Chapter 170: Going to School

An Tong’s confession undoubtedly pleased Rong Shen.

He looked directly at the girl in his arms, the corners of his lips curling into an amused arc, and continued to guide her with an unperturbed expression: "How much do you like me?"

An Tong had originally just wanted to say something sweet to coax him, never expecting a follow-up.

She sat blankly in Rong Shen’s arms, for the first time beginning to seriously ponder the question of how much she liked him.

The man was not in a hurry either. He gazed down at her contemplative face, the expression in his eyes shifting several times before finally settling into tranquility.

To say that he was harboring misgivings because of An Tong’s praise of Rong Yan would not be entirely accurate.

Yet, it was inevitable that some complex thoughts would arise.

An Tong was still young, barely in her early twenties. A girl experiencing romantic awakening would always throw herself into a relationship with boundless enthusiasm; it was understandable and perhaps unavoidable.

Precisely because of her youth, coupled with her several years of self-imposed isolation, she had never encountered peers or other superior men showing her affection.

Affairs of the heart had never been subject to human control.

Much like the beginning between him and An Tong, which had been meticulously orchestrated by his own hand.

Rong Shen had never cared about the reasons and processes; he only focused on the final outcome.

However, there were simply too many uncontrollable factors in An Tong.

Her unwavering faith and tender feelings toward him were founded upon their former "doctor-patient relationship."

If one day, her reliance and trust in him were gradually worn away by the mundanity of everyday life, or if she encountered a male superior to him, would she still be able to say with absolute certainty that she only liked him?

Though the man’s thoughts surged, his sharply defined, handsome face remained entirely devoid of any outward sign.

Raising his eyes once more, he met An Tong’s gaze.

Their eyes locked, and he heard the girl’s soft, clear voice, "I can't really explain how much I like you, it's just... having you makes me feel like my world is complete."

As her voice trailed off, An Tong looked at the man with clear eyes, a quiet flush of shyness blooming across her face.

Rong Shen’s heart skipped a beat, those few words echoing ceaselessly in his ears.

Compared to such common and pale expressions as "I love you" or "I like you," "having you makes my world complete" carried far greater emotional weight.

The man unconsciously tightened his arms, caging An Tong’s body more securely against him. Using his other hand, he tilted up her chin and pressed his lips to hers, lingering in a gentle caress.

It was not a passionate, deep kiss, but rather one imbued with a tender warmth.

After a moment, Rong Shen released An Tong, his thumb rubbing over her flushed lips as his voice turned raspy: "Go wash up and rest early tonight. Don't you have to wake up early tomorrow?"

An Tong didn't think much of it and stood up from his arms, ready to leave.

When she reached the door of the study, she turned back to ask, "Are you going to be busy until very late tonight?"

"No."

Receiving a satisfactory answer and having no reason to doubt him, An Tong happily returned to the master bedroom.

When she walked to the bathroom with her change of clothes, it dawned on her belatedly that it was only half-past eight in the evening; she might not even be able to fall asleep if she finished washing up this early.

She twitched her lips at the clothes in her hand, thought for a moment, and decided to take a bath first and worry about it later.

However, when An Tong returned to the bedroom enveloped in the fragrance of her shower, the floor lamp had already been turned off, leaving only a bedside lamp casting a hazy orange glow.

Footnotes of footsteps came from behind, and before she could even turn around, a warm body embraced her from behind.

After the shower, it was not yet nine o'clock.

—It was still too early for bed, which made it the perfect time for some exercise to help induce sleep.

These were the words the man whispered in her ear as he pinned the girl beneath him.

...

The next day, An Tong woke up at five.

Having been away from campus for a long time, and harboring a mix of trepidation and nervousness, she returned to her bedroom walk-in closet, spending a dozen minutes putting together an outfit that looked appropriate for a university setting.

A loose, casual overcoat paired with black skinny jeans and Martin boots—the colors were neither flashy nor dull, striking a conventional balance that also showcased the youthful vibrancy of a young woman.

An Tong gathered her clothes and returned to the master bedroom she shared with Rong Shen. As soon as she stepped inside, she saw that the curtains had already been drawn back, and half of the sliding glass door to the floor-to-ceiling windows was open, letting the cool morning breeze carrying a faint trace of cigarette smoke drift into the room.

On the balcony outside the window stood a tall, straight figure.

Rong Shen leaned his back against the railing, wearing only a long morning robe with the belt tied loosely, exposing a small expanse of sexy, honey-colored chest.

Unlike the impeccably suited gentleman he appeared to be during the day, the man in the morning exuded a casual, domestic laziness.

An Tong put on her gray overcoat, set the rest of her clothes down, and stepped out onto the balcony.

The early spring morning mist was light, and the air was exceptionally crisp.

She walked up to Rong Shen, tugged at the lapels of her coat to lean closer to him, seemingly wanting to use this method to warm him up: "Did I wake you?"

The man’s left hand, holding a cigarette, rested on the railing while his right arm wrapped around An Tong’s shoulder. His voice retained a post-sleep lowness and hoarseness: "No. Why are you up so early?"

An Tong breathed in his familiar scent and casually replied, "Probably because I went to bed early last night."

The air fell silent for two seconds. A hint of a smile touched Rong Shen’s tone as he leaned down against her cheek, teasing with veiled implication: "It seems that early to bed and early to rise really is beneficial to physical and mental health."

An Tong: "..."

She could clearly hear the subtext in his words.

Recalling the previous night, certain details sprang vividly to mind. She shot Rong Shen a playful glare and made a motion to turn around: "I'm going to change..."

"No rush." The man casually stubbed out his cigarette, pulled her back into the room, closed the sliding door, and casually drew the curtains. "There's still time. Lie down with me a little longer."

...

At seven-thirty, a commercial vehicle pulled away from the villa.

An Tong had a large black shoulder bag resting on her lap, containing her enrollment paperwork and documents.

In less than ten minutes, the vehicle stopped at the main gate of Zhanke University.

Looking up at the magnificent campus entrance gate, An Tong clutched the hem of her clothes, took a breath for a few seconds, and grabbed her shoulder bag, preparing to get out of the car.

"No need to be nervous. Everything has a first time."

Rong Shen’s deep, soothing tone came from inside the carriage. An Tong turned her head, curving her lips in acknowledgment of his instruction.

She turned and headed toward the school gate, only to find Cheng Feng trailing close beside her after just two steps.

The latter explained with a smiling face: "When your transfer paperwork was being sorted out, I crossed paths with the university's senior management. To make sure you don't get lost once you go in, I'll go inside and give you an introduction."

An Tong glanced back at the commercial vehicle parked in the temporary parking space, thought for a moment, and didn't refuse Cheng Feng’s offer: "Alright, sorry to trouble you."

Cheng Feng curled his lips. "You're always so polite."

With Cheng Feng’s banter, An Tong’s nervous mood eased somewhat.

The two of them stepped through the school gate. It was the first day of school, and students laden with bags and luggage could be seen everywhere. The scenery along the way was so captivating that it made one reluctant to leave.

At the same time, Rong Shen, sitting inside the car, watched An Tong walk into the campus, pulled out the phone in his pocket, and made a call.

In less than ten minutes, An Tong followed Cheng Feng to the Academic Affairs Office to check in. The head of academic affairs was currently on the phone, his words full of polite and respectful undertones.

The class counselor was a woman in her thirties. Taking advantage of the director's phone call, she handed An Tong a data card to fill out first.