Volume One, Chapter 20: Not Only Did She Hug Him, She Refused to Let Go!

Xu Zhi couldn't summon the energy to do anything; she postponed her plan to invite Liang Jinmo and Zhou He for dinner until the evening.

In the afternoon, she received a city express delivery.

The gift box was exquisitely wrapped, accompanied by a bouquet of pure white gardenias.

She took the items back to the dormitory. Yang Xue, who was in the middle of applying makeup, saw them and came over. "Who sent these? Birthday presents?"

"Liang Muzhi sent them," Xu Zhi replied.

"Open them and see," Yang Xue was almost reaching for the box herself, but Xu Zhi said, "You open it."

As Yang Xue was unwrapping the package, she muttered, "Things really have changed. You used to cherish everything Liang Muzhi gave you."

Xu Zhi remained silent. Only she knew how cheap these things really were; money meant nothing to Liang Muzhi. Gifts were merely a formality.

He reserved his thoughtfulness and companionship for Chen Jing.

Xu Zhi knew she shouldn't compare herself to Chen Jing—their relationship was what it was—but she still felt uneasy.

It didn't matter if Liang Muzhi favored romance over friendship, but he shouldn't make promises. Just yesterday he had said something, and today it no longer counted. One's birthday only comes once a year; couldn't he go shopping another day?

Yang Xue had already opened the gift box and exclaimed, "Wow, it's a bracelet. So pretty."

Xu Zhi glanced at it. The platinum bracelet was indeed beautiful, adorned with little stars, but she couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

Yang Xue took out the bracelet. "Want to wear it?"

Xu Zhi was silent for a few seconds before shaking her head.

Yang Xue tried it on her own wrist. "Although Young Master Liang's character leaves much to be desired, he certainly has good taste in gifts."

Xu Zhi still said nothing.

Knowing how upset Xu Zhi was, Yang Xue put the bracelet down and tried to comfort her. "Think about it—at least Liang Muzhi still sends you birthday gifts. You're better off than me, aren't you?"

Xu Zhi had nothing more to say.

Yang Xue had been pursuing a legendary top student from the School of Computer Engineering for two years, with no progress at all. Now, with graduation just around the corner and everyone about to go their separate ways, Yang Xue had lost hope.

After thinking for a moment, Yang Xue said, "Cheng Yu is going to a professor's lecture in his department this afternoon. Zhi, will you come with me?"

Cheng Yu was the name of the academic genius. When Yang Xue spoke, her eyes betrayed her unwillingness to give up. "It's really a case of every glance being precious now."

Xu Zhi didn't refuse. She wanted to distract herself; otherwise, staying in the dorm and staring blankly would only bring thoughts of Liang Muzhi.

The lecture was held in the multimedia conference hall of Building Five. Xu Zhi and Yang Xue arrived early, but Cheng Yu had not yet appeared.

Among those helping the professor prepare, Xu Zhi recognized a familiar face—Zhou He was there.

Zhou He spotted her and soon walked over to greet her. "Hello, little sister."

Xu Zhi smiled politely but lacked spirit. "I have a name. I'm Xu Zhi."

"Oh, our boss never talks about you, keeping everything so mysterious." Zhou He glanced at his phone for the time. "By the way, Xu Zhi, can I add you on WeChat? I have something to show you."

Xu Zhi took out her phone. "Sure, scan my code. What do you want to show me?"

Zhou He gave a sly smile. "You'll know when I send it."

After they became friends, Zhou He chatted familiarly with Yang Xue for a bit and then said, "We're mainly here to recruit. That Cheng Yu from the School of Computer Engineering—several companies are competing for him. Our boss has visited C University three times for him already. This time, the professor will help say a few words, maybe we'll have a shot."

Yang Xue's eyes lit up. "You're here for Cheng Yu?"

Zhou He replied, "Of course."

Yang Xue said, "So am I!"

She was very excited. Zhou He looked puzzled. "Are you… sent by another company to recruit him?"

Yang Xue burst out laughing. "No."

She said bluntly, "He's my idol."

"Oh, a little fangirl," Zhou He nodded, understanding. "Good taste. Cheng Yu has a brilliant future ahead."

Yang Xue straightened her back, looking proud, and added, "You all have good taste too. Wherever Cheng Yu goes, he'll make a mark."

Zhou He laughed.

Someone called Zhou He away, so he had to go take care of business.

Yang Xue was still excited and said to Xu Zhi, "Cheng Yu is amazing."

Xu Zhi was listless and said nothing. Suddenly, she caught sight of the classroom door—Liang Jinmo and Cheng Yu walked in side by side.

The handsome duo was a feast for the eyes. Yang Xue's eyes sparkled. "Cheng Yu is so handsome, and the guy next to him is really handsome too."

Xu Zhi said nothing; she had no interest in handsome men at the moment.

Once the lecture began, she felt even more drained. The topic was artificial intelligence, which was like a foreign language to her. She let her mind wander, wondering whether Liang Muzhi and Chen Jing had arrived in Hong Kong, what they might be doing.

Bored, Xu Zhi picked up the tablet to distract herself, but after reading a few pages, she realized something was amiss.

Such a setting, such intensity—she had never seen anything like it.

Her face burned with embarrassment. She quickly turned off the screen and handed the tablet back to Yang Xue.

Xu Zhi's cheeks were flushed, her voice even softer. "What is all this… And besides, the markings here aren't about changing clothes, they're about biting, and there are glands…"

Yang Xue pursed her lips and grinned mischievously. "Isn't it just about leaving a scent? I think you and that guy already exchanged clothes and left each other's scent. Isn't that marking?"

Xu Zhi was speechless.

Yang Xue continued, "Or if you want, biting him isn't out of the question."

Xu Zhi: "…"

Five minutes of reading smut, an hour of thinking about smut. Even during the intermission, Xu Zhi hadn't recovered from the shock.

At the front of the classroom, Liang Jinmo, Cheng Yu, and the professor were talking. Zhou He seemed to remember something, glanced in Xu Zhi's direction, and took out his phone.

Soon, Xu Zhi's phone vibrated—Zhou He had sent her a video.

Puzzled, she opened it.

The video showed a corridor, where two people—a man and a woman—were standing.

Looking closely, she recognized them as Liang Jinmo and herself.

The audio was faint and unclear.

Then another man appeared in the frame.

As he walked by, his gaze was lecherous, fixed on her. Liang Jinmo placed his arm protectively around her waist.

After the man left in frustration, she suddenly lifted her hand and hugged Liang Jinmo tightly.

Xu Zhi's pupils dilated in shock.

She had never been able to recall what happened after drinking that night, but she thought, given her personality, she couldn't possibly have done anything outrageous.

She hadn't realized Liang Jinmo's words—"If we keep talking, I'm afraid you'll want to jump off the building"—were no exaggeration.

Not only had she hugged him, she refused to let go!