Volume 1, Chapter 117: Why did she feel that the more she pursued this man, the further away he drifted...

Liang Jinmo accompanied Xu Zhi and Zhao Nianqiao back home.

Xu Zhi’s heart was restless. After hanging up on Liang Muzhi for the last time, she had set her phone to silent, but…

At that moment, Liang Jinmo had simply turned his face away expressionlessly to drive. He said nothing about Liang Muzhi calling her, yet she worried it might have displeased him.

She wasn’t afraid of Xu Heping anymore, nor of Fu Wanwen or Liang Zhengguo, but with Liang Jinmo alone, she couldn’t adopt a reckless “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” attitude.

When Liang Jinmo replied to her messages coldly, it hurt her. When she took the initiative to embrace him and he showed no reaction, she felt embarrassed, as if she were the only one invested.

How exactly could she appease him?

Xu Zhi wrestled with this thought all the way.

By the time they returned home, it was nearly dinner time. Zhao Nianqiao warmly invited Liang Jinmo, “Jinmo, why don’t you stay for dinner? I’ll cook tonight.”

Xu Zhi spoke up, “Mom, there are no pots or dishes here.”

They had been eating takeout all day, and just last night, they had only sent a city courier to buy some essential clothes and daily necessities.

Zhao Nianqiao glanced at her, “You and Jinmo go to the supermarket downstairs to buy pots, dishes, and vegetables.”

Xu Zhi found this plan troublesome, “Let me just order us takeout.”

Zhao Nianqiao was exasperated by her daughter’s silliness. “Be quiet and go downstairs with Jinmo to buy the things. Jinmo, it might be quite a lot, can you help carry it for her?”

At this point, Liang Jinmo could hardly refuse and simply nodded.

The two left together. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Xu Zhi’s nerves tightened.

Only the two of them in the elevator, the silence felt overwhelming. Suddenly, she thought this might be a chance to speak.

Her heart raced as she took out her phone and showed the screen to Liang Jinmo. “I didn’t answer a single call from Liang Muzhi.”

She looked at him with bright eyes, like a well-behaved child waiting for praise.

Liang Jinmo glanced at her but only gave a slight “hmph.”

Xu Zhi pouted, awkwardly putting her phone back in her bag, then added, “I won’t answer anymore from now on.”

Liang Jinmo remained silent.

Xu Zhi felt as if she was about to be frozen solid.

Thankfully, the elevator reached the first floor, and the doors opened.

They walked out one after the other, Liang Jinmo leading, Xu Zhi trailing behind with a hint of grievance in her heart.

Maybe she should ask Zhihu or Baidu—how to appease a man, how to pursue him? Isn’t it said that when a woman chases a man, it’s like a thin veil? Why did she feel as if there was a mountain between them?

No, it was an iceberg—a kind that could freeze you to death.

Xu Zhi felt she had learned to be shameless in front of others, but in front of Liang Jinmo, she still couldn’t manage it. His indifferent attitude made it hard for her to shamelessly get close.

There was a large shopping mall in the community, and they entered the underground supermarket. Xu Zhi stopped speaking to him and simply followed the shopping list Zhao Nianqiao had given her, finding each item and placing it in the cart.

Soon, the cart was full to the brim.

Liang Jinmo lagged a few steps behind, watching her push the overloaded cart alone. His lips pressed into a thin line, and after a long moment, he looked away.

Xu Zhi felt like she was shopping alone. At checkout, she naturally took out her phone.

But the person behind her was faster—Liang Jinmo had already brought his payment code forward.

Xu Zhi was stunned, stealing a glance at him.

There were others waiting in line, so they had to leave first. Xu Zhi said, “How much is it? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

Liang Jinmo frowned. “No need.”

Xu Zhi was insistent. “I still have some savings, enough to cover daily expenses for me and my mom for now. How could I bear to use your money?”

Liang Jinmo looked at her, his eyes deep and silent.

Xu Zhi still held up her phone. “Where’s your payment code?”

He simply pushed the cart out of her hands and walked out silently, ignoring her completely.

Xu Zhi stood there in shock, not understanding why he wouldn’t even respond.

Why did she feel that the more she pursued him, the further away he drifted?

After a long moment, she hurriedly followed.

They had bought a lot of things. Fortunately, there were staff to deliver the items upstairs. Liang Jinmo gave the address to the staff, completed the registration, then turned and left.

Xu Zhi trailed behind, utterly dispirited, her steps growing slower.

Seeing the two return one after another, Zhao Nianqiao immediately sensed something was wrong.

She had Liang Jinmo sit in the living room to wait for the delivery, then pulled Xu Zhi into the kitchen to help.

Leaning close, Zhao Nianqiao whispered, “What’s going on between you two?”

She had deliberately created opportunities for the young couple, but their atmosphere seemed even worse.

Xu Zhi pressed her lips, dejected. “I don’t know. I didn’t do anything wrong. He kept a cold face the whole time. When we left the supermarket, he paid, and when I said I wanted to pay him back, he stopped talking to me altogether.”

“You…” Zhao Nianqiao couldn’t help but poke her forehead. “You really are thick-skinned.”

Xu Zhi touched her forehead, frowning and pouting. “Did I do something wrong?”

Zhao Nianqiao felt frustrated. She had heard of “straightforward men,” but never imagined her lively daughter would be such a straightforward woman who didn’t understand men’s feelings at all.

She said, “Go reflect on yourself. How did I end up raising such a little fool?”

Xu Zhi still didn’t get it. After helping wash the vegetables, she sat in the corner of the kitchen and messaged Yang Xue for help.

Liang Jinmo wasn’t even speaking to her now, and she felt anxious.

Yang Xue replied first with a sticker: Shocked.JPG

Then another: Hahaha Big Fool.JPG

Xu Zhi hadn’t even found a suitable sticker to reply when Yang Xue sent: You’re Awesome.JPG

The emotions escalated in three stages, but Xu Zhi didn’t understand a single one, feeling overwhelmed. “Can’t you just type?!”

Finally, Yang Xue started typing: “I see it now. You really don’t want to be with Xiao Liang. First, you dumped him to get engaged to Liang Muzhi. When Liang Muzhi ran off, you dragged Xiao Liang in to make up the numbers. Now that the numbers are made, you want to cut ties with him. Zhi, even though I’m your friend, I have to say, you’re really unfair to burn bridges like this.”

Xu Zhi was speechless. “How am I burning bridges?”

Yang Xue: “You even want to split the supermarket bill with him so precisely. Isn’t it clear you’re planning to run away?”

Xu Zhi clutched her phone, stunned.

Could it be that Liang Jinmo thought the same? Did he misunderstand her because of his gesture, thinking she would still leave him?