His Addiction - Chapter 37

The next morning, Liang Mushi arrived to pick up Xu Zhi as promised.

Xu He Ping practically shoved her into the car. She didn’t even have a chance to protest.

As the car left the complex and merged into the traffic, an awkward silence filled the car.

Liang Mushi broke the silence. “Your luggage is still in the trunk. I’ll bring it to your house when we get back.”

Xu Zhi sat in the back seat, looking out the window, not wanting to speak.

Liang Mushi glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “How long are you going to keep this up? Give me a deadline.”

Xu Zhi felt irritated. “What do you consider ‘this’?”

“Can’t we just go back to how things were before?” Liang Mushi asked.

Xu Zhi was silent for a few seconds. “Mu Zhi, the world doesn’t revolve around you, and neither do I. I have my own life. Maybe you don’t care about Chen Jing’s feelings, taking me out like this without any hesitation, but I’m different. When I have a boyfriend, his feelings will be my priority. I won’t be able to spend so much time with you anymore.”

Liang Mushi scoffed. “So petty. Chen Jing isn’t as narrow-minded as you say. She’s never objected to you and me hanging out. It’s you. You’ve been hostile towards her from the start, taking it out on me.”

Xu Zhi fell silent again.

Liang Mushi was getting angry. “What’s the name of that man you like? What does he do? I think he’s a bad influence on you. You’ve changed.”

Xu Zhi closed her eyes, wanting to jump out of the car.

Liang Mushi, fueled by his emotions, continued his tirade. “I told you, you’re too naive, too easily tricked. Your family is well-off, and with your looks, your figure…”

He paused. “Men see you as an easy target, someone they can take advantage of. Don’t think they genuinely like you.”

Xu Zhi’s body stiffened, her heart aching as if it had been pierced.

After a moment, she let out a bitter laugh. “So, in your eyes, I’m not even worthy of being liked.”

She thought, He doesn’t have to like me, but does he have to say it like that?

Liang Mushi froze.

He realized he had gone too far, but the words were already out. He didn’t know how to take them back.

Xu Zhi’s face was pale, but her voice was calm. “And, you might not know this, but our company is facing serious problems. A major project failed, and we’re short on funds. My dad is trying to get loans or investments, but the outcome is uncertain. That’s why he wants me to get engaged to you, so he can secure funding. So…”

She lowered her gaze. “We let go of our housekeepers a while ago because we couldn’t afford them anymore. There’s nothing to be gained from me.”

Liang Mushi frowned. “Is it that serious? I didn’t know.”

He didn’t even pay attention to his own family’s business. The Liang family was wealthy enough that he could never spend it all.

“I’m not like my dad. I don’t dream of marrying into your family,” Xu Zhi said, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips. “I told him, but he won’t give up. So I think you should talk to him, make him understand.”

Liang Mushi’s attention was diverted. Xu Zhi considered marrying him a dream?

After a long moment, he asked in a low voice, “Zhi Zi… do… do you want to marry me?”

Xu Zhi’s hands clenched in her lap.

She had spoken too soon.

She paused, then said, “I have someone I like. Why would I want to marry you?”

Liang Mushi’s lips pressed into a thin line. Logically, this answer should have put his mind at ease, but it didn’t. His heart sank.

After a while, he said, “Then it’s settled. Neither of us wants this. I’ll find a chance to talk to Uncle Xu. I’ll look into your family’s situation. If I can help, I will.”

Xu Zhi didn’t respond. She wondered if it was possible for Liang Mushi to help her family’s company even if they didn’t get married.

It was a calculated thought, and it made her feel desolate. Without realizing it, she and Liang Mushi had reached this point.

Silence filled the car for the rest of the journey.

Liang Mushi thought, I invited her out to cheer her up, but things seem to be getting worse.

The ski resort was far from the city. The drive took more than five hours. Xu Zhi dozed off in the back seat for the latter half of the journey.

By the time they arrived, it was afternoon.

Liang Mushi had privileges. He drove directly into the six-star hotel within the resort.

He didn’t check in at the front desk but took Xu Zhi directly to the elevator, swiping his card.

Xu Zhi asked, “Did you book a room?”

Liang Mushi winked mysteriously. “You’ll see.”

He was trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, and Xu Zhi played along, going with him to the top floor. The elevator doors opened to a presidential suite.

It occupied the entire floor, with six bedrooms, two enormous bathrooms, a ridiculously large open-plan living and dining area, a game room, and a home theater.

“So, what do you think?” Liang Mushi showed her around. “I booked this place a while ago. We can invite more friends next time. There’s plenty of room.”

Xu Zhi thought it was extravagant, but that was Liang Mushi’s usual style.

She was about to ask which bedroom she would be staying in when someone opened the master bedroom door.

Chen Jing smiled and walked towards them, greeting Xu Zhi. “Xiao Zhi Zi, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Xu Zhi was momentarily stunned.

She hadn’t expected Liang Mushi to bring Chen Jing along. But then she realized how natural it was.

How could she not have thought of it? As his girlfriend, would Chen Jing really allow him to go on a trip alone with his female childhood friend?

Liang Mushi, observing Xu Zhi’s expression, said, “Chen Jing found out about that dinner at my house… She also wants to apologize. After all, you were scolded because of us. Consider this trip our way of making amends.”

It was hard to be angry with someone who was being so apologetic. Liang Mushi thought his explanation was flawless. Xu Zhi shouldn’t have any reason to be difficult with Chen Jing now.

Xu Zhi didn’t react much. She gave a small smile and said, “It’s not necessary. If I had known I would be scolded, I wouldn’t have lied for you.”

Chen Jing looked slightly embarrassed. “I’m sorry. It was our fault. We invited you on this trip to apologize. I hope you have fun.”

Unlike Liang Mushi, Xu Zhi wasn’t particularly fond of these kinds of recreational activities.

Seeing Chen Jing, she had a suspicion that Liang Mushi had brought her here for another reason.

But she didn’t ask. Since she was already here, she asked, “Which room am I staying in?”

Liang Mushi took her to a large bedroom next to the master bedroom.

After entering, he lowered his voice. “Xiao Zhi Zi, don’t be mad at me for not telling you beforehand. I hope you’ll give Chen Jing another chance. She’s a good person. Besides, she’s my girlfriend, and you’re my best friend. You’ll be seeing each other a lot in the future. If you can’t get along, I’ll be the one who suffers.”

Xu Zhi put her bag on the table and looked at him. “You’re the one dating her, not me.”

Liang Mushi was displeased. “Don’t be like that. I want the people closest to me to accept her.”

“Whether I accept her or not won’t affect her relationship with your family. You should be more concerned about your parents’ and grandfather’s attitude.”

Speaking of which, Liang Mushi felt a headache coming on. “Those are problems I can’t solve right now. We’ll talk about it later. Unpack your things. Let’s go downstairs for dinner.”

“I’m not going. I’m tired from the drive. You and Chen Jing go ahead.”

Liang Mushi, about to leave, hesitated. “Then what do you want to eat? I’ll bring it up for you.”

Xu Zhi didn’t refuse. After Liang Mushi left, she slumped onto the bed, her face falling.

She thought, Liang Mushi really thinks I’m stupid. Does he think I can’t see through his little scheme?

He hadn’t invited her skiing to apologize.