Chapter 5

Chapter 5

By the time Liang Yansheng left the office, it was already late.

After starting the car, he recalled the events of the afternoon.

He had promised himself he would go back and properly coax her, but Chen Li had organized a gathering and called him eighty times insisting he attend.

Forget it, a little while longer won’t hurt, Liang Yansheng thought with a nonchalant smile as he steered the car toward the club.

When he arrived, Chen Li slung an arm over his shoulder and peered behind him.

“Yo, that’s rare. Did Sister-in-law not follow you tonight?”

That little rabbit didn’t have many tricks, but she loved to follow him around, watching him with those eyes of hers.

And he just happened to have a soft spot for it; he let her tag along to any gathering, never worrying about losing face.

Liang Yansheng handed his coat to the waiter. “She saw Zhao Tian today, so she’s throwing a tantrum.”

Chen Li clicked his tongue. “I thought it was something serious. But you’ve gone too far this time. Who rubs it in like that? You know she can’t stand your little flings, yet you still insist on provoking her.”

“Even a rabbit bites when cornered. Aren’t you afraid of pushing her too far? What if this rabbit jumps the wall and leaves?”

Liang Yansheng lit a cigarette. “A woman isn’t fun if she doesn’t have a bit of a temper. Let her fuss for a couple of days.”

Chen Li slapped his forehead. “It’s my birthday the day after tomorrow. With the state you two are in, are you still coming?”

Someone laughed. “Isn’t there still two days? Based on past experience, I bet she’ll be here tonight begging to make up.”

Liang Yansheng said lazily, “I’m fine either way. As for her… figure it out yourself.”

“That’s easy enough. Give me Song Ran’s number,” Chen Li said, pulling out his phone. “Don’t you usually scare her to death just by mentioning a breakup?”

“I’ll bluff her. I’ll say if she dares not to show up, I’ll tell my brother to dump her.”

While the call was dialing, Liang Yanli warned him, “Don’t scare her too much. She’s timid…”

Chen Li gave a “Hello,” but after a long pause, an unfamiliar voice answered on the other end.

He froze on the spot and asked Liang Yanli uncertainly:

“The number is right, isn’t it? Why is a man answering the phone in the middle of the night?”

Liang Yanli’s gaze shifted over. Through the hazy smoke, his eyes narrowed slightly.

***

When I woke up, my hand was being held tightly. I moved slightly, and the grip tightened immediately.

I turned my head to look. Only then did Liang Yanli open his eyes and let go, curling his fingers and flexing his wrist.

He checked my condition before asking with a dark expression, “Taking so many sleeping pills-do you want to die?”

“Who taught you this? You’ve learned to use suicide to threaten people now?”

Only then did I remember. I couldn’t sleep after taking my mother’s call, so I thought I’d take some medication to help me rest.

As a result, my head was spinning so badly that I accidentally took a few too many.

When I realized something was wrong, I pressed the emergency call button in the villa. The housekeeper must have arrived in time.

Liang Yanli’s face was full of exhaustion and anger, with a faint trace of lingering fear.

I couldn’t help but find it somewhat ironic. How could he think I would use suicide to blackmail him?

I didn’t explain. I simply followed his lead and asked, “Can’t you… is it not enough to just have me?”

As the words left my mouth, I realized my voice was choked with sobs.

*Is it so hard for you to love me the way I love you?*

I asked, refusing to give up, thinking of giving him one last chance.

I was even so bottomless that as long as he agreed, I could overlook everything and act as if nothing had happened.

I felt pity for myself, even loathing.

But what could be done? Some people are impossible to bypass; they are a destined catastrophe.

“One last time, okay?” I whispered, tears hitting the back of my hand. “Don’t go looking for them anymore…”

Liang Yansheng looked at me silently, not speaking for a long time.

For many days afterward, I would often think back to this moment.

I wondered if, as he looked at my tear-stained face with those dark eyes, his heart had wavered for even a second.

But in the end, he only sighed and tried to reason with me.

“Ranran, did I ever promise you anything?” He frowned as he recalled, looking at me like a child demanding candy.

I froze, my palms clenching.

He shook his head. “Love? Marriage? Fidelity? I never promised you a single thing. We both entered into this willingly.”

“I’ll say it again: if you can’t stand it, we can part on good terms.”

He stood up and stuffed the bottle of sleeping pills from the nightstand into his coat pocket.

“Get some rest.” He reached out to tuck the covers around me. “It’s Chen Li’s birthday the day after tomorrow. I’ve already prepared the gift for you. Once you’ve thought it over, call me and I’ll come pick you up.”

I should have known long ago. A scumbag like Liang Yansheng is thoroughly selfish.

As long as I have no bottom line-as long as I take one step back-he will take a hundred steps forward.

It was true in the past, and it’s true now.

I probably really did take too many sleeping pills to have said those things.

A person without a heart cannot be warmed.

I picked up my phone and opened my email.

After staring blankly for a few seconds, I sent the confirmation message.