Chapter 44: Are You Related to Dogs?

Elder Sheng sighed. "I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, but sometimes lately when I look at Xiao Jin, I always feel a sense of unease in my heart."

"It's as if she already knows the truth about back then."

The butler was a veteran who had been by Elder Sheng's side for decades, and he knew many of the Sheng family's secrets.

He lowered his voice to comfort the old man. "Wen Chaosheng was simply blinded by greed. It has nothing to do with you."

"Besides, he volunteered to take the blame for Sheng Tian."

Wen Jin's pupils dilated slightly, and her breathing stopped.

What were the old man and the butler talking about?

Wen Chaosheng took the blame for Sheng Tian?

Sheng Tian.

He was Sheng Yang's father.

He rarely returned to the Sheng family throughout the year, and during Wen Jin's few years in the Sheng family, she had barely seen him.

However—

He and Sheng Yang's mother, Song Yu'er, had never divorced.

In other words, Sheng Tian and Song Yu'er were a famously estranged couple in high society.

Yet.

Wen Jin's mind was filled entirely with the butler's words: Wen Chaosheng was blinded by greed.

All those chaotic thoughts reeled back in an instant.

And finally settled like a massive stone, pressing directly upon Wen Jin's heart.

Everything could be explained now.

No wonder Guan Fangqin had insisted before her death that Wen Chaosheng had been wronged.

And no wonder Elder Sheng had chosen, of all people, to take her in.

A dull ache throbbed in Wen Jin's head. She raised her eyes once more to look at the Sheng residence.

This colossal, luxurious villa.

It felt more like a meticulously designed trap crafted just for her.

A cage.

Wen Jin tugged at the corner of her lips in supreme mockery.

"In such a rush to cut ties with the Sheng family?"

Sheng Yang's voice suddenly rang out beside her ears. Wen Jin turned around.

She saw Sheng Yang standing next to her, looking down at her with a mocking expression.

The thoughts in Wen Jin's mind had not yet settled, and the gaze she cast at Sheng Yang was tinged with numbness.

Right now, she had no idea how to face him.

A moment later, she could only force out a hoarse voice: "Step aside."

Sheng Yang's brows pressed down slightly, his eyes narrowing.

He raised a hand, locked his grip around Wen Jin's wrist, and dragged her directly into his bedroom.

The moment the door slammed shut, Sheng Yang's tall frame pressed down on her.

Nose to nose, their breaths intertwining intimately.

"Whose anger are you taking out on me?"

Wen Jin pressed both hands against Sheng Yang's chest, turning her face away to avoid looking at him.

Her heart hammered violently against her ribs, carrying an indescribable pain.

The corners of her eyes turned red involuntarily, and her body shook with uncontrollable tremors.

After a long while.

She finally replied: "Sheng Yang, don't go too far."

Because her throat was tight, her voice came out dry and harsh.

Sheng Yang pinched her chin, forcing her to look back at him.

His brown pupils clearly reflected Wen Jin's face.

His brows lowered uncontrollably as he said in a low voice, "It is an indisputable fact that Wen Tao's suicide note bears your name."

"It's only natural that the Wen family is coming to you for compensation."

These words sounded almost as if he were explaining himself to her.

After a brief pause, he added, "However, since you are still a member of the Sheng family, we won't let the Wen family force you to kowtow to Wen Tao, if only for the sake of our reputation."

He thought Wen Jin was throwing a tantrum over this matter.

A self-deprecating smirk tugged at the corner of Wen Jin's lips. "Sheng Yang, I am going to sever ties with the Sheng family."

Especially after learning the truth about Wen Chaosheng and Sheng Tian.

It was all the more impossible for Wen Jin to remain foolishly in the Sheng family as she had before.

Or to harbor any gratitude toward them.

This place was clearly nothing more than a den of wolves and tigers that devoured people alive.

Darkness gradually surfaced in Sheng Yang's eyes. He stared intently at Wen Jin, not relaxing his grip in the slightest.

As if he meant to trap her here permanently.

In a daze, Wen Jin realized that this room was Sheng Yang's bedroom.

The minimalist black, white, and gray decor carried the same cold, aloof aura that belonged to him.

This was a place Wen Jin had visited countless times before.

Back when she had first gotten together with Sheng Yang.

At that time, Wen Jin still harbored some unspeakable adolescent romantic fantasies.

Yet looking at it now, those so-called romantic fantasies were utterly ridiculous.

The pent-up frustration in her heart urgently needed an outlet.

Wen Jin struggled free from the hand gripping her chin, and without hesitation, she bit down hard on his arm.

She used all her might, holding nothing back.

Sheng Yang let out a muffled grunt, his jaw tightening.

He did not push Wen Jin away; he merely kept his dark gaze fixed on her.

The thoughts deep within his eyes were exceptionally murky.

As Wen Jin bit down on Sheng Yang's arm, for a fleeting moment, she could taste the metallic tang of blood on the tip of her tongue.

The moisture in her eyes gradually faded, leaving behind only a bitter astringency.

She maintained that posture for God knows how long, until she finally let go, prompting Sheng Yang to let out a soft, humorless chuckle.

He asked, "Wen Jin, were you born in the Year of the Dog?"

Wen Jin closed her eyes, then shoved Sheng Yang aside and moved to leave.

Her face was pale, but her eyes had regained their absolute clarity.

"Sheng Yang, remember where you are—this is the Sheng family."

"By making such a grand scene, are you trying to announce our relationship to the world?"

She knew all too well what Sheng Yang cared about the most, so every single word struck right at his heart.

Sheng Yang looked down at Wen Jin from his height. "You remember this is the Sheng family too, so who are you putting on an attitude for?"

"You don't actually think anyone here cares about you, do you?"

Of course not.

Not a single soul here cared about her.

Wen Jin curled her lips in bitter self-mockery.

If even a single person in the Sheng family cared about her, how could they have let Wen Chaosheng take the blame for Sheng Tian—

And how could they have treated her like a fool, deceiving her all this while when they clearly knew the truth?

It was only at this moment that Wen Jin finally understood what Wen Chaosheng had meant when he said they were no match for the Sheng family.