Volume One, Chapter 76: "Have You Made Your Relationship Official?"
After breakfast, Liang Jinmo unexpectedly received a call from Liang Zhenguo and had to go to the company. Considering Xu Zhi might be bored staying in the house alone, he arranged for Yang Xue to come over after he left.
When Xu Zhi heard the knock and opened the door, she was pleasantly surprised to see Yang Xue, then suddenly remembered something.
“The pajamas you lent me last time are missing a button—did you know?”
Yang Xue plopped herself down on the living room sofa with a large bag of snacks. “Of course I knew. If they weren’t missing a button, why would I lend them to you?”
Xu Zhi was left speechless. “What were you thinking? Do you really think it’s appropriate for me… for me to wear something like that when I’m sharing a room with him?”
“Absolutely appropriate!” Yang Xue grinned. “You two are living together again, for whatever reason. Honestly, do you think things between you could stay completely innocent?”
Xu Zhi, embarrassed by the teasing, protested, “Still, I can’t wear those kinds of clothes…”
“Just give in to Young Master Liang,” Yang Xue said as she took snacks out of the plastic bag. “I actually had some document translation work today, but Young Master Liang was worried you’d get bored, so he let me postpone it. He even asked me to pick up your favorite snacks. Oh, and I brought a Switch in my bag. He doesn’t play games, so he commandeered Zhou He’s for you. He told me your ankle’s sprained, so don’t even think about going out today.”
“He seems quite concerned,” Yang Xue clicked her tongue. “I have to say, when I first met him, he hardly spoke and seemed very cold. Now there’s definitely a contrast. Whenever he talks about you, he always seems to say a few more words than usual.”
Listening to Yang Xue’s description of Liang Jinmo through her eyes, Xu Zhi felt something subtle stir within her.
“But I heard you did something big yesterday,” Yang Xue said, opening a pack of sunflower seeds. “Come on, tell me—why did you run away from home?”
Xu Zhi didn’t hide anything and told her everything.
Yang Xue’s face was full of disbelief. “You climbed out the window? You? I can’t believe you actually dared! Amazing, my little Zhi.”
Xu Zhi felt a bit embarrassed. “I had no choice. My dad insisted I get engaged to Liang Muzhi.”
Yang Xue stopped shelling seeds, surprised by how much had happened to Xu Zhi in just a few days.
Xu Zhi was always conflict-averse. She remembered how, back in college, someone had described her personality as that of a quail—always timid and never causing trouble.
Yang Xue asked, “So this time… are you planning to go back in a few days?”
Xu Zhi shook her head. “I don’t think I can go back.”
Saying it aloud, she felt a sting in her own heart.
In reality, there is no perfectly satisfying story—no one can break from their family without feeling any turmoil. It takes being hurt a thousand times before the heart finally gives up.
“Auntie will still look for you, won’t she?” Yang Xue asked. “And what will you do, living alone out here?”
When survival itself becomes a problem, other issues seem trivial. Xu Zhi had considered all this. She asked, “Didn’t you say you rented a place near the Liang Group headquarters for your internship?”
Yang Xue nodded.
“Are there any other rooms available there?” Xu Zhi asked.
Yang Xue replied, “I’m living in an urban village. That’s why the single room is so cheap. You wouldn’t be able to live there—it’s damp and has no heating. I just go back, turn on the air conditioner and electric blanket. I grew up in a rural house, so I’m used to it.”
Xu Zhi thought for a moment. “I think I can handle it. I’ll go take a look with you sometime.”
Yang Xue sighed, then asked, “Why can’t you just stay here with Young Master Liang?”
Xu Zhi shook her head. “Even if we… we can’t just start living together the moment we’re together. I… Besides, I can’t just rely on him for everything after leaving my family. I need to find a job and make plans for my future. I can’t just drift along aimlessly like before.”
What she really wanted to say was that Liang Jinmo was an exceptional person. He had excelled academically, won a full scholarship to study abroad, formed his own team during his internship before even graduating from his postgraduate program, and after returning to the country, was qualified to join the Liang Group directly. Even Liang Zhenguo, who had once overlooked him, now valued him highly—a testament to his abilities.
She used to be fixated on marrying Liang Muzhi after graduating—Liang Muzhi, who was nothing but a spoiled playboy. She herself was average, never having much ambition. But now, the person she wanted to be with was different.
She hoped she could become better, in every sense. She didn’t want to just depend on him for everything.
But she was too shy to say all this out loud.
Yang Xue teased, “So you want to be an inspirational Xu Zhi now?”
Xu Zhi laughed, “I can’t just be someone who only thinks about love and never makes progress.”
Even though it was because of Liang Jinmo that she found the courage to run away from home, she wanted to rely more on herself for the rest of her journey.
“So now…” Yang Xue got to the heart of the matter, “Have you and Young Master Liang actually made things official?”
Xu Zhi pressed her lips together and nodded. “But I haven’t decided how to make it public yet. He’s the Liang family’s illegitimate son, and I was always with Liang Muzhi before, which led to a lot of misunderstandings… Both my parents and the Liang family will definitely oppose us.”
Yang Xue couldn’t help with that, but she encouraged her anyway: “Go for it! I’ll always support you and Young Master Liang. Liang Muzhi doesn’t deserve you—let him be with that Chen Jing!”
Xu Zhi just smiled without saying anything.
By now, Liang Muzhi felt like someone from another world, far removed from her.
It was hard to imagine that once, they had been inseparable childhood friends.
Liang Jinmo stayed busy at the company until evening. Before leaving work, he called Xu Zhi to ask if her leg was feeling any better.
Before Xu Zhi could answer, she heard Zhou He’s voice on the other end: “Sister Zhi, come out for drinks!”
So they were together.
Liang Jinmo, clearly harassed, pushed Zhou He away from crowding him at the phone.
But Zhou He wouldn’t give up and leaned in again. “I heard you sprained your ankle. I’m telling you, a drink will get your blood flowing, relax the muscles and tendons. If you drink tonight, you’ll be running a marathon tomorrow!”
Liang Jinmo: “…”
He handed the phone directly to Zhou He. “Why don’t you explain?”
Zhou He took the phone cheerfully and chatted away, then hung up and winked at Liang Jinmo. “All set. Let’s go have a drink.”
With Yang Xue on one side and Zhou He on the other, their group didn’t go to some upscale bar, but to a barbecue place near the hotel.
They drank beer. Liang Jinmo took away the glass in front of Xu Zhi and ordered her a juice instead.
Zhou He protested, “A little beer won’t hurt her recovery.”
Liang Jinmo replied, “It’s not about her recovery.”
It was about Xu Zhi’s terrible tolerance for alcohol. Zhou He laughed, “Sister Zhi, last time you got drunk you traumatized our chief. You hugged him, then threw up all over him—giving him something sweet, then a slap in the face!”
Yang Xue’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “There’s a story here? Tell us more.”
Xu Zhi pleaded, “Please, stop…”
She covered her face, but Zhou He’s hearty laughter rang out. “Yang Xue, you asked the right person. I was a witness that night—I saw everything…”
She was about to cover Zhou He’s mouth when Liang Jinmo’s voice interrupted, “That’s enough, Zhou He. She’s shy, don’t tease her.”
Yang Xue joked, “So protective…”
The topic shifted, and Xu Zhi slowly lowered her hands, glancing sideways at the man beside her.
Liang Jinmo sat in an unusually relaxed posture, his shirt collar undone by two buttons, one elbow resting on the table, holding his glass.
Her own heart gradually eased.
They drank, ate barbecue, and chatted about everything under the sun. For Xu Zhi, this was a new experience—having someone she cared for by her side, friends who were lively and fun.
The fear of the unknown future faded in such a warm atmosphere. She was truly happy.
She thought life would always be this way. Little did she know, life is full of twists and turns—no plan ever keeps up with change.