CHAPTER 182: V78: GU ZIXUAN HEARD HER HEARTBEAT SPEED FOR THE FIRST TIME, 120...

He composed a new text message and sent it: [Who upset you? Why do you sound like you’re in a bad mood?]

Gu Zixuan pressed her lips together, let out a light laugh, and replied: [No one upset me, it’s late, Mr. Feng, go to sleep.]

The subtle anger of not wanting to engage made Feng Chengjin’s lips curl, almost certain of some emotion.

His eyes deepened, and he replied: [Is it because I didn’t pay attention to you during my date today?]

In an instant, Gu Zixuan’s cheeks turned red with anger, and she furiously poked her head out of the covers.

Spitting out "Narcissist!"

She replied word by word: [Mr. Feng, you’re overthinking. I understand the basic courtesy in social interactions; you don’t need to remind me. You can date whoever you want without considering other people’s opinions.]

Having said that, Gu Zixuan irritably sent: [It’s late, Mr. Feng, hurry up and contact your date for tomorrow, good night.]

On the other end of the phone, Feng Chengjin said nothing, pressed his lips together, and smiled deeply.

No response, for a long while, contemplating Yu Yuanshen’s scheme this time...

After thinking for a while, he composed and sent: [Come downstairs in half an hour, I’ll be waiting for you under the Jinyue Zijing Mansion.]

Then he hung up the phone, grabbed his clothes, and started downstairs while getting dressed.

...

Inside the Jinyue Zijing Mansion.

Gu Zixuan sat up straight, astonished at the current time of 10:46. If she went downstairs in half an hour, it would be past 11. Didn’t he say that after 10 PM, no one of the opposite sex would disturb him?

Besides, why would he look for her?

In the middle of the night!

Thinking about how he was on a date with someone else during the day, her heart filled with sourness and she angrily lay down, pulled up the covers, and went to sleep.

She decided not to go down even if he arrived later.

Let him find whoever he wants, she wouldn’t be at his beck and call!

...

Gu Zixuan thought it through very well.

Her mental preparation was thorough.

In the night, Feng Chengjin, coming from Pinghu District, had a smile on his lips, able to vaguely guess how Gu Zixuan might react.

As the car accelerated, he rubbed his finger along his lip line, having already thought of reasons to coax Gu Zixuan to come down later.

However, half an hour later, Feng Chengjin drove into the community, parked downstairs, and watched as Gu Zixuan came down as expected, wearing a linen white long dress. His lips couldn’t help but curl into a smile.

Gu Zixuan didn’t want to get in the car, but seeing that Feng Chengjin didn’t intend to get out of the car, either.

Moreover, the autumn chill was setting in, and it was still a bit cold near midnight.

She hesitated, hugging her arms, extremely unwilling as she opened the car door and got in.

The car was a white Porsche GTS, and sitting in it, she didn’t feel too uncomfortable.

After getting in, she adjusted her skirt, her face somewhat expressionless and cold: "What’s up?"

In the next moment, before she could finish speaking, a shadow suddenly rose before her eyes, leaving her stunned.

At the peak of her heartbeat, she found Feng Chengjin reaching over to rummage for her phone.

The close proximity, combined with the past memory of Feng Chengjin leaning in to kiss her at the cinema, gave her a déjà vu feeling, and she thought Feng Chengjin was going to kiss her.

But in the next moment, watching Feng Chengjin’s retreating action.

And as Feng Chengjin seemed to sense her tension, he stood motionless, gazing at her with determination.

In an instant, Gu Zixuan’s face turned redder than a boiled crab.

Bowed her head, she said, "Why are you looking at me?"

Because of the shadows and light, Feng Chengjin couldn’t immediately see the flush on her face, but hearing the tension and tremor in her voice, he could understand what she was thinking.

In a moment, Feng Chengjin wanted to kiss her right away, to pry open her stubborn lips, and ask her, "Why do you think I’m looking at you?"

But, thinking about the current imbalance stirred up by Yu Yuanshen...

Feng Chengjin pressed down on the displeasure of knowing that his woman had once been married off to someone else, and could potentially be married off to someone else in the future, silently pressed his lips together, and sat back, starting to flip through his phone.

Gu Zixuan immediately felt a surge of even stronger disappointment in her heart.

Thinking about his date with Qi Shuya today, she felt even more sour.

Feng Chengjin unlocked Gu Zixuan’s phone, looking at the text message records, finally confirming, and seeing the reality, a trace of ridicule arose in his eyes.

He didn’t say anything, and after Gu Zixuan’s emotions had calmed a bit, he opened his own phone, swiped to the same interface, and handed it to Gu Zixuan.

Gu Zixuan took it, glanced at it, and instantly understood something.

Slightly startled, she was in disbelief, "But, this isn’t my reply..."

Feng Chengjin leaned against the driver’s seat, let out a light snort without words, then crossed his arms and scrutinized Gu Zixuan, "What do you and Yu Yuanshen say about me behind my back? What does this mean now? I return Junsheng’s documents to you, and you do half of the project for me, then disregard the rest, is that it?"

"No, I’m not..." Thinking about the promise I still owe Feng Chengjin regarding the follow-up project, Gu Zixuan was at a loss for words.

"So, do you think I have character issues, fantasizing about you, and you need to be wary?"

"No, that’s not it either..." Understanding why Feng Chengjin would suddenly go on a blind date in front of her today while ignoring her, Gu Zixuan fell silent again.

"Then, does it mean your divorce is basically finalized, and you plan to marry Yu Yuanshen afterward, maintaining relationships with everyone?"

"Absolutely not!" This time, Gu Zixuan couldn’t help but raise her gaze.

Regardless of the eight-year formality of marriage, she and He Qimo lived their separate lives, maintaining only the necessary boundaries without encroaching upon each other’s social circles. As adults, no one can live as a subsidiary for another. This mutual understanding led to mutual respect in this area.

Her current relationships with He Qimo and Yu Yuanshen, for instance, neither provided a reason or position for her to act in such a way.

He Qimo wasn’t worth it.

Yu Yuanshen hadn’t reached that point yet.

Most importantly, Feng Chengjin’s reminder made Gu Zixuan recall that although he had kissed her three times, the personal debts she owed him were the most significant...

Moreover, it felt strange because Gu Zixuan thought it unnecessary to voice these thoughts to Feng Chengjin, yet she still did.

The air was filled with tension as Feng Chengjin blankly acknowledged her instinctive response, a smile barely visible on his lips.

Then, with a cold expression, he turned away with a light scoff, "Alright, I just wanted to ask you about this in person. You can go back now. Sorry for disturbing your rest."

Having said that, Feng Chengjin started the car.

Without getting out to open the door for her, this act made Gu Zixuan realize his reluctance to embarrass her, silently issuing an eviction order.

Deep within her, something suddenly felt uncomfortable, recalling how he had gently smiled yesterday, saying he’d take her out to eat another day.

The contrast between today’s cold atmosphere and the feeling that they might never harmoniously coexist again was even more painful and pervasive.

She nodded slightly, lightly clutching her fingertips, and said, "I understand, Mr. Feng. It won’t happen again."

With that, she was about to open the door and get out.

A sourness rose from deep inside, not knowing its origin.

Perhaps it was because she had never been dismissed this way before? That was all she could guess.

The feeling of disappointment was an unexpected sting even for her.

Perhaps her voice was too full of sadness, causing a deep gleam to appear in Feng Chengjin’s eyes.

Seeing Gu Zixuan, just as she was about to open the car door and get out, he grabbed her wrist.

The long and slender interaction of their wrists and arms, the soft complement of his hand with hers, seemed harmoniously aligned like a natural contract of perfect match.

Gu Zixuan looked back, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes filled with confusion.

Feng Chengjin pursed his lips, looked at her for a while, and silently took out a gift box from the back seat, which he hadn’t had the chance to give her yesterday, awkwardly handing it over, "It’s for you."

Gu Zixuan was stunned, bewildered, not knowing if she should accept it at first glance.

Until Feng Chengjin’s gaze became increasingly deep, he finally couldn’t hold back and pulled her back to her seat.

Then he leaned over, one hand around her waist, the other supporting her head, and kissed her.

Gu Zixuan’s eyes widened in shock, feeling his gentle lips firmly pressing against hers.

Her heartbeat surged quickly.

The intense leaning and embrace gave her a feeling of losing control over herself.

What is he doing!

Feng Chengjin, with his arm wrapped around her waist, pried open her lips, kissing passionately without hesitation.

Never had he kissed so deeply before, causing Gu Zixuan to make a soft noise, uncontrollably murmuring, "You..."

Not a word came out before Feng Chengjin cut her off again.

"Don’t speak, close your eyes."

He coldly yet with a touch of warmth and dominance proclaimed.

He then tightened his arm, pulling her slender waist closer to his chest.

The kisses grew deeper, more intense, as he tightly held her waist, not stopping until her lips were swollen with a tempting hue.

Gu Zixuan was entirely bewildered.

Because this time, she clearly heard the thumping of her heart, no longer Feng Chengjin’s, but unmistakably hers, so loud it couldn’t be ignored. Yet facing Feng Chengjin’s passionate kiss, though her logic couldn’t comprehend what was happening, emotionally she had a compelling desire not to push away.

Heartbeat 90...

Heartbeat 100...

Heartbeat 110...

Heartbeat 120...

For the first time, she heard the acceleration of her heartbeat.

She felt the heat of her face like boiling water, rolling with steam and fervor.