He Qimo spoke calmly, especially when mentioning power and money, his tone was extremely indifferent. Gu Zixuanxin felt as if a knife had pierced her heart. In an instant, she suddenly understood all the times during their two-year relationship when he was sensitive, and she felt confused and uncomfortable. But because she understood, even though her starting point and stance were completely different from that woman’s, some things were still misunderstandings. But she had also gone on a blind date with Feng Chengjin, and unknowingly, had also with Feng Chengjin... Looking at the man in front of her, hurt by this reality once, and then hurt a second time. Gu Zixuanxin trembled, her heart ached, and she was too guilty to speak, "Qimo..." He Qimo simply curled his lips into an indifferent smile, "But my feelings for you are different. Hers at most was youthful indiscretion; it passed and was forgotten, not painful. But you are the woman I fell uncontrollably in love with and wanted to care for all my life. I guess it’s my destiny..." Fresh chapters posted on novelꜰire.net He Qimo sighed and laughed at himself, "Knowing that you were falling in love for the first time, offering your whole heart to me, but I, due to my own grudges and sensitivity, repeatedly wore down your emotions and expectations. Honestly, during those two years, did you often feel disappointed in me?" He Qimo looked at Gu Zixuan. Gu Zixuanxin trembled internally, her watery eyes also fixated on him. Yet she didn’t know how to answer. She remained silent, which made his self-mocking smile even deeper, "If you don’t want to say, that’s fine. Actually, I’m quite disappointed in myself too. I don’t understand women, nor do I understand what you’re all thinking. Perhaps, with my silence and solitary nature, there’s nothing inherently lovable about me, and heaven keeps playing tricks on me." He Qimo spoke lightly, but Gu Zixuan looked at the twenty-eight-year-old in front of her who had spent seventeen or eighteen years on a difficult emotional path. In her heart, and in her eyes, tears trembled out. He Qimo acted as if he had said enough, raised his hand to brush his hair, and began to lower his head to find a pack of cigarettes. Only after searching his pants pocket for a while, did he suddenly remember something, and looked at Gu Zixuan. "I... have a craving for a cigarette, can I hold you instead?" She didn’t understand why craving a cigarette was related to holding each other, but looking at the man in front of her who had even changed from a former domineering attitude to asking now. In his flickering eyes, there was no longer the cold and deep look of the past, only the pale, shallow look after illness remained. Gu Zixuanxin’s heart was almost shattered and stopped beating. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she embraced his almost frozen body, buried her head in his chest, and couldn’t help but sob. The tears were scalding. For He Qimo, he never thought that one day, what would warm his heart, would be these tears filled with sadness. But, in his pale and empty life with nothing left, this touch of tears, even if sorrowful... Collecting his emotions, He Qimo held Gu Zixuan, and didn’t say anything else, "You don’t have to worry about the reputation issue. Feng Chengjin and Yu Yuanshen are handling it actively, Feng Yi and GIO Investment Bank have a significant influence, Rong City matters can be resolved by them. Go back and have some peace for a few days, believe me, some matters will soon be settled, whether in society, or in his family... there won’t be any more accusations." Gu Zixuanxin believed all the things before, except for that last sentence. Thinking of Feng Jingguo’s scolding that day, Gu Zixuan gave a self-deprecating smile without hope and shook her head slowly, "No matter how things are explained to society, inside the circle, it will always be assumed I’m just doing damage control, no family would believe it." On this point, He Qimo just looked at her deeply, smiled, and said nothing. He simply patted her shoulder comfortingly, coughed, and said, "It’s a bit cold, let’s go downstairs." Gu Zixuan nodded, got up and helped him as they left. There were two points that Gu Zixuan didn’t notice at all: First, He Qimo left the cigarette pack and lighter on the rooftop, never intending to take them. Second, after turning, the expression on He Qimo’s face, walking slightly behind her, changed. His gaze upon her was profoundly deep and pale, as if he was taking one last look. Until he faintly curled his lips into a smile... Southern Fourth Hospital. During the Monday orthopedic department meeting, Feng Chengyue quietly lowered her gaze and took notes on Professor Li Mingda’s speech, occasionally glancing under the table at her phone vibrating and based on the speed of her fingers, presumably texting. However, Qiu Mingyan on the other side of the long conference table seemed to be a bit confused. Thinking about Feng Chengyue’s light peck that day, it left him distracted for days, even losing interest in the outpatient bonus, he felt something was not quite right with himself. But Feng Chengyue’s kiss didn’t lead to anything more. These days at the hospital, Feng Chengyue greets him openly with a smile and passes by, not even giving him a second glance. Continuing to chat and laugh with others. Even more, they performed surgeries together, checked the wards together, naturally as if that incident never happened. So now he’s particularly confused emotionally, feeling... was he just casually flirted with by her? At this moment, Feng Chengyue wasn’t wearing a doctor’s mask or hat, with her hair tied up, lazily draping her slightly wavy black hair over her shoulders, with her clear and charming features under the white lab coat, looking too beautiful to be in a place like a hospital. Feng Chengyue continued to look down at her phone, sending messages. On this side of the long table, perhaps it was Professor Li Mingda’s summary speech being too long, making everyone feel sleepy. Two young doctors, equally distracted, started whispering quietly. "Doctor Feng is just too beautiful. Hard to believe the top beauty of Southern Fourth Hospital is in our department." "More than just beautiful, look at her background and education; her brother is Feng Chengjin, Rong City’s richest man, and she’s a doctoral student back from the United States!" "Tsk, tsk, I heard she’s not married yet, no boyfriend either, wonder what kind of man she likes." "Anyway, it won’t be any of us poor doctors." The one on the left elbowed the one on the right jokingly, saying: "Like the most money-savvy one in our department, the associate professor and chief physician, making about ten thousand a month, dead as can be, with bonuses fluctuating would never exceed three thousand. Such a beauty, us poor doctors can’t afford... and I heard recently she’s been meeting someone, the other party is also a big company CEO, worth billions!" The two spoke happily. In the front row, Qiu Mingyan frowned deeply, lowered his head, and began to use every moment to catch up on the surgery report. Across from him, Feng Chengyue just finished texting Yu Yuanshen, understanding the trouble her third brother and Gu Zixuan would face, pondering. As she looked up, she saw Qiu Mingyan’s handsome yet brooding face. Her eyes curved with a smile, she looked at him, giving a gentle smile. Once the meeting ended. Everyone packed up and returned to their respective posts. Li Mingda faced the most satisfactory intern doctor in his twenty or thirty years of career... Feng Chengyue, and couldn’t help but smile and say: "Yu Yu, sort and organize the copies of the surgical reports all the doctors submitted earlier, and file them later." "Okay." Feng Chengyue responded with a gentle smile. Li Mingda nodded in satisfaction and left. For a moment, the office was left with only Feng Chengyue and Qiu Mingyan. Qiu Mingyan wanted to leave, but he really couldn’t as his surgery report wasn’t finished. So, after Feng Chengyue finished tidying up everything, she smiled and slowly moved to sit beside him. Qiu Mingyan replied in a bad tone, coldly saying: "I have many surgeries." Feng Chengyue’s eyes smiled, "The capable do more work, no rush, no rush, there’s also more money; I can wait for you to finish..." Feng Chengyue spoke happily, while Qiu Mingyan thought of those two doctors’ earlier words, fueling a stronger sense of irritation inside, especially at Feng Chengyue’s emphasis on "more money." Qiu Mingyan furrowed his brows coldly and shifted his body. "Sit further away, who knows if you’re trying to peek at what I’m writing..." "Alright, alright, I won’t look, I’ll sit further away." Feng Chengyue didn’t mind, just watching Qiu Mingyan’s handsome face, unsure whom he was angry with, she smiled and moved back, holding a stack of reports waiting. But not even ten minutes later, Qiu Mingyan was still displeased, turned his head, and said: "Can’t you wait outside? You being here, I can’t write." Now that’s a bit unreasonable. Feng Chengyue looked at Qiu Mingyan, put down the reports, and walked slowly back to where Qiu Mingyan was sitting. Smiling, she leaned a bit closer, "But the professor wants me to collect the surgical reports; they’re meant to be filled before surgery, you’re always busy and fill them out after, which the professor has already forgiven you for. I’m patient enough to wait, but ... Qiu Mingyan, we’re quite familiar, right? Do you have any objections against me in your heart?" The distance of Feng Chengyue leaning in while speaking was too close, filling Qiu Mingyan’s nose with her fragrance. For Qiu Mingyan, at thirty-one, never having had close contact with women beyond money, it was rather tormenting. Qiu Mingyan’s face flushed instantly, "You... you move away from me." The scolding lacked conviction, especially with the obvious blush on his face, making this the first time Feng Chengyue has seen a man blush...