Chapter 145: Maitreya

For several minutes, neither of them spoke. Shang Yucheng gently massaged the back of her neck, his touch soothing.

Liang Jinshang honestly faced her own heart, feeling a sudden impulse to ask Shang Yucheng a question.

Why had he used such a disdainful tone back then, calling her “the daughter of a labor camp inmate”?

Clearly, judging by his usual behavior, he held no prejudice or contempt toward Fang Xinyou.

Then why, after saying something like “As if she could ever become Mrs. Shang,” did he turn around and pursue her?

She lifted her head in Shang Yucheng’s embrace. “Shang Yucheng…”

He lazily kissed her slightly moist eyelids and murmured, “Hmm?”

“You…”

Liang Jinshang wanted to speak but hesitated. Once those questions slipped out, they would inevitably reveal her long-hidden infatuation with Shang Yucheng and fully expose her current emotional state.

She didn’t want to lose so quickly.

Moreover, there were too many uncertainties between them; this was no time for romance.

So the words she was about to say turned abruptly into, “Have you eaten?”

Shang Yucheng tugged at the corner of his mouth. “...No.”

In fact, not only had he not eaten, but he also had an intercontinental video conference coming up.

According to his original plan, he had reserved two hours after getting off the plane.

He intended to properly assert his masculine dignity—both in words and actions—before heading to the office for a meeting.

But plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Waiting for her on an empty stomach, fussing over trivial matters, he neither gained anything nor satisfied his hunger before having to work again.

Liang Jinshang heard he had a meeting and naturally said, “Then you should go quickly. Don’t be late.”

Shang Yucheng raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t you going to treat me to a meal?”

So asking if he had eaten was really just a way to send him off?

Liang Jinshang pretended not to catch his hint that she should cook for him. She was very tired and just wanted to lie down and sleep.

She was even less willing to sacrifice her rest to accompany him out to eat.

But considering Shang Yucheng had to work overtime soon, she showed a bit of mercy. “I can order takeout for you. You can eat before you leave. Will that be enough time?”

Takeout took time, so the schedule would be tight.

Shang Yucheng glanced at the time, made a decision in seconds, and immediately left.

Love and romance could not interfere with work.

They walked back to the living room and turned on the light.

Just as Shang Yucheng was about to step out, he casually asked, “What did you eat tonight?”

If she hadn’t eaten either, he’d have the driver make another trip to deliver food for her—purely because she looked so pitiful after crying.

Liang Jinshang didn’t think much and replied, “Crayfish.”

But Shang Yucheng, reading between the lines of their years of tacit understanding, extracted the meaning: “Did you eat with Chao Jingyu?”

Despite Chao’s usual image as an expert elite, his private hobbies were much like a big boy’s.

He loved playing video games and basketball and enjoyed street food.

Liang Jinshang nodded.

Shang Yucheng hung up the call from the driver. Seeing his half-smile, she knew he was displeased again.

Liang Jinshang paid him no mind. After all, he already knew they had gone hiking together; having a late-night snack wasn’t such a rebellious act, was it?

She accompanied Shang Yucheng to the door and was about to open it for him.

Before leaving, Shang Yucheng bent down to ask for a farewell kiss, but at that moment, Liang Jinshang raised her hand to cover her mouth and yawned.

He stopped just a few centimeters away, looking helpless.

Liang Jinshang chuckled and looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

If he had kissed her naturally, it might not have been so awkward.

That pause reminded her of the unclear nature of their relationship—it felt awkward to be clingy and intimate.

She turned her face away and nudged him. “Go on, hurry up!”

Shang Yucheng let out a light laugh at her and straightened up, ready to leave.

His gaze casually shifted and fixed on the cabinet in the living room.

“Liang Jinshang,” Shang Yucheng said suddenly, his tone serious.

She looked up, puzzled. “What is it?”

He pointed at the cabinet. “Where did you put that old Laoshan sandalwood sculpture inside?”

Liang Jinshang followed his gaze and looked through the glass door of the cabinet. “What old… sculpture?”

“A statue of the Maitreya Buddha.”

She tried to recall. The cabinet mostly held items her parents had collected years ago.

She only had a vague impression.

Honestly, when the house was sold initially, almost everything inside was packed and sold.

After all these years and traveling around, the fact that the place was still largely intact when it returned to her was something she was deeply grateful for.

Missing one or two decorations was no big deal.

But since Shang Yucheng mentioned it, she did remember there was a Maitreya Buddha statue. She had even wiped its bald head while cleaning before moving in.

Now it was not in its original place.

“Maybe the cleaning lady tidied it up earlier,” Liang Jinshang said casually. “You go ahead; I’ll look for it later.”

Seeing her indifferent attitude, Shang Yucheng insisted, “Look carefully.”

“All right, all right!”

After the door closed, Shang Yucheng lingered for a moment before leaving.

Not wanting to burden her mentally, Shang Yucheng hadn’t told her the truth.

Why had he paid over twenty million for a house worth eight million?

Liang Jinshang wasn’t naive or clueless; she knew Shang Yucheng wouldn’t speak nonsense casually.

A small ornament in her home caught his attention even though he had only been there a few times.

There could only be two reasons: either Shang Yucheng was especially nosy and observant in others’ homes—which was unlikely—or that ornament was so unique that he remembered it instantly.

After seeing him off, Liang Jinshang immediately began searching.

There weren’t many obvious places in the house, and the cleaning staff wouldn’t have tucked the ornament away inside the cabinet.

She searched thoroughly inside and out.

No sign of it.

Coincidentally, she had also just experienced her necklace being stolen.

Her first thought was naturally that Nan Wenqian had taken it.

But it was late at night, and she couldn’t go to the detention center then.

She had to hold back and wait until morning.

Just in case, before going to sleep, she left a message for Chao Jingyu, asking him to inquire with the cleaning staff about the Maitreya Buddha statue—whether anyone had seen it before cleaning.

That night, exhausted, she slept soundly without dreams.

Upon waking, she checked her phone and saw two messages from Chao Jingyu early in the morning.

“I asked for you. They said they never saw any Maitreya Buddha statue in your house. What’s wrong? Something lost?”

“My people are trustworthy. Could it be that Nan stole it yesterday?”

That was almost certainly the case.

Liang Jinshang didn’t hesitate and went straight to the detention center.

To her surprise, upon arrival, she learned that the girl who had been arrested along with Nan Wenqian seemed to have considerable backing and had been bailed out the night before.