His Addiction - Chapter 8

Xu Zhi was really frustrated but didn’t know how to vent.

Liang Muzhi, who usually didn’t seem to care about anything, was speaking cautiously now. This contrast made her feel as though he really feared making her angry.

As he had done countless times in the past, she softened.

Her attitude became gentler. “No.”

Liang Muzhi’s eyes brightened. “So, are we good again?”

Xu Zhi nodded. “Mm.”

She was still a bit cold, but Liang Muzhi didn’t mind. “This was really my fault. If you’re still angry, you can hit me or scold me, but don’t keep it inside. It’s bad for your health.”

Xu Zhi felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

What could she say to him? He really didn’t realize there was anything wrong with his actions. He just cared more about Chen Jing and pushed her aside.

After thinking for a moment, she spoke up. “Why don’t you try thinking about it from my perspective? How would you feel if I made you take the blame for my boyfriend?”

Without hesitation, Liang Muzhi replied, “You don’t have a boyfriend.”

“I will have one in the future,” Xu Zhi said, smiling slightly, but the pain in her heart spread. “Do you think I’m so bad that no one will pursue me? That no man will ever like me?”

“I didn’t mean it like that…”

Liang Muzhi was stunned. He realized he had never really imagined Xu Zhi with a boyfriend.

When their families joked around in the past, they’d often say Xu Zhi and he were promised to each other since childhood and would eventually marry. He would laugh along with the elders, not taking it seriously.

Xu Zhi had been his childhood friend, his little green plum, someone he grew up with. She was part of his life. But she was too obedient, and he couldn’t imagine spending his life with such a boring girl.

He liked excitement and adventure, things she couldn’t offer him.

Then he remembered that during university, there were actually quite a few boys who were interested in Xu Zhi. She was so innocent, and he feared she’d be taken advantage of. He’d asked her roommates to look after her, make sure she didn’t fall for a bad guy.

Her roommates would tease him and Xu Zhi, and he would go along with it, thinking that if Xu Zhi was seen as having a boyfriend, no bad guys would mess with her.

But now he had a girlfriend, and Xu Zhi was about to graduate from university. They had both grown up, and it wasn’t so strange if she wanted to date.

Still, he wasn’t entirely at ease. “Our little Zhi is so good-natured, she could easily get tricked. Not many men are worth trusting. You have to be careful, take your time with this.”

Xu Zhi continued smiling, but her eyes showed a hint of sadness. “Mm, I’ll keep my eyes open.”

When their gazes met, it felt like something stung his heart. He was oddly flustered, but didn’t know why. To distract himself, he abruptly changed the subject. “By the way, don’t tell my family about me and Chen Jing for now, and don’t mention it to your parents. My parents and grandfather are still angry. After some time, I’ll find a chance to formally introduce Chen Jing to them.”

Xu Zhi lowered her eyes, remembering her father’s words.

Xu He Ping had told her to take Liang Muzhi back, but what did she have to take him back with?

That night in the snowstorm, Chen Jing had been at a hotel near the police station. Liang Muzhi couldn’t bear to let her go out in the snow to handle bail, yet he allowed the police to call Xu Zhi, who was far away at school.

Now her family knew about it, and she was being made to take the blame for Chen Jing.

He even planned to formally introduce Chen Jing to his family.

All she ever got from him were empty jokes.

It was clear what mattered to him. His defense of Chen Jing revealed his true feelings.

Xu Zhi realized that this time, she probably couldn’t follow Xu He Ping’s instructions. She had already lost, and it was better to preserve a little dignity and exit gracefully.

She nodded.

Liang Muzhi felt relieved.

The food arrived at the table. As the waiter left, more footsteps approached. Xu Zhi looked up, and Chen Jing was walking toward them, heading straight for Liang Muzhi.

“I never formally introduced you before. That night was too rushed, so I called Chen Jing over to have dinner with us,” Liang Muzhi explained. “You should meet her.”

Xu Zhi felt her face muscles stiffen.

“Chen Jing, this is Xu Zhi, my best friend.” Liang Muzhi let Chen Jing sit beside him, then turned to Xu Zhi. “Xu Zhi, this is my girlfriend Chen Jing. Both of you are very important to me, so I hope you can become friends.”

Chen Jing hooked her arm around Liang Muzhi’s, then looked up at Xu Zhi with a sweet smile. “Hello, Xu Zhi. I look forward to getting along with you.”

This was the kind of girl Liang Muzhi would like—outgoing and generous. Xu Zhi thought to herself, but she was socially anxious and found it hard to respond to such enthusiasm. She gave a polite smile. “Hello.”

The meal had already become a torment for her.

Throughout the meal, Chen Jing frequently picked food for Liang Muzhi and even asked him to peel shrimp for her.

Xu Zhi ate quietly, just wanting to get it over with.

But Chen Jing was chatty and brought up the recent fight. “So, your parents know about it, right? They’ll probably help you sort it out? I heard those thugs want compensation.”

“Yeah, my mom said our lawyer team will talk to them,” Liang Muzhi said gently. “Don’t worry about it.”

Chen Jing pouted. “But it’s really strange. How did your parents find out so quickly?”

Liang Muzhi furrowed his brow, but before he could speak, Chen Jing’s attention turned to Xu Zhi. “Xu Zhi, did you really not tell Uncle Liang or Aunt Liang?”

Xu Zhi looked up and met Chen Jing’s gaze for a moment. She answered, “No.”

The atmosphere grew tense. Liang Muzhi intervened to smooth things over. “Okay, okay, Xu Zhi already spoke for me. My mom didn’t make me kneel any longer because of her.”

“I’m just worried about you,” Chen Jing said with a pout. “Look at your face, it’s swollen, and you had to kneel so long. If no one said anything, how would your parents know? Someone must have told them. Xu Zhi, I’m not accusing you, but think about it. Did you tell anyone, and maybe they told your parents?”

Xu Zhi tightened her grip on her chopsticks. She thought of Liang Jinmo.

But then she quickly dismissed it. Liang Jinmo wasn’t close with the Liang family, and he wasn’t the type to gossip.

“I think Uncle Liang and Aunt Liang might have found out from some other source,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Liang Muzhi reassured the persistent Chen Jing. “Even if Xu Zhi accidentally told someone, and it reached my parents, she covered for me. It’s already in the past.”

Chen Jing still pouted but reluctantly said, “Alright.”

Xu Zhi had completely lost her appetite. She stared at Liang Muzhi, her tone cold. “So, you also think it’s my fault. You think I’m the reason you got beaten and punished by kneeling, right?”

Liang Muzhi froze.

He was the kind of person who never dwelled on things once they were over. He had only said that earlier to appease Chen Jing. He hadn’t really thought it through.

Xu Zhi, who usually acted like a little lamb, suddenly questioning him so seriously left him bewildered. He couldn’t think of what to say.

“I’m full.” Xu Zhi put down her chopsticks and stood up. “You guys eat.”