His Addiction - Chapter 28
Xu Zhi eventually went home, taking a taxi.
She didn’t contact Liang Mushi to ask about her luggage. Those things weren’t important anyway.
The next day, Fu Wanwen invited Xu Zhi and her parents for dinner.
Xu He Ping, hoping to secure investment and loans through the Liang family’s connections, readily agreed. He bought some top-grade West Lake Longjing tea as a gift and went with Zhao Nianqiao and Xu Zhi.
Not only Fu Wanwen but also Liang Zhengguo, Liang Mushi’s father, was present at the dinner.
Just as they had exchanged greetings and sat down, two more people came downstairs. Grandpa Liang and Liang Mushi joined them.
Seeing Liang Mushi, Xu Zhi calmly averted her gaze and greeted Grandpa Liang first. “Hello, Grandpa Liang.”
Grandpa Liang was fond of Xu Zhi. He smiled and said, “Zhi Zi, have you lost weight? Don’t follow those girls who are obsessed with dieting. Health is most important.”
Xu Zhi said, “No, I eat a lot.”
Grandpa Liang chuckled. “I doubt you even weigh 100 pounds.”
Liang Mushi glanced at Xu Zhi but didn’t speak.
However, as was customary at these family gatherings, his seat was next to hers.
He pulled out the chair and sat down.
The housekeeper brought the food, and they sat around the table. Grandpa Liang, Liang Zhengguo, and Xu He Ping talked about business in Beicheng, while Zhao Nianqiao and Fu Wanwen chatted about family matters.
The meal progressed slowly. Xu Zhi remained quiet, focusing on her food.
Liang Mushi, beside her, was equally quiet.
He usually entertained Grandpa Liang with witty remarks and joked with Liang Zhengguo, but not today.
Xu Zhi felt the oppressive atmosphere but knew she had to endure it until the end of the dinner.
However, just as the meal was coming to an end, Liang Zhengguo cleared his throat. “There’s something I want to discuss today.”
His serious tone made everyone stop eating.
“Everyone knows about the fight Mu Zhi had at the bar a while ago,” Liang Zhengguo said slowly but firmly, his tone reminiscent of a business meeting. “The person he hit is pressing charges, so I went to deal with it. It just so happens that a friend of mine works at the police station handling the case, so I looked at the case file.”
At this point, Liang Zhengguo suddenly looked at Xu Zhi. “Zhi Zi, I heard from your aunt that you said Mu Zhi fought because of you?”
Xu Zhi froze.
Everyone’s eyes turned to her, except for Liang Mushi, who was staring at Liang Zhengguo.
Xu Zhi had a bad feeling. Liang Zhengguo wouldn’t ask this unless he knew something.
Growing up, Liang Mushi had used her as an excuse to skip class, go to internet cafes… but they had never been caught. She couldn’t think of how to respond.
Liang Zhengguo’s gaze turned cold. “According to the case file, Mu Zhi hit the man because he was protecting a girl named Chen Jing. You weren’t even mentioned in the report. The police said you were the one who bailed Mu Zhi out later.”
Then, Liang Zhengguo looked at Liang Mushi. “Mu Zhi, tell us yourself. Who did you fight for?”
Liang Mushi didn’t answer immediately.
He gripped his chopsticks tightly. After a moment, he slammed them down on the table.
“So this dinner was a trap?” He raised an eyebrow, still maintaining his usual nonchalant demeanor.
“Mu Zhi!” Fu Wanwen snapped. “Don’t speak to your elders like that!”
Liang Mushi scoffed. “So what if I fought for Chen Jing? A girl was being harassed by a drunkard at a bar. I couldn’t just stand by and watch, could I?”
Liang Zhengguo’s voice was sharp. “Then why did Zhi Zi lie?”
Xu Zhi’s face paled. She had never experienced a situation like this, being interrogated by both families.
Grandpa Liang looked at her with sympathy. “Zhi Zi, Mu Zhi was being foolish. I know you’re a good girl. Just tell us what happened.”
Xu He Ping felt his face burning with shame. He glared at Xu Zhi. “Speak up! When did you learn to lie to your elders?”
Xu Zhi pursed her lips, her mind racing, but her thoughts were jumbled.
She had lied to protect Liang Mushi. He had asked her to.
Could she tell the truth?
She hadn’t planned on severing ties with him. Even as a friend, confessing now would be a betrayal.
Liang Mushi spoke. “Xiao Zhi Zi was just trying to help me. Is this small matter worth making such a fuss over?”
“Is that so?” Fu Wanwen interjected. “She can lie to me just to help you?”
Liang Mushi met his mother’s sharp gaze and fell silent.
Xu Zhi felt like she had been slapped in the face. Used to being the obedient, well-behaved child, this public reprimand and accusation made her feel ashamed. Her face burned, her mind shutting down, unable to think.
Fu Wanwen stared at her intently, as if trying to dissect her with her gaze. “Zhi Zi, you’ve always been so well-behaved. That’s why, whenever Mu Zhi said he was with you, that he was going out with you, we believed him, trusted that you would keep him out of trouble. But now? Have you also become a liar?”
Xu Zhi lowered her head even further.
“You…” Liang Mushi clenched his fists. “It’s all my fault, okay? I’ll take responsibility. I’ll kneel in the ancestral hall again, or you can slap me a few more times.”
Liang Zhengguo gave him a long look. “Do you think we’re targeting Zhi Zi tonight?”
Liang Mushi gritted his teeth. “What else could it be? She’s sensitive. Don’t be so hard on her. I’m not afraid of what you say. I caused this trouble. She was just trying to help me!”
“You know she was trying to help you,” Liang Zhengguo said, his eyes filled with disappointment. “You caused the trouble and dragged Zhi Zi into it. She was such a good girl, and now she’s lying to adults for you. We always hoped Zhi Zi would be a good influence on you, keep you from going astray. But you’ve corrupted her instead.”
Liang Mushi turned his face away, clearly impatient with the lecture.
He was spoiled; everyone knew that.
Liang Zhengguo suppressed his anger. “And that Chen Jing. Her father is the disgraced official who was arrested a couple of years ago. What’s your relationship with her?”
Liang Mushi was silent for a few seconds before answering, “We’re not involved. I just didn’t like seeing those drunkards harassing a girl.”
“You better not be involved with her,” Liang Zhengguo’s voice hardened. “Her father’s case involved commercial bribery, and many businessmen in Beicheng were implicated. Now, those people are trying to distance themselves from the Chen family, afraid of being dragged down with them. I’ve always conducted my business with integrity. I won’t allow you to tarnish the company’s reputation by associating with criminals.”
Liang Mushi’s fists clenched even tighter. He was about to speak when Grandpa Liang interrupted.
“Mu Zhi, you are the rightful heir to the Liang family. You cannot have such a stain on your record,” Grandpa Liang said earnestly. “We’ve indulged you all these years. You refused to study abroad, refused to join the company after graduation. Now, do you intend to ruin the Liang family because of your own selfish desires?”
Liang Mushi glanced at Grandpa Liang, his hands slowly relaxing. He said dejectedly, “No.”
“Whatever your relationship with that Chen Jing is, it must end,” Grandpa Liang commanded. “Your engagement with Zhi Zi was decided long ago. You cannot let her down.”