Volume One, Chapter Thirty-Six: If this is your revenge, you have succeeded.

Liang Muzhi bombarded Xu Zhi with phone calls and WeChat messages well into the next day, receiving no response. Naturally, he decided to show up at her house in person.

Xu Heping happened to be home and opened the door for Liang Muzhi, greeting him warmly.

“Muzhi, you’re here.”

“Uncle Xu, is Little Zhi home?” Liang Muzhi went straight to the point.

“She is. I’ll call her downstairs. Have a seat on the sofa,” Xu Heping said, his face creased with smiles as he picked up his phone and dialed the family line.

“Zhi, Muzhi has come to see you. Hurry down.”

Xu Zhi was upstairs in her bedroom reading when she heard this; her brows immediately furrowed.

Liang Muzhi had actually come to her door.

She really didn’t want to speak to him right now, but since Xu Heping had summoned her, she couldn’t refuse and had to force herself to comply.

Downstairs, Liang Muzhi was exchanging polite greetings with Xu Heping. Hearing footsteps, Liang Muzhi looked up toward the staircase.

Xu Zhi came down slowly.

She wore a pink coral fleece pajama set, making her look soft and cuddly, rather adorable. Her eyes weren’t as swollen anymore, and she seemed to be in much better spirits.

Xu Heping’s phone rang. He glanced at it, got up with the phone in hand, and reminded Xu Zhi, “Zhi, make Muzhi a cup of tea. You two chat for a bit.”

With that, he headed to the study to take the call.

Xu Zhi walked over to the TV cabinet, reaching for the tea leaves, when Liang Muzhi spoke up, “Don’t bother, I’m not drinking.”

Xu Zhi didn’t stand on ceremony either. She walked over and sat at the opposite end of the sofa.

Liang Muzhi’s eyes were bloodshot; his expression was weary as he looked at her. “When did you get home last night?”

Xu Zhi replied, “I can’t remember.”

Liang Muzhi rubbed his face. “If this is your way of getting back at me, you’ve succeeded. I didn’t sleep a wink last night.”

Xu Zhi thought to herself, this young master is so fragile—this counts as revenge?

Liang Muzhi pressed, “You and my father’s illegitimate son…”

Xu Zhi interrupted him, “He’s not just an illegitimate son; he has a name. His name is Liang Jinmo.”

Liang Muzhi was taken aback, incredulous. “You object to me calling him an illegitimate son? Isn’t that what he is?”

“He was born before you. Though he’s an illegitimate child, his mother is innocent—she wasn’t the other woman. And he’s even more innocent.” Xu Zhi spoke calmly, fully aware of the impact these words would have.

Liang Muzhi stared at her. “What are you trying to say?”

Xu Zhi pursed her lips, her gaze stubborn. “I’m just stating the facts.”

Liang Muzhi was angered again. “What’s gotten into you lately? How did you become like this?”

He looked at her, disappointment evident in his eyes. “I came here hoping to talk things through. I don’t want to hear you say things just to spite me. Didn’t you used to dislike Liang Jinmo as much as I did? So now, just because you’re angry with me, you insist on getting tangled up with him?”

Xu Zhi frowned, wanting to say something, but another voice in her head told her to let it go.

She didn’t know when it started, but her communication with Liang Muzhi had reached an impasse. He thought she had changed, but she wanted to ask, wasn’t he the one who changed first?

She closed her eyes briefly. “If there’s something you want to say, just say it.”

Liang Muzhi lowered his gaze, his lips pressed tightly together, clearly upset.

Once upon a time, anyone who argued with him about Liang Jinmo would have seen his temper flare immediately.

But now...

He pulled a small envelope from his pocket and tossed it onto the coffee table.

The envelope landed lightly.

“I originally wanted to come cheer you up. Our family’s branch company has just opened its ski resort, and I thought I’d take you there for some fun, help you relax…” He let out a cold laugh. “I didn’t expect you’d start by debating whether Liang Jinmo is an illegitimate son.”

Xu Zhi glanced at the envelope; it appeared to contain tickets to the ski resort.

The Liang family’s branch company operated in the tourism and vacation industry. This ski resort had been an ongoing project for three years, scheduled to open this winter. Around summer, Liang Muzhi had told her that they’d go together when it opened.

But now, she felt no interest at all. “I’m not going. You should take Chen Jing—it would be more appropriate.”

Liang Muzhi’s face grew tense. “We agreed to go together when it opened.”

Xu Zhi lowered her head. “I... I want to study abroad. I’ll need to prepare a lot during this break.”

She grabbed at an excuse, not even caring whether she could actually manage to leave for overseas studies later.

Liang Muzhi’s eyes widened. “Study abroad? You’ve never mentioned it to me.”

Xu Zhi was silent for a few seconds before saying, “I’m mentioning it now, aren’t I?”

“You...” Liang Muzhi didn’t finish his sentence as Xu Heping emerged from the study.

The atmosphere in the living room was tense; Xu Heping sensed it as he approached the sofa, casting a glance at the tickets on the coffee table. “What’s going on?”

Liang Muzhi looked away, feeling embarrassed. “I invited Little Zhi to the ski resort, but she says she’s busy.”

Xu Heping immediately turned his gaze to Xu Zhi. “I didn’t know you were suddenly so busy.”

Xu Zhi’s spine chilled; there was a warning in Xu Heping’s eyes, and she couldn’t speak for a moment.

When he looked at Liang Muzhi, Xu Heping’s face broke into a smile again. “I’ll make the decision for Zhi and agree. When are you going? It’s good for her to get out and have some fun instead of staying at home all the time.”

Xu Zhi’s hand slowly clenched into a fist.

Xu Heping had no respect for her. She should have been used to it by now, but in this moment, she still felt furious.

Liang Muzhi stopped talking to her and addressed Xu Heping directly, “Alright, I’ll pick her up tomorrow morning at eight.”

Xu Heping nodded cheerfully. “No problem. I’ll make sure she’s ready beforehand.”

Liang Muzhi stood up and glanced at Xu Zhi. “I’ll head out now. See you tomorrow.”

Xu Zhi said nothing. Xu Heping shot her a glare and tried to smooth things over with Liang Muzhi. “She’s been in a bad mood lately. It’s good for you to take her out for a change of scenery. How’s the ski resort going? I heard it’s the biggest one in North City now. With your family involved, the other resorts probably don’t stand a chance…”

Xu Heping escorted Liang Muzhi out, while Xu Zhi sat stiffly on the sofa, listening as her own father flattered this idle, frivolous heir in a tone bordering on obsequiousness.

Soon, Xu Heping returned. Seeing her still sitting there, his tone turned harsh. “Muzhi invited you out—you’d better not be ungrateful. I’ve already told you: for the sake of the family company, you must marry him.”

Xu Zhi could no longer endure it and stood up. “But Dad, have you ever asked if he’s willing? Does he even want me?”

This was a blow to both sides, and as the words left her lips, her chest ached.

No one wants to belittle themselves, but she forced herself to speak, just to make Xu Heping see reality.

Xu Heping’s expression darkened completely. “If he doesn’t want you, that’s your problem. After all these years, you two have been inseparable since childhood—haven’t you developed any feelings?”

“But friendship isn’t love!”

“Love?” Xu Heping’s tone was mocking. “What I want from your marriage is financing and loans, not romance. You’d better remember, living in this family means you have a duty!”

His final words were shouted.

Xu Zhi bit her lip, unable to say another word, tears welling in her eyes.

“Tomorrow, you’ll go to the ski resort with Muzhi. I don’t care what you have to do. If all else fails, when you’re at the hotel at night, you can go to his room,” Xu Heping said as if delivering his final ultimatum. “Whether it’s currying favor, serving him, or seducing him, you must make him marry you. Otherwise, don’t bother coming back.”