Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Although Song Garden was just a temporary residence, as the dignified Prince Ningxuan, Rong Tang’s quarters were carefully arranged by Shuangfu and Shuangshou, imbued with familiar touches.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough room for a separate study. Shuangfu set up a beauty couch in the courtyard, topped with blankets and quilts from the mansion, placing it under a lush osmanthus tree and adding a stone table, chairs, and a chessboard, creating a leisurely and comfortable spot perfect for reading and writing.

As soon as Rong Tang returned to the courtyard, he was pleasantly surprised by Shuangfu's arrangement, eagerly making himself comfortable there.

Su Huaijing, amused, resignedly brought out several storybooks and snacks he had specifically asked Xingfeng to queue for, neatly arranging them on a tray on the stone table.

Rong Tang had already settled on the couch, feeling slightly chilled from the wind on the island but warmed up after walking back, no longer feeling cold.

"After Su Huaijing had prepared the storybooks and snacks for him, he calmly sat aside and started arranging the two peonies."

"Su Huaijing didn’t have scissors when he picked the flowers. Rong Tang glanced over and noticed the stems were cut extremely sharp and even."

"He secretly marveled, acknowledging that the great villain’s martial prowess was indeed formidable."

"But still..."

"Using such skill just to pick a couple of flowers seemed like an overkill!"

"Rong Tang’s fingers paused on the pages of his book, lost in thought, while Su Huaijing noticed his gaze and the corners of his lips curved up satisfactorily, like a beast appeased."

"The porcelain basin used for the flowers, a shallow, blue-green vessel with two bicolor koi fish painted at the bottom, was found in the storeroom. Su Huaijing filled it halfway with clear water and added a few smooth, round stones. He then plucked an osmanthus branch, removed the excess leaves and twigs, trimmed the unnecessary parts, and placed it in the basin at an angle as a base."

"Both peonies were double-layered, one pink and white, the other yellow and white, their colors closely resembling the camellias Rong Tang had seen in Tanghua Court and Yong'an Alley in early March. Rong Tang couldn’t tell if it was a coincidence or Su Huaijing's intentional choice."

"He was just captivated by Su Huaijing’s actions. The villain’s slender fingers casually brushed over the petals, occasionally touching the water droplets in the basin. The droplets would coalesce at his fingertips before gently dropping, creating ripples that passed over the painted koi, making them seem as if swimming along the waves, adding a lively charm."

"Warm light filtered through the gaps in the osmanthus tree, dancing and falling onto Su Huaijing's eyelashes. Combined with his enjoyable expression while arranging flowers, Rong Tang couldn't help but admire for the thousand and first time how incredibly good-looking the great villain was."

"'Tang Tang,' Su Huaijing suddenly called him, his eyes soft and downcast towards the flowers in the basin, smilingly asking, 'What are you looking at?'"

"Rong Tang was particularly honest, 'I'm looking at you.'"

"Su Huaijing paused for a moment, his eyebrows slightly raising. His gaze shifted over the branches in the basin, seemingly looking for a better position to support them, or perhaps, through the water's surface at his little Buddha. He asked casually, 'Do you find it beautiful?'"

"Rong Tang nodded, 'It's beautiful.'"

"The young prince had such a thin skin that it felt cruel to tease him, yet when he unwittingly spoke such candid words, he made others want to tease him even more."

"Su Huaijing paused, his scissors slipping and accidentally cutting too much."

"There was a hint of regret in Su Huaijing's demeanor, but then he heard Rong Tang earnestly saying again, 'You really look so good, Huaijing.'"

"At that, any regret instantly vanished. Su Huaijing, who rarely got distracted while doing something, even felt an urge to abandon the task at hand."

"The scissors wrapped in rough rope felt coarse to the touch. Su Huaijing ran his fingers over it twice, unable to resist any longer. He set them aside, carelessly throwing the peony into the clear water. Looking up at Rong Tang with a slightly deep voice, almost coaxing, he said, 'Tang Tang, say it again.'"

"Rong Tang hesitated, his eyebrows furrowing slightly in alert, leaning slightly backwards."

"Su Huaijing sat in his chair, eyes trained on Rong Tang, his gaze sparkling like a hunter who had laid a trap."

"After a few moments of hesitation, Rong Tang said, 'You seem to be tricking me.'"

"Not hearing the response he desired, Su Huaijing became a bit restless, his hand hanging by his side. He accurately found the waist tag carved with symbols of fortune and longevity beneath his robe, twiddling it reassuringly. There was a mix of slight hurt and barely noticeable reproach in his voice, 'It was clearly Brother Tang who tempted me first.'"

"Rong Tang: '...'"

"Su Huaijing picked the peony out of the water again, his head lowered, not looking at Rong Tang, and said, 'I got you the storybooks you wanted to read, prepared the snacks you wanted to eat, and even had Shuangfu arrange everything for you to enjoy the sun and the breeze... Originally, you were reading, and I was arranging flowers, quite peacefully—'"

"He paused, glancing at Rong Tang, and reiterated, 'It was you who tempted me first.'"

"'And now you deny it.' Su Huaijing’s voice got quieter, and Rong Tang felt increasingly uncomfortable as the volume of the great villain’s voice became as faint as a mosquito's hum."

Yet, Su Huaijing sighed softly, as if conceding or feeling slightly aggrieved: “Fine, don’t recognize it, I can’t do anything about you anyway.”

Rong Tang: “???”

Rong Tang: “!!!”

You’re just teasing me!!!

Rong Tang was greatly alarmed, his eyes widening as big as copper bells, staring at Su Huaijing's head, wracking his brain for a retort.

The system spoke softly: [Give up, host, you can’t outplay him.]

Rong Tang stubbornly retorted: “I don't believe that.”

The system mercilessly shattered his illusion: [Need I remind you how many times your little spouse has made you surrender with that half-complaining, half-coaxing tone?]

Rong Tang: “…”

Rong Tang felt deflated.

“He really has no reservations at all,” grumbled Rong Tang.

The system snorted coldly, thinking to itself that when chasing his wife, why would he need reservations? Especially when the host was as oblivious as a fool.

With a sense of exasperation, the system paused for two seconds, then tempted: [However, I can give you some advice.]

Rong Tang’s eyes instantly lit up: “Thank you! My dear Tongzi (System)!”

System: [....]

After a brief pause, the system said: [You should respond with exaggerated truths. Let’s see who can outlast the other.]

Rong Tang: “?”

System: [For example, if you think the antagonist is ten times attractive, say he is a hundred times attractive; if you think he’s ten times smart, say he’s a hundred times smart.]

“Sincerity is the ultimate weapon?” Rong Tang summarized.

The system proudly replied: [Yes!]

Rong Tang frowned, then said after a moment of silence: “But he is indeed 1,001 times good-looking and 1,001 times smart. How should I exaggerate that?”

【……】

There was a momentary lag in the data stream, the white orb in the system space hovering, then suddenly, as if infuriated beyond measure, it seemed to forcefully plunge itself down, landing precisely in the lap of the foolish host sitting on the beauty couch.

The system bounced around numerous times, attempting to exhaust its host with its weight: [You, are, beyond, salvation!!!]

After venting its frustration with these words, it immediately went offline to hibernate, lest it be infuriated to death by its host.

Rong Tang called out a couple of times but got no response. He sighed silently in his heart, recovering from the fluster caused by Su Huaijing's teasing. He slumped a bit lower and started to focus intently on Su Huaijing arranging flowers, then said: “You look very handsome.”

Su Huaijing paused for a moment: “Huh?”

Rong Tang said: “Didn’t you ask me to say it again? You are extremely handsome, Su Huaijing.”

The flowers in Song Garden were all meticulously cultivated, with Cheng Chengxing spending a fortune annually on the garden maintenance of this villa. The peonies resting on the fair fingers, their pink hues complementing the whiteness, reflected in the water, appeared as if meticulously embroidered by the finest Suzhou embroiderers onto silk.

Su Huaijing had just placed a peony in the vase. Rong Tang leaned in and touched it, his fingertips brushing the cool water droplets. He continued: “You are very handsome, and also smart, gentle, patient, considerate, can cook, make kites, and even arrange flowers…”

Rong Tang paused, shifting his gaze from the peony petals to Su Huaijing’s profile, thought for a moment, and added: “And very strong.”

“Su Huaijing, you are simply the most outstanding person in this world,” Rong Tang said softly.

— I would give you 1,001 points.

The red lacquer pavilion stood within reach. If one stood upon it, a glance would reveal the villa’s opulent and ethereal beauty from the inside out.

Some people were calling friends, others deeply engrossed in their drinks.

Beneath the red lacquer pavilion, under the dappled light and shadow of an osmanthus tree, the one who wanted to read the storybook watched someone else arrange flowers, while the one arranging flowers had forgotten to move his hands.

Su Huaijing was stunned for a long time, experiencing an almost surreal disbelief.

He blinked very lightly, his raven-like eyelashes fluttering.

Rong Tang found another point to praise: “Your eyelashes are so long and curled, wow — your eye shape is incredibly attractive too!”

Such words might seem insincere from someone else, but coming from Lord Rong, they were so genuine that no one could harbor any doubts.

Su Huaijing snapped out of his disbelief, smiling: “Does Tang Tang like it?”

Rong Tang: “Like what?”

Su Huaijing placed the last peony in the porcelain bowl and pushed it slightly away. Bathed in the gentle spring light and caressed by the breeze, the flowers seemed to come alive like fishes swimming up the stream, their beauty enhancing the charm of the spring garden.

Su Huaijing wiped his hands with a cloth and asked the person who praised him so generously: “I’m handsome, smart, gentle, patient, considerate... doesn’t Tang Tang like that?”

I wove a net, laid it with soft leaves and tempting berries.

You’ll jump into it willingly, won’t you?