Chapter 99: Fated to Be

Liang Jinshang gave a sullen reply. “No.”

But in this context, when a woman said it in that tone, it sounded far more like a reluctant admission than a flat denial.

Shang Yucheng paused, then let out a soft laugh. “You really do miss me?”

Liang Jinshang refused to say another word.

If they kept circling like this, it would only turn into slick, shameless banter. Shang Yucheng’s next remark was a disappointment. “Too bad. I can’t make it back for now.”

“Oh.” Liang Jinshang said.

“You’re this unhappy, so it looks like someone’s been provoking you.” Shang Yucheng coolly saw through her. “Which is only to be expected.”

He knew she had gone to the Liang family for her birthday tonight, and had already said he did not agree with her going back. He had even booked her a restaurant and suggested that Le Quan keep her company.

Liang Jinshang said listlessly, “Since you know I’m unhappy, can you at least stop mocking me?”

Then she fell silent in a childish huff.

On the phone, when one side kept quiet, the call could easily grow cold.

In the past, when had Shang Yucheng ever needed to search for a topic to keep things going?

But today, perhaps because it was Liang Jinshang’s birthday, he was more patient than usual. “Are you deliberately letting me know you’re upset because you want me to go back and help you deal with that cripple?”

This time, Liang Jinshang did not protest his calling Liang Xizhou a cripple. Instead, she let out a silent sigh.

“Fine. I’ve already sent Xiao Wang to pick you up.” Shang Yucheng seemed to have reached the end of his patience as well when he got no response. “I’ll have him bring your gift.”

Hearing that he was going to “bring” her the gift, Liang Jinshang knew instantly it was not what she had in mind.

Of course, she had never truly expected Shang Yucheng to give her a house unless she paid a certain price for it.

“Thank you.” Liang Jinshang paused before asking softly, “When are you coming back?”

At last, she had said something Shang Yucheng liked to hear. “Tonight’s flight was canceled at the last minute. I rebooked.”

He did not say exactly when he would return, and Liang Jinshang did not ask.

In any case, if he could not make it back tonight, then it made no difference at all.

Just then, Liang Jinshang saw Shang Yucheng’s Cullinan driving toward her. She said, “Xiao Wang seems to be here.”

“Mm. If there’s anything you want, have him take you to buy it.” With that, he ended the call.

His voice was as cool and refined, as distant as ever, without the slightest hint of the attentiveness a suitor ought to show.

And yet Liang Jinshang still felt something was off. On such a special day as her birthday, Shang Yucheng’s behavior was unusual in exactly the wrong way.

Especially when she saw the car Xiao Wang was driving, her heart skipped a beat.

Usually, Shang Yucheng drove the Cullinan himself. When Xiao Wang chauffeured him to and from social engagements, he always used the business Bentley.

Could it be...

Had he deliberately lied to her about not being able to get back, when in fact he had prepared a surprise?

Liang Jinshang did not even know what she was hoping for. When the Cullinan stopped in front of her and the person inside still did not get out, the expectation in her heart rose to its peak.

At a time like this, no matter what kind of man Shang Yucheng was, it was already enough to make someone feel wildly happy that someone cared for her birthday like this, crossing oceans for her sake.

Then the driver’s door opened, and Xiao Wang hopped out with an exaggerated grin. “Miss Liang, happy birthday!”

“...Thank you.” The curve Liang Jinshang had just begun to form at the corners of her mouth faded again.

She reached for the rear door, but Xiao Wang suddenly stopped her. “Wait! Sit in the front!”

“Hm?” Liang Jinshang’s dimmed heart stirred once more. “Why should I sit in the front?”

“There’s... something... in the back. You’ll see once you get in.” Xiao Wang was rambling awkwardly.

And Liang Jinshang had already yanked the door open in impatience and climbed in.

A blaze of crimson roses filled most of the back seat, at least nine hundred and ninety-nine by rough estimate.

Indeed, there was no room left for anyone to sit there.

Xiao Wang could not tell that anything was wrong from Liang Jinshang’s expression, and even added a needless explanation. “I didn’t buy these myself. Mr. Shang told me to. They’re gorgeous, aren’t they? Do you like them?”

“Yes, I like them.” Liang Jinshang lowered her head. After a while, she said, “Thank you.”

Xiao Wang did not ask where she wanted to go. He simply drove on until they reached a members-only restaurant with advance reservations.

After parking, he said, “Miss Liang, Mr. Shang said you probably didn’t eat much for dinner, so he asked me to bring you to this restaurant you like. But I’ve already eaten. Do you want me to go in with you?”

His whole arrangement did indeed look like something planned in advance, but this time Liang Jinshang no longer allowed herself to be wishful.

She tested him cautiously. “If you don’t go in with me, wouldn’t it be a little odd for me to eat alone?”

“What’s odd about that?” Xiao Wang said breezily, even giving her a wink. “Mr. Shang has reserved the entire first floor. Everyone there is at your service!”

That answer was practically pointing a finger at what was going on, stopping just short of saying that Shang Yucheng was waiting inside for her.

Cliched, yes, but effective.

The emotional swing from disappointment to delight made Liang Jinshang’s anticipation grow even stronger.

Looking down at her own simple sweatshirt and jeans, with one shoulder still damp where Liang Xizhou had cried on her, she hoped Shang Yucheng would not make too grand a spectacle of things.

Liang Jinshang strode up to the second floor of the restaurant, and sure enough, as Xiao Wang had said, the entire level was empty—flowers, music, food.

To be shameless about it, the scene was almost like something from a marriage proposal.

A server led her to her seat. “Miss Liang, tonight’s birthday dinner is a set menu. Mr. Shang reserved the restaurant’s signature dishes for you. May I have them served now?”

Liang Jinshang nodded nervously.

The speed at which food arrived in a fully booked private venue was almost unbelievable.

...But everything was for one person only.

The person she had imagined would appear with the music never showed up, even after Liang Jinshang had finished her meal.

She did not know where her appetite had come from, but after being left hanging by Shang Yucheng twice, she had nearly finished everything anyway.

By the time she left the restaurant, it was already past nine. A night breeze swept over her, and her melancholy dispersed with it. Indeed, her low spirits earlier had only been because she had not eaten enough at the Liang house.

That was fine.

If Shang Yucheng had truly rushed back for her on purpose, she would not even know how to tell him that she had already agreed to register her marriage with Liang Xizhou.

Once in the car, Xiao Wang asked her, “Is there anywhere else you want to go?”

“Take me back to Cloudwater Manor.” Liang Jinshang smiled faintly. “You’ve worked hard today.”

“What hardship is there in that!”

Liang Jinshang closed her eyes and rested all the way until Xiao Wang told her they had arrived, and then she opened them.

After opening her eyes, she said nothing for a long while. Only after some time did she choke out, “...Where is this?”

Xiao Wang did not answer. He only smiled and handed her a key.

In truth, there was no need to answer at all. This was the residential complex Liang Jinshang knew far too well.

She had lived here for sixteen years.

Her hands trembling, Liang Jinshang unlocked the door. When the lights came on, it felt as if she had crossed through time and space.

The furnishings inside were exactly the same as they had been before.

Winter passed into spring, solitary geese vanished into the distance, and through more than two thousand days and nights, Liang Jinshang had been like a bird without feet, flying alone for far too long.

Today, at last, she had found a place where she could rest.

Tears fell from her eyes, and at that very same moment, her phone rang.

A name fated to be hers.

Shang Yucheng.

“Open the door.”