Volume One, Chapter 50 A girl's first kiss is always something special.

At eleven o’clock that night, Yang Xue returned with her winnings, in excellent spirits. She noticed Xu Zhi with her head buried under the covers and couldn’t resist pulling her out, only to freeze for a moment. “Are you running a fever, Zhi? Why is your face so red?”

She reached out to touch Xu Zhi’s forehead. “It does feel a little warm…”

Xu Zhi hurriedly pulled away, her hand flying to her cheek. “I’m… I’m fine, it’s just the floor heating. It’s too warm in here.”

“I think the temperature’s just right,” Yang Xue replied cheerfully, plopping herself onto the little sofa. Her gaze landed on the beer bottles on the coffee table and the large wet stain on the carpet. “What have you been up to—taking a beer bath?”

“No…” Xu Zhi muttered. “I just spilled some beer on the carpet by accident.”

“Were you drinking with young Mr. Liang?” Yang Xue grinned mischievously. “No wonder he didn’t join us tonight, rushing back here instead. He’s had you on his mind all day—asked me for the room card at noon, then again in the evening, and kept reminding me to order you dinner… Honestly, I said I might as well swap rooms with him. He’s got a suite upstairs; I could let him have my little bed. And if you two find it cramped, you can always push the beds together.”

“You…” Xu Zhi was both embarrassed and annoyed. “Stop making things up.”

“I’m not making anything up. It’s all true,” Yang Xue replied, pausing as she regarded Xu Zhi with sudden insight, as if she’d discovered a new continent. “Your face is even redder now… Something happened, didn’t it?”

Xu Zhi buried her face back in the covers.

Yang Xue simply climbed onto the bed beside her. “Confess, now!”

Xu Zhi was far too shy to speak and mumbled, “Don’t tease me.”

Yang Xue relented a little. “Fine, but listen—don’t miss your chance. Young Mr. Liang is truly a good man, much better than Liang Muzhi, that spoiled brat.”

“You’ve only known him a few days…”

“But everyone in the team agrees he’s great. He treats his own people well,” Yang Xue replied. “And he’s so handsome! I’ve seen so much of him these days that I’m immune to Cheng Yu’s good looks now. My standards have been raised—my idol can’t even compare.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhi’s mind went blank. She turned to Yang Xue and blurted out, “Why do you keep looking at him, anyway…”

She regretted it the moment the words left her mouth, but it was too late.

Yang Xue burst out laughing. “What’s the rush? Relax! I’m not going to compete with you. Even though Cheng Yu isn’t as handsome as young Mr. Liang, he’s still number one in my heart. Young Mr. Liang, I’ll leave to you.”

Hiding her face wasn’t enough—Xu Zhi wished she could dig a hole and bury herself.

When Yang Xue finally finished laughing, she patted Xu Zhi’s back. “Seriously, think it over. I can tell he truly cares about you. Even when he’s away, he’s thinking of you. Normally, he seems so cold; I never expected him to be so attentive…”

She paused. “I’ve heard at the company… He’s not welcome in the Liang family, being an illegitimate son. I know you might mind his background, but look, after all that’s happened with Liang Muzhi, what is there left to hesitate about? Besides, he had no say in his birth; the Liang family has treated him unfairly enough. At least you should treat him fairly.”

Yang Xue had struck upon a very real issue. Xu Zhi had been reliving that kiss all night, but only now was she dragged back to reality.

Lying in bed in the dark, she couldn’t help but wonder—what did Liang Jinmo really think? Was it, as Liang Muzhi said, just about revenge?

And if she were to be with him, she would surely face enormous pressure, antagonizing both Fu Wanwen and defying Xu Heping.

It was something she had never dared imagine before.

Thinking this, all the subtle stirrings and flutterings in her heart felt as if they had been doused with cold water.

How could she forget? She’d once helped Liang Muzhi tear up his textbooks; when he had nowhere to go and a fever, she’d chased him out of her own house. It had happened too many times…

If Liang Jinmo truly wanted revenge on Liang Muzhi, she, as his accomplice, would hardly be spared.

The next morning, Xu Zhi woke early.

Taking advantage of Yang Xue’s deep slumber, she got ready as quietly as possible, grabbed her luggage, and slipped out of the room.

She had just shut the door and turned around when she froze.

Liang Jinmo was leaning against the wall, his face in profile, eyes fixed on her.

She was mortified, and after a long moment, she walked over slowly. “Why are you… up so early?”

He glanced at her luggage. “You’re early too.”

She had left so early to escape, but couldn’t say so.

Liang Jinmo raised an eyebrow slightly. “Trying to run away?”

Xu Zhi bristled. “No.”

“Then let’s go.” He straightened, took her suitcase from her, and let out a soft laugh. “Coward. Who’s really afraid here?”

A tangle of emotions twisted in Xu Zhi’s heart. She was, in truth, afraid.

She used to think that with every encounter, she came to know him a little better. Now, she realized she had been wrong.

In their interactions, she discovered more about herself—about the desires she had never noticed before. She hadn’t known how much she longed for intimacy, or that deep down, she wanted to be held and kissed by him…

If Liang Jinmo were not Liang Jinmo, not Liang Muzhi’s half-brother, not the illegitimate son of the Liang family, she thought perhaps she would be willing to give this a chance. But life allowed no such ifs.

His situation was simply too complicated. She had once been thought to be involved with Liang Muzhi; now, to be entangled with two half-brothers—what would people say about her?

She lacked the courage to face her father’s disapproval and the strange looks from those around her, so she dared not make anything clear, nor did she want him to say anything.

Rationally, she did not want to be entangled with the Liang family any further. Besides, she couldn’t be sure of his feelings—whether he truly cared for her, or if revenge against her or Liang Muzhi was on his mind.

Perhaps it was just a game. A man kissing a woman didn’t mean he liked her; men, after all, could sleep with women they didn’t care for.

Her thoughts spun in endless circles, leaving her uncomfortable. After all, that had been her first kiss…

For a girl, a first kiss always meant something special.

They reached the car in the parking lot. Xu Zhi chose the back seat.

To keep her distance from him.

Liang Jinmo sat in the driver’s seat and glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Do you take me for your chauffeur?”

Xu Zhi quickly lay down across the back seat. “I’m really tired. I need to sleep. The front is too cramped.”

“The seat reclines, you know.”

“It’s still cramped!”

She was being completely unreasonable.

Liang Jinmo narrowed his eyes, then, after a long moment, let out a laugh of exasperation. “Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Xu Zhi’s mind worked fast. “No, I slept great.”

She certainly wasn’t about to admit she’d lain awake half the night thinking of him—and that kiss.

Liang Jinmo didn’t argue. He shifted gears and withdrew his gaze from the mirror. “I didn’t sleep well.”

Xu Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. She threw her coat over her head and pretended to be dead asleep.