His Addiction - Chapter 32

The question came out of nowhere. And she had retracted it right after he read it.

Liang Jinmo frowned.

Seeing his expression, Zhou He asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Liang Jinmo’s grip on his phone tightened.

He instantly understood what Xu Zhi was asking about.

“You’re dismissed for the day,” he suddenly stood up, grabbing his coat. “I have something to do. I’ll be back later.”

In the elevator, Liang Jinmo pressed the button for the parking garage on the second basement level.

He sent Xu Zhi a WeChat message: Where are you?

There was no response. He got into his car and called her directly.

She hung up.

Liang Jinmo’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. He didn’t know what had happened or where to find her.

He called Zhou He, asked for Yang Xue’s number, and called her.

When Yang Xue heard he was looking for Xu Zhi, she said, “Zhi Zi should be home. She said she was going back the day before yesterday when I left.”

Hanging up, Liang Jinmo stepped on the gas, driving towards the residential complex.

He called Xu Zhi again on the way, but she hung up again.

He was getting anxious. Driving within the speed limit, he sent her a message while waiting at a red light: I’m almost at the south gate of the complex. Will you come out, or should I come in?

Lying in bed, Xu Zhi saw the message and sat up abruptly.

She had sent him that message impulsively. As for not answering his calls or messages, it was simply because she hadn’t been able to pull herself together.

She hadn’t expected Liang Jinmo to come looking for her.

Her eyes were still swollen like walnuts. She didn’t want to be seen like this.

But even now, she couldn’t shake off her ingrained anxieties. The thought of Liang Jinmo coming to her house and being seen by Xu He Ping and Zhao Nianqiao, the inevitable drama that would ensue, made her restless.

She immediately called Liang Jinmo.

He answered almost instantly.

“Hello.”

His voice was deep and rich, with an indescribable gentleness. Her eyes welled up. Just hearing his voice brought back the wave of委屈.

She opened her mouth, realizing that after everything they had been through, she still didn’t know how to address him. “I…”

Her voice was thick with unshed tears. She paused, then said, “Don’t come. I’m fine.”

After a few seconds, she heard him say, “I’m one intersection away.”

Xu Zhi couldn’t describe the feeling. She had only sent him a cryptic message, and he had come running.

When she felt like she had been abandoned by the entire world, there was still someone who would come to her.

She felt like she had been pulled back from the brink, and she regretted sending him that impulsive message. “Aren’t you… Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

Liang Jinmo: “I left early.”

Xu Zhi fell silent.

Neither of them spoke. A long silence stretched between them, but neither hung up.

After a while, Liang Jinmo said, “I’m here. I’m at the temporary parking area by the south gate. Are you coming out?”

Xu Zhi rubbed her face. “It’s… not a good time…”

“You asked me what it felt like to jump,” he suddenly interrupted, answering her question. “It’s cold.”

Xu Zhi pursed her lips and remained silent.

“But I can swim now,” he added. “This time, I’ll pull you out.”

Xu Zhi’s throat tightened. His tone was still indifferent, but his words warmed her.

She felt like she had already been pulled out.

“I’ll change my clothes and come out right away,” she took a deep breath. “Wait for me. And…”

Her voice softened. “My eyes are swollen. I look awful.”

Liang Jinmo simply replied, “I’ll wait.”

Hanging up, Xu Zhi quickly got out of bed, washed her face, and changed her clothes.

Her eyes were still very swollen. She pulled her bangs forward, put on a hat and a mask, and went downstairs.

The house was empty. Xu He Ping and Zhao Nianqiao had finished arguing. She didn’t know where they had gone. She headed straight for the door.

However, as soon as she stepped outside, she ran into Liang Mushi.

He had been pacing back and forth by the roadside. Seeing her, he stopped, his expression unusually hesitant.

Xu Zhi frowned. She didn’t even want to talk to him.

Liang Mushi spoke first. “Are you going out?”

He carefully studied her face.

Her hat and mask covered most of it, but her eyes were still visibly swollen. His heart ached.

“Yes,” she replied indifferently and continued walking.

Liang Mushi blocked her path. “Let’s talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said, lowering her head, avoiding his gaze.

Liang Mushi felt helpless. “I didn’t expect my parents to say those things last night. If I had known, I would have told you beforehand, so you wouldn’t have had to come.”

Xu Zhi’s hands clenched at her sides. Even now, he still didn’t seem to think he had done anything wrong.

Of course, she thought. Young Master Liang is never wrong.

“I have something to do. I have to go,” she tried to walk around him.

“Your luggage is still in my car…” Liang Mushi reached out to stop her. “Come with me to get it.”

It was an excuse. He wanted to talk to her.

Remembering her luggage in his trunk, Xu Zhi frowned, her mood worsening.

“I didn’t mean to leave you on the road that day,” Liang Mushi said, his voice low. “Chen Jing is my girlfriend. You should be more polite to her, for my sake. Besides, she hasn’t done anything unforgivable. You… you’re so kind to strangers. I don’t understand why you treat her like that.”

Xu Zhi closed her eyes. “Are you sure you want to talk about this now?”

Liang Mushi felt frustrated. Xu Zhi was slipping away from his control. She had changed, and he didn’t know how to communicate with her anymore.

She used to be so easy to talk to.

He tilted his head, running his fingers through his hair. “Fine, then tell me, what do you want?”

Xu Zhi felt lost. What do I want? She couldn’t find the answer.

She wished she could go back in time, to when Liang Mushi didn’t have a girlfriend. But then again, what was the point?

Back then, she had been a fool, completely infatuated with him, thinking her feelings were reciprocated.

“I don’t want anything. I’ll get my luggage from you later,” she said. “I really have to go. I have something important to do.”

“What’s so urgent?” Liang Mushi frowned, staring at her. “Can’t you even talk to me for a few minutes?”

Her attitude displeased him.

Xu Zhi tried to walk around him again. Looking up, she saw a familiar figure in the distance.

Liang Jinmo, probably having grown impatient, was walking into the complex, only about twenty meters away.

He saw them too.

It was happening again. He rushed over, only to find her entangled with Liang Mushi again.

He stopped, about to turn back, but before he could react, Xu Zhi suddenly waved at him.

In a flash of inspiration, she thought of a way to get rid of Liang Mushi. She called out, “Jinmo Gege!”