Volume One, Chapter 56: You two will get engaged this month.

That night, the Liang household was just as restless.

Liang Muzhi returned home feeling irritable, his mind constantly turning over how to phrase his words. The ski resort incident had become a minor issue compared to the real problem: he was wracking his brains trying to figure out how to confess to his parents about his relationship with Chen Jing.

But Xu Heping acted faster than he expected and called Liang Zhenguo directly.

Liang Zhenguo and his wife, Fu Wanwen, were attending a charity gala that evening. As soon as Liang Zhenguo finished the call, his expression changed drastically, and he left with Fu Wanwen for home.

On the way, Fu Wanwen called Liang Muzhi and, learning that he was already home, urged the driver to speed back, barely keeping within the speed limit.

Liang Muzhi sat on the living room sofa downstairs, waiting for the storm to break.

As expected, when Liang Zhenguo entered and saw him, his eyes flared with anger. Without even changing his shoes, he strode over and demanded what on earth he was thinking.

Liang Muzhi tried to deflect with his usual tricks. "What could I be thinking? Chen Jing is Chen Jing; her father is her father. If her father did something wrong, should she be punished for it too? I’m just dating someone. Why does it have to be so complicated…"

He didn't finish before Liang Zhenguo’s slap landed hard.

A ringing filled Liang Muzhi’s ears from the blow.

A hint of mockery curled at his lips. Xu Zhi got beaten tonight, and so did he—their fates seemed oddly in sync.

Fu Wanwen hurried over to stop Liang Zhenguo. "Enough, don’t hit him. Let’s talk this through."

She glanced at Liang Muzhi with concern, wanting to touch his face but holding back. "Muzhi, apologize to your father."

Liang Muzhi pressed his tongue against his cheek, unrepentant and defiant. "What did I do wrong? You’ve never even met Chen Jing. If you had, you’d know—she’s not a bad person. It’s just her bad luck to have that kind of father. She’s pitiful, really. You can’t just judge her with colored lenses."

"You—" Liang Zhenguo nearly choked with rage. "You’re in your twenties already, not a child! Do I really have to explain the consequences to you? She might not be at fault, but her father’s case involves so many people—it’s all bribery and corruption. In this city, no one with any reputation wants anything to do with the Chen family. Our Liang family has always kept a spotless name. Do you want to taint it just because of a girl? Don’t you understand how terrifying public opinion can be?"

Liang Muzhi touched his face. "I started dating her after her father was already in prison. What does bribery or corruption have to do with us?"

"You think people care about the timeline?" Liang Zhenguo looked at him with bitter disappointment. "The moment your relationship with Chen Jing is exposed, what do you think the media will say? What about public opinion? How can you be this selfish?"

Liang Muzhi frowned, about to reply, but Fu Wanwen interrupted him.

"Muzhi, we let you make your own choices in most things, but not this. This isn’t just your problem—it concerns the whole Liang family." She spoke earnestly, "From your great-grandfather onward, every generation of the Liangs has lived upright, clean lives. Now you’re with the daughter of a corrupt official—what do you think people will say about us?"

Liang Muzhi knew in his heart that he didn’t have the moral high ground, but lowering his head was too difficult. Clenching his fists, he stood up. "I can’t do it. Chen Jing has done nothing wrong, and I can’t abandon her. The world has been unfair enough to her already—I won’t add to it."

"You unfilial son!" Liang Zhenguo shouted. "Did I raise you just to see you drag the family’s name through the mud for the sake of romance?"

He raised his hand to strike again, but Fu Wanwen caught his arm mid-air.

"Calm down. Let me talk to him. Hitting him won’t solve anything, will it?"

Fu Wanwen’s heart ached for her son. In all these years, Liang Muzhi had never been hit before, but tonight Liang Zhenguo truly lost his temper, and his slap had left Liang Muzhi’s cheek red and swollen.

The commotion downstairs was so loud that Grandfather Liang, who had been resting upstairs, came down. By the time he reached the living room, he’d already gathered what was happening from the snippets he overheard.

Fu Wanwen was the first to notice him. "Father, why did you come down?"

The old man was not as robust as he’d been years before and suffered from high blood pressure; they usually took care not to upset him. Seeing his grandfather, Liang Muzhi felt a stab of anxiety. It was never good to have the old man witness such a scene.

Liang Zhenguo, restraining his anger, said, "Dad, I was just disciplining the boy. It’s nothing. Please, go back upstairs and rest."

Grandfather Liang stood by the sofa, fixing his gaze on Liang Muzhi. "Is it true? You’re really involved with that Chen Jing?"

Liang Muzhi pressed his lips into a thin line, unsure how to answer. He wasn’t afraid to admit it, but he had to consider his grandfather’s health. He could argue with his father in a fit of anger, but he didn’t dare with the old man.

But his silence was answer enough.

The old man’s face darkened. After a long pause, he uttered two words: "Break up!"

"Grandpa…" Liang Muzhi finally couldn’t hold back. "Please, just stay out of this. I’ll handle it myself."

"I’ve asked you so many times when you’d bring Zhi home to marry her. Every time you just laughed it off—said you’d wait until she graduated, that it was just a matter of time…" The old man’s hands shook with anger. "Do you think I’m old and easy to fool? And now you find a corrupt official’s daughter and make the whole family worry—how capable you’ve become!"

Fu Wanwen quickly moved to steady him. "Father, please calm down… Don’t worry. We’ll make Muzhi give a proper explanation."

Hearing his grandfather’s words, Liang Muzhi’s own anger flared. "Grandpa, these days people marry for love. Childhood betrothals make no sense. Even if I broke up with Chen Jing, I wouldn’t marry Xu Zhi."

Grandfather Liang had just been helped to the sofa, but at these words he stood up again. "Then why didn’t you say so before? You and Zhi have always been inseparable—I’ve even told the Xu family everything was settled. Your Uncle Xu, Aunt Xu, and Zhi herself… Now, with this mess, how am I supposed to face them? How will I explain?"

Liang Muzhi thought, explain what, exactly?

He said, "You don’t need to worry about this. I’ll talk to them myself."

"How can you do this to Zhi?" Grandfather Liang was incredulous. "This is what people call leading someone on and abandoning them!"

That accusation was too much. Liang Muzhi’s head throbbed. "I’ve never even dated Xu Zhi—how is that leading her on? Grandpa, I’m begging you, let me handle this myself, all right?"

He thought his tone was gentle enough—not disrespectful—but the old man was still beside himself with anger.

"Let me be clear," Grandfather Liang announced, "as long as I’m alive, this engagement stands. I promised your Grandfather Xu, and now that he’s gone, I must keep my word. Zhi graduates in six months. You’ll be engaged this month. Tomorrow, I’ll go to Uncle Xu and set the date. I want the whole city to know you’re engaged—including that Chen Jing!"