Chapter 429: Chapter 429

During the meal, the silent pressure grew even heavier.

Perhaps it was because Gu Zixuan was too delighted, or maybe she had grown accustomed to the silence at family meals, that the only person who mildly greeted Feng Chengjin was her mother, Qiu Yuan.

Feng Chengjin did not even initiate a conversation with her father, and she still felt fine about it.

However, Gu Qingfeng did not feel fine. Halfway through the meal, thinking it was enough, Gu Qingfeng stood up and said to Feng Chengjin, "Mr. Feng, right? Come to the study with me for a moment."

Was this an invitation for a private chat with Feng Chengjin?

Inside, Gu Zixuan felt a surge of anxiety, but there was also an undefined sense of hopeful joy spreading.

Since father initiated the conversation, it should mean he takes it seriously, right?

Feng Chengjin rose and followed Gu Qingfeng into the study.

Shutting the door, as Gu Qingfeng loosened his tie and removed his formal suit jacket, he didn’t even acknowledge Feng Chengjin, but directly sat down by the desk.

As he sat down with a cold demeanor, his lips curled up into an icy smile, "Feng Chengjin, let’s not beat around the bush. You and Zixuan should break up. I will not agree to your marriage. I won’t let Zixuan marry you."

Standing by the door, Feng Chengjin seemed to have anticipated such an outcome.

Yet, uncontrollably, something in his heart felt a deep pain.

His eyes dimmed for a moment, glanced at another chair in front of the desk, and without needing an invitation or formalities from Gu Qingfeng, he advanced forward and sat down, as if refusing to leave until he got a satisfactory answer.

Without responding, he said extremely calmly, "I want to marry her."

"Marry her?" Gu Qingfeng sneered instantly, "With what will you marry her? With the sincerity that deceived her eight years ago, or with the methods that still deceive her to this day over eight years later? Mr. Feng, Boss Feng, is what you’re asking for really feasible? Have you forgotten who brought upon everything the Gu family is facing today?"

His voice was chillingly cold.

Feng Chengjin felt a pang in his heart.

That Gu Qingfeng’s failures in his career in recent years were due to his machinations, and that Gu Zixi fell into the problem of high-interest loans because he manipulated it.

Including the scheme half a year ago... that almost landed Gu Qingfeng in jail...

Feng Chengjin remained silent.

Gu Qingfeng continued, "Today, you see everything, don’t you? The tarnished reputation, turning Zixuan from a dignified lady of a noble family into a laughingstock, while her parents’ entire assets are frozen, living so frugally they need to rely on their daughter to support their daily life, and her only brother becoming a laughingstock at school, so stressed that he still sees a psychiatrist regularly. Though the debt has been repaid, oh, I should thank Mr. Feng for slapping us and then offering us a sweet date while pacifying my daughter. But I’m curious, Mr. Feng, how can you, after doing so much, still have the courage to appear before me asking for her hand in marriage without me seeking an explanation from you?"

The air in the study was stagnant and cold, mixed with the faint scent of a flourishing bamboo plant in the corner.

Before the antique redwood writing desk.

Feng Chengjin quietly looked at Gu Qingfeng, feeling the estrangement that the use of the word "you" signified, recognizing Gu Qingfeng’s attitude toward him. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on Nove1Fire.net

No longer Uncle Gu as before.

He was no longer the young Feng either.

Unable to say more, after a long silence, he could only utter, "It was my doing, and I’m very sorry. Back then, I didn’t know it had nothing to do with the Gu family."

At that moment, Gu Qingfeng lit a cigarette, his hand slightly stiffening at the words.

Understanding now, Feng Chengjin probably knew everything only after meeting Zixuan again.

After a long pause, Gu Qingfeng lightly chuckled coldly, "So, the reason you did all this was because she knew the situation, wouldn’t forgive you, and you were pushed to the brink?"

Thinking of the truth in his mind, Feng Chengjin couldn’t shake his head in denial.

He could only say, "I’m deeply sorry. I will find a way to make it up..."

But before he could finish, Gu Qingfeng interrupted, "No need. We were supposed to be one with the He Family. What Qi Mo did was also what the Gu family did. It’s no different. If you want revenge, go ahead, he’s my son, anything he does is my fault as his father. You haven’t targeted the wrong person. Finish your revenge and leave."

The persistent denial and the recognition of He Qimo made Feng Chengjin’s expression tremble with pain.

And with confusion, "Uncle Gu, why would you do this? You clearly knew the situation long ago? Why did you prefer to watch everything unfold so poorly and not say a truthful word? None of this should’ve developed this way?"

The brilliance made Gu Qingfeng marvel at Feng Chengjin’s intelligence, just from the phrase "With the sincerity that deceived her eight years ago" he could deduce that Feng Chengjin knew everything all along.

But marvel as he may, it was purely from a perspective of business acumen in men.

Gu Qingfeng laughed coldly, "Has anyone ever told you that being with you is very dangerous because of your intelligence?"

Feng Chengjin was taken aback, speechless.

Unaware that being emotionally intelligent could also be a fault?

But understanding Gu Qingfeng’s intent, that it implied he would deceive Gu Zixuan until she was confused as another form of sarcasm, he wondered if being smart was wrong.

Feng Chengjin couldn’t speak.

Gu Qingfeng then said word by word, "But you want to know why, right? Fine, I can tell you because I like He Qimo. Perhaps before you met Gu Zixuan on the matchmaking blind date, I liked you more. Your family background, your eloquence, even your personal abilities were so outstandingly unmatched that I felt compared to He Qimo, he had no merits, not a single thing that caught my eye. If you had the intention back then, and had things not worked out between Zixuan and He Qimo, I would have been thrilled to see you with Zixuan. But what did you do instead?"

Facing the slight tremble in Feng Chengjin’s eyes.

Gu Qingfeng’s voice trembled too, "Feng Chengjin, as someone born in an affluent family, having skipped grades to complete two master’s degrees by 23 and having the title of doctoral candidate, you showed no respect for your education or decorum, nor did you consider sparing your Uncle Gu’s face in the society. When Zixuan was still someone else’s girlfriend, you essentially violated..."

The word "violated" made Feng Chengjin frown, but he couldn’t refute it.

After all, Gu Zixuan didn’t know...

Gu Qingfeng continued, "How could you do such a thing? She was someone else’s girlfriend, even if not officially. Didn’t you spare a thought for her reputation at all? Just to satiate the desires beneath your princely trousers with no respect for civilians? Hypocrisy isn’t written like that, I suppose?"

Feng Chengjin pressed his lips tighter, trying to explain but could only smile bitterly, unable to utter a word.

Admitting only prompted more mocking laughter from Gu Qingfeng, "So, have you realized why I like He Qimo more? At the very least, he is upright and more dependable than you! He knew my previous attempts to matchmake you with Gu Zixuan resulted in all the tragedies in his life, yet he holds no grudge, still respects me as a biological father! The care and concern he has given to our family over the past eight years surpass all you’ve done, even risking his life to help me after my incident."

"And you, truly lacking even an ounce of gratitude or accountability. You were the source of all trouble, but over all those following years, you never even offered me an apology! You even lack a shred of accountability for Zixuan! You lied to her for so many years; if you wanted to marry her, why didn’t you? Why didn’t you plan to propose eight years ago? How could you leave her abstained after enjoying the pleasures of being a young master? If He Qimo hadn’t married her, in our kind of circles, you would let her, bearing her lost innocence, be looked down upon forever?"

"Now, her decent marriage was going well, even if there were minor issues between her and He Qimo, that child sincerely loves her, and they would eventually be happy together. But you came again, causing her to get divorced! Feng Chengjin! What are you after? Was hurting Zixuan once not enough, now you want to hurt her a second time?"

Gu Qingfeng finished.

Feng Chengjin sat there with arms folded, watching Gu Qingfeng settle everything in a downward definition, smiling bitterly, speechless.

Perhaps he thought of saying something but didn’t know where to start, or maybe he chose not to, knowing it was pointless regardless.

Remaining in a constant state of silence.

Made Gu Qingfeng pause momentarily, then, with a tight frown, took a drag of his cigarette, deepening his sarcasm, "Have I hit the nail on the head, left you speechless?"

After a small pause, Feng Chengjin slowly raised his gaze, smiling faintly.

That smile was so gentle, without any edges.

Simple to purity, "Uncle Gu, no matter how you perceive me or these actions, the one thing I promise you today is that I am sincere about Gu Zixuan and have been earnest for a full eight years. Moreover, regardless of whether you agree or not, I will marry her."