Chapter 141: Curiosity

Rong Shen unhurriedly set down his overcoat, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to his forearms, and walked up to An Tong. His voice was low and gentle. "You managed to discern his character and bearing after just one meeting, hmm?"

An Tong tilted her head, looking up at him expectantly, though she felt a rare, subtle hint of displeasure hidden within his gentle tone. It was faint, almost impossible to pinpoint.

"I’m not that curious, I just wanted to know." She leaned back slightly and tugged at two of Rong Shen’s fingers. "Are he and Eldest Sister... a couple?"

An Tong mumbled the last few words. If they were a couple, the aura they projected didn't show the sparks of lovers; instead, it was filled with silent, crackling tension—it was truly bizarre.

An Tong was not a meddlesome person, nor was she usually keen on the affairs of others. But perhaps because Rong Xian was a member of the Rong family, and because her first impression was always one of such mature composure—never letting her emotions show—the cold rebukes and impatience she displayed in front of Xiao Mingyu were in such extreme contrast to her usual self.

Faced with such contradictory behavior, An Tong couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.

The living room fell silent for a few seconds. The man before her had already seated himself with effortless grace. An Tong’s gaze followed him, and when she didn't get an answer, she tugged at his sleeve to prompt him. "Well, are they?"

"At the moment, no."

Rong Shen’s reply was ambiguous. It was either a yes or a no, but he had added a timeframe: "at the moment."

An Tong’s entire experience with romance came from the man beside her. Unable to fathom other possibilities, she tugged at the corner of her mouth and offered a guess. "Does that mean... Mr. Xiao hasn't managed to win her over yet?"

The man tilted his head, seeing her contemplative expression, and curved his lips in a mysterious smile.

The relationship between Xiao Mingyu and Rong Xian could hardly be called a romantic one. To call it "pursuit" was accurate enough, for their initial pairing had been nothing more than a casual game to relieve their mutual loneliness. Yet, someone in this game had unexpectedly lost their heart.

As for the outcome, Rong Shen did not care. Even if Xiao Mingyu had taken a circuitous route to reach him, he had no intention of taking sides. At most... he might help create a few opportunities for him to get closer to Rong Xian.

...

On New Year's Eve, the estate was bustling with activity. The servants were busy preparing the reunion dinner, while An Tong and Rong Shen sat in the living room listening to the chatter.

She spoke little, mostly listening. The man beside her maintained his usual reticence, kneading An Tong’s soft fingers and occasionally interjecting with a brief remark.

Under normal circumstances, any newlywed wife sitting in her husband's family home during such a reunion would feel at least a little uneasy. This was especially true for An Tong. But the appearance of Xiao Mingyu had effectively diluted the awkwardness of being an outsider.

It was unclear what Ruan Danling was thinking. As Rong Xian's "assistant," Xiao Mingyu had not only been invited into the living room for tea and conversation, but his room had also been arranged within Rong Xian’s own villa.

Ruan Danling’s excuse was: "The guest wing in the back is full, and since he is your assistant, Xiaoxian, we couldn't possibly make him stay at Little Nine's place, could we?"

Rong Xian had never expected that the lie she had made up on the spot would become the very reason her own mother would start playing matchmaker. Everyone there was an adult; who couldn't see through the charade? She found it baffling—could her own mother really not see that this pretty boy was just a determined social climber?

"Mingyu, what are your primary responsibilities under Xiaoxian?" Ruan Danling asked while sipping herbal tea, her expression that of a mother-in-law growing fonder of a suitor by the second.

Before Rong Xian could speak, Xiao Mingyu replied in a slow, gentle tone, "Ma'am, I am primarily responsible for General Manager Xian’s daily needs."

An Tong, sitting by the side, stole a glance at Rong Shen and whispered into his ear, "Do you have an assistant like that?"

The man looked sideways, the distance between their noses barely an inch. "I don't need one."

At the same time, Ruan Danling nodded as if she understood perfectly. "Yes, a life assistant. Xiaoxian isn't very good at taking care of herself."

Rong Xian: "..."

Rong Jinghuai glanced sideways at his wife, pursed his lips, and dared not say a word.

"And how long have you been working with Xiaoxian?" Ruan Danling continued.

"Eight months and seventeen days."

Rong Xian played with her nails, scoffing with an air of indifference. "Your memory is quite good."

Xiao Mingyu lowered his gaze, masking the intense possessiveness in his eyes. "I have a good memory." He emphasized the words heavily, as if hinting at something deeper.

Rong Xian let out a cold snort through her nose, stood up, and brushed off her legs. "I'm going to the restroom."

After she left, Xiao Mingyu chatted with them for a few more minutes before also finding an excuse to leave the living room.

Seeing this, Rong Jinghuai rubbed his temples. "My dear, what is Xiao Mingyu’s background? Bringing him home is one thing, but you’re being far too warm toward him."

Ruan Danling looked innocent. "He’s Xiaoxian’s assistant; he said so himself."

Rong Jinghuai asked incredulously, "You believe that?"

"That’s not important." Ruan Danling sipped her tea and shrugged. "I only know that in front of him, Xiaoxian finally acts like a woman again."

After that incident, Rong Xian had wrapped herself in too many layers, always maintaining a detached, indifferent facade. She had lost all desire and expectation for love, becoming harder and more guarded as time went on. Only in front of Xiao Mingyu did she show clear emotional fluctuations. Ruan Danling was observant and had naturally noticed the difference.

"This is... absurd."

Ruan Danling frowned. "Husband, are you questioning me?"

"I'm not questioning you. I’m just worried that he has an unknown background and ulterior motives."

"He doesn't look like a man with ulterior motives." Ruan Danling pondered for a moment, then slapped her thigh. "I remember now—Little Nine, Mingyu appeared downstairs at SK with you today. Do you two know each other?"

"Not well." The man curved his lips enigmatically. "You’ve remembered incorrectly."

...

On the other side, Rong Xian finished washing her hands and tossed the paper towel away. As she pushed the door open, a wall of flesh blocked her path.

Suddenly meeting Xiao Mingyu’s gloomy gaze, her expression turned icy. "Are you really—"

Before she could finish, the man grabbed the back of her head and kissed her, forcing her back into the restroom and kicking the door shut with one leg.

Rong Xian’s struggles were like a mayfly trying to shake a tree in the face of the tall Xiao Mingyu. Half a minute later, the man released her, trapping her between his chest and the sink.

Rong Xian crossed her arms, closing her eyes to steady herself for a long moment before she finally calmed down. "Xiao Mingyu, what exactly do you want? Showing up at my house on New Year's Eve—have you no shame?"

Xiao Mingyu braced his hands against the sink behind her, looking straight into her eyes. "As long as you stop mentioning breaking up, I’ll leave tomorrow."