Chapter 90

 

In the biting cold, every breath turned instantly into puffs of white vapor. Nearby came the joyful laughter of children playing in the snow, their occasional shrill cries shaking loose the snow gathered on the treetops.

Liang Jiancheng’s smile remained unchanged, even after meeting Zhang Min.

Today he wore a long beige down coat. Compared with his usual crisp and restrained elegance, he looked warmer, more approachable — and strikingly younger.

Open and unhesitating, Liang Jiancheng took Ming Xi’s hand and walked forward.

He and Zhang Min had once tried dating but ended things in time. They had not contacted each other for four years. Still, since they had run into one another, there was no reason to avoid or pretend not to see each other.

When one’s heart was clear, awkwardness dissolved on its own. The slight discomfort Liang Jiancheng had felt earlier was not guilt toward Zhang Min, but embarrassment at the narrowness of his own past views on relationships.

The four of them stood facing one another, with the child beside them peeking curiously, repeatedly looking up to observe the situation.

“Hello, Miss Ming,” Zhang Min spoke first — addressing Ming Xi rather than Liang Jiancheng.

Ming Xi smiled warmly in return, “Hello, Miss Zhang.”

When the two women met each other’s gaze, both Liang Jiancheng and the man beside Zhang Min became little more than background figures in this encounter.

Regardless of what Ming Xi thought of her, Zhang Min had always remembered Ming Xi clearly. Even though they were not friends, Zhang Min’s first impression had naturally been Ming Xi’s striking beauty and fresh, unpretentious charm. But what truly made her unforgettable was something distinct in her spirit. Zhang Min had once reflected deeply upon her: if a girl born from humble circumstances could control her own destiny, then if Zhang Min’s own family declined, did that mean her personal brilliance would disappear as well?

That thought had once filled Zhang Min with quiet self-doubt. Yet today, seeing Ming Xi again — even more beautiful than before — gave her the sense that Miss Ming had nurtured herself exceptionally well over the years. Zhang Min’s discerning eyes, sharpened by her social circle, could easily distinguish whether a woman’s aura came from self-cultivation or from someone else’s influence. The vibrant spirit in Ming Xi had little to do with the Liang Jiancheng beside her.

And just like that, Zhang Min no longer felt inferior. Over the past four years she had rebuilt her confidence — partly by laying down the burden of family prestige, and partly thanks to the man standing beside her.

“Let me introduce you. This is my fiancé — he’s also surnamed Zhang, Zhang Shuyao. We’re getting married next March,” Zhang Min introduced, her gaze flicked briefly toward Liang Jiancheng, but lingered more on Ming Xi.

Who would have thought that someone as graceful and intelligent as Miss Zhang could truly be someone he had once let go.

Ming Xi smiled faintly and simply introduced, “This is my boyfriend, Liang Jiancheng.”

A flash of joy lit up Liang Jiancheng the moment she said the words boyfriend.

His warm palm tightened slightly around hers, the subtle strength between their joined fingers feeling like the edges of unmelted winter mountains. Through their touching hands, Ming Xi could sense his quiet, barely concealed delight.

Women often shared an unspoken understanding. Without either man saying much, Ming Xi and Zhang Min exchanged easy farewells. The one most disappointed, however, was Zhang Min’s young cousin. Being led away, he twisted his head back and suddenly shouted: “Brother Liang, when are you going to take me to play tennis! You didn’t keep your promise!”

Then, Zhang Min’s fiancé pulled the boy back and scolded him: “It’s a rare holiday, so I’m taking you out to play. If you don’t want to play, let’s go home and do some worksheets!”

The boy’s face fell instantly, utterly devastated that his older cousin had chosen a math teacher.

Ming Xi withdrew her gaze, turned back around, and finally found her chance for playful revenge. With teasing mockery she said to Liang, “Brother Liang, you did break your promise.”

Liang Jiancheng looked helpless but remembered it well. On his first date with Zhang Min, she had brought her little cousin along, and he had taken the boy to a tennis club. After that, they never met again.

His dark lashes lowered earnestly as he looked at Ming Xi. “Miss Ming, you may tease me, but you can’t say I break promises.”

Alright then. Ming Xi clapped her hands and quickly walked ahead.

Liang Jiancheng followed behind, brushing his broad shoulder casually against hers. “If Boss Ming happens to be jealous too, I’d actually be very happy.”

Ming Xi: “…Jealous too?”

Liang Jiancheng explained, “Because I’m jealous.”

She laughed. “And what exactly are you jealous about all of a sudden?”

He lowered his head slightly, posture straight yet relaxed, and said, “Ji Runze from Beijing contacted me today—he invited me to dinner next month.”

Ming Xi lifted her head sharply, surprise mixed with delight, “…Boss Ji invited Boss Liang too?”

Liang Jiancheng looked directly at her and finally spoke plainly. “That’s exactly why I’m jealous.”

Oh… well then, let him be jealous.

Ming Xi didn’t want to explain further about Ji Runze. She and Ji Runze were purely friends, and they didn’t see each other often. The meeting next month wasn’t initiated by her anyway — Ji Runze had invited her. If he had invited Liang Jiancheng as well, all the better.

Thinking of Ji Runze, Ming Xi recalled taking Xinyu to meet a client in November. On the way back, Xinyu chatted with her about interesting things that had happened at work over the past few years, and she mentioned Ji Runze.

“I have a friend who got an offer from Alibaba in 2000. If he had gone then, he would have been one of the founding members.”

“So he didn’t go?” Xinyu’s voice tightened.

“No. He hesitated between Beijing and Hangzhou, asked me which city he should choose… and I suggested Beijing.”

“Oh my god!” Xinyu gasped dramatically. “And he still stayed friends with you? If it were me, I’d never talk to Miss Ming again!”

She told Xinyu, “Because he’s doing well in Beijing too, and is now one of the partners in a tech unicorn company.”

Xinyu breathed a sigh of relief, then became filled with curiosity about her friend. Soon, Xinuu, with her exceptional search skills, directly located the internet technology company that Ji Runze and his friend had co-founded, based on the information she had provided.

“Miss Ming, is your friend married?” Xin Yu asked with a bright smile.

…Probably not.

They weren’t in frequent contact, but they kept in touch enough that she roughly knew his situation.

In 2003, when Ming Xi went to Beijing for an exhibition, they met. It was October — the most beautiful time in Beijing. Ji Runze took her to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, and even to Yonghe Temple to burn incense and pray for prosperity in their careers.

When he drove her back to the hotel, she had already gotten out, but he came out too. He said that now that he had chosen to settle in Beijing, chances to meet would become rare, and he wanted to walk a little with her.

Undeniably, she could vaguely sense Ji Runze’s feelings when he said this. But Ji Runze’s affection was pure, without any hesitation or coercion, so she naturally had no reason or need to refuse.

Later, in the open-air parking lot behind the hotel, she kept checking her phone. Finally, Ji Runze said goodbye. Before leaving, he leaned down and lightly touched her lips — like a dragonfly skimming water.

Could that be considered a kiss? Actually, it wasn’t even half a kiss. Ji Runze, being straightforward and dignified, explained clearly: “Ming Xi, real or not, you were my first love. So I wanted to give away my first kiss too.

“Playing the role of fake boyfriend — it deserves a bit of ceremony at the end, doesn’t it? Let me be the one to say goodbye. This trip to Beijing made it clear — your heart already belongs to someone.

“Losing to Princeton doesn’t embarrass me.”

How could Ji Runze be embarrassed? The embarrassed one had been her — because after he left gracefully, she looked up and saw Liang Jiancheng waiting patiently in a car ahead…

The reason she kept checking her phone earlier was because Liang Jiancheng had sent her a text message asking where she was.

Indeed, Liang Jiancheng had reason to be jealous of Ji Runze, but that was his business.

She was intelligent, attractive, accomplished — it was impossible that there had been no fleeting romances in her life, no passing sparks, no moments of possibility. She didn’t need to feel guilty about that.

Therefore, she didn’t need to explain.

Liang Jiancheng didn’t need an explanation either. Ji Runze had openly invited him; if he were unhappy about it, he would not only lack manners but also lose his composure.

…

At noon, they ate dumplings.

Compared to Gu Shuangyang’s household, Professor Liang strived for simplicity in all aspects of life. Even on a festive day like Lunar New Year’s Eve, when his son brought his girlfriend over, the meal was still just a simple plate of dumplings. The reason was straightforward: after the meal, he would be leaving for a short stay in Yunnan, and he didn’t want any leftovers sitting in the house.

Therefore, Professor Liang only made 50 dumplings; he and Liang Jiancheng ate 20, and Ming Xi ate 10. No more, no less, absolutely no waste.

After eating, they were assigned chores: the shorter one washed dishes; the taller one pasted Spring Festival couplets.

“Your mother called me yesterday. She says she’s thinking of retiring. Stop dragging Ming Xi around my place all the time — there’s nothing here for you to gain, at most I can give you a red envelope. Take Ming Xi to see Director Gu more often. Before she retires, help your Boss Ming gain some resources. Don’t just say you like her — when it comes to status and practical benefits, you ought to think about her too.”

Liang Jiancheng was putting up Spring Festival couplets outside, and Professor Liang was standing behind him.

These words weren’t suitable to say in front of Ming Xi, so Professor Liang chose the moment carefully while his son was busy hanging the couplets.

But Ming Xi finished washing quickly, dried her hands, and came out to check how the couplets looked — and heard everything. She even made eye contact with Professor Liang.

Cough…

Ming Xi froze where she stood. How to put it — what the professor was saying now was completely opposite from his earlier advice. Back then he had told her that once a girl took shortcuts, there would be no way back. But wasn’t what he was advising Liang Jiancheng now just another kind of shortcut?

“Professor, my relationship with Mr. Liang hasn’t reached that stage yet.” Even if Ming Xi had a thick skin, she couldn’t pretend his partiality was justified.

“Haven’t you already come over for dinner? Not at that stage?” Professor Liang countered matter-of-factly.

Ming Xi forced a response that sounded reasonable enough. “I’m doing quite well on my own.”

Professor Liang looked straight at her, calm and detached, and said plainly, “Even Liang Jiancheng can’t rely entirely on himself—who in this world can? Back then I told you girls shouldn’t take shortcuts, it’s because your family couldn’t cushion your mistakes. If you took the wrong road, you’d have no way back. But now that you’re with Jiancheng, he should be your safety net. The way you think has to change. In some areas, you should learn from him — how to make use of other people’s resources.”

Ming Xi was shocked that the professor had gone this far, but she couldn’t pretend to be naive. She joked, “Professor, if you teach me and him like this, what if one day I don’t want Boss Liang anymore? Wouldn’t he be the one losing out?”

Her words made the two men with the surname Liang in the room laugh.

Professor Liang shot her a mild glare. “That would be Boss Liang’s problem. What does it have to do with me?”

Liang Jiancheng smiled modestly and said, “My father’s right. There are things I didn’t think through.”

However, was it really a matter of didn’t think through? Liang Jiancheng and Ming Xi had known each other for four years, but actually had only been together for two days. Before that, they had always been good friends. Some things weren’t that Liang Jiancheng hadn’t considered enough, but rather that he had considered too much.

Yesterday had been Ming Xi’s first dinner at Director Gu’s home. Even though most of her attention had been on Yang Minwen’s parents, Liang Jiancheng noticed her reactions clearly. There were things Professor Liang didn’t understand — because Ming Xi’s feelings toward him had already gone beyond ordinary familial affection.

Once the chores were done, everyone got a red envelope. Then Professor Liang began chasing them out.

Go, go, hurry up and leave!

Professor Liang clearly intended to send them toward his ex-wife’s side, so Liang Jiancheng brought Ming Xi to Gu Shuangyang and Yang Minwen’s place earlier than planned.

Yesterday, at Gu Shuangyang’s dinner, Ming Xi had focused mostly on Yang Minwen’s parents, quietly worrying that she — still untempered iron — might be drawn too deeply into Gu Shuangyang’s powerful orbit. It wasn’t paranoia; it was human nature. People with power and wealth naturally dominated social structures, and families were no exception.

That evening, Gu Shuangyang’s New Year’s Eve dinner was prepared by chefs from a five-star hotel.

Before dinner officially began, Ming Xi was called into Gu Shuangyang’s study.

The study was enormous — two large connected rooms functioning as both office and meeting space. Ming Xi sat in a swivel chair opposite Gu Shuangyang, feeling like an employee called in for a private discussion, while Gu Shuangyang remained behind her large executive desk. After some measured, tactful conversation she opened a drawer and took out a document.

“Miss Ming, you are a smart person. Your suspicions earlier were reasonable. I did, in fact, have someone conduct a background check on you.” Gu Shuangyang not only admitted this but also produced the background check document.

The document, spanning over a dozen pages, was a complete account and explanation of Ming Xi’s twenty-five years of life.

Ming Xi’s gaze dropped to the papers. Her lips tightened slightly. Though deeply shocked, she kept her composure and waited for Gu shuangyang to continue.

Gu Shuangyang’s voice was firm and steady; her words, spoken like a decree from heaven, struck her heart with every word. Whatever Gu Shuangyang said afterward, it already instilled an instinctive sense of awe, preventing any thought of disobedience.

“Miss Ming, because we may become family in the future, there are things I need to say first. What I know about you mostly comes from this document. Honestly speaking, coming from Yicheng to where you are today proves you are exceptional. You have ambition, vision, and drive. In these respects, Liang Jiancheng has good judgment.”

For the first time, praise felt heavy rather than pleasing. Because Gu Shuangyang’s affirmation of her was, in a different sense, a judgment. Since their encounter in the elevator that night, Ming Xi had a premonition that Gu Shuangyang had investigated her background. But she never expected the investigation to be over ten pages long.

For a moment, she didn’t know whether to feel honored or… complicated.

“Director Gu, this is an invasion of my privacy,” Ming Xi said, meeting Gu Shuangyang’s gaze with all her might.

Gu Shuangyang nodded, admitting that her behavior was indeed a bit of an invasion of privacy. With a slight twitch of her lips, she said to Ming Xi’s still young face, “In this society, if you want to climb higher, your privacy won’t just be exposed to me — it will be exposed to the whole world.”

A simple sentence, yet it was like a sharp blade, revealing the essence of everything.

“Ming Xi, I know you’ve had a tough time, and I know Liang Jiancheng and Old Liang both like you very much. And I don’t dislike you. I didn’t ask you here to target you — I want to talk. For example, after you and Liang Jiancheng got together, have you thought about what kind of person you want to become? When you were a student, you were a good student in Old Liang’s eyes; when you started working, you were a good employee; whether at Longmao or Haiou, you were always responsible and dedicated to your boss. When you started Mingzhou, you did even better. The company isn’t large, but it has brought good benefits to employees and society. So what comes next? If you don’t have a concrete plan yet, then tell me this: what kind of person do you want to be?”

Gu Shuangyang spoke at a measured pace, her tone gentle and concerned, yet each syllable seemed to carry immense weight, resonating in the air between them.

Ming Xi felt an all-encompassing pressure, as if an invisible hand had gripped her throat, forcing her to face everything head-on.

The vague unease she had felt at dinner yesterday suddenly became real. Her perception of Gu Shuangyang solidified into something tangible.

“I want to be myself,” Ming Xi said, her gaze towards Gu Shuangyang, tinged with a touch of courage, appeared exceptionally clear and youthful.

Gu Shuangyang smiled, a slight, almost imperceptible smile, as if indicating she had heard a perfunctory answer.

“No one doesn’t want to be themselves, Miss Ming. I’m speaking sincerely to you today. I hope you can answer with equal seriousness. Is that okay you? ”

Gu Shuangyang’s tone carried an undeniable authority, and the final “is that okay?” seemed to give her a bit of leeway, a leeway that only made her feel even more helpless.

Ming Xi was speechless for a moment. Though she wasn’t intimidated, her hands trembled slightly in front of her, because her heart was trembling. She composed herself and said to Gu Shuangyang, “May I take a look at… my book of life?”

“Of course, you can even take it with you if you’d like,” Gu Shuangyang readily agreed. she deliberately softened her tone, which instead sounded somewhat malicious.

In reality, Gu Shuangyang had already planned this. She had spoken with Old Liang on the phone yesterday, and Old Liang was very satisfied with Ming Xi as his future daughter-in-law. Not to mention Liang Jiancheng, he adored her immensely. Today, she wasn’t trying to be the bad guy; but these was different matter—liking someone was one thing, but she couldn’t pretend to be oblivious to some foreseeable issues.

Company development required risk control, and so did a family and a relationship.

Ming Xi remained silent, holding the documents in her hand. She opened the first page, which detailed her entire life from birth, including the fact that she was a “bought” child. There was another piece of information on the document that shocked her greatly, though it was only a simple sentence—

Ming Xi’s birth mother: from Miancheng, Sichuan.

Something she herself had never known was written plainly in this document. It felt unbelievable.

“So detailed…” Ming Xi murmured softly.

“That’s right, because it cost some money and time.” Gu Shuangyang made no attempt to soften or justify herself, because what she was about to say was crucial—

“Miss Ming, I know this feels offensive to you, and I apologize. But even if I hadn’t uncovered this information, someone else likely would in the future.

“I did this first not to humiliate you, but to protect you.”

Ming Xi’s eyes sharpened as she stared at Gu Shuangyang.

“It seems Liang Jiancheng hasn’t told you much about his future business plans… His Xinghai Technology will eventually move toward financing and going public. For a company with patented high-end production lines, even with favorable conditions, every step afterward must be cautious and strategic. Xinghai’s current production line is the first of its kind in Haigang. It can receive full government support. Only with that backing can its products compete with top international companies — otherwise, a few years of glory means nothing; it will still be eliminated.

“Your love may remain idealistic forever. Business cannot.”

“Xinghai is undergoing equity reform, transitioning from a private enterprise into a state-backed technology company. As a company owner yourself, you understand what that means. Once Xinghai Technology completes its transformation, Liang Jiancheng will no longer be just an ordinary private business owner. If he gains political status and the company goes public, much of your personal information—as his partner—will also become public… just like Xiaoge’s.”

Oh… Ming Xi nodded thoughtfully.

Hearing this, thoughts settled; her mind became clearer.

“Does Director Gu have any suggestions?” Ming Xi asked Gu Shuangyang quietly.

Director Gu had taken the initiative to talk to her today, so it couldn’t be just about this.

Of course Gu Shuangyang did. She raised her hand and gently rubbed her temples; she had already thought of a solution.

She knew Ming Xi had repaid part of her debt-ridden parents’ liabilities, yet Ming Decheng was still officially listed as a defaulter in Yicheng’s courts. She could personally pay off all of Ming Decheng’s debts, giving Ming Xi a clean and respectable background. Then, Ming Xi might need to improve her education; she would recommend her to good schools, either domestically or internationally, to help her complete an MBA. As for Mingzhou’s development, she would provide resources, helping it grow the way Xinghai once rose to become a leading trading company.

Gu Shuangyang had no intention of asking Ming Xi to abandon her career. As a career woman herself, she understood that once a woman tasted independence and power earned with her own hands, it was almost impossible to stop.

“Miss Ming, those are my genuine thoughts. If anything I’ve said has offended you, please forgive me.” Gu Shuangyang had considered every detail meticulously, her expression serious and unsmiling.

“…” Ming Xi sank into long contemplation — so long that she almost expected Gu Shuangyang to lose patience. However, Gu Shuangyang remained patient and calm, waiting for her to express her opinion and respond to the arrangements she proposed.

“Thank you for your advice and help, Director Gu. Thank you for considering everything so thoroughly.” Her thoughtfulness made her somewhat embarrassed to speak. But if being with Liang Jiancheng meant entering such a vortex — if her existence might become a stain on his career path — then what meaning would that relationship hold?

Of course, she had no intention of breaking up yet.

“Director Gu, earlier when I said I wanted to become myself, you might have thought that was vague. Let me explain more clearly. I could spend my entire life not marrying Liang Jiancheng. I could remain someone who never becomes his wife, never becomes your daughter-in-law. That way my background and my past would never become a disclosure issue for Xinghai’s management.”

Gu Shuangyang lifted her eyes slowly, her gaze sharp as winter wind.

Ming Xi sincerely added, “I’m saying this without any spite. I’m truly grateful to you for considering so much for me, but I—still don’t want to accept this arrangement.”

After speaking, Ming Xi looked directly at Gu Shuangyang, who returned her equally clear gaze.

“Thank you for your recognition, Director Gu. Since we won’t become family, I won’t stay for dinner tonight.

“And thank you for helping me locate my biological mother. But I hope I will never establish any connection with her.

“Goodbye.” With that, she stood up.

Ming Xi walked out of Gu Shuangyang’s study.

Outside the villa, Liang Jiancheng and Yang Minwen were putting up Spring Festival couplets.

Ming Xi walked over with a relaxed expression, looking up at the couplets written by Yang Minwen himself. On one window it read: Break through mist and clouds with courage; though the road is long, fear nothing. The horizontal scroll: Steadfast rowing forward. Another read: Diligence by day and vigilance by night fulfill great ambitions; through rugged years one must keep advancing.

“Ming Xi, does it look straight?” Liang Jiancheng asked while adjusting the horizontal banner.

“A little lower on the left… just a bit,” she replied with a smile, standing straight with her eyes level with the couplets.

Liang Jiancheng finally finished and was about to climb down the ladder when Ming Xi walked up to Yang Minwen. Seeing Yang Minwen looking at her with concern, she first offered her blessings: “Brother Yang, Happy New Year’s Eve, Happy Spring Festival.”

Ming Xi added two more blessings in quick succession, her voice clear and full of sincerity.

Later, while Gu Shuangyang’s driver was still on the way, Ming Xi sat in the living room like normal, her face calm and cheerful, as if her conversation with Gu Shuangyang in the study had never happened.

She also saw Xiaoxiao, the Border Collie that Liang Jiancheng had raised for two years.

Xiaoxiao was already an old dog, and for the past few years, it had been cared for by Yang Minwen. Compared to Liang Jiancheng, it was much closer to Yang Minwen.

“Liang Jiancheng, is your ‘Smiling Without Talking’ because of Xiaoxiao?” Ming Xi asked, sitting on the sofa.

Liang Jiancheng looked at her and winked handsomely: “Yes, it means Xiaoxiao can’t talk.”

Ming Xi chuckled softly.

“Is your ‘A Smile Worth a Thousand Gold’ name because of me?” Liang Jiancheng seized the opportunity to ask back.

“No… When I named it ‘A Smile Worth a Thousand Gold,’ I just desperately wanted to make money. I thought if I smiled every day, maybe I’d reach my goal faster.

At the mention of Xiaoxiao, the dog perked up instantly, stretching its neck toward her with a goofy grin.

“So smart!” Ming Xi reached out and patted Xiaoxiao’s head, giving it an admiring look.

“Of course! Look who raised it.” Liang Jiancheng, unusually, showed no modesty.

Then Yang Minwen, standing not far away, clapped his hands lightly. Hearing the sound, Xiaoxiao immediately pounced on Yang Minwen.

Liang Jiancheng: …If he ever had children, he would definitely raise them himself.

Just then, the driver arrived and appeared in the living room.

Ming Xi stood naturally from the sofa. Liang Jiancheng’s expression changed instantly — shock flickering across his face as he stared at her.

A wave of guilt rose in Ming Xi’s heart, but she still had to leave. She looked at Liang Jiancheng, walked up to him, her expression serious, her eyes bright yet apologetic, and tried to smile as she said, “Liang Jiancheng, I can’t stay for New Year’s Eve dinner. I’m sorry, see you after the New Year.”

Then, softly but firmly, she added, “I came happily today, and I want to leave happily too. Don’t make this difficult for me — and don’t follow me. Happy New Year’s Eve.”

Before he could respond, she turned and walked quickly away, heading straight toward the villa gate.

Outside, the cold air rushed toward her as evening darkened like a heavy curtain descending.

However, the moment Ming Xi stepped beyond the gate, she felt a long-suppressed heaviness lift from her chest. She drew a deep breath of icy air, feeling suddenly light and free.

She had fought too hard in this life to become someone else’s shining ornament.

She wanted to live fully — proudly.

And unfortunately, in her version of a fulfilled life, there was no role for packaging herself into a perfectly elegant bride to marry Liang Jiancheng.

And perhaps he was right earlier today — she really didn’t love money all that much. Because even when Gu Shuangyang offered her the smoothest road to wealth and status… she had refused it.

Previous     TOC