Chapter 134: Intoxication

Before the dinner party began, a few friends gathered together to pass the time with idle chatter. Rong Shen occasionally joined the conversation, but his attention was mostly fixed on An Tong.

Before long, Yi Ke sidled over. "Ninth Brother, stop staring. She’s right under your nose; it’s not like she’s going to run away, is she?"

The man took a slow sip from the champagne glass in his hand. "On purpose?"

Yi Ke paused, quickly grasping the deeper meaning behind the question. His smile brightened, and as he toyed with his meticulously manicured fingers, he teased, "The circle is only so big; we were bound to meet eventually. Besides, it was just a coincidence today. Wen Wan had just finished her piano lesson with me and, knowing everyone was gathering, she tagged along."

Rong Shen cast a deep, piercing look at him. He didn’t say anything, but his thin, pressed lips betrayed his displeasure.

"Ninth Brother, we’re all friends. Do you really dislike Wen Wan that much?"

"It doesn't amount to dislike." The man crossed his long legs, his dark eyes shifting toward An Tong. "She’s just a nuisance."

No mature, sensible man would want his admirer in the same frame as the woman he loves. Regardless of how sensible the admirer might be, it could still invite unnecessary trouble and misunderstandings. Only a vain man chasing a thrill would take pride in such a situation. Moreover, Rong Shen cared most about An Tong’s peace of mind; even if he trusted Wen Wan’s character, he had no desire to gamble with An Tong’s emotions.

At this, Yi Ke rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Actually... I didn't mean to bring her. Wen Wan said she wanted to come and offer you guys her congratulations, and I figured since we all know each other, it would be livelier with more people."

The man remained noncommittal, his attitude one of complete indifference.

Elsewhere, as the only two women at the gathering, An Tong and Wen Wan naturally found themselves in conversation.

"I heard from Yi Ke that your piano skills are quite excellent."

After offering her congratulations, Wen Wan had spent some effort finding a topic. She didn't want to focus too much on Ninth Brother, nor could she ask random questions, as that would seem intrusive. The piano was a safe point of entry.

An Tong humbly shook her head. "Not that excellent. I'm not a professional; I can't compare to him."

Wen Wan picked up a tray of cake from the table and handed it to her, offering a wry smile. "That’s still better than me. I haven't even passed my Grade 10 amateur exam yet."

An Tong went quiet, her clear eyes assessing the Hong Kong socialite. She had heard many stories about her, almost all of them filled with praise. Yet, sensitive as she was, An Tong could still discern a hint of desolate exhaustion beneath that composed exterior.

"Actually... I only learned the piano because I was interested. Like many things I’m not interested in, I simply don’t touch them."

An Tong’s voice was not as soft as Wen Wan’s, but it was clearer, like a flowing stream. Wen Wan was quick-witted and easily understood the subtext. She nodded with a self-deprecating smile. "Yes, I suppose I’m not really interested in the piano."

People only invest energy and passion into things they love—it’s human nature—but she had no choice. How could a socialite not know how to play the piano? Her parents and those around her had always placed her on a pedestal under the label of "socialite," and gradually, all her defiance had been smoothed away. She couldn't live as herself, forced instead to carve herself into the "socialite Wen Wan" that others expected. It was laughable, and she deserved it.

"If you aren't interested, why learn it?" An Tong raised an eyebrow, looking curiously at the melancholic Wen Wan.

"If I said I had no choice, would you believe me?" Wen Wan looked straight into her eyes. Perhaps only in front of An Tong, who was not a close acquaintance, could she expose her heart without pressure, never fearing that An Tong would report back to her parents.

An Tong nodded, as if half-understanding. "Learning itself is an interest; it just depends on how you balance it."

Wen Wan lowered her eyes, masking the turbulence within. "Maybe I’m just not lucky enough. I’m always being forced by my family to learn things I have no interest in."

An Tong bit her fork, observing Wen Wan’s posture, which remained elegant at all times. "Is that why you’re unhappy?"

"Is it that obvious?" Wen Wan gave a forced smile. "As for unhappiness... there’s more than just this."

Her parents had arranged a marriage for her, paving a path where she couldn't see a future. She didn't even have the courage to resist; after all, this was the family duty she was born to bear. Others only saw her privileged life and envied her background, never knowing the price she had to pay for it.

An Tong sensed Wen Wan’s loneliness but didn't know how to comfort her. In the end, she could only borrow a "famous quote" from Rong Shen as a response: "I think... if you’re unhappy, just don’t do it. Follow your heart a little more; it’ll be more comfortable."

Wen Wan sighed desolately. "It’s too hard..."

...

The dinner didn't last long. It wasn't even eight-thirty when Rong Shen whisked An Tong away from the club.

In the car, An Tong’s cheeks were flushed, her breath carrying the sweet scent of alcohol. At the party, even though Rong Shen kept a close eye on her, there were moments when he was distracted by friends.

Thanks to Yi Ke, who doted on his junior sister, she had been served the same cocktail she’d had last time—"Home Everywhere."

The dim light from the car’s ceiling fell onto An Tong’s face, making her flush appear even more vivid. Only then did the man realize she was tipsy.

"How many did you have?"

An Tong held up two fingers and smiled. "I think it was... four."

Judging by her gesture, it was clear the young lady had had too much. The man turned off the interior light and looked at Cheng Feng, who was driving. "Make preparations. We’re returning to Zhanzhou tomorrow."

"Understood, Ninth Master."

...

Back at the Cloud Peak residence, An Tong swayed as she walked beside the man, her cheeks growing redder by the minute. Once inside, she sat on the sofa with her hands resting on her knees, like a statue waiting for her husband. Wherever Rong Shen went, her eyes followed. She didn't even notice her phone vibrating.

The man heard the faint sound, but seeing her staring intently at him, he didn't pay it any mind. It wasn't until a servant brought in a hangover soup that he took it and dismissed everyone.

Rong Shen sat down beside An Tong, stirring the soup with a spoon, his peripheral vision catching her focused gaze. "You’ve been staring for a long time. What have you seen?"

"You’re really good-looking..."

She was truly quite drunk. By rights, four cocktails shouldn't have left her this intoxicated. After all, she’d had quite a bit last time at the Waterfall Cliff. But Rong Shen didn't know that the cocktails at the Hong Kong club were stronger, and An Tong had drunk two of them while chatting with Wen Wan before dinner. Drinking on an empty stomach always makes one more susceptible.

"Do you like good-looking people?"

Rong Shen scooped a spoonful of soup and brought it to her lips, his deep voice magnetic and carrying a hint of amusement. An Tong kept her hands on her knees, and upon seeing the spoon, she lowered her head to take a sip, her arms remaining motionless like ornaments.

After swallowing the soup, she grinned. "Mm-hmm, you’re even better looking than my younger brother."