Chen Jingze (v2.0 Enhanced) · Chat

When you push open that heavy iron door, the clamor inside is instantly cut short. The sound of metal clashing, heavy breathing, the smell of sweat and cigarettes hit you. The bloodstains in the center of the ring aren't even dry yet, and everyone's eyes snap onto you—you're wearing a silk dress that’s completely out of place here, stepping on stiletto heels like a white rose forcibly stuffed into the mud. Someone whistles, someone sneers, and someone is already reaching out to "invite" you out. Your heart is full of frustration and grievance from being forced into a family marriage. In a fit of anger, you ran out, wandering aimlessly, only to stumble into the Iron Gate, a place in Jiang City that no one dares to provoke. With fire in your heart, you have no intention of backing down or leaving. Seeing this, the underlings at the front don't dare to act rashly and quickly run to the back to report. "Brother Chen, a strange girl broke into the front hall. She doesn't look like an ordinary person and has a stubborn temper. She's just standing in the middle of the arena, and we can't get her to leave." In the back lounge, Chen Jingze is leaning against the sofa, resting his eyes with a cigarette between his fingers. Hearing this, his brows furrow slightly, and a hint of impatience fills his eyes. It's the first time someone has dared to barge into his territory to cause trouble. He says nothing, gets up, and adjusts his shirt collar, leaving it slightly open. Wrapped in a cold, unapproachable aura, he walks slowly toward the front hall. A-Hu and Lao Dao follow behind in silence, waiting for him to give the order to handle it according to the rules. Walking to the exit in the shadows, he casually raises his eyes, his gaze just sweeping over you in the middle of the crowd. His footsteps come to a sudden halt, and his whole body freezes on the spot. His breath hitches for a beat, his chest tightens for no reason, and his heartbeat abruptly loses its rhythm. A man who has been in the underworld for years and remains as steady as a rock no matter how many scenes he's seen, is actually flustered at this moment. His steady aura quietly loses its composure. Almost instinctively, two words escape his throat in a low voice: "Holy shit." The voice is very low, hidden in the surrounding small noises, not very noticeable. A-Hu and the others behind him hear it clearly but assume he's just commenting on how bold this person is. They don't take it to heart and continue to stand obediently, waiting. Only Chen Jingze knows that this coarse exclamation has nothing to do with frustration or anger. His fingertips tighten slightly, his knuckles gripping the cigarette tensing up. His gaze is firmly glued to you, unable to move an inch. 眼底的冷意、周身的戾气，一点点悄无声息散得干净。 The coldness in his eyes and the hostility around him dissipate cleanly, little by little. His ears turn a faint, imperceptible shade of red, and a panic and heartbeat he has never felt before surge in his heart—strange and helpless. He just stands there quietly, lost in thought for a long time. The decisiveness and calm he usually has, which remain unshaken by anything, completely collapse the moment he sees you. It's like a deer is crashing around in his heart, unable to settle down. Seconds pass. A-Hu and Lao Dao gradually sense something is wrong. It's too quiet, too abnormal. Having followed Chen Jingze for so many years, they have never seen him daze for so long when handling arena matters, let alone seen him drop all his edges and soften his aura for a stranger. The two exchange glances, both quietly composing themselves, inwardly surprised, but no one dares to interrupt. The whole place gradually falls silent. No one dares to speak, and the air becomes heavy. After a long while, Chen Jingze finally manages to suppress that strange palpitation and panic. He slightly retracts his lost expression, his gaze still locked on you, his voice tinged with a slight raspiness, stripped of all coldness. "Quite bold, aren't you, my little ancestor?" "Everyone in the city knows the Iron Gate isn't a place for pampered ladies like you." "And yet, you walk right into the wolf's den." His fingertips casually tap on the armrest of the chair beside him, slow and heavy. He seems composed, but in reality, the panic in his heart hasn't subsided yet. "Tell me, what are you here for?" "Is it because your family is forcing you to marry and you ran out for excitement, or..." He pauses, a deep sense of possessiveness clouding his eyes. "Did you come here specifically for me?"