Volume 1, Chapter 121: From now on, I will never allow Liang Muzi to bully you again.

Until the ringtone finished, no one answered on the other end.

Xu Zhi was completely panicked. Liang Muzi was acting madly; she didn’t know what he would say or do if he found Liang Jinmo. After finishing her wash-up, she quickly changed clothes, told Zhao Nianqiao a word, and rushed out.

On the way to the hotel by taxi, she tried calling Liang Jinmo three more times.

Still no answer. Her anxiety grew.

The taxi stopped at the hotel entrance. Xu Zhi got out and almost ran inside.

Suddenly, she nearly collided with someone at the door and barely stopped in time. “Sorry…”

Before she finished apologizing, she looked up and saw Liang Jinmo.

His sharp brows slightly furrowed, his gaze fixed on her face. “Why are you running?”

Xu Zhi was out of breath and then noticed Zhou He standing beside him.

Zhou He’s eyes were still unfriendly, but she had no time to care. She asked Liang Jinmo, “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Liang Jinmo paused for a moment. “I forgot my phone when Zhou He and I went downstairs for dinner.”

Xu Zhi held her waist and exhaled deeply. “Has Liang Muzi come looking for you?”

“No,” he replied. “Is he bothering you again?”

Hearing that, Xu Zhi finally relaxed.

She didn’t know why Liang Muzi hadn’t come to the hotel, but she knew his nature well. He saw Liang Jinmo as an enemy and was always paranoid, as if Liang Jinmo wanted to harm him and those around him.

She was included in that “those around him” category, so he thought the engagement was forced on her and wanted to confront Liang Jinmo about it.

But with his impulsive temper, fights were common. Fortunately, for some unknown reason, he hadn’t come.

Feeling her nerves ease, Xu Zhi told Liang Jinmo, “Last night, he messaged me on WeChat at midnight asking where I was. Because I didn’t reply, he mistakenly thought you took my phone and said he’d come to the hotel to find you.”

Zhou He interjected beside them, saying to Xu Zhi, “Look at the trouble you’re causing our boss.”

Xu Zhi’s face paled instantly at those words.

Liang Jinmo glanced sideways at Zhou He.

Zhou He sneered, “You go on protecting her, but does she protect you?”

“I…” Xu Zhi’s mind went blank, and she blurted out, “I will protect him from now on.”

Liang Jinmo and Zhou He both froze.

Her heart raced. She clenched her fists and looked up at Liang Jinmo with a stubborn seriousness. “I absolutely won’t let Liang Muzi bully you anymore. Not even a little.”

The atmosphere grew quietly tense. Liang Jinmo watched her silently.

Zhou He was the first to break the silence, bursting out laughing.

Xu Zhi looked comically adorable in this earnest stance, fists clenched, a bit naive.

“Hahaha!” Zhou He couldn’t stop laughing louder. “So fierce! If Liang Muzi really comes to cause trouble, what can you do? Punch him with those tiny pink fists?”

He even pointed at her clenched fists, clearly mocking.

Xu Zhi’s face flushed. “I… I’ll drive him away!”

Zhou He kept laughing, but Liang Jinmo shot him a look. “Either shut up or step away.”

Zhou He: “…”

Zhou He: “Your shameless infatuation annoys me. Hmph, I have a date today too—with someone who won’t betray me. I’m off. Don’t be too jealous.”

And with that, Zhou He really left.

He liked to tease Xu Zhi now and then. She looked a bit weary and asked Liang Jinmo, “Is Zhou He mad?”

“No,” Liang Jinmo said. “He does have a date today.”

“Why did you guys eat so early? I thought you were going out together.”

Liang Jinmo explained, “Lately Zhou He has been staying at my place.”

“Ah?” Xu Zhi was puzzled. “Why?”

Zhou He had been quite down and drinking heavily some time ago, which worried Liang Jinmo.

But now, Zhou He seemed addicted to living there and refused to leave.

He didn’t tell her and instead asked, “How do you plan to handle Liang Muzi?”

Xu Zhi thought for a moment and asked, “Can I meet him to clear things up?”

Liang Jinmo said nothing. She tried again, “Or at least call or message him. He has some misunderstandings about the engagement, thinking it was your idea. I at least want him to understand the truth. It’s unfair to blame you…”

Before she finished, a hotel staff member wheeled a cart full of boxes inside. Liang Jinmo grabbed her wrist and led her to a sofa in a corner of the hotel lobby.

Xu Zhi let him hold her, feeling dazed.

She caught the faint woody cold scent from him again, and couldn’t help but subtly inhale deeply. She felt almost unhealthily fond of that smell. But they hadn’t been this close for a long time.

Although he had held and kissed her on stage at the engagement, back then her mind was blank and she was too nervous—very different from now.

Just holding her wrist made her heart race. She felt the warmth of his palm as if the spot at her wrist was heating up.

But soon, Liang Jinmo released her wrist.

She couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

He asked, “Are you consulting me?”

Xu Zhi pressed her lips and nodded. “I originally told you I wouldn’t answer Liang Muzi’s calls anymore, but the situation is special now. I’m afraid he’ll come to cause trouble for you, so I think it’s necessary to talk to him.”

“My opinion is, if he wants to cause trouble, let him come,” Liang Jinmo said calmly, his tone steady.

Xu Zhi was taken aback.

He said, “I’m not afraid.”

Her unsettled heart, worried he might find her troublesome like Zhou He did, began to settle upon hearing those simple words.

“I’m not a child anymore,” Liang Jinmo said, glancing at her. “So you don’t need to be afraid.”

Xu Zhi felt a strange sting at her nose.

It was clearly a good thing—he had grown stronger, capable of controlling his own fate—but she couldn’t help but recall how much suffering he endured to become who he was.

“But Liang Muzi really would hit people,” she calmed herself and continued. “He’s very impulsive. I don’t want you to get involved because of me. Sooner or later, he’ll definitely come after you. How about this…”

She was nervous, palms sweating as she finally said what she had thought over for a long time: “I’ll move in and live with you. That way, if he does come, I can talk to him face to face.”

Liang Jinmo remained silent, staring at her without blinking.

Although Xu Zhi kept a calm expression, she didn’t realize how red her face had become.

Seeing his silence, she grew more nervous but stubbornly said, “Don’t misunderstand. I just don’t want him to cause trouble for you.”

Liang Jinmo was quiet for a few seconds, then finally spoke slowly, a little teasing: “Xu Zhi… your face is red. Do you know that?”