Chapter 107: Jealousy

When she left the house at noon, An Tong kept wondering where Rong Shen would take her.

After all, it was Christmas Eve, their very first Christmas together—a day that undoubtedly held special meaning.

Perhaps, she thought, he was catering to her tastes and would take her to an amusement park or somewhere similar for a fun and relaxing day.

Yet, as the car pulled into the Mingjiang Scenic Area parking lot, An Tong felt embarrassed by her wild guesses.

She had been to Mingjiang before. In fact, it was on the snack street here that they had hit it off and decided to get married by agreement.

An Tong glanced at the river, now shrouded in a thin mist, and then looked sideways at the man unfastening his seatbelt. “Why did we come here?” she asked.

The scenic area was packed for Christmas, noisy and crowded everywhere.

In An Tong’s private opinion, this was hardly an ideal place for a romantic date.

Rong Shen’s eyes held a smile as he deftly unfastened her seatbelt too and gestured for her to get out. “I’m taking you for a walk,” he said.

“Oh…” An Tong responded, looking again at the throngs outside, her expression distinctly unenthused.

She wasn’t upset—just uncertain if such a bustling spot was really suitable for a leisurely stroll.

But since Rong Shen had made the arrangements, she didn’t say much more.

They got out of the car, hand in hand, and walked toward the Mingjiang docks.

Along the way, An Tong keenly sensed the glances and whispers from those around them.

Most of it… was directed at Rong Shen.

Today, An Tong wore a scarf that covered nearly the entire lower half of her face, revealing only her dark almond-shaped eyes.

But Rong Shen was different. His posture was straight and tall, his long legs accentuated by a black coat that reached his knees, perfectly displaying his impressive proportions.

And then there was his face—handsome yet gentle, his gaze cool and aloof even when looking straight ahead, but still unable to stop passersby from staring and commenting.

“He’s so tall, at least one-ninety, I bet.”

“Tall and handsome—what a rare gem…”

“I wish I could get his number. I’d even be happy to be his backup.”

An Tong: “…”

These good-natured jokes and compliments were harmless, and An Tong had heard them before.

But she couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy. She tightened her grip on his fingers and silently quickened her pace.

In her distraction, she stumbled over a protruding stone slab, nearly tripping, and her mood soured even more.

“Be careful. Watch your step.” Rong Shen caught her in his arms, gazing down at her sullen little face with a smile that brimmed with delight. “Why are you in such a hurry?”

Leaning against him, it took An Tong a while to mutter, “Where can we buy a mask?”

Her first thought was to take off her scarf and wrap it around Rong Shen, at least to shield his magnetic face.

But her scarf didn’t suit him; she’d have to buy him a mask.

They had only been together a short while, and had rarely held hands in public.

The only other time was at an amusement park, when a few schoolgirls had spotted them.

But the scenic area was even more crowded, and women of all ages seemed to be sizing up Rong Shen.

Among them were little internet celebrities, live-streaming as they walked, their cameras surreptitiously turning in Rong Shen’s direction.

An Tong thought she ought to feel proud, to bask in his glow, but she couldn’t summon any joy.

Rong Shen, always perceptive, saw at once the frustration she was struggling to hide.

He pulled her closer, his voice rich with amusement. “Who’s the mask for?”

“You,” An Tong tugged at his sleeve, her gaze stubborn. “So many people are looking at you…”

She didn’t know if that was selfish, but she spoke her mind regardless.

Rong Shen glanced ahead, then bent down and kissed her temple. “Soon there’ll be no one around, all right?”

Before An Tong could decipher his words, they had walked a little farther, and the docked pleasure boats came into view.

As Rong Shen had promised, once on the painted riverboat, the crowds faded away, and the noisy clamor was replaced by the gentle sound of oars in the water.

Some of the tension left An Tong’s brow as she leaned by the boat’s window, pulling down her scarf to breathe a long, quiet sigh.

“What’s wrong? Not happy anymore?”

The boat was filled with the fragrance of tea, and Rong Shen’s gentle, low voice drifted over to her.

An Tong turned her head, her gaze landing on the square table inside the cabin, where a cup of black tea awaited her.

“No,” she replied, not wanting to seem petty. Her eyes sparkled as she tried to change the subject. “Where are we going next?”

With a hint of mischief, Rong Shen smiled. “Are you afraid I’ll sell you off?”

“Human trafficking is illegal,” An Tong shot him a glance, muttering, “I don’t believe you even could.”

He let out a low, hearty laugh, his deep eyes full of indulgence and affection. “You must be unhappy—you’re even learning to talk back.”

An Tong: “…”

She fell silent, bowing her head to drink her tea, as if hiding something.

She hadn’t said it, but her feelings were always written across her face, and she could hide nothing from Rong Shen.

She wasn’t unhappy—just a little disappointed, with a tinge of regret about this Christmas date.

It was, after all, their first trip together. She had hoped for perfection, yet, as always, Murphy’s Law seemed to intervene, leaving things less than ideal.

Sensitive and thoughtful, An Tong now found herself a bit annoyed at her own passivity.

Rong Shen was always so busy; she should have taken the initiative to plan the outing, rather than simply going along for the ride.

...

Half an hour later, the riverboat docked at the Mountain and Water Gallery on the far side of Mingjiang.

A long corridor stretched from the river’s edge all the way to the foot of the distant mountains. The crowds thinned, and a secluded tranquility reminiscent of a hidden paradise set in.

They disembarked and walked across the lawn into the heart of the area. Along the way, they saw ribbons and banners fluttering from wooden railings—apparently, some kind of event was underway.

The green mountains loomed, as if they’d stepped into a painting.

Only when the breeze lifted the ribbons did An Tong make out the words:

—Christmas Bonfire Festival.

An Tong curled her fingers, a wave of emotions surging within her. She looked at Rong Shen, a touch of guilt in her eyes. “Did you bring me here for the bonfire festival?”

She’d celebrated Christmas before.

She’d heard of bonfire festivals.

But a Christmas Bonfire Festival was new to her.

Rong Shen strolled forward at an unhurried pace. Hearing her question, he glanced sideways, his tone playful and teasing, “Did you think I’d make you wander the crowded scenic area until nightfall?”

Knowing she was in the wrong, An Tong silently took his hand, her tone sweet and cajoling. “No, I thought… you’d definitely have something special in mind.”

Her praise was an act of cheeky charm, taking advantage while feigning modesty.

Rong Shen raised his thick brows, smiling without a word.

An Tong sidled closer, both hands wrapped around his palm. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“What would you like me to say?” Rong Shen clearly enjoyed her initiative, tightening his hold on her small hand, his features softening with affection.

“Anything, really. Just say a bit more.” An Tong licked her lips, her voice softening as well. “I want to hear… if you’re angry with me.”

(End of chapter)