Chapter 63

 

Huh.

What was Liang Jiancheng saying…? Ming Xi didn’t quite understand. What did he mean by not wanting her to grow? Did he mean not wanting her to get rich? In her shallow understanding of the world, especially for someone who had nothing, growth was the only way to seize opportunity. How else was she supposed to survive?

How could he stop her from growing? This was practically cutting off her path to wealth!

Absolutely not… Ming Xi suddenly panicked, urgently looking up at Liang Jiancheng. Her eyes bright and clear, as if holding a pool of spring water about to spill over. Grievance and indignation mingled as she shot him a sharp glare without any politeness.

This glare made Liang Jiancheng’s heart almost break, as if an invisible hand had clenched it tight—his resolve collapsing into tenderness and ache. When a man truly experiences helplessness mixed with unbearable heartache, reason slips frighteningly close to the edge.

“Don’t…

“No…”

Words of resistance spilled from Ming Xi’s lips.

At this moment, she was completely nestled in Liang Jiancheng’s arms, her cheeks flushed, and the tip of her nose pink with warmth. Her lipstick-painted lips, slightly puckered as she spoke, looking like a beloved who was naturally acting coquettish in her lover’s arms—adorable and endearing.

Yet utterly helpless.

“No way…” Ming Xi shook her head again, her voice trembling.

Liang Jiancheng completely gave in. Fine… If she said no, then no.

But even as his stance softened, his arms remained wrapped tightly around her, with no intention of letting go.

Similarly, Ming Xi wasn’t deliberately clinging to Liang Jiancheng; it was just that his embrace was so broad and warm, and the scent emanating from him was exceptionally pleasant. Nothing like the private room full of men—where different odors mixed with alcohol into something overwhelmingly foul.

Her gaze slowly traced upward along his striped tie, past his rolling Adam’s apple, his long neck, his clean, sensual jawline… until she met his lowered eyes in the dimness.

His gaze was burning yet lucid, threaded with complexity and restraint, and it struck her deeply.

She suddenly wanted to kiss him!

To kiss his Adam’s apple, his lips, his high nose bridge, and his cool, aloof brows…

But her breath reeked of alcohol, which was terrible.

Tonight, she was undeniably drawn to him. But what about him… was he attracted to her?

Probably not. A man like him wouldn’t fall for a woman who scrabbled and schemed her way forward. Her true self wasn’t as pretty as her face, nor as pleasing as her words.

Ming Xi tilted her head slightly, letting it droop, her lips gently pressed together—yet she still couldn’t bear to leave his embrace.

She wanted to linger a little longer.

After all, Liang Jiancheng didn’t push her away…

Anyway, she was drunk…

Suddenly, a whistle sounded outside, followed by approaching footsteps.

Ming Xi’s mind was muddled now, but Liang Jiancheng was painfully clear-headed—clear enough to be reluctant to let her go, and clear enough to know that they couldn’t appear before others like this.

He was the head of Xinghai, and she was a top sales rep for Haiou.

There was a door next to the restroom, which led to a small room for storing cleaning tools.

Liang Jiancheng practically carried Ming Xi inside, like two adults playing hide-and-seek. The space was narrow, cramped the moment the two of them entered, barely enough room to stand.

He held her tightly. Her feet were completely planted on top of his leather shoes.

In this suffocatingly crowded place, the air was filled with the smell of alcohol, as well as the damp, rotten smell of rust.

Above them, a small bulb flickered weakly, as though it might go out at any moment. There was no window—only the door Liang Jiancheng had just closed.

Ming Xi’s mind was hazy, yet a strange mix of tension and excitement bubbled up inside her.

But she knew—she wasn’t the only one feeling it. Her heartbeat was fast, but not as powerful as the one pressed beneath her ear.

Ming Xi tilted her head up, while Liang Jiancheng looked down.

What exactly were they doing…?

Facing Liang Jiancheng, carried by drunken haze and a shred of cautious thought, Ming Xi softly blew out a breath toward him.

The light was too dim. She could only make out the blurred handsomeness of his face and a faint glimmer in his eyes. Her mouth felt dry. Riding the momentum of the alcohol, she grabbed the tie he’d carefully knotted just that evening and asked, stubborn and puzzled, “Why don’t you want me to grow? Are you jealous of me…?”

Yes, he was jealous—so jealous he was nearly losing his mind…. so jealous that he only wanted to keep her at home, to give her every luxury and comfort imaginable. Yet as a man educated in elite institutions, Liang Jiancheng knew all too well that life couldn’t revolve around wealth alone. His parents certainly hadn’t believed so.

How could he expect Ming Xi to be content with merely material gifts?

However, in this confined space, he was already unable to contain himself. It felt as though the entire world had collapsed into this tiny box—what was there left he couldn’t say? And so, clear and sincere words flowed from Liang Jiancheng’s lips once more.

Especially when looking into Ming Xi’s bright, sparkling eyes, Liang Jiancheng’s voice was deep and alluring, emotions surging despite his effort to hold them back.

“…I want to be with you, I want you to live easily, to laugh when you want to laugh, to curse when you want to curse. I don’t want you to understand those social rules, to adapt to them, to face them… Ming Xi, I’ll take good care of you. I’ll support you.”

Ming Xi suddenly quieted down, even her breathing slowed down.

Such beautiful words—like the gentlest lullaby, almost lulling her to sleep.

She should fall asleep now. Maybe she’d even have a nice dream.

But tonight, she wasn’t some pitiful tearful dancer. She was a heroine full of ambition, a woman who refused to yield to men.

If Liang Jiancheng pitied her so easily, then he truly underestimated her!

Her mind drifted between clarity and haze. Just before her eyelids closed, she mustered the last trace of lucidity, lifted her head, and stared straight at him, “Mr. Liang… are you trying to keep me?” (t/n: as in a mistress)

Liang Jiancheng: “…”

Even with all his composure, he couldn’t find words.

Because Ming Xi was already nestled in his arms, greedily and comfortably entering a brief state of rest.

To her, his earlier “rotten” words sounded almost like a joke.

Yes—nestled in Liang Jiancheng’s arms, despite their vastly different backgrounds, Ming Xi shared the same ambition and desire. Wealth and power were wonderful things. Not only could they support oneself—they could support others.

She could do the same.

If one day she became rich, she’d tell Liang Jiancheng—

I’ll take care of you.

Inside the cramped space, Ming Xi’s alcohol scent mingled with dust and the stale odor of neglect. When Liang Jiancheng pushed the door open, a wave of cold wind carrying the rot of late autumn surged in, washing over both him and Ming Xi.

Liang Jiancheng casually beckoned to a passing young waitress, asking her to look after Ming Xi for a moment.

In the club’s courtyard stood a European-style archway. Ming Xi sat slumped beneath it, half-asleep, half-awake, softly humming the last song still echoing in her ears. Her murmurs drifted out, gentle and low.

Despite feeling as insignificant as a blade of grass, it didn’t diminish her boundless ambition. She had a thousand aspirations in her heart; now that life had begun, and she stood before an era of opportunity, how could she willingly retreat? Once youth faded, only powerlessness and emptiness remained.

The night breeze brushed past, dispersing some of the alcohol from her body. She unconsciously narrowed her eyes. Though bound by circumstance, her heart remained dazzlingly clear.

The waitress attending to her was a quiet and unassuming young woman, occasionally stealing glances at her with clean, pure eyes, devoid of any worldliness.

If Ming Xi didn’t struggle forward, would she be any different from this girl?

The two women—nearly the same age—met each other’s gaze.

Compared to the waitress, Ming Xi’s eyes carried far too much: ambition, hardness, fearlessness—and a restless hunger.

…

Liang Jiancheng returned to the private dining room just as the dinner was winding down.

“Where did that Xiao Ming go?” Director Du asked He Yuan.

He Yuan had been busy attending to the officials and hadn’t really noticed where Ming Xi had gone. At that moment, however, Liang Jiancheng chose the most appropriate setting to define their relationship and said to Director Du calmly, “She drank too much tonight and just threw up in the restroom. She’s outside getting some fresh air to sober up.”

 

Director Du exclaimed “Ah! I thought Xiao Ming had a high tolerance for alcohol. Turns out she was forcing herself.”

He Yuan, beaming with pride, immediately said, “Ming Xi wasn’t forcing herself; she genuinely respects Director Du and wanted to show some sincerity. Otherwise, just paying lip service wouldn’t be our Haiou Foreign Trade style.”

“Alright, Haiou is indeed full of talent, and Boss He is very good at recognizing people.” Director Du patted He Yuan on the shoulder. “Give me a ride later.”

“Of course!” He Yuan quickly replied. He was extremely pleased with the night’s dinner—and deliberately glanced at Liang Jiancheng.

After taking a few steps, Director Du suddenly turned back, asking like a considerate elder, “Then how is Xiao Ming getting home?”

He Yuan had everything arranged already: “I’ll call her a car.”

“I’ll take her,” Liang Jiancheng said calmly as he approached Director Du. “I didn’t say much before because I was afraid Director Du would misunderstand, after all, Ming Xi is an employee of Haiou. But Director Du is open-minded, so I don’t mind saying it now. Actually, Ming Xi and I have known each other for a long time…”

“Ah?”

Director Du was somewhat taken aback. That Miss Ming was quite capable, getting He Yuan to bring her into the game, and she even knew Liang Jiancheng.

The former wasn’t surprising. A beautiful, capable woman naturally caught He Yuan’s eye. But Liang Jiancheng was different altogether. It made one wonder whether Miss Ming was truly who she claimed to be—someone from a poor background who’d come from a small town to make a living in Haigang.

Director Du asked another question: “Do you know where Miss Ming lives?”

“I do.” Liang Jiancheng easily sprinkled some lie, deliberately glancing at He Yuan before continuing along the story Ming Xi had fabricated earlier. “I know her boyfriend.”

He Yuan: …

Director Du burst into laughter.

Thinking back to how Ming Xi had complained earlier that her boyfriend was stingy—how could he not be? What man wouldn’t feel pressured being compared to someone this outstanding?

“Alright, in that case, Mr. Liang, please help take care a brother’s wife.” One of Director Du’s accompanying secretaries, trying to lighten the mood, said this.

Director Du laughed again.

“Oh, young people are so interesting.”

Liang Jiancheng maintained a polite and indifferent expression. He knew He Yuan still had to respectfully escort Director Du back, and the journey home would be his chance to shine. Since He Yuan hadn’t fully trusted Ming Xi yet, he naturally wouldn’t let her follow along.

Tonight, Liang Jiancheng was simply helping He Yuan safely see his employee home—something He Yuan would be more than happy about.

As for that so-called boyfriend…

He Yuan fell briefly into thought.

“Then thank you very much, Mr. Liang.” He Yuan said, deliberately lagging half a step behind and offering thanks with a hint of provocation.

Liang Jiancheng nodded courteously. With a man like He Yuan, every extra bit of politeness required years of cultivated self-restraint.

The guests dispersed, and the night deepened.

Sinan Winery wasn’t far from Ming Xi’s apartment; both were located in the same old Western-style building area. Ming Xi lived in a renovated apartment along the main street, originally a mansion of a powerful figure.

The driver arranged by Mark was waiting outside the winery. Seeing Liang Jiancheng half-carrying, half-supporting a beautiful girl, he immediately stepped forward to help—only to be refused.

Earlier, because Director Du and Mr. He had come to check on her, Ming Xi had pretended to be deeply drunk. She believed tonight’s dinner was just the beginning. If she truly presented herself as someone who could drink endlessly, she might end up with a perforated stomach before ever earning real money.

She needed to show sincerity, but not reveal her full capacity.

So earlier, in front of Director Du and the other officials, she’d given a proper performance of “surviving in the workplace depends entirely on acting.” When Director Du said to Liang Jiancheng, “Mr. Liang, make sure you safely hand Miss Ming over to her boyfriend,”

She, who had been acting so enthusiastically, almost broke character.

What?

Liang Jiancheng actually told Director Du that he knew her boyfriend? He knew air!

Finally… the car rolled smoothly over the asphalt road, the professional driver fully focused on driving.

In the back seat, there were only Ming Xi and Liang Jiancheng.

Ming Xi wasn’t sure whether she was truly drunk or just pretending—perhaps somewhere in between. These past few years, her heart had always been steady, but right now Liang Jiancheng treated her as a drunkard. Even after getting in the car, he didn’t let her slump alone on the seat—he let her rest against him instead…

Clearly… taking advantage of her drunkenness.

Everything Liang Jiancheng did tonight made her both moved and amused. Especially thinking of how he’d told Director Du he’d take her back to her “boyfriend”—it was ridiculously funny.

Professor Liang had said Liang Jiancheng was morally unsound and lacking self-control…

Turns out it was true. He really was quite the scoundrel; most people would easily be fooled by his serious, handsome face.

Similarly, she herself wasn’t exactly a rule-abiding good girl either. Otherwise, she would’ve gotten out of his arms long ago. She might be drunk—but not completely gone. For instance, she could still lean over and whisper into his ear.

“Liang Jiancheng, let me tell you…actually, I’m not drunk…I’m pretending…” She beckoned to Liang Jiancheng, and as he leaned down slightly, she whispered in his ear.

Liang Jiancheng: …

The moment she spoke, a strong smell of alcohol escaped her lips—yet she insisted she wasn’t drunk.

Liang Jiancheng said nothing. His Adam’s apple shifted slightly as a soft sigh slipped from his gentle breath.

Ming Xi misunderstood his reaction and asked anxiously, “…You don’t believe me?”

Receiving no response, Ming Xi tugged at Liang Jiancheng’s tie beneath his collar.

The tie, which had once been tied almost perfectly, had already shifted slightly to the left earlier when he returned to the dining room. Fortunately, among a group of grown men, no one had noticed.

Now, with another tug from Ming Xi, it loosened further. The once upright, gentlemanly image of Liang Jiancheng instantly gained a touch of unruly decadence—like a carefree playboy returning from a nightclub.

Truly maddening…

Liang Jiancheng caught her restless hand, gently enclosing it within his own.

“I believe you. I believe you… You’re not drunk.”

If there hadn’t been a driver in front, Liang Jiancheng didn’t dare imagine how far his moral bottom line might have slipped.

At this moment, he was overflowing with youthful vigor—almost absurdly so.

That was why he almost wished it was him who was drunk. Then he could use alcohol as an excuse to suppress all restraint and hesitation, and face the person in his arms with his most honest desires.

From an evolutionary standpoint, Liang Jiancheng had always believed that men matured later than women. If it weren’t for their physical advantages and excessive possessiveness, how could men possibly claim equal footing with women—let alone seize more social power?

Especially when so many men still operated on animal instinct, unable to restrain even their most basic desires.

He exhaled a heated breath, apologetically—because right now, he himself belonged to that inferior group.

Taking advantage of Ming Xi’s drunken state, he unconsciously took liberties with her. But once he started taking liberties, how could he possibly stop himself easily…

“Liang Jiancheng…” Ming Xi slowly released her hand. Whether he believed her or not, she wanted to use her last sliver of clarity to say the most important thing of the night to her, “Tonight, I didn’t feel wronged at all. I was actually proud. I think I’m amazing… and… I’ll become even more amazing.”

If his earlier “I believe you” had been partly meant to soothe her—

Then at this moment, Liang Jiancheng nodded solemnly, his expression deep and gentle, and replied with absolute sincerity—

He truly believed her.

He believed, and even predicted, that in the future of the foreign trade industry, there would certainly be a place for Boss Ming. He believed she would be like his mother—confident enough to sit at the table, calm enough to leave it, and bold enough to flip it if she was unhappy.

He also knew that tonight’s dinner was just the beginning. What followed would be a long road she would walk with unwavering resolve.

And her performance tonight—

Beyond heartache and complex emotions, what he felt most was pride.

No one at that table would dare look down on a girl who had established herself in Haigang through her own efforts. What’s more, her ambition was clean and upright, her fighting spirit blazing. That kind of pure sharpness, even when fully revealed, was dazzling and captivating.

Even more captivating than her appearance.

If he put it that way, could she perhaps understand why he had spoken those rotten words before?

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