Unexplained Heartbeat

Zhuo Jing observed Shi Xuan's reaction and suddenly asked with a smile, "Senior, are you... smitten?"

"No way! Don't talk nonsense. It's just a script. Everyone's just acting." Shi Xuan blushed and denied it outright.

"Really? You really don't need me to play matchmaker?" Zhuo Jing blinked. "By the way, my brother, Zhang Yang, and I are going to a bar for drinks tonight. Do you want to come?"

As she spoke, she gazed at Shi Xuan with a smile.

"Let's go." Shi Xuan felt a strange stirring in her heart.

Zhuo Jing chuckled softly, "I knew what you were up to, senior. Come on, come with me."

She grabbed Shi Xuan's arm and walked over.

"Brother Zhang Yang, after you finished filming, you just left my senior sister all alone?"

"Sorry, something came up." Zhang Yang, who was chatting with Li Xingyu, turned around and nodded slightly to Shi Xuan. "You did a good job just now, thank you for your hard work."

"Just nice?" Shi Xuan smiled as she looked at Zhang Yang. "I felt like we were both being too deliberate just now, like we were acting. How about we get to know each other again..."

She gently reached out her hand.

"Shi Xuan."

"Huh? Another time?" Zhang Yang chuckled, then smiled and grasped his hand. "Zhang Yang... is that enough?"

"Brother Zhang Yang, Shi Xuan wants to go to a bar with us tonight. How about she rides in your car later?" Zhuo Jing chimed in, trying to help.

"Sure, we just had drinks at noon." Zhang Yang nodded, then looked at Shi Xuan, "Can you drive?"

"Sure," Shi Xuan nodded.

"Okay, you drive later, I'll sit in the passenger seat." Zhang Yang casually took out the car keys for the Ghost and handed them to Shi Xuan.

Shi Xuan instinctively caught it, then glanced at the double-R car keys in her hand.

Or, Rolls-Royce?

A moment later, the group strolled around the campus and went straight to their car.

"Young Master Zhang, um... let's meet at the bar." Li Xingyu waved from the passenger side window.

His car was a Cullinan, and Zhuo Jing was driving.

"Okay, see you at the bar." Zhang Yang waved and watched the Cullinan slowly drive away.

Turning around, he saw Shi Xuan still standing to the side.

This girl stood there gracefully, and her pair of long, fair legs were quite eye-catching.

"Let's go, get in the car." He walked straight to the passenger seat of his Ghost.

In the brand-new Ghost, Shi Xuan awkwardly sat in the Ghost's seat, somewhat at a loss.

"Excuse me, this is my first time driving such an expensive car, I'm a little..."

"It's fine, drive however you like," Zhang Yang said nonchalantly.

"Okay, but I'll make it clear in advance that I probably can't afford to pay for any bumps or scrapes. In the future..." Shi Xuan smiled and gently pulled down the seatbelt, draping it over her chest.

"I don't accept sexual favors as payment," Zhang Yang said.

"Dream on," Shi Xuan said with a hint of annoyance.

A short while later, the car started moving.

Zhang Yang lowered the car window slightly, enjoying the breeze with a touch of languor.

Just because he has a high alcohol tolerance and doesn't get drunk doesn't mean he feels nothing. At least right now, with the wind blowing and not having taken a nap in the afternoon, he feels drowsy.

It's quite comfortable.

As Shi Xuan drove, she secretly glanced at the passenger in the side seat.

The wind blowing through his hair, even his profile is handsome to the core.

She stole glances at him, her heart pounding with excitement.

She never dreamed that she, the most beautiful girl in the Department of Physical Education and Arts, would one day be so attracted to a man.

"Hmm... Have we arrived yet?" Zhang Yang suddenly opened his eyes and looked over.

Shi Xuan quickly looked away, "It'll be ready soon."

"Okay, huh? I didn't expect you to drive so steadily," Zhang Yang suddenly praised.

"How could it not be stable?" Shi Xuan gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Your car is so expensive, I can't afford to pay for any scratches or dents, and you won't accept... won't accept other forms of compensation, is that my fault?"

Zhang Yang blinked and smiled.

"I'm a very generous person. If it really comes to that, you can just dance for me alone."

He looked out the car window as he spoke.

The sky over Beijing was gradually darkening, and under the night sky, the lights were twinkling. It seemed that the Beijing's nightlife was just beginning.

Later, the car arrived at its destination.

Li Xingyu's friend's bar is near the Workers' Stadium, although Li Xingyu says it's very small.

But when Zhang Yang got out of the car and took a look...

"You call this small?"

The entrance was enormous, with a constant stream of people coming and going.

When we say it's small, it's probably because it's compared to those buildings that occupy thousands of square meters and can accommodate thousands of people at the same time.

However, Zhang Yang felt that a smaller space also had its advantages; at least it was more crowded, creating a better atmosphere, unlike nightclubs which didn't cater to the idea of spacious, sparsely populated areas.

"Young Master Zhang, you've finally arrived. Come, let me introduce you to some friends."

Not far away, Li Xingyu, who had arrived earlier, greeted them with a smile, and then pulled Zhang Yang to his group of friends.

"Let me introduce you. This is Zhang Yang, my friend and business partner. The Soup King Hotpot that's been super popular in Beijing lately is owned by Zhang Yang." Li Xingyu enthusiastically introduced everyone to each other.

The people in front of him all greeted Zhang Yang warmly.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang. From now on, we're friends. Let's hang out sometime."

"Wow! Young Master Zhang, you're incredibly handsome. I feel like I shouldn't have brought my girl with me today; she seems completely captivated by you."

Several boys, each with a girl, were making lewd jokes.

"No, I wasn't even looking."

"Hmph, you're slandering me." The girls complained, their attempts to cover up their accusations were more like coquettish whining.

From Li Xingyu's few words, Zhang Yang could roughly tell the backgrounds of these young masters in front of him. They were all quite influential, with their families' businesses spanning various industries, the kind that ordinary people would never even have the chance to touch.

He certainly has a powerful background.

Of course, he wasn't intimidated. After all, although the young masters in front of him had vast family businesses, those businesses were still family property, and they might not have the opportunity to take them over. There were many who could only rely on family trusts for their entire lives and become wealthy old men.

Although he doesn't have much of a foundation, his assets, including the valuation of Soup King Hotpot, are already close to 10 billion, not to mention the 3 billion empire he will soon acquire.

These all belong to him; they are his alone, and he has the power to control them.

In this way, Zhang Yang was able to navigate the group of young masters from the Wang and Li families with ease, exuding his unique charm.

The spotlight lasts only a moment.

"Come on in, everyone, have a seat. I never expected to meet new friends today. This is what you call... well, yes, an honor to have you here." The nightclub's behind-the-scenes owner, Young Master Li, greeted them with unparalleled enthusiasm.

Zhang Yang nodded, then felt like he had forgotten something.

Turning around, I saw the long-legged girl from Beijing Sport University following beside me, looking a little lost.

"Come."

He waved.

Shi Xuan was taken aback, then took small steps to catch up, "Zhang Yang..."

Zhang Yang casually put his arm around Shi Xuan and whispered in her ear, "I didn't bring a female companion tonight. Can you fill in for me? Is that alright?"

"They acted first and asked questions later, you touched me first and then asked." Shi Xuan ignored Zhang Yang's hand. "You've already done this, what difference does it make whether you ask me or not?"

Zhang Yang smiled, put his arm around Shi Xuan, who was already prepared to play a supporting role, and walked into the nightclub.

This nightclub is indeed not very big.

But though small, it has all the essential organs.

The dance floor, booths, and various sound, light, and electrical effects inside are all very well done.

Moreover, the atmosphere upstairs and downstairs, on the stage and below the dance floor, was absolutely explosive; the atmosphere was incredibly high-energy.

"It may be a bit small, but in terms of atmosphere, my bar is known for having a great vibe around the Workers' Stadium area," Young Master Li said with a smile. "By the way, I've reserved the best seats for everyone. Hmm... since you've all brought girls, I won't arrange any extra."

"And what else? It's rare for Young Master Zhang to come today, and this is all the treatment you get?" A young master, with his arm around a girl, laughed and scolded.

"All-you-can-drink, drink as much as you want," Young Master Li patted his chest.

"Where are those Ace of Spades and Louis XIII cards you used to show off to your guests?"

"I wouldn't say a word if you used it to wash your hands today." Young Master Li glared, feeling as if he were being looked down upon. "If I utter a single word of reluctance, I, Li Jianjun, will write my name backwards tomorrow!"

"Alright, since Young Master Li is so generous, we certainly can't let you down. But don't worry, we won't waste anything, we won't squander any resources. Hmm, you decide what to do," one of the young masters said with a smile.

Zhuo Jing was already sitting and waiting in the best booth on the dance floor.

Upon seeing a group of people arrive, he quickly stood up and waved.

Zhang Yang knew that Shi Xuan and Zhuo Jing were the closest, so he asked Shi Xuan to Zhuo Jing first.

A group of young men sat down with their arms around the girls, laughing and joking as they casually tossed car keys onto the table.

Suddenly, the table was filled with McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari.

They showed off their wrists, all wearing luxury watches.

What we see here is actually quite normal; these young men are perfectly embodying the lifestyle of indulging in cars, watches, and women.

A moment later, the wine arrived.

Young Master Li, fearing he might be slighted or fail to present a proper image, had the waiters hold up light boards, and wave after wave of Divine Dragon characters, Louis XIII, appeared in turn.

In the blink of an eye, the table was filled with drinks.

This table naturally became the most dazzling place on the table.

"Come on, let me drink first." Young Master Li waved his hand and opened a bottle of Louis XIII, downing a glass as the host.

Everyone laughed and casually poured drinks, toasted, and were completely immersed in the glitz and glamour of the night.

"Zhang Yang, let me pour you some wine." Shi Xuan obediently played the role of a supporting character, picking up the wine bottle and pouring wine for Zhang Yang.

"Where's your wine?" Zhang Yang asked, glancing at Shi Xuan's face.

"I... I can't hold my liquor." Shi Xuan covered the mouth of her glass and asked weakly, "You're not trying to get me drunk and do something inappropriate, are you?"

"So, are you going to drink it or not?" Zhang Yang asked with a half-smile.

"You..." Shi Xuan took a slight breath, resignedly raised her glass and clinked it against Zhang Yang's, "I'll drink, okay?"

After downing just half a cup, the girl's cheeks instantly flushed red; she certainly didn't seem like someone who could drink a lot.

Zhang Yang wasn't the kind of jerk who would force people to drink.

Drinking or not is entirely voluntary.

But unexpectedly, after Shi Xuan started this trend, she initially only took a small sip, but later she couldn't stop herself, drinking one cup after another.

"Zhuo Jing, did you see that? I didn't persuade anyone to drink. Your senior drank it herself." Zhang Yang looked at Zhuo Jing, then smiled and pointed to Shi Xuan was leaning against him.

It's unclear whether this girl is truly drunk or faking it.

That's how easily I lost my tolerance for alcohol.

"I saw it, I saw it. Then I'll trouble Brother Zhang Yang to take him back tonight." Zhuo Jing winked at Zhang Yang quietly.

Shi Xuan, nestled in Zhang Yang's arms, had flushed cheeks and was too embarrassed to lift her head as she listened to their conversation.

"Did you hear that?" Zhang Yang patted Shi Xuan in his arms, his hands exploring her from her waist to her shapely buttocks. "Stop pretending to be drunk."

Shi Xuan remained motionless.

Buzzing... buzzing...

"Your phone got a message, it's from your dad," Zhang Yang said, glancing at Shi Xuan's phone on the table.

"Huh?" Shi Xuan immediately got up from Zhang Yang's arms, then answered the phone somewhat flusteredly. "Hello, Dad?"

She got up, answered the phone, and walked towards the door.

"Young Master Zhang, someone's dad's checking up on him," the young masters teased with a laugh.

"They're all young people, going out for a night out, they haven't done anything wrong, what could possibly happen?" Zhang Yang said with a laugh.

"We haven't done it yet, but we might not be later." The group emphasized the word "do" very clearly.

"Brother Zhang Yang, let me tell you a secret, Shi Xuan actually has a lot of feelings for you. You can't not see that, can you?" Zhuo Jing was busy uploading the videos she had just filmed that evening to her short video platform when she looked up and said this.

"Let me tell you something else. Shi Xuan actually has a very good reputation and is very upright. Although the line of suitors could stretch from the east gate to the west gate, there aren't actually any boys pursuing her..."

"Still a virgin? Nobody believes that!" The eldest son scoffed.

"Hey, just because the girls you're with aren't virgins doesn't mean everyone else's aren't, right?" the crowd laughed and teased.

Beside them, the girl in the young master's arms looked embarrassed and could only raise her glass and take one sip after another to cover up her awkwardness.

Zhang Yang sipped his wine, pondering Zhuo Jing's words, and couldn't help but smile.

Good things come in pairs! Could it be that besides closing a deal today, we've also secured Facebook?

"I'm going out for a walk. You guys keep drinking." He stood up and walked straight out the door, intending to get some fresh air.

Under the slightly cool night sky, Zhang Yang went outside for some fresh air.

Not far away, Shi Xuan, who had just finished making a phone call, was walking back.

"Finished the call?" Zhang Yang asked abruptly.

Shi Xuan was walking with her head down, was startled. When she saw it was Zhang Yang, she gently pressed her hand to her chest. "You scared me to death... My parents came to check up on me, and I had to explain for ages."

"They're still so strict even though he's in college?" Zhang Yang asked in surprise.

"My family is very traditional," Shi Xuan explained. "When I first started learning cheerleading, my parents were actually a little against it, but they couldn't persuade me otherwise... Okay, enough of that, let's go inside."

She wanted to go inside, but before she could take two steps, Zhang Yang gently pulled her into his arms.

"You··"

Shi Xuan tensed up for a moment, then relaxed and asked gently, "Zhang Yang, are you drunk?"

"If you're not drunk, how could I be?" Zhang Yang's eyes were clear, showing no sign of intoxication.