Chapter 43: Protecting Her

Once her household registration was transferred out of the Sheng family, she would no longer have any ties to them.

Wen Jin assumed Sheng Yang would be quite pleased with this outcome.

As expected.

Sheng Yang stared at her for a moment, then looked away and scoffed, "I had actually forgotten about that matter."

"It's not too late now," Wen Jin said. "Transferring the household registration shouldn't take much time."

Besides, with the backing of the Sheng family, the process would be even more effortless.

Sheng Yang did not respond further.

He lowered his head slightly, making it impossible to read the expression on his face. He simply pulled open the car door and said to Wen Jin in an indifferent tone, "After you."

They still had to return to the Wen residence.

When they arrived, people were already waiting inside.

Aside from Wen You, there were several middle-aged individuals present.

Elder Sheng sat in the center, his expression rather solemn.

Upon seeing Wen Jin return, he spoke softly, "Xiao Jin is back."

Wen Jin stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the members of the Wen family before finally resting on Wen You's chilling countenance.

She then withdrew her gaze and answered obediently, "Grandpa Sheng."

The elderly man waved his hand, looking utterly exhausted. "I assume you already know what this is about. Explain it to your uncle and aunt."

Wen Jin's expression remained unchanged as she looked at the seated Wen family members. "Is everyone here because of Wen Tao?"

Wen You looked at her. Although her expression was cold, the emotion in her eyes held a persistent undertone of displeasure.

"Wen Jin, you don't need to feign ignorance. We came here today to settle this matter."

Wen Jin looked at them. While these people claimed they were here to resolve the issue, not a single one wore a friendly expression.

She asked, "So, how do you propose to resolve it?"

The circumstances surrounding Wen Tao had already been investigated.

The truth was that he had been diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer and, unable to accept the diagnosis, had chosen to end his own life.

Yet Wen You's attitude now seemed to imply that Wen Jin was responsible for his death.

A flash of sarcasm crossed the depths of Wen Jin's eyes, but with Elder Sheng present, there was nothing she could say.

She could only wait for the Wen family's "judgment."

The corners of Wen You's lips curled up. "I don't know why my uncle's suicide note bore your name, but the conflict between you two at the hospital is common knowledge."

Wen Jin's voice was light and calm. "Then you must also know what the investigation revealed regarding Wen Tao and my father, right?"

The situation between Wen Tao and Wen Chaosheng was actually quite simple; a brief investigation was enough to uncover the truth.

Thanks to Song Heng's previous assistance, everything had been clarified that very day.

Not only had Wen Tao provoked Wen Chaosheng, but he had also thrown the first punch.

Wen Chaosheng had only acted in self-defense.

That was why Wen Chaosheng had been covered in injuries while Wen Tao had remained completely unharmed.

After hearing Wen Jin's words, Wen You's expression did not change in the slightest.

She reminded Wen Jin, "I am not talking about your father; I am talking about your own actions."

Nearly all the members of the Wen family stared at Wen Jin, their expressions very much like Wen You's.

Wen Jin clenched her palms slightly, her lowered eyelashes trembling gently.

"Enough!"

Elder Sheng's voice suddenly rang out. His examining and sharp gaze swept over everyone present.

Then, in a deep voice, he said, "This is the Sheng family residence. I had you come here today because this matter concerns Xiao Jin to some extent, and I wanted everything discussed openly in front of everyone—not for you to cross-examine Xiao Jin here!"

The elder's tone clearly held displeasure. "Do you take Xiao Jin to have no family to support her? She was raised by the Sheng family; she is a child of the Sheng family."

Wen Shanhai stood up, his brows furrowed. "Elder Sheng, we are not cross-examining her. What Wen You said is also the truth."

"Currently, the only person who had a feud with Wen Tao is Wen Jin. Even if Wen Tao committed suicide, who can guarantee that Wen Jin didn't seek him out again in private?"

"The incident with Wen Chaosheng is dubious to begin with, and who knows if Wen Jin harbored thoughts of revenge and deliberately used that matter to provoke Wen Tao?"

Wen Shanhai was Wen You's father, whom Wen Jin had occasionally caught glimpses of from afar in the past.

Devoid of smiles, he radiated an air of sternness from head to toe.

The way he lowered his gaze was carved from the exact same mold as Wen You's, carrying a sense of lofty arrogance.

He sternly reminded the elder, "The Wen family and the Sheng family are preparing for a marriage alliance, and I respect you as an elder, but Wen Tao is my younger brother no matter what."

This was a blatant threat to the elderly man, stopping just short of forcing him to choose between Wen Jin and them.

The elder's expression had already darkened, his clouded eyes fixed on Wen Shanhai.

As the stalemate hung in the air, Sheng Yang's voice drifted in from outside, carrying a hint of casual nonchalance.

"So, are you currently relying on this connection with the Sheng family to trample the Sheng family's dignity underfoot?"

Those who have long held positions of power naturally carry a condescending attitude toward everyone around them.

And Sheng Yang practically embodied this trait to the absolute limit.

Fairly speaking, Sheng Yang had taken over Lingyue at a young age, and his decisive, thunderous methods went without saying.

Otherwise, how could the Sheng family have remained at the very pinnacle relying solely on one Sheng Yang?

The moment Wen Shanhai caught sight of Sheng Yang, the arrogance that had enveloped him paused for a fraction of a second.

Then, his brow furrowed. "Sheng Yang, your wedding with Wen You is approaching—"

"So what?" Sheng Yang's expression remained completely detached. Even when facing Wen Shanhai, his chin stayed slightly tilted upward.

His arrogance was ingrained in his bones.

His lowered eyelashes blocked the view of his light-colored pupils, concealing the thoughts within so that no one could decipher them.

Yet when those eyelashes lifted again, his gaze swept lightly over Wen Jin.

The corners of Wen Jin's lips were taut, her spine held rigidly straight.

Standing amidst them all, she looked like the most isolated and helpless center of the storm.

Sheng Yang's tone was flat. "Wen Jin is still a member of the Sheng family. Is this how you storm in to demand accountability?"

Wen Shanhai's expression had darkened to the extreme.

Seeing this, Wen You pressed her lips together from the side and said, "Sheng Yang, no matter what, Wen Jin is the most suspicious person in this matter."

"Even on his deathbed, my uncle was obsessed with her. There must be something going on here that we don't know about."

Compared to Wen Shanhai's interrogation, Wen You's tone was notably much softer.

Sheng Yang turned his gaze to her, and after a moment, reined in the imposing aura around him.

Without much emotion, he said, "I know."

Following that, he added, "How you deal with Wen Jin is none of my concern."

"However, this is the Sheng family."

And the Sheng family was naturally not a place where Wen Shanhai could throw his weight around.

Wen You nodded, softening her tone further as she explained to Sheng Yang, "My father didn't mean to deal with Wen Jin harshly."

"It's just that my uncle fixated on Wen Jin before he died. We simply want Wen Jin to kowtow three times before his grave."

"That should serve as some comfort to my uncle's spirit in heaven."

When these words fell, everyone went quiet.

Only Wen Jin's expression was unsightly to the extreme.

She raised her eyes and spoke in a slightly deep voice, "You want me to kowtow to Wen Tao?"

She added quietly, "I hardly think Wen Tao is worthy of that."

This undoubtedly infuriated Wen Shanhai once more.

His expression darkened. "What kind of person do you think you are, daring to overestimate yourself like this?"

Wen Jin bit the corner of her lip and instead looked straight at Elder Sheng. "Grandpa Sheng, do you also agree with their handling of this—"

Her gaze was thoroughly calm, yet laden with an inexplicable sorrow.

The elder's heart skipped a beat. Remembering something, he slammed his walking stick hard against the ground. "All of you, shut your mouths!"

-

In the end, Elder Sheng issued a direct order for the Wen family to leave.

Before departing, however, Wen Shanhai wore a deeply unpleasant expression.

He left behind a final warning: "Since you insist on protecting her, the Sheng family must give the Wen family an explanation for this."

After seeing the visitors out, Elder Sheng sighed as he looked at Wen Jin, before letting the housekeeper support him back to his room to rest.

Wen Jin glanced up at Sheng Yang, but ultimately said nothing.

With her mind in turmoil, she remembered the issue regarding the household registration book.

Deciding to deal with it now, she headed straight for the elder's room.

Just as she reached the doorway, however, she overheard the elder's voice: "Wen Chaosheng went to prison back then precisely for the sake of Sheng Tian. How could I possibly fail to protect Xiao Jin?"

The housekeeper replied in a low voice, "It was Wen Chaosheng's own choice. You have already treated him more than fairly."