Chapter 78: Why Don’t You Call Him Brother Zhizhi Anymore?

【Why apologize, ahhh?】
【Could it be that Ruan Cha is threatening our adorable Jia Yan? It must be! Who would admit to framing someone on a live broadcast? Ruan Cha must have threatened Jia Yan—how utterly depraved!】
【Agreed, definitely a threat! +1】
【Threaten? What nonsense! Ruan Cha looks so delicate and frail—how could she threaten Gu Jia Yan? Clearly, she won with wit and evidence, and Gu Jia Yan had no choice but to apologize!】
【Are those saying “threat” mistaken? Ruan Cha appears pure, soft, and harmless. How could she threaten Gu Jia Yan? Unless Gu Jia Yan is utterly witless, it’s impossible for Ruan Cha to threaten her.】

Amidst the barrage of comments lauding Ruan Cha’s gentle yet righteous demeanor, a few were interspersed—

【Boss is mighty! Boss is domineering!】
【Boss is so cool!】
【Boss...】

The masks were completely off. Gu Jia Yan, dragging Ruan Wei, turned and left without a second’s hesitation.

As the two figures receded into the distance, before Ruan Cha could turn around, she sensed a quiet gaze lingering on her back.

Ruan Cha slowly turned, meeting Gu Zhen Zhi’s deep, obsidian eyes. Her heart gave a violent leap.

Before Gu Zhen Zhi could speak, Ruan Cha quickly interjected with a sweet voice, “I noticed your expression was off earlier—I didn’t expect you really couldn’t drink milk. Gu Zhen Zhi, see, our ‘Proposal for Promoting Mutual Understanding and Preventing Misunderstandings That Might Hurt Our Fragile Little Hearts’ is effective now!”

Gu Zhen Zhi lowered his gaze, the girl’s eyes shimmering like scattered stars reflected in his own.

He recalled Ruan Cha’s earlier stance, hands on her waist, scolding others. So vivid and passionate.

She was like a forceful yet tender beam of light, cleaving through the hard shell of his darkness, bringing fragmented warmth to the shadowy corner of his heart long untouched by sunlight.

Thinking of this, Gu Zhen Zhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed gently.

After a moment, a low laugh rumbled from his chest. Soft and barely perceptible, a trace of delight tangled within it.

Ruan Cha watched him laugh, her eyes filled with confusion and surprise as she stared at his face.

“Gu Zhen Zhi, what are you laughing about?” She blinked her clear eyes, tilting her head slightly to look at him.

She saw Gu Zhen Zhi’s deep, lucid black eyes, cloaked in a faint, ambiguous smile. “Why aren’t you calling me Brother Zhi anymore?”

Ruan Cha’s ears flushed crimson, a little dazed, but she managed a response. “Um… what?”

“I asked, why aren’t you calling me Brother Zhi?” Gu Zhen Zhi’s voice was low and husky, the ending rising, like a hook sliding across the tip of Ruan Cha’s heart.

“Brother Zhi?” Ruan Cha swallowed, sizing up the man before her.

Was Gu Zhen Zhi possessed by something?

Ruan Cha rubbed her chin, pondering.

Yet—

Gu Zhen Zhi remained as refined and languid as ever, his cool white skin and jet-black eyes forming a striking contrast. His fingers were long and well-defined, exuding a crisp, chilly aura.

He watched the girl study him intently.

With unhurried grace, Gu Zhen Zhi approached, his slender neck tilting slightly as he gently turned it.

After a moment, his previously relaxed demeanor vanished; he suddenly bent low, eyes narrowing as he drew close to Ruan Cha.

“From now on, call me that.” He leaned in, his voice deepened, almost commanding.

Ruan Cha’s mind went blank, unable to grasp why Gu Zhen Zhi would say such a thing.

The next second, his low, magnetic laughter sounded.

“Calling me by my full name isn’t respectful.”

Ruan Cha: “???”

She’d been calling him by his full name for so long, and now he thought it was disrespectful?