Zhan Mohan's deep eyes flashed with surprise for a moment. He had intended to pull away, but seeing her flustered and helpless face, he inexplicably felt a pang of pity.
As if driven by an impulse, he gently patted the back of her hand, his voice exceedingly tender.
"Be good, I'll take a shower and be right back."
But Wei Yumeng showed no reaction, merely clinging tightly to Zhan Mohan's hand.
He felt a touch of helplessness, resigning himself to let her hold on.
The next morning, Wei Yumeng opened her eyes to find Zhan Mohan dozing by her bedside, which startled her.
As she tried to sit up, she realized her hand was still holding Zhan Mohan's. Scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind. She remembered grabbing onto something warm, soft, and comforting when she had a nightmare.
She hadn't expected it to be Zhan Mohan's hand, and that he had let her hold it all night.
Her heart was instantly enveloped in a wave of warmth, and a sweet smile curved her lips. wΑp.kanshu伍.net
Zhan Mohan was easily startled, and sleeping uncomfortably made him even more prone to waking.
Wei Yumeng watched his hazy eyes gradually open and quickly withdrew her hand, feeling embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know last night..."
"Since you're awake, get up. We have to go to the company later, and there are some documents for you to organize."
He stood up, his expression impassive, his tone neither warm nor cold, a complete contrast to the previous night. In the span of one night, he had reverted to his usual indifferent self.
Wei Yumeng didn't say anything more. She lifted the covers and as her feet touched the floor, she found that the pain in her ankle had significantly lessened. While she couldn't jump around, walking was no longer an issue.
This also meant she could avoid Wen Yulan and Old Master Zhan noticing.
She put on her shoes and murmured, "I didn't expect Jing Yan's medicine to be so effective."
Zhan Mohan changed his clothes and, while closing the wardrobe door, cast a cursory glance at Wei Yumeng's ankle.
"Jing Yan's medicine is the best, especially for bruises and sprains."
Otherwise, he would have sent her to the hospital.
Wei Yumeng said, "Please thank him for me."
Downstairs, Wei Yumeng sat at the dining table, ready for breakfast. Wen Yulan likely hadn't come down yet, as they both woke up early for work.
When Feng Shiming came downstairs, she saw Wei Yumeng and her face contorted with animosity. The thought of having to apologize to her later made her deeply uncomfortable.
Wei Yumeng saw Feng Shiming sit opposite her and paid no mind. They barely spoke a few words at the company, let alone in private.
As Wei Yumeng was about to finish her meal, Feng Shiming remained silent. Zhan Mohan prompted her from the side.
"Shiming, have you forgotten what I told you yesterday?"
Feng Shiming pouted and put down her chopsticks. "Uh... Wei Yumeng, I... I apologize to you."
This was her first time apologizing to someone, and it was to the person she disliked the most. If not for Zhan Mohan pressuring her, she wouldn't even bother speaking to this woman.
Wei Yumeng, who had just taken a sip of milk, nearly choked upon hearing Feng Shiming's words.
"Apologize for what?"
"It's about yesterday, about those men who kidnapped you?" Feng Shiming's head gradually drooped lower as she spoke, almost touching the table, her voice growing fainter. "It... it was me who hired them."
Wei Yumeng's expression immediately changed. The chopsticks in her hand clattered to the floor.
She snapped back to attention, her brows furrowed. A pallor bloomed on her face, tinged with anger.
"Do you know what I would have faced if those people had succeeded yesterday!"
She had clearly lost control, her voice rising sharply.
Feng Shiming's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Wei Yumeng's enraged gaze. She had never been yelled at like this before; the only person who had ever yelled at her was Brother Mohan.
But why did this woman have the right to yell at her?
As she was about to lash out, she was met with a stern look from Zhan Mohan, which silenced her.
Feng Shiming still feared Zhan Mohan. Recalling his warning to her, she could only swallow her resentment.
"I'm sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. I just didn't want you getting close to Brother Mohan every day. Besides, those men didn't succeed, did they?"
Wei Yumeng shot up from her chair, her face flushed with anger as she glared at the nonchalant Feng Shiming.
"What would it have taken for them to succeed? Feng Shiming, if it were you, would you have accepted it?"
Feng Shiming was taken aback that Wei Yumeng was still yelling at her.
"Hey! I've apologized to you, what more do you want?"
Wei Yumeng sneered, "Did Miss Feng, you yourself want to apologize to me? If your Brother Mohan hadn't told you, you probably wouldn't have admitted you did it."
"You..."
"Shiming, apologize to your sister-in-law!"
Both Feng Shiming and Wei Yumeng looked at Zhan Mohan in surprise. Feng Shiming's reaction was the most pronounced.
"When did she become my sister-in-law? Brother Mohan, why are you..."
"If you're unwilling to apologize, this matter will have to be handed over to Grandpa. And then, it won't be as simple as an apology."
Zhan Mohan's patience had run out, his tone exceptionally cold, as if carrying a winter wind.
Seeing Zhan Mohan about to get up, Feng Shiming hurriedly said,
"Alright, alright, Brother Mohan, don't tell Grandpa."
This time, she sincerely apologized to Wei Yumeng, "I'm sorry. I was just momentarily blinded by anger. I hope you can forgive me. If you're still upset, you can hit me or scold me."
Wei Yumeng couldn't swallow her anger at that moment and was unwilling to accept Feng Shiming's apology. She flatly refused.
"I'm sorry, Miss Feng. I cannot forgive you for what you did to me."
With that, she stood up and walked out.
Only Zhan Mohan and Feng Shiming remained in the living room. The atmosphere plummeted, and Feng Shiming didn't dare to meet Zhan Mohan's gaze.
"Brother Mohan, you really can't blame me. She's the one who didn't accept my apology."
"I told you, if she doesn't forgive you, I won't be able to protect you. People must always pay for their actions."
Following this, Zhan Mohan also stood up and walked out.
Feng Shiming eagerly tried to chase after him, but in her haste, her foot tripped over the threshold, and she fell to the ground in a disheveled heap. Looking at Zhan Mohan's heartless and indifferent back, she was filled with both fear and anger.
This Wei Yumeng must be doing this on purpose. It wasn't that big of a deal, and she hadn't been harmed, yet she insisted on blowing it up. Wasn't she just trying to ruin her relationship with Brother Mohan?
She would not let this woman succeed!
Wen Yulan, having just finished dressing and applying her makeup, was about to go downstairs when she saw Feng Shiming rushing upstairs.
"Shiming, why are you crying? Who bullied you?"
"It's Mohan... no, it's that Wei Yumeng."
"What happened, tell me about it." Whenever it concerned Wei Yumeng, Wen Yulan never missed an opportunity.
Feng Shiming briefly explained the situation to Wen Yulan. Wen Yulan understood the gist of it. Sister Li whispered a few words in her ear, and Wen Yulan's eyes lit up with an idea.
She comforted Feng Shiming with a motherly demeanor.
"Don't cry. Your Brother Mohan doesn't know your good intentions yet. Once he completely sees her true colors, he'll naturally come back to you."
Feng Shiming was already impatient.
"Auntie, please think of a way. As long as Wei Yumeng stays by Brother Mohan's side for another day, I'll be unhappy."
"Don't worry, you are the treasure of our Zhan family. Although we are not related by blood, we have always considered you family. Who would side with an outsider like Wei Yumeng?"
Wen Yulan's words finally put Feng Shiming's mind somewhat at ease.
She clung to Wen Yulan as if she had found a lifeline, "Then Auntie, what's your plan?"