After one night of indulgence, the abstinent tycoon kissed her every night with his hand on her hip.

Ling Jingyuan had spotted Gu Shen long ago. He deliberately whispered something about what happened last night in Jiang Zhi's ear, causing Jiang Zhi's face to turn red instantly.

This was an elegant and quiet upscale restaurant, so Jiang Zhi couldn't get angry and could only glare at him with a flushed face.

Ling Jingyuan smiled faintly upon seeing this, but in Gu Shen's eyes, it was just the two of them flirting.

Gu Shen found the scene particularly jarring and felt a strong sense of unease.

Jiang Zhi, she clearly likes him, it's him!

A dark glint flashed in his eyes as he subtly adjusted his emotions and strode toward the two men. Ling Jingyuan glanced at the man approaching and a slight smile played on his lips, a hint of gloom gleaming in his deep, dark eyes.

"Jiang Zhi, Gu Shen is here."

"Don't forget the purpose of this meal. Cooperate with me properly."

Jiang Zhi paused slightly upon hearing this, then looked at the man walking towards her in silence for a moment before nodding gently.

"I know."

Gu Shen walked to the two of them, and Ling Jingyuan glanced at Gu Shen and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Section Chief Gu, please have a seat."

Gu Shen nodded slightly, his gaze gently turning to Jiang Zhiwen with a warm smile.

"Jiang Zhi, what brings you here to treat me to dinner today?"

Just as Jiang Zhi was about to speak, Ling Jingyuan gently grasped her hand, which was resting on the table.

He lowered his eyes, gently caressed Jiang Zhi's hand, and spoke softly.

"Congratulations, Section Chief Gu."

Gu Shen frowned and looked at Ling Jingyuan with a puzzled expression. "What is it that you're congratulating me on, Mr. Ling?"

Ling Jingyuan glanced at Jiang Zhi beside him and said lightly, "I heard that Section Chief Gu is getting engaged soon. Of course, I congratulate Section Chief Gu on his engagement."

As he spoke, he took out a card and handed it to Gu Shen with a natural expression. "This is a small token of our appreciation from Jiang Zhi and me. We wish Section Chief Gu a happy engagement."

Jiang Zhi was surprised that Ling Jingyuan would suddenly take out a card; her eyes remained calm, revealing no clue whatsoever.

She looked at Gu Shen with her usual faint smile and said, "Gu Shen, congratulations."

Gu Shen looked at Jiang Zhi with a complex yet humble expression. He was indeed preparing for his engagement to Liu Sisi, and the Liu family had been a great help to his future.

Furthermore, Liu Sisi was very proactive, and the two of them had already...

But it was precisely at this moment that his feelings for Jiang Zhi grew stronger.

He struggled too.

On the one hand, he wanted a bright future, but on the other hand, he couldn't bear to part with Jiang Zhi.

He thought Jiang Zhi would wait for him forever, but when he saw another man beside Jiang Zhi, Gu Shen realized the resentment and jealousy in his heart.

"Jiang Zhi, I..."

"Baby, come here."

"Let's raise a glass to Section Chief Gu."

Ling Jingyuan forcefully interrupted Gu Shen and poured Jiang Zhi a glass of juice. Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi smiled gently, nodded, picked up the juice, and calmly looked at Gu Shen.

"Gu Shen, congratulations on your engagement."

Ling Jingyuan glanced at Gu Shen, picked up a glass of red wine, and said in a calm voice, "Section Chief Gu, congratulations."

Gu Shen's hand, which was under the table, clenched slightly. He picked up the glass of red wine in front of him with a normal expression and nodded slightly to the two of them.

"Thanks."

Gu Shen found this meal extremely difficult.

Although this was a high-end restaurant he had never been to before, and the food was very expensive, he felt uneasy watching the natural and sweet interactions between Ling Jingyuan and Jiang Zhi.

Finally, the dinner party ended. Gu Shen took a deep look at Jiang Zhi and then parted ways with the two of them.

He felt inferior in front of Ling Jingyuan, a kind of powerless inferiority.

In terms of family background, social standing, wealth, and looks, he couldn't compare to him in any way.

But he was unwilling to accept it, because Jiang Zhi clearly liked him!

All these years, Jiang Zhi has only ever had him in her heart!

Why was Ling Jingyuan the one who ended up standing next to Jiang Zhi?

Jiang Zhi felt a pang of indescribable sorrow in her heart; Gu Shen was really getting engaged. She let out a soft breath, as if trying to completely dispel the feelings she had held for Gu Shen over the years.

Time moves forward, and lines that would never intersect eventually return to their respective spaces.

I wish him happiness!

Ling Jingyuan looked at Jiang Zhi, who remained silent despite his calm expression, and his deep eyes darkened slightly.

"Get in the car, I'll take you home."

"Ling Jingyuan, I want to be alone for a while..."

Ling Jingyuan frowned slightly. He grabbed Jiang Zhi, pulled her into the car, forcefully fastened her seatbelt, and started the car with a stern face.

Jiang Zhi suddenly felt a little tired. She just wanted to be alone. She silently closed her eyes.

Ling Jingyuan glanced at Jiang Zhi but didn't say anything. He just stepped on the gas and headed straight for Jiang Zhi's apartment complex.

As they approached the residential area, Jiang Zhijing spoke.

"Ling Jingyuan, stop the car. I want to go back by myself."

Upon hearing this, Ling Jingyuan glanced at Jiang Zhi, but this time he did not stop the car from stopping on the side of the road.

"Go back, take a shower and get some rest. Don't think about anything."

"If you miss me, you can call me. I'll be there whenever you need me and I'm always ready to help you."

Ling Jingyuan bent down to help Jiang Zhi unbuckle her seatbelt, his dark eyes fixed on her, before gently kissing her forehead.

"Go."

He reached out and gently ruffled Jiang Zhi's hair before speaking softly.

Jiang Zhi was slightly taken aback by Ling Jingyuan's gentleness. She lowered her eyes, nodded, and quickly got out of the car and entered the residential area.

Ling Jingyuan sat in the car quietly watching Jiang Zhi's figure until she could no longer see him before slowly starting the car and leaving. She needed quiet and wanted to be alone, so he gave her time and space.

Jiang Zhi had just sat down on the sofa when her phone rang. It was Gu Shen calling.

Jiang Zhi frowned but eventually answered the phone.

"Hello, it's Jiang Zhi." Gu Shen's voice was somewhat urgent.

Jiang Zhi: "Gu Shen, what's wrong?"

The person on the other end of the phone was silent for a while after hearing this, and then spoke softly.

"Jiang Zhi, I like you."

"I know you like me too, right?"

"Jiang Zhi, you and Ling Jingyuan are not a good match. You don't understand their circle. He's just playing around with you."

"Jiang Zhi, I'm afraid you'll get hurt."

"Jiang Zhi, you shouldn't be with him!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi's grip on the phone tightened slightly. Gu Shen knew; he had always known that she liked him!

But all these years he pretended not to know and never dared to be brave for her.

Jiang Zhi suddenly felt pathetic. He said he liked her, but where was his liking?

Jiang Zhi interrupted him coldly, "Gu Shen, you're getting engaged soon!"

The person on the phone paused slightly, "Jiang Zhi, I know you've liked me for many years. I can't refuse the engagement, but the one I love is you."

"If you're willing, I can give you all my feelings, except for a formal title..."

Jiang Zhi was stunned when she heard Gu Shen's words.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks, for herself and for Gu Shen.

This is the man she's secretly loved and cherished in her heart for so many years—he turns out to be so despicable!

It turns out that God had seen all along that she and he were a mistake and prevented them from being together. Look how ironic it is now!

The person she had secretly loved for many years and was about to get engaged to told her that he had also liked her for many years and knew that she had liked him for many years. He was going to get engaged to another woman and asked her to be his mistress.

"Gu Shen."

What makes you think I would choose you over Ling Jingyuan?

Gu Shen's tone became somewhat urgent and cold upon hearing this, "Jiang Zhi, I don't think you're one of those materialistic women, you're different from those other women..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi smiled silently. As she smiled, tears streamed down her face, bitter in taste. She calmly wiped away her tears, her voice cold and resolute.

"Gu Shen, you don't deserve my love all these years."

After saying that, she hung up the phone and deleted and blocked the person.

Top-tier luxury residences in the city center.

In the study.

As Ling Jingyuan looked at all the information his assistant had gathered about Gu Shen and Jiang Zhi from childhood to adulthood, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

He put down the documents, his eyes filled with heartache, grabbed the keys, and rushed out the door.