Volume One, Chapter 120: "Are You Going to Live with Him?"

That night before going to bed, Zhao Nianqiao came to find Xu Zhi.

The bed was very spacious, and Zhao Nianqiao climbed right onto it, lying down beside Xu Zhi, sighing, “That Liang Jinmo is something else. Quietly, he bought a house, and everything inside is almost ready. If it weren’t for him, my daughter and I would probably be staying in a hotel or something. Now that we have no money, just thinking about the hundreds spent daily on a hotel makes me feel so guilty.”

Xu Zhi deeply agreed. Her small savings were enough for renting a place, but staying in hotels was definitely extravagant.

Suddenly, Zhao Nianqiao said, “Tell me about you and Liang Jinmo.”

Xu Zhi was stunned and turned to look at her. “Why ask all of a sudden?”

“Curiosity, just want to hear it,” Zhao Nianqiao replied. “Tell me from the beginning, how did you two end up together? Even I can’t understand it—back then, you were always with Liang Muzhi, barely even spoke to Liang Jinmo. How did you get tangled up with him?”

Xu Zhi thought for a long moment before speaking, “Actually, at first, it was my fault. When he transferred to Third Elementary School, he was older than us and didn’t get along well with the classmates. Liang Muzhi knew some upperclassmen and joined them in bullying him. I…”

She paused, “I was one of them.”

She had never told anyone this before. After all, everyone had always seen her as a well-behaved girl, and she carried that burden herself—good girls don’t bully older students. She knew what she did was wrong.

But back then, a group of them jeered around little Liang Jinmo, who was weak and powerless, with no way to fight back.

Maybe he knew resistance was useless.

She was used to going with the crowd. If she hadn’t torn up Liang Jinmo’s test paper then, she didn’t know how those people would have treated her.

This incident had been a wound in her heart all these years. Although she was kind to everyone else, she was a villain to him.

Over the years, she had secretly helped him, but always with self-preservation in mind. She never told anyone about it, especially not Liang Muzhi or Fu Wanwen—she didn’t want to make enemies of them.

Looking back, she realized so much time had passed. She had always thought she and Liang Muzhi were childhood sweethearts, innocent and close. But upon closer thought, Liang Jinmo had quietly existed all along in her life, a corner she had always ignored.

No wonder he asked—if Liang Muzhi hadn’t run off, would she have ever noticed him?

She deliberately skipped the part about Liang Jinmo jumping into the artificial lake and told Zhao Nianqiao everything else.

Zhao Nianqiao was incredulous after hearing it. The beginning between these two kids was far more unexpected than she imagined.

“How could you…” she was at a loss for words. “Liang Muzhi was so hostile to him, and you joined Liang Muzhi in all that nonsense? He had just come to the Liang family; his situation was already so difficult…”

Fu Wanwen’s mistreatment of Liang Jinmo was somewhat known to her. Because of Fu Wanwen’s abuse and Liang Zhengguo’s neglect, even the servants in the Liang household dared to trample on Liang Jinmo.

For a child, he truly endured too much.

Xu Zhi felt regretful and moved closer to Zhao Nianqiao. “Mom, I really regret it. If I hadn’t been so timid and indecisive, I wouldn’t have bullied him. Actually… I’ve thought many times about talking to him about it, but I just feel… I have no face to say anything, and I’m afraid he still resents me.”

It wasn’t a big matter, but bullying leaves marks in a person's growth.

At that time, Liang Jinmo was so young, enduring the worst times after arriving at the Liang family… She didn’t dare imagine how he endured going from the rejecting home to school every day, facing those who bullied him.

Zhao Nianqiao softened. “You, you originally had chances to make it up to him. But then you got together with him, and because of me getting engaged to Liang Muzhi, now I feel like a sinner.”

Xu Zhi sheepishly said, “I… I didn’t have a choice back then.”

Zhao Nianqiao glanced at her. “Honestly, I didn’t want you to be with him. His upbringing was too rough. I was afraid his personality would be twisted and extreme. But…”

She recalled what Liang Jinmo had said to her.

Perhaps he did have some resentment towards Xu Zhi, but his kindness to her was undeniable. He truly tried to put himself in her shoes.

She continued, “I think he’s sincere with you. If you really like him, you have to try hard. You’ve already made mistakes you regret; don’t let yourself regret again.”

Xu Zhi felt as if her heart was struck.

Yes, she didn’t want any more regrets. Liang Jinmo was cold to her now. If she did nothing, their hearts would drift apart—she absolutely didn’t want that.

She couldn’t help but glance at Zhao Nianqiao’s expression and asked cautiously, “Then… Mom, if I said I want to live with Brother Jinmo, would you agree?”

Zhao Nianqiao was stunned, a bit surprised in her eyes. “You want to live together with him?”

The words “live together” sounded strange. Xu Zhi’s face flushed. “No, not what you think. Didn’t I used to stay in the suite he lived in? I just want… to live together, spend more time together, maybe it’ll be easier to pursue him…”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller at the end.

In front of Zhao Nianqiao, she was still that shy little girl. Talking about chasing after a man was quite embarrassing.

“Well… how do I put this?” Zhao Nianqiao thought for a moment and sighed. “As a mother, I probably shouldn’t teach you to be so unreserved, but your situation is special. Living together might be a solution.”

Xu Zhi’s eyes lit up.

Zhao Nianqiao stared at her. “But how will you explain it to him? It’s not like when you ran away from home before. They’ve arranged such a big house for us now. You need a proper reason.”

Xu Zhi had thought about this too. She pouted, “I… I don’t care anymore. Anyway, I’m his fiancée now. Why shouldn’t I live with him?”

Her tone was stubborn. Zhao Nianqiao was amused and smiled, “You’ve grown so bold, Zhi. You’re already making such flimsy excuses. Hope you can be as confident in front of him.”

Xu Zhi thought, isn’t that just shamelessness? She could do it.

That night, the mother and daughter talked a lot and didn’t fall asleep until late, sharing the same bed.

Xu Zhi had a dream in which she really went to the hotel suite, wearing Yang Xue’s sexy nightdress to seduce Liang Jinmo.

But he didn’t look at her at all…

She woke up feeling annoyed—how could she have such an ill-omened dream?

Her phone had several missed calls from Liang Muzhi. She blocked him outright. But when she checked WeChat, she saw that he had sent many messages late at night. As she read through them, her heart sank more and more.

Liang Muzhi: Where are you? Why haven’t you answered my calls? Are you in danger? I told you Liang Jinmo isn’t a good guy. How could you get engaged to him!

Liang Muzhi: Liang Jinmo, did you take Zhi’s phone? Who do you think you are to take her away? What did you do to her? If you dare hurt a hair on her head, I’ll never forgive you!

Liang Muzhi: Wait for me. I’m coming to find you. You’re staying in a hotel, right? Wait there; I’m on my way.

Xu Zhi was stunned. Checking the time, these messages were sent around 3 a.m. last night.

Had Liang Muzhi really gone to find Liang Jinmo? She didn’t dare imagine what someone as impetuous as Liang Muzhi might do. She immediately called Liang Jinmo.