Cold sweat beaded on Wen Ying’s forehead.
Meeting an ex with poise and calm is worlds apart from meeting an ex in a state of utter disarray.
“You need help.”
Rebecca confirmed softly, and Wen Ying nodded with difficulty.
Once Rebecca understood the situation, realisation dawned.
Chinese girls are really so shy!
Rebecca didn’t mock Wen Ying. Instead, she first asked He Zhen to wait outside, then took out some painkillers she carried with her—a cultural difference. In China, most girls endure menstrual pain, rarely opting for painkillers, while abroad, painkillers are commonly used.
No menstrual pain can’t be solved with one pill.
If one doesn’t work, take two!
Taking a painkiller occasionally has nothing to do with drug abuse, and Wen Ying decisively accepted Rebecca’s kindness.
“…Thank you!”
A few minutes after swallowing the pill, at Rebecca’s request, a restaurant waiter brought Wen Ying some sanitary products.
After freshening up, Wen Ying felt much better, as if she’d come back to life!
The painkiller couldn’t have worked that fast; it was likely that relaxing her mind eased her body’s discomfort too.
“Are you alright on your own?”
Clever as she was, Rebecca quickly realised she could communicate with Wen Ying in English.
“I’m fine. I came to the restaurant with others, and now I should go find them.”
Lingering in the restroom for too long wasn’t pleasant. After ensuring Wen Ying was okay, Rebecca left. Two sets of footsteps faded away. He Zhen asked Rebecca what happened, but Rebecca brushed it off lightly, not telling him the truth.
This was to spare Wen Ying embarrassment, preserving her dignity.
So, He Zhen’s first love was this kind-hearted.
Wen Ying was a bit dazed.
Meeting He Zhen wouldn’t be a big deal, would it?
The intimate memories of the past were hers alone. To He Zhen, she was just a stranger.
What did it matter if she was a mess in front of a stranger?
Deep down, she still cared a little.
Not because she couldn’t let go of He Zhen, but because, for two people once in love, only she held the memories. That thought was a bit melancholic.
Besides, even if they weren’t lovers, He Zhen was a very important friend to her. In her past life, her transformation in Shanghai owed much to He Zhen’s involvement—
Wen Ying looked at her now-slimmer self in the mirror. If she’d been in this state at the start of her rebirth, she might not have resisted the urge to seek out He Zhen immediately.
Back then, her feelings for He Zhen were at their strongest.
But looking dishevelled at the time, she didn’t go.
Nearly two years later, Wen Ying had transformed, but the urge to find He Zhen was gone.
Suddenly, Wen Ying recalled something critical: He Zhen’s mother, Dai Chenglan, was friends with Xie Jinghu’s mistress. She’d learned this by chance during a trip to Macau and had wondered if Xie Qian’s untimely death in her past life was linked to the He family.
If Xie Qian’s tragedy was man-made, Xie Jinghu’s mistress was likely involved… Was Dai Chenglan part of it?
If Dai Chenglan was involved, would He Zhen also—no, no way. He Zhen was a businessman, not a callous villain who disregarded life. Wen Ying was certain of that.
If He Zhen were a bad person, she wouldn’t have chosen to be with him!
Wen Ying tried to piece together the timeline from her past life.
Xie Qian’s tragic end was in 2019.
The “Mr. Zhuo,” considered the heir of Jinhu Group, had risen to power before 2019.
Jinhu Group’s business scope was vast, with real estate led by “Mr. Zhuo.” Wen Ying had only vaguely heard of their other ventures.
Was medical involved?
It seemed so.
But not as high-profile as real estate.
The He family started with medical devices. After He Zhen returned to China, he gradually took over the family business, consolidating their existing resources and founding a new company called “Silan Biotech.”
Silan focused on medical aesthetics.
Wen Ying and He Zhen met because of a medical aesthetics dispute.
“Silan Biotech…”
Wen Ying murmured to herself. He Zhen wouldn’t harm anyone.
But Silan Biotech’s rise marked a major leap in the He family’s overall strength!
Did the He family’s rise benefit Xie Jinghu’s mistress?
In her past life, Wen Ying couldn’t be sure if it did or how much they were entangled.
In this life, it definitely did.
Hadn’t Xie Qian mentioned that Xie Jinghu invested a large sum in Dai Chenglan? That was practically boosting the mistress’s leverage abroad!
Perhaps Xie Jinghu was funnelling money to Dai Chenglan on the surface while secretly transferring marital assets.
He Zhen would surely take over the family business as he did in the past life.
The He family’s strength was a boon to Xie Jinghu’s mistress.
With the mistress’s power growing, Xie Qian would be in danger.
Was she destined to stand on opposite sides from He Zhen in this life?
The sink’s water gushed loudly. Wen Ying washed her hands so long she nearly rubbed off a layer of skin.
A small head peeked in at the door.
“You didn’t faint!”
It was Shen Huan.
Snapping back, Wen Ying turned off the tap, “You thought I fainted? Thanks for worrying about me, I’m fine.”
Shen Huan firmly denied it, “I wasn’t worried about you! You pinched my face!”
With no adults around, little Shen Huan could finally voice his stern accusation.
Wen Ying dried her hands and smiled, “You don’t like your face being pinched? Sorry, I didn’t know. You were just too adorable, I couldn’t help it.”
Shen Huan wanted to say who likes their face pinched? It hurt, and it treated him like a kindergarten kid. But Wen Ying so openly called him adorable, not in front of his parents, meaning it wasn’t just polite words—she really thought he was cute… Shen Huan felt a bit shy, his little face instantly turning red.
—I *am* adorable, no need for others to say!
The primary schooler in overalls stood tall, clearly trying to hold it in, yet his eyebrows and eyes were smiling.
Shen Huan looked like Wu Chunqin, with delicate features.
Wen Ying couldn’t help but smile too.
The current Shen Huan was genuinely adorable and easy to coax.
Unlike years later, when Shen Huan screamed hysterically at Aunt Wu and Professor Shen, his expression ferocious, with no trace of cuteness.
Both Aunt Wu and Professor Shen were upright people; Shen Huan shouldn’t have gone astray.
Wen Ying was still wondering what went wrong when Shen Huan turned back and called, “Hurry up!”
Wen Ying set aside her myriad thoughts.
Worrying blindly was useless; she’d take it one step at a time. In this life, she’d met Aunt Wu earlier and grown closer, so she’d surely notice if Shen Huan started going astray.
As for He Zhen.
Dai Chenglan was Dai Chenglan, and He Zhen was He Zhen. Having been in love, she should trust He Zhen’s character.
Even if Dai Chenglan aided wrongdoing, how could that be blamed on He Zhen?
He Zhen hadn’t done anything yet!
He Zhen and Rebecca hadn’t left the restaurant; He Zhen was settling the bill.
Shen Huan led Wen Ying through the restaurant. The primary schooler’s liveliness caught He Zhen’s eye for a moment, and then He Zhen saw Wen Ying.
It was truly just a glance, but He Zhen recognised her.
—The fish swimming against the current!
