His Addiction - Chapter 19
Back at the dorm, Yang Xue exclaimed over Xu Zhi’s men’s shirt.
“What’s the story with this?” Yang Xue tugged at the sleeve, noticing the logo on the cufflink. “A Parisian designer’s custom-made shirt! This looks like it belongs to some big shot.”
Yang Xue even leaned in to sniff. “The cologne is classy too. A mature, masculine scent.”
Xu Zhi laughed, agreeing, “Right? I think so too. This woody scent is quite nice.”
She sniffed the sleeve again.
Liang Jinmo’s face flashed in her mind. Perhaps because he had endured so many hardships, he seemed much more mature.
“Do you like the scent?” Yang Xue asked.
Xu Zhi: “Yes, I do.”
Yang Xue: “You’re doomed. Do you know what this is? This is a pheromone. You like this man’s pheromone, and you’re wearing his pheromone-laden shirt. You’ve been marked.”
Xu Zhi: “…What are you talking about?”
“It’s like ABO,” Yang Xue explained. “I’ll send you a novel later. You’ll understand after you read it.”
Xu Zhi rolled her eyes. “You should read fewer of those weird novels.”
“You still haven’t told me whose shirt this is,” Yang Xue asked with a mischievous grin. “Who is he? Judging by this shirt, he can’t be a university student like us. He must be older, right?”
“Yes, he’s working. But…” Xu Zhi’s head throbbed. “It’s not what you think. I spilled something on my shirt, so I borrowed his. I have to return it later.”
“Returning it makes it even more ambiguous,” Yang Xue teased, winking. “You’ve marked him back.”
Xu Zhi was exasperated. “I’m not interested in him like that.”
“You haven’t given up on Liang Mushi, have you?”
Yang Xue’s question was sharp, and Xu Zhi felt a pang in her chest.
“No, I just…” She thought for a moment. “I don’t want to think about these things right now.”
There were things she hadn’t told Yang Xue. Even if she did start dating, it was unlikely to be Liang Jinmo.
Given the relationship between Liang Mushi and Liang Jinmo, if Liang Mushi found out they were even friends, there would be a huge uproar, let alone if they were dating.
Thinking about it now, Liang Mushi’s excessive possessiveness had always been there.
He wanted absolute control over his life. Even his parents couldn’t change his mind. They wanted him to get a master’s degree and take over the family business, but he stubbornly refused to conform.
He hated Liang Jinmo and demanded that none of his friends associate with him. Xu Zhi didn’t know when she had become a “little sister” in his eyes, but one thing was clear:
Liang Mushi wanted to control her.
Perhaps because she liked him, she hadn’t resisted his control before. But now, she couldn’t blindly obey him anymore.
Ideally, she would slowly distance herself from him, and they would both move on. That way, it wouldn’t affect their families’ relationship either.
For the next three days, Xu Zhi focused on her exams.
However, her studying wasn’t very effective. Liang Mushi, true to his old habits, called or texted her every day.
Sometimes he asked about her exams, sometimes he bragged about winning a race with his friends, sometimes he complained about his parents preventing him from participating in official competitions, and sometimes he talked about Chen Jing.
He said Chen Jing was from a single-parent family, and her father had been imprisoned two years ago. She wasn’t doing well, but she was optimistic and positive.
He said they had first met at the racetrack. She worked in administration there. It had been a cold day, and she had been wearing a thin skirt suit, shivering in the cold. She always prioritized style over comfort.
He said, “Not like Xiao Zhi Zi. As soon as it gets cold, you bundle up like a silkworm.”
Xu Zhi wondered if she was being too sensitive, but she hated it when Liang Mushi compared her to Chen Jing, even about trivial things.
It felt like he was constantly reminding her: I like girls like Chen Jing. You’re not even close.
Before exams, Liang Mushi’s words of encouragement used to motivate her. But now, his calls and messages only reminded her of her years of unrequited affection.
Talking to Liang Mushi used to make her happy and relaxed. Now, it felt like a social obligation.
After her major exams, Xu Zhi felt dejected, anticipating failing grades.
Liang Mushi called, and after listening to her worries, he comforted her. “It’s okay. You’ve already earned enough credits to graduate, haven’t you?”
“But I still don’t want to fail,” Xu Zhi said despondently. “Failing a major course is embarrassing.”
“Xiao Zhi Zi,” Liang Mushi said earnestly, “You care too much about what other people think.”
Xu Zhi didn’t deny it, but she wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. “Besides, failing a major course means I’m not competent in my field.”
“It’s not a big deal. You can go to graduate school, continue your studies.”
Liang Mushi made everything sound so simple. But his words sparked an idea in Xu Zhi’s mind.
She had planned to marry Liang Mushi after graduation, but that plan was long gone. Graduate school might be a good option. She could study abroad like Liang Jinmo, far away from Liang Mushi. The distance would naturally create space between them.
Liang Mushi was still talking. “Okay, don’t be sad. It’s your birthday tomorrow. Let’s go out and celebrate, okay? I’ll give you your present.”
Xu Zhi had always celebrated her birthdays with Liang Mushi, sometimes inviting a few close friends. But this year…
She had received a gift from Liang Jinmo and had promised to treat him to dinner. She thought she could invite Liang Jinmo and Zhou He for lunch, and then have dinner with Liang Mushi, Yang Xue, and her other roommates.
She had two more general education exams left, which weren’t stressful for anyone. She felt like she had plenty of time to carry out her plan.
However, the next morning, Liang Mushi sent her a message:
Xiao Zhi Zi, I’m sorry. Chen Jing wants to go shopping in Hong Kong. We’ll be there for a few days. I can’t celebrate your birthday with you tonight. I’ve sent your gift to the school through a courier service. Please sign for it. I’ll bring you a bag and some skincare products when I get back. Let me know if there’s anything you want.
Xu Zhi hated having her plans disrupted.
She stared at the message, feeling obligated to reply, but she didn’t know what to say.
For the first time in over twenty years, Liang Mushi wouldn’t be with her on her birthday.
She thought she had moved on, that she no longer had any expectations of him, but for some reason, it still hurt. Her chest felt tight, her fingers stiff.
Feeling drained of all energy, she suddenly realized that the exams had been a distraction. Now, she had to face the reality of countless long days and nights without Liang Mushi by her side.
Why had she bothered trying to distance herself?
The boy she loved was long gone. Without her realizing it, he had been the one to leave first.