Chapter 64: Wanting to Leave With Him

Lequan walked out and saw Shang Yucheng leaning against his car door, smoking. In such a setting, a strikingly handsome man like him standing alone—even just smoking—had a style and charm impossible to ignore. It was unthinkable that he wouldn't be surrounded by admirers.

Normally, Lequan would never approach Shang Yucheng on her own. But Shang Yucheng rarely mingled with the crowd inside. He was usually only seen when Chao Jingyu was around. Now, with Chao Jingyu whisked away by her to escort Liang Jinshang, Lequan waited for his side to empty and casually greeted him, adding, "Mr. Shang, Chao Jingyu isn't inside right now."

Shang Yucheng exhaled a puff of smoke and replied coolly, "You're here alone?"

The question felt odd; they weren't close enough for such concern.

"No, I'm here with a friend," Lequan pointed in a direction. "She's over there with Chao Jingyu, waiting for me."

Shang Yucheng said nothing more, turned, and walked off in the opposite direction from where Lequan had pointed.

Lequan watched his retreating figure, feeling inexplicably that his departing glance held a hidden meaning.

Suddenly, she straightened up! That usually carefree brow was shadowed by an indescribable emotion.

Lequan hurried toward Chao Jingyu.

If she still harbored a shred of hope, it vanished when she saw Chao Jingyu standing alone, "Where's Liang Jinshang?"

Chao Jingyu replied, "She said she felt sick, wanted to throw up. I couldn't really accompany her to the restroom... You didn't run into her?"

"No... I'll go look for her."

Lequan couldn't bear to look at his handsome face, but a ridiculous idea had already formed clearly in her mind. And in her heart, she was certain: no matter how absurd, it was true.

Shang Yucheng's surname was "Shang".

He was at the summit that day.

The video of Gong Xueyuan tangled with another man was filmed by Liang Jinshang, but ultimately posted by Nantan Construction's official account.

...

Liang Jinshang spent some time vomiting in the restroom, washed her face, and regained a bit of clarity. In the mirror, she saw a stain on her chest, splashed water carelessly to clean it. But misjudging the water, she soaked a large part of her shirtfront.

Summer shirts were thin, white, and even a drunk could sense that going out like this was inappropriate.

---

Liang Jinshang crossed her arms and lowered her head as she exited, the pounding music outside quickly making her dizzy again. She stumbled, kicking over the "Cleaning in Progress, Temporarily Out of Service" sign by the door.

...

Lequan arrived outside the restroom and saw the warning sign, her expression growing darker. It hadn't been there just moments ago.

She stepped forward and knocked, "Liang Jinshang! Come out!"

Bang, bang, bang! The knocking grew louder, but there was no response. Inside, only faint noises and light footsteps could be heard.

Lequan couldn't imagine what the people inside were doing.

She had drunk tonight as well, and the feeling of betrayed trust made her speak without restraint.

"Liang Jinshang! Shang Yucheng! I know you're in there! Shang Yucheng, you bastard, how could you do this to Chao Jingyu? Liang Jinshang, don't disgrace yourself! You..."

Just as Lequan was about to barge in, the restroom door swung open.

A cleaning lady in uniform stood there, mop in hand, frowning, "Miss, there are restrooms on the second floor too. If you've had too much, just go home early and don't cause trouble here. I've got more work to do and can't afford overtime!"

Lequan: ...

She nearly choked, unable to catch her breath.

In a dark private room a few steps from the restroom, Liang Jinshang's legs gave out; she was half-kneeling in front of the man, gasping for air.

He still held his cigarette, mocking lightly, "Did you hear? Your friend told you not to disgrace yourself."

Liang Jinshang had just spent ages with her head tilted back, forced into oxygen deprivation. Her mind was forcibly clear, and she knew exactly who the man was.

She felt a bit of ash fall on her, listlessly turning her head, "Don't burn me."

Shang Yucheng dragged her up from the floor, forcing her onto his lap, his tone suggestive, "You're afraid of getting burned?"

Liang Jinshang's head was heavy, leaning against Shang Yucheng's shoulder in what appeared an intimate pose, but she felt nothing tender.

Even though they'd just shared the most intimate contact, it was less a kiss than a punishment laden with retribution.

Liang Jinshang tried to recall how she'd encountered Chao Jingyu, and remembered they were waiting outside for her.

But after hearing Lequan's outburst, she realized she had no idea how to face Lequan.

Those two outside were nearly the only ones left who believed "Liang Jinshang was a good person".

She grew weak, "Shang Yucheng, please tell Chao Jingyu to take Lequan home..."

---

Shang Yucheng scoffed lightly, clearly uninterested in Lequan's affairs.

No one likes being called a "bastard", especially after being stood up for four or five hours.

"Forget it, I'll say it myself." Liang Jinshang, pale-faced, was about to get up and leave when Shang Yucheng tugged on her wet collar, rasping playfully, "Soaked like this, you're going to find Chao Jingyu?"

In the end, Liang Jinshang went to find Chao Jingyu draped in Shang Yucheng's jacket.

Lequan had vanished, and Chao Jingyu explained that a trustworthy friend was taking her home.

"Lequan cares about you..." Chao Jingyu suddenly said, "She used to have a very good friend named Si Rong. Sometimes you remind her of Si Rong."

Liang Jinshang hesitated, saying nothing.

Chao Jingyu's words were less about Lequan befriending her as a substitute for Si Rong, and more a hint that Shang Yucheng regarded her as Si Rong's replacement.

Seeing the change in Liang Jinshang's expression, Chao Jingyu regretted speaking.

He recognized Shang Yucheng's jacket and finally understood why Lequan had looked at him with pity earlier.

Liang Jinshang was not his rightful girlfriend; he knew that well.

And with women involved with Shang Yucheng, Gong Xueyuan was drawn in by her own feelings—he couldn't change that.

But for the rest, he'd believed he had enough reason to restrain himself.

He'd forgotten that dopamine sometimes doesn't obey the brain.

Liang Jinshang hurriedly said goodbye to Chao Jingyu, his words leaving her mortified.

Chao Jingyu mocked himself quietly; it was exactly that expression.

If only Liang Jinshang didn't always show him that heartbreaking look, maybe he could manage to stay rational and calm.

...

Liang Jinshang was merely drunk, but from Chao Jingyu to now, her distraction was impossible to hide—how could Shang Yucheng not notice?

"Want to go with him?" Shang Yucheng pinned her against the car door, his brows etched with cool disdain. "So you're waiting for the highest bidder, planning to switch masters three times now?"