Chapter 48: Maintenance

Housekeeper Li gave An Tong no chance to press further, only urging her to hurry. When it came to matters of principle, An Tong never held anyone back. Within a few minutes, she had already pieced together the situation. The “old lady” mentioned by Housekeeper Li was likely a relative of Dr. Rong. For someone to make an old housekeeper, who’d served for more than half a century, act as though he faced an enemy, she must be exceptionally stern or difficult to deal with.

So, An Tong changed swiftly into an outfit both proper and tasteful. Her long hair was neatly tied into a ponytail, with soft strands falling naturally at her temples to frame her oval face, making her features even more distinctive. Before stepping out of the manor, she practiced her smile in the mirror, hoping to present her best self to face the outside world alongside Dr. Rong.

In other words, it was all about keeping up appearances.

Crossing the foyer of the neighboring main hall, An Tong glanced around. The old lady had not yet arrived. Only Rong Shen sat there, long legs crossed, comfortably reading his phone on a single-seater sofa. At the sound of footsteps, the man looked up, his dark eyes under thick brows lighting with keen interest at her changed appearance.

She wore a light gray, loose V-neck knit sweater that draped past her hips, paired with fitted black pencil pants and matching short boots—appropriate yet understated and elegant. Though slender, An Tong’s figure was far from frail; her collarbones were clearly defined at the neckline, and her shoulders and neck showed graceful lines—like a delicate, upright beauty.

Rong Shen gazed at her intently for a moment before looking away, his tone gentle as he praised, “This suits you very well.”

An Tong responded awkwardly, “It’s all right.” The long sleeves of her sweater covered her hands, leaving only the curled tips of her fingers exposed, betraying a hint of nervousness.

“Come, have a seat.” The man put down his phone and gestured to the sofa beside him. “The old lady is only stopping by as she passes; there’s no need to be nervous.”

An Tong sat down, though her body language remained taut. “The elderly lady is...?”

“My grandmother.”

With this clear answer, An Tong relaxed considerably. Thankfully, it wasn’t his parents—she wouldn’t have to call anyone “Mom” or “Dad.” Though they were husband and wife in name only, the marriage certificate was real. If she ever met Dr. Rong’s parents, she truly wouldn’t know how to act.

With these uneasy thoughts, An Tong decided to check with the man first. “Does she know we’re married?”

Rong Shen’s tone was calm, like a low, mellow note: “She’ll find out today.”

An Tong fell silent. So Dr. Rong was also skilled in acting first and explaining later. In that case, the old lady’s visit was likely no coincidence—perhaps she was here to demand an explanation.

With this in mind, An Tong’s expression turned solemn. “How should I cooperate with you?”

As she spoke, she remembered Housekeeper Li’s change of address and immediately drew her own conclusion. “Is it inappropriate for me to keep calling you ‘Dr. Rong’?”

Faced with sudden changes, An Tong’s clear, quick thinking was impressive. In daily life, she was so calm and serene that people often overlooked her strengths beyond her illness. This young woman was the very embodiment of hidden depths.

Before Rong Shen could reply, Housekeeper Li hurried in from outside. “Young Master, Madam has arrived.”

An Tong instinctively straightened her spine, her gaze drifting toward the window.

After the winter solstice, the sky over Xiangjiang was always veiled in frost. A cold wind swept through as the elderly Madam Rong, her white hair gleaming, entered An Tong’s view accompanied by two bodyguards. Well past seventy, the old lady wore a dark brown, buttoned traditional outfit. Her features were sharply carved and penetrating. Even holding prayer beads, appearing pious, there was little of the usual kindness one might expect from the elderly.

As Madam Rong approached, An Tong rose to greet her.

A chill swept into the living room, and the old lady’s voice soon followed: “It’s getting colder by the day.”

An Tong glanced at the unruffled man beside her, who rose slowly, just as the old lady entered.

“It’s so cold, why don’t you stay home and rest?” Rong Shen said, subtly shifting his body so that his shoulder brushed An Tong’s, drawing her quietly into his protective space.

Madam Rong brushed the frost from her sleeve and looked across the room, huffing in feigned irritation. “You always have something nice to say. Tell me, how long has it been since you last came back to the main house?”

While the grandmother and grandson conversed as if no one else were present, An Tong was momentarily left aside. Once Madam Rong had taken her seat, her bodyguards stood dutifully at each side of the entrance, instantly casting a solemn air over the room.

“You both can sit.”

An Tong had no particular feelings about Madam Rong, but she remained cautious, not daring to let her guard down. The old lady’s calculated indifference earlier seemed to be a test of her mettle.

Madam Rong fingered her prayer beads, her gaze settling on An Tong with a seeming gentleness that barely veiled an intense scrutiny.

“My girl, when did you arrive here? I’ve come by several times before, but today is the first time I’ve run into you.”

An Tong met her gaze openly, but before she could answer, the man interjected softly, “She lives here.”

Madam Rong pursed her lips, frowning in displeasure. “I was asking her, not you.”

Rong Shen leaned lazily against the sofa, right hand supporting his temple. “Whatever you want to know, you can ask me.”

“What, are you defending her now? Afraid I’ll bully her? She’s settled in here, and you didn’t even think to bring her home and introduce us.”

With that, Madam Rong shot her grandson a look, then turned back to An Tong. Her stern face softened with a hint of ambiguous warmth. “Child, don’t mind him. I can’t sit idle at home, so I’m just out for a stroll. Relax—there are no outsiders here.”

An Tong smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Madam.”

“Calling me ‘Madam’ is too formal. If you don’t mind, you may call me ‘Grandmother.’”

Madam Rong was by no means a kindly elder. This gesture was likely prompted by An Tong’s parents’ supposed “unattainable status.”

Rong Shen, observing from the side, lowered his eyes to hide a flicker of amusement. He knew the old lady took Yi Ke’s words to heart. Power was her lifeblood; all principles could be bent for its sake.

With An Tong’s background established, Madam Rong’s attitude shifted dramatically—even her way of addressing An Tong became more intimate, turning to “Xiao An.”

“Xiao An, what do your parents do for a living?”

After some polite conversation, the old lady finally got to the point, holding her lidded teacup in hand. At her words, Rong Shen’s thick brows drew together, and a cold displeasure flashed in his deep eyes. “You’ve been asking questions all this time—have some tea to soothe your throat.”

Madam Rong ignored him, her gaze boring intently into An Tong.

In that moment, An Tong’s eyes flickered, but she quickly composed herself. With a hint of apology, she replied, “I’m sorry, but I’m not comfortable answering that.”

She neither wished to tell the truth nor become entangled in issues concerning her parents. So she declined, straightforwardly and openly.

(End of this chapter)