Chapter 51: You’ve Gone Too Far

They had been waiting for a kidney donor for years. It wasn’t that a suitable one hadn’t come up, but the Liang family’s finances had been stretched thin for a long time, with most of their resources spent on Liang Xizhou. The phrase Liang’s father said most often was, “Once Jinjing graduates, godfather will finally enjoy some comfort.”

Liang Yuanhan had once been Fang Jiabao’s math teacher in secondary school. After her father went to prison and her mother took her own life—even when Fang Jiabao herself went astray and was the cause of his only son’s disability—he was the one who held her hand and pulled her back from the brink of the abyss. Without him, she might have been lost forever.

“My Jinjing was born to study. One day, she’ll have a master’s, a doctorate.” Because these were Liang Yuanhan’s words, Liang Jinshang had always given her all to make them a reality.

While others studied, she studied harder. While others slept, she continued to study. When exhaustion overwhelmed her, she’d kneel and read. She never allowed herself a day of comfort.

“Jin” means compassion, and “Shang” means striving. Even though Fang Jiabao was homeless, Liang Yuanhan told her that as “Liang Jinshang,” there would always be someone who cherished her.

“Dr. Chao, please, help me. I have to save him!”

Chao Jingyu was the most reliable person Liang Jinshang could find, though he was only a neurologist. Still, he didn’t let her down and returned a week later with news.

It was hard to say if it was good or bad. The good news: there was indeed a suitable kidney. The bad: someone had intercepted it.

The donor had died in a car accident; his kidney was a perfect match for Liang Yuanhan. But suddenly, the family who had agreed to donate changed their minds. The deceased had been a driver for the Gong family.

When Liang Jinshang heard, she was silent for a long while, and Chao Jingyu kept her company in the quiet.

After some time, he said, “Xueyuan might make things difficult for you...”

Hearing the hint of sympathy in his voice, she restrained her emotions and smiled. “It’s all right. I have to try.”

Chao Jingyu knew she was far from the delicate girl she seemed to be; she had a mind of her own. Yet the more he got to know her, the more she tugged at his heart. Perhaps it was his profession, but he couldn’t help feeling a paternal protectiveness toward her. “I’ll go with you to talk to Xueyuan. Maybe I can help plead your case.”

Coincidentally, two days later, someone in their circle was hosting an event at their riding club and had invited everyone. Gong Xueyuan would be there. So Chao Jingyu brought Liang Jinshang along.

The riding club was vast, and when they arrived, Gong Xueyuan had not yet shown up. Most of those present were Chao Jingyu’s acquaintances; Liang Jinshang knew no one.

Shang Yucheng never brought her to gatherings like this.

When Liang Jinshang returned from the restroom, she found Chao Jingyu accompanied by an “old acquaintance”—Bu Qingqing, who was leaning in close, speaking softly to him.

At moments like this, Chao Jingyu’s noble upbringing was unmistakable. He lounged elegantly under a parasol, his smile languid and effortless. Someone handed him a cigar, which he puffed on absentmindedly. When he caught sight of Liang Jinshang, he lifted his eyelids and called, “Jinjin, come here.”

She had to admit, his look made her heart skip a beat. That phrase was their secret signal; she knew she was supposed to play along.

She walked over, sat down on Chao Jingyu’s other side, and greeted Bu Qingqing as if it were a chance meeting. “Miss Bu, what a coincidence to see you again.”

Bu Qingqing’s smile froze on her lips. She’d been watching Chao Jingyu closely for some time and had seen no signs of him dating anyone—this woman had barely appeared in his life. Why was she suddenly here?

Liang Jinshang wrinkled her nose at Chao Jingyu. “It smells awful. Stop smoking.”

He indulged her, saying, “You’re so delicate,” and stubbed out the cigar. Bu Qingqing, who had just been at his side, never received such treatment.

Chao Jingyu gestured to the fruit on the table. “What would you like?”

Liang Jinshang didn’t care much for pomegranate, but for the sake of their act, she said, “I want pomegranate. Peel it for me.”

Without hesitation, Chao Jingyu began to peel the fruit.

Seeing Bu Qingqing’s face turn even more interesting, Liang Jinshang decided to take it further. “And take out the seeds, too.”

Chao Jingyu’s smile didn’t falter as he leaned over to whisper in her ear. To any onlooker, it looked like he was kissing her. “I was looking for a girlfriend, not an empress dowager. Miss, you’re overdoing it.”

His words made her laugh, and she collapsed against his shoulder, their posture more intimate than before.

Chao Jingyu straightened, smiling teasingly. “Removing the seeds is a bit much. Should I chew them for you first?”

Chao Jingyu had brought women out before, but none had ever been like this. He usually preferred women who were bold, mature, and alluring. Yet this little woman played her part so well, it was as if he were bringing his daughter along.

And of course, no one else knew they were putting on a show. To the others, their act reeked of saccharine intimacy.

Someone began to tease them. “Jingyu has really fallen this time!”

“Is it time for your wedding banquet yet?”

“If I’d known Young Master Chao could spoil a woman like this, I would have chased after you myself eight hundred years ago—so jealous!”

“I’ve never seen Ayu bring a girlfriend out to a gathering before. He hides her like a treasure. Yucheng, you’re close to Ayu. Do you know when he started dating?”

At the mention of Shang Yucheng’s name, Liang Jinshang—her face still buried in Chao Jingyu’s shoulder—looked up. He was just a few steps away, seated under another parasol, as striking as ever. She’d been so caught up in her act that she hadn’t noticed him at all.

Shang Yucheng was also smoking a cigar, his tone cool and indifferent. “He doesn’t have to report his relationships to me. If you’re interested, maybe he’ll tell you before he finds the next one.”

The person trying to chat with him only wanted to get closer, and though they knew Shang Yucheng was always aloof and unapproachable, it still stung to be rebuffed in public. “As a friend, how could you pour cold water on him when he’s so in love? Ayu, did you hear that? Yucheng wants to know when you’ll get your next girlfriend.”

“He’s joking,” Chao Jingyu replied charmingly. “He spends every day in the lap of tenderness himself—no reason to curse me, right, Acheng?”

Shang Yucheng glanced at the “lap of tenderness” he’d indulged in just a few days before and answered coolly, “Of course, just joking.”

At that moment, Gong Xueyuan had gone to change into her riding attire. Someone, seizing the chance, asked Shang Yucheng with a knowing look, “Heard you’ve been seeing someone from Lehai Construction lately?”

Shang Yucheng looked at him with a half-smile, giving a noncommittal “mm.”

“You’re being so open about it this time, but the young lady…” The speaker gestured toward the changing room. “It’s surprising she hasn’t made a fuss.”

This tactless remark inevitably brought to mind the recent online scandal involving Shang Yucheng and Gong Xueyuan.

Shang Yucheng’s expression chilled, and he let out a cold laugh. “I’m a married man. Seeing someone? People would say I’m taking advantage of the situation.”

Liang Jinshang, quietly picking through the pomegranate seeds, couldn’t help but flinch at the words “taking advantage of the situation.”