Volume One, Chapter 97: If I take you now, do you think you can still get engaged to Liang Muzhi?

Xu Zhi had considered how reckless it was to end a relationship with a single message. She had imagined meeting face to face, but… Just as now, standing before him, she had no idea how to utter the words of parting as if nothing had happened. Tears slid uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Liang Jinmo's eyes were so dark they seemed to merge with the night itself. He raised his hand, rough fingertips brushing the wetness on her face, and suddenly let out a soft laugh.

“You’re actually feeling aggrieved now.”

Xu Zhi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.

“I’ve already called the company in America,” he said, “I’m preparing to transfer the patents for those software programs.” His fingers gently stroked her cheek. “I want to be ready, just in case you choose me this time…”

Xu Zhi’s throat was tight, her mind in chaos, unable to find words.

He leaned closer, his head lowering, lips brushing her ear. “Today, Liang Zhenguo told me you and Liang Muzhi have agreed—you’re about to get engaged.”

Xu Zhi tried to evade his touch, attempting to turn her face away, but as soon as she moved, her chin was caught.

He forced her to look at him, his voice deep and slow. “He’s had everything since childhood, even you… Why should it be so?”

All these years, everything Liang Muzhi obtained without effort was out of reach for him. He had thought this time would be different.

He believed he saw a turning point, so he gave everything.

Xu Zhi felt miserable, her mind swirling. Maybe she should tell him—the engagement to Liang Muzhi was forced by circumstances and might be broken off. Yet, what difference would it make?

She had become Liang Muzhi’s fiancée. Even if the engagement ended, she and Jinmo would struggle to be together. Otherwise, the whole city would gossip about them.

She raised her hand, gripping his wrist, gazing into his eyes, struggling to utter, “I can’t abandon my mother, and I can’t use your money… Let’s just say I owe you, Jinmo. You’ll find someone better…”

Before she could finish, her lips were sealed.

He didn’t want to hear her speak; his hand pressed behind her head, invading without restraint.

Xu Zhi felt trapped in an inescapable net. She tried to turn away, but he held her chin, forcing her back.

Her chin hurt, her lips too; he bit her once, his voice hoarse against her lips. “You should stop talking.”

She leaned back, desperate to escape his hold, but he came again, his kiss fierce, the taste of blood mingling as their lips entwined.

Xu Zhi had nowhere to hide, passively enduring, not daring to make a sound.

They were by the door; if anyone passed outside and heard, it would be over.

Her breath was stolen completely. This kiss was wild, full of biting, leaving even her tongue numb, yet she gradually gave up the urge to resist.

Perhaps this would be the last time, she thought, closing her eyes, wanting to remember this kiss.

She didn’t know how long had passed before he broke away, staring into her eyes, suddenly saying, “Let’s go to hell together.”

Xu Zhi hadn’t understood his meaning when she felt a coldness at her waist.

After entering the main house, she had taken off her heavy coat; now her light purple sweater was lifted, and his hand touched her skin.

Alarm bells rang in her mind. She pressed his hand, her voice low and trembling, “What are you doing… This is the Liang family!”

“You don’t want them to find out?” His gaze was piercing, as if he saw through her. “But I want everyone to see, including Liang Muzhi.”

Then she would never be able to marry Liang Muzhi.

He should have been calm. After so many years in the Liang household, he had endured countless injustices, always silently bearing them, never resisting.

But this time, he wanted to ruin Liang Muzhi’s wedding. Driven by this mad impulse, he ignored her struggles, his hand moving lower.

Xu Zhi panicked, not daring to make a sound. She tried to pull his hand away, but it was futile; she could not match his strength.

The fabric rustled softly in their silent struggle. Suddenly, her whole body tensed, her grip on his wrist trembling, unable to hold back a muffled gasp.

She frowned, breath quickening, still not daring to speak aloud. “Go… please.”

He glanced down at her, his fingers sinking into warmth and wetness, though he was not lost in the sensation. His aura was even a bit cold, his lips thin as he whispered, “If I take you now, do you think you could still marry Liang Muzhi?”

As he spoke, his wrist moved, fingers twisting.

Xu Zhi was on the verge of collapse, her forbidden place touched for the first time, yet she felt no desire.

It was a frivolous violation—not violent, but deeply distressing.

Her body shuddered beneath his fingers, fear filling her heart. She could not help but plead, “It hurts… Jinmo, it hurts…”

His fingers paused.

After a few seconds, he withdrew.

The air was silent except for their entwined breaths.

Liang Jinmo released her, slowly straightening.

His fingertips were damp; he rubbed them, as if only now realizing what he had done.

If she hadn’t said it hurt…

He might never have stopped.

His Adam’s apple shifted, lips parted, but no sound emerged.

The loss of control had begun not just now, but that afternoon, when he heard Liang Zhenguo say Xu Zhi would marry Liang Muzhi. From that moment, his restraint had snapped.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made an excuse to return, hoping to see her in the villa district.

In the end, he was unwilling to accept it. He had come so close to that ray of light, and he didn’t understand why she was always so cruel to him.

Nor why, despite everything she’d done, he still couldn’t bear to see her in pain.

After a long silence, he finally spoke again, “Give me a reason. Don’t mention your mother; I’ve already given you a solution for her.”

Xu Zhi’s mind was a mess. Zhao Nianqiao was the final straw that broke her, but there were other reasons. She couldn’t fully trust him. Even if she did, she couldn’t bring herself to take his money…

Her mind felt ready to explode, but amidst the chaos, one thing was certain:

This couldn’t go on. Since she had decided, she needed to cut it quickly and cleanly.

She pressed her lips together, waited a few seconds, then spoke, her voice much calmer, “I’ve thought it through… I can marry the legitimate heir of the Liang family and become the true mistress. Entangling myself with a bastard will only ruin my reputation. Do you know how important reputation is for a woman?”

Liang Jinmo said nothing, quietly watching her, the turbulence in his eyes slowly settling into stillness.

Xu Zhi had not spoken the truth, and he did not wish to ask further.

Since he had come to the Liang family in North City, countless people referred to him as ‘that bastard,’ a shameful, unwanted mark that had followed him all his life. Now, she had used those words.

It was the first time she had called him that.

Yet when spoken from her lips, the wound seemed to multiply a thousandfold.

Unlike him, she did not seem to care whether he hurt or not.

He stepped back, widening the distance between them.

Xu Zhi quickly arranged her clothes, then turned, opened the door, and strode out.

He made no move to stop her. She closed the door behind her.

The room descended into absolute silence, as if he had returned to the pitch-black attic of his childhood.

But that time was different—then, someone had given him a ray of light.