12dz 37. Going out
37. Going out
The next day, Su Tong woke up late and couldn't go for a "morning walk" with her owner. Kong Kong thought she was sick. Sister Lin poured its favorite brand of dog food into its new food bowl, but it refused to eat. Instead, it lay by the bed, looking at her with its big, round, watery eyes full of worry. Su Tong felt that Kong Kong was probably the only person in the world who loved her as much as her parents, even though Kong Kong was just a dog.
After getting up, Su Tong acted as if nothing had happened, but Xiao Yang seemed to think she was frightened by his recklessness. So, although he stayed at the White Queen's Castle all day, he kept his distance from her and avoided any deliberate physical contact. He chatted and laughed as usual, which made him even more handsome and charming.
In a way, Xiao Yang was actually quite pleased with Su Tong's resistance to his advances. Su Tong, who appeared to be an exceptionally beautiful and refined young woman, was actually 26 years old and had previously been a lover like Gu Nian'an, whom even Xiao Yang couldn't deny was outstanding. Against this backdrop, Su Tong's shyness and conservatism in resisting physical contact between men and women made Xiao Yang feel that she was a completely pure and innocent young woman who belonged only to him.
In this way, Xiao Yang could take a step back and temporarily refrain from intimate contact. However, he felt that everything was just a matter of time, and they would still have a long time together. Such things are more enjoyable when they happen naturally and are mutually agreeable. Besides, Su Tong was such a peerless beauty. She usually seemed so aloof and indifferent, but even a slight smile from her to her pet was so captivating. He wanted to share that extreme joy with her and also wanted her to show him a bright and warm smile.
With a suspicion in her heart that she herself did not want to believe, Su Tong was indeed able to maintain a calm demeanor on the surface. Even when eating and talking to Xiao Yang, she acted as usual. However, her bad mood and lack of appetite could not be faked. This time, she did not even finish half a bowl of rice. After the meal, Sister Zhang pulled her aside to talk. Because she had always been kind to Su Tong, Su Tong thought that Sister Zhang was trying to comfort her because she saw that she had not eaten much.
Sure enough, Sister Zhang held Su Tong's hand affectionately and said kindly, "Miss Su, although I usually have to be respectful and call you 'Miss,' I really see you as a younger sister. Why are you putting yourself through this? You eat so little; even a cat wouldn't be full, let alone a person. Listen to your sister Zhang: health is the most important thing. Don't worry about or fret about other things. Just do what makes you feel good. No matter what happens in the future, you must always eat well."
Su Tong responded with "Okay," but suddenly felt something touch her palm, like a crumpled piece of paper. She looked up at Sister Zhang in surprise, only to find that Sister Zhang's gentle and beautiful face, though slightly aged due to deep laugh lines, still had that kind smile. Su Tong instinctively grabbed the crumpled paper and said with a smile, "Sister Zhang, thank you. I'll be careful."
Sister Zhang smiled and removed her hands, placing them in front of her. "That's a good girl, isn't it? That's fine, I won't nag anymore."
Su Tong walked to the restroom with a normal pace. As soon as she closed the door, she unfolded the crumpled paper. The handwriting on the crumpled paper was not neat and tidy, but it was powerful and vigorous, and looked very impressive. Almost at first glance, people noticed the handwriting rather than the content. It was a short sentence: "Go to Mingjue Western Restaurant at nine o'clock tonight and sit on the left side of the second floor hall by the window."
The signature is a single word, "Thank you," followed by two capital letters: ys.
Su Tong understood immediately: invisibility.
Sometimes fate is just like that, making people laugh and cry. They never expected that this word that used to terrify them would now become a code that they could believe in.
Xiao Yang realized that Sister Zhang was trying to comfort Su Tong. So after being comforted, Su Tong went to the bathroom alone for a few minutes, looking worried and confused. When she came out with a faint expression but slightly red eyes, he pretended not to notice that she had just been crying and asked with a smile and concern, "Tongtong, I was really worried because you ate so little. There are some pastries at home that I bought from Lin's, which you quite like this morning. Why don't you eat some? Or, would you like something else?"
Su Tong actually just squeezed out two tears, and then showed her current confused and sad state on her face.
If Xiao Yang stayed here, it would be practically impossible for Su Tong to go out alone while leaving Xiao Yang behind at the White Queen's Castle. However, without an emotional journey of "being persuaded—confusion—crying—compromising," it would be too strange for her to suddenly show signs of trying to accept Xiao Yang and then say she wanted to go out with him. So, she acted out the scene in this half-real, half-fake manner.
Hearing Xiao Yang ask her, Su Tong seemed unwilling to let him see her vulnerable side, so she turned her head slightly. Then, her eyes were no longer wet with tears. She forced a smile at him, showing a gentleness after her stubbornness, and shook her head, saying, "No, I just didn't have an appetite for a while. I won't do it again. Um, I've been in C Municipality for so long this time, and I haven't gone out much. Why don't we go out for a walk together?"
Although Su Tong was originally indifferent, she still smiled a lot when she was with familiar relatives and friends. However, after arriving at the White Queen's Castle, she hardly smiled at all. Such a smile was very faint, but it carried an indescribable beauty and charm, making her particularly pitiful while giving people a warm and peaceful feeling.
Xiao Yang laughed heartily, "Okay, but I need to bring bodyguards when I go out with you, otherwise, I'm afraid someone might rush up and snatch you away!"
"What are you talking about!" Su Tong laughed and continued, "Well, let's just stroll around. How about Jiefang Road? I visited there last time I came to C City, back in college."
Jiefang Road is one of the most bustling areas in City C. There's a street there jokingly called "Rich Man's Road" by locals, lined with boutiques of luxury brands whose prices are beyond the reach of most. People of a certain status in City C, besides buying from duty-free shops outside or going abroad, often come here. Even slightly well-off white-collar workers sometimes come to buy a couple of outfits to show off. And MG can be seen right at the intersection of that street.
Xiao Yang and Su Tong went for a stroll. Su Tong didn't hold his hand or link arms with him, but walked side by side, keeping a close distance between them. Two bodyguards in plain clothes followed not far behind. Even though they were in plain clothes, the two serious-looking men followed behind them, and it was obvious to anyone with eyes that they were men.
Su Tong wore a gradient purple round-neck, fitted chiffon midi dress and beige low-top flat shoes. Her hair was loosely tied back with a hairband. Xiao Yang was beside her, carrying her dark purple bag. In the sweltering summer of C City, her outfit was neither flashy nor sophisticated. However, in C City, which was rumored to be full of beautiful women, wherever she went, men on the street couldn't look anywhere else, and even women would stare at her in a daze. Whenever Su Tong entered a store, it would suddenly become crowded.
Everyone has an appreciation for beauty. Su Tong's flawless beauty might make some people feel too afraid to approach her, wanting only to admire her as much as possible. Others, however, seem to want to strip her naked. Fortunately, the presence of two intimidating bodyguards and Xiao Yang, dressed in an expensive custom-made shirt and casual trousers with outstanding looks and demeanor, prevented the passersby, who were both amazed and gossiping about Su Tong's appearance, from actually approaching her to chat or provoke her.
Xiao Yang didn't care. With his background and future prospects, he was an absolute figure in City C. Anyone with a bit of status who dared to have designs on Su Tong's appearance would know him and would only dare to dream about it.
Su Tong was preoccupied with two things: going to MG and dealing with Xiao Yang. Being watched by others didn't seem so important to her. However, she had no interest in shopping at all. She would just go into a store, browse around, and try on the clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories recommended by the sales assistants. Every time Su Tong came out after changing, she would see all the shop assistants and customers staring at the dressing room door with expressions of admiration and amazement.
It's said that clothes make the man, but when someone is beautiful enough, as long as they are clean, they will look good in anything. Xiao Yang naturally felt that it didn't matter how much he bought for Su Tong, and she could even change her clothes three times a day. However, Su Tong wasn't like that. She only asked for two sets of clothes and a pair of shoes. But she felt that if she left, she wouldn't have the chance to wear these things anymore, so she didn't refuse Xiao Yang's offer to pay by card.
The shop assistant urged Su Tong to buy more so as not to waste her good looks, but Xiao Yang did not force her. He just smiled indulgently and said, "It's okay, I'll come with you next time. Besides, Tongtong, you look good in anything."
Su Tong controlled her speed and slowly looked around with Xiao Yang. When it was almost nine o'clock, the two of them arrived at the intersection. A little to the left was the famous Mingjue Western Restaurant in C City. Su Tong smiled slightly at Xiao Yang, looking a little embarrassed, "Sister Zhang is right. I shouldn't have eaten so little."
Xiao Yang noticed a slight blush on Su Tong's cheeks, a shy look he had never seen before. Just as Su Tong had hoped, he smiled and said, "You really haven't eaten enough. Are you hungry? Let's go to the MG store next door and get something to eat."
Su Tong inwardly cheered, then lowered her eyes and softly replied, "Mm."
The MG Western Restaurant is actually located in a 36-story building. The top two floors have been combined to create a scenic Western restaurant. The two men and their bodyguards took the elevator up. Because MG is known for its excellent security, only certified VIP members are allowed to enter. Even the highest-level diamond members can only bring five people. Therefore, Xiao Yang left his bodyguards in the tea room on the 34th floor to wait.
Su Tong sat down at a window seat on the left side of the second-floor lobby. After ordering her food, her drinks were served at 9:15 when a man and a woman arrived. The woman in the lead, wearing a strapless white mini-dress, had delicate features and exquisite makeup, with eye makeup that made her eyes appear larger. She was none other than Zhang Anya, the "jade girl" star she had met at Xiao Yang's birthday party. The man behind her was a middle-aged man in a suit, fairly good-looking, but with slightly droopy eyes that gave him a somewhat sinister air. Su Tong felt he looked strangely familiar.