Chapter 144: Inspection

The villa at Houhu Lake was brightly lit.

Rong Shen carried An Tong into the living room. Under the brilliant lights, the girl’s rigid expression and vacant gaze were clearly visible. She seemed lost in thought, her hands clutching the man’s neck tightly, her pupils contracted, harboring unspoken secrets.

Rong Shen placed her on the sofa and knelt before her, his deep eyes leveled with An Tong, who had yet to react. Her current state bore a striking resemblance to emotional detachment. The man’s thick brows furrowed tightly. As he looked down, he noticed the tips of An Tong’s fingers trembling slightly. It was barely perceptible; had he not been so observant, he likely would have overlooked this tiny tremor. Perhaps she was still in shock and remained immersed in the experience. The trembling fingertips at least indicated she was not unconscious—it was more akin to a lingering, fearful realization.

Rong Shen leaned forward, wrapping an arm around her back and patting her gently. His voice was steady and unhurried, laced with comfort. "It’s alright now. It was just a minor accident."

An Tong rested her head against the man’s neck, her breath filled with his crisp, pleasant scent. She closed her eyes, her voice devoid of inflection. "In the past... it was also because I was reckless... that something happened at home."

She stumbled and paused several times throughout the sentence. It wasn't the spectacle of the fireworks exploding that she feared; she feared once again causing irreparable harm to those around her due to her own carelessness. The impact of the fireworks, however strong, would not have been fatal. The root of the problem was that he had only been in the backyard plaza because he was keeping her company.

Rong Shen sensed the self-reproach in An Tong’s words, and for a moment, his chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe.

"Tonight was just a mishap caused by the clumsy staff; it had nothing to do with you," the man said in a low, gentle, and solemn tone. "Besides, things are different now. History won’t repeat itself like that, hmm?"

An Tong kept her eyes closed. After a long while, she nodded slightly against his chest.

Rong Shen held her for a while longer. Seeing her emotions begin to settle, he moved to stand up, but his wrist was caught. "Are you really okay?"

The man paused, a faint smile curving his thin lips. "I am. Don’t you believe me?"

An Tong didn't speak, but her eyes remained fixed on him with stubborn insistence. Seeing this, the sharp lines of Rong Shen’s face softened. He pinched her cheek, teasing, "What would it take for you to believe me? Should I take off my clothes so you can inspect me?"

An Tong pursed her lips and said something unexpected. "Yes, alright."

Rong Shen: "..."

In truth, An Tong’s intention was simple: she just wanted to personally verify whether he had been struck by the fireworks. The man’s eyes gradually darkened, and his breathing grew heavier.

He knew that if he didn't let her check, she would find a way to take matters into her own hands ten times over. Rong Shen stood up, making a show of unbuttoning his coat. "Are you sure you want to see?"

An Tong looked up at him with intense focus, her intent clear. The man sighed helplessly and took off his coat, tossing it onto the sofa. Before he could speak, An Tong’s sharp eyes caught the charred marks on the back of the coat. Her expression froze. She picked up the coat and touched the marks, her demeanor becoming even more grave and anxious.

"The coat was just scorched; I’m perfectly fine underneath."

Rong Shen rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt and sat sideways beside An Tong to soothe her, his tone clearly gentle and patient. He didn't think she was making a fuss; instead... for the first time, he clearly felt that he was even more important to her than he had imagined.

An Tong turned to the side, her dim gaze unchanged by his reassurance. She looked at his shirt, her eyes lingering on his lower back. "Let me see..."

Rong Shen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice turning inexplicably husky. "See what?"

An Tong gestured toward his side. "Here, your back."

The man watched her overly calm face without blinking. Even though there was no malice or seduction in her intent, it left him feeling powerless. He was no saint, nor was he immune to temptation. Sleeping with her in his arms every night already required immense willpower to keep his physical desires in check. While there was nothing wrong with exposing his upper body in front of her, he was a man—a very normal man. Especially now that his restraint was nearing its breaking point, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't do something impulsive in the depths of this dark night.

"An'an..."

Rong Shen wanted to continue reasoning with her, but as soon as he spoke her name, she frowned and said with earnest seriousness, "If you're fine, just let me see."

The force of the fireworks had been significant; even with the coat as a buffer, she couldn't be certain if his skin had been bruised. An Tong thought that if there were injuries, she needed to apply medicine immediately.

Time slipped away in their silent standoff. The man saw her persistence and shook his head with a wry laugh. Naturally, he wouldn't refuse, nor could he.

The next second, his long, articulated fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt. One by one, he undid them. Throughout the process, An Tong watched him intently.

The white shirt fell open, revealing the man’s well-defined chest, his abdominals, and the V-taper disappearing beneath his belt. An Tong’s eyes were too pure—clear, bright, and devoid of any impure thoughts.

Rong Shen pulled off the shirt. An Tong reached out to press against his shoulder blades, observing his back carefully. The girl’s palms were soft, cool, and damp. As they touched his skin, his body tensed for a moment. Yet, the "culprit" remained oblivious, prodding his back, pressing here and there, until she was certain there were no injuries.

By then, however, the man’s breathing was already ragged.

An Tong pulled her hands back and created some distance, whispering, "I’m done looking."

Rong Shen closed his eyes and took a deep breath, grabbing her hand from his waist. Caught off guard, An Tong’s nose bumped into his shoulder due to the momentum. The position made it look as if she were hugging him from behind. An Tong didn't struggle; she adjusted her posture and tilted her head to look at Rong Shen’s profile. "What’s wrong?"

"Do you believe me now?" The man turned his head, their noses brushing against each other.

She pulled at her lips, her mood still low. "Yes. As long as I know you’re alright, that’s enough."

An Tong was still wearing her down jacket and scarf. The temperature in the living room was slightly high, and it was inevitable that she would feel hot after holding such a pose for too long. Before long, she pulled at her scarf in discomfort and forcibly withdrew her hand.

The ambiguity dissipated. Rong Shen smoothed his brow and draped the shirt he had just taken off over his shoulders. "Are you still—"

Before he could finish, the girl, having shed her down jacket and scarf, leaned in and initiated a kiss on his lips. It wasn't the first time An Tong had taken the lead, but this time it held a fervor different from before, her arms wrapping around his lean waist.

At first, Rong Shen did not respond, watching her through lowered eyelids. Only when the girl tentatively licked his lips did the man’s reason finally succumb to his instinctual desire.

Outside the window, the cold night sky occasionally lit up with distant fireworks. Inside the living room, the shirt on Rong Shen’s shoulders fell to the sofa once more. After a long, deep kiss, he pressed his forehead against An Tong’s and asked in a husky voice, "Are you willing?"