Chapter 160 Are You Tempted?
Zhu Jin never dreamed that Chen Shuangmiao would respond.
He immediately kissed her deeper and harder.
Zhu Jin regained his composure when both of them were slightly out of breath.
He abruptly released Shen Shuangmiao, took a step back, breathing heavily, his eyes filled with regret.
Zhu Jin looked at Shen Shuangmiao's lips, which were swollen and red from being kissed, and his Adam's apple bobbed violently.
"sorry."
He lowered his head. "I...you should get some rest."
After saying that, Zhu Jin fled in panic, quickly leaving the living room.
In the empty living room, only Shen Shuangmiao remained standing there, her lips still seemingly warm from his breath, the air filled with the sweet scent of apple juice.
She slowly raised her hand, touching her slightly stinging lips, her heart pounding.
What was she doing just now?
She hated his decision so much, so why did she respond when he kissed her...?
Shen Shuangmiao's face grew increasingly red, and she became flustered. She lowered her head and hurried upstairs.
Zhu Jin didn't come looking for her again.
the next day.
Shen Shuangmiao woke up very early.
She barely slept all night. She got up, washed, changed her clothes, and went downstairs.
Inside the restaurant, Zhu Jin was already seated, with his almost untouched breakfast laid out in front of him.
He was wearing a white shirt, a departure from his usual aloof demeanor.
Hearing her footsteps, Zhu Jin looked up and his eyes met hers.
In that instant, Shen Shuangmiao saw a fleeting, complex emotion flash across his eyes, but it was too quick for her to grasp.
"Good morning," Zhu Jin greeted softly.
"Good morning." Shen Shuangmiao lowered her eyelashes and walked to her seat.
The maid immediately served her breakfast.
An awkward silence filled the air.
The two ate in silence, neither of them mentioning the out-of-control kiss from the previous night.
Just as breakfast was about to end, the butler came in, looking somewhat cautious.
He whispered to Zhu Jin, "Sir, Mr. Smith from the organization is here and waiting for you in the study. He wants to confirm the itinerary and schedule one last time."
Shen Shuangmiao's hand holding the spoon suddenly trembled, and the ceramic spoon hit the rim of the bowl, making a crisp sound.
She felt Zhu Jin's gaze fall on her instantly, and a hint of nervousness crossed her face.
Zhu Jin remained silent for a few seconds before saying to the butler, "I understand. Please ask him to wait a moment, I'll be right there."
He put down his napkin, stood up, and looked at Shen Shuangmiao again, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just pursed his lips and turned to leave the restaurant.
As soon as he left, cold sweat seeped out from Shen Shuangmiao's back.
Only a few days left?
She had forgotten to keep track of the dates.
There should only be five or six days left, so someone from the organization came to confirm the itinerary and dates.
Shen Shuangmiao could no longer sit still and abruptly pushed the chair away and stood up.
She can't stay here, she can't listen to him and the people from that organization discussing this in the study.
"Prepare the car," she instructed the waiting maid, her voice trembling. "I need to go out for a bit."
"Madam, where are you going? The master gave the instructions..."
"You don't need to tell him where I'm going!"
Shen Shuangmiao interrupted the maid, her tone unusually stern, "I'm just going out for a walk to clear my head, I don't need anyone to come with me!"
The maid nodded and had no choice but to ask the driver to prepare the car.
Shen Shuangmiao left the Zhu family's old house, got into the car, and instructed the driver to go to the studio.
She desperately needs a place where she can catch her breath.
Inside the studio.
Fu Xuan was checking the new project plan when he was startled to see Shen Shuangmiao suddenly appear, her face pale and with obvious dark circles under her eyes.
"Shuangmiao? What brings you here? You look terrible, are you feeling unwell?"
He quickly put down the documents in his hand and poured her a glass of warm water.
Shen Shuangmiao took the water glass; her fingertips were icy cold.
She sat on the sofa and took a few deep breaths, but still couldn't calm her racing heart.
“Fu Xuan…” she began, her voice choked with suppressed sobs, “They’ve come to confirm the itinerary.”
Fu Xuan was stunned for a moment, then realized what she was referring to, and his expression became serious.
"when?"
“About five or six days later,” Shen Shuangmiao said, closing her eyes. “They were talking in the study. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I came out.”
Upon hearing this, Fu Xuan looked at her in silence.
He saw not only sadness and despair on her face, but also a panicked fear.
Looking at Shen Shuangmiao's distraught appearance, Fu Xuan had a vague guess in his mind.
"Shuangmiao," he said carefully, his tone cautious, "what are your feelings for him right now?"
Shen Shuangmiao suddenly opened her eyes, seemingly not expecting him to ask this question.
Fu Xuan looked at her, his gaze gentle: "I know you hate what he did in the past and can't accept his decision now, but besides hatred and inability to accept it, do you have even the slightest bit of feeling for him...?"
He paused for a moment, but finally uttered the word: "Heart flutter?"
Shen Shuangmiao trembled, instinctively wanting to retort, "I didn't! How could I..."
However, the words caught in his throat.
She recalled her response to the kiss from the previous night.
Do I hate it? Of course I hate it.
Does the resentment persist? And it has never ceased.
However, something does seem to have changed.
Was she unwilling to let Zhu Jin die because she couldn't bear it, or simply out of sympathy for the loss of a life?
Shen Shuangmiao suddenly couldn't understand.
Seeing her sudden confusion, Fu Xuan understood what was going on.
He sighed softly, without pressing for answers, and simply patted Shen Shuangmiao on the shoulder.
"Shuangmiao, matters of the heart are sometimes more complicated than we imagine. Hate and love can perhaps always coexist."
Shen Shuangmiao opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't utter a single word.
What does she have left for him?
She didn't know.
All she knew was that she was terribly panicked.
Shen Shuangmiao sat on the sofa in the studio, remaining motionless for a long time.
"Think it over carefully, Shuangmiao." Fu Xuan's voice carried understanding and a hint of barely perceptible worry. "Whatever decision you ultimately make, whether you try your best to keep her or are forced to accept it, at least don't let yourself regret it. Time may really be running out."
Don't regret it...
Shen Shuangmiao kept thinking about these four words in her heart.
She could no longer stay in the studio; the embarrassment of having her thoughts exposed left her feeling lost and helpless.
Shen Shuangmiao stood up and whispered to Fu Xuan, "I'm going back first."
Fu Xuan didn't linger, simply nodding and saying, "Call me anytime if anything comes up."
On the way back to the Zhu family home, Shen Shuangmiao leaned against the back seat of the car, closed her eyes, and became increasingly agitated.
Just as her car entered the city and stopped at a red light, her phone suddenly rang.
It's an unfamiliar local number.
Shen Shuangmiao hesitated for a moment, but still answered the call.
"Hello?"
After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, a man's voice filled with a strong sense of hostility came through: "Chen Shuangmiao, it's me."
Shen Shuangmiao's heart sank suddenly.
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