Chapter 130: Companionship

"If you want to bring it, then bring it," the man said, leading her out of the bathroom with a gentle, amused tone. "The car certainly isn't lacking space for it."

An Tong followed him into the study. Before she could ask any questions, he pulled her into the manager's chair. Of course, she was sitting sideways on his lap. Given An Tong's height, she didn't look particularly petite while being held in his arms, but thanks to Rong Shen's tall and sturdy build, her slender frame looked perfectly natural nestled against him.

An Tong, unsure of Rong Shen's intention, knitted her brows in confusion. The man glanced down at her, said nothing, and instead wrapped an ice pack in a few paper towels before gently pressing it against her eyes.

"Use a cold compress for a while, or your eyes will be swollen tomorrow."

An Tong hurried to take the ice pack from him. "I'll do it myself."

Rong Shen let go, adjusted his seating posture, and turned on the computer in front of him. During this time, their pet, An'an, lay by their feet, occasionally licking its paws, quiet and well-behaved.

An Tong closed her eyes. Although she couldn't see what the man was doing, she heard the sound of the computer starting up. She shifted the ice pack to peek at him, looking surprised. "Are you working?"

"Yes, there are some things that need to be handled. It won't take long."

An Tong made a move to get off his lap. "Then you go ahead, I..."

"It doesn't affect anything," Rong Shen said, his strong forearm tightening slightly. "Just sit."

An Tong froze in his arms, caught between staying and leaving. Although she craved his company and warmth, she hadn't reached the point where they needed to be stuck together every single second. Besides, she didn't want to disturb his work.

While An Tong was still hesitating, Rong Shen had already begun his video conference in an orderly fashion. Just like last time, he didn't turn on his camera, and unless it was necessary to speak, his microphone remained off. Perhaps sensing An Tong's unease, the man leaned back slightly against the chair, his hand occasionally patting her back like one would pet a small animal.

Unable to leave, An Tong simply leaned against him, continuing to apply the cold compress to her eyes. The first ten minutes were normal, but as time went on, drowsiness set in, and her eyelids grew heavy. Her arm dropped, and she held the ice pack loosely in her palm.

In her daze, An Tong felt the man beside her shift. The chill in her palm was gradually replaced by a dry, lingering warmth. Just as she was about to open her eyes, his gentle voice drifted into her ears like a lullaby: "It's late, go to sleep."

An Tong didn't know when she finally fell asleep, but her breath was filled with the familiar, crisp scent of the man. It was steady and reassuring.

...

The next day, An Tong and Rong Shen prepared to set off for Hong Kong. Cheng Feng was naturally the one driving, and Ling Qi tagged along, claiming she was bored.

After the emotional release of the previous night, An Tong's state was visibly better. Though her eyelids were slightly swollen, her eyes were shining with a clarity brighter than ever before.

In the business vehicle, Ling Qi sat in the very back, boredly playing a mobile game. An Tong sat by the window, the furry An'an curled up on her lap, gazing calmly at the receding streetscape. Outside, the sunlight pierced through the glass and fell upon them; the pair, one large and one small, bathed in the light, creating a serene and timeless picture.

As for Rong Shen, he sat languidly next to An Tong, one hand supporting his forehead, his deep eyes locked unblinkingly on the figure bathed in sunlight. Perhaps sensing his gaze, An Tong turned back unconsciously. When she met his eyes, she was startled for a moment before she broke into a relaxed, gentle smile.

Rong Shen’s thin lips curled up in response, and across the aisle, he opened his palm toward her. An Tong took his hand, smiling brightly—she felt more natural and relaxed than she ever had before. They held hands openly, without a care for anyone else.

Ling Qi, sitting in the back, caught a glimpse of this and not only felt like she was force-fed dog food, but her game character was also killed by someone else. She kicked her legs in dissatisfaction and looked back at her phone, typing out a string of words: "CPDD, looking for a partner, private message me if interested."

Moonlight (Ke): You play so poorly, you really should find a partner to carry you.
Sunshine (Sun Ce): ??? Yao, can't you see that the four of us are two pairs of couples?
Lover Under the Lamp (Zhang Fei): Let's kick her out in a bit.
Lover Under the Window (Jialuo): Probably another elementary school student, still doing CPDD. Go study, kid.

Ling Qi, sitting alone: "..."

You're the elementary school student! Your whole family is elementary school students! Is the whole world in pairs now? Am I the only single dog left? And the kind that people kick when they see on the side of the road?

Furious, Ling Qi logged out of the game. Suddenly, she wanted to fall in love!

...

In the afternoon, the car drove onto the main road of Hong Kong.

Having been away for less than two months, returning to her hometown, An Tong felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity, as if a lifetime had passed. The greenery on both sides of the street was covered in thin, sparse frost. It wasn't exactly a frozen landscape, but the biting cold wind blowing against the bare branches revealed the desolation of winter.

Cloud Peak No. 177.

An Tong gazed at the magnificent and luxurious building before her. The memories of her time living here swept through her mind like a film being rewound. Her standalone villa, the hot spring in the backyard, and the media room... Almost every segment contained a shadow of Rong Shen.

After getting out of the car, the elderly Butler Li greeted them enthusiastically. "Master Nine, Madam, you've finally returned! Quickly, come in, the tea is already brewed."

An Tong smiled and called him "Uncle Li." An'an also wagged its tail happily and ran to Butler Li's feet, whimpering. Butler Li bent down to stroke the little creature, muttering, "Oh my, Little Treasure has grown so big. In a few more days, you'll be as big as your mother, Saiqi."

An Tong: "?"

An'an's mother? Saiqi?

She knitted her brows in suspicion. As she turned her head, the man had already taken her hand and whispered, "Don't space out, let's go inside first."

Rong Shen's words interrupted her train of thought. She suppressed her doubts for the moment and followed him into the living room of the main residence.

Not far behind, Cheng Feng and Ling Qi exchanged looks. Cheng Feng clicked his tongue, "Old Li really has a loose mouth. But it seems Little An didn't pay attention to what he said."

"Impossible," Ling Qi said, wagging her index finger with confidence. "Madam definitely heard it. Just wait, she'll discover An'an's true origins sooner or later. Then we'll see how the boss tries to talk his way out of this."

Cheng Feng's face changed, and he laughed awkwardly. "Do you think Master Nine will try to talk his way out of it personally?"

"What do you mean?"

Cheng Feng pointed to his own chest. "Things like this usually end up falling on me."

Ling Qi immediately patted his shoulder in sympathy. "Then you'd better think carefully before you make up a story. Our Madam is very smart; she won't be easy to fool."

On the other side, An Tong and Rong Shen walked into the living room they hadn't seen for a long time. It was spotless, and steaming black tea was already set on the table. She took off her heavy down jacket, and just as she sat down, Butler Li ran over and said, "Master Nine, Young Master Su is here."