Volume One, Chapter Three: He Got Into a Fight for His Girlfriend, and They Even Spent the Night Together.

Xu Zhi had always been a well-behaved girl. Looking back, she considered the most rebellious thing she had ever done was being an accomplice to Liang Muzhi when she was a child.

When Liang Jinmo first arrived at the Liang family, not only was he coldly treated at home by Aunt Liang, he was ostracized by everyone at school as well, all thanks to Liang Muzhi’s influence among his peers.

Liang Muzhi had always been popular since he was young. With just a word from him, his little followers would rush ahead to make life difficult for Liang Jinmo.

Once, Xu Zhi happened to witness one of these incidents.

A group of children had torn up Liang Jinmo’s textbooks and homework, and Liang Muzhi was among them.

The scene was suffocating. At that moment, Xu Zhi wanted to run, but someone spotted her and shoved one of Liang Jinmo’s test papers into her hands, urging her to join in tearing it apart.

Little Xu Zhi stood stiff as a board.

“That’s right! He deserves it!”

In the eyes of children, there was no sense of order or fairness. Liang Jinmo was an illegitimate child, and his mother was the other woman.

Xu Zhi’s heart raced as everyone around her jeered and tore at the papers. Someone whistled. She closed her eyes, steeled herself, and ripped the test paper in her hands.

Just like that, Xu Zhi safely blended into the group. When she looked up, she met Liang Jinmo’s gaze.

He was only ten years old that year, but his eyes were already deep and obscure, holding something she couldn’t comprehend in their darkness.

Flustered and guilty, Xu Zhi quickly looked away.

In the morning, Xu Zhi woke from her dream, staring blankly at the small chandelier on the ceiling.

She couldn’t fathom why she would dream of something that happened so long ago.

As her body awakened, memories of the previous night surged back. She remembered.

Liang Muzhi had a girlfriend now. He’d gotten into a fight for her, and they’d even gotten a hotel room together.

Sitting up, Xu Zhi let out a deep sigh, rubbed her face, and got out of bed to wash up.

When she left her room, she found Liang Jinmo already up, sitting in the dining area. Hearing her, he looked over.

“Um… good morning,” Xu Zhi said awkwardly, raising her hand in greeting. She still didn’t know how to address him.

Liang Jinmo’s face was expressionless. “Come eat breakfast after you wash up.”

There was actually breakfast.

Xu Zhi was a little surprised. As she washed up, she thought again of her dream and covered her face.

Even though she later felt guilty and tried to make amends, such harm was not easily forgotten.

If even she, the perpetrator, couldn’t forget, how could Liang Jinmo?

She began to wonder why he’d taken her in last night.

After washing up, Xu Zhi obediently went to the dining room and sat across from Liang Jinmo.

It was a simple Chinese breakfast—millet porridge, soup dumplings, and some side dishes.

Xu Zhi took a bite of a soup dumpling, her eyes lighting up. “Are these from Xu’s Dumpling House?”

Liang Jinmo didn’t look up, only replied with a quiet “Mm.”

Xu’s Dumpling House was famous in North City. Xu Zhi used to love it, but after a food blogger made it popular, it had become a sensation. Now, it was nearly impossible to get a serving unless you queued for ages in the early morning. Xu Zhi found it too much trouble and hadn’t eaten there in quite some time.

She enjoyed this breakfast immensely. Wiping her mouth, she thought for a moment and said to Liang Jinmo, “Thank you so much. Let me treat you to a meal next time.”

Liang Jinmo paused, wiping his hands, then said, “Alright.”

Xu Zhi had expected him to refuse. It wasn’t that she begrudged a meal, but she thought Liang Jinmo wouldn’t want further contact with her. She hadn’t expected him to agree so easily.

Still, she truly owed him her thanks. She took out her phone. “Let’s add each other on WeChat and arrange a time.”

Liang Jinmo handed over his phone. She scanned his code and added him as a friend.

His profile picture was a dark night sky, with a single star shining in the blackness.

Very fitting for his somber character, Xu Zhi thought.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Both of them glanced at it; the screen showed an incoming WeChat call from Liang Muzhi.

Xu Zhi frowned, rising to answer.

As soon as she picked up, Liang Muzhi spoke anxiously, “Xiao Zhi, where are you?”

Xu Zhi hesitated.

If Liang Muzhi found out she was with Liang Jinmo, he’d probably lose his mind.

Over the years, as he matured, Liang Muzhi had long stopped calling Liang Jinmo the child of a mistress, but he still saw Liang Jinmo as an intruder in his family.

He also naturally assumed Xu Zhi was on his side.

“I… I’m at a hotel,” Xu Zhi replied.

“Why didn’t you reply to my messages last night? You scared me…” Liang Muzhi sounded relieved. “I thought you didn’t get a room and went to the school to look for you at six this morning.”

Xu Zhi, unusually calm, thought to herself: if she’d truly spent the night out in the cold, him looking for her at six in the morning would have been too late—he’d only be in time to collect her body.

She said nothing. Liang Muzhi continued, “As long as you’re okay. By the way, don’t tell anyone that I ended up at the police station—especially not my family. If my parents or grandpa find out, I’ll be skinned alive.”

Too late, Xu Zhi thought; she had already told Liang Jinmo.

Standing in the living room, she glanced back at Liang Jinmo, hoping he wouldn’t tell the rest of the Liang family.

By coincidence, Liang Jinmo stood up from the table at that moment, his gaze meeting hers.

Xu Zhi felt awkward and quickly looked away. “I understand,” she assured Liang Muzhi.

“I have to go deal with the police today,” he said. “Once I’m done, I’ll treat you to a big meal to thank you.”

Xu Zhi agreed absentmindedly.

After hanging up, she tried to sort out her thoughts.

She was in her final year of university, with half a year until graduation. She had thought that even if they didn’t get engaged or married immediately after, Liang Muzhi would at least make some gesture, and their relationship would be solidified.

Now Liang Muzhi had made his gesture—he had found himself a girlfriend.

She felt miserable, her chest heavy, unable to think straight. She had liked him since her first awakening to love, believing their feelings would be mutual, but it turned out to be an unrequited affection that ended before it began.

No matter how Liang Muzhi handled things, she would have to explain everything to her parents.

A knock sounded at the door. Liang Jinmo, having just left the dining room, went to answer.

Moments later, he returned holding a large paper shopping bag, which he handed to her. “It’s cold outside. Wear this before you go out.”

Xu Zhi opened it to find a brand-new women’s down coat—her usual brand.

She was a little embarrassed to accept it but hated the cold too much not to. “How much was it? I’ll transfer you the money,” she offered.

Liang Jinmo was silent for a few seconds before replying, “No need. Consider it an early birthday gift.”

Her birthday was next week. Xu Zhi was surprised that he even remembered.

The gift felt strange—she had never received anything from him before. In fact, she had never invited him to her birthday because Liang Muzhi was always there.

This year, she hadn’t planned to invite him either. Now things were awkward.

Thinking hard, she finally came up with a solution. “Then, is there something you want for your birthday? I’ll get it for you.”

“No need. My birthday was long ago and…” Liang Jinmo’s tone was indifferent. “I never celebrate my birthday.”