Chapter 54: Unease

Antong looked at Rong Shen’s elegant demeanor and the concern in his eyes, and felt a warmth spread through her heart. She replied softly, “I’ve just taken my medicine. I’m fine now.”

By then, Ling Qi had already slipped quietly out of the living room.

The man sat down slowly. His deep voice carried a note of admonition. “You’re a grown woman now. How is it that you still don’t know how to take care of yourself?”

Antong absently rubbed the knuckles of her left hand with her right, lowering her eyes in a dejected manner. “I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Even though she didn’t say much, Rong Shen could still read the guilt and frustration lurking beneath her words.

His features softened, and a faint smile flickered in his eyes. “I’m not scolding you. When you’re sick, you’re the one who suffers most. It’s always better to take care of yourself and avoid it, rather than endure the pain.”

Antong nodded dispiritedly, her spirits still low.

She hated being ill, yet was often powerless to do anything about it.

It seemed as if all she ever did was cause trouble and burden those around her, and had no other use at all.

The silence stretched on, oppressive and heavy in the living room.

A soft click broke the stillness—the sound of a lighter. Tea-scented smoke curled from Rong Shen’s lips. “Start packing your things when you have time; we’ll be leaving for Zhanzhou after this week.”

Antong looked up, gazing at the man’s gentle features, and replied in a muffled voice, “Alright.”

Rong Shen smoked quietly, his handsome face blurred and indistinct behind wisps of smoke.

At some point, his attention to Antong seemed to have grown, to the point it was almost alarming.

He turned his gaze away and walked calmly to the floor-to-ceiling window, giving a faint sigh as if in resignation. “Xiao An, don’t always think you’re a burden. Those who are willing to help you never see you as trouble—do you understand?”

Sharp as he was, Rong Shen could naturally see Antong’s true thoughts.

Troubled by her illness, forced to become independent because of family circumstances, yet she was barely in her early twenties.

Emotionally fragile patients could be unpredictable; if not guided with care, her condition might only worsen.

Yet, at this simple and sincere reassurance, Antong wordlessly hugged a pillow and buried her face in it.

When the man received no answer, he glanced sideways and immediately frowned.

The girl was curled up with her head buried like an ostrich, her thin shoulders hunched, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable.

Was she crying?

Rong Shen stubbed out his cigarette and walked back to sit beside her, his deep voice steady and powerful. “It’s good to handle things yourself, but there will always be times when you’re overwhelmed. You set the bar too high for yourself, worry too much, and only add to your troubles.”

He consoled her patiently, with care and reason in every word.

About three minutes later, the little ostrich finally lifted her head from the pillow and asked in a muffled voice, “Can I take my desktop computer to Zhanzhou?”

Rong Shen, still full of philosophical insights, was caught off guard by her abrupt change of topic.

He tilted his head, regarding the girl so close at hand, a restrained smile curving his lips. “You can take whatever you want. So all this time, that’s what you’ve been thinking about?”

“Not exactly.” Antong brushed the hair from her eyes and glanced at Rong Shen from the corner of her eye. “I only started thinking about it because you mentioned moving to Zhanzhou.”

The man leaned back, amusement flickering in his eyes. So she hadn’t heard a word of his lengthy lecture just now?

Rong Shen stretched out his long legs languidly, his tone teasing. “So all my words just now were wasted?”

A perfectly matter-of-fact statement.

Antong’s expression flickered with embarrassment. “Of course not, I heard everything you said.”

She just didn’t want to burden Doctor Rong with her negative feelings, didn’t want him to worry, so she’d deliberately changed the subject.

Hearing this, the man rocked his polished shoes idly, his expression playful. “Are you sure you listened to everything?”

Antong nodded emphatically. “Yes, I’m sure. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Good, then.” Rong Shen’s deep eyes glinted as he smiled. “So, do you remember what I said in the third sentence?”

Antong froze: “…”

She couldn’t recall there ever being a Q&A session when talking with Doctor Rong.

Caught off guard, she couldn’t answer, and covered her mouth to cough lightly, “Ahem… ahem…”

In the past, Rong Shen would never have thought much of it.

But now, after knowing Antong for so long, he could see through all her little schemes and tricks.

Ill though she was, she was still clever.

Rong Shen watched her “performance” without looking away, the smile on his lips growing more intriguing.

After a few seconds, the girl couldn’t keep up the act, sat up straight, and said hoarsely, “Sorry, I didn’t remember. If you say it again, I’ll be sure to remember this time.”

The man said nothing, just smiled silently at her.

Antong knew her little ploy hadn’t worked, and gradually her ears flushed red.

She felt more and more self-conscious, as if she were showing off her meager skills before a master.

Her skin was naturally pale, so even the slightest change was easy to spot.

All the more so as they sat so close, almost side by side.

Rong Shen noticed the flush at her ears, and, not wanting to tease her further, looked away and said softly, “Since you didn’t remember, I’ll tell you again some other time.”

Antong sniffled, sneaking a glance at his handsome profile, but seeing no sign of displeasure, she quickly promised, “Next time, I’ll listen carefully.”

It wasn’t exactly getting away with it, but it was close enough.

Rong Shen not only didn’t mind—he rather hoped she would always be this way.

This was the mischief and vitality a girl her age ought to possess.

…

Two days later, the move to Zhanzhou was almost upon them.

Antong’s cold hadn’t fully cleared up, but at least her fever hadn’t returned.

That afternoon, she planned to return to Yunhai Road to sort the things she would have Cheng Feng bring over.

Before she left, Ling Qi eagerly volunteered to help, asking if Antong needed an all-purpose assistant.

After a moment’s thought, Antong asked, “Will this interfere with your work?”

“Of course not! Helping you is part of my job, Madam.”

Reassured, Antong smiled and invited her along. “Alright, then let’s go.”

Ling Qi was so delighted she nearly clapped with joy.

This wasn’t just progress—it was a leap.

A minute later, though, Ling Qi’s smile faded.

Dressed in her maid’s outfit, she shivered as she followed Antong, asking, “Madam, aren’t we taking the car?”

“We are,” Antong replied, glancing over to see Ling Qi hugging her arms and shivering. She realized then and urged, “You’re not dressed warmly enough—go back and put on another layer. Cheng Feng isn’t here, and there are no taxis available here. We’ll have to walk to the intersection at Yundian Road to catch a ride.”

Ling Qi: “?”

With your status, taking a taxi—isn’t that beneath you?

She grumbled inwardly but dared not say more, only told Antong to wait a moment, then dashed back toward the main house.

Watching her small figure dash away, Antong couldn’t help but smile to herself.

She truly liked Ling Qi’s personality—cheerful and adorable, much like she herself had been before turning eighteen.

(End of chapter)