Chapter 125: Brother Que

The next day, the Gong family dropped the charges, and Nan Yi was released. Liang Jinshang met her outside the detention center.

Nan Yi showed no curiosity about how she had been released, saying only, "In this state, I don't want to go home just yet."

During the two days she spent in detention, Liang Jinshang had told Nan Yi's family that she was away on a business trip. Nan Hai-sheng, a man who lived in a drunken stupor, never once questioned how someone who had been employed for less than a month in an archival role could possibly be sent on a business trip.

"Then why not stay at my place for now?" Liang Jinshang suggested. Nan Yi nodded.

On the way, Gong Xueyuan called. Liang Jinshang asked Nan Yi if she should answer, but Nan Yi, lacking the intense reaction she had shown when encountering Gong Xueyuan two days prior, simply said, "Answer it."

When Liang Jinshang picked up, Gong Xueyuan stated that she had kept her end of the bargain and demanded to know when Liang Jinshang intended to break up with him.

"I'll do it right now," Liang Jinshang replied. "I will naturally keep my promise to you. I hope you won't go back on your word and will stop disturbing her peace."

Gong Xueyuan let out a scoff and hung up.

"What did you promise her?" Nan Yi asked.

"Nothing, just a small matter." Liang Jinshang didn't elaborate on the deal she had made with Gong Xueyuan, though she remained suspicious. "Nan Yi, don't you find it a bit strange that Gong Xueyuan let us off so easily?"

Nan Yi leaned against the taxi window, her eyes half-closed, her long lashes trembling slightly. She looked as though she had fallen asleep and offered no response.

Assuming she was exhausted, Liang Jinshang brought her to the Guanlan Courtyard. "I have a business trip tomorrow. Please, feel free to stay here and rest."

"Thank you."

"Nan Yi..." Liang Jinshang hesitated.

Nan Yi’s fingers, hidden in her sleeves, twitched. "What is it?"

Liang Jinshang sighed. "I have to pick up Liang Xizhou from the hospital later. Would you... like to come with me?"

Nan Yi gave a bitter smile. "In the state I’m in, I don’t even want my parents to see me... Forget it."

Though haggard, she possessed a beauty that was all the more pitiable. Perhaps she was right; if Liang Xizhou saw her like this, how much would it break his heart?

"I'll go alone, then." After settling Nan Yi in, Liang Jinshang left.

Nan Yi watched Liang Jinshang’s retreating figure with deep, inscrutable eyes. Truth be told, ever since they had reconnected, she felt a sense of estrangement from this person called "Liang Jinshang." The Fang Jiabao of the past would never have spoken to her with such caution. Perhaps she, too, had been anchored by guilt for far too long. Sooner or later, there had to be a final reckoning between them.

***

Liang Jinshang received a call from Shang Yucheng while she was in Liang Xizhou’s hospital room.

Having not seen her for several days, Liang Xizhou looked at her as if she were a stranger. No matter what she said, he only responded with cold sneers. As the silence stretched between them, her phone rang. Seeing Shang Yucheng’s name, Liang Jinshang’s hand trembled, and she instinctively straightened her posture.

"What's with the look?" Liang Xizhou mocked. "A debt collector?"

Liang Jinshang shook her head. "I'll go outside to take this."

"Take it right here," Liang Xizhou scoffed. "Is there something you can't let me hear? Anyway, I'm the type of person you lock away whenever you please—are you afraid I’ll get a chance to pass on some message?"

Liang Jinshang sighed in silence but answered the call.

Shang Yucheng’s cold voice came through. "I thought you wouldn't dare answer my calls."

Judging by his tone, Liang Jinshang knew he had already learned about Nan Yi’s release. As expected, though Shang Yucheng was not in Jincheng, nothing could be hidden from him.

"You really went to beg Chao Jingyu?" Shang Yucheng let out a cold laugh. "Chao Jingyu would abandon the bond of growing up together just for you."

Liang Jinshang glanced at Liang Xizhou and whispered, "Shang Yucheng, let's break up."

Silence fell on the other end of the line, and even Liang Xizhou looked surprised.

Shang Yucheng’s low, magnetic voice was laced with grinding teeth. "What did you say?"

"I'm breaking up with you, and Gong Xueyuan will release Nan Yi." Liang Jinshang gave a self-deprecating smile. "You see, I didn't need to beg Chao Jingyu; the solution was simple enough."

"Do you know what you are doing?"

"I know very well. Shang Yucheng, I was with you not because you were so attractive to me, but merely because I was touched. Such affection, born of being moved, fades easily. When you no longer do things that move me, how could I possibly be content to stay by your side?"

There was a deathly silence on the other end. Her words were blunt and bold, practically denying Shang Yucheng's personal charm. She could hear his heavy, ragged breathing.

"I’m coming back tomorrow. Wait for me at the Yunshui Mansion. If you have the guts, say that to my face."

"Shang Yu—"

*Beep, beep, beep.* Shang Yucheng cut the call.

Liang Jinshang sat on the sofa, frowning and lost in thought.

Liang Xizhou’s mocking voice cut through the air. "So that’s why you had the courage to ‘defy’ your precious boyfriend and come pick me up. You’ve had a falling out!"

Liang Jinshang kept her head down. "Are you coming?"

"Of course I am. Why stay here and wait for him to come back and use me as his punching bag?"

Liang Jinshang didn't explain that it was unlikely Shang Yucheng would use him as a punching bag or a threat. He would only use Liang Xizhou as a "hostage" as long as he still wanted to be with her. But by tomorrow, when he returned to Jincheng, Gong Xueyuan would surely tell him that she had chased after her true love in Xingcheng.

She might even add, "Liang Jinshang was only using you," or "Even when she was with you, she only had He Xiaoque in her heart."

A man as proud as Shang Yucheng would likely have nothing left for her but hatred from that day on. If he needed to vent his anger, she would be the only target.

***

The next day, Liang Jinshang arrived in Xingcheng with her company team. The prosperity of Xingcheng was in no way inferior to Jincheng.

It was already evening when she arrived. Unlike the others, who chose to freshen up and rest, Liang Jinshang took a taxi to the Twin Star Towers, the city's landmark. She took a photo, uploaded it to her social media, and added the caption: "Arrived in your city, walking the paths you once walked."

She hit send.

She did this to cooperate with Gong Xueyuan. Liang Jinshang had very few contacts on her social media and rarely posted. Now that she had, people began popping up one after another.

Le Quan: *Oh, a massive cheating scene!*

Chao Jingyu: *Who is "you"?*

Le Quan replied to Chao Jingyu: *Go for it, Brother Yu, show some dominance!*

Liang Jinshang replied to Le Quan: *...*

Chao Xinghe: *Tsk tsk, I see this right after evening study. Big sister, who is "you"?*

Shang Ao'er replied to Chao Xinghe: *You're supposed to be in study hall. I'm going to tell Teacher Fang to confiscate your phone!*

Chao Xinghe replied to Shang Ao'er: *Missy, what are you doing? Are you stupid?*

As they chatted away, Liang Jinshang sat by the lake, lost in thought, wondering how Shang Yucheng would react when he saw this.

Then, a notification popped up from "Pink Hair," and she jumped in surprise.

Liangzi: *...Jiabao, you aren't going to look for Brother Que, are you?*