Volume 1, Chapter 139: You fell for Xu Zhi a long time ago; you just didn't realize it yourself.

Chen Jing had never intended to reveal this matter, nor did she plan to break up with Liang MuZhi. After all, offending the young master of the Liang family was hardly a wise move given her current status and position.

But she was disgusted by Liang MuZhi’s hypocritical demeanor, and when he demanded she leave immediately, her only thought was how to strike back; she didn’t consider the future at all.

The words escaped her lips, and sure enough, she saw a look of astonishment and shock flash across Liang MuZhi’s face.

He finally couldn’t maintain his composure.

She felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, tears lingering at the corners of her eyes, yet her laughter grew louder. “Do you remember? That day, for me, you kicked her straight out of the hotel. Ha ha ha… Just thinking about it makes me laugh. You did something like that—do you really think that now, coming back to Xu Zhi, she’ll forgive you?”

Liang MuZhi’s face turned ashen.

Without Chen Jing’s reminder, he too recalled how he had treated Xu Zhi that day.

She had tried to explain at the time, but he didn’t believe her.

She had cried afterward and left the hotel, and he neither stopped her nor said goodbye.

Before that, although they had small quarrels, they always made up eventually. The incident at the ski resort marked a turning point; after that, even if they reconciled, things felt different.

She no longer depended on him as before. More often than not, he felt there was an invisible chasm growing between them.

Later, she never tried to defend herself on this matter again—perhaps she had accepted it, or maybe… she had lost hope in him.

For a moment, he was dazed, recalling that day by the roadside when the usually composed Xu Zhi, unable to restrain herself, cried out her complaints against him, accusing him of using her as a cover to date Chen Jing, asking if he had ever considered her feelings.

His hand dropped weakly, a chill spreading through his limbs.

She was the girl he had grown up with, once one of his closest people—what had he done?

“Oh, right,” Chen Jing continued, “it’s not just that. Remember the time you went to pick her up from school? Because of me, you left her stranded halfway on the road. At the engagement ceremony—such an important event—you left her there all alone, embarrassed. Liang MuZhi, I’m a woman too, and no woman can forget things like these. If you want her to forgive you, you’ll have to wait until next life…”

“Chen Jing,” Liang MuZhi interrupted her, staring intently, his breath uneven. He still hadn’t recovered from the shock; his tone was eerily calm as he asked, “Why?”

Chen Jing was taken aback.

“We’re already together. Why do you have to wrong Xu Zhi… What’s your purpose?”

She looked at him, her smile fading, eyes tinged with sadness. Suddenly, she realized she wasn’t completely indifferent to this man; she truly felt some sorrow. Unwilling to bear it alone, she said softly, “Do you know how often you mention Xu Zhi in front of me?”

Liang MuZhi said nothing.

“Every day… no, every hour, you always say ‘Little Zhi’—even when I’m just looking at a bag, you say, ‘Little Zhi wouldn’t like this kind of bag.’ Maybe you haven’t noticed, right?”

Chen Jing’s gaze was almost pitying. “Your relationship with Xu Zhi has long surpassed mere friendship. You say you see her as a sister, but can someone who’s not related by blood really be considered a sister? I don’t believe it. That’s why I had to chase her away from you… Liang MuZhi, you must feel it too now, right? You…”

She paused.

“…have actually fallen for Xu Zhi a long time ago, but you just didn’t realize it yourself. You like adventure, that’s true, but beyond those fleeting thrills, there’s someone who seems as plain and dull as water and brings no excitement—but you can’t let go. But now, whether you want to or not, you have to, because she belongs to someone else. And that someone is Liang JinMo…”

Hatred flared in her eyes. “If it were another man, maybe you could still fight for her. But your opponent is Liang JinMo. You and Xu Zhi will never be possible in this lifetime. Liang MuZhi, I want to see what you can gain by dumping me for her!”

Liang MuZhi stood like a statue, and once again he heard Chen Jing’s hysterical laughter—this woman seemed mad.

He clenched his fists, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tried to deny it.

He didn’t like Xu Zhi; he had always regarded her as a sister. His inability to accept her engagement was only because the fiancé was Liang JinMo.

That was all.

Yet…

Chen Jing’s words, “You and Xu Zhi will never be possible,” pierced his heart like a knife. The sharp pain left his mind blank.

He stood there for several minutes before suddenly stepping forward, grabbing her wrist, and pulling her into the bedroom.

Chen Jing was stunned. The man’s grip was strong as he dragged her all the way to the room, pushing her against the closet door.

“Pack your things and get out now!” Liang MuZhi shouted angrily.

“This is just impotent rage, I—”

Chen Jing tried to fight back, but the man’s fist, accompanied by a gust of wind, came straight at her.

Her eyes widened in shock, and before she could react, a loud crack sounded in her ear.

Liang MuZhi’s punch had struck the closet door—a solid piece of wood—causing her eardrum to buzz painfully.

His gaze was fierce as he leaned in close. “Do you really think I will never hit you?”

Chen Jing had never seen him like this before. His aura was suffocatingly dark, filled with menace. Her reason snapped back, realizing what she had just said.

Fear flickered in her eyes as she bit her lip helplessly.

Liang MuZhi stepped back, creating distance. His hand had scraped the closet door, leaving a bleeding wound.

“Don’t bother packing anymore. Most of the things here are mine. Just leave, and don’t ever show up in front of me again, understood?”

Chen Jing bit her lip, tears welling up. “MuZhi, I only did this because I love you so much…”

“Get out!” he yelled.

Startled, Chen Jing shivered. After a few seconds, she stammered, “I—I’ll take my phone and ID…”

Liang MuZhi looked as if he might lose control. She had angered him, yet now that she had sobered up, she regretted mentioning the ski resort incident. If she begged him softly, maybe she could salvage something… But now, she dared not say a word, choosing to wait until he calmed down.

Carefully avoiding him, she gathered her essentials and left with a heavy heart.

Thrown out like trash, she walked away crying, unsure where to go.

Inside the room, Liang MuZhi stood still for a long while before sweeping everything from the bedside table to the floor.

Breathing heavily, his anger found no outlet.

If only he hadn’t believed Chen Jing at the ski resort; if only he had listened to Xu Zhi… then they wouldn’t have fallen out, they might still be good friends. If only he had seen through Chen Jing sooner, he wouldn’t have left her alone at the engagement ceremony…

He was filled with regret—deep, aching regret.

But there was no “if.”

His fist struck the closet door again, blood dripping down. He no longer felt the pain, his body growing weak. After a long moment, he crouched down, holding his head.

How could he apologize? He couldn’t imagine it.

Xu Zhi would never forgive him. This time, perhaps not even as friends.

That thought stabbed him deeply, making it hard to breathe.