Volume One, Chapter 96 "So you're toying with me, aren't you?" he spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.

Liang Muzhi returned home, fuming with anger.

What nonsense—how could Xu Zhi be so childish, not even worth a single strand of hair... She treats that man like a treasure, but there’s no need to belittle him so much.

His chest felt even more stifled; even at home, he remained irritable. Xu Zhi’s words lingered in his mind like a persistent shadow.

After all, he had known her first—they grew up together, all these years... How did she end up falling for someone else?

Strangely, he began to reflect on this problem.

Just as he entered his room, Chen Jing sent a message: “You can pretend to be engaged, but it can’t be with Xu Zhi.”

Already annoyed, Liang Muzhi replied, “Tell that to my parents and grandpa.”

Of course, Chen Jing couldn’t confront them. Feeling wronged, she called him, asking, “Muzhi, have you forgotten? It was her fault I got hurt at the ski resort. If she becomes your fiancée, what do you think she’ll do to me? Even if I don’t want to break up, she’ll definitely force us apart.”

“She’s not that capable, or she wouldn’t have backed down and obediently come back to get engaged,” Liang Muzhi retorted. “Just don’t interact with her and nothing will happen.”

Chen Jing was silent for a few seconds. “So you’ve decided—I’m to be your secret lover, is that it?”

“It’s only temporary. I’ll think of something else, but I can’t go against my family right now,” he said.

Disappointment tinged Chen Jing’s voice. “I understand.”

Liang Muzhi had no energy to comfort her. “Just behave, don’t overthink. If you’re feeling better, go shopping—you like buying things, don’t you? I’ll transfer you money.”

After a moment of quiet, Chen Jing replied, “Alright.”

After hanging up, he transferred her the money, tossed his phone aside, and stood by the window, gazing toward the neighboring house.

From this angle, he couldn’t see Xu Zhi’s room, but he could see the Xu family’s backyard greenhouse.

It seemed long neglected, a bit dilapidated now. As a child, Xu Zhi often played there, and he would keep her company—they had once raised a few butterflies together.

Those were distant days. The memory of carefree times, always together, thinking they’d be the best of friends for life.

But now his friend had someone she liked—why did it hurt so much?

The Xu and Liang families’ engagement was thus settled. Both sets of parents took it seriously and began preparations in earnest.

Only Zhao Nianqiao was absent—her illness had taken a turn for the worse, confining her to bed for several days.

During that time, Xu Zhi stayed by her side, caring for her.

Yang Xue messaged, asking if something had happened between her and Liang Jinmo.

Yang Xue: “Young Master Liang has been in a foul mood these past few days. I barely dare speak to him.”

Xu Zhi couldn’t help but ask, “How... is he?”

Yang Xue: “Working overtime like crazy, not even going to the hotel anymore—just staying in his office. Good thing there’s a shower and rest area, otherwise he’d probably rot there. What happened between you two? Weren’t things fine just a few days ago?”

Xu Zhi considered, then replied truthfully, “We parted ways. I came home.”

Yang Xue: “Why?! Are you really going to get engaged to Liang Muzhi?”

Xu Zhi: “My father threatened me with my mother. She’s already hurt—I can’t just ignore her.”

Yang Xue: “But what about Young Master Liang?!”

Xu Zhi’s hand stiffened around her phone.

Yes, once again, she had abandoned Liang Jinmo. She didn’t even have the heart to search for the so-called truth anymore—she was afraid.

After a long while, she replied to Yang Xue: “He’ll meet someone better suited for him.”

By agreeing to be engaged to Liang Muzhi, she was severing every possible path between her and Liang Jinmo.

But he was a good man; surely he’d meet another girl—one who had never hurt or bullied him, someone whose relationship with him would be pure, free of suspicion or doubt.

Certainly better than her.

Yet...

Just the thought of that possibility made her chest ache with a dull, persistent pain.

She gave up, but gained nothing in return. Losing him felt like losing everything—she drifted through her days like an empty shell.

That evening, Xu Heping took her to the Liang house to meet with the wedding planners.

The house was crowded; Fu Wanwen and a group were gathered in the living room, having a meeting. Liang Muzhi, annoyed by the commotion, stayed upstairs playing games and messaged Xu Zhi, urging her to settle the bodyguard matter.

Xu Zhi brought it up with Fu Wanwen.

Liang Muzhi’s recent efforts to behave had paid off, and Fu Wanwen, pleased that the engagement was set, immediately agreed to dismiss the bodyguards.

Having completed her task, Xu Zhi felt aimless. Uninterested in the planning, she excused herself and went upstairs, intending to find Liang Muzhi.

To reach his room, she had to pass by Liang Jinmo’s.

Inexplicably, she stopped at his door.

He shouldn’t be home—he seldom came back to the Liang house these days. She stared at the door, suppressing a desperate longing to see him, a yearning that tormented her.

Suddenly, without warning, the door swung open from inside.

She found herself face to face with Liang Jinmo.

Their eyes met; she was taken aback.

Liang Jinmo stared at her in silence. The two of them stood quietly, gazes locked, words unspoken.

The faint sounds from downstairs drifted up. Xu Zhi’s heart raced with anxiety, and she turned to leave in a panic.

But as soon as she took a step, a hand seized her wrist.

Liang Jinmo pulled her directly into his room and immediately locked the door.

Xu Zhi’s heart pounded violently, but she dared not make a sound. She was about to be engaged to Liang Muzhi—if anyone saw her in this situation with Liang Jinmo, it would mean trouble for everyone.

The room was dark. The cold, pale moonlight spilled through the window, casting everything in shadow.

She was pressed against the desk by the door; the edge dug into her back. Coming to her senses, she whispered sharply, “Are you crazy? Let me go!”

Liang Jinmo said nothing, only lowering his head and watching her in the gloom.

She could feel his gaze—cold as a blade, slicing across her face.

“So you’re just toying with me?” His voice, when he finally spoke, was hoarse.

A sharp pain stabbed at her heart, and her struggle weakened.

“You come and go as you please,” he said, fixing his eyes on her, “I... would rather you’d never come at all.”

Xu Zhi bit her lip, her vision already blurred with tears.