Chapter 122: Exploitation

Rong Shen’s designs were limited to two possibilities: either he wanted her experience, or he wanted her.

An Tong brushed back her sleeve to touch her elegant wristwatch, her expression calm and unruffled. Either Rong Shen sought to enrich his clinical experience as a music therapist by using her as a patient who had walked right to his door, or, from the very day they met, his true target had been her. This intent had nothing to do with romance, and it was hardly likely to be love at first sight. As for his ultimate goal, she had never asked in the past, nor would she ask in the future. Since the matter had long been settled, she had no desire to dwell on the beginning and invite unnecessary trouble for herself.

...

At the Zhanzhou Building, in the Tea Appreciation Pavilion on the top floor, Su Ji was momentarily dazed the first time she laid eyes on Rong Shen. The small plan she had nurtured to give him a show of force vanished instantly. In the private tea room, Rong Shen sat composed in the host’s seat. His white shirt gave him a scholarly and amiable appearance, yet the aura radiating from his very bones could not be faked. He possessed an elegant bearing, noble and refined.

What surprised her most was that the man’s striking, handsome appearance could only be described as "extraordinary." Su Ji was not one to obsess over looks, but she had to admit that Rong Shen was one of the few top-tier specimens she had ever encountered. Those handsomer than him lacked his presence, and those with more presence lacked his aristocratic air. He could truly be called a high-quality human male.

During the few seconds Su Ji spent observing him, the man had already risen and strolled toward her.

"Ms. Su."

Su Ji collected herself, looking up at the man whose height was intimidatingly superior, and reached out belatedly. "Ah, hello, Mr.... Rong."

She simply could not bring herself to call him by his name. There was an ingrained authority and strength in this man, hidden beneath his gentle demeanor, silently controlling the entire situation. Su Ji could perceive this only because of her years spent in the entertainment industry; having seen all manner of people, she had developed a discerning eye.

The two exchanged a polite handshake. After half a second at most, the man withdrew his hand. "Please, sit inside."

Before long, the three of them were seated near the tea table.

Rong Shen sat alone in the host’s seat, while An Tong sat opposite him, accompanying Su Ji. The atmosphere was not exactly awkward, yet no one spoke. A silent environment always makes time feel prolonged and stagnant.

Su Ji adjusted her mindset and took the initiative to break the stalemate. "Mr. Rong, would it be convenient to have a private word?"

Rong Shen poured two cups of tea. As he set them before the women, he curled his lips in a composed manner. "Certainly."

An Tong looked at Su Ji, then met the man’s deep, dark eyes. "Then... I’ll go to the restroom."

"Don't wander off. Cheng Feng is outside the door; you can have him show you around the tea garden."

An Tong nodded. "Mm, you two talk."

Rong Shen sipped his tea, watching her leave. Only when the door was firmly shut did he withdraw his gaze. "What would you like to discuss, Ms. Su?"

Su Ji wore a polite, ritualistic smile, forcibly suppressing the trepidation in her heart. "I have actually heard of you for a long time, Mr. Rong, but I never had the chance to communicate with you in person. Forgive the intrusion today; I came first to meet you, and second... I wanted to understand your intentions toward An Tong."

This opening was restrained, neither aggressive nor deliberately stern. Su Ji summoned the spirit of a negotiator to face Rong Shen, simply because after An Tong left, the temperature in the man’s eyes had plummeted, losing all the warmth and gentleness from before. It did not seem like a pretense; it was more like an instinctive reaction. It was as if no one but An Tong could receive his special regard. Of course, these were merely Su Ji’s conjectures; the truth remained to be seen.

"Which aspect of my intentions would you like to understand, Ms. Su?"

Rong Shen set down his teacup, his gaze toward Su Ji calm and profound.

Su Ji feigned composure and smiled. "If I could understand them fully, that would be for the best. Though An Tong and I are not related by blood, we grew up together, closer than sisters. Since Mr. Rong spirited my sister away without a word, I cannot just sit by and do nothing."

The man gently swirled the purple clay teapot and raised his eyelids toward Su Ji. "It would be more accurate to say that I married her."

Was that the point? Su Ji frowned, her expression showing slight dissatisfaction. "Fine, let’s say you married her. What about the wedding? Does Mr. Rong intend to just register the marriage without holding a ceremony?"

"It will be held, but not now."

Su Ji pressed her lips together, a wave of helplessness rising in her heart. This man was too inscrutable, his words and actions completely watertight. He appeared to answer every question, but in reality, he was avoiding the heavy and focusing on the light. With such profound duplicity, let alone An Tong, even she found him difficult to handle.

Su Ji did some more psychological preparation, trying to hypnotize herself into not being intimidated by Rong Shen’s aura. However, a moment later, the man shifted from defense to offense, posing a soul-searching question: "Since you grew up with her, why did you not intervene in time when she developed emotional detachment disorder following her trauma?"

Su Ji: "..."

She subconsciously picked up her cup to drink, using the movement to avoid the man’s piercing gaze. A moment later, she calmed down. "I did intervene, and I took her to the hospital for consultations with professional psychologists. But Mr. Rong, if you understand her, you should know that unless she is willing herself, all intervention is in vain."

She wanted An Tong to recover more than anyone. But it was difficult.

Rong Shen caught the nuance in Su Ji’s emphasis on the word "professional." His thin lips curved slightly as he said in a low voice, "Ms. Su seems to have quite a prejudice against me."

"Yes, I won't deny that." For An Tong’s sake, Su Ji chose to be blunt. "You brought her out of Hong Kong under the guise of therapy—was it to satisfy your own selfish desires, or was it truly for her own good?"

This was a pointed question, and Su Ji was almost looking forward to seeing how Rong Shen would answer. Most men, when faced with such skepticism, would choose the answer most favorable to themselves. She could almost foresee Rong Shen saying "for her own good" without a second thought. *Hmph, a sanctimonious man.*

Because she had already made her assumptions, a hint of mockery flickered in her eyes. But Rong Shen did not see it, as he was leisurely sipping his tea.

After half a cup of black tea, the man picked up the teapot to refill it and spoke in a calm tone, "Perhaps... both."

Su Ji was caught off guard. Was he admitting he had selfish motives?

As Rong Shen refilled the cup, he lazily arched his brows and glanced at Su Ji. "At the time, I needed a wife, and she happened to be the right fit."

Su Ji clenched her fists, her face changing color. "So you were using her?"

"The initial motive for using each other was mutual need. During that period, mutual necessity was the prerequisite for everything." The man remained composed and at ease, without a trace of concealment. "I tell you this, Ms. Su, not to have you question my dedication to An An. The original motive may have been impure, but she is still the wife I went to great lengths to marry. She was before, she is now, and she always will be."