Volume 1, Chapter 153: His little Gardenia had been snatched away as well.

Xu Hepin’s trip to the hotel not only failed to break up the couple as Liang Muzhi had hoped, but he also returned looking disheveled and utterly dejected.

Liang Muzhi had specifically gone to the Xu household to inquire about the situation, and upon learning the truth, his last shred of hope finally withered away. It seemed Xu Hepin was just as unreliable. He racked his brain for any other possible solution; he no longer dared to hope that Xu Zhi would forgive him immediately, but he desperately wanted her to at least part ways with Liang Jinmo. The mere thought that they might be sharing a bed at the hotel every night was more than he could bear.

He spent his nights tossing and turning, unable to sleep, and his temper grew increasingly volatile. Though he had stopped his deliberate hunger strikes, his appetite remained abysmal. Fu Wanwen watched him with deep concern, urging him more than once to focus on his work, but her words fell on deaf ears. She had pushed his work commitments to after the New Year, yet he felt no motivation whatsoever. The thought of returning to the company only to be subordinate to Liang Jinmo filled him with deep-seated resentment. Did he not have his own pride? How could Liang Zhengguo allow Liang Jinmo to ride roughshod over him?

Perhaps because his life had been too smooth-sailing until now, the string of setbacks he had faced recently had fundamentally changed him. He was becoming increasingly thin, shedding the sunny, arrogant, and unrestrained persona of his past. He became quiet, his eyes dim and filled with a profound sense of gloom.

One day, Liang Muzhi woke up at dawn, his eyes dark with the exhaustion of insomnia. After washing his face, he headed downstairs to eat, but as he passed the study, he heard Liang Zhengguo on the phone, mentioning Liang Jinmo’s name. He paused, lingering for a moment, and gathered from the fragments of the conversation that it was the day of the Liang Corporation’s annual meeting. They were set to give out awards for outstanding contributions to the company, and Liang Jinmo was among the recipients. No wonder Liang Zhengguo had risen so early, he thought, before continuing downstairs.

Liang Zhengguo’s words seemed to echo in his ears: "It’s not just about winning over Jinmo himself, but his entire team. Do you have any idea how many domestic firms are desperate to partner with them? Exactly, we have the advantage now; the team belongs to the Liang Corporation, and we must ensure every one of them feels a sense of belonging here. If the projects they are currently handling proceed smoothly through the second quarter of next year, I will likely promote Jinmo again... Yes, the board of directors values him highly as well. I must hand the company over to someone reliable; I’m not getting any younger..."

The nanny, who had woken up to prepare breakfast, greeted him, asking if he would like to eat. Liang Muzhi didn’t say a word; he simply walked out with a sullen expression.

He arrived at Monkey’s racetrack. Monkey looked at him with a complicated expression; after all, the engagement fiasco had been such a massive scandal that few in North City were unaware of it. After hesitating, Monkey couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened? Wasn't Zhi your fiancée? Why was someone else in her place at the engagement, and why weren't you there? Did something go wrong?"

Liang Muzhi, who was putting on his helmet, replied coldly, "She didn't replace anyone. I left. I was the one who left first."

Monkey was stunned, thinking to himself that this was incredibly ungentlemanly, but he dared not voice it. Liang Muzhi got into the car and slammed on the accelerator. He saw the look on Monkey’s face and knew exactly what he was thinking, but Monkey wouldn't dare say it—not when he was a young master of the Liang family.

He was nothing more than a young master of the Liang family.

Liang Jinmo was merely an illegitimate son, yet he now possessed more than he, the so-called legitimate heir, did. It appeared that Liang Zhengguo had already come to view Liang Jinmo as his successor. Everything that had once belonged to him had been snatched away by Liang Jinmo while he remained blissfully unaware. He hadn't even bothered to guard against him, having never considered the illegitimate son a threat.

And then there was Xu Zhi—his little Zhi—who had also been stolen away...

Liang Jinmo could be with her openly, hold her, kiss her, possess her, and leave his marks upon her, while he... he could only lurk in the shadows, scheming, manipulating Xu Hepin, and resorting to all manner of base tactics. Yet, even in his depravity, he could not find a single glimmer of hope.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. A monstrous hatred surged within him, and in a fit of desperate release, he floored the accelerator.

Monkey, who was at the starting line gossiping about the Liang family with others, heard a loud crash. It was the sound of a car smashing through the protective barrier. A crowd rushed over in a panic.

Liang Muzhi’s car had indeed broken through the fence while rounding a curve. Fortunately, there were protective stone pillars on the outer edge that served as a barrier. The front of his car slammed into a pillar and tilted over, but thanks to the airbag, he hadn't sustained life-threatening injuries.

Monkey helped Liang Muzhi out of the car. Scrapes and bruises were inevitable; his helmet was deformed, a deep gash on his forehead was bleeding, and there were several wounds where his racing suit had been torn. People gathered around, and as Monkey helped him sit on the ground, Liang Muzhi gasped for air, looking around as if searching for something.

Monkey removed his helmet. He was in agony, especially in his right hand, which felt as if it were shattering. Liang Muzhi used his left hand to wipe the blood that was blurring his vision. There were too many people crowding around. When he tried to push himself up with his left hand, Monkey quickly held him down, told someone nearby to call for an ambulance, and then turned to him anxiously. "Don't move! We don't know where you're hurt; wait until we get to the hospital!"

"Zhi..." he muttered, dazed and weak. "Where... where is Zhi?"

Monkey hesitated, his expression conflicted, before saying after a few seconds, "Zhi... she didn't come today. She's not here."

Liang Muzhi seemed frozen. Monkey looked down to check his wounds, but he sat there as still as a stone statue. It wasn't until Monkey touched his right hand that he let out a muffled groan. Monkey stared at the hand; it was covered in blood, the finger bones visibly twisted and deformed.

He felt a sudden chill, realizing this was the young master of the Liang family. He looked up at Liang Muzhi. Half of Liang Muzhi’s face was covered in blood; he buried his face in his left hand, his shoulders shaking violently. A low, suppressed sob reached Monkey’s ears. Liang Muzhi... perhaps from the pain, he was crying.

Liang Muzhi was taken to the hospital. Beyond the lacerations, his right metacarpal bone was severely fractured from the impact, and his index finger was broken. After the surgery, he stayed in the hospital for two days, during which Fu Wanwen shed many tears. She then arranged for him to be transferred to the same hospital where the elder Mr. Liang was staying, making it easier for the household staff to care for them both.

After the injury, Liang Muzhi became increasingly silent, his eyes often vacant. Even Fu Wanwen found the atmosphere in his room oppressive. She suggested he go for a walk, noting that while his right hand was injured, he still needed exercise. He didn't want to move, so she told him to go upstairs to the neurosurgery department to check on the elder Mr. Liang.

This time, Liang Muzhi agreed. He disliked being followed, so Fu Wanwen and the servants dared not tail him; he took the elevator upstairs alone. His right arm was held in a sling, and he walked slowly. Just as he was about to reach the door of the patient’s room, someone stepped out.

It was Liang Jinmo.

Liang Muzhi stopped in his tracks. After closing the door behind him, Liang Jinmo raised his eyes and saw Liang Muzhi. Seeing him in a hospital gown with his arm in a sling, looking so haggard and a shadow of his former self, Liang Jinmo couldn't help but pause.

With only a few meters between them, Liang Muzhi saw the look in Liang Jinmo’s eyes. He knew what a pathetic sight he must make, but... wasn't all of this caused by the man standing before him?

He asked Liang Jinmo, "What are you doing here? That’s my grandfather; he has nothing to do with you."

Liang Jinmo sensed that Liang Muzhi was looking for trouble, so he ignored him and stepped around him to walk away. Liang Muzhi stood there for a few seconds before turning to follow him.