His Addiction - Chapter 25

On the night of her birthday, Xu Zhi and Yang Xue took a taxi back to school with Cheng Yu.

On the way, Yang Xue and Cheng Yu chatted, and Cheng Yu revealed that he had decided to join Liang Jinmo’s team.

Yang Xue’s eyes lit up, and she suddenly asked Cheng Yu, “Does Young Master Liang’s team need a translator?”

Cheng Yu was momentarily stunned. “I didn’t ask.”

Yang Xue thought he was being dense. “I’ll ask. I’ve added Zhou He on WeChat. He’s so enthusiastic, unlike someone.”

Xu Zhi overheard and quickly called out to Yang Xue, “They need a translator. Liang Jinmo told me they have some work that involves liaising with companies in the U.S.”

“That’s great! I want to go!” Yang Xue was fired up, grabbing Xu Zhi’s arm. “Zhi Zi, let’s go together! It’s Liang’s, Liang’s company!”

Xu Zhi knew full well that Yang Xue wanted to go for Cheng Yu’s sake. She felt a little helpless. “You can ask Zhou He for more details. I might have other plans after I graduate.”

“What plans?” Yang Xue asked.

Xu Zhi hesitated for a moment before replying, “I… I’m thinking about studying abroad for a master’s.”

“Are you joking? People who want to go abroad have already started preparing. By the time you make up your mind, the opportunity will have passed.”

Xu Zhi: “……”

“And also…” Yang Xue slowed her tone and leaned in to Xu Zhi’s ear. “I noticed tonight that you, Zhou He, and that Young Master Liang… the three of you have something going on, don’t you?”

Xu Zhi quickly dodged. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“Hmph, you’re so guilty. Is it a love triangle?”

Xu Zhi rolled her eyes. “Impossible!”

“Say it! Say it! If you don’t, I’m going to annoy you to death!” Yang Xue started poking her in the side. Xu Zhi, unable to escape in the cramped backseat, called out to Cheng Yu.

“Cheng Yu, can you stop Yang Xue? She’s being so noisy!”

Cheng Yu shot Yang Xue a glance. “Can you be quiet? You’re driving me crazy.”

Yang Xue pouted and said to Cheng Yu, “I’m not listening to you because I’m scared. I’m doing it because I enjoy pampering you.”

It was so cheesy, Xu Zhi thought, but at least it gave her some peace, and Yang Xue stopped pressing her for answers.

She was actually worried Yang Xue would continue asking, especially about her relationship with Liang Jinmo, which she herself couldn’t explain.

It started as a friendship that she had then forced into an awkward hug. That could definitely be considered harassment.

That night, Xu Zhi couldn’t sleep. She kept thinking about Liang Mushi and the invitation from Liang Jinmo.

“Is it true that whenever there’s a choice between me and Liang Mushi, you’ll always choose him?”

— That question resurfaced in her mind.

Liang Jinmo’s question seemed a bit strange, but she knew it wasn’t without reason.

Back in the first year of junior high, Liang Jinmo was already in his first year of high school. Due to the exclusion from Fu Wanwen, he had been living at school.

Even during the holidays, he hardly returned home, except when he needed to grab some things.

One weekend, Xu Zhi ran into him while coming back from her Go class in a villa area.

He was walking alone, his aura as cold and gloomy as ever.

But Xu Zhi noticed that today, he seemed a little different.

His steps were unsteady, and his pale face had an unnatural flush.

She didn’t greet him and just followed a few steps behind, confused about what he was doing back.

Before reaching the Liang family’s villa, Liang Jinmo suddenly stopped.

He couldn’t walk anymore. He leaned against a nearby tree, gasping heavily, his throat burning like it was on fire.

He had been running a fever for three days. He had taken medicine, but it clearly hadn’t worked.

Xu Zhi saw his hunched posture and immediately forgot everything else, rushing over to ask, “What’s wrong with you?”

Liang Jinmo only then saw her.

His gaze, usually sharp and cold, was now filled with weakness. He didn’t speak when he saw her.

Xu Zhi asked again, “Are you feeling sick? Have you caught a cold?”

Liang Jinmo lowered his head without answering.

“I’ll help you.” Xu Zhi reached out her hand.

The moment she touched his arm, he sidestepped and avoided her touch.

“No need,” he said coldly.

Without another word, he continued walking forward.

Xu Zhi felt that if it weren’t for his pitiful state, she wouldn’t want to help him.

No one in the villa area would assist him. Everyone knew he was an illegitimate child, and if Liang Mushi’s friends saw him, they might mock him even more.

She didn’t want anyone to see her with him either, though she felt a little guilty toward him. To her, Liang Mushi and Fu Wanwen’s feelings were far more important.

She grumpily walked behind him, watching his unsteady steps, thinking to herself, “Let’s see how long he can keep up this pretense.”

When they arrived at her house, she didn’t enter but quietly followed him.

She saw him stand in front of the Liang family’s gate, only to be shut out.

His fingerprint failed to unlock the door, and when he tried the password, it was wrong.

He attempted to ring the bell, hoping the servants would help, but no one responded.

The servants at the Liang family were always around. If no one opened the door, it could only mean they were ignoring him.

Xu Zhi hid behind the wall, watching as Liang Jinmo seemed to lose strength, holding onto the old-fashioned gate’s iron railing, his body slowly sliding down.

She thought he might faint and quickly ran over to support him.

However, Liang Jinmo didn’t faint; he just couldn’t stand up. His hands gripped the railing, struggling to stay upright, but he didn’t have the strength to straighten up.

Fu Wanwen must have deleted his fingerprint, but he didn’t know. The servants weren’t answering either.

He knew they looked down on him.

His vision blurred, and he could barely see.

“My parents aren’t home right now,” a faint voice said. “Come sit in my yard. I’ll get you some water and medicine.”

He turned his face, and Xu Zhi hesitated, her hands hovering in the air, wanting to help but unsure.

He still didn’t speak, his breathing weak.

Xu Zhi took a deep breath and immediately hooked his arm. “Let’s go. You need to take your medicine.”

Liang Jinmo didn’t have much strength, so he was led into her yard.

There was a flower rack in the yard, and Xu Zhi helped him sit in the chair under it. “Wait here. This is my house, so don’t run around.”

Liang Jinmo didn’t have the strength to run.

Soon, Xu Zhi ran back from the house, holding a cup of warm water and a bag.

She sat beside him, placed the water on the table in front of him, and took a thermometer from the bag, pressing it to his forehead.

39.2°C.

Xu Zhi gasped, “You have a high fever!”

Liang Jinmo thought she was being loud and dramatic, lying weakly on the table.

Xu Zhi dug through the bag and pulled out fever-reducing medicine. “Take this first. Are you catching a cold? I have cold medicine here. Can you take it?”

Liang Jinmo didn’t respond.

She hesitated, then put a fever pill into his hand.

He didn’t cooperate, making her unsure.

At her age, there were already couples in her class who were in early relationships, and for her, even the touch of an opposite-gender hand felt delicate. She hesitated to touch his clenched fist.