His Addiction - Chapter 2

Liang Mushi had a playful personality, and Xu Zhi was well aware of this.

As a child, he would play games and skateboard. In university, he enjoyed playing in a band, skiing, and other activities. Liang’s father had originally hoped he would go abroad for graduate school and then return to take over the family business. However, after graduating from university, Liang Mushi refused to continue his studies and instead started racing cars.

He played everything except women.

It was precisely because he didn’t play around with women that Xu Zhi had foolishly deluded herself for so long.

She had thought that, because he didn’t have a girlfriend and neither of them clarified anything with their parents, it meant they had silently agreed on the childhood engagement between their families—just like she had.

Now, she couldn’t believe how stupid she had been.

There weren’t many hotels nearby, so Xu Zhi had checked the map on her phone. After walking two blocks in the snow, she finally found another hotel.

She went to the front desk, nervously took out her phone, and asked if there were any rooms available.

The receptionist politely replied, “Sorry, ma’am, all rooms are fully booked tonight.”

Xu Zhi felt like her vision was about to go black.

In this weather, she simply didn’t have the courage to go searching for another hotel. She stood frozen at the front desk, considering whether she should just sit on the lobby couch for the night. Suddenly, she heard someone call her name: “Xu Zhi.”

She froze and turned to look.

A man in a black trench coat was walking toward her. He was tall with long legs, handsome features, and an air of elegance. Xu Zhi stared at his eyes for several seconds before subconsciously recognizing him: “Liang Jinmo?”

The words escaped her before she could stop herself.

Liang Jinmo was Liang Mushi’s half-brother, three years older than her. Out of politeness, she should have called him “brother.”

However, Liang Jinmo had a special status as Liang’s illegitimate son, and Liang Mushi had never addressed him as “brother.”

Xu Zhi didn’t have much contact with him in the past, and to this day, she wasn’t sure how to address him.

Liang Jinmo didn’t seem to mind the title. He frowned and asked her what she was doing in a hotel so late.

His voice was low, and Xu Zhi felt a subtle shift in her heart.

Perhaps because she was so fragile at that moment, even this small show of concern made her nose tingle.

“Liang Mushi got into a fight. I just went to the police station to bail him out,” she replied honestly.

Liang Jinmo didn’t seem surprised. He asked, “And where is he? Why are you alone?”

“He’s with his girlfriend at the hotel near the police station,” Xu Zhi said with a dejected tone. “When I left, the dormitory had already locked its doors, and I couldn’t get back in. The other hotel doesn’t have any rooms available, and I didn’t want to stay with them, so I came here to ask.”

Liang Jinmo paused for a moment before asking, “Aren’t you his girlfriend?”

He had heard of the so-called childhood engagement. He remembered that both families had long considered Liang Mushi and Xu Zhi a couple, and neither of them had ever denied it.

Xu Zhi wasn’t sure how to keep her expression natural. She forced out a smile. “No, it’s not like that…”

Her tone was awkward, and she quickly added, “It never was.”

Liang Jinmo studied her thoughtfully but didn’t say anything.

Xu Zhi found herself uneasy under his gaze.

Liang Jinmo’s eyes were extraordinary—most East Asians had brownish eyes, but his were pure black, just like his name. They were strikingly beautiful, but they also gave the illusion of being a gentle whirlpool when he focused on someone.

She quickly looked away, her mind in turmoil, still trying to explain herself: “The childhood engagement… it was just something our parents joked about. What era are we in now…”

Liang Jinmo interrupted her. “If that’s the case, you should’ve clarified things with your families earlier. Every time something happens, he comes to you. He got into a fight and had you bail him out. What about his girlfriend, is she dead?”

Xu Zhi was stunned.

She hadn’t expected Liang Jinmo to be so blunt.

However, she had to admit… he had a point.

Liang Jinmo changed the subject. “Did you get a room?”

Xu Zhi sighed in frustration and shook her head. “There are no rooms here either.”

Liang Jinmo thought for a moment and said, “I’m staying in the penthouse suite. If you don’t mind, you can sleep in the guest room.”

Xu Zhi was in no position to be picky. She quickly thanked him.

Liang Jinmo had moved out of the Liang family when he was in high school. He had no place in that house, which was considered a scandal for the Liang family. Liang Jinmo, the illegitimate son, was even a year older than the family’s prized son, Liang Mushi.

Liang’s father had had an affair with another woman when he was young, and after abandoning her, he had accepted a marriage arranged by the family with Liang Mushi’s mother.

The Xu family lived next door to the Liangs, so Xu Zhi had heard all the gossip about them since she was five.

Liang Jinmo didn’t originally live with the Liangs but had been pushed into the family by his mother.

It wasn’t hard to imagine how awkward his life had been in that household.

Liang’s mother didn’t even allow him to sit at the table for meals.

Xu Zhi had played with Liang Mushi all the time when they were young. Liang Mushi would call Liang Jinmo the child of the mistress, tainted by “dirty blood,” and a bad kid. Xu Zhi, being young, had believed everything Liang Mushi said.

Coming out of her thoughts, Xu Zhi followed Liang Jinmo into the room.

The traces of daily life in the suite were evident. Xu Zhi had no idea how long Liang Jinmo had been living here alone.

After changing his shoes, Liang Jinmo remembered something. “There are no slippers for women here. I’ll have the hotel send some up.”

Xu Zhi didn’t want to trouble him, so she quickly waved her hand. “It’s fine. It’s just for one night. I can manage.”

Liang Jinmo took off his coat, washed his hands, and then went into the kitchen. When he came out, he was holding a cup of hot water, which he placed on the coffee table. “Drinking some hot water will warm you up.”

Xu Zhi was frozen to the core. She hadn’t taken off her coat yet, but she sat on the sofa and thanked him as she picked up the hot water.

She wanted to ask why Liang Jinmo had come back so late, but it was clear he wasn’t in the mood for conversation. He walked toward the master bedroom with a cold, distant attitude. “I don’t need the bathroom outside. There are disposable toiletries inside, feel free to use them, and get some rest.”

Xu Zhi opened her mouth to speak, but he had already entered the master bedroom, closing the door behind him.

She sighed inwardly. Liang Jinmo was still the same as before—few words and especially not keen on talking to her.

She couldn’t blame him. Considering the things she and Liang Mushi had done when they were young, it was a miracle that he didn’t hate her.

Still, the warmth from the hot water made her feel like she had come back to life. At least Liang Jinmo had given her a place to stay and a cup of hot water. What had Liang Mushi given her tonight? Just the wind and snow.

She slowly finished the water and was about to wash up when there was a knock at the door.

She opened it to find a hotel staff member.

“These are the items Mr. Liang requested,” the staff member said, handing over a bag. Xu Zhi assumed it was slippers and thanked the staff.

When she closed the door and opened the bag, she was taken aback.

The bag was large and contained not only slippers but also brand new skincare products for women, and even a cup of hot drink—ginger tea with brown sugar.

That night, Xu Zhi lay in the guest room of the suite, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Liang Mushi had thrown a bombshell at her, forcing her to reevaluate their relationship.

In the middle of the night, when sleepiness finally began to take over, her phone suddenly vibrated. She picked it up and glanced at the screen.

It was a message from Liang Mushi: “Xiao Zhi, did you get a room?”

Oh, so he still remembered her.

She placed the phone face down on the nightstand and closed her eyes. As she drifted into sleep, one thought crossed her mind: Liang Mushi was actually quite a terrible person…

He was no better than Liang Jinmo.