Chapter 113: Gentle on the Outside, Strong on the Inside

Chao Jingyu had always been the exemplar child. His grades, temperament, appearance, and intelligence—all seemed to follow the perfect template every parent dreamed of. Even when it came to games, he outperformed most, perhaps due to his sharp mind and dexterity.

In contrast, Shang Yucheng preferred spending his time at the gym rather than playing video games. It was inevitable he would lose when they played, but he didn’t care much about winning or losing. After a few rounds, he was ready to continue, yet Chao Jingyu called for a halt. What was the point of winning at games?

Le Quan took a call from Zheng Jue, who asked if they were finished here, saying he would come pick her up. Le Quan then casually asked Chao Jingyu if he was leaving.

“It’s time to go,” Chao Jingyu nodded and turned to Shang Yucheng. “Yucheng, please see us off.”

It was clear he had something to say.

Shang Yucheng rose, and the two men of similar height walked toward the exit together. Suddenly, Liang Jinshang thought of Liang Xizhou. “Doctor Chao, could you give Xizhou a ride? It’s on your way, isn’t it?”

Chao Jingyu was about to agree, but Shang Yucheng interrupted, “Liang Xizhou is not leaving yet.”

All three turned their attention to him. Shang Yucheng spoke coldly, “My business with him is not settled.”

Liang Jinshang stood up from kneeling on the carpet. “You can’t do anything to him!”

“Just stay put and wait,” Shang Yucheng said with a frosty smile, taking Chao Jingyu’s arm as they moved toward the elevator.

At the elevator, Le Quan couldn’t resist speaking up. “Mr. Shang, how does it feel to have both new and old loves, embracing both sides?”

Shang Yucheng’s eyes darkened, his gaze cold and sharp.

Le Quan was infuriated by his attitude. Other men, at the very least, showed courtesy or kindness toward their girlfriend’s close friends. But Shang Yucheng was always harsh and unfeeling toward her.

Seeing no sign of apology, Le Quan pulled up Gong Xueyuan’s social media feed and nearly bumped into Shang Yucheng’s prominent nose.

He frowned and brusquely swatted away her phone. Just a glance was enough to tell what mischief Gong Xueyuan had been up to.

Chao Jingyu pulled Le Quan close, gently patting her head to soothe the girl’s righteous indignation.

“Yucheng, even if you couldn’t come, you should have at least called. You don’t know how many calls Jinshang made to you. If you haven’t settled your previous relationship, you shouldn’t start a new one casually,” Chao Jingyu scolded softly.

Shang Yucheng only explained the latter part. “Nian Nian was sick. That day, I asked my secretary to take her home, which caused some negligence.”

That was why, both morally and reasonably, he went to visit her. But when he arrived, the little girl cried and begged him to stay, which delayed him further.

As for not answering calls, he would explain that to Liang Jinshang himself.

Le Quan muttered, “A daughter of the Gong family gets sick, and you rush over like that. That frivolous woman must be flaunting it all over social media by now.”

Chao Jingyu sighed nearly inaudibly.

He had witnessed how much Shang Yucheng cared for Gong Nian over the years. It seemed he simply liked the girl for no particular reason.

As for the matter with Liang Jinshang, Chao Jingyu felt it was not his place to interfere deeply. He was not looking for trouble.

After all, adults must be responsible for their own choices.

“Let’s go,” Chao Jingyu said, gently patting Le Quan’s shoulder as he turned peacefully, leaving behind a warning: “Don’t argue.”

Back inside, Shang Yucheng found Liang Jinshang cleaning.

He approached and held her hand lightly. “I’ll have someone come clean later.”

“Fine,” she said, setting down the rag. “Then let’s talk about what happened today.”

Shang Yucheng crossed his arms and asked evenly, “You want to talk about registering your marriage with Liang Xizhou?”

Liang Jinshang met his gaze and paused for three seconds. “Better to talk about you standing me up and not answering my calls first.”

A man should be magnanimous, and Shang Yucheng didn’t mind being the one to explain.

“My phone fell in the car. You drove it here last night.”

Why it fell there wasn’t a topic to revisit now, especially amid their tense standoff. It was partly because Liang Jinshang’s actions had been too forceful.

“Okay!” Liang Jinshang thought it easy enough to verify if the phone was in the car, and she saw no reason for him to lie.

“Now, tell me about your ‘Liang family’ matters,” Shang Yucheng said, the chill around his lips deepening.

Liang Jinshang raised an eyebrow. “Wait, have you settled your own affairs yet?”

“You seem mistaken. Your biggest fault isn’t ignoring calls but…” Liang Jinshang lifted her phone, and Shang Yucheng guessed she had opened something.

She clicked her tongue and said, “Gong Xueyuan had already blocked me before. Today, she deliberately unblocked me just so I could see this protest post. After all that trouble, it would be a shame if I missed it.”

Though smiling, her tone and eyes bore profound contempt.

She had only seen the message two minutes earlier herself.

No wonder Le Quan and Chao Jingyu wanted to start the banquet early—they already knew.

Shang Yucheng repeated to Liang Jinshang the reason he had given Chao Jingyu, even adding more detail without hesitation.

“Nian Nian has asthma. That day, I asked my secretary to take her home but didn’t notice she caught a chill. Today was just a visit to see her.”

Upon hearing “asthma,” Liang Jinshang’s face changed instantly.

“Asthma?!” She clutched a small medicine bottle that belonged to Lu Rou and sneered bitterly, “I didn’t know there were so many asthma patients that they all suddenly appear in one day! Shang Yucheng, even if you were going to lie, you could have made up a different illness rather than letting her borrow the light of my deceased mother!”

Shang Yucheng’s expression remained unchanged, but his tone was cold. “She’s an eight-year-old girl. Do you think I would make up a lifelong, incurable disease just to deceive you?”

“So what if it’s asthma?” Liang Jinshang couldn’t understand. “She’s no relation to you, yet you had to visit her—especially today? How important today is to me, you don’t know, but you, Shang Yucheng, must have investigated me thoroughly. Don’t you know?”

Her eyes reddened as she said, “She’s just a child. Aside from her surname, I don’t see what’s so special or noble about her that she could stir so much tenderness and patience in you, Shang Yucheng! Is she more important than your girlfriend? How am I supposed to believe you truly care for her, or are you just using her to care about someone else?”

Shang Yucheng didn’t defend himself against her accusations. Instead, he gently touched the corner of her eye.

He expected to feel dampness from her reddened eyes but found them dry.

The girl who could once turn on the taps of tears before him had reverted to the stubborn, quietly strong girl beneath her soft exterior.

Though Shang Yucheng’s usually stern brow softened slightly, the darkness in his eyes remained unchanged.

His gaze dropped and lingered on the yellowed inhaler in Liang Jinshang’s palm.

His lips pressed tightly together, and in the end, he said no more.