His Addiction - Chapter 31
Xu Zhi had learned to swim early on, but she wasn’t a strong swimmer.
However, the artificial lake wasn’t being filled during the winter, so the water depth wasn’t quite three meters, and the visibility was good. She saw Liang Jinmo immediately.
Her memory of this part was hazy. She didn’t know how she swam, or for how long. She wasn’t strong, but she managed to drag him back to shore.
With all her might, she pushed him onto the bank.
Numb to the icy water, her mind blank, her heart pounding, she climbed ashore and looked around, shouting for help again.
But the park was deserted. She didn’t know where the park attendant was.
Xu Zhi looked down at Liang Jinmo, who was unresponsive. Remembering her emergency first aid training, she started pressing on his chest.
After about ten compressions, there was still no reaction. She tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and started giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
His lips were like ice. Her mind was blank as she breathed into his mouth, not even thinking about the impropriety of it.
She didn’t know how many times she repeated the process. Then, Liang Jinmo’s shoulders twitched. He coughed, spitting out water.
Xu Zhi sat there, frozen, terrified.
Her back was cold and damp. She didn’t know if it was lake water or cold sweat.
Liang Jinmo continued coughing. Unable to bear it any longer, she punched him in the chest.
“Are you crazy?!” she yelled, then collapsed onto his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Liang Jinmo coughed for a long time before catching his breath. He didn’t move. His clothes were soaked, the ground cold, but he couldn’t feel it.
He could, however, feel a faint source of warmth – Xu Zhi’s tears, seeping through his wet clothes, warming his chest.
“Don’t do this…” she sobbed. “My parents… they don’t like me either… But… but… if you live… good things will happen… One day… you’ll meet people who care about you… who love you… You’ll make friends… You might even get married… have children…”
Her voice was thick with tears. “You have to live… to see what happens next…”
She clutched his collar, crumpling the fabric. “Don’t scare me like that… Liang Jinmo… I know you’re not happy… but things will get better… they will… Trust me… Just wait a little longer… please… I’m begging you…”
Liang Jinmo lay still, staring at the sky. His thoughts weren’t clear, but he realized something.
Someone had actually cried for him, even if it was out of fear.
As for the future Xu Zhi had painted, was it even possible? He didn’t believe it.
Jumping had been an impulsive decision, a fleeting thought as he crossed the bridge. Most of the time, he didn’t cling to life, nor did he desire death. He just felt that life was meaningless.
He hadn’t expected anyone to save him. He hadn’t expected her to follow him all that way.
Eventually, Xu Zhi calmed down. Shivering uncontrollably, she went to find the park attendant. She dragged Liang Jinmo to the attendant’s office, clinging to the radiator.
The attendant grumbled, “You kids! I told you not to play in the water! Aren’t you afraid of drowning?”
Xu Zhi, feeling wronged, apologized.
Liang Jinmo tried to move away from her, but she grabbed his arm and pushed him onto a small stool next to the radiator. “Dry your clothes, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Later…
Liang Jinmo didn’t catch a cold. Xu Zhi did.
She suffered from a recurring high fever for over two weeks.
Liang Jinmo learned about it when he overheard Zhao Nianqiao talking to another woman at the entrance of the complex, mentioning Xu Zhi’s illness.
He didn’t react much at the time. But back in his cold, empty apartment, he stood at the window, staring at the second floor of the house next door for a long time.
He knew which window was Xu Zhi’s room. He suddenly had the urge to visit her.
But he couldn’t.
Xu Zhi always acted like a thief whenever she saw him. He knew she didn’t want anyone to know they had contact.
Especially Liang Mushi.
Liang Mushi and Xu Zhi had that ridiculous arranged marriage. He lit a cigarette by the window. He was alone, and he was eighteen, old enough to smoke freely.
He thought, She probably still wants to marry Liang Mushi.
The thought irritated him for some reason. Then he dismissed it.
Liang Corp. Headquarters.
Liang Jinmo had submitted a proposal to Liang Zhengguo yesterday about formally establishing an Artificial Intelligence R&D department. Liang Zhengguo had replied before noon today, approving the plan.
In the two years since Liang Jinmo had joined Liang Corp. with his team, the major projects he had completed had become industry benchmarks. No one questioned his vision or ability. A month ago, he had officially become the Director of the Product Department through internal competition.
However, despite his professional success, rumors about his illegitimate status continued to circulate.
Although he was Liang Zhengguo’s son, Liang Zhengguo treated him like any other subordinate – neither harsh nor particularly kind.
As Zhou He was on his way to Liang Jinmo’s office, he overheard two administrative staff gossiping in the elevator.
“I saw President Liang downstairs the other day. He smiled at me when I greeted him. He seemed so kind. But whenever he sees Director Liang, he’s always stern. Who treats their own son like that?”
“Exactly. That’s how it is in wealthy families. No room for sentiment. I bet if Director Liang didn’t have his skills, his own father would have kicked him out…”
Zhou He coughed loudly.
The two administrative staff immediately fell silent, looking embarrassed. They mumbled a greeting and hurried out of the elevator.
Zhou He knocked on Liang Jinmo’s office door and walked in. “You need to replace the administrative staff on this floor. They gossip too much.”
Liang Jinmo: “Administrative staff isn’t under my jurisdiction.”
Zhou He sat down across from him. “I heard President Liang approved our AI R&D proposal?”
Liang Jinmo handed him the document.
Zhou He read it, looking satisfied. “Then I’ll start recruiting. Cheng Yu and the other programmers are confirmed. Yang Xue, Xu Zhi’s friend, said she wants to join. I’ve received her resume. What about Xu Zhi? Have you asked her?”
Liang Jinmo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “She might not come.”
Zhou He put the document down on the table. “I suddenly remembered something this afternoon.”
Liang Jinmo looked at him.
“I knew Xu Zhi looked familiar. I finally remembered where I saw her before.” A smile played on Zhou He’s lips. “In America. You had a picture of her in your wallet.”
Liang Jinmo stared at him, his eyes cold.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. It’s embarrassing…” Zhou He grinned. “Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything.”
Liang Jinmo: “Are you sure?”
“I really didn’t say anything!” Zhou He insisted. “I talk a lot, but I know what I should and shouldn’t say. We’ve been friends for years. Don’t you trust me?”
Liang Jinmo: “No.”
Zhou He: “…”
He said, “You’ve hurt my feelings. You have to compensate me for emotional damages. Give me a couple of extra days off…”
Liang Jinmo’s phone vibrated on the desk. He picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Xu Zhi on the lock screen. He quickly unlocked the phone and opened the message.
Xu Zhi had sent: What does it feel like to jump?