Volume One, Chapter 85: He held her close, as if wishing to merge her into his very being.

The next morning, Xu Zhi awoke in the man's embrace.

Last night, they'd fallen asleep while talking, and she hadn't returned to her own room. When she opened her eyes, she was still a bit drowsy, but quickly became alert—Liang Jinmo was already awake, gazing at her quietly. She had no idea how long he'd been watching.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning..." Xu Zhi replied in a small, slightly embarrassed voice. "Why didn't you wake me?"

Liang Jinmo picked up his phone from the bedside table and glanced at the time. "It's still early."

A winter weekend, a warm quilt, and her by his side... He was beginning to understand why some people loved to linger in bed.

Xu Zhi didn't really want to get up either, but...

Liang Jinmo hadn't put on a shirt, and lying together like this, her mind couldn't help but recall the events of last night. The memories left her parched, and she didn't dare stay any longer.

She got up and went to the other room to change. When she saw the marks—some deep, some faint—on her chest, she couldn't resist touching them, her cheeks flushing red.

If she didn't move out, things would only progress further… Some things, inevitably, would happen sooner or later.

But thinking that it was him, she didn't find the prospect frightening at all. All of his strength and tenderness fit her perfectly, and she relished the intimacy they shared.

This feeling was different from what she'd once felt for Liang Muzhi. She yearned for Liang Jinmo's touch, and deep down, even harbored a secret anticipation.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her: she truly ought to thank Liang Muzhi for refusing to marry her—otherwise, with her previous outlook, she surely would have missed someone like Liang Jinmo.

Xu Zhi had intended to talk to Liang Jinmo over breakfast about their future.

Though she wasn't afraid of Xu Heping coming to confront them, they still needed to be prepared. Their families would surely do all they could to pressure them to separate.

However, throughout breakfast, Liang Jinmo was on work calls.

From what she overheard, it seemed some newly launched software had a bug.

But isn't today Sunday? Xu Zhi felt a little confused and wondered why his work was so demanding.

Liang Jinmo ate his breakfast absentmindedly. After hanging up the phone, he told Xu Zhi, "I need to go to the office and work overtime today."

Xu Zhi asked, "Are you always this busy?"

"It'll be hectic for a while. Besides my own ongoing projects, I now have to oversee all active projects in the Internet Division. Two weeks ago, my father assigned the network and terminal channels to our department as well," he explained. "I'm still new to the role of director and need time to adjust."

Xu Zhi's eyes widened. "You've already been promoted to director?"

"It's just Director of the Product Department," he replied.

Xu Zhi fell silent for a moment, then said, "I think you're showing off."

He wasn't much older than her, and among the graduates she knew, few had advanced so quickly—especially at such a major company like the Liang Group.

Liang Jinmo asked seriously, "What does 'showing off' mean?"

He was so earnest that Xu Zhi, sipping her milk through a straw, found his obliviousness oddly endearing.

Utterly adorable.

She refused to tell him and teased, "Why don't you use your ancient 2G internet to look it up?"

Liang Jinmo responded, "I use 5G."

Xu Zhi couldn't stop laughing, while Liang Jinmo looked on, thoroughly puzzled.

After breakfast, Liang Jinmo changed and left for the office.

Xu Zhi saw him to the door, reluctant to let him go. She finally understood why her roommate would spend an hour each night downstairs with her boyfriend, dawdling instead of going up to the dormitory.

Her boyfriend was off to work overtime, and he hadn't even left yet, but already she missed him.

After changing his shoes, Liang Jinmo saw Xu Zhi standing at the doorway like a gentle little wife, gazing after him. His heart softened.

She'd been just as gentle and obedient around Liang Muzhi, but back then, he'd found it irritating—sometimes even thought she was putting on an act.

But when she acted this way with him, it felt just right.

He came over and wrapped his arms around her, lowering his head to kiss her.

Xu Zhi instinctively raised her arms, encircling his neck. She parted her lips obediently, letting him deepen the kiss.

Once they started, he didn't want to leave. Pressing her against the wall, his hands slid down her slender waist and further, as if trying to fuse her into himself.

After an indeterminate time, both were breathless, their foreheads pressed together. Xu Zhi whispered, "Can't you work overtime here...?"

"I need to check the servers. The main system is at the office." He pecked her lips once more, his fingers tracing her face. Her lips were reddened and swollen, and he fought to regain his composure. "I'll come back as soon as I can."

After Liang Jinmo left, Xu Zhi, at loose ends, picked up her phone and browsed job postings.

She had to find a job, but joining Liang Jinmo's team was out of the question. That was the Liang Group, after all, and things were tense between her and Liang Muzhi—she'd even run away. Liang Zhenguo wouldn't look kindly upon her.

Liang Jinmo was already Director of the Product Department. She felt a little troubled—having such an outstanding boyfriend was a bit of a pressure. She thought of Xu Heping.

That old traditionalist still harped on about family background and bloodline, when clearly Liang Jinmo was so much better than the idle Liang Muzhi.

As noon approached, a new message popped up on her phone.

It was an unsaved number, but the chat window was all too familiar—Liang Muzhi again.

Xu Zhi frowned and opened it.

Liang Muzhi: Aunt Xu is hurt. She's at the hospital now.

Xu Zhi felt a sharp pang in her chest, her mind going blank.

How could Zhao Nianqiao be injured? And the way Liang Muzhi sent the message—there were so many hospitals in North City, he didn't even specify which one.

She called him directly.

The ringtone went on for a long time before he picked up.

As soon as the call connected, Xu Zhi couldn't hold back, "How did my mom get hurt? Is it serious? Which hospital and which department? Is someone with her now?"

There was silence on the other end.

Xu Zhi grew more anxious. "Liang Muzhi, answer me. Didn't you send this message just to make me call you?"

Liang Muzhi stood outside the hospital room, glanced inside, then walked to the end of the corridor before replying through gritted teeth, "Xu Zhi, you're something else. You ignored my messages yesterday, but this one you saw right away?"

There was a brief silence from Xu Zhi's end. "Liang Muzhi, you can't be... making this up, can you? Did you lie about something like this just to get me to contact you?"

"Who's lying?" Liang Muzhi's lips curled into a faint sneer, his brows furrowed. "I'm at the hospital now, right outside the room. Auntie is getting an IV drip."

Xu Zhi gripped her phone tightly. "Why does she need an IV? Is it that serious?"

Liang Muzhi replied, "According to the doctor, she was beaten—suspected domestic violence. Her face is swollen, there are multiple bruises on her body, and wounds on her hands, possibly infected and inflamed. She's running a slight fever."

Xu Zhi couldn't believe it. Did Xu Heping lay hands on Zhao Nianqiao? She didn't care about anything else now. "Send me the hospital and department. I'll be there right away."

Liang Muzhi said, "Take me off your blocklist so I can send it on WeChat."

Xu Zhi frowned, feeling he was taking advantage of the situation, but she didn't have time to argue. She agreed briskly, "Fine."