Grace’s emotional intelligence wasn’t particularly high, but it wasn’t low either. She could tell Rong Jingshu’s mother was an impatient and very forceful woman.
Both sentences were directives, telling her what she must do.
Apologies, but she had always kept her distance from forceful people and wasn’t about to cater to them.
Call it a strange temper, but she had never in her life considered trying to please anyone, nor had she ever thought about getting married.
A solitary world was comfortable and pleasant; she could live her small life however she pleased. Why would she compromise herself to accommodate another person, or another family?
She couldn’t do that sort of thing.
Having decided to remain single her whole life, Grace had no thoughts or aspirations about romance.
However—
Even if she didn’t care about these things, it didn’t mean Xin Jie wouldn’t.
Deng Wen was, after all, an elder in the Rong family. Would directly refusing her impact Xin Jie?
“Darling, where have you been?” Du Ruoxin saw Grace looking preoccupied and linked arms with her, saying.
Grace looked grave. “Xin Jie, um— if I tell you I just refused Rong Jingshu’s mother’s request, will you be unhappy?”
Du Ruoxin: “What request?”
Grace recounted what had just happened. Du Ruoxin shook her head. “It’s fine, my second aunt is like that.”
She paused. “Let’s go, I’m a bit thirsty. Come with me for a drink.”
Du Ruoxin led Grace towards the reception hall, asking as they walked, “How have you been getting along with Jingshu lately?”
Grace replied calmly, “Still the same.”
How could two people who felt awkward around each other possibly spark?
Not to mention she was an insulator for the opposite sex; Rong Jingshu likely had no interest in her either. The fact that they still met occasionally was entirely for Du Ruoxin’s sake.
Du Ruoxin: …What does ‘the same’ mean? Darling, someone’s coming to steal your boyfriend!
Du Ruoxin desperately wanted to shake her friend awake, to stop her from acting so detached.
But she also knew Grace’s personality well and could only ask patiently, “Does that mean you feel things are going well?”
“Does your heart race?”
“Have you and Jingshu held hands? Kissed?”
As long as Grace said “yes,” she would leave with Ai Tai’en right then and there.
Grace looked at Du Ruoxin in shock—holding hands and kissing after only knowing someone for a month? Wasn’t that too fast? Too casual?
Du Ruoxin understood her friend’s confusion and pulled her along. “Kissing happens naturally. When the feeling is right, you just kiss, it has nothing to do with time.”
Alas!
How should she teach Grace?
A girl couldn’t be too forward. It seemed she could only hint to Jingshu!
Du Ruoxin moved away from Grace and ordered a maid to fetch Ai Tai’en.
At this moment, Ai Tai’en, like a super fan, was diligently learning how to wrap zongzi from Rong Jingshu: how much glutinous rice, how to wrap it, how to fold it, and how to tie the string attractively.
The occasional brush of their fingertips made her heart flutter like a little deer.
It pounded incessantly.
He was so handsome; the more she looked, the more handsome he became, more so than any man she had ever known.
He was so attentive, teaching her each step slowly, making her feel a wonderful sense of being cherished that she had never experienced before.
His voice was also pleasant.
Ai Tai’en felt drunk, no, she had fallen.
The moment she remembered how handsome his smile was, the inexplicable excitement that surged in her heart today.
Her heart had moved.
However, the sweet moment didn’t last long. The maid’s words brought a moment of clarity back to her involuntarily racing mind.
Miss Du was looking for her?
“Okay.” Ai Tai’en followed the maid to Du Ruoxin.
Du Ruoxin wanted to get straight to the point and tell her that Rong Jingshu was already taken, but seeing Ai Tai’en’s innocent face, she couldn’t bear to hurt her too much.
So, she asked indirectly, “Do you know Jingwen?”
Ai Tai’en shook her head, but before she could speak, Du Ruoxin added, “That kid is a notorious playboy at school.”
“Don’t fall for his tricks.”
“Oh, right, I forgot to introduce him just now. The one on your right is my husband’s cousin, Rong Jingshu. He works in the criminal investigation team.”
Criminal investigator?
He was a police officer?
No wonder she liked the scent he carried, liked the aura he exuded in his every gesture.
But Du Ruoxin’s next sentence sent Ai Tai’en, whose heart had been racing and who had been secretly rejoicing, plummeting into an abyss.