Chapter 108: Satisfaction
A normal man, upon hearing such words, would surely let any displeasure dissipate, even if it lingered in his heart. All the more so for Rong Shen, who showered An Tong with endless affection.
He paused in his step, looking down at An Tong’s earnest expression, amusement flickering in his eyes. “If I get angry, what will you do?”
“First, I’ll apologize,” An Tong pressed her lips together, her tone unusually solemn. “Then I’ll cheer you up.”
Her logic was simple: if Rong Shen had been upset by the earlier petty incident, she would double her efforts—apology and comfort combined—to ensure his mood was restored.
A vivid smile curled at the corners of the man’s lips. He leaned in, whispering by her ear, “Save it for next time. When we have another chance, you can cheer me up then.”
An Tong’s ears reddened inexplicably—whether from the warmth of his breath or the subtle brush of his lips against her earlobe, she couldn’t tell.
Meanwhile, several meters away, Cheng Feng and Ling Qi walked in silence, their expressions blank as they metaphorically kicked over this bowl of dog food.
After about ten minutes of walking, the waterfront villas at the center of the gallery came into view.
An Tong finally noticed there were others present besides Rong Shen.
She looked at Ling Qi and Cheng Feng in surprise. “Why are you two here as well?”
Cheng Feng caught his breath, nudged Ling Qi with his shoulder, and gestured for her to speak.
Ling Qi forced a dry smile. “Madam, can you guess who rowed the boat to bring you two over?”
So the pair had played ferryman all the way, but their lady hadn’t noticed them at all.
The way you two are in love is truly envy-inducing.
An Tong scratched her head awkwardly, lost for words.
She had been completely focused on Rong Shen earlier, and hadn’t paid the slightest attention to the boatmen.
…
At the heart of the gallery stood rows of waterfront villas, with interlacing boardwalks like ribbons embedded in the river.
An Tong and Rong Shen entered the westernmost villa, and after stepping inside, she wandered about casually. “Is the bonfire festival at night?”
He removed his coat and answered affirmatively.
“When will we go back?” An Tong fiddled with her scarf, her gaze wandering.
Though it was called a villa, the interior wasn’t spacious, just two floors.
The first floor was a standard living area; the second, a semi-open observation terrace.
There was only one bedroom, and one double bed.
If they spent the night here…
---
Before An Tong could let her thoughts wander further, Rong Shen, sitting with crossed legs on the sofa, raised an eyebrow and answered, “Tomorrow afternoon.”
An Tong murmured an “oh,” and fell silent.
Soon, she removed her scarf and coat, walked over to open the window, fussing with the latch and frame—a clear sign of nerves and unease.
Rong Shen watched her at leisure, a subtle, enigmatic smile appearing at his lips.
A moment later, An Tong heard footsteps. As she turned hurriedly, she nearly collided with his chest.
He stood behind her, hands braced on the window sill, leaning close. “Have you ever stayed in a water villa before?”
An Tong looked out at the misty expanse beyond the window, answering softly, “No, this is my first time.”
There was a brief silence. She turned to look up at him. “What about you?”
Rong Shen gazed down, placing his palm gently atop her head. “Me too.”
An Tong quickly turned her back to him, a smile tugging at her lips.
She cherished the feeling of experiencing every first together—it gave her a satisfaction beyond words.
…
Soon after, lunch was served.
An Tong followed Rong Shen to a restaurant behind the villa. There were few people, only a handful of quiet diners.
They sat by the window, with a view of the nearby water villas and distant, mist-shrouded mountains.
Zhanzhou, located in the south-central region, was misty in winter but not cold—much more comfortable than Xiangjiang.
An Tong gazed calmly at the river scene; it was hard to tell how much she liked it, but her lips were always curved in a gentle smile, radiating the tranquil sweetness unique to young women.
Perhaps because there weren’t many guests, the food arrived quickly.
Bamboo rice, lemongrass grilled fish, wrapped roast, steamed meat…
These dishes, rich in ethnic flavors, whetted An Tong’s appetite.
She ate heartily, while Rong Shen barely touched his chopsticks, his gaze lingering on her face.
“Do you like the wrapped roast?”
An Tong’s cheeks bulged with food; she swallowed and nodded. “It’s delicious.”
He reached across the table with a napkin, gently wiping her mouth. “Eat slowly. No one’s competing with you.”
He always spoke with such elegant composure—never abrupt, never uncomfortable.
After the meal, the two strolled along the boardwalk over the water.
An Tong spotted a coffee shop ahead and, almost unconsciously, steered her steps toward it.
---
Rong Shen glanced at her, his lips quirking in amusement. “You still have room for coffee?”
“I do.” An Tong tugged at her coat, discreetly concealing the slight bulge of her stomach from overeating. “Coffee helps with digestion…”
He shook his head with a laugh, his dark eyes warm and gentle.
An Tong was easier to please than he’d imagined. Just a meal of local specialties, and she smiled more than she ever had before.
…
As evening approached, the clouds parted and mist lifted.
Streaks of crimson sunset stretched across the sky, adding a touch of splendid color to the landscape gallery.
At this hour, Rong Shen smoked on the terrace upstairs, while An Tong sat in the living room, messaging Su Ji.
Though two days had passed, Su Ji remained worried.
She sent An Tong a message, then immediately called.
“Baby, did you hear me clearly?” Su Ji spoke through gritted teeth. “There’s no psychologist named Rong Shen or Rong Jiu at Xiangjiang’s health center.”
However… the new receptionist said their boss’s surname is Rong.
Su Ji hadn’t thought much of it.
After all, this private mental health center was a nationwide chain, with branches in all major cities—a top private enterprise.
She’d confirmed that the legal representative was Rong Jinghuai, with not the slightest relation to that hypocrite.
On her end, An Tong glanced at the villa door, and walked into the bedroom to explain to Su Ji, phone pressed to her ear. “It’s a long story, I…”
“Keep it short.”
An Tong sighed, summarizing the key points succinctly.
Su Ji was silent for a moment, then snorted with a half-smile. “My little cabbage has really grown up. The pig hasn’t come, but she’s started rooting for the pig herself.”
An Tong: “…”
Su Ji felt that An Tong must be under some spell. Covering the receiver, she warned earnestly, “Baby, I don’t care about anything else—I can’t, really. But remember, no matter what sweet words he says, you must hold on to your bottom line, understand?”
An Tong glanced at the room’s only double bed, her voice lacking conviction as she murmured, “Mm.”
(End of this chapter)