Volume One, Chapter Five Liang Muzi seized her wrist in one swift motion.

At night, Xu Zhi couldn’t sleep. Her mind wandered to memories of the past.

Around this time last year, Liang Muzhi had just started racing cars and had gotten into an accident. That time, Xu Zhi was nearly scared to death. When Liang Muzhi was carried out of the car, his head was covered in blood.

Not only did she think he was going to die, but Liang Muzhi himself also thought so. In the brief minute or so that he was conscious in the ambulance, he called out for “Xiao Zhi.”

Xu Zhi hurried to his side. Liang Muzhi grabbed her hand. His hand was cold, and Xu Zhi held it between both of hers, rubbing gently, tears streaming down her face as she begged him not to speak.

But he kept calling her name.

Xu Zhi wasn’t sure if he was lucid. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, “I’m here.”

He glanced at her, as if finally at ease, then slipped back into unconsciousness. Yet, his hand still clung to hers, and he murmured her name once more.

Fortunately, Liang Muzhi was strong. Though the injury looked severe, it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. The surgery was minor. He spent nearly a month in the hospital, then went home to recover. His three-month and six-month checkups were both promising.

Liang’s parents, because of this incident, forbade Liang Muzhi from racing again. But Xu Zhi knew he was still doing it in secret, though he could no longer compete openly.

No one could control Liang Muzhi. She’d tried to persuade him, but he always joked his way out of the conversation.

Still, that accident was more than just a shadow in Xu Zhi’s heart. While unconscious, Liang Muzhi had called her name. Even his racing friends heard it and were convinced that the two of them were a couple.

Back then, Xu Zhi had thought: surely, there was still a place for her in Liang Muzhi’s heart.

But who could reason with fate? A man, unconscious and calling her name, clutching her hand—who would have thought that he didn’t actually care for her?

He had never cared for her.

Lying awake in the darkness, Xu Zhi thought of all this, a dull, slow ache radiating from her chest to every part of her body. Tears slid quietly from the corners of her eyes.

The next morning, she went to study but couldn’t focus.

Even when she and Liang Muzhi had little squabbles in the past, they never lasted more than a night. Either he would speak first, or sometimes she would relent.

But this time, by noon, she still hadn’t heard from Liang Muzhi.

At lunch, Xu Zhi received a call from her mother, Zhao Nianqiao.

“Do you know about Muzhi fighting?” Zhao Nianqiao asked. “There was quite a scene at the Liang house last night. The old man nearly had a relapse from the anger. Muzhi was locked in the ancestral hall all night, and I heard he was beaten too.”

Xu Zhi’s heart sank.

Liang Muzhi was the darling of the Liang family. She had never seen his parents lay a hand on him. Sometimes, as punishment, he’d be made to kneel in the ancestral hall, but never for more than an hour or two.

For someone like Liang Muzhi, this was severe.

“I think his parents are at their wits’ end, especially his mother. She’d hoped he would take over the family business, but he’s still so irresponsible, getting into fights… At this rate, he’s not as promising as that illegitimate son, Liang Jinmo. I heard that boy worked while studying abroad, came back with experience and a handpicked team, and joined the company’s headquarters directly. If this continues, who knows whose hands the company will end up in.”

Zhao Nianqiao rambled on about the Liang family’s gossip, but Xu Zhi barely listened. She was already gathering her things, preparing to leave.

After hanging up, she slung her bag over her shoulder, went downstairs, and took a cab home.

But when she reached the gate of her villa, her steps didn’t stop. She walked around the corner and rang the Liang family’s doorbell.

The Liang family’s housekeeper came to the door. Seeing her, the woman’s face lit up. “Zhi, you’re here! Please, talk to Madam. Muzhi’s been kneeling all night. He still hasn’t been let out. How can his body take this?”

Clearly, Liang Muzhi had truly angered his parents this time. Xu Zhi didn’t dare delay, hurrying towards the main house.

Though Liang Muzhi was strong, it had only been a little over a year since his car accident. Kneeling all night… Xu Zhi grew anxious just thinking about it.

Mr. Liang had likely gone to work. In the main house’s living room, only Mrs. Liang was present.

Xu Zhi approached and greeted her politely. “Aunt Liang.”

“Zhi,” Mrs. Liang, Fu Wanwen, looked at her, “help keep an eye on Muzhi, won’t you? He’s always causing trouble. As his mother, what I say never gets through to him…”

Fu Wanwen had many grievances. Liang Muzhi was a disappointment, not as ambitious as the illegitimate son. As a mother, she felt embarrassed and her expression was sour. “By the way, I heard Muzhi’s fight this time was because of some girl. Do you know what happened? I’ve asked him so many times, but he refuses to say a word.”

Xu Zhi lowered her head, her hand slowly clenching. After a long silence, she whispered, “I’m sorry, Aunt Liang. It was because of me.”

Fu Wanwen’s brow furrowed even more.

“A man was harassing me…” Xu Zhi couldn’t lift her head, her voice barely audible. “Muzhi stepped in to stop him, and somehow, it turned into a fight…”

She didn’t even know the exact details and spoke vaguely. “Please don’t punish Muzhi any further… He wasn’t causing trouble on purpose. He was just trying to help me.”

Fu Wanwen stared intently at Xu Zhi, and Xu Zhi felt as if she were being flayed alive.

Her cheeks burned with shame.

The Liangs had always treated her well, but for Liang Muzhi’s sake, she had lied to them more than once.

After a long silence, Fu Wanwen sighed. “Zhi, that was a bar. You… you used to be so well-behaved. How could you go to such places with Muzhi?”

Xu Zhi lowered her head even more, overcome with embarrassment. “I’m sorry.”

“Muzhi is unruly. As his mother, I can’t control him and was counting on you to help keep him in line. But now…” Fu Wanwen shook her head. “You’ve truly disappointed me.”

Xu Zhi’s fingernails pressed so hard into her palm that it turned red. She forced herself to think: it’s fine, after all, she wouldn’t be the one marrying into the Liang family. However Mrs. Liang saw her didn’t matter.

Fu Wanwen stood and walked toward the ancestral hall. Xu Zhi didn’t follow. She knew Fu Wanwen was about to let Liang Muzhi go.

Fu Wanwen actually treasured her son. Unless truly angered, she would never make things difficult for him.

Liang Muzhi limped into the living room, rubbing his numb legs. Spotting Xu Zhi, he walked over and sat down beside her.

Xu Zhi glanced at him but said nothing.

His legs ached terribly. Even though he wasn’t entirely obedient—standing, kneeling, sitting, muddling through—he’d still spent the whole night like this. Now, his legs hardly felt like his own.

Xu Zhi noticed his swollen cheek and a clear handprint, likely from his father or grandfather. She didn’t ask about it, instead inquiring after Mrs. Liang. “Where’s Aunt Liang?”

“She went upstairs. Said she didn’t want to see either of us and told us both to reflect and stay away from bars in the future.” Liang Muzhi was indifferent. “My mom’s too strict. There are only a handful of places young people can go these days. If I listened to her, there’d be nowhere to go.”

Xu Zhi stood up. “Then I’ll go home.”

“Wait,” Liang Muzhi grabbed her wrist, looked up at her, and lowered his voice, a hint of softness in his tone, “Did my mom say something to you?”