Volume One, Chapter 100 Zhou He asked, "You haven't given up on her yet, have you?"
In the past, if asked this question, Liang Mu Zhi would have firmly replied that it was impossible. Xu Zhi’s temperament had always been too dull for him. Yet now, he hesitated, pausing several seconds before finally saying, “No, I wouldn’t.”
His answer did little to reassure Chen Jing, who sensed Liang Mu Zhi’s wavering resolve. She had always felt that he treated Xu Zhi far too well, beyond the bounds of ordinary childhood friends. That was why she regarded Xu Zhi as a potential rival, and at the ski resort, she had risked everything in hopes of severing the tie between them. In the end, her injury had been for nothing—now they were actually about to get engaged.
Anxiety gnawed at her; Liang Mu Zhi meant too much, and she refused to return to the straitened life she’d once endured. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Will we still be able to see each other often?”
Liang Mu Zhi replied, “Things are pretty sensitive right now. I probably won’t have time to find you. Once the engagement ceremony is over, my parents shouldn’t give me any more trouble. It’ll go back to how it was before…”
He paused. “Xu Zhi is actually a decent person. She’s asleep in the car right now. Even though she doesn’t like you, she won’t stop me from seeing you. If my mother had chosen another girl for me, we wouldn’t be meeting today.”
He was praising Xu Zhi, and jealousy stirred in Chen Jing’s heart. She couldn’t help but say, “Could you… kiss me?”
Liang Mu Zhi turned to look at her.
“I’m scared. You won’t abandon me, will you…”
It was rare for Chen Jing to show such vulnerability; she seemed anxious, uncertain. Liang Mu Zhi’s heart softened. They had never been openly affectionate in public before, but this time, he indulged her, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her lips. His tone softened, “Alright, stop overthinking and causing trouble. If you’re upset, go shopping. Didn’t you love shopping in Hong Kong? When the engagement ceremony comes, go and shop there again. Take your girlfriends with you—I'll cover all your expenses.”
Chen Jing forced a smile and said nothing more.
Xu Zhi slept a while longer, but the car felt stuffy. She leaned toward the window and lowered the glass. From a distance, she saw two figures on the bench outside the stadium's side entrance—Liang Mu Zhi was kissing Chen Jing.
She withdrew her gaze, realizing she felt nothing anymore. Perhaps the ordeal at the ski resort had numbed her to it all; now, she only hoped that the engagement would stop Chen Jing from seeing her as a thorn in her side.
There was no official race today; Liang Mu Zhi and a few friends played around with their cars. Chen Jing accompanied him, sitting in his car throughout.
Monkey observed but couldn’t quite figure out the situation. As Liang Mu Zhi was about to leave, he asked, “Isn’t Xu Zhi your girlfriend?”
Liang Mu Zhi found it hard to explain. He was about to get engaged to Xu Zhi, but his girlfriend was Chen Jing. He said tersely, “Don’t ask.”
Monkey clicked his tongue. “You’re such a scoundrel. But this girl’s impressive—not afraid to sit in the race car. If it were Xu Zhi, she’d be terrified.”
“I’d never let little Xu Zhi get in the race car,” Liang Mu Zhi replied slowly as he changed clothes. “She might get scared, and if she really got hurt, that wouldn’t be good.”
Monkey asked, “So if this girl gets hurt, it’s no big deal?”
Liang Mu Zhi paused; he hadn’t considered it before. Chen Jing was the kind of girl who would accompany him in his adventures, and having her by his side today had made him quite happy.
But…
He thought for a while and said, “It’s different. This girl can keep me company in the race car, and if something happens, I’ll do my best to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. But little Xu Zhi must always be somewhere absolutely safe. I can get hurt, but she can’t.”
Monkey laughed. “How can you be both a scoundrel and so devoted?”
Liang Mu Zhi felt as if he'd been struck. To whom was he a scoundrel, and to whom was he devoted? He found himself pondering the question.
Mindful that Xu Zhi was still in his car, Liang Mu Zhi let Chen Jing take a cab home.
He returned to his car, where Xu Zhi, refreshed after her nap, was now wide awake. She was looking down at her phone, seemingly chatting with someone. As he drove, he kept glancing at her in the rearview mirror.
Who was she talking to… She didn’t seem happy; her lashes lowered, lips pressed tightly together.
Xu Zhi didn’t notice she was being watched. She was replying to Zhou He’s messages. Just moments ago, Zhou He had suddenly sent her a message, his tone harsh: “I heard you’re getting engaged to Liang Mu Zhi?”
In the past, Zhou He had always joked with her, calling her “Little Xu Zhi.” But now, it was clear he was interrogating her.
She replied: “Yes.”
Zhou He: “Are you out of your mind? If you were going to get engaged to Liang Mu Zhi, why did you mess with our boss?!”
Zhou He: “I never saw it coming. You always seemed so well-behaved, but you’re just a player. Why didn’t you mess with someone else? You know exactly what our boss has been through; I don’t believe you, as his neighbor, don’t know a thing. How could you treat him like this? Don’t you have a conscience?!”
Zhou He: “Do you realize our boss has never had a woman by his side? You’re the first. He’s not easy to get along with—only with you is he different. How could you do this to him?!”
Zhou He: “I really misjudged you, Xu Zhi. You have no heart. But let me tell you, you messed with the wrong person. I’m waiting to see what happens to you after you go with Liang Mu Zhi!”
His anger was obvious. Zhou He’s position was clear; he was firmly on Liang Jin Mo’s side. Naturally—they were close friends.
Xu Zhi gripped her phone, her fingers stiff. Clearly, Zhou He didn’t know about her history with Liang Jin Mo.
If Zhou He knew she’d bullied Liang Jin Mo back in elementary school, would he still want them together?
Zhou He kept up his barrage, calling her a heartless player, saying she’d get her comeuppance for toying with people’s feelings.
Xu Zhi wanted to say something, but after tapping a while, she deleted everything.
She actually wanted to ask Zhou He how Liang Jin Mo was doing. But even that felt hollow. She could only silently endure his abuse.
At that very moment, Zhou He had just accompanied Liang Jin Mo from the hospital back to the hotel.
Last night, after leaving the Liang family, Liang Jin Mo had gone to a bar. He drank heavily, but his constitution meant that no matter how much he drank, he never got drunk; instead, his stomach started hurting.
Liang Jin Mo’s stomach problems were chronic. As a child, he often went hungry, and his stomach never recovered. After moving to the Liang family, Fu Wan Wen forbade him from eating at the table; the servants usually gave him cold leftovers. Growing up like that, how could his stomach be healthy?
Back in America, Zhou He had noticed his stomach issues. Liang Jin Mo himself didn’t care, only taking painkillers when he couldn’t bear it.
Last night, Zhou He heard about Xu Zhi’s engagement to Liang Mu Zhi from Yang Xue. When he called, Liang Jin Mo was at the bar, drowning his sorrows. By the time Zhou He arrived, the pain had already started.
Zhou He took Liang Jin Mo to the hospital. After an examination and IV treatment, the doctor admonished him that the stomach needed care; it was already in bad shape. He was still young now, but once he aged, it would be too late.
Zhou He was frustrated—he wanted to punch Liang Jin Mo. With his anger bottled up, he vented it all at Xu Zhi over messaging, not even knowing whether she read it, just firing off message after message.
Liang Jin Mo, holding a glass of water for his medication, sat on the sofa. Zhou He put down his phone and turned to him. “I just cursed out Xu Zhi. Feels much better.”
Liang Jin Mo frowned at him. “Are you crazy?”
“If she weren’t a girl, I’d go beat her up!” Zhou He said. “I’m not like you—enduring all those years of bullying in the Liang family. Now even your neighbor is walking all over you.”
Liang Jin Mo said quietly, “Leave her alone.”
Zhou He was incredulous. “You’re still thinking of her?”
Liang Jin Mo said nothing.
Zhou He asked, “Have you really not given up on her yet?”