Volume 1, Chapter 162 He walked over and took her hand.

Fu Wanwen completely broke down emotionally.

For how many years had she made things difficult for Liang Jinmo? Yet, in the past, this child had always avoided her, never clashing with her directly. But now, because of Xu Zhi, he actually dared to stand up to her.

Pointing at the tip of Liang Jinmo's nose, she shrieked, "You should have died long ago! You and that mother of yours are neither of you anything good! If it weren't for you two, our Liang family was doing fine, and none of this would have ever happened..."

Hearing this, Xu Zhi frowned and opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted.

Liang Zhengguo frowned deeply and barked harshly, "Enough!"

Above all else, he valued saving face; he could not bear to look at Fu Wanwen acting so hysterical.

Tears streamed down Fu Wanwen's cheeks as she turned her fury on him as well, yelling, "Your son has been bullied like this, and you're still sitting here worrying about the Liang family's reputation? Muzhi is only in his twenties! Didn't you hear what the doctor said? Not only will there be many things he can no longer do, but the aftermath will leave him with hand pain every time the weather changes! What is wrong with me for feeling heartache for my son?!"

Liang Zhengguo was filled with irritation. To his disbelief, Fu Wanwen's spearhead had now turned toward him. Suppressing the anger rising in his chest, his tone was far from polite, "There is no reasoning that allows us to demand someone's hand be crippled as compensation. Besides..."

He paused, glancing at Liang Muzhi, "It really was Muzhi who provoked Jinmo first. You saw it in the surveillance footage yourself."

In the video, Liang Muzhi had chased Liang Jinmo all the way to the elevator lobby. Knowing full well that he was already injured, he had still used his left hand to actively initiate an attack.

"Fine, fine..." Fu Wanwen nodded through her tears. "Then what do you mean? My son's hand has ended up like this, and you just want to let this matter go like nothing happened?"

Liang Zhengguo remained silent for a moment before turning to persuade Liang Jinmo, "Jinmo, Muzhi was in the wrong regarding this incident, but his hand has turned out like this now... At the very least, the two of you should make your stance clear."

Just as Liang Jinmo was about to speak, Xu Zhi stepped out from behind him and called out, "Uncle Liang."

Liang Zhengguo spoke reasonably, unlike Fu Wanwen who resorted to screaming and cursing, so she was willing to discuss the matter calmly. "It's not that I'm unwilling to apologize, but I hope you can also make a commitment to ensure that Liang Muzhi no longer interferes with Jinmo-ge's and my life. Only then can everyone live in peace with one another from now on."

Her attitude was neither servile nor overbearing, and her words were logical. Feeling that she made sense, Liang Zhengguo looked over at Liang Muzhi.

With all eyes on him, Liang Muzhi remained silent on the hospital bed.

It was time to let go. But why was it so damn difficult? Resistance surged wildly in his heart. He had no idea how to resign himself to fate and gracefully walk away from her life.

After a long while, he murmured, "Forget it."

His voice was very soft, somewhat hoarse, his eyes shrouded in gloom.

In the past, he had never been able to stomach even the slightest grievance; if anyone dared to harm him by a fraction, he would wish to return it tenfold. Yet now...

That person was Xu Zhi.

He didn't know how to pursue the matter further. Fu Wanwen was insistent on seeking justice for him, but right now, Liang Jinmo and Xu Zhi standing together, forming a single united front, standing shoulder to shoulder and mutually protecting one another, deeply pierced and wounded his eyes.

Whose torture was this conversation supposed to be anyway?

He felt as though he could barely breathe.

"How can we just forget it?!" Fu Wanwen cried out. "Such a huge matter! Muzhi, don't be afraid. Even if your father is biased toward that illegitimate son now, I will still get justice for you."

"I said forget it." Liang Muzhi raised his eyes. He was actually smiling, and even glanced at Xu Zhi. "It's fine. What's one... hand, anyway? Besides, it won't affect daily life that much. I—"

He paused, his vision blurring slightly. Lowering his head, he said, "I'm very tired and want to rest. Make them leave."

"Muzhi..." Fu Wanwen protested.

"Mom, I'm really tired." He simply turned onto his side and lay down. "Just go, all of you. Let me have some peace and quiet to rest for a while. It's just... far too noisy."

Fu Wanwen's heart was shattering.

Ever since hearing the doctor's words, Liang Muzhi had remained in this state of utter despair, sunk to the very depths of depression. He had originally been such a lively person, but after experiencing the recent series of events, his entire demeanor had transformed.

She was terrified—terrified that he would never recover from this blow.

This conversation had resolved nothing at all. Liang Zhengguo felt deeply uneasy inside; with his two sons having come to this, he found himself caught in the middle, trapped in a difficult dilemma.

Liang Jinmo and Xu Zhi left amidst Fu Wanwen's venomous glare. Before departing, Xu Zhi cast one final look at Liang Muzhi.

He was lying on his side with his back turned toward them, so she could not see his expression. Her footsteps faltered briefly, but she quickly caught up to Liang Jinmo's pace.

After considering for a moment, Liang Zhengguo followed them out. In the elevator lobby, he attempted to communicate with Liang Jinmo once more. "Jinmo, there are some things I want to talk to you about."

"What things?" Liang Jinmo asked.

Liang Zhengguo glanced sideways at Xu Zhi. "Xu Zhi, you go downstairs first."

It seemed the father and son intended to speak privately. Without lingering, Xu Zhi took the elevator down.

Liang Zhengguo led Liang Jinmo into the deserted stairwell before speaking. "Jinmo, I know Muzhi did things in the past that wronged you, but those were just ignorant, petty squabbles. Now... look at how he's ended up. After all, you are his older brother. I never expected the two of you to get along like normal brothers, but you can't genuinely treat each other as enemies, can you?"

Liang Jinmo frowned slightly, offering no reply.

"At my age, I cannot hold the position of Executive Director forever. The future belongs to you young people. You are my son, and your performance in the company has been exceptional; in the future, it is very likely you will become a key member of the Liang family's senior management," Liang Zhengguo said earnestly. "I don't expect you to take care of your younger brother, but at least coexist peacefully. In the future, you might even have to manage the Liang Corporation together. Do you understand?"

Liang Jinmo had not expected Liang Zhengguo to actually start dangling promises of a bright future before him.

And he was using this carrot to admonish him to maintain a good relationship with Liang Muzhi.

Lowering his gaze to conceal the disdain deep within his eyes, he replied, "You should go say these things to him."

"My point is," Liang Zhengguo sighed, "he has been spoiled rotten, and his temper is poor. At times, you should yield to him a bit. Xu Zhi as well... After all, you will be a family in the future."

Liang Jinmo's lips pressed into a tight line, a sense of bitter irony washing over him.

*Heh. Yield.*

More yielding.

How many years had he already yielded?

He said, "It's not like I haven't yielded in the past, but I don't want Zhizhi to have to endure Liang Muzhi's unreasonable tantrums just because she is with me. She must not suffer wrongs because of me."

Out of patience, Liang Zhengguo found himself at his wit's end—two sons, each more infuriating than the last.

Since gentle persuasion failed, his expression turned cold. "Xu Zhi injured Muzhi this time, and his mother will not let this matter rest. She cares for Muzhi too much... I cannot settle this dispute. Whatever his mother chooses to do from now on, I will no longer intervene."

A voice echoed deep inside Liang Jinmo's heart: *I never expected you to intervene anyway.*

Liang Zhengguo had never cared for him in the past, yet now he put on the airs of a righteous father to lecture him. This sanctimonious facade was thoroughly nauseating.

"I understand," he said.

Flicking his hand in frustration, Liang Zhengguo snapped, "Go on then."

This child Liang Jinmo was completely impervious to reason, and his brooding temperament made him genuinely unlikable. These two sons of his truly filled him with a profound sense of failure.

Liang Jinmo went downstairs to look for Xu Zhi.

She was waiting for him by the flower beds in the hospital's front courtyard, gazing into the distance, lost in thought.

It wasn't until footsteps drew near that she snapped back to reality. Turning her head, she saw the man who had walked up beside her and smiled slightly. "Are you finished talking?"

"Mmm." Liang Jinmo took her hand, giving her another look. The words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down; her smile didn't reach her eyes, and when she was unhappy, it was actually quite obvious.

The two of them walked together toward the parking lot. Studying his expression, Xu Zhi asked, "What did Uncle Liang say?"

"Nothing much."

Xu Zhi froze.

While waiting, she had been consumed by lingering anxiety, convinced she could roughly guess what Liang Zhengguo had to say. That push of hers had left Liang Muzhi in such a state... Liang Zhengguo must hold a very poor opinion of her. Would he urge Liang Jinmo to break up with her?