Chapter Nine, Coexistence and Perish (I)

Liang Jinge began to feel pity for her, pity for what she had lost the most, yet was deceived the deepest. By now, she probably does not even know that there is a surveillance camera in her room. He is fully aware of those nights when she quietly shed tears. As he opened the car door and stepped out, Chen Dang on the balcony heard the sound, his gaze leaving the book and falling into his eyes.

"Come to bed," said Ji Mingrui

One should never harbor a sense of luck in any matter. Liang Jinge's expression was serious, yet he did not continue the action of taking out his phone. He had known from the very beginning that when she displayed that kind of expression in front of him, his heart would soften, and he would have no way to deal with her.

No one in this world cares about her, Ji Mingrui did not ask whether she loves herself or whether she wants to play this dishonorable role; Wu Xian also never mentioned where Chen Danghao should go in her grand plan. She is not even considered a pawn, yet it is precisely she who connects this farce.

Liang Jinge shook his head

Liang Jinge felt that no matter how much time passed, he would probably always remember this stolen afternoon. The smoke was sweeter than usual, infused with a woman's fragrance. He hoped to sit beside her a little longer, that vague and unsupported shallow affection, though it could not compare to ambition, ultimately softened his heart, so that when the time came, he still could not bear to urge her to return.

Chen Danghao believed that Ji Mingrui might love her, which is why he was willing to spend time on her, waiting for her to accept and compromise. However, this love could not outweigh his inherent selfishness; he could not give up on Wu Xian, because Wu Xian held a significant portion of the shares in Mingrui Real Estate.

"You deceived me, Liangzi." She whispered close to his ear, her voice carrying a hint of triumph, as the dappled shadows under the tree made everything appear less distinct, completely concealing the flush of Liang Jinge's ears. His hand still tightly gripped her wrist, while Chen Danghao's hand remained motionless, obediently resting in his pocket. They maintained this awkward position for a while, until Chen Danghao finally conceded nonchalantly: "Alright, let go of me."

Liang Jinge seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded lightly.

A woman's jealousy is sometimes unrelated to love. However, if she has loved, then such jealousy is understandable. On his way home, Liang Jinge saw couples strolling hand in hand by the street, and he recalled Chen Danghao asking him what true love is like.

In a certain moment, he suddenly understood the source of Wu Xian's anger. It was not that she truly lacked evidence against Ji Mingrui; after all these years, she was not in a hurry at this moment. She probably just felt jealousy, jealousy over his inexplicable fondness for Chen Danghao, jealousy that despite Chen Danghao's scheming after his death, he still willingly kept her by his side.

Feeling a bit flustered, he suddenly noticed that the bed in the footage seemed to move. Immediately after, Chen Danghao lifted the blanket and got out of bed. Out of the most basic respect, Liang Jinge placed his hand on the mouse, intending to close the window.

He suddenly felt the urge to tease her, perhaps because she seemed less distant and cold than usual today, or perhaps the solitude of the surroundings emboldened him. He appeared helpless, spreading his hands and shrugging his shoulders at her: "It's gone, the last one."

"If you tell him, I won't be able to go out," Chen Danghao frowned, displaying a hint of childishness. "Let's go to that place we visited last time, and we'll return before it's time. Mr. Ji won't notice."

Liangzi, I have no classes this week, the teacher is on a business trip. She lowered her voice, clearly not wanting the housekeeper to hear: Don't let Mr. Ji and Sister Qi know

Her voice was calm, and Liang Jinge timely let go. Chen Danghao's hand left his pocket, but at the same time, it quickly pulled out the pack of cigarettes. She did not understand why she had to be so childish. Holding the pack of cigarettes, she tossed it into Liang Jinge's arms: "Just help me take one out, I don't need more."

He did not know that, at this moment, there were no secrets in her eyes regarding him. Chen Danghao saw through his thoughts clearly but did not expose them: "Mr. Ji mentioned that you usually shouldn't go out, right"

Liang Jinge shook his head calmly

During this period, Ji Mingrui visited a few times, but did not take any further action. One person sat on the edge of the bed while the other sat on the sofa, and they did not engage in conversation. Since the last time, there has been no physical contact between them. He would occasionally lean back on the sofa to take a nap, and after waking up, he would leave without saying a word

Liangzi, I have found you

The cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Liang Jinge's expression remained unchanged, and his words offered no comfort: "I will come again next month"

On that evening, Ji Mingrui drove to the villa alone. He arrived at nine o'clock at night, and it took a long time for Chen Dang to open the door, wearing a bathrobe. She looked up at him and said, "What brings you here?"

Liang Jinge took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. When he lit it, Chen Dang seemed like a cat that had caught a whiff of something fishy, turning his head to look at him and extending his hand: "Give me one."

Chen Danghao discovered the surveillance equipment under the wardrobe

That is good. He felt at a loss for words, unable to engage in light-hearted conversation with her at that moment. After saying this, he walked towards the villa's main gate, and upon entering, he saw Chen Danghao standing right in front of him

The car was parked downstairs. Looking out from the car window, one could see Chen Danghao standing on the balcony. Uncharacteristically, she was not smoking; instead, she was idly flipping through a book. Hearing the sound of brakes, she turned her gaze in his direction. The car window was one-sided, so she could not see inside the car from her side. Liang Jinge was thus able to gaze at her without restraint, observing the white dress she wore today and her hair, still dripping with water from a recent wash. When she looked over, her eyes were unguarded, possessing a softness reminiscent of a small animal.

This was the last sentence Liang Jinge heard that night, as he stood in the darkened hall, almost holding his breath. He knew that perhaps after this night, Wu Xian's plan would succeed, which would mean the end of many things. He asked himself, is it good to like Chen Dang?

He is just taking care of Chen Danghao like this, without even touching her at all

The room was shrouded in darkness, and his hand paused several times while trying to access the location of last night's recording, but he was unable to open it. Alternatively, he could choose to directly copy the video to Wu Xian; if he couldn't see it, perhaps he wouldn't feel so troubled.

He saw the couple holding hands, saw the boy helping the girl tidy her hair that had been blown messy by the wind, saw the girl tiptoe to kiss him, her eyes filled with deep affection. Is that not a profound love? Perhaps it is, and he also felt a bit of regret, having reached this age without ever having loved recklessly.

They set out in the afternoon, just like every time they go to class. The car drove along the familiar road, winding past the lush green mountains, heading towards a more desolate area. The trees were verdant, and Chen Danghao opened the car door and stepped outside, standing in the shade of the trees, closing her eyes and spreading her arms wide

Then you come in

They no longer bicker, sitting side by side, enveloped in swirling smoke. Chen Dang remains silent, and Liang Jinge naturally finds no topic to discuss; simply sitting together feels like a luxury of time, as if the stolen moments are a hundred times shorter than usual.

"When I left, you were sleeping. I thought you wouldn't wake up at this time." Liang Jinge looked down at his watch with a serious expression; the time showed it was only 9:00 AM. In the past, Chen Danghao would usually sleep until 11:00 or 12:00. Understanding his confusion, Chen Danghao maintained his previous posture and smiled at him, saying, "I went to bed early last night, and I slept better than usual, so I woke up early."

A month later, when Liang Jinge handed the video materials to Wu Xian, it was the first time Wu Xian displayed a woman's anger on the other end of the phone. She could not understand how Ji Mingrui had done nothing during this long month. Liang Jinge stood in front of her desk, still wearing that expressionless face. Her anger had no outlet, and in the end, she could only smash a cup that was nearby.

In fact, Liang Jinge did not realize how foolish her actions appeared in her eyes. Chen Danghao's expression gradually became serious; he speculated that she might be getting angry, yet he could not understand why she would be angry. With a hint of nervousness, Liang Jinge carefully examined her eyes, but before she could see clearly, her eyes suddenly lit up: "Liangzi, you are deceiving me."

In the moment when their eyes met, Chen Danghao smiled brightly and asked, "What happened?"

At this moment, Chen Danghao turned his head away from the mirror, his gaze straight and meeting his own reflection on the screen.

Ji Mingrui left early the next morning, his expression showing no signs of change. The butler was the least talkative person, and even after seeing Ji Mingrui off, Chen Danghao had not come down from upstairs. Liang Jinge found today's breakfast bland and tasteless, especially the coarse grain snacks, which were so difficult to swallow that he had to drink several sips of water to get them down. After eating only a few bites, he returned to his room, locked the door, and went to check the surveillance footage.

This statement is made as if it were not she who had taken away one pack of cigarettes after another from him before

I must inform Mr. Ji.

If Liang Jinge is working for Wu Xian, then this equipment must be quite expensive and certainly powerful. Ever since she discovered the connection between Liang Jinge and Wu Xian, she has been checking it almost every day upon returning to her room. After turning off the lights, she can see a small red dot when she shines her phone's camera at it

Slowly, she revealed a faint smile

"Where have you been?" Chen Danghao closed the book, resting her elbow on the balcony railing as she smiled at him. Her hair danced in the wind, and even from such a distance, it seemed one could smell the fragrance of her shampoo. Liang Jinge's Adam's apple moved instinctively, unsure of how to respond: "... just went out for a bit"

A familiar voice called out to him, startling Liang Jinge, who instinctively halted his hand over the mouse without clicking. Two seconds later, he realized that the voice came from Chen Danghao in the video, who was standing in front of a makeup mirror, tying her hair back into a ponytail with a rubber band. That previous sound felt like an illusion; blinking, Liang Jinge intended to turn off the video again.

If ten represents fullness, then it is likely that there is not even two left. Apart from the physiological impulses that all men have towards her, he is left with only a few fragments of pity. He tells himself this, as if it could make his heart feel a little better. The upper floor is so quiet, and his solitary breathing merges into the night, unnoticed.

Following her gaze, Liang Jinge noticed that his left pocket was bulging, unmistakably in the shape of a cigarette box. His expression remained unchanged as he planned to fabricate a story, but before he could organize his thoughts, her expression shifted, as if she had heard an unusual sound. She waved him over, signaling him to lean in closer.

He thought she had something to say and lowered his voice, already prepared to listen attentively. As he held onto his arm, Chen Danghao leaned closer to his ear but changed the position of his hand, rubbing against his belt and reaching down into the pocket of his trousers.

However, she also felt that a man who has reached this age and status would no longer prioritize love above all else like a young boy. They understand that the meaning of life lies in money and power, which retain and appreciate in value, while women do not. Then she felt a sense of sorrow, wondering when she had begun to objectify herself like those girls.

Her fingers were slender, slipping in smoothly, pressing against his thigh through a layer of fabric. Liang Jinge was taken aback, realizing she was looking for a cigarette, and instinctively grasped her wrist: "Miss Chen ... ... "

He gazed at her quietly; it was an unremarkable afternoon, and nothing would happen in the news. Chen Danghao was still that canary locked in the attic. She stood on the balcony not to wait for him, but merely to pass the time that seemed inexhaustible. Nothing would change; this unchanging state was both frustrating and reassuring. Liang Jinge did not want to be the one to disrupt this balance, yet he also knew that he inevitably would.

She did not wear any makeup today, her skin as white as snow. Liang Jinge gently nodded to her, as a form of greeting, and walked towards the villa. In his peripheral vision, he could see that the smile at the corner of her mouth had not faded. Her smile was faint, perhaps not directed at him, yet he could not look away. In the end, he turned around again and looked at her once more.

Liangzi

"Ji Mingrui doesn't say anything to you?" Wu Xian raised his head to look at him

Ji Mingrui will always return, and one day he will make Chen Danghao his true mistress. When that day comes, Wu Xian will, as expected, bring Ji Mingrui to ruin. As for Chen Danghao, who will care about her

Ji Mingrui regarded her as a naive girl, believing that she was inexperienced and easily deceived. Perhaps Liang Jinge held a similar view in his heart, which is why he did not appear flustered even when she caught him leaving. Chen Danghao did not tamper with the surveillance equipment; she needed Liang Jinge to report to Wu Xian. Only with the transaction between Liang Jinge and Wu Xian in place would she be qualified to negotiate a deal with Liang Jinge.

For a month, Chen Danghao showed no signs of abnormality. She continued to secretly smoke in her room, and when in a good mood, she changed into a beautiful dress and danced in front of the mirror. Still, when she finished smoking, she reached out to Liang Jinge and said, "Give me a pack of cigarettes"