Volume One, Chapter 71: In front of Liang Jinmo, she found it difficult to conceal her own vulnerability.

This was the first time Xu Zhi had spoken those words so frankly.

She had been lost, had struggled, had been afraid, never daring to face her true feelings, but now...

She realized that if she let go of Liang Jinmo, she might never again find someone who truly understood her and cared for her in this life.

She would regret it.

And she did not want to live with regret.

Having spoken those words and seeing the stunned look on Xu Heping’s face, she actually felt a sense of relief.

Yes, liking Liang Jinmo was nothing shameful or something that needed to be hidden. He was so good; it was only natural that she would fall for him.

Xu Heping was visibly shocked.

His daughter had always been gentle, reserved, and shy; how could she say such things?

“What nonsense are you talking about... Just to avoid getting engaged to Mu Zhi, you’re telling such lies? How many times have you even interacted with Liang Jinmo? You ride in his car once and that’s it, you like him?” He was still trying to find excuses for her.

Xu Heping had offered generous terms; as long as the two children got engaged, he’d have a great chance of securing investment and loans. Now, when everything was nearly settled, Xu Zhi was stopping it all.

“I’ve ridden in his car more than once,” Xu Zhi felt her muddled mind gradually clearing as she spoke. “Last night when I left, I went to see him. He was the one who brought me back, not just some chance encounter. We’ve always gotten along well; he’s helped me many times. When we were at the ski resort and Liang Mu Zhi kicked me out of the hotel room, it was him who arranged a place for me to stay...”

“Enough!” Xu Heping’s face turned cold. “I don’t want to hear about your past with him. Haven’t you heard what your aunt said? Even if you refuse to marry Mu Zhi, you can’t get involved with Liang Jinmo. If you choose him, you’ll lose everything!”

“I won’t,” Xu Zhi said, as if trying to convince both Xu Heping and herself. “He... he likes me too. He’s not like Liang Mu Zhi. The Liang family treats him poorly; he doesn’t have to obey their every demand. With him, it’s not hopeless.”

“And what about Uncle Liang and Aunt Liang? What about Grandfather Liang? Have you thought about how they’ll see you, how disappointed they’ll be in you?” Xu Heping was at a loss as to how to stop his love-struck daughter. “And your reputation? Always being with Mu Zhi, and now you’re with his family’s illegitimate son? Do you think that’s acceptable?”

Xu Zhi pressed her lips together and took a deep breath. “I used to care too much about what others thought, how they looked at me, what they said about me. That’s why I ended up so timid and powerless. But today, I realized something...”

She paused. “I care about what they think, but have they ever cared about me? I’m tired of this one-sided relationship. If no one will look out for me, is it wrong for me to look after myself?”

Her words stunned Xu Heping. “And what about me and your mother? Are you just going to ignore us? What about the company? Do you know how we’ve survived all these years? Who paid for your education and raised you? Now that we need your help, you just want to run away? Where did all your education go? You have no sense of responsibility, just thoughts full of men—worse, that illegitimate son who can’t even show his face in public!”

“Who says he can’t?” Xu Zhi clenched her fists, her emotions flaring. “You don’t know him. He’s outstanding! He even said he wanted to help our company, that the previous projects had issues and we needed to shift direction...”

“I don’t need you to teach me how to run things!” Xu Heping snapped. “Who does he think he is, daring to comment on my decisions? He’s led you astray! From now on, you’re not to see him again!”

Xu Zhi’s chest was heaving. She bit her lip and, finally unable to hold back, said, “Unless you break my legs, I will see him.”

Xu Heping was incredulous. “You’re a girl—have you no sense of shame? How did you become like this?”

Now, Xu Zhi saw his words for what they were: nothing but manipulation, a means of control. She declared firmly, “I’ve been obedient for over twenty years, always treading carefully around you. But from now on, things will be different. From now on, I’ll live for myself. I don’t need anyone to dictate how I live my life. This is who I am—”

Before she could finish, Xu Heping lost all patience and struck her hard across the face.

The blow turned Xu Zhi’s head to the side.

A burning pain spread across her cheek. Slowly, she turned back to meet Xu Heping’s gaze, her eyes full of defiance and unyielding strength.

Xu Heping pointed a trembling finger at her nose, nearly shaking with rage. “You’re out of control! You think I can’t teach you? I’m your father—what I say goes! If you want to sever ties, do you think you can? Who paid for your upbringing these past twenty years? If you’ve got the nerve, pay back every cent we spent raising you! If you can’t, then shut your mouth and get ready for the engagement!”

At last, it had come to this.

Xu Zhi looked at Xu Heping. Facing her father, she now felt nothing—not even disappointment.

She did want to say she’d pay him back, but she knew she couldn’t come up with that kind of money all at once.

Covering her face, she was silent for a long time before asking, “Can I pay in installments?”

Xu Heping, furious, struck her again.

Her head rang from the blow, and she felt dizzy.

Just then, Zhao Nianqiao returned. Seeing the tense standoff in the living room, her expression changed instantly.

She hurried over, checked Xu Zhi’s face, and frowned at Xu Heping. “If you have something to say, say it properly. Why are you hitting her again?”

“Why don’t you take a look at what kind of child you’ve raised?” Xu Heping vented his anger on Zhao Nianqiao. “I always said a daughter is a loss, and it’s true! If I’d had a son, maybe he could help me now. All she does is make things worse!”

It was the same old argument. Zhao Nianqiao retorted at once, “And who says a son would be any better? Maybe he wouldn’t be half as obedient as Zhi! Always fantasizing about some nonexistent son—what’s wrong with you?”

The parents were at it again, arguing back and forth over the lack of a son.

Xu Zhi listened numbly for a while, then turned and went upstairs.

She could not bear to stay in this house another moment. She wanted to see Liang Jinmo—right now.

Yet when she had hastily packed a small bag and tried to go downstairs, Xu Heping blocked her at the stairway.

He grabbed her arm and dragged her back to her room. “You’re not going anywhere. Stay here and reflect on your actions!”

Determined to keep her under house arrest, he locked her in after closing the door.

Xu Zhi sat on her bed, staring blankly at the locked door. After a long while, she lifted her hand and gently touched her face, the pain settling in only now. She lowered her eyes as tears slowly slipped down her cheeks.

She sat for ages, dazed, then drifted into a fitful sleep. When she woke again, it was to the vibration of her phone.

She picked it up and saw a WeChat call from Liang Jinmo.

She answered, pressing the phone to her ear. She had only managed a single “Hello,” when she felt her nose sting with emotion.

In front of Liang Jinmo, it seemed impossible for her to hide her vulnerability and helplessness.