His Addiction - Chapter 16

Xu Zhi’s first reaction was, “Impossible. Even drunk, I wouldn’t become a completely different person.”

The corner of Liang Jinmo’s lips twitched slightly. He didn’t say anything.

It was a sardonic smile. Xu Zhi felt a pang of guilt and decided not to press him further about last night. She said, “Thank you for taking care of me last night. I’ll treat you to dinner sometime.”

She always used this line. Liang Jinmo was used to it. He said, “Considering what you did last night, one meal might not be enough.”

Xu Zhi was taken aback. “Huh?”

Liang Jinmo: “It’ll have to be a monthly thing.”

Xu Zhi closed her eyes. “I’ll just give you the money. Go eat by yourself.”

“You think I can’t afford to eat?” Liang Jinmo paused, then added, as if remembering something, “Actually, you did give me money once, before I went abroad. You slipped it under my door.”

Xu Zhi’s eyes widened. “How… how did you know it was me?”

Liang Jinmo didn’t answer immediately.

During university, Fu Wanwen had cut off his living expenses, forcing him to work part-time to support himself. When he was about to go abroad, Fu Wanwen had no intention of giving him any money, and he couldn’t bring himself to ask Liang Fu.

He had been working throughout that break to save money. One day, when he returned home, there was an envelope on the floor of his room.

Inside, was a neat stack of US dollars.

The number of people who could enter the Liang house could be counted on one hand. Apart from Xu Zhi, everyone else looked down on him. Who else would give him money?

He had taken the money with him but hadn’t used it. He kept it tucked away. During difficult times, he would take it out and look at it, imagining Xu Zhi going to the bank to exchange her allowance for dollars, putting it in an envelope, and slipping it under his door. What had she been thinking? Did she think he would starve to death in America?

After asking the question, Xu Zhi realized how silly it was.

If someone in the Liang family had given him the money, they wouldn’t have done it so secretly.

She spoke again, her words a little hesitant. “I… I didn’t mean anything by it. I just thought… in case you encountered any difficulties in America, you could use it…”

She was afraid of hurting Liang Jinmo’s pride. After all, her actions could be seen as condescending charity.

Liang Jinmo simply said, “Mm-hmm. You helped me. I took care of you. We’re even.”

He didn’t seem to dwell on it, and Xu Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

After breakfast, Xu Zhi finished her honey water. Her headache had subsided considerably.

She was about to head back to school. Liang Jinmo glanced at his watch. “I’m going to the branch office. I’ll give you a ride.”

Xu Zhi didn’t refuse.

She had her own rules about appropriate social distance. After last night, she considered Liang Jinmo and Zhou He her friends.

On the way, she asked Liang Jinmo, “Are you and Zhou He close?”

Liang Jinmo, focusing on the road ahead, answered, “No.”

Xu Zhi thought he was being disingenuous. “I’ve never seen you so close with anyone.”

Liang Jinmo: “You call that close?”

“Yes,” Xu Zhi said, a smile playing on her lips as she recalled their interaction at the bar. “It’s good. You’re quiet, so having a talkative and lively friend is a good thing, right? I think Zhou He is fun.”

Liang Jinmo frowned slightly, glancing at her. “Zhou He is a playboy.”

Xu Zhi didn’t understand why he brought that up. “His being a playboy doesn’t affect you. You’re his friend, not his girlfriend.”

Liang Jinmo fell silent.

He suddenly felt like he was talking too much.

Xu Zhi remembered something else. “Can I ask you something? Promise you won’t be angry.”

Liang Jinmo: “Go ahead.”

Xu Zhi took a deep breath. “About… Liang Mushi’s fight. After I told you about it, did you mention it to anyone else?”

Liang Jinmo: “No.”

He paused, realizing something. “You suspect I’m the reason Liang Mushi was punished.”

“No!” Xu Zhi quickly shook her head. “I was just asking. Actually, I don’t think you would tell Uncle and Aunt Liang.”

Liang Jinmo’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “You believe me?”

“Of course.” Xu Zhi didn’t think it was even a question. Liang Jinmo’s relationship with the Liang family was strained. If he had been the one to tell on Liang Mushi, Fu Wanwen would have been the first to target him.

Liang Jinmo’s thoughts were surprisingly simple. Only one phrase echoed in his mind: She believes me.

He couldn’t suppress the smile that tugged at his lips.

Xu Zhi looked at him strangely. “What are you smiling about?”

“Nothing.”

“I saw it!”

Liang Jinmo didn’t respond.

Xu Zhi was in a good mood. From last night until now, everything had been a new experience. But at this moment, she felt the simple joy of making a new friend.

Although she had known Liang Jinmo for years, it felt like she was seeing a different side of him for the first time.

As the car approached the south gate of the university, Xu Zhi looked out the window and suddenly said, “Stop the car.”

Liang Jinmo slowed down. “You’re getting off here?”

They were still a short distance from the gate. She looked anxious. “Yes, stop here.”

Liang Jinmo pulled over and followed Xu Zhi’s gaze.

He finally understood why she was suddenly so nervous, so insistent on getting off here.

Parked outside the south gate was a bright blue Ferrari. Liang Mushi was leaning against it.

The car stopped. Xu Zhi unbuckled her seatbelt and immediately reached for the door handle. Then, feeling that her hasty departure was rude, she said, “Let me treat you and Zhou He to dinner after my exams are over. This weekend. It’s my birthday. And I still haven’t properly thanked you for the birthday gift.”

Liang Jinmo thought she looked pathetic, so eager to run to Liang Mushi.

He ignored her invitation and changed the subject. “You’re afraid of Liang Mushi seeing you with me.”

It was a statement, not a question.

Xu Zhi paused, realizing he had also seen Liang Mushi. “I… I just don’t want to cause any trouble. If he sees us, he’ll definitely make a fuss.”

Liang Mushi, spoiled and intolerant, couldn’t stand the sight of Liang Jinmo and demanded that everyone around him avoid Liang Jinmo as well.

Liang Jinmo simply said, “Mm-hmm. Get out.”

Xu Zhi hesitated for a moment before opening the car door.

She noticed that Liang Jinmo’s mood seemed to have soured. The atmosphere in the car had been pleasant just moments ago.

She knew it was her fault. Seeing Liang Mushi, she had wanted to get out of the car as quickly as possible. He wasn’t a taxi driver; he was her friend, giving her a ride, and she had acted like she couldn’t wait to get away from him.

But she couldn’t see a better solution. With Liang Mushi’s impulsive nature, a confrontation with Liang Jinmo at the school gate wasn’t out of the question.

She hadn’t imagined that one day she would be caught between Liang Mushi and Liang Jinmo, struggling to please both.

Closing the car door, she took a few steps forward, then paused and looked back.

However, Liang Jinmo had already turned the car around. She only saw it speeding away.

A wave of inexplicable frustration washed over her. She stood there for a few seconds before turning around to see Liang Mushi striding towards her.