His Addiction - Chapter 36
Liang Mushi bombarded Xu Zhi with WeChat messages and phone calls for the next day, receiving no response. Naturally, he went to her house.
Xu He Ping happened to be home and opened the door, welcoming him warmly.
“Mu Zhi, you’re here.”
“Uncle Xu, is Xiao Zhi Zi home?” Liang Mushi asked directly.
“Yes, I’ll call her down. Have a seat.”
Xu He Ping’s face creased into a smile as he dialed a number on his phone.
“Zhi Zi, Mu Zhi is here. Come downstairs quickly.”
Xu Zhi was reading in her room on the second floor. Hearing this, she frowned.
Liang Mushi had actually come to her house.
She really didn’t want to talk to him, but she couldn’t disobey her father. She reluctantly agreed.
Downstairs, Liang Mushi was exchanging pleasantries with Xu He Ping. Hearing footsteps, he looked towards the staircase.
Xu Zhi slowly descended the stairs.
She was wearing a pink coral fleece pajama set, looking soft and cuddly. Her eyes weren’t as swollen anymore, and she seemed to be in better spirits.
Xu He Ping’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and stood up, not forgetting to tell Xu Zhi, “Zhi Zi, make Mu Zhi some tea. You two chat.”
With that, he went to his study to answer the call.
Xu Zhi walked towards the TV cabinet to get the tea leaves, but Liang Mushi said, “Don’t bother. I’m not thirsty.”
Xu Zhi didn’t insist. She sat down on the other end of the sofa.
Liang Mushi’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression tired. “When did you get home yesterday?”
Xu Zhi: “I don’t remember.”
Liang Mushi rubbed his face. “If this is your revenge, you’ve succeeded. I didn’t sleep a wink last night.”
Xu Zhi thought, This young master is so fragile. He calls this revenge?
Liang Mushi: “You and my father’s bastard…”
Xu Zhi interrupted him. “He’s not a bastard. He has a name. It’s Liang Jinmo.”
Liang Mushi was taken aback, incredulous. “You have a problem with me calling him a bastard? Isn’t he one?”
“He was born before you. Even if he’s illegitimate, his mother is innocent. She wasn’t the other woman. He’s even more innocent.” Xu Zhi’s voice was calm, but she knew the impact of her words.
Liang Mushi stared at her. “What are you trying to say?”
Xu Zhi pursed her lips, her eyes defiant. “I’m just stating facts.”
Liang Mushi was angered again. “What’s wrong with you lately? Why are you acting like this?”
He looked at her with disappointment in his eyes. “I came here hoping to talk to you properly. I don’t want to hear these spiteful words. You used to hate Liang Jinmo just like I did. What? Just because you’re mad at me, you have to get entangled with him?”
Xu Zhi frowned, wanting to say something, but a voice in her head said, Forget it.
At some point, communication between her and Liang Mushi had reached a dead end. He thought she had changed, but she wanted to ask, Wasn’t he the one who changed first?
She closed her eyes. “Just say what you want to say.”
Liang Mushi lowered his gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line, clearly angered.
In the past, if anyone had argued with him like this about Liang Jinmo, he would have lost his temper.
But now…
He took an envelope from his pocket and tossed it onto the coffee table.
It landed with a soft thud.
“I came here to make amends. The ski resort at our family’s branch company has opened. I wanted to take you there, to help you relax…” He scoffed. “But the first thing you do is argue with me about whether Liang Jinmo is a bastard or not.”
Xu Zhi glanced at the envelope. It seemed to contain ski resort tickets.
One of the Liang family’s branch companies was in the tourism and resort industry. The ski resort had been under construction for three years and was originally scheduled to open last winter. Liang Mushi had promised her earlier this year that they would go together.
But she wasn’t interested anymore. She said, “I’m not going. You should take Chen Jing.”
Liang Mushi’s face tightened. “We promised to go together when it opened.”
Xu Zhi lowered her head. “I… I’m thinking of studying abroad. I have a lot of preparations to do this summer.”
She made up an excuse, not even considering whether she could actually go abroad.
Liang Mushi’s eyes widened. “Studying abroad? You never told me about this.”
Xu Zhi was silent for a few seconds. “I’m telling you now.”
“You…”
Before Liang Mushi could finish, Xu He Ping opened the study door and walked out.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere in the living room, he walked over to the sofa and glanced at the tickets on the coffee table. “What’s going on?”
Liang Mushi looked away, feeling embarrassed. “I invited Xiao Zhi Zi to our ski resort, but she said she’s busy.”
Xu He Ping immediately looked at Xu Zhi. “I wasn’t aware you were so busy.”
Xu Zhi’s back stiffened, sensing the warning in her father’s eyes. She didn’t speak.
Xu He Ping turned to Liang Mushi, his face creasing into a smile. “I’ll accept the invitation on Zhi Zi’s behalf. When are you going? It’s good for her to go out and have some fun, instead of staying cooped up at home all day.”
Xu Zhi’s hands slowly clenched into fists.
Xu He Ping never respected her. She should be used to it, but she still felt a surge of anger.
Liang Mushi didn’t bother talking to her, addressing Xu He Ping directly. “Alright, then I’ll pick her up at 8 a.m. tomorrow.”
Xu He Ping nodded happily. “No problem. I’ll tell her to be ready.”
Liang Mushi stood up and glanced at Xu Zhi. “Then I’ll be going. See you tomorrow.”
Xu Zhi didn’t respond. Xu He Ping glared at her, then said to Liang Mushi, “She’s been in a bad mood lately. It’ll be good for her to go out and relax. How’s the ski resort doing? I heard it’s the biggest one in Beicheng. With the Liang family behind it, the other ski resorts must be worried…”
As Xu He Ping walked Liang Mushi to the door, Xu Zhi sat rigidly on the sofa, listening to her father’s almost fawning tone as he flattered the idle, good-for-nothing Liang Mushi.
Xu He Ping returned shortly and, seeing her still sitting there, said coldly, “Mu Zhi invited you to go out with him. Don’t be ungrateful. I’ve already told you, for the sake of the company, you have to marry him.”
Xu Zhi couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up. “But Dad, have you even asked if he wants to marry me? Does he even like me?”
The words hurt her as much as they hurt him. Xu Zhi felt a pang in her chest as she spoke.
No one wanted to demean themselves. She endured the pain, hoping to make her father see reality.
Xu He Ping’s face darkened. “If he doesn’t like you, that’s your problem. You’ve been inseparable since childhood. Haven’t you developed any feelings for each other?”
“But friendship isn’t love!”
“Love?” Xu He Ping scoffed. “I want funding and loans from this marriage, not a love story. You better understand this. You have a duty to this family!”
He shouted the last sentence.
Xu Zhi bit her lip, unable to speak, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Go skiing with Mu Zhi tomorrow. I don’t care what you do. If you have to, you can go to his room at the hotel.” Xu He Ping issued an ultimatum. “Whether it’s flattery, servitude, or seduction, you have to make him marry you. Otherwise, don’t bother coming back.”