Chapter 123: How to Coax

Shang Yucheng restarted the car and asked Liang Jinshang where she wanted to go.

"Guanlan Courtyard."

"I have a business trip tomorrow. Come back to my place," Shang Yucheng requested coldly.

"Take me back to Guanlan Courtyard," Liang Jinshang replied, her voice icy and her face stern. "Unless you don't want to start your business trip tomorrow in a foul mood."

In truth, eighty percent of men in this world are not genuinely oblivious to their girlfriend's bad moods. They understand everything; it simply depends on whether they want to coax her and how they choose to do so. In this instance, it would have been easy to appease Liang Jinshang, but Shang Yucheng seemed determined to act against her.

Outside, a drizzling rain fell, the sound of which was louder than any noise inside the car. When the vehicle arrived at her building, Liang Jinshang reached for the door without a second thought. However, upon catching sight of a figure standing under the streetlamp, she froze.

It was her godmother.

She had been standing in the rain, and there was no telling how long she had been drenched. It suddenly dawned on Liang Jinshang that she had intended to ask Nan Yi to help her pick up Liang Xizhou today. She pulled her phone from her bag in a daze, only to discover it had powered off at some point. Her godmother must have been unable to reach her or Liang Xizhou, which was why she had come.

But how could she tell her that her son, who could not even care for himself, was currently being held under "soft detention," coerced into going abroad to undergo a medical treatment that carried a significant risk of death?

Liang Jinshang recoiled, hesitant to step forward, yet she could not leave her godmother standing in the rain. Having resolved not to speak another word to Shang Yucheng, she found herself calling his name in a low voice, "Shang Yucheng..."

Shang Yucheng had also seen her godmother in the rain. With his intellect, he surely knew what Liang Jinshang was about to beg for, yet his heart seemed made of iron. He asked, feigning ignorance, "What is it?"

Liang Jinshang’s gaze dimmed with every passing second. At that moment, her godmother spotted the familiar car and approached, tapping on the window. "Jin Jin? Jin Jin? Is that you?"

Unable to remain in the car any longer, Liang Jinshang stepped out without a word.

"Godmother."

Those soaked by the rain always looked somewhat disheveled. Seeing the godmother’s graying hair plastered to her head in strands made Liang Jinshang’s heart ache inexplicably.

"You said you'd bring Xizhou back today, but I waited at home all day with no word! You didn't answer your phone, either! You came back so late—did you just leave Xizhou home alone?" her godmother complained.

"...I'm sorry."

Her godmother tugged at her arm, heading toward the building. "Don't say such useless things. Take me upstairs! I can't rest knowing Xizhou is home alone!"

Liang Jinshang held her back, saying with difficulty, "Godmother, Xizhou isn't upstairs."

"Then where could he be?!" Her godmother’s expression turned to one of terror. "Did something happen to him? What have you been hiding from me?"

She was so anxious that she couldn't control the strength in her grip. Liang Jinshang felt a sharp pain but did not move. She lacked the strength to even speak, let alone struggle.

"I found someone to look after him," Shang Yucheng’s voice came from the car window, neutral and unreadable. "Ma'am, Jin Jin wanted to be filial and give you and your husband a break, but she’s been too busy with work, so I arranged for someone to take care of him."

Her godmother turned to look at Liang Jinshang, seemingly seeking confirmation. Liang Jinshang could only nod.

"That's so much trouble for Mr. Shang..." her godmother said, flustered and wanting to express her gratitude. "Actually, there's no need for such trouble. I'm used to taking care of Xizhou; just let him come home!"

"It's no trouble," Shang Yucheng said, his tone steady, yet he showed no sign of relenting on returning Liang Xizhou.

Liang Jinshang knew he was helping her out of a tight spot, but she didn't want to listen to this arrogant tyrant whitewash the situation. "Shang Yucheng, you can go. My godmother and I are heading up."

Shang Yucheng pressed the gas pedal and drove off without hesitation.

Liang Jinshang took her godmother upstairs to find her some dry clothes. "I won't come in," her godmother said, asking only for a dry towel. "Xizhou's father is still at home, and I need to get back to cook for him."

Seeing the wet stains on her clothes, Liang Jinshang felt a bitter ache in her heart. "Godmother, I'll give you a spare key. Next time, just wait for me inside."

Her godmother didn't refuse and took the key. Liang Jinshang offered to walk her home and visit Liang Yuanhan, but seeing how pale Liang Jinshang looked, the godmother declined.

Before leaving, her godmother asked anxiously, "Jin Jin... is Xizhou, is he really alright?"

"Godmother, Xizhou is doing very well. Shang Yucheng has hired professionals to look after him and help him recover his health, with the goal of sending him abroad as soon as possible," Liang Jinshang heard her own voice, numb and hollow.

"Then... can I go see him?"

"In a few days... I will take you."

...

Liang Jinshang tossed and turned all night, dreaming either of Liang Xizhou committing suicide at the St. Ann Nursing Home or of Nan Yi being bullied in the detention center. She sat up, drenched in cold sweat, covering her face with her hands. These were reflections of her deepest fears; thinking about them for even a second made her feel as though she were going insane.

She pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Le Quan. She had asked Le Quan to request leave for her the previous night, and Le Quan had replied in the early hours: [Why have you been asking for leave so often lately?]

Liang Jinshang sent a random emoji in reply. Scrolling up further, she saw a message from Shang Yucheng sent that morning: [I’ve boarded the plane. I’ll be back in three days.]

Liang Jinshang did not reply.

She had to go to the detention center today. She could still learn about Liang Xizhou’s condition from the medical staff there. Although he refused to cooperate with anything, with four or five people hovering over him at the nursing home, nothing too terrible should happen.

But the dream about Nan Yi felt so real, as if it had truly happened.

When Liang Jinshang arrived at the detention center, she saw a bright red Mercedes speed past her. If she remembered correctly, Le Quan had pointed out a sports car of the same color and model on the street once, saying it belonged to Gong Xueyuan.

Liang Jinshang’s heart skipped a beat. She rushed into the detention center and waited for a long time before Nan Yi finally walked out. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but after only one night, Nan Yi seemed like a flower that had rapidly withered, her spirit even more listless than before.

"Nan Yi, did Gong Xueyuan come to see you earlier?"

Nan Yi stared at her with those large eyes, and after a long pause, she replied, "No."

Liang Jinshang was deeply worried by this state. "Nan Yi, are you okay?"

"If I say I am, would you believe me?"

Across the table, Liang Jinshang scrutinized her repeatedly, looking for signs of injury.

"What are you looking at?" Nan Yi laughed dismissively. "Are you looking for this?"

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing ghastly blue and purple bruises across her pale skin!

"Did someone hit you?!" Liang Jinshang stood up abruptly. What exactly had Gong Xueyuan done?!

A female officer nearby gestured with a baton, signaling her not to be agitated.

Nan Yi said slowly, "How could anyone hit me? There is discipline inside."

Liang Jinshang had expected Nan Yi to be hostile toward her, but the way she looked today didn't suggest resentment; rather, she seemed completely consumed by a sense of world-weariness.

Liang Jinshang left empty-handed, her heart burning with anxiety. Just then, the female officer chased after her. "Wait a moment!"