Chapter 19: Awkwardness

Now, Antong was finally able to face her psychological issues with composure. This change greatly satisfied Rong Shen.

Neither of them were particularly talkative. After a bit of small talk, Antong returned to her book, while the man reopened his folder.

Before long, a waiter appeared, breaking the peaceful silence. “Sir, here’s the cake, juice, and coffee you ordered.”

Rong Shen pushed the cake and juice toward Antong, and seamlessly took the cup of coffee himself, taking a delicate sip.

Antong inhaled the sweet scent of the fruit cake and looked across the table, just as she heard the man’s deep, magnetic voice say, “Eating something sweet every now and then can help lift your mood.”

“Thank you,” Antong muttered, picking up her little fork and taking a few bites of the cake. Then she got up, making as if to leave. “I’m going to get another book.”

The man noticed that the thick picture book in her hand had already been turned to the last page.

Rong Shen gave a slight nod, his eyes following Antong as she disappeared behind the shelves. After a moment, he looked away, but a knowing, faint smile lingered at the corner of his lips.

Meanwhile, Antong wandered in circles around a few rows of bookshelves, and before going downstairs, she peeked in the man’s direction. Seeing that he hadn’t noticed, she hurried to the lobby below.

Just a few minutes later, Antong returned to their table with a calm expression. As soon as she sat down, the man asked with interest, “Couldn’t find a book you wanted to read?”

Antong was momentarily stunned, glancing at the picture book she’d brought back by mistake, a trace of annoyance flickering in her eyes. “Oh, I grabbed the wrong one.”

She quickly moved to a nearby shelf, randomly pulled out a book, and tried to explain, “Actually, I wanted to read this.”

For some reason, a genuine smile broke across Rong Shen’s usually stern and handsome features—not just a subtle curl of the lips, but an unmistakable smile.

Faced with the man’s unexpected amusement, Antong felt a little lost after sitting back down. “What’s so funny?”

She wondered if her earlier behavior had been too odd, making her the butt of his joke.

At that moment, the man glanced at the book in her hand, and, with a teasing tone, probed, “Do you really want to read that one?”

Antong looked down. “...”

A Comprehensive Guide to Pregnancy

For a moment, she finally understood the feeling Su Ji had described as “social death.”

An unspoken awkwardness hung in the air.

Fortunately, the arrival of the waiter eased Antong’s embarrassment.

“Miss, your coffee.”

Antong thanked the waiter, and when her gaze landed once more on A Comprehensive Guide to Pregnancy, she immediately averted her eyes, unable to face it.

The man noticed her small gesture, his expression softening further. “Did you go all the way downstairs just to order yourself a coffee?”

So, he knew everything.

Antong nodded, a bit flustered.

Rong Shen raised his thick brows, his smile undimmed. “Did you also settle the bill?”

That, most likely, was her real purpose. Though the young woman looked somewhat reserved, she handled herself with just the right touch of tact and skill.

Antong quietly slipped the pregnancy guide beneath the table and composed herself before explaining, “I can’t expect you to pay every time we go out. Think of this as a little courtesy in return.”

She trusted that with Dr. Rong’s gentlemanly manners, he would hardly need her to play the host, but he had offered her so much advice and help in her treatment that she’d always been grateful and wanted to do something to express it.

The man watched her with a persistent seriousness, amusement gathering in his eyes. “There’s no need to be so polite with me in the future. Now go pick a book you actually want to read.”

Antong silently let out a sigh of relief, feeling more than ever the ease and warmth of being around Dr. Rong.

...

For the next two hours, Antong read with undivided attention, losing herself completely in the sea of words.

The man, meanwhile, sat at ease with his cup, covertly observing the way she turned the pages—every four or five seconds, she would turn to the next, her focus unbroken, her movements not at all perfunctory.

Rong Shen hadn’t noticed her reading speed before, but the table was small and they sat across from each other; even the slightest movement was easy to catch. He recalled that day in the cabin when Antong’s page-turning had also been swift—he’d assumed she was just skimming, missing the significance of the detail.

A photographic memory?

Deep intrigue flickered in Rong Shen’s eyes.

Ten more minutes passed. Antong pressed her index finger to her eye to relieve some strain, and when she looked up, she met the man’s probing gaze.

“Are you finished with your work?”

She quickly glanced at the folder and pen lying open on the table, then closed her book and sat up straight, ready to talk.

Rong Shen glanced at the foreign-language book and said meaningfully, “Reading is an excellent habit, but if you go through books too quickly, you might just be skimming.”

“I’m not that fast, just normal speed,” Antong replied anxiously, worried that Dr. Rong would think she was only pretending to read. She picked up her book and handed it to him. “If you don’t believe me, you can quiz me.”

Those words—frank and forthright—fit Antong to perfection.

The man didn’t take the book, but instead gestured for her to set it down. “No need for a quiz. As long as you remember what you read, it’s fine.”

“I have a good memory—I won’t forget,” Antong insisted, not to show off, but simply to make sure Dr. Rong didn’t mistake her for someone superficial.

It was just like a student reassuring a teacher of her love for learning.

Seeing her so earnest, Rong Shen, for once, made a joke. “Would you like a few words of praise?”

Antong blinked, then replied softly, “That’s not necessary.”

The man didn’t continue, but began to study her with interest.

With her hair tied back, her face was an elegant oval, her features smooth and harmonious. Her dark almond eyes beneath her brows were striking, beautiful, and memorable.

Especially now, after therapy had begun, there was more life in her eyes, her emotions richer and more vibrant than before.

Such a well-mannered girl, always mindful of boundaries, was indeed rare.

...

As evening approached, the library gradually filled with people.

Rong Shen chose that moment to leave with Antong. Once in the car, his deep, mellow voice sounded, “Do you have any plans besides work lately?”

“No,” Antong replied softly. “I spend most of my time at home.”

The man produced a sandalwood hand piece from somewhere, turning it in his palm a few times. “If there’s no urgent work, I’ll have Cheng Feng pick you up this Friday for another therapy session.”

Antong nodded without hesitation. “Alright.”

Then she asked, “Will it be twice a week from now on?”

The man’s lips curved into a faint smile, his handsome, chiseled features softening. “Just for this week. I’ll be out of town next week—not in Hong Kong. If you need anything, just call.”