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Chapter 19.1 - Formality (1)
Cong Rong grew even more flustered, with an inexplicable heat rising inside her. Fortunately, her phone suddenly rang, prompting Wen Shaoqing to withdraw his hand and sit to the side. She hurriedly answered, and as soon as the call connected, she heard Zhong Zhen’s anxious voice:
“Cousin! Are you okay? Where did you hit your head? Was it serious? Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“It’s nothing serious. How did you find out?”
“My boss told me! I’m glad you’re okay! Cousin, I won’t be able to visit you for a while, but once this month is over, I’ll come find you.”
“What’s going on with you?”
“That psycho, Professor Wen! He’s forcing me to publish my paper this month! I’m scared to even run into him! I literally dodge him when I see him! I mean, isn’t he insane? Does he think everyone can casually publish high-impact SCI papers like he does? He breaks his own publication records every year! What kind of mutant is he? What does he even eat to grow up like that?”
Zhong Zhen was ranting nonstop, and since Wen Shaoqing was sitting nearby, he heard every word clearly. Cong Rong hadn’t expected Zhong Zhen to say all that, and it was way too late to avoid embarrassment now. All she could do was sit there awkwardly, turning her head ever so slightly—only to see Wen Shaoqing looking at her with an oddly amused smile.
That smile gave her chills.
He still looked as gentle and refined as always—relaxed, even lazily so. His eyes and expression were warm and soft… but beneath it was a sharp glint, as if he was scheming something. That small smile on his lips looked like he had already made up his mind.
Cong Rong had encountered all kinds of people in her legal career, even the most vicious suspects didn’t scare her. But somehow, she found this man with a smile far more dangerous than any of them.
She began to truly sympathize with her cousin.
Clearing her throat, she tried to steer the conversation. “Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense. Show some respect to your mentor—he’s doing this for your own good.”
But Zhong Zhen didn’t get the hint and grew even more animated. “I heard psychos like that are always great at tormenting people. Cousin, I was wrong before—I take it back. I’ll never introduce him to you again! I think I finally understand why he’s still single. Who could possibly tolerate someone like that? You’re even his neighbor—you better be careful!”
Realizing this was about to get completely out of hand, Cong Rong calmly turned the volume down and interrupted, “I’ll give you some extra spending money this month. I’ll transfer it to you tomorrow.”
Zhong Zhen squealed with excitement. After screaming, he suddenly asked, “Wait, why the bonus?”
Cong Rong glanced at Wen Shaoqing, whose smirk had deepened, and sighed sympathetically, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
After hanging up, she looked sheepishly at Wen Shaoqing and tried to explain: “Actually, he’s just my dad’s dad’s daughter’s son… not that close, really.”
Wen Shaoqing looked at her leisurely for a moment before speaking. But he didn’t bring up Zhong Zhen at all.
“Remember to apply a warm compress to that bump later. Any other discomfort?”
Cong Rong pressed her fingers to her temple. “Nothing major, just a bit of a headache—probably a migraine. But it’s unrelated to the bump.”
“Stress from work?” Wen Shaoqing asked.
At the mention of work, Cong Rong frowned. “Yeah, I’m going to court tomorrow. The opposing lawyer is one of my former professors… very fierce.”
Wen Shaoqing chuckled, “Are you nervous?”
Cong Rong’s eyes widened. She looked at him anxiously. “You can tell? Oh no, oh no… I’m definitely going to lose. I have to go home and prep now—bye.”
Mumbling anxiously to herself, she grabbed the scan folder and left.
Watching the lively expressions on her face as she left, Wen Shaoqing couldn’t help but laugh too. He called after her, “What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”
Cong Rong stopped, turned around, and thought seriously for a moment. A hint of shyness flashed in her bright eyes. “Potato pancakes again?”
Wen Shaoqing raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say this morning that they were terrible?”
She replied smoothly, “You have to get back up where you fell, Dr. Wen. Haven’t you heard of that? If today’s batch was bad, just keep making them until they’re good.”
Wen Shaoqing smiled inwardly. Xiao Ziyuan was right—she really was a sharp-tongued little thing. As he walked toward the kitchen, he teased, “By the way, I made some stir-fried yogurt earlier with honey. Your dog, Fengfeng, would love it. Take some home for it.”
At the mention of that name, Cong Rong frowned again. She had completely forgotten about her rather “largely built” pet. Accepting the small bowl Wen Shaoqing handed her, she said blankly, “It’s still hibernating. I’ll eat it for it.”
She quickly glanced at him and fled back to her apartment.
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