’t suspect anything.
“Once I sort this out, I’ll confess to your aunt, she can hit or yell all she wants, I won’t fight back, but she can’t know now.”
A chaotic home would scatter his focus, keeping him from fully tackling outsiders.
With a stable base, he could throw everything into investigating—not just for himself, but to protect the family.
Honestly, Deng Shangwei was terrified.
He’d thought it over all night, tossing and turning, piecing it together, concluding he and Pan Li hadn’t crossed that line.
But if Wen Ying hadn’t fallen ill, prompting him to rush to the hospital overnight, or if she hadn’t nagged him repeatedly not to drive drunk, he might not have held that last line.
During Wen Ying’s hospital stay, he’d been there, and those hallway calls were indeed from Pan Li—calls he’d gotten several times over two months, always small favors.
Small favors he could handle, her advances he’d rebuffed.
But if Pan Li was Yu Wenhao’s trap, knowing him so well, Yu Wenhao would’ve ensured a “second time.” The first could be fake, the second real.
Then, with Pan Li revealing a pregnancy, unaware of Yu Wenhao’s scheme and having slept with her sober, he’d have no reason to doubt the child wasn’t his—or question that “first time.”
Realizing this, Deng Shangwei couldn’t help slapping himself a few times.
Wen Ying stepped back, “Uncle, save your strength for the schemers, going upstairs with slap marks—won’t Aunt suspect something?”
Deng Shangwei nodded vigorously.
When they went upstairs, both put on their best acting, chatting and laughing.
Chen Li was baffled, quietly asking Deng Yaomei:
“Don’t you think the vibe between Wen Ying and your brother’s off? Are they hiding something? These past two days, Wen Ying’s clearly been mad at him, last night was weird, now they’re acting like nothing’s wrong!”
Deng Yaomei, honest to a fault and floating from “Teacher Wen’s” praise during her study streak, hadn’t noticed anything odd between them.
At Chen Li’s prompting, she observed, then shook her head earnestly, “Sister Chen, I can’t tell.”
True enough, Wen Ying and Deng Shangwei were all smiles at the table.
Deng Shangwei even said he’d drop Wen Ying off to meet Qin Jiao later.
Wen Ying’s pager buzzed; she checked it and told him not to bother, “Jiao姐 says her family’s car will pick me up and drop me back after shopping.”
Deng Shangwei nodded, handed her some cash, urging her not to skimp with Qin Jiao—spend what’s needed.
Wen Ying didn’t refuse, “Thanks, Uncle, I won’t embarrass you or hold you back!”
Qin Jiao was Boss Qin’s daughter, and Deng Shangwei relied on Boss Qin’s support to make money—spending on Qin Jiao was more effective than buttering up Boss Qin directly.
Only Deng Shangwei had that privilege; most couldn’t spend on Qin Jiao even if they wanted—Boss Qin wouldn’t allow it!
Chen Li watched for ages, wondering if she’d overthought it, then scolded Deng Shangwei after Wen Ying’s comment, “You’re doing business, and now Wen Ying has to cozy up to the big boss’s daughter for you!”
Deng Shangwei grinned awkwardly.
Wen Ying defended him, “Aunt, what’s this about cozying up? Qin Jiao姐姐’s amazing, even without Uncle and Boss Qin’s ties, I’d want to be her friend.”
Her sincerity softened Chen Li, who switched to a smile, “Teacher Lin said mid-exam results are out tomorrow, go have fun today, your parents will definitely come to Rongcheng tomorrow.”
Though Wen Ying hadn’t been in Rongcheng long, she’d spent days in the hospital post-exam.
Half a month flew by—tomorrow revealed her scores.
Chen Li hoped Wen Ying had done well; Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong prized her grades above all, a good result would thrill them and ease Wen Ying’s life!
Wen Ying knew this life’s scores beat her last—definitely clearing the top school’s self-admission line.
Her parents coming tomorrow? Likely to pull strings.
Once tomorrow’s results hit, they’d be shocked.
Wen Ying started anticipating the scene… wait, she couldn’t just revel in tomorrow’s face-slapping moment, she had to prep for the top school’s entrance exam!
That thought hit, and after breakfast, she tackled two practice papers until Qin Jiao called.
“Jiao姐, you’re here? Great, I’m coming down.”
At the neighborhood entrance, Qin Jiao, hearing the dial tone, muttered, “Such a rush.”
She hadn’t finished talking!
In the car’s passenger seat, a laid-back teen laughed, “My dad hyped this Wen Ying like she’s some goddess, I wanna see if she’s got three heads and six arms.”
Qin Jiao shot him a look, “Wang Shuang, you’re shameless, I said it’s a girls’ day, yet you tagged along, I’m warning you, don’t pull your school tricks on Wen Ying!”
Wang Shuang nodded, “Relax, don’t be so serious, you’re young but nag like an old granny.”
He said that, but inside, he was curious.
His dad praised Wen Ying at home, Qin Jiao was so protective—worried he’d make a move—Wang Shuang pictured her as a clever, stunning girl.
Maybe his type, hence Qin Jiao guarding her like a thief.
Eager, he didn’t bat an eye when a round-faced, chubby girl appeared in view.
But Qin Jiao rolled down the window, calling out, “Wen Ying, hop in!”
Wang Shuang’s face morphed from confusion to shock, then rage: Was Qin Jiao blind? This chubby round-face—her worrying about him hitting on her?
“This young master isn’t that desperate!”
