Volume One, Chapter 52 Liang Muzhi reached out and touched her cheek. "Who hit you?"

Old Master Liang gazed at her deeply. “Jinmo’s life has been hard—I know that. But everything has its rules. You’re a girl; I believe you care more about your reputation.”
Xu Zhi felt a flush of embarrassment and discomfort at being so clearly seen through and said nothing more.
When she returned home, the house was empty.
She went upstairs to her own room, finally able to arrange the luggage she had brought back from school.
Pulling out Liang Jinmo’s white shirt from her suitcase, she stared at it, lost in thought for a long while.
She remembered Yang Xue’s words—Liang’s family treated Jinmo unfairly, so she should be fair to him.
But where in this world was there true fairness? It wasn’t only so for Liang Jinmo, but for her as well. Only Liang Muzhi seemed forever favored and indulged, no matter how much trouble he caused or how he defied discipline. His parents and grandfather would always make the best arrangements for him.
And what had she gained from walking on eggshells and being cautious all these years? She hadn’t won Liang Muzhi’s heart, yet was branded with his label.
Many assumed they were a couple, and now that he had turned away to pursue his own happiness, she was left to cower and hesitate.
No one would make considerations for her.
She realized there was no need to keep Liang Muzhi’s secrets anymore—it was time to end all of this.
At dusk, Xu Heping and Zhao Nianqiao returned home together.
They were surprised to see Xu Zhi coming downstairs.
Zhao Nianqiao spoke first: “Zhi, why are you back? Didn’t you say that ski resort was huge? How come you’re home after just two days?”
Xu Heping’s thoughts went elsewhere: “Did Muzhi come back with you? Any progress between you two?”
The couple sat on the sofa as Xu Zhi walked over and stood before them, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t come back with Liang Muzhi.”
She looked at Zhao Nianqiao. “We barely did anything. Something happened—his girlfriend got hurt.”
Zhao Nianqiao was stunned. Xu Heping straightened up, frowning. “What did you say?”
“I said, Liang Muzhi has a girlfriend,” Xu Zhi turned her gaze to Xu Heping, her tone calm. “He and his girlfriend are very close. Now he thinks I caused her injury and is furious with me. Not only won’t we ever be together, we’re not even friends anymore.”
Xu Heping shot to his feet. “When did he get a girlfriend? Haven’t you always been together?!”

Xu Heping was clearly enraged. Xu Zhi felt nervous, sweat gathering in her clenched palms.
“I told you, we were never truly together—just friends,” her voice lacked conviction. “Dad, have you ever really listened to me?”
Of course he hadn’t. In this house, Xu Heping never listened to his daughter, nor had he ever taken his wife’s words to heart.
“And what about what I told you?” Xu Heping’s tone was harsh. “If you can’t make him like you, just go to his room and seduce him. If you get pregnant, all the better... You didn’t go, did you?! You treat my words like they’re nothing!”
Xu Zhi’s face turned pale. Though it wasn’t the first time she’d heard such words from Xu Heping, she still couldn’t accept it.
“Dad!” she called out. “Do you want me to be a mistress?”
“I don’t care if you’re a mistress or a second mistress,” Xu Heping was beside himself with rage. “You must marry Muzhi! So what if he has a girlfriend? As long as you two get married, it doesn’t matter if he keeps women outside. All you need is the title of Mrs. Liang—you know how much those people at the bank value these connections!”
Xu Zhi was trembling with anger. As a father, this was the future Xu Heping had calculated for her.
To marry Liang Muzhi, tolerate her husband keeping women, and be an empty shell of a wife who would never be loved.
She could no longer endure it. She raised her chin stubbornly and stared at Xu Heping. “Is being Mrs. Liang so wonderful? I don’t think so. It’s just being an insignificant mistress—might as well be a prostitute. If this company needs me to sell myself to survive, it just proves you’re not fit to run it. Maybe you shouldn’t try to save it at all.”
Her words fell, and the spacious living room fell silent.
Zhao Nianqiao was shocked, and even Xu Heping was stunned.
Xu Zhi had never spoken so crudely before. She had always been obedient and gentle; this was unlike her.
Yet her words struck home.
Xu Heping felt his blood rush to his head—he had actually been rebuked by Xu Zhi.
His rage peaked, and he raised his hand and slapped her.
With a sharp crack, Xu Zhi’s face was forced to the side.
It was the first time in her life she’d been struck.
Zhao Nianqiao panicked, quickly getting up to intervene. “How could you hit her... Stop arguing. Zhi, go upstairs.”
Xu Heping roared, “Look at how this daughter you raised turned out! Eating and drinking here, growing up to be useless, and now she dares lecture me? It’s outrageous!”

Zhao Nianqiao pushed Xu Zhi a few steps forward. The burning pain on her cheek surged, and suddenly she turned back, her voice rising: “Give up, Dad—Even if I stripped naked, Liang Muzhi wouldn’t look at me! Do you know who his girlfriend is?”
Zhao Nianqiao tried to stop her. “Zhi, don’t say anymore, go upstairs first...”
But Xu Zhi refused to leave. She felt the thread of reason in her mind snap completely. She no longer cared about anything. Why should she always think ahead and behind? Why, even now, should she hold back?
She would hold back no longer. She laughed strangely. “His girlfriend is that Chen Jing! Liang Muzhi would rather be with the daughter of a corrupt official than look at me. Do you think he doesn’t know being with Chen Jing will damage the Liang family’s reputation? But he doesn’t care! He doesn’t care about Grandfather Liang, or his parents, or whether the Liang corporation suffers! Why should I care so much?!”
She laughed as tears slid down her cheeks. “I keep wondering, all these years, what I did wrong. You’ve never looked at me properly. Now I think it’s good you don’t look at me—when you do, my life is nearly destroyed. I’ve been obedient for so many years, been good for so many years... I thought things would be different... I really am a fool.”
Xu Heping raised his hand again. “I provide for you, but I can’t say a word to you?!”
Zhao Nianqiao hurried to block him. “Don’t hit her... Talk it out, how can you hit your child?”
Xu Zhi’s tears continued to flow, but she was calm now. She quietly watched the farce before her and said, “Don’t take out your frustration about your failing business and not having a son on me. My birth wasn’t my choice. If I could choose, I’d never pick you as a father. From now on, make your own plans for the company. I’ll say it right here—Liang Muzhi and I, it’s impossible!”
With that, she turned and strode toward the door.
Xu Heping was nearly beside himself with rage and tried to hit Xu Zhi again, but Zhao Nianqiao held him back. Unable to break free, he turned his anger on her instead. “You’re stopping me? Did you hear what that unfilial daughter just said...”
Xu Zhi slammed the door shut, cutting off the sounds behind her. She didn’t look back, walked through the yard, opened the gate, and stepped outside.
Her pace was quick, and after a few steps, she nearly collided with someone unexpectedly.
She looked up in alarm—and was stunned.
Liang Muzhi, clutching his chest where she had bumped him, was also surprised.
It was dusk, the light dim. But the marks and tears on Xu Zhi’s face were too obvious.
Liang Muzhi forgot everything else for a moment. Instinctively, he reached out and touched her cheek, his voice taut and urgent, “Who hit you?”