Chapter 108: Avoidance and Evasion
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Liang Jinshang’s invitation for Shang Yucheng to attend the Wen Residence banquet was abruptly interrupted. Exhausted afterward, she immediately fell into a deep sleep. However, Shang Yucheng’s astonishing stamina only strengthened her resolve to move to Guanlan Court.
Starting the next day, she gradually began inviting friends—Le Quan, Nan Yi, Chao Jingyu... She had thought herself solitary, but unknowingly, she had gained a few genuine companions.
Liang Jinshang also specifically invited Liang Xizhou. Since that birthday night when he broke down sobbing on her shoulder, the matter of them registering their marriage and changing their household registration had been put on hold for a few days. But it couldn’t be delayed any longer; a decision had to be made.
Liang Jinshang planned to arrange a meeting between Liang Xizhou and Nan Yi. She knew that over the years, Liang Xizhou had never ceased to care for Nan Yi. Perhaps after seeing her, he would know how to choose. This would spare Liang Jinshang from having to agonize over how to tell Shang Yucheng about the matter.
On the phone, Liang Xizhou, after hearing the invitation, said, “Congratulations—‘fortune lost and regained.’ Didn’t expect you’d even get the house back.” His tone was somewhat flat, lacking much warmth, but Liang Jinshang’s standard for him was that “as long as it’s not sarcastic, it counts as a kind word.”
So she smiled and asked, “Will you come? I invited her too.” They both knew exactly who “she” was.
Liang Xizhou was silent for a long moment before asking, “Does she know I’m coming?”
Of course, Liang Jinshang had already consulted Nan Yi. Although on the surface, Liang Xizhou seemed far more hurt, for a young girl in her prime, experiencing the most humiliating ordeal of her life in front of the person who once made her heart flutter was a shadow not easily escaped.
That was why Nan Yi had avoided Liang Xizhou all these years. Liang Xizhou bore no resentment; rather, he was heartbroken whenever he thought of it. With no other outlet, he had only vented his pain by harshly berating Liang Jinshang.
“She knows,” Liang Jinshang said, “she agreed.”
After a long pause, Liang Xizhou replied, “Alright.”
After hanging up, Liang Jinshang took a deep breath several times to calm her racing heart. Just then, Le Quan approached to discuss some figures on a blueprint and remarked, “What’s got you so glowing?”
Liang Jinshang was in a good mood. “Actually, there is something good.”
Le Quan glanced at her abdomen and raised an eyebrow. “You’re imagining things.”
Liang Jinshang took the blueprint and began circling points with a pencil.
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Le Quan suddenly said, “Hey, when I come to your place for dinner, I’m bringing someone along!”
Huh?
Something felt off.
Liang Jinshang looked up at her immediately.
Le Quan said, “I’ve got a boyfriend now. I want to show him off.”
“Who is he?” Liang Jinshang asked as her eyes scanned the office.
“Stop right there!” Le Quan grabbed her head and whispered, “He’s not from our department, nor anyone in the company. You know the Zheng family in finance?”
Liang Jinshang’s expression became complicated. “I know.”
She had the “pleasure” of encountering the new lover of Gong Xueyuan—that Zheng San’er was none other than a scion of the Zheng family. Those slanting eyes and beer belly...
Le Quan teased, “You know him and yet that face? Are you eating flies?”
Liang Jinshang sighed gently, “No, I’m just a bit reluctant for you to have such a choice in men.”
Mainly because she couldn’t bear that Le Quan had picked such a specimen.
“What do you think of me? Tired of playing with President Shang, you’ve turned your sexual orientation around?” Le Quan pulled out a photo from her phone. “Look at my boyfriend, Zheng Jue. Handsome, right?”
“Liang Jinshang, take a page from my book and be more open. Remember that time you kept the whole werewolf brother thing from me? I almost suspected you of seeing two men at once—I was ready to punch you...”
Le Quan babbled on, but Liang Jinshang was suddenly reminded of something. She realized she hadn’t told Le Quan about her actual relationship with Shang Yucheng.
“Wait, Le Quan, Shang Yucheng and I…” Before she could finish, her eyes glanced at the photo of Zheng Jue, and her words faltered, “He is really handsome.”
Le Quan rolled her eyes. “Are you crazy? I show you Zheng Jue and you tell me Shang Yucheng’s handsome?”
“I wasn’t talking about Shang Yucheng!” Liang Jinshang recounted the night they encountered Zheng San at the Red Gate.
She couldn’t help but sigh deeply, “Not born of the same mother, definitely not…”
Le Quan laughed, “Definitely not the same mother.”
“The Zheng San you mentioned is the third son, Zheng Shan. Everyone says he has two older sisters. Actually, there’s an older brother too—that’s Zheng Jue,” she pointed to herself and joked, “So-called ‘well-matched families,’ Zheng Jue and I are even half-siblings.”
...Oh, another illegitimate child.
Le Quan chatted about how she met Zheng Jue and then returned to work.
Liang Jinshang slapped her forehead, realizing she had once again forgotten to tell Le Quan about her relationship with Shang Yucheng.
It wasn’t that she was deliberately hiding it; she just couldn’t compare to Le Quan’s ‘well-matched’ relationship that could be proudly announced anytime.
Her entanglement with Shang Yucheng was far too complicated and chaotic. Their sudden coming together was born of a moment of genuine emotion. Even she hadn’t fully sorted out how much of her feelings for Shang Yucheng were truly love.
...
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After work, Liang Jinshang dragged Shang Yucheng to buy clothes.
Men hardly ever genuinely enjoy shopping, let alone two days in a row.
Shang Yucheng didn’t even look up, just handed her a card. “Go on your own. Buy whatever you want.”
Liang Jinshang refused. “No way. You have to be my model.”
Shang Yucheng frowned slightly. “I have enough clothes.”
Every season, besides the ones the brands sent, there were also tailors who came for custom fittings.
“It’s not for you,” Liang Jinshang explained, then told him about inviting Liang Xizhou for dinner. “I want to buy some clothes that fit Xizhou. You’re about the same height, so try them on first.”
“Deliberate?” Shang Yucheng set down his documents, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Not one word I want to hear, but I’ll admit, you’re resourceful.”
Liang Jinshang said, “Don’t say you don’t want to hear it—you’ll thank me later.”
If Liang Xizhou could really reconcile with Nan Yi, at least she wouldn’t have to sacrifice her own marriage.
Even if Shang Yucheng never planned to marry her, surely he wouldn’t want to sleep with Liang Xizhou’s wife.
Shang Yucheng never liked discussing Liang Xizhou. He simply skipped over the topic.
Leaning back in his chair lazily, he said, “Come here and do something that’ll make me grateful first.”
At this moment, he had just finished working, removed his suit jacket, wearing only a shirt and vest.
The tailored clothes, with every relaxed movement, revealed the most alluring side of a man who had been working out for years.
His smooth, powerful physique paired with an elegant, noble professional aura dazzled Liang Jinshang, who blinked in admiration and walked over in a daze.
But as she stepped closer, her gaze dropped.
His long legs were casually spread apart, creating enough space between him and the desk to fit a person.
Liang Jinshang sighed. “Shang Yucheng… you’re in the office…”
She couldn’t believe that this usually disciplined workaholic would actually want to do that sort of thing in the office.