90: The persona cannot collapse

The corners of Guo Fandong's mouth had already curled into a smug smile in anticipation.

He had even planned out the surprised expression Zhi Xia would have when she opened the door and saw him.

However, the surprise he expected did not occur.

Because the moment the doorbell rang—

"Click."

The door opened.

It wasn't after a few seconds, but almost at the exact same time, as if the person inside had been waiting right behind the door.

The smug smile on Guo Fandong's face froze instantly.

He was stunned for a moment.

But quickly, he forced this bewilderment into another form of self-satisfaction: "Heh, it seems Zhi Xia and I really are on the same wavelength."

As he spoke, he tried to squeeze into the doorway, his face full of bravado.

However, a pale hand blocked his path.

Shen Zhixia, who had opened the door, was wearing a loose silk nightgown, her face still bearing a sickly paleness.

Her gaze swept coldly over Guo Fandong, without a hint of warmth in her eyes.

That look was as if she were looking at an irrelevant stranger.

Then, her gaze moved past Guo Fandong's shoulder and landed on Lin Chao behind him.

In an instant, the ice and snow melted.

"Supervisor Lin, you're here," Shen Zhixia's voice softened immediately, carrying a trace of subtle joy. "Please, come in!"

She stepped aside, completely ignoring Guo Fandong who was blocking the doorway, making a path for Lin Chao.

Lin Chao nodded slightly and walked in calmly, carrying the items in his hand.

Shen Zhixia looked at the clay pot and medicinal herbs in his hands, a flicker of warmth in her eyes, and added casually, "No need to change your shoes."

"I haven't prepared any slippers at home."

"Besides, you didn't change your shoes when you came yesterday either."

"Once I recover some energy, I'll arrange for a cleaner to come and tidy up."

Boom—!

These few casual sentences were no less than a bolt from the blue for Guo Fandong!

His mind went blank instantly, leaving nothing but a buzzing roar in his ears!

What the hell?!

This guy named Lin... was here yesterday?!

Yesterday? What time yesterday?! Last night?!

Countless thoughts flooded Guo Fandong's mind like an out-of-control comment stream!

Didn't this kid just upset Zhi Xia at the mall yesterday?

So, he chased her here last night to apologize?

So... they freaking hooked up last night?!

Guo Fandong's face turned from green to white, then from white to purple, in a spectacular display!

He suddenly remembered that in all the time he had been dating Shen Zhixia, the most intimate thing they had done was hold hands!

But now it seemed this bitch was actually so easy, so cheap at heart!

Last night... she didn't sleep with this damn brat last night, did she?!

A surge of overwhelming rage and humiliation instantly demolished Guo Fandong's rationality!

He could tolerate sharing a woman with a giant like Yang Shengli because that could bring him immense benefits!

But what kind of thing was Lin Chao?

A minor supervisor selling massagers! A pauper trying to curry favor with a crappy clay pot!

He's worthy?!

Thinking of this, Guo Fandong could no longer maintain his surface level of poise; the fire of jealousy in his heart almost burned him to ashes!

He turned his head and stared fixedly at Shen Zhixia, his tone so stiff it sounded like it was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Zhi Xia!"

"What exactly is the situation between you and this Supervisor Lin?!"

"You guys met last night too?!"

Facing Guo Fandong's face, distorted by jealousy, Shen Zhixia's reaction was as calm as a bottomless ancient well.

Her eyelashes didn't even quiver.

Those cold eyes met Guo Fandong's gaze, which was practically spitting fire, with indifference.

Then, she parted her red lips: "What?"

"Is there a problem?"

Those four simple words, devoid of any heat, were like a ladle of boiling oil suddenly poured onto the raging fire of jealousy in Guo Fandong's heart!

Boom—!

"What do you think?!" Guo Fandong's rationality snapped instantly, and he practically roared it out!

"In the middle of the night, you actually met with this man?!"

His voice became somewhat shrill due to extreme anger, sounding exceptionally piercing in the empty hallway.

However, as soon as the words left his mouth, Guo Fandong regretted it.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Shen Zhixia's increasingly cold gaze.

Wait! The persona must not crumble!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the rage in his heart, and squeezed out what he thought was a gentle smile on his face.

"Zhi Xia, don't misunderstand."

His voice immediately softened by eight octaves, full of deliberate concern: "I... I'm just too worried about you."

"I'm your boyfriend!"

Guo Fandong took a step forward, attempting to close the distance between them, his tone carrying a hint of grievance.

"If anything happens, why not just call and let me know?"

"Why trouble an outsider?"

Hearing this, the corners of Shen Zhixia's mouth curled into a half-smile.

That smile held three parts mockery and seven parts icy coldness.

"Find you?" She sounded as if she had heard the world's biggest joke. "If I had a sudden medical emergency, would finding you be of any use?"

"I..."

Guo Fandong was instantly choked up, the expression on his face stiffening for a moment.

What could he do? He could do nothing!

But he reacted extremely quickly, immediately transforming this bit of embarrassment into an even more affectionate performance: "Zhi Xia, I know you're not in good health, I know!"

He looked at her with an incredibly pained gaze, his voice so gentle it could almost drip water: "So..."

"How about I just move in here with you?"

"That way, if you have any emergencies, I can help and take care of you in time!"

Guo Fandong felt that this proposal of his was absolutely flawless.

It could assert his dominance, completely isolate this guy named Lin, allow him to naturally move into this expensive river-view luxury mansion, and even let him sleep with Shen Zhixia.

Four birds with one stone!

Just as he was secretly feeling proud of his cleverness, a voice tinged with surprise rang out unexpectedly from the side.

"Wow."

Lin Chao, who had been silent, suddenly blinked, as if he had discovered a new continent, and sized Guo Fandong up and down.

"You... are planning to become a gigolo in broad daylight!"

Pfft—!

Guo Fandong felt a sweetness in his throat, almost spitting out a mouthful of old blood!

His face darkened instantly!

"Is there a place for you..."

"...to speak here?" These words had already rushed to his lips.

But as soon as he saw Shen Zhixia's expressionless face, he forced the words back down!

Must not lose his temper!

Must maintain the gentle and considerate persona!

Guo Fandong's jaw muscles bulged twice with effort before he barely managed to control his expression.