Volume One, Chapter Four: This Time, Liang Muzhi Wants Her to Take the Fall for Chen Jing.

The two of them walked downstairs together. Liang Jinmo asked if he should give Xu Zhi a ride. She was too embarrassed to trouble him any further and quickly waved her hand, "I'll just take a taxi."

Liang Jinmo nodded. "Be careful on the way."

Xu Zhi turned around. Now that she was wrapped in her down coat, the cold didn’t bite so fiercely. Keeping her head down, she headed toward the taxi stand, when a memory suddenly surfaced.

Liang Jinmo’s birthday was in summer.

There had been a summer when, unable to bear the bullying at school and the cold treatment at the Liang household, he quietly ran away. Later, Xu Zhi heard that he’d gone in search of his mother.

"I heard it was his birthday that day. Maybe he thought his mother would celebrate it with him," Liang Muzhi had mentioned the incident once, his tone derisive. "But that mistress didn’t even let him in. He stood outside all night, not allowed to enter. The next day, his mother bought him a train ticket and sent him back to North City. He had no choice but to come home, like a stray dog..."

A group of teenagers had laughed uproariously at that story. Xu Zhi, amidst all that malice, only lowered her head in silence. She couldn’t bring herself to laugh with them.

No one at the Liang house ever celebrated Liang Jinmo’s birthday. Even when he sought out his mother, she doubted he’d heard a single "happy birthday."

She hailed a taxi. Before getting in, she thought, it's too late for this year, but next year, she would make sure to give him a birthday present.

The taxi sped away, leaving behind Liang Jinmo, who had never left. Those dark, deep eyes watched her all the while—first her retreating figure, then the departing taxi—until everything disappeared from view. Only then did he turn and leave.

Back in her dormitory, her roommate Yang Xue teased her, "Didn’t come back all night, Zhi—did things progress with your dear Muzhi?"

The two were close friends. When Liang Muzhi had come to visit Xu Zhi at the university, he’d invited Yang Xue along for dinner. His words at the table had been carefully chosen: "Yang Xue, do me a favor and look after little Zhi. If anything happens, just give me a call."

Yang Xue had replied, "Zhi is so well-behaved. What could happen?"

Liang Muzhi had said, "That’s exactly why you need to keep an eye out. There are too many bad boys in college—don’t let anyone sweep our little Zhi away."

Yang Xue had covered her mouth in a knowing, aunt-like smile and poked Xu Zhi playfully. "Hear that? Your Muzhi is afraid you’ll run off with someone else."

Who could have guessed that it wouldn’t be Xu Zhi who ran away, but Liang Muzhi who left with another.

Faced with Yang Xue’s question, Xu Zhi could only feel awkward. After a long pause, she stammered, "No... I—I’m not like that with Liang Muzhi, you know that. He’s never confessed to me."

Yang Xue was still in the dark, laughing. "What does a confession matter? Both your families have already decided you two will get married."

Xu Zhi sat down, taking a deep breath. "Yang Xue, Liang Muzhi and I really aren’t a couple. He has a girlfriend now. Last night, he got into a fight for her and was detained. I just went to help with bail. I didn’t stay with him afterward—he and his girlfriend got a room, and I stayed over at another friend’s place."

Yang Xue was stunned.

After a while, she knit her brows. "Liang Muzhi... has a girlfriend?"

Xu Zhi nodded.

"He didn’t tell you?"

Xu Zhi nodded again. "I only found out last night."

Yang Xue took a moment to process this, her voice rising. "Is this a joke? He used to come by our dorm all the time and invite us to meals. Everyone thought you were his girlfriend. If any guys asked about you, the dorm would turn them away. And now he’s with another woman?"

Yang Xue’s words only made Xu Zhi feel worse; her eyes reddened.

She bit her lip, feeling like a fool.

"I always thought Liang Muzhi wasn’t the type to string girls along," Yang Xue muttered. "Or was he playing everyone from the start?"

Xu Zhi shook her head. "I... I don’t know."

She didn’t think so. All through high school, they’d attended the same school. He’d never been the warm, flirtatious type the other girls imagined. But now, she wasn’t sure of anything. She’d thought she understood him, but in the end, he’d still deceived her.

With the semester drawing to a close and few classes left, most people were focused on cramming for exams. Xu Zhi tried to study as well, but her mind was in turmoil. She couldn’t concentrate on a single word.

The day drifted by in a haze. That evening, she received a message from Liang Muzhi.

Liang Muzhi: Did you tell my parents about me getting into a fight and ending up at the station?

Normally, Liang Muzhi rarely sent messages—he preferred calling, always greeting her warmly with "little Zhi" when she picked up.

This sudden message made her uneasy. She replied: No, I didn’t. Why?

Liang Muzhi: They found out. I’m in the car now, on my way home to get scolded.

Xu Zhi’s heart sank. She quickly replied: I didn’t tell them. How would they find out?

Liang Muzhi: Who knows.

Xu Zhi stared at the three words, wondering if she was just too sensitive, but she couldn’t help feeling there was an accusation hidden there.

Liang Muzhi: Can you do me a favor?

A sense of foreboding settled over Xu Zhi.

Liang Muzhi: From what I gathered, they know I got into a fight over a girl. They asked who it was, and I didn’t dare say. If they find out it was Chen Jing, and she hasn’t even officially met them yet, their first impression will be ruined. So can we get our stories straight? Just say I was at the bar with you, and someone harassed you, so I fought them?

Xu Zhi wasn’t really surprised.

Back in middle school, when Liang Muzhi’s parents forbade him from playing games on the family computer, he’d secretly go to internet cafés. To avoid suspicion, he’d take Xu Zhi along, and tell his parents afterward that he was accompanying her to the bookstore.

It worked every time. Even in high school, if he wanted to sneak out from his busy schedule, he’d use her as a shield.

Xu Zhi was well-behaved, so Mr. and Mrs. Liang trusted her completely. As long as she vouched for him, they’d believe any story he told.

But this time was different. This time, Liang Muzhi wanted her to take the blame for Chen Jing. Even though Chen Jing was a victim too, the fight had been over her.

No one wanted to be a scapegoat. Xu Zhi placed her phone face down on the desk, trying to focus on her textbook.

Her phone kept vibrating. She closed her eyes, frustrated, and finally picked it up again.

Liang Muzhi: Please. You know how much my parents like you. If it’s for you, they won’t blame me too much, and Chen Jing won’t make a bad impression.

Liang Muzhi: I really have no choice, little Zhi. Help me this once—I’ll owe you.

Liang Muzhi: If you really don’t want to, just forget it. Pretend I never asked.

Xu Zhi sensed that last line already carried his usual spoiled tone.

Liang Muzhi was never easy-going, but he’d always been gentle with Xu Zhi. Her own temperament was soft, and after all these years, they’d rarely quarreled.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been upset with him. But now, Liang Muzhi was picking a fight with her—over Chen Jing.

Her fingers hovered over the input box for a long time. When the screen dimmed, she threw her phone aside in frustration.