Chapter 103: The Abyss of Ten Thousand Fathoms

Liang Jin’s hand dropped the mouthwash cup heavily. It shattered against the floor, water splashing everywhere, even onto Shang Yucheng’s refined legs.

Normally, such an annoyance would have provoked his irritation, but today, surprisingly mild-tempered, he merely pinched her waist before pulling her along toward the bathroom. “Come shower with me.”

Liang Jin, like a wooden doll, was led a few steps by Shang Yucheng before stopping in place.

“Shang Yucheng,” she began bitterly, “the biggest misunderstanding in the world—is it that I thought we were dating, but you’re just keeping me as a kept woman?”

Shang Yucheng’s brow furrowed sharply, and after a few seconds of silence, he seemed to understand why she suddenly changed her tone.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” His hand stroked her shoulder reassuringly. “I know you love design—you can do it at home just as well.”

Liang Jin remained silent. Her face, though small, was soft and plump at the cheeks; when she clenched her teeth, her lips puckered adorably, resembling a gentle-faced Flemish lop rabbit.

Shang Yucheng rubbed the soft flesh on her cheek like petting a rabbit. “I just want to see you the moment I get home. Whether you like it or not. Why do you get upset so easily?”

The only women who get to be seen immediately upon arriving home tend to be either full-time wives or live-in maids.

Given the undeniable social gap between them, Liang Jin felt she was closer to the latter role.

At that moment, she regretted her impulsive words the night before—why had she said, “This isn’t an exchange,” to define their relationship so bluntly?

“Shang Yucheng, we…” she lifted her head, about to speak, but he bent down and kissed her forehead, cutting off her words.

“Will you stay and shower with me, or go to work?” he asked casually, a mischievous curve tugging at his lips.

Of course, staying to shower with him was never just about bathing. It would last for hours.

“Forget it…” Liang Jin sighed, making a dismissive hand gesture. “I’m going to work. Just remember to lock the door!”

She hurried out, feeling she had forgotten to tell him something important.

Only when she unlocked her phone and began scrolling through birthday messages—from Shang Ao’er, Chao Jingyu, Le Quan—did she remember.

Amidst yesterday’s tumultuous events, she had forgotten to inform Shang Yucheng about the most crucial matter: the household registration transfer.

Suppressing her restless thoughts, she replied to Nan Yi, asking how she was settling into her new job.

Nan Yi responded: “Let’s have dinner together; consider it a belated birthday celebration.”

Liang Jin readily agreed.

At noon, Shang Yucheng asked if she wanted to eat together, but she declined, saying she needed to catch up on sleep.

He chuckled softly and said nothing more, only mentioning he had to return to the company and would pick her up after work.

In the afternoon, Liang Jin visited the construction site of the small villa complex and was able to leave thirty minutes early.

She arrived beneath Nantian Building first to wait for Nan Yi.

After the official end of work hours, Nan Yi still hadn’t appeared.

Her phone buzzed; expecting a message from Nan Yi, she was surprised to see Shang Yucheng’s name instead.

She answered.

“Are you off work?” he asked.

“Still at the site,” she hesitated.

“Send me your exact location; I’ll come pick you up,” he said, slipping effortlessly into the role of boyfriend. “What do you want for dinner?”

Without fully understanding why, Liang Jin replied, “Dinner... I won’t be eating with you. I have to work overtime.”

There was a pause on the other end, tinged with helplessness. “Jinjin… I admit I went too far last night. Partly your fault—you encouraged me so warmly. Is it fair that you’re avoiding me today?”

This man was frighteningly perceptive.

But Liang Jin’s avoidance wasn’t about that.

“Who’s avoiding you? I really have to work late!” she scolded.

After hanging up, her face betrayed no smile.

Twenty minutes passed without Nan Yi’s appearance.

Liang Jin called her, but there was no answer. Unease gnawed at her; after pondering, she decided to go inside and look for her.

Last time, she had been held at the front desk for over three hours.

Today, she was not obstructed but granted no special privileges either.

She dutifully registered her name, never considering taking a shortcut through Shang Yucheng’s influence.

That shortcut now felt like a rickety suspension bridge, trembling underfoot with a fathomless abyss below.

Liang Jin found the records department.

Over half an hour past quitting time, she expected most to have left, but the department was still crowded.

And it appeared some dispute was underway.

Her eyes landed on Nan Yi’s slender, tall figure—seemingly cornered by the others.

Liang Jin hurried over.

“You can’t even do basic filing properly, and now I have to work overtime with her! And after I said a few words, she splashed coffee on me. I had a date later—what do you think I should do?” the loudest woman, appearing about thirty, pointed accusingly at her shirt.

Nan Yi kept her head lowered, unable to meet anyone’s gaze amid the crowd.

Anxiously, Liang Jin pushed through. “What happened?”

The woman, irritated, said, “This is the latest autumn shirt from brand C. Now it’s ruined by coffee stains, and she hasn’t even apologized.”

Liang Jin looked at Nan Yi in surprise; there was indeed a large coffee stain on her clothes, though partially concealed beneath a men’s jacket, making her appear less disheveled.

Liang Jin couldn’t believe Nan Yi had done such a thing, but the witnesses insisted they saw her suddenly lash out, throwing coffee onto the colleague.

Nan Yi said nothing, offering neither excuse nor apology.

Liang Jin had no choice but to apologize on her behalf and promised to replace the ruined shirt with an identical one.

“Can you even afford that?” the woman sneered, eyeing Liang Jin and Nan Yi’s modest attire. “You don’t even look like you’ve set foot in a brand C store.”

Suddenly, Nan Yi raised her head, eyes flashing fiercely.

Liang Jin had never seen this side of her since their reunion—usually gloomy or sarcastic, but never so openly fierce.

The woman startled, then quickly noticed the men’s blazer Nan Yi wore, unable to see any brand label.

No one knew where Nan Yi had gotten the jacket after stepping away earlier.

“Wearing a knockoff men’s suit—showing off poverty,” the woman sneered with contempt. “Like attracts like. Is your husband an insurance salesman?”

Nan Yi’s gaze abruptly shifted, fixing on a certain direction.

Liang Jin’s earlier glance at the jacket had struck a chord—it looked like one of Shang Yucheng’s custom Italian brands.

Following Nan Yi’s gaze, Liang Jin’s eyes met Shang Yucheng’s, whose expression was both playful and sardonic.