His Addiction - Chapter 23
Xu Zhi originally thought Liang Jinmo was going to say something.
But he didn’t. He simply gave her a deep look before shifting his gaze away.
She didn’t even have time to ponder the meaning behind that look.
At that moment, Zhou He opened the cake box and set it on the table.
He walked over, gently folded the paper crown from the box, and placed it lightly on Xu Zhi’s head. “Alright, birthday girl. Let’s light the candles and make a wish.”
Zhou He lit the candles, and with the atmosphere just right, everyone started singing the birthday song.
Liang Jinmo stood there, clapping perfunctorily to the rhythm, his thin lips remaining motionless throughout.
Xu Zhi pretended to be happy as she closed her eyes and made a wish.
Yet, the first thing that surfaced in her mind was her unchanging wish every year: ‘May my family and Liang Mushi stay healthy and safe.’
It was almost reflexive—her wish formed before she even had time to think about it.
When she opened her eyes, her vision was slightly blurred.
Everyone around her was still singing joyfully. They all seemed so happy.
‘So this is what a birthday without Liang Mushi feels like’, she thought. ‘I’m not happy at all.’
She wasn’t happy, and she couldn’t tell anyone. After all, he already had a girlfriend.
He was in a relationship now, and as a friend, she could only give him her blessings. Even her sadness had to be concealed.
She didn’t know how much longer she could go on like this—constantly thinking about Liang Mushi, intentionally or unintentionally. Memories of their past and the inevitable paths they’d take apart would stab at her heart like a dull knife, leaving her in unbearable pain.
Her nose stung, and she struggled to hold back tears as she accepted the plastic utensils Zhou He handed her and began cutting the cake.
In the soft lighting, everyone noticed the redness around her eyes.
The atmosphere grew a little tense. Zhou He was stunned for a moment before he stood up. “Xu Zhi, let me help you.”
Xu Zhi gratefully passed him the utensils. “Thank you. I’ll step out to the restroom for a bit.”
She left the room, closing the door behind her.
The tension in the private room eased immediately. Zhou He remarked, “What’s the situation? Was she moved to tears?”
Yang Xue, knowing full well what was going on but reluctant to share Xu Zhi’s personal matters, simply said, “It’s nothing. Let’s just enjoy the cake.”
Zhou He divided the cake but couldn’t sit still. “Maybe I should go check on her…”
As he stood, a hand stretched out and pressed firmly on his shoulder, forcing him back into his seat.
Zhou He turned his head to see Liang Jinmo staring at him.
When Liang Jinmo looked at someone with such intensity, Zhou He found it unsettling. A chill ran down his spine. “Boss?”
“Eat your cake,” Liang Jinmo said, standing up. “I’m going out for a smoke.”
It dawned on Zhou He then—Liang Jinmo was going to check on Xu Zhi.
Naturally, Zhou He wouldn’t dare follow. Once Liang Jinmo left, he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
•————————•
Xu Zhi stepped out of the private room and walked to the end of the corridor, gazing out the window and taking a deep breath.
She fought back the tears that threatened to spill over once again.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a call from Liang Mushi.
She muted the phone, staring at the screen as it lit up and dimmed again. Finally, she answered.
“Mushi,” she said.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“I’m eating now,” Xu Zhi replied.
“You sound strange,” Liang Mushi said with concern. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“No.” Xu Zhi tried hard to smile but realized it didn’t matter since he couldn’t see her.
Liang Mushi was silent for a few seconds before speaking again. “Did you get the gift? Do you like it?”
“Mm…” Xu Zhi hesitated briefly. “It’s beautiful.”
In the past, she would have treasured every gift from Liang Mushi without a second thought. But now, her words were mere politeness.
“Are you wearing it now?” he asked.
“Yes.” She lied without batting an eye.
Hearing this, Liang Mushi’s tone relaxed slightly. “Chen Jing wanted to spend more time shopping, so we might stay in Hong Kong for a few more days. The suite at our hotel overlooks the entire city—it’s stunning. Zhi Zhi, I’ll bring you here next time.”
Xu Zhi couldn’t understand why Chen Jing would be so generous as to let her boyfriend have these long conversations with a childhood friend.
But she didn’t ask. She merely looked out at the northern city’s night view.
In that moment, the distance between her and Liang Mushi felt tangible. She had once thought they were one and the same, but now, they stood far apart, gazing at different landscapes with different people by their sides.
Feeling desolate, she heard Liang Mushi ask, “Who are you having dinner with tonight? Your roommates?”
“Mm, Yang Xue and some other friends.”
“Alright, then. Enjoy your meal. Do you need me to buy anything for you?”
“No.”
Liang Mushi paused for two seconds before saying, “Okay.”
The call was laced with an awkwardness so palpable it seemed to solidify the air between them. Gone was the ease of their once-unlimited conversations.
Xu Zhi’s heart ached more. She wanted to tell him she liked him. She wanted to ask why he was so cruel to her, forcing her to extinguish her feelings on her own. She even wanted to say they should stop contacting each other altogether.
But in the end, she quietly hung up.
She began seriously contemplating the possibility of studying abroad.
•————————•
Footsteps approached from behind, and she turned to see Liang Jinmo.
She froze.
His steps were steady and deliberate. He stopped beside her, standing silently for a moment to gaze out the window.
Still absorbed in her own emotions, Xu Zhi said nothing.
The two stood quietly side by side until Xu Zhi finally broke the silence. “Aren’t you going back?”
Liang Jinmo pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket. “You go back first.”
It was the first thing he had said to her during their entire evening together.
Xu Zhi, self-conscious from the memory of the video, was desperate to flee.
She took a few steps, but something held her back. Feeling defiant, she turned to see him.
He was holding a cigarette in one hand, putting his lighter back in his pocket.
“What’s it like to smoke?” she asked.
He turned his face slightly toward her. “Want to try?”
Tempted but restrained, she replied, “Smoking is bad for your health. It causes cancer.”
Liang Jinmo’s response was calm but chilling: “I never planned to live long.”
Something deep inside Xu Zhi was struck. In her memories, Liang Jinmo had never shown weakness, but no one knew that she had once seen him unhesitatingly leap from the zigzag bridge into the artificial lake.