Volume One, Chapter 82 She gathered her courage and reached out, embracing him.

Xu Zhi was a little dazed, unable to react for a moment.

After a few seconds, Liang Jinmo's gaze softened slightly. "Is something the matter?"

"Um..." Her response was slow, her speech unhurried. "Would you like to have dinner? Yang Xue is here too, we can go together, and maybe invite Zhou He as well."

"I have work," he replied. "You all go ahead."

Xu Zhi clenched her hand, feeling an odd sensation in her heart. She wished Liang Jinmo would pay more attention to his health rather than his work, but they'd only just gotten together; it seemed inappropriate to start dictating his lifestyle so soon.

She asked, "Then, what will you eat? I can order something for you, or bring it up later."

"No need."

Xu Zhi felt his attitude was inexplicably cold, a heaviness settling in her chest. "Then we'll head downstairs," she said softly.

Liang Jinmo simply responded, "Mm."

After Xu Zhi and Yang Xue went downstairs, Yang Xue, ever the lively one, called Zhou He to join them, and the three went to a nearby Chinese restaurant for dinner.

Xu Zhi seemed a little deflated. Yang Xue asked what was wrong, "You were fine just a moment ago, weren't you?"

She couldn't explain. Ever since she'd met Liang Jinmo's mother that morning, his mood had been off.

It was his family matter, and besides, no one would want others to know their mother acted like a lunatic. She couldn't tell Yang Xue about it, so she just shook her head. "Let's eat."

Zhou He chimed in, "Zhi, why are you so unhappy?"

Yang Xue mocked him, "That skateboard shoe joke is ancient. You're still at it?"

Zhou He shrugged it off. "Tell us, what's going on? Why didn't our boss come down to eat with us? With the workload these days, he's busy, but not so busy he can't spare time for a meal."

Xu Zhi glanced at Zhou He. She wasn't sure how much he knew about Liang Jinmo's family, and after thinking it over, she decided not to say anything. Instead, she asked, "Why don't you tell us stories about your time abroad with Jinmo?"

Zhou He was taken aback. "You're curious?"

Xu Zhi nodded.

"I was in the same college as the boss, but not the same class. At first, we weren't close. It was in our second year... My advisor had a business project and took me on for practical experience. When I got to the lab, I found out the boss was there too," Zhou He recalled. "Back then, I thought he was so intimidating—always silent, typing away at his computer in the corner, a bit gloomy."

"Gloomy? How so?" Yang Xue swooned. "The first time I saw young Mr. Liang, I just thought he was handsome."

Zhou He rolled his eyes. "You can't judge a man by his looks alone. You don't know how many girls chased him, not afraid of his coldness. Even the outgoing American girls couldn't melt his icy demeanor. There was a blonde, blue-eyed American girl who came to our lab every day to ask him out. When she failed, the boss felt she was disturbing his work and rudely asked her to leave."

"It was quite a spectacle," Zhou He reminisced, unable to help but sigh. "That was when I witnessed our boss's English skills—never uttered a curse word, but still made the girl cry. She, on the other hand, had a limited vocabulary, and even while crying could only say 'fuck you.' In the end, a kind classmate led her away. Afterwards, she spread all sorts of rumors about our boss in the college—ranging from him being gay, impotent, or having AIDS. After that, not many dared to chase him anymore."

Xu Zhi: "..."

Yang Xue: "..."

Xu Zhi said, "Your graduate life... sounds quite eventful."

She hadn't really wanted to hear these stories, but human nature is drawn to gossip, and she was no exception.

Zhou He suddenly looked at Xu Zhi. "There are things I shouldn't say, but since you and the boss are together now, I suppose it's fine. Did you know? The boss has always kept a photo of you."

Xu Zhi was taken aback, her first reaction was, "Impossible."

How could Liang Jinmo have a photo of her?

"It's true, it's you with a stray cat," Zhou He said. "I think you were feeding it. The photo was in his wallet, which he carried everywhere since mobile payments weren't widespread abroad."

"Wow," Yang Xue glanced at Xu Zhi. "Doesn't this mean young Mr. Liang has liked you for a long time?"

Xu Zhi still couldn't recall. "I have fed stray cats, but... I never saw him when I did. How could he have a photo?"

She often fed stray cats, so many times, but never once had she seen Liang Jinmo.

"I don't know," Zhou He replied. "Oh, and don't mention it to the boss. You know his temperament better than I do—he keeps everything to himself and doesn't like talking about such things. Sometimes I think..."

"He can be a bit unfeeling," Zhou He sighed dramatically. "It really makes me, as his brother, feel so sad."

"Ew, that's gross," Yang Xue poked Zhou He. "Look at you, acting so cheeky."

As Yang Xue and Zhou He bantered, Xu Zhi completely forgot what she'd originally wanted to ask. When dinner was finished, she remembered something and finally grasped a question, asking Zhou He, "What does Jinmo like to eat?"

Zhou He replied, "How can you be his girlfriend and not know this?"

Xu Zhi felt embarrassed. Yang Xue said, "She’s just starting to learn. Why don’t you give her a crash course?"

"There's really nothing to teach," Zhou He laughed. "Actually, I don't know either. He's not picky at all, seems to have no special preferences when it comes to food."

How could anyone not have food preferences? Xu Zhi didn't believe it. Looks like she'd have to figure it out herself. She ordered a serving of braised beef and potatoes over rice to try today.

Zhou He took Yang Xue home, and Xu Zhi went upstairs alone. At the door, she realized she’d always come up with Liang Jinmo, who opened the door for her. This time, she’d forgotten to borrow his key card.

She had no choice but to knock.

Someone inside quickly came to open the door for her. After entering, she felt a little awkward, "Did I disturb your work?"

Liang Jinmo replied, "No."

"I brought you some rice with braised beef and potatoes," Xu Zhi handed him the food and watched his expression. "The food here is pretty good, want to try?"

Liang Jinmo stared at the plastic bag in her hand, waited a few seconds, then took it from her. "Thank you."

Xu Zhi wanted to say there was no need to be so polite, but seeing him turn toward the dining room, she lowered her eyes and stood for a moment before changing her shoes.

The air was thick with the scent of smoke. She frowned and glanced at the ashtray on the coffee table—sure enough, several new cigarette butts had appeared.

She changed her shoes, washed her hands, and came out again. Liang Jinmo was in the living room, handing her a card. "Room key. I forgot to give it to you before."

Xu Zhi was surprised, but took it—life without a key was inconvenient. "I’ll borrow it for a while, then."

Liang Jinmo looked at her and suddenly asked, "Do you want to buy a house?"

Xu Zhi was startled, thinking the question was abrupt. "You want to buy a house?"

Liang Jinmo’s thin lips moved slightly. He actually wanted to ask, if hotels wouldn’t do, what about his own house?

Hotels didn’t feel like home. If he had a house, would she stay and not leave?

But in the end, he only said, "It's nothing, just a whim."

Xu Zhi still thought he was acting strange. She recalled his gaze when they looked at each other before she went downstairs—it felt familiar, as if she’d seen it before...

He turned to go eat, but suddenly she called out, "Jinmo."

Liang Jinmo stopped.

She walked up to him, stood quietly for a few seconds, then took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and hugged him.

The embrace came unexpectedly. Liang Jinmo lowered his head, his tone softer than before. "What's wrong?"

Xu Zhi held him, her ear pressed to his chest, clearly hearing his heartbeat. She murmured, "I just... wanted to hug you."

It was rare for her to be so impulsive. She was anxious, wanting to comfort him but not knowing how. Hugging him tightly seemed to make her feel a little better.

Liang Jinmo was silent for a moment. He raised his hand, one arm around her, the other gently stroking her hair, lowering his head to kiss her forehead and the tip of her nose.

Xu Zhi, unable to help herself, looked up at him.

His hand cradled the back of her head, and, naturally, he lowered his head and kissed her lips.