Volume One, Chapter 91: The First Time Someone Helped Her Dry Her Hair
After that, Liang Jinmo and Zhou He continued their conversation, but Xu Zhi was no longer paying attention. Her mind felt empty, yet somehow cluttered with chaotic thoughts, making it impossible to think clearly.
Zhao Nianqiao had been right—Liang Jinmo entered the Liang family with a purpose, to settle old scores. If so, was sending Gao Ying to the psychiatric hospital another act of revenge? He’d said he remembered everyone; did that include her as well?
Liang Zhengguo, Gao Ying, and he were all related by blood. If he showed no mercy to them, what would he do to her? She couldn’t figure it out, but in that moment, she suddenly realized something.
She had always believed that their relationship was the result of his constant efforts, his silent help and protection, never considering the infamy she would endure—or that being with him meant abandoning her engagement to Liang Muzhi, thereby giving up her family’s chance at salvation.
Liang Muzhi had accused her of being blinded by love; suddenly, she saw how true that was. In recent days, Xu Heping’s relentless pressure had nearly broken her, and with Liang Jinmo by her side at this crucial time, he was the only anchor she could hold onto.
It was as if she’d been drenched in cold water. Once the doubts arose, they refused to be dispelled, and she had no idea how to uncover his true intentions. Asking him directly was out of the question, but was there another way?
In the living room, Zhou He glanced at the clock. “Let’s call Zhi and invite her to dinner tonight.”
Liang Jinmo was thinking the same. Xu Zhi’s injured leg worried him; he was concerned the walk downstairs might hinder her recovery. He picked up his phone and dialed her WeChat.
Unexpectedly, the ringtone sounded from the second bedroom.
Xu Zhi, curled under the covers, panicked and hurriedly reached for her phone. But it was too late—Liang Jinmo had already walked over, following the sound.
She had no choice but to feign sleepiness, fumbling for her phone as if just waking.
Liang Jinmo ended the call and looked at her. “Were you asleep?”
Xu Zhi yawned. “Mm… what time is it?”
“Almost five,” Liang Jinmo approached, asking, “I didn’t see you when I came in. Are you feeling unwell? Sleeping this late?”
He noticed her eyes, slightly swollen and red, and frowned.
Xu Zhi rubbed her eyes, pretending to be drowsy. “I went out for a bit earlier and got tired, so I overslept.”
Zhou He stood at the door, sounding surprised. “Zhi, you’re here? Why didn’t you make a sound? I glanced inside and didn’t see you. We talked in the living room for ages—didn’t we wake you?”
Liang Jinmo’s gaze was dark and inscrutable as he stared at Xu Zhi.
Meeting his eyes, her heart fluttered. She struggled to maintain composure and replied to Zhou He, “No… I slept too deeply.”
Liang Jinmo asked, “Do you want to come downstairs for dinner?”
Xu Zhi replied, “My ankle’s a bit sore. I won’t go; you two go ahead.”
Liang Jinmo pulled back the thin blanket and touched her leg. “Did you walk too much today?”
Xu Zhi instinctively flinched away.
His hand paused midair.
Zhou He coughed. “Boss, I’ll head down to the restaurant first. Call me when you’re ready.”
With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Xu Zhi’s body remained tense. She watched Liang Jinmo’s expression carefully and whispered, “It’s nothing… Maybe I walked too much, but it’s not serious. I just need to rest a bit longer.”
Liang Jinmo lowered his gaze for a moment, but then firmly took hold of her leg.
He rolled up her pant leg. He’d been massaging her ankle and applying medicine for days; the swelling had mostly subsided, but there was still some redness.
He smoothed her pants. “As long as it’s nothing serious. What do you want to eat?”
“Anything.” Xu Zhi hadn’t eaten since noon and still had no appetite, her answer perfunctory.
Liang Jinmo walked to the living room with his phone and made two calls.
One to Zhou He, telling him he wouldn’t be coming downstairs.
The other to the hotel’s restaurant, asking them to deliver food.
He returned to the bedroom door; Xu Zhi was still sitting on the bed.
She’d overheard the calls and, looking up at him, felt a mix of emotions. “Won’t Zhou He be annoyed if you don’t go?”
“He won’t.” Liang Jinmo came over, sitting at the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on her. “Did something happen?”
Xu Zhi bit her lip and lowered her head. “Because I ran away from the wedding, my dad took it out on my mom—he’s been abusing her…”
Liang Jinmo’s frown deepened. “Is your mother hurt?”
“Mm.” Xu Zhi sounded defeated. “She got an infection and a fever. She had an IV today; I don’t know if she’s feeling better.”
Liang Jinmo was silent for a few moments before asking sharply, “Do you regret it?”
Xu Zhi was taken aback, looking up at him. “That’s not what I meant…”
Liang Jinmo couldn’t describe his feelings. Before leaving, he’d been eager to return and see her, but after only a few hours, a distance had grown between them.
He asked, “Has your mother ever considered divorce?”
“My company is deeply in debt. If she divorces, she’ll have to bear part of it. Right now, she’s tied to my father.” As she spoke, her nose tingled.
Faced with this reality, Zhao Nianqiao hadn’t pressed her to return and marry Liang Muzhi. This time, Zhao Nianqiao was truly thinking of her.
“If she’s willing to leave, she’ll only have to take on half,” Liang Jinmo said. “I’ll figure something out.”
Xu Zhi stared at him in disbelief.
“That’s not a small sum—it’s tens of millions!”
Liang Jinmo looked at her steadily. “I assure you, I can find a way to get that money.”
Xu Zhi didn’t believe him. “How would you get it?”
Even Liang Muzhi might not be able to produce such a huge amount at once. The Liang family was wealthy, but not enough to casually fill someone else’s financial hole, let alone Liang Jinmo, the illegitimate son.
“I have friends abroad with considerable resources. I could borrow it and pay them back over time,” he explained.
Xu Zhi remained skeptical. How could personal connections yield tens of millions so quickly? And for ordinary people, that was an astronomical sum. Even if he managed to borrow it, how long would it take to repay?
That figure made her unable to trust him.
Liang Jinmo saw through her. “You don’t believe me.”
Xu Zhi lowered her eyes and slowly shook her head. “No… Even if you could borrow tens of millions, I… I couldn’t bear that burden.”
Liang Jinmo didn’t respond. Silence stretched between them.
Soon, a waiter knocked on the door with their meal. Liang Jinmo answered, took the food, and called Xu Zhi to eat.
Dinner was subdued; Xu Zhi had little appetite and ate only a little before returning to the bedroom.
She showered slowly, standing under the spray, lost in thought.
Liang Jinmo’s words earlier only deepened her doubts.
Tens of millions—for most people, a lifetime’s earnings.
She couldn’t believe she was so captivating as to make a man risk everything for her.
The truth was, she had no confidence in herself.
Leaving the bathroom, her mind was still in turmoil. She glanced at the man sitting on the sofa and paused.
Liang Jinmo saw her come out. “Come here.”
Xu Zhi walked over.
There were some documents on the coffee table; she was confused. Liang Jinmo reached out and touched her hair. “Why didn’t you dry it?”
Only then did she realize she’d forgotten to dry her hair and hadn’t even properly towelled off; water still dripped from the ends.
She had been distracted all evening, her attention scattered. She whispered, “I forgot.”
Liang Jinmo took a towel and dried her hair. Xu Zhi unconsciously shrank her neck.
No one had ever helped her dry her hair before; her heart raced uncontrollably.