Chapter 148: Hidden Motives

Rong Shen looked at An Tong with deep, inscrutable eyes. With a faint smile, he took her hand and led her downstairs. He did not ask whom she had been calling, and An Tong did not bring it up.

In the living room downstairs, the servants had already set up the mahjong table, and Ruan Danling invited them to join. When An Tong mentioned that she didn't know how to play, Rong Xian had no choice but to sit down reluctantly. "Is Dad not coming to join us?"

Ruan Danling pursed her lips and gestured toward the upstairs with a tilt of her head. "He’s in the study. He’s been busy since last night; even during the New Year, he can’t catch a break from those endless company affairs."

Before long, playing cards were brought out to serve as chips, and Ruan Danling rolled up her sleeves, ready to show off her skills. "An'an, if you find sitting here boring, go lie down for a while. If you really want to play, just watch Little Nine and have him teach you as he goes."

An Tong nodded and agreed. She sat beside him, watching his long, well-defined fingers neatly arrange the blue mahjong tiles. Each movement as he drew a tile was elegant and composed—an indescribably pleasing sight. An Tong rested her chin on her hand, watching him, completely absorbed. Though she was quiet and well-behaved, her gaze was perhaps too intense, and it soon caught the attention of Rong Xian, who was sitting in the empty seat between the siblings.

Rong Xian discarded a tile and glanced at An Tong. "Staring like a devoted wife, is he that good-looking?"

"Hmm? What?" An Tong was still observing him intently and looked over, bewildered by the sudden question.

Rong Xian repeated, "I said, is he good-looking?"

"He is." An Tong, not even sure what she was being asked about, gave an offhand reply.

Rong Xian pursed her lips, and a second later, she burst into laughter. Across from her, Xiao Mingyu calmly tossed out two words: "Hu, I win."

The winning tile he claimed happened to be the one Rong Xian had just discarded. An Tong watched as the eldest sister’s expression shifted instantly from amusement to annoyance. An Tong silently pointed to a tile on her left. "It seems you should have played that one instead."

Rong Xian: "..."

Was the feng shui of this estate simply at odds with her this year?

...

The festive atmosphere of the New Year always slips away unnoticed. In the blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of the lunar new year, the final day of the holiday. Throughout these days, An Tong and Rong Shen had been staying at the estate, their time spent in a state of calm, yet far from dull. Amidst the liveliness, she rediscovered a sense of warmth and comfort reminiscent of a true home.

This was largely due to the openness of Ruan Danling, whose tolerance and understanding made An Tong feel welcome. Even after her relationship with Rong Shen had reached a significant milestone, Ruan Danling never made any demands of her, remaining as thoughtful and considerate as ever.

Just past ten o'clock that morning, Ruan Danling searched for a while before finally finding Rong Shen in the smoking room.

"Little Nine, when do you and An'an plan to hold your wedding?"

Xiao Mingyu was also smoking nearby. Upon hearing the question, his gaze deepened, but he remained silent. Rong Shen’s fingers, which held the cigarette, paused for a moment before he replied with composure, "Do you have any suggestions?"

Ruan Danling waved away the smoke hanging in the air and pondered for a few seconds. "It’s not that I’m rushing you, but not having a wedding makes things feel unofficial, and it’s a bit unfair to An'an, don’t you think?"

"Mhm, I will discuss it with her."

Ruan Danling knew her son well. Seeing his calm demeanor, she felt relieved. "As long as you have it in mind. Let me remind you: as a husband, you must have your priorities straight. No matter how much money you make, if your wife runs off, you’ll be the one left crying."

Rong Shen: "..."

Xiao Mingyu’s mouth twitched, yet he maintained his silence. After nagging a bit more, Ruan Danling turned and headed back to the living room to feed An Tong some bird's nest soup.

In the smoking room, Xiao Mingyu pursed his lips, eyeing Rong Shen. "I’ve never understood it. With your status and position, even if you weren't looking for someone of equal social standing, you could at least find a young lady from a more prominent family. Why choose An Tong?"

Was An Tong not good enough? She was certainly beautiful and refined, possessing a rare, cool elegance. But in terms of status and background, she was far removed from the renowned socialites or wealthy heiresses. Moreover, for a man like Rong Shen, if he were willing, the women vying to marry him would likely break down the Rong family's threshold.

"Why is it that you must have Rong Xian?" the man retorted.

Xiao Mingyu smiled. "Naturally, because I like her." He immediately realized that Rong Shen had just forced him to answer his own question. The implication was clear: his choice of An Tong was, naturally, because he liked her.

Xiao Mingyu didn't have the leisure to pry into Rong Shen's genuine feelings. After a few seconds of thought, he spoke bluntly: "From an outsider's perspective, I don't recommend holding the wedding too soon."

"The reason?"

Xiao Mingyu met his gaze, perfectly candid. "You know better than I do that An Tong has no background and is simple-minded. If those who oppose you target her, it won't be a small matter. Not to mention, someone like Rong Liu—he is notoriously promiscuous. I’ve heard he even went so far as to orchestrate a marriage alliance with Wen Wan just to spite you. If he finds out about An Tong, there's no telling what he might do."

This was a sound assessment. Xiao Mingyu watched Rong Shen's expression closely, anticipating a reaction.

"How do you know... that he doesn't already know about An Tong?"

The man's words were profound. Xiao Mingyu pondered for a moment, then squinted and smiled. "Is the information you possess even more extensive than I thought?"

Rong Shen did not answer. He simply tapped the ash from his cigarette and said, with an ambiguous tone, "A mind that appears simple-minded may not necessarily be simple at all."

Xiao Mingyu was stunned by this cryptic remark for a long while, before realizing belatedly that he had just labeled An Tong as simple-minded. By the time he wanted to say something more, the man had already turned and left the smoking room.

It was an indescribable feeling, but his retreating back seemed to radiate a hint of... coldness? Was it just because he had objectively commented on An Tong?

Xiao Mingyu felt that while Rong Shen was distant and detached, he wasn't the type to harbor grudges over such a trivial matter. However, when he returned to the living room and caught sight of Rong Xian’s look of utter disdain, he knew something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Mingyu asked, sitting beside her.

Rong Xian gave a cold, mocking laugh. "Nothing. I just heard a joke."

"Care to tell me?"

"Sure." Rong Xian crossed her legs and said with biting sarcasm, "Once upon a time, there was a man of humble origins who wanted my brother to be his wingman."

Xiao Mingyu: "..."

He wondered if his future brother-in-law's heart was truly as narrow as the eye of a needle. What a master of burning bridges.

...

After lunch, Cheng Feng and Ling Qi arrived at the estate on time to resume their duties. Before Rong Shen and An Tong left, Ruan Danling offered one last piece of advice. "Little Nine, remember what I told you. Take it to heart."

"Mhm."

Ruan Danling pursed her lips and turned to An Tong, offering a few more words of care. It was clear to everyone that she was reluctant to see them go, but she could not force them to stay.

After they left, Ruan Danling looked gloomily at Rong Xian, who was playing on her phone. "When are you heading back?"