Jiang Zhizhi’s eyelids twitched violently.
She wasn’t sure if it was because of that intimate “sweetheart” or the hot breath that brushed against her earlobe.
Or perhaps it was the earring she hadn’t noticed flying off in the short span of three minutes.
Her cheek was stroked by the man’s fingers. Gu Yuzhi’s handsome face loomed large due to the close distance, his narrow fox eyes gazing at her with playful mischief and a hint of wickedness.
Jiang Zhizhi, who had always been skilled at deceiving men, stumbled over her words.
“No…”
The phrase was vague.
It was unclear whether she meant she hadn’t lost it or that she hadn’t done anything.
Her soft, delicate voice spread through the air, piercing through the surrounding clamor and entering Gu Yuzhi’s ears with unsettling clarity.
They were too close—her fragrant breath, warm and enticing, brushed against his face.
Their eyes met. Her moist almond eyes, distinct in their contrast of black and white, fluttered with long lashes, appearing both innocent and pitiful.
Gu Yuzhi’s Adam’s apple tightened, and the arm wrapped around the young woman’s waist subtly tightened.
In the next moment, a figure abruptly fell upon him. Xi Jin’s voice rang out, forcibly pulling the two of them apart.
“Young Master Gu, have some self-respect.”
Gu Yuzhi straightened up, his gaze cold as he watched Xi Jin gripping Jiang Zhizhi’s wrist.
“What’s there to be self-respecting about with my own fiancée?”
Xi Jin met his gaze with unwavering blue eyes, refusing to back down.
“Even married couples can divorce, let alone the fact that Young Master Gu and Zhizhi are only verbally engaged.”
“If Young Master Gu wants to assert your claim, perhaps you should wait until after you’re married.”
“Marriage is definitely happening—no need for the great movie star to worry—”
Gu Yuzhi wrapped his arm around Jiang Zhizhi’s waist, looking down at the person in his embrace, his voice softening slightly.
“Perhaps we should get married sooner, Zhizhi.”
“We didn’t take precautions that night. Getting pregnant before marriage would be irresponsible of me.”
Jiang Zhizhi: “!!”
Xi Jin’s pupils dilated rapidly, but his grip on Jiang Zhizhi’s wrist tightened even more as he whispered,
“Don’t be afraid, Zhizhi.”
“If you really are pregnant, I’ll take responsibility.”
Jiang Zhizhi: “??”
She hurriedly asked the System about what happened that night.
The System’s mechanical voice replied succinctly:
[It didn’t happen.]
Snapping back to reality, she found herself flanked by two tall, handsome men engaged in a heated exchange. Afraid of being overheard, they had already lowered their voices to argue.
“Little brat, are you even weaned yet? Are you so desperate to be a father?”
“Why are you in such a hurry, old man? I’m not trying to be your father.”
As the tension between them continued to build, curious glances from the crowd gathered around Qiao Yan in the distance drifted their way.
Jiang Zhizhi’s ears flushed with heat as she quickly tugged at the two men bickering about “fatherhood.”
“Stop talking…”
Gu Yuzhi’s Adam’s apple tightened as he swallowed his unfinished words.
Xi Jin gave Jiang Zhizhi’s wrist a reassuring squeeze, offering her a “don’t worry” look.
Just then, Qiao Yan’s condition had stabilized. Mother Jiang lovingly patted her head before walking over.
However, when her gaze fell upon Jiang Zhizhi’s face, she couldn’t help but frown, her expression filled with deep disgust.
Jiang Zhizhi blinked slowly.
For some reason, even though Mother Jiang was a stranger she had met after transmigrating into the book, that single glance left her with an indescribable ache in her heart.
A sense of grievance, sorrow, and the urge to cry.
It felt as though her heart had been tightly clenched by something.
Yet, after just a brief glance, Jiang Zhizhi's mother averted her eyes from her, returning to her poised and elegant demeanor.
"Mr. Gu, Zhizhi acted rashly and made a fool of herself in front of you."
"If you have any thoughts, Mr. Gu, please speak up. We can discuss anything."
To outsiders, Jiang Zhizhi had done nothing wrong, yet her own mother, without distinguishing right from wrong, belittled her daughter and even hinted that he could break off the engagement.
A subtle glint flashed in Gu Yuzhi's eyes as he spoke in a low voice,
"Auntie, you're too kind. Since Zhizhi and I are engaged, we'll be family from now on. You can call me Yuzhi, just like my mother does."
Seemingly caught off guard by his words, Jiang Zhizhi's mother stumbled over her response.
After all, everyone knew that the Crown Prince of the Gu family had agreed to this engagement reluctantly. It was only because the eldest daughter of the Jiang family had schemed, stripping naked to set a trap, that she succeeded.
The disparity between the two families was too great, and this disgraceful attempt to climb the social ladder had subjected Jiang Zhizhi's mother to both overt and covert ridicule.
She had thought that today's commotion would surely damage the Jiang family's reputation and cost them this marriage.
But unexpectedly, the Crown Prince of the Gu family seemed unwilling to call off the engagement?
Before Jiang Zhizhi's mother could make sense of it, Xi Jin took another step forward.
"Auntie, with so much going on at home today, you must be busy everywhere…"
He smiled warmly at Jiang Zhizhi's mother, appearing every bit the obedient junior.
"You don't need to worry about things here. I'll take care of Zhizhi while I'm here."
Jiang Zhizhi's mother opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words.
Their family had once been close to the Xi family, and Zhizhi and Xi Jin had grown up together as childhood sweethearts. But later, the two children had a falling out, and the families had almost ceased contact.
How had these two suddenly reappeared, one after the other?
Jiang Zhizhi's mother lowered her gaze, staring blankly at Xi Jin's hand gripping Jiang Zhizhi's wrist.
Jiang Zhizhi struggled, and Xi Jin chuckled, releasing her hand.
He remained standing beside Jiang Zhizhi, looking at the man who was her fiancé, and curved his lips into a smile.
"Sorry, Zhizhi and I have been close since childhood, growing up together."
"When we were young, Zhizhi was often unwell, and I was the one who held her hand to and from school. Auntie, you must remember that."
"I've never quite broken the habit, and I accidentally touched Zhizhi's wrist just now. I hope you don't mind, Mr. Gu?"
Watching his hypocritical display, Gu Yuzhi gritted his teeth.
"Not at all."
Satisfied with the answer, Xi Jin smiled.
His sapphire-blue peach blossom eyes shimmered as he looked at Jiang Zhizhi, continuing his veiled sarcasm.
"If you don't mind your fiancée holding hands with someone else, Mr. Gu, you're quite generous…"
Gu Yuzhi clenched his fist.
Hard.
Completely hardened.
Not far away, someone shouted, "She's awake, she's awake!" and Qiao Yan's voice calling "Auntie" echoed through the air.
Jiang Zhizhi's mother quickly responded with an "Ah."
She exchanged a distant greeting with Pei Henian at the card table and nodded to the two young men beside Jiang Zhizhi.
But as for her own daughter, she didn't even spare a glance before turning and leaving.
With the sound of scattered footsteps, the onlookers began to disperse.
Qiao Yan, clutching her chest and leaning on Jiang Zhizhi's mother for support, glanced back.
"Auntie, but what about Zhizhi…"
"Don't mention her."
A voice devoid of much emotion came from Mother Jiang. Qiao Yan turned her face slightly and gave Jiang Zhizhi a faint tug at the corner of her lips.
With a loud "bang" as the door closed, the figure disappeared.
The room was quiet, carrying an eerie sense of calm.
Gu Yuzhi followed his little fiancée back to the card table, only then seeming to notice the person seated there. He looked at Pei Henian, dressed in a neat dark suit.
"Henian, you're here too?"
The Gu and Pei families were old friends.
The Gu family was involved in politics, while the Pei family was a business giant. Decades of mutual support, intermarriage among the elders, and deep ties made the two families inseparable.
Gu Yuzhi was two years younger than Pei Henian. Both had excelled since childhood, and as standouts in the top echelons of the elite circle, they shared a certain mutual admiration.
They couldn’t be called inseparable confidants, but they were rare friends within that circle.
"I thought you weren’t interested in such trivial games. What brings you here to play today?"
"Keeping the young ones company to pass the time."
Pei Henian turned his cards face down on the table. His jade-like fingers reflected the light, his coldly handsome face revealing no emotion.
Gu Yuzhi raised an eyebrow. "Care for a round?"
Pei Henian neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, Xi Jin’s clear voice chimed in, sounding like a big dog wagging its tail.
"Zhizhi, do you want to keep playing?"
"Sit here with me!"
Jiang Zhizhi shook her head like a rattle drum.
She didn’t know how to play poker at all.
If she sat down, it wouldn’t even take one round for tonight’s Catch-in-the-Act Plot to be exposed.
Jiang Zhizhi refused outright.
"I don’t want to play. It’s boring. I’m going downstairs for a walk…"
The moment their eyes met, Xi Jin seemed to understand and covered for her.
"Actually, I’m hungry. Could you have someone bring me something to eat?"
Jiang Zhizhi nodded, ready to make her escape.
Suddenly, a familiar, cool voice came from beside her.
"Running away?"
Jiang Zhizhi looked up and met Pei Henian’s gaze as he held his cards.
Under the light, his phoenix eyes took on a light tea hue, and a small mole on the tip of his nose seemed to shimmer in the shadows.
His thin, rosy lips curved slightly, carrying an undeniable authority.
"You gathered everyone here yourself. There’s no reason to sneak away."
"Sit."