Chapter 86

 

Every kind of “arrogance” came with a price.

Ming Xi hadn’t expected the price to come so quickly.

She had come with a light and arrogant air, eager to see that flawless, gifted, and impossibly accomplished Young Master Liang. But instead of Liang Jiancheng, she ran straight into his mother on the first floor—

Gu Shuangyang.

For a split second, Ming Xi’s eyes hadn’t yet learned how to retreat, but the bag in her hand instinctively pulled back first. Then… she remembered that besides that item, the bag also contained sandwich, milk, and several packets of preserved plum candy.

Sandwiches… compared to the protection products, it almost did a better job of proving that her late-night visit wasn’t just about sleeping with Director Gu’s precious son—but about staying the whole night.

Ming Xi forced herself to stay calm. A pleasant smile bloomed on her face as she met Gu Shuangyang’s needle-sharp gaze, feeling as though it were piercing straight into her forehead.

“Good evening, Director Gu.”  Ming Xi steadied her breathing and politely nodded to Gu Shuangyang.

As Gu Shuangyang stepped out of the elevator, Ming Xi naturally took two steps back.

“Very good, so Miss Ming still remembers me.” Gu Shuangyang walked directly to Ming Xi.

At that moment, a bright crystal chandelier above the elevator lobby cast its clear light mercilessly onto the two faces facing one another.

One was as still as a mountain, the other as light as a white crane fluttering in the clouds.

Gu Shuangyang stood at 172 cm tall. Ming Xi was noticeably shorter, yet her posture was upright and composed. Though her heart fluttered with unease, her expression showed no panic. Many years ago, she had once received Gu Shuangyang and Miss Zhang as a sales associate.

Who would have thought that this very salesgirl had not only indirectly caused Liang Jiancheng and Miss Zhang’s marriage talk to fall apart—but would now, late at night, be standing in the elevator lobby of Liang Jiancheng’s residence?

Had Ming Xi been a girl with a strong moral compass—docile and reserved—she might have wanted to crawl straight into the cracks of the marble wall the moment she faced Gu Shuangyang.

But she wasn’t, was she?

What Gu Shuangyang saw in Miss Ming right now was not guilt in the slightest—but a poised brilliance, like wind swirling snow, which genuinely surprised her.

…Inevitably, there had once been a period when Gu Shuangyang held a rather unpleasant impression of this Miss Ming.

From the time Old Liang had asked her to help introduce Ming Xi to a job, to their chance encounter at Longmao, Liang Jiancheng had hidden Ming Xi extremely well.

This was their first meeting since that encounter in Longmao.

Gu Shuangyang had an excellent memory, even though the person before her had changed drastically—she remembered her with short hair and extremely delicate features, while now, anyone would consider her a top-tier beauty, even in a simple, clean tracksuit.

Gu Shuangyang understood her son well enough. Liang Jiancheng was not a lust-driven man; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen Zhang Min back then. The fact that he had devoted himself so wholeheartedly to the woman he loved over these years meant that Miss Ming must possess far more than just a pretty face.

Boldness? Ambition? Or shrewdness?

In just a few glances, Gu Shuangyang had formed a preliminary impression of Ming Xi, even if she couldn’t make a complete judgment.

Similarly, when Gu Shuangyang simply asked that question, Ming Xi immediately understood that Gu Shuangyang wasn’t beating around the bush.

Even though she was nervous and awkward, she tried her best to respond generously: “Of course I remember, you are Liang Jiancheng’s mother, the chairwoman of Shuangyang Electronic. Many years ago, I even served you personally.”

She clearly stated Gu Shuangyang’s identity, not forgetting to mention the past.

To be honest, Gu Shuangyang felt little from Ming Xi’s earlier words—but that final sentence earned her a few points. Times had changed. Gu Shuangyang had seen too many people rise suddenly, most of whom preferred to erase any mention of their humble beginnings. Once pride swelled, it was hard to rein it back in.

She remembered that her first impression of this Miss Ming had been precisely that—neither servile nor arrogant. In this regard, the woman before her hadn’t changed at all.

“Then I know you as well. You’re the person my son Liang Jiancheng has liked for many years, the owner of Mingzhou Foreign Trade. Years ago, you were studying in Yicheng, and Old Liang was your teacher.” Gu Shuangyang spoke in the same way.

Ming Xi smiled, a hint of shyness on her face. She nodded to Gu Shuangyang—yes, it was her.

Gu Shuangyang pressed her lips together in a light smile—distant, unfamiliar. When she smiled, she looked strikingly similar to Liang Jiancheng. The difference was that where Liang Jiancheng carried a gentleman’s restraint, Gu Shuangyang displayed the habitual, polished curve of someone long accustomed to authority.

“On New Year’s Eve, I’ll have several guests from Yicheng. I’d like to invite Miss Ming to spend the holiday together. If it’s inconvenient for you, you may decline.” Since they had bumped into each other, Gu Shuangyang personally extended the New Year’s invitation.

This…

was too sudden.

Ming Xi showed a polite hint of surprise, her mind racing. The guests from Yicheng Gu Shuangyang mentioned were likely Yang Minwen’s family. She truly couldn’t imagine what identity she would use to celebrate the New Year at Gu Shuangyang’s home. Did Gu Shuangyang simply assume she was also from Yicheng—that everyone was a fellow townsman and conversation would come easily?

Yes.

Think of it in the simplest way possible.

That was exactly how Gu Shuangyang saw it. She and Yang Minwen were not a young couple who had grown up together, and she was certainly no ordinary wife. If she were to frame inviting Yang Minwen’s parents over for the holidays as a daughter-in-law entertaining her in-laws, she would only find it ridiculous.

So instead—let it be a gathering of relatives and familiar faces.

In recent years, Yang Minwen had devoted himself to managing the household, inevitably neglecting his own parents. Earlier this year, Gu Shuangyang had been busy handling the anti-dumping case between China’s television industry and the United States. For this case, Liang Jiancheng had practically stayed in the U.S. for half a year, helping her navigate connections. It was a battle China could not win outright. In the end, Shuangyang TVs, along with several major Chinese brands, secured the lowest individually assessed tariff rate through active response—barely preserving their export business to the U.S.

This battle was more or less the final campaign of Gu Shuangyang’s career at Shuangyang Electronic.

Even with a top-tier legal team and her son’s assistance, the Sino-US anti-dumping case in the first half of the year left Gu Shuangyang exhausted.

Therefore, in the second half of the year, Gu Shuangyang began planning her early retirement.

Her brilliant life at Shuangyang Electronic—whether she was willing or not—would eventually come to an end.

Generations rise in turn. When she stepped down, someone else would naturally take the stage.

In this state of mind, Gu Shuangyang naturally hoped that the one who would sing center stage would be her son. Out of personal sentiment, she hoped even more that Liang Jiancheng would choose a capable and virtuous partner.

Unfortunately, although Miss Ming was also from Yicheng, she could never be her Yang Xiaoge.

Because of this, Gu Shuangyang felt somewhat guilty towards Yang Minwen. A while ago, she suggested that he bring his parents from Yicheng to celebrate the New Year together as family. Yang Minwen’s shoulders trembled slightly, and after a long while, he turned back with a gentle, satisfied smile and said, “Alright, my love.”

When a burden is lifted, one’s mindset changes accordingly. Whether facing her son Liang Jiancheng earlier today or standing before Ming Xi now, Gu Shuangyang was, in truth, in a relatively good mood.

Still, after so many years as the chairwoman of a major corporation, the authority and presence of someone long in power had already seeped into her bones. Even if she wanted to soften, it wasn’t something that could be done overnight.

In fact, the way Gu Shuangyang treated Ming Xi now was far gentler and more courteous than how she had once treated Zhang Min.

But expecting her to be kind and approachable was impossible.

Just then, someone rushed down far too quickly—clearly afraid that she, the mother, might make things difficult for someone. Before leaving, Gu Shuangyang had planned to lightly pat Ming Xi on the back as a gesture of familiarity, but she was abruptly stopped by a voice as Liang Jiancheng hurried out of the elevator.

“Mom—”

Liang Jiancheng almost lost his composure, taking three steps at a time.

Gu Shuangyang’s hand froze midair, amusement flickering across her face. Sharp as ever, she understood at a glance why Liang Jiancheng had come down—and why he was so anxious.

Ridiculous. This man was nearly thirty years old and still acting like an impulsive kid. Did he think she was going to do something to Miss Ming? Was he afraid she’d lay hands on her?

What was even more ridiculous—

Even worse, this man was her son!

Gu Shuangyang turned her serious face, her brows furrowed, her eyes openly showing disdain.

Just then, a pair of slender, soft hands cleverly grasped Gu Shuangyang’s hand, which was still suspended in mid-air.

“Save travels, Director Gu,” Ming Xi said, her tone gentle.

Gu Shuangyang turned back, meeting the young woman’s bright eyes and pearly smile, and returned a single phrase: “Have a pleasant evening.”

Ming Xi wanted to remain calm, but Gu Shuangyang’s “Have a pleasant evening” made her cheeks flush instantly. She held Gu Shuangyang’s hand in one hand and carried the convenience store shopping bag in the other, her embarrassment hidden deep inside.

Then Liang Jiancheng stepped forward and, without hesitation, took the shopping bag from her hand. His posture was tall, his manner relaxed and natural.

Thinking back on his own earlier panic, he found it faintly amusing and pressed his lips together unconsciously.

“What are you doing down here?” Gu Shuangyang was polite to Ming Xi, but showed no mercy to Liang Jiancheng, directly questioning him.

“To thank Director Gu for today’s inspection of the Xinghai production line, so I came down to see you off,” Liang Jiancheng replied smoothly, elegance restored.

Gu Shuangyang glanced at her son. From a distance he looked poised and upright, but inside, his heart was already wandering.

Men were all susceptible to beauty, and her son was no exception.

No matter. Being human was the important thing.

Gu Shuangyang no longer linger. Before leaving, she turned to look at Ming Xi again and said solemnly, “I’ll see you for the holiday the day after tomorrow.”

Ming Xi: …

She was still thinking about how to politely decline, but she didn’t expect Gu Shuangyang to have already made the decision for her. Some things no longer required thought—if Gu Shuangyang invited her to spend the Spring Festival together, she had surely already investigated her background.

She not only knew that she had no relatives in Haigang, but also knew that she would be staying here for the holiday this year.

Ming Xi watched Gu Shuangyang leave the lobby, following that straight, resolute figure until it disappeared completely. Only then did she turn back and glare reproachfully at Liang Jiancheng.

What a charmingly embarrassed look.

Liang Jiancheng held the bag containing the intimate items Ming Xi had bought at the convenience store. He suddenly recalled how his first reaction to protection products had been workplace safety. The thought made him smile helplessly—years of work had filled his mind so thoroughly that he’d nearly turned into a dull, passionless old cadre.

Now, meeting Ming Xi’s clear, aggrieved gaze felt like a kiss landing squarely on his heart. His thoughts scattered instantly.

His heart, his eyes, his very soul were almost simultaneously captivated by his Miss Ming.

And from then on, his gaze could no longer pull away.

With one hand holding the bag, Liang Jiancheng reached out with the other and pulled Ming Xi straight into the elevator.

The movement was so swift that Ming Xi almost lost her balance.

But he caught her just in time, his arm steady and firm as he drew her into his chest.

Though they had known each other for so long, this was the first time Ming Xi had felt such overwhelming strength in Liang Jiancheng. She still remembered clearly how he once carried her from the first floor all the way to the sixth in one breath.

But that was different.

Then he had merely lifted her, but now, it felt as if he was using that strength to bind her tightly, to capture her.

In a contest of strength, Ming Xi was no match for Liang Jiancheng, especially tonight. His dominance burned like a roaring fire, and within that fire she could only grow softer.

But softness was not weakness.

No matter how intense his gaze, no matter how easily their height difference allowed him to envelop her, Ming Xi showed no retreat, no fear, no submission.

What she felt instead was lightness and joy, reckless passion, and a trembling sense of desire and anticipation—each awakened from within her own body.

Her body was yielding, but her chin lifted defiantly.

Liang Jiancheng had his strength and toughness, and she had her own comfort and lightness.

Whether she was alluring or naive, it would all become her weapon in response to Liang Jiancheng tonight.

Inside the elevator, Liang Jiancheng’s Adam’s apple rolled. His gaze filled with desire he could no longer restrain.

Even knowing the elevator was under 24-hour security surveillance, the moment the doors slid shut, he could no longer suppress the surge in his heart. He pulled her back again, pressing her against the handrail, and his kiss came down fierce and unrelenting.

Ming Xi’s lifted head was held firmly by his long fingers, leaving her no escape.

Veins stood out on the back of his hand. His reason had already collapsed—like tempered steel breaking free, cutting through all restraint.

She was forced to accept his kiss.

His surging emotions.

His love, trembling as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat.

If his years of devotion and restraint towards her had been like a dormant volcano, tonight that volcano finally erupted completely.

When the armored door to the top-floor apartment slammed shut with a bang, Liang Jiancheng lifted Ming Xi effortlessly and strode toward the bedroom…

Their eyes met. Ming Xi tilted her head, her damp eyes turning away.

Liang Jiancheng straightened her face again, his fingertips caressing her cheeks like a wolf-hair brush dipped in vermilion, tracing her brow bone.

His beloved stood before him. Desire bloomed openly, uncontrollably. Wherever his fingers passed, it was like night-blooming jasmine exploding at midnight.

Then, Liang Jiancheng transformed into a greedy yet solemn vampire, burying himself at the hollow of her neck, kissing deeply, intimately—hidden and electrifying. Sweat slipped down quietly, and he seemed to catch the sweet scent of spring locust blossoms—Ming Xi’s unique fragrance, clean and irresistible.

God must have designed men and women with utterly different bodies for a reason.

Liang Jiancheng now held Ming Xi, his arms burning hot, his muscles taut, his body heat strange even to himself. Yet, Ming Xi in his arms was as soft as a cluster of pure white locust blossoms, her eyes still gazing at him with the cool, clear light of a spring.

That contrast—pure and sensual—left him utterly defeated.

He abandoned order. Abandoned restraint. Whatever elegance remained could no longer conceal the male fervor and vitality surging through him.

Yet it was Liang Jiancheng who called a halt first.

Ming Xi had already showered. He hadn’t.

Before going to shower, Liang Jiancheng lingered, reluctant, caressing her face. Ming Xi couldn’t see herself, but in his eyes she saw a version of herself—shimmering, radiant, breathtaking.

Their initial mutual admiration led to their later mutual affection and restraint.

And now, their mutual…unbridled behavior.

Ming Xi once heard Sister CC say: between a man and a woman without blood ties, only lovers have a chance to become family.

Whether she and Liang Jiancheng would ever become family, she didn’t know.

But right now—

she felt so close to him.

Her heart clung to him, her gaze clung to him, and her lips clung to him.

Suddenly mischievous, Ming Xi—fully aware of his urgency and restraint—couldn’t help teasing him.

Imitating Liang Jiancheng’s habit of expressing blunt truths in English, she said half-playfully:

“Let your truth pierce my soul.”

Of course he had to go shower—because she, too, longed for him to return clean and unguarded, to shatter her defenses completely.

She would bloom for him just as fervently.

Approaching twenty-five, she was mature and captivating; she not only controlled his body but also freely dominated her own.

This reckless, courageous surrender made her feel fearless, the same way she once boarded that train from Yicheng to Haigang without looking back, grasping her destiny with both hands.

At this moment, she too had control of her body, her love, her desires…

…

Outside the window, somewhere in the distance, year-end fireworks burst softly in the night.

A white mist rose in the moonlight, quickly disappearing into the deep night.

Hearts beat through limbs and pulses. Each breath was clearly heard.

Skin met skin. Breath mingled. Souls touched.

In the final moment, Liang Jiancheng’s traditional, restrained, even domineering and selfish masculine values ​​decayed and vanished, completely yielding to the raw desire of his heart.

He willingly became Miss Ming’s devoted subject, grateful for every spiritual gift she gave him, for the ultimate ecstasy of this profound union.

His Miss Ming—clean, sensual, intelligent, sincere. Everything about her, even her small selfishness and schemes, stirred in him not just pleasure, but reverence.

This fusion of souls felt like a rebirth for Liang Jiancheng. His bones and flesh seemed to dissolve and be reshaped.

From this moment on, his life’s trajectory irrevocably merged with a girl named Ming Xi.

…

As the passion subsided, Ming Xi nestled languidly in Liang Jiancheng’s arms, reflecting on their journey from strangers to acquaintances, then from friends to intimate confidants, and finally to lovers.

Moment by moment, scene by scene, everything flickered through her thoughts like a movie.

As she drifted through these memories, she let out a yawn. Even though the lingering passion had not faded, her body was growing drowsy.

However, still wanting more, Liang Jiancheng took her hand, gently nibbling on her fingertips, wanting to speak to her.

On this bed, their breaths were mingled with intense emotions, making it difficult to utter pure words.

So, Ming Xi put on Liang Jiancheng’s oversized suit jacket and got out of bed. Liang Jiancheng, wearing only a white dress shirt, joined her, and the two went outside to drink some water.

In the vast living room, Ming Xi leaned sideways into Liang Jiancheng’s arms on the sofa, listening as he spoke.

Liang Jiancheng’s desire to express himself tonight was like a galaxy pouring down. He talked incessantly, starting with how he had unexpectedly discovered Ming Xi was “Little Brother Ximen,” and then moving on to that passage she had once written on the forum.

For Liang Jiancheng, this confession was not an emotional release but a physiological tremor—silence, instead, would only restrain his feelings.

Then, on this special night, Liang Jiancheng read Ming Xi’s words aloud, word for word.

“They say no two leaves in the world are identical, yet there must exist ones whose veins run in the same direction… our souls resonate, then between our hearts an invisible bridge can still rise high. Even if we hold different ideals, one day we will meet on the same bridge…”

Ming Xi, who had almost dozed off, suddenly blushed. She didn’t want to spoil the moment, but truth be told, she hadn’t written that passage for Liang Jiancheng at all—it was meant for those like-minded people on the forum back then.

However, as Liang Jiancheng read them aloud, they took on a different kind of poignant meaning, especially after they had become intimate lovers.

She had already been bold and sensuous enough tonight, but in the end, she still lost to him.

Ming Xi slipped her hand lightly around Liang Jiancheng’s waist. Even though she couldn’t find a trace of excess flesh, she still poked at his firm, lean side and stopped him softly, “Stop reading…”

“Right, Ming Xi—how could you write something so embarrassing?” Liang Jiancheng teased. His long fingers threaded through her hair, his overly dark eyes gazing deeply into hers. Then, with unmistakable possessiveness, he said, “You’re not allowed to write things like that online anymore. I don’t want anyone else to see them. Those words belong only to me.”

The mood was wonderful, and Ming Xi really didn’t want to look at Liang Jiancheng like he was an idiot—but hearing him say something like that made her wonder if he’d lost his mind.

“Liang Jiancheng, did you go abroad to study too early? Did you not learn Chinese well enough?” This TV university student mercilessly mocked Liang Jiancheng’s Chinese comprehension ability.

Liang Jiancheng shook his head. His Chinese was excellent—he had even been a classical literature club enthusiast.

It was precisely because his Chinese was good that he understood meanings beyond the obvious.

A smile suddenly curved at his lips. He bent down and kissed her proudly lifted chin. His well-defined hand drifted to the hollow of her collarbone, touching it casually.

Everything about Ming Xi was perfect to him—perfect to the extreme—including the experience she gave him tonight.

“That passage of yours,” Liang Jiancheng said, looking at her expectantly. “I was in the US earlier this year, responding to lawsuits for Shuangyang Electronic, whenever I missed you, I translated that passage into an English poem. Ming Xi, would you like to hear it?”

Ming Xi was really sleepy, her eyelids drooping as she looked at Liang Jiancheng.

It was her first sexual experience, but she’d been in society for years, with women like Sister CC and Maggie around her—experienced women who had told her plenty about men’s different post-intimacy states.

Ming Xi, who had originally been pure-minded, had gained some understanding over the years.

She had never heard of anyone reciting English poetry after sex.

And yet, in this quiet, endless night, Liang Jiancheng’s mellow, unhurried voice spilling out English words tinged with classical elegance was strangely intoxicating.

Unfortunately, Ming Xi only half understood.

When Liang Jiancheng translated “The flood is merciless, yet my heart remains eternal” into English—”The torrent cannot shake my heart; it is bound to its own truth”—Ming Xi’s eyes burned, and finally, tears of exhaustion and emotion streamed down her face.

Liang Jiancheng’s handsome face, shy, gentlemanly, and extremely content, couldn’t help but gently nuzzle the forehead of the person in his arms: “Ming Xi, my spirit has never felt this fulfilled.”

The entire living room was lit by a single soft, hazy floor lamp. Bathed in that heart-trembling glow, Liang Jiancheng cupped her face again and kissed her—her hair, her eyelids, the tears on her lashes, and finally her lips…

He said he finally understood why emperors neglected court affairs.

And why people say one moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold. He, the young capitalist whom Old Liang called money-obsessed, truly felt for the first time the soul-shaking force of love between man and woman.

Earlier, at his peak, Ming Xi had asked him what it felt like. He had answered in English:

Delayed delight, heavenly height.

Liang Jiancheng found the phrase “Spring night worth a thousand gold” too vulgar.

He had a more beautiful sentence for everything that night:

One breath of spring night, a thousand gold sink away.

Ming Xi, you may have been the daughter who was never cherished in your family, but you are the precious young lady that I, Liang Jiancheng, will always cherish in my heart.

At four in the morning, Ming Xi finally lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Liang Jiancheng’s last kiss landed on Ming Xi’s cheek, silently saying in his heart: Goodnight, my young lady.

The next day, Ming Xi naturally overslept.

It was the last working day of the year. Despite her heavy drowsiness, she forced her eyes open and struggled up to wash and get ready for work. Thankfully, she had thoughtfully bought sandwiches the night before.

When she got up, she found Liang Jiancheng on the balcony, wearing a robe and holding his phone, clearly on a business call across time zones.

She and Liang Jiancheng worked in the same industry, so she understood perfectly.

So, last night, Boss Liang not only turned off his own phone, but also hers?!

As she washed up, she turned her phone back on.

Missed calls and messages flooded in. She skimmed selectively, until a text from an unknown number caught her eye.

Ming Xi narrowed her eyes and opened it. Old childhood trauma flared instantly—just seeing the message made her feel a provocative sting.

The message read: “Dear little sister, I heard you’re doing well now, and I’m so happy to hear that.”

Ming Xi gripped her phone tightly, remained silent for a moment, and then carefully placed it on the marble countertop.

She wasn’t just doing well now; she would do even better in the future.

Facing the mirror, she looked at her slightly subdued reflection, and without turning on the hot water, washed her face directly with cold water. In the dead of winter, the icy shock snapped her fully awake.

Just then, Liang Jiancheng finished his call and came in to find her. Seeing her washing her face with cold water, he frowned slightly: “…Did I wake you up?”

He thought his phone call outside had disturbed her, even though he’d deliberately stepped out of the bedroom.

Ming Xi shook her head, trying to put on a bright and cheerful smile. “I need to get to work. It’s the last day of the year—I don’t want to be careless.”

Liang Jiancheng said apologetically, “Sorry… I apologize for my behavior last night.”

At first, Ming Xi didn’t understand why Liang Jiancheng was apologizing. After a moment’s thought, she pursed her lips, tilted her head slightly, and with the pure enthusiasm unique to the morning, she gently tiptoed and placed a kiss on Liang Jiancheng’s chin.

“Mr. Liang, you did a great job last night. You don’t need to apologize.” Though inexperienced, he had still given her a truly pleasant first experience.

After last night, she not only didn’t feel any aversion to sex, but also looked forward to the next time.

Ming Xi walked out of the bathroom and bedroom, answering client calls while eating the sandwich in her hand. Afterward, she called her assistant, Xinyu, asking her to pick her up on her way to work.

“I’ll wait for you at the south gate of Tianxi No. 1.”

Last night’s visit was arranged by Ming Xi herself, and her departure this morning was equally orderly.

She didn’t drown herself in tenderness, nor did she cling sentimentally to Liang Jiancheng’s charm and good looks. She couldn’t let last night’s beauty make her forget that she still had her own little universe to protect.

Liang Jiancheng said: Delayed delight, heavenly height.

Her feelings could soar above heaven—but her work and career had to stay firmly grounded.

“Goodbye… Mr. Liang!” Reaching the entrance, she opened the door and turned to say goodbye, dressed in her sportswear from last night, looking as fresh and slender as a college student.

Before Liang Jiancheng could react, she curved her lips at him lightly.

Then she turned and left—decisive, effortless—walking away from the place that had carried her to heaven the night before.

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