Volume One, Chapter 90: Does He Truly Wish to Save Her, or Push Her Down Completely?

Xu Zhi returned to the hotel. The room was empty; Liang Jinmo had not yet come back. She lay on the bed in the guest room, stunned, her mind a tangled mess—Zhao Nianqiao’s injury had disrupted all her plans.

And those words Zhao Nianqiao had said...

She had once doubted, because of what Liang Muzhi had told her, but the feeling was different now. She was alarmed to realize just how dependent she had become on Liang Jinmo.

She had always been timid, cautious, always overthinking, but now, because she liked him, she was even prepared to endure public scorn for his sake.

It truly took all her effort to overcome her own cowardice and disregard her reputation to be with him.

Her courage came from her trust in him, from believing that his feelings for her were genuine.

But someone like her—who had once followed the crowd and bullied him out of weakness, who had turned a blind eye to his suffering time and again just to protect herself—could anyone really care for her?

Her parents had never liked her, not even when she tried to be obedient and sensible. She herself didn’t like who she was. Liang Jinmo, whom she had hurt—how could he possibly care for her?

She had never been a confident person. Now she was sinking into deep self-doubt and self-loathing, feeling that Zhao Nianqiao’s words made perfect sense.

Her heart was in chaos. She didn’t know how to talk to Liang Jinmo. Could she just ask him directly? Ask if he hated her...

She was lost, unsure how to save Zhao Nianqiao. Would he have any way to help?

Yet if he really wanted revenge, why would he be honest, why would he help her? A liar would only feed her more falsehoods.

If everything was a lie, if nothing was real, then she was still alone, still unloved.

She was on the verge of being crushed by these chaotic thoughts, curling into herself and hugging her knees tightly.

Her phone vibrated—a message from Liang Jinmo on WeChat. He was still busy, asking if she wanted him to order food delivered to her room.

It was hard to imagine—he used to be so cold and reticent, yet now he worried about her meals.

But was it all real?

She had no appetite and replied: “I’ll go down and eat later. When are you coming back?”

Liang Jinmo: “If things go well, I’ll be back by three. Should I have Yang Xue keep you company?”

Xu Zhi: “No need, I’ll take a walk downstairs.”

Liang Jinmo: “Be careful with your leg, don’t go too far.”

Xu Zhi: “Okay.”

She held her phone and scrolled through the scant WeChat conversations between them.

Her eyes lingered on that message he had sent before: “This time, I’ll pull you up.”

That’s where the first flutter of emotion began. She had thought no one could save him, but that line he sent her helped her out of her own helpless loneliness.

But did he really want to save her, or was he pushing her off the edge?

She closed her eyes, her gaze dry and empty. Suddenly, she felt despair—after Liang Muzhi, she was again trapped in a relationship she couldn’t control. It was truly a wretched feeling.

Xu Zhi didn’t eat, lying in a daze on the bed. She had no idea how much time had passed when she heard the sound of the door card unlocking.

She was about to get up when she heard Zhou He’s voice: “Has Zhi come back yet?”

Then came Liang Jinmo’s voice: “I don’t know.”

“If you’re so aloof, she’ll run off,” Zhou He said, like an old hand. “You have to check in on her. Not just that—you need to tell her where you are, what you’re doing.”

Then he called out, “Zhi?”

Xu Zhi stayed silent. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she was in no state to see anyone.

She regretted not closing the guest room door. If she closed it now, they’d notice, so she carefully pulled the thin blanket over herself, covering her curled-up body completely.

No matter how outgoing Zhou He was, surely he wouldn’t lift the blanket.

He didn’t. He just glanced vaguely into the guest room from outside, not looking too closely, and thought her bed was as messy as his own.

Not seeing anyone, he said directly to Liang Jinmo, “Looks like she’s not back yet.”

Xu Zhi wondered what kind of eyesight he had, but it was just as well—they’d think she wasn’t there.

Because the door was open, she could still hear them clearly from outside. Zhou He was talking to Liang Jinmo about work—mostly Zhou He talking, Liang Jinmo listening.

She was starting to find it a bit stifling.

“I don’t think that old fox Liang Zhenguo has any good intentions. He’s shifted all the non-product department work to us—does he want to work you to death?” Zhou He grumbled, “We’re always working overtime. At this rate, we won’t have enough people even if we hire more.”

Liang Jinmo sat on the sofa lighting a cigarette, saying nothing.

“Honestly...” Zhou He hesitated, “Boss, what are you thinking? Are you really going to work for the Liang family? You’re both sons of the Liang family, but you’re killing yourself at work while Liang Muzhi just sits pretty as the young master—how is that fair?”

Liang Jinmo finally spoke: “It’s not that Liang Zhenguo doesn’t want him in the company—he just can’t get him to come.”

Liang Zhenguo’s deepest wish was to groom Liang Muzhi, but the latter was so spoiled he never listened to his parents. At his age, it was hard to change that.

Zhou He said, “Well, if that’s the case, since you’re doing most of the work, when the old man dies, the company should be yours. Liang Muzhi should step aside. That would be right.”

Liang Jinmo replied, “Do you think Fu Wanwen is dead?”

Zhou He grumbled, “That old witch doesn’t even work at the company... If you ask me, Boss, you should try playing the emotional card with Liang Zhenguo. You’re capable, he values you now, and you hold several key channels. Plus, you’re his biological son. Maybe you can get him to change his will—at least leave you the biggest share or make you executive director sooner.”

Liang Jinmo was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Impossible. They’ve already decided the heir will be Liang Muzhi. Besides... I could never play the emotional card with him.”

“Do you know what it’s been like for me all these years in the Liang family?” Liang Jinmo’s eyes darkened as if recalling the past. “Blood ties don’t make a father. To me, Liang Zhenguo is no different from Fu Wanwen and the rest of them.”

Zhou He looked dejected. “I just don’t want us to work our asses off only for Liang Muzhi, that good-for-nothing, to reap the benefits. We’ve brought our teams to the Liang group; the old man is stingy even with your promotions, clearly still wary of you. If it weren’t for your stellar performance in the internal competition, you might not have risen at all. They want you to work but won’t reward you—why should we put up with that? There’s got to be a limit. If this goes on, forget you—I won’t want to stay.”

“A big company like Liang’s isn’t a small workshop. Normally, promotions take at least three years. You can’t be in too much of a hurry.” Liang Jinmo flicked his cigarette ash. “There’s a long road ahead. Every score will be settled in time.”

Zhou He perked up a bit. “You’re not just stringing me along, right? Will you make sure to take care of Fu Wanwen and Liang Muzhi too?”

Liang Jinmo shot him a sidelong glance. “Why are you more eager than I am?”

Zhou He grinned. “I want to see my brother’s story play out like a satisfying novel.”

A faint, cold smile touched Liang Jinmo’s lips. “Don’t worry, not one of them will be left out. I remember every single one of them, very clearly.”

Lying on the guest room bed, Xu Zhi no longer felt stifled.

It was as if the blood in her heart had frozen—cold spreading through every inch of her body, leaving her limbs stiff and numb.