76: Boy friend?

He stood there in frustration for a full half-minute before finally letting out a long, dejected sigh.

Forget it.

If I've offended her, I've offended her.

What else can I do?

Resign?

What a joke; he had just sat in the manager's seat, and his seat wasn't even warm yet.

Besides, resigning over such a trivial matter would be too fragile.

At worst, I'll just have to keep a low profile from now on.

Lin Chao curled his lips in self-mockery, forcibly suppressing his pent-up frustration.

He turned around, carrying his shopping bags, and walked toward the downward escalator.

In the supermarket downstairs, the crowd was bustling, filled with the atmosphere of daily life.

This touch of mundane life finally allowed his hanging heart to settle back down slightly.

He pushed a shopping cart and expressionlessly joined the flow of shoppers.

Since he was in a bad mood, he would fill the void with food.

Frozen dumplings, take ten bags.

shredded pancakes, five bags.

Self-heating mini hotpots, two of every flavor.

And 'fat nerd happy water'—he had to get a whole case of Coke.

The shopping cart was soon piled high.

Lin Chao pushed this cart full of 'strategic supplies,' and the gloom in his heart was finally diluted by the pleasure of spending... On the other side.

Shen Zhixia pulled Guo Fandong's hand and walked quickly out of the mall.

As the outdoor evening breeze blew, the coldness on her face faded slightly.

But her beautiful brows remained tightly furrowed.

Beside her, Guo Fandong finally couldn't help but speak, his tone carrying a hint of concern and inquiry.

"Zhi Xia, that person just now... who was he?"

Shen Zhixia didn't stop, her voice as indifferent as if she were talking about the weather.

"A subordinate at the company."

"Oh?" Guo Fandong's eyebrows rose slightly. "The way he was talking to you seemed... a bit strange."

In Shen Zhixia's mind, Lin Chao's 'I get it' wretched expression replayed instantly.

A surge of nameless anger flared up again.

She stopped walking and turned to look at Guo Fandong, her tone carrying a hint of impatience.

"I don't want to shop anymore; I want to go home."

This sudden change caused the gentle smile on Guo Fandong's face to stiffen slightly.

But he quickly adjusted, returning to his considerate and gentle demeanor.

"What's wrong? Did he make you unhappy?"

"It's nothing." Shen Zhixia looked away, clearly not wanting to talk much. "I'm just a bit tired."

Guo Fandong gazed at her profile, silent for two seconds.

"Okay, then I'll take you home."

"No need." Shen Zhixia rejected him without a second thought. "I drove myself; it's convenient."

Guo Fandong's brow furrowed imperceptibly, but the smile on his face remained warm.

"Then... won't you invite me to your place for a bit?"

Shen Zhixia's body stiffened for a moment.

Guo Fandong took a step forward, his voice becoming even softer.

"You just arrived in Linhai City; you might still have many things to handle. I can help."

Shen Zhixia subconsciously took half a step back, widening the distance between them.

"It's nothing much; the moving company has already sorted everything out."

Her tone was polite, but the sense of distance was incredibly clear.

"Just some small items left; I don't need help from others."

The smile on Guo Fandong's face finally showed a crack.

He stared at Shen Zhixia and asked word by word.

"I'm not exactly 'others'!"

His voice carried a hint of grievance and hurt, and his gaze became deeply affectionate.

"Zhi Xia, am I not your boyfriend?"

These words were like a stone heavily hitting Shen Zhixia's heart, leaving her somewhat conflicted.

True.

A boyfriend going to his girlfriend's house to sit for a while and help pack things was perfectly normal.

Her repeated refusals did indeed seem a bit cold and unreasonable.

Shen Zhixia fell silent.

She looked at Guo Fandong's face, which was full of expectation, thought for a moment, and still shook her head.

"Fan Dong, it's too late today, and I'm tired."

She found an excuse, and her tone softened a bit.

"Once I've completely tidied up the house in the next couple of days, I'll invite you over, okay?"

The expression on Guo Fandong's face froze completely.

In those gentle eyes, a trace of imperceptible disappointment and gloom flashed by.

But it was only for an instant.

The next second, he smiled again as if the stiffness from before had never happened.

"Okay."

He nodded, his smile still perfectly flawless.

"I'll be waiting then."

He added as if joking.

"When the time comes, I hope to taste your cooking."

Shen Zhixia's mind wasn't on this at all, so she just replied casually.

"Okay."

The two walked side by side toward the parking lot, silent the whole way.

The underground garage was empty and quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing clearly.

Guo Fandong walked Shen Zhixia all the way to her white porsche before stopping.

He pulled open the car door, his hand gentlemanly blocking the top of the door frame to prevent her from hitting her head.

"Alright, get in."

His voice sounded exceptionally gentle in the silent garage.

Shen Zhixia sat in the driver's seat but didn't start the car immediately.

She looked at the smiling man outside the car, and a vague, indescribable warm current suddenly welled up in her heart.

Guo Fandong leaned down, hands resting on the car window, looking at her intently.

"Go back and rest early; don't think too much."

"Don't take that person you met in the mall today to heart."

"In work, it's inevitable to encounter some ignorant subordinates."

He paused, his tone full of doting.

"Your health is most important. Take good care of yourself and don't let your mood fluctuate because of these trifles, okay?"

He rambled on like he was advising a naive child.

The irritation in Shen Zhixia's heart caused by Lin Chao was actually smoothed out quite a bit by these gentle words.

She nodded and gave a soft "mm."

"Drive carefully on the road." Guo Fandong straightened up and helped her close the car door.

Shen Zhixia started the car, rolled down the window, and waved at him.

"I'm leaving then."

"Okay, send me a message when you get home."

Guo Fandong stood in place with a gentle smile on his face, watching the white silhouette of the car.

It wasn't until the porsche turned elegantly and completely disappeared at the end of his vision that the smile on his face cooled down inch by inch.

That face, which was originally as warm as jade, was now so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

He stared in the direction the vehicle vanished, his lips curling into a mocking, cold sneer.

Faking it.

Still fucking faking it in front of me.

You're already someone's mistress, so why act all pure and noble?

We've been dating for nearly a year and you won't even let me touch your hand. Are you keeping yourself pure for that sugar daddy?

Guo Fandong's expression twisted slightly with jealousy and hatred.

If it weren't for the sake of the person behind you, who can help me break through the class barrier, would I even look at a woman like you?