Chapter 119: Obedient
“An’an, eat more slowly...”
Ruan Danling patted An Tong’s back and beckoned a servant to bring a cup of warm water.
Rong Xian twisted her lips and shook her head, speaking calmly and deliberately, “Mom, I think I just heard Dad calling you.”
“Did you?” Ruan Danling looked suspiciously out of the dining room. “I didn’t hear anything.”
Rong Xian raised her eyebrows lightly. “An’an and I both heard it. Do you want to go check?”
Ruan Danling instinctively glanced at An Tong, who was sipping water delicately. Without pressing further, she rose and headed out. “You two keep eating, I’ll be right back.”
With only Rong Xian and An Tong left in the dining room, the atmosphere instantly relaxed considerably.
Rong Xian walked to the window, opened it, and leisurely took out a lady’s cigarette pack. “Do you mind if I have a smoke?”
“Not at all, big sister, go ahead.”
Rong Xian held a slim mint cigarette between her fingers, lit it, and exhaled smoke toward the outside. “Mom’s like that, no malice intended. She’s just too idle at home and can’t help but nag when we come back. Don’t take it to heart.”
An Tong put down her spoon and smiled faintly at Rong Xian. “Mm, I won’t.”
“You seem... much better than the last time at Waterfall Cliff,” Rong Xian said, flicking the ashes sideways. “Looks like Xiao Jiu has been taking good care of you.”
An Tong nodded in agreement. “He’s very good to me.”
Rong Xian clearly caught the brief blush in her eyes — a unique sign of youthful love.
She turned away to take another drag, musing with a hint of self-mockery that she too once had passionate days of love.
The dining room fell into a silent stillness.
An Tong wanted to find something to talk about but hesitated, fearing that speaking rashly might offend given their unfamiliarity.
Just then, Rong Xian’s phone on the table buzzed abruptly.
Holding her cigarette in one hand, she slid her finger to answer. “What is it?”
An Tong lowered her head again to eat her bird’s nest soup, trying not to overhear.
Whatever the caller said, Rong Xian’s tone clearly grew annoyed. “Have I told you I’m very busy today?”
An Tong’s head bowed even lower.
Even she could hear the impatience in Rong Xian’s voice, yet the caller seemed to be pouring fuel on the fire.
Rong Xian snapped, “If you’re bored, find your own fun. I have things to do. I’m hanging up.”
An Tong silently finished her soup, and Rong Xian ended the call, tossing the phone onto the glass table.
Her manner exuded irritation.
An Tong and she were still not close after several encounters — neither distant nor intimate.
Just as An Tong hesitated to speak, Rong Xian teased casually, “Scared, huh? Look at you, your head’s almost buried in the table.”
“No...” An Tong lifted her eyes to meet hers. “I was afraid of disturbing your call.”
Rong Xian paused, then laughed merrily.
She stubbed out her cigarette and sat opposite An Tong, gazing at her delicate, fair cheek before reaching out to pinch it. “You’re quite adorable; no wonder Xiao Jiu is so fond of you.”
Beautiful girls are common nowadays, and many are cute too.
But a girl like An Tong, both beautiful and possessing a blend of cuteness and innocent charm, is rare.
Plus, she carried a purity untouched by worldly corruption.
Rong Xian settled comfortably across from her and, with little appetite, took a few spoonfuls of bird’s nest. “Just call me big sister from now on. No need for ‘you’ or formalities — we’re family, no need to be so distant.”
An Tong agreed. “Okay, big sister.”
Rong Xian lifted her eyelids with a smile. “Do you obey Xiao Jiu the same way in front of him?”
An Tong wanted to deny it but the words lingered on her tongue, hard to say.
Most of the time, she truly... did obey Rong Shen.
Not because she lacked her own will, but because she preferred to believe that a man’s words held reason.
Rong Xian, seasoned in the workplace, had sharp insight into people.
Without waiting for An Tong’s denial, she adopted the tone of a seasoned adviser: “An’an, being obedient is fine, but don’t be too compliant with men. Have you heard this saying?”
She paused for two seconds. “A woman who is too obedient is like a cup of tasteless boiled water — dull and uninteresting after a while.”
An Tong fell silent, reflecting deeply.
Just then, Rong Shen arrived at the dining room.
“Don’t teach her bad habits when I asked you to keep her company,” his low voice came from a distance, neither angry nor pleased, but tinged with stiffness.
An Tong turned toward the voice to see a man in a white shirt approaching leisurely.
The indoor temperature was comfortable, his sleeves rolled up to the forearms, revealing firm muscular lines.
Rong Xian ignored his displeasure and propped her chin on her hand teasingly. “How could I be teaching her bad habits? I’m clearly teaching her about life.”
Men all like to put on airs, including her brother.
Rong Xian was clear-eyed about matters of the heart — no longer believing, she was free of all taboos.
Rong Shen came beside An Tong, his palm resting gently atop her head. “Go for a walk in the backyard?”
Though phrased as a question, it was more of a statement.
Without hesitation, An Tong stood. Seeing this, Rong Xian spread her hands and sighed, “All for nothing.”
Rong Shen frowned, displeased, and turned to An Tong. “Wait for me in the living room, okay?”
“Alright, you two talk first.”
An Tong had no intention of intervening in their sibling ‘debate’ and calmly left the dining room.
She faintly heard the man’s low voice, “An’an’s experience is different from yours. Don’t impose your views on her.”
“That’s not imposing,” Rong Xian leaned back, speaking teasingly. “Xiao Jiu, I know men better than you do. You think An Tong is obedient and sweet now, but once the novelty fades, are you sure you’ll still treat her the same?”
The man pursed his thin lips in disagreement, but Rong Xian gave no chance to reply.
“No need to argue. Honestly, I was more obedient than An Tong back then, and look what happened.” She looked out the window with a mocking gaze. “People always say a woman’s obedience is a blessing for men, but you men are always ungrateful.”
No woman is born a strong independent type. If fate were kinder, who wouldn’t want to lean on a man’s shoulder for shelter?
“After all this time, you still haven’t let go?” Rong Shen, one hand in his pocket, asked while glancing at Rong Xian’s sullen expression.
“He’s not dead yet, so I can’t let go. Forget it, let’s not talk about it.” Rong Xian brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Back to An Tong — I can tell Mom really likes her. I haven’t had much contact with her, but my impression is good. Xiao Jiu, you’re much older than her. If you truly like her, don’t be like other men who’re fickle. She’s a good girl.”
After a heavy silence, the man enunciated slowly, “I’m much older than her?”