Volume One, Chapter 123: It Was Xu Zhi Who Took the Initiative.

Liang Zheng-guo would never explain.

His response to Liang Mu-zhi was another slap.

Fu Wan-wen finally came to her senses and rushed over to stop Liang Zheng-guo. "Stop hitting him... Mu-zhi has finally returned, and all you know how to do is beat your child! Can’t you just talk to him properly?"

Liang Zheng-guo, stiff with rage, retorted, "A doting mother breeds a wayward child! He left without a word, and now that he’s back, this is his attitude. You tell me to talk to him properly—how am I supposed to do that? There are so many people watching the Liang family’s scandal; such a grand engagement has turned into a complete joke!"

"That’s your problem too!" Liang Mu-zhi shouted, his face already red and swollen. "How did Liang Jin-mo talk to you? How could you let him go up on that stage with Zhi-zi? Couldn't you have stopped them?!"

Fu Wan-wen hurriedly pulled at Liang Mu-zhi. "Mu-zhi, calm down and speak to your father properly."

Hearing Liang Mu-zhi’s words, Liang Zheng-guo found it laughable.

He had never agreed to the engagement between Liang Jin-mo and Xu Zhi, but now, facing Liang Mu-zhi, he didn't feel like explaining. He stared coldly at his son. "What are you worried about now? Wasn't it you who didn't want Zhi-zi? Wasn't it you who left her—and all of us—at the hotel and ran off?"

Liang Mu-zhi froze. Liang Zheng-guo’s words were like a blade piercing his heart. He felt a bone-chilling coldness wash over him. His mouth opened and closed, and it took a long while for a sound to emerge from his throat: "Is it because I left... that you let her get engaged to Liang Jin-mo? Is it... because of me?"

Fu Wan-wen said, "No, that’s not it..."

But Liang Zheng-guo cut her off, telling Liang Mu-zhi bluntly, "Regardless of anything else, one thing is certain: as long as you hadn't left, Jin-mo would never have had the chance to stand on that stage."

The hallway was dark, and only the bedside lamp was on in the bedroom, casting light on Liang Mu-zhi’s pale face.

It was he who had given Liang Jin-mo the opportunity—the opportunity to stand on that stage, become Xu Zhi’s fiancé in front of everyone, and hold and kiss her.

He took a step back and muttered, "I didn't not want her... I just... I just had to leave for a moment, I had something to take care of..."

Liang Zheng-guo was truly driven to laughter by his audacity. "Tell me then, what was it? What was so important that you had to abandon your engagement to deal with it?"

"I..."

Liang Mu-zhi couldn't say it. It was because of Chen Jing.

"It’s that Chen Jing, isn't it?" Liang Zheng-guo said, hitting the nail on the head. "Because of her, you abandoned Zhi-zi, disregarded the dignity of all of us, and ignored your grandfather’s health. You just walked away."

Liang Mu-zhi felt as if his insides had been hollowed out; his expression was one of bewilderment. He had been living in total chaos for the past few days, and suddenly, he felt as if he were walking through a nightmare where nothing was real.

"You’re in your twenties, an adult, yet you still haven't learned to take responsibility. What, did you think you could still act as lawlessly as when you were a child?" Liang Zheng-guo continued to twist the knife in his heart. "Did you think you could do whatever you wanted without consequences? Your relationship with Zhi-zi used to be so close that we all assumed you would marry her. But you cast her aside the moment you decided you didn't want her, humiliated her in public, and then turned around to find the daughter of a corrupt official, causing trouble for us all."

"We held such a grand engagement ceremony, even the media was there. You left whenever you wanted without giving us a moment to prepare. Did you think just canceling the ritual was enough? Have you thought about what canceling the ceremony meant for Zhi-zi? That you had abandoned her? What would others say about her? How would they look at the Liang family? And your grandfather—did you think about him? You really wanted to be the death of him. Now that Zhi-zi and Jin-mo are engaged and your grandfather is back in the hospital, are you satisfied?"

As Liang Zheng-guo spoke, he kept closing in on Liang Mu-zhi.

Liang Mu-zhi couldn't help but retreat, his steps stumbling and clumsy.

Liang Zheng-guo’s tone grew increasingly calm. "Now, tell me, what right, what face do you have to ask me about this engagement?"

Liang Mu-zhi had backed into the other side of the hallway, his back pressed against the wall. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something else.

But his throat felt constricted. After a long while, he asked with difficulty, "How... how is Grandfather?"

He had left in such a hurry that he hadn't even considered this until just before boarding his flight, but he remembered the doctor saying the old man’s condition had improved significantly before he was discharged... His mind had been so chaotic at the time that he truly hadn't been able to care for anyone else.

Seeing Liang Mu-zhi like this, Fu Wan-wen felt a pang of pity. She quickly said, "Your grandfather was indeed shocked, but he is in the hospital receiving treatment. He will get better."

This was clearly intended to ease his mind.

Liang Zheng-guo turned his head to stare at Fu Wan-wen. "I finally understand why he’s turned out like this. If you keep this up, I don't see him amounting to much in this life."

The implication was clear: she had spoiled their son.

Fu Wan-wen wanted to retort that the boy wasn't hers alone, but Liang Zheng-guo’s presence was too overbearing. She held her tongue and tried to mediate, "Alright... calm down. Let’s wait until tomorrow to discuss everything... It’s the middle of the night, the child just got back. Can you both just calm down and talk later?"

Liang Zheng-guo was quite calm—calm enough that he no longer had the urge to hit Liang Mu-zhi, and calm enough that he even wanted to throw this son out.

He was simply too frustrating to look at.

He said, "Take him back to his room. Without my permission, he is not allowed to leave."

Liang Mu-zhi clenched his fists. His bravado was gone, but he insisted, "No... I have to find Zhi-zi. Tell me where Liang Jin-mo is living. I have to go... I have to ask her clearly... She can’t just, just..."

Just be with Liang Jin-mo.

He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

Liang Zheng-guo’s words seemed to echo in his ears. He realized for the first time the chain reaction his actions had caused—like a butterfly effect. His own world had been turned upside down, yet only at this moment did he realize it.

Fu Wan-wen couldn't help but tug at Liang Mu-zhi. "Why are you still worrying about her! That girl Xu Zhi doesn't have her heart set on you either. She said she was the one who took the initiative to drag Liang Jin-mo into this engagement!"

Hearing this, Liang Mu-zhi turned to look at Fu Wan-wen. "Impossible."

"It’s true," Liang Zheng-guo added, looking at the distraught Liang Mu-zhi. "I think Xu Zhi is quite smart. Seeing that Jin-mo has more potential than you, she chose him. She told us herself that she was proud of her choice, and that she wanted everyone to know it was she who didn't want you."

"Impossible... that’s impossible." Liang Mu-zhi’s mind was blank, repeating the words as if to convince himself.

How could Xu Zhi choose Liang Jin-mo? In his view, even if she were acting out of spite and wanted to grab just anyone to get engaged to, it could be any man at the party—anyone but Liang Jin-mo.

How many words had she ever exchanged with him? She didn't know him at all; how could she do something so absurd?

Besides, it was an engagement—a grand, almost ridiculous engagement ceremony. With such a high-profile announcement, even breaking it off would become a point of contention for people to gossip about.

He remembered the kiss he had seen in the video. Right...

It was Xu Zhi who had initiated it.

His eyes dimmed. Had Xu Zhi really chosen Liang Jin-mo? He wasn't even sure anymore.

Seeing him go quiet, Liang Zheng-guo scoffed, "I have already agreed to let Jin-mo and Zhi-zi be together. Do not harass them. The engagement has already become a humiliating spectacle; this couple cannot be disrupted any further. Once Zhi-zi graduates, I will arrange their marriage."

With that, Liang Zheng-guo ignored him and walked back into his bedroom.

Liang Mu-zhi remained standing there, dazed.

Why was this nightmare so long, as if it would never end?

He was pulled back to his bedroom by Fu Wan-wen.

She whispered many things in his ear—about how Xu Zhi had lashed out at her and Liang Zheng-guo that day. Not only that, but Xu Zhi had defended Liang Jin-mo, speaking highly of him and even complaining that the Liang family had mistreated him...

Fu Wan-wen concluded that Xu Zhi and Liang Jin-mo must have been involved for a long time.

But he didn't believe it.

He knew he had misjudged the situation; he shouldn't have come home to ask Liang Zheng-guo. He should have found another way to reach Liang Jin-mo. But he couldn't think straight. He tried to calm down, but throughout the rest of the night, his mind remained in a state of chaos.

The next morning, the bodyguards were already guarding the door.

He was completely trapped.

Even his breakfast was brought in by a servant.

In silent protest, he smashed everything in his bedroom. His cherished action figures, his limited-edition motorcycle helmet... even his computer and tablet were not spared.

Liang Zheng-guo ignored him entirely, while Fu Wan-wen came in to persuade him again and again.

After he had smashed everything, the room was a total mess. He sat on the bed, panting, and it took a long time for his breathing to stabilize.

Liang Zheng-guo was determined not to let him out, so he had to find another way. He picked up his phone, which had a cracked screen, and found that it still worked.

After unlocking it and scrolling for a moment, his eyes lit up.

Xu Zhi had replied to his message.

His heart raced as he immediately tapped on it.

Because the screen was shattered, he couldn't see clearly at first. For the first time, he felt that a single message was so important, and he carefully slid the screen until he could see clearly.

Then, he finally saw the WeChat message Xu Zhi had sent.