Unwelcome Interruption

"Haha..." Xie Jianchen couldn't help but chuckle, seemingly relishing Gu An Tong's embarrassment.

Gu An Tong felt a tingling sensation on her scalp. She slowly turned to look at Xie Jianchen, whose smile made her uneasy. "Xie Zong, I think it's getting late now. I don't want to bother you any further, and I need to head to work soon."

Even though Xie Jianchen's words sounded casual, Gu An Tong hadn't reached the point of facial paralysis. Helping out a friend's wife wasn't an issue, but there was something unsettling about his attitude.

"What? Are you really leaving work now?" Xie Jianchen raised an eyebrow, lifting the folder he held.

Gu An Tong's eyes widened momentarily. It was the information she had recorded on the perfume market earlier in the day. She wasn't as experienced as Meng Mei, who could complete tasks swiftly. She knew she had to put in more effort.

Xie Jianchen's eyes flickered with a dark intensity as he subtly moved closer to Gu An Tong. "You're heading to Zhenxuan's office, but I heard he's swamped with work and quite troubled lately. Are you sure you want to go there?"

Every one of Si Yueyun's moves and actions were known to Xie Jianchen like the back of his hand. Si Yueyun had approached him, claiming that she would become a part of his family, seeking his support.

But the other unspoken meaning was to maintain a proper distance from Si Zhenxuan.

"Troubled? What's going on?" Gu An Tong, upon hearing this, immediately forgot about everything else, her mind fixated on Si Zhenxuan's apparent troubles.

She had always known that Si Zhenxuan was busy. In fact, it wasn't about how busy he was, but the fact that he was always working. Even when he was heading home or going to bed, he was either clutching a file or a computer.

"What's happening..." Xie Jianchen mumbled, lowering his voice significantly.

"Huh? What's going on? I didn't catch that," Gu An Tong furrowed her brows in puzzlement, her body turning in Xie Jianchen's direction.

They had been sitting close to each other, and when they shifted like this, the distance between them remained almost the same, with their shoulders not quite touching, just leaning in slightly.

This was the direction where Si Zhenxuan was

"Not yet. There are still some materials to organize," Gu An Tong replied, her demeanor and tone now noticeably different from her usual working demeanor.

The blush on her charming face didn't escape Xie Jianchen's keen gaze, and he seemed determined to continue the conversation.

"Zhenxuan, are you finished?" Xie Jianchen inquired with a calmness that was almost unaffected by Si Zhenxuan's earlier indifference.

Si Zhenxuan glanced at Xie Jianchen and took two steps forward to stand beside Gu An Tong, reaching out for her waist. "I'm done. It looks like Xie Er Ye is quite concerned about this collaboration. He's taking a hands-on approach."

Xie Jianchen chuckled, subtly acknowledging Si Zhenxuan's observation. He then glanced at Si Zhenxuan's hand on Gu An Tong's shoulder without comment. "Yes, our company places great importance on this project, so I'll personally oversee it. But Zhenxuan, you seem worried about Antong's ability to handle it."

Si Zhenxuan's dark eyes flashed briefly, and he responded with a wry smile, "Antong doesn't have much experience, and the pressure is mounting due to the project team's competition for the planning proposal."

Si Zhenxuan knew full well who was behind this proposal, and it was likely that Jiang Nuan and Si Yueyun were caught in a difficult situation. Still, Xie Jianchen was subtly aiding them. After all, Meng Mei was introduced to the team by Xie Jianchen, and he had pushed for her to lead the team. The company's higher-ups wouldn't have agreed so easily without Xie Jianchen's influence. Si Zhenxuan understood this but chose to keep it to himself.

Glancing down at Gu An Tong, Si Zhenxuan saw her sticking close to him, her eyes filled with affection. She had subtly closed the gap between them, a gesture not lost on Xie Jianchen.

Xie Jianchen added with a playful tone, "Meng Mei is right, Zhenxuan, you seem to be doting on her like a pet. Hard to believe you've stayed single due to a lack of love."

Gu An Tong felt her body tense at Xie Jianchen's words, while Si Zhenxuan remained composed. "Xie Er Ye is teasing. Do you need me to arrange a driver to take you home?"

Si Zhenxuan avoided addressing Xie Jianchen's comment directly. There was no need, and Xie Jianchen's intentions were clear. Furthermore, Gu An Tong seemed to be getting uncomfortable in his arms.

Xie Jianchen didn't push the matter further and looked at Gu An Tong. He said, "Antong, see you tomorrow."

Gu An Tong looked up, puzzled. "See you tomorrow?" What did he mean? Was he planning to visit again tomorrow?

Si Zhenxuan's face showed no change, but his question carried a strange tone that Gu An Tong hadn't noticed before. "Well," she nodded, "President Xie brought some materials and spent the whole day discussing them with us."

Si Zhenxuan fell silent, and the air grew heavy with his silence, making Gu An Tong uneasy. She looked at him and asked, "Is something wrong?"

As the words left her mouth, she immediately regretted them. Did she really need to ask? Xie Jianchen had just mentioned that Zhenxuan seemed troubled by work, and she didn't want to add to his worries.

Sure, I'll rewrite the passage using simpler language and expanding on the description to make it more detailed:

Gu An Tong hadn't said a word in the Si Zhen Xuan office when he suddenly suggested, "Zhenxuan, let's head back. I'm starting to feel hungry. We can grab a bite when we're back."

As Gu An Tong spoke, he glanced at the work piled up on his desk. It appeared that he'd have to work extra hard tomorrow, giving it his all.

Si Zhenxuan, upon hearing Gu An Tong mention hunger, nodded in agreement without hesitation, saying, "Sure."

"Great, let's go. Wait for me while I grab my bag," Gu An Tong said. He hurried over to his desk, retrieved his bag, and then linked arms with Si Zhenxuan as they left the project team's area.

As it was after working hours, the office was sparsely populated, and they were using a private elevator. The chances of running into someone were almost non-existent. This allowed Gu An Tong to hold onto Si Zhenxuan's arm without any reservations.

However, when they reached the parking lot, they found someone who they had half-expected but hoped wouldn't be there.

Xie Jianchen was standing in front of his car, appearing somewhat troubled yet maintaining his composure. Gu Antong was about to ask what was wrong, but before she could speak, Si Zhenxuan beat her to it, saying, "Xie Erye, is there something you need?"

Xie Jianchen looked at Gu An Tong and Si Zhenxuan and replied with a smile, "No, it's nothing serious. I just think there might be an issue with my car."

Gu An Tong couldn't make sense of what he meant by "an issue." However, Si Zhenxuan, with a composed expression, asked, "Do you need any assistance?"

Xie Jianchen reassured them, saying, "It's alright, I can probably get it sorted out and get back on the road. By the way, Antong, I think we don't need to wait until tomorrow to discuss that matter. We can do it tomorrow. I'll pick you up then." With a smile, he quickly got into his car and drove off without giving Gu An Tong a chance to respond.

Gu An Tong was left bewildered, not only unable to understand what had just transpired but also puzzled about the sudden change of plans. 

Gu An Tong's face was a portrait of confusion, but Si Zhen Xuan's expression was stern. If he had managed to control his emotions earlier, he couldn't keep it in any longer.

"What's going on?" His voice was clear and cold, laced with obvious anger.

Puzzled, Gu An Tong looked at Si Zhenxuan and began to say, "I..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Si Zhenxuan suddenly turned to her, lowered his head, and silenced her with a deep kiss, swallowing her words.

The unexpected kiss left Gu An Tong wide-eyed, and she didn't resist.

Si Zhenxuan's eyes darkened, and he savored the softness of her lips. His anger and passion blended, and his kiss grew more intense.

A tingle and numbness spread from her lips, causing Gu An Tong to furrow her brows. She raised her hands in protest, but her fingers only managed to grip Si Zhenxuan's shoulder weakly.

The air was charged with an intense heat, and things seemed to be escalating beyond control. Just when the situation was about to become unbearable, a mischievous, throaty cough broke the tension.

*Cough...*

Gu An Tong was startled. She never expected anyone else to be present. Could it be Xie Jianchen returning? The thought turned her face crimson in embarrassment. She pushed away from Si Zhen Xuan in a rush, desperately trying to find out who had witnessed the intimate moment.