Volume One, Chapter 101 On the day of their engagement, Liang Muzhi struck her face hard once again.

Jinmo Liang’s eyes were bloodshot, a shadow of exhaustion beneath his eyelids; last night’s relentless stomach pain had tormented him for hours. He swallowed the pills with water before speaking, “From the moment I was born, nothing in my life has come easily.”

He ZHOU was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp the meaning.

Liang continued, “If I were the kind to give up so easily, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”

He ZHOU seemed to understand a little and tried to reason with him, “But women are different, there are plenty of women—why go after one who only brings you trouble? Besides, Xu Zhi is now engaged to Mu Zhi Liang; doesn’t that mean she’s on the opposite side from us?”

Liang took a cigarette from the pack, lit it, and inhaled deeply before replying, “Not necessarily. Mu Zhi won’t settle down just because they’re engaged; there’s still Jing Chen between them.”

He ZHOU couldn’t see the sense in it. “If I were you, I’d have moved on long ago. It’s not like you don’t have girls chasing after you. What’s so special about Xu Zhi?”

To He ZHOU, Xu Zhi was attractive and well-built, but such qualities weren’t unique. Liang had always seemed indifferent to women, and now, suddenly, he’d fallen for Xu Zhi—He ZHOU couldn’t comprehend it.

Liang said, “She’s not particularly remarkable. She’s timid, hesitant, overthinks everything.”

He ZHOU thought this was a misunderstanding. “I don’t see it that way. She just seems obedient on the surface. Look at what she’s done—getting engaged and then running away to see you. That’s pretty rotten.”

Liang drew quietly on his cigarette, not responding.

He ZHOU didn’t really know Xu Zhi, but he understood her type—someone who would act exactly like this.

Just as she’d said herself, she would still be timid, still retreat, and it was obvious she didn’t fully trust him.

Perhaps she wasn’t outstanding, but there was only one of her in this world. She had given him a ray of light in the darkness; she had pulled him from the cold depths of that artificial lake. There was a courage and strength in her that no one else could glimpse.

Power, once released, cannot be forever imprisoned. He didn’t believe she could truly accept a life dictated by He Ping Xu.

But she had chosen someone else again, easily abandoned him, and that attitude wounded him deeply. What did he even mean to her?

To rid herself of him, she had deliberately emphasized his illegitimate status...

Liang’s eyes darkened, his stomach still burning with pain. He took a fierce drag on his cigarette, but even nicotine couldn’t soothe the rage spreading within him. The thoughts that had endlessly churned in his mind surged up again—he wanted to destroy the world.

“Hey, cut down on the smoking…” He ZHOU sensed the oppressive gloom radiating from him. “It’s always booze or cigarettes with you. Are you trying to kill yourself? Your stomach isn’t healed yet. I’ll order some porridge for you.”

He ZHOU pulled out his phone to order takeout, then glanced at Liang, noticing the blue stubble on his chin. “Shave, will you? I can’t stand looking at you.”

Liang finished his cigarette and finally stood up to head to the bathroom.

He ZHOU secretly breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest…

Liang in a bad mood was intimidating; even he couldn’t handle that overwhelming pressure.

Mu Zhi Liang escorted Xu Zhi to her doorstep. As she prepared to get out, he called after her.

Xu Zhi, having just been scolded by He ZHOU, was now as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant.

Mu Zhi thought she was still angry about him meeting Jing Chen behind her back, so he hesitated and said, “If I need to see Jing Chen in the future, I’ll let you know in advance. Don’t be upset.”

Xu Zhi frowned, puzzled by his words, when he spoke again.

“Little Zhi, I’ve always seen you as my best friend, and I still do…” He fixed his gaze on her. “What about you?”

Too much had happened lately; things between them had shifted. This change unsettled him, and he wanted to hold on to something.

Xu Zhi didn’t understand why he was suddenly saying this. She considered it before replying, “If you weren’t so quick to put romance before friendship, we’d still be friends.”

Mu Zhi’s mind worked fast. “I’m not as bad as you. You said I couldn’t compare to a single strand of hair on that guy you like. Can you even say that with a straight face? Did you know I was always considered one of the most attractive at school? Maybe you’re just blind to it, mistaking an ugly guy for a prince.”

Xu Zhi had had enough. “Stop boasting. And he’s really handsome! More handsome than you!”

She meant it, and Mu Zhi was thoroughly annoyed. “Then let’s see him someday.”

“No way,” Xu Zhi retorted angrily. “I’m not like you. Even if our engagement is fake, I have professional integrity. I won’t go see him again. You, on the other hand, dropped your bodyguards and rushed to see Jing Chen, kissing her in broad daylight.”

So she had seen. Mu Zhi’s heart sank; it felt uncomfortable, having Xu Zhi witness his intimacy with Jing Chen. There was a strange sense of shame, as if something intangible had shattered.

“Well, it’s a fake engagement. You could…”

He started to argue back, but his words faltered.

Could what?

He had meant to say she could go see the man she liked if she wanted, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

He didn’t want her to see that man again. Heaven knew whether that mysterious man was good or bad, but ever since Xu Zhi had fallen for him, nothing good had happened.

“What could I do?” Xu Zhi pressed.

He choked back the words. “Nothing. At worst, before we call off the engagement, I’ll see less of Jing Chen. I’ve already told her we should meet less often for a while. Satisfied?”

Xu Zhi didn’t actually care if he saw Jing Chen, but…

She still wanted to save face. She didn’t want Mu Zhi and Jing Chen stirring up some scandal during their engagement; it would be humiliating. She said, “You were the one who suggested the fake engagement. You’d better have some sense of contract. Until we come up with a good way to break it off, behave yourself and stick to the plan, help me deal with the elders.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Mu Zhi saluted. “You’re acting like a boss now.”

She used to be the one with no opinions, always led around by others.

Xu Zhi’s reply was to get out and slam the car door behind her.

When she returned home, Zhao Nianqiao was sitting on the couch and called her over. “You went out with Mu Zhi?”

Xu Zhi sat beside her and murmured an affirmative.

Zhao Nianqiao looked at her thoughtfully, then after a while asked, “You’re really going through with the engagement?”

Xu Zhi nodded. “They’re already preparing the invitations. Most of the business circle in Northern City will attend. There’s no turning back now.”

Zhao Nianqiao’s eyes reddened. “It’s all my fault, I ruined you…”

Xu Zhi was calm, her tone flat. “It’s fine, Mom. I’ve accepted it.”

Zhao Nianqiao could tell that Xu Zhi had truly changed, but she still worried. “Will the young master from the Liang family really cooperate?”

Xu Zhi replied, “He’s already agreed. Besides, this isn’t just about our family—it also concerns the Liang family’s reputation.”

The fake engagement had been Mu Zhi’s idea, and from his attitude, he seemed sincere enough. She didn’t expect any trouble.

But she never imagined that on the day of the engagement, Mu Zhi would once again slap her hard in the face.