The most beautiful space

58 Real Life

His words were always like that: straightforward and concise.

If I had to translate it in simpler terms, it would be: I know you care about me, and I probably have a bit of a crush on you. I'm just an ordinary person who likes and dislikes people, so don't be afraid of me anymore. We can get along normally.

Being told that she had feelings for such an outstanding man as Xie Chengjing, even after experiencing the advances and pursuit of Xie Mingyuan and Xiao Yuan, Su Tong couldn't help but be taken aback, even though she had some premonition.

A person in such a high position as him, if he thought about it even a little, would realize that the reason he paid so much attention to Su Tong was no different from Xiao Yang, Xie Mingyuan, and Zhou Jun—he was drawn to Su Tong's stunningly beautiful face, and after some contact, developed a fragile and fleeting feeling. Su Tong, however, was rational enough to know that Xiao Yang and the others' attention to her, their desire to possess her, was related to her current breathtaking beauty, but she didn't think of Xie Chengjing in that direction.

So it wasn't until now that Su Tong realized that from the very beginning, she had unconsciously viewed Xie Chengjing differently. His extreme coldness and sternness at their first meeting certainly frightened Su Tong and made her hesitant to approach him, but it also made her feel, in a very mundane way, that he was different from everyone else. It was as if, in Xie Chengjing's eyes, beautiful flowers, lovely women, and jade-like figures were all fleeting clouds, unable to attract his attention in the slightest. He was meant to be like a snow-capped peak, oblivious to the changes around him, forever standing there in cold silence, devoid of any joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.

But it was clear that Su Tong was wrong.

In front of Xie Chengjing, Su Tong was always so nervous that she used every brain cell to think about how to face him. But now, she was somewhat lost in thought, suddenly recalling what she had overheard two extras talking about her on set a few days ago. Their words were incredibly exaggerated, like fans praising their idol to the skies. Su Tong had overheard it with Lin Zhen and felt somewhat embarrassed, so the memory was still vivid in her mind.

"Our crew's Sue is so beautiful she's unreal. When she looks at you, it's like she's looking at you, but it's also like she has nothing in her eyes. Her smile is like she's about to go with the wind. It's so dreamlike."

They were laughing at them then, but they viewed Su Tong the same way Su Tong viewed Xie Chengjing. They thought Su Tong was a real-life fairy, but Su Tong was just an ordinary person who had lived in China for 26 years and was also troubled by the mundane realities of life.

Xie Chengjing had only helped her a few times out of convenience, perhaps because of Xie Mingyuan, or because he thought she was attractive and had a decent personality. Now, Su Tong and he lived in the villa as if they were just roommates, interacting frequently but not interfering with each other. Faced with such an outstanding yet aloof man as Xie Chengjing, the ordinary Su Tong couldn't help but start to care. She started paying attention to girls who liked him and wondered what kind of woman could be a match for a man like him.

Su Tong had always thought that Xie Chengjing was a person who was insightful but cold. Even Xie Mingyuan, who seemed free and easy, couldn't see through things, but he probably saw them clearly when he was very young. That's why he was able to achieve what he has today by standing on the foundation of the Xie family. He holds a high position, but he can still live the peaceful and regular life that he wants.

But when he said that, Su Tong actually smiled. No matter how insightful and wise Xie Chengjing was, how could he possibly understand the thoughts of an ordinary person like Su Tong?

She said to Xie Chengjing from the bottom of her heart, "I admit that I do pay a lot of attention to you because you are a handsome and accomplished man in your prime, not a bald, pot-bellied middle-aged man or an old man with white hair. So it's natural for me to care about you, who lives under the same roof. As you said, you are very ordinary. Although you always seem cold and serious, you also have your own life. You like to eat meat, you hate eggplant, and you also have a less glamorous side. I am ashamed of my past shallowness. I was limited by your aura and your own aura, and I took it for granted that you must be a ruthless person. I didn't dare to treat you as just an ordinary person."

“But,” Su Tong’s smile deepened. Regardless, she didn’t dislike such an open and frank conversation. “When you emphasize that you are an ordinary person, I see your extraordinary nature even more. Xie Chengjing is you, but the second young master of the Xie family, who holds a high position, is even more so. You are someone I could never even look up to before. Although I now have a likable face, I am still just a coward who wants to live as happily as possible for myself, my family, and my friends. Knowing that someone of your status and position can almost decide my life or death with a single word, how could I not be afraid of you?”

Before her transformation, Su Tong was just an ordinary woman in her late twenties, nearing the end of her life, who hadn't yet found her life partner. Although she had a good job, was considered elegant and beautiful, and had a gentle personality, she wasn't lacking in suitors. However, she was also constantly busy and was being picked over by men. Within roughly the same social class, she was being forced or actively searching for a marriage partner. If she hadn't become beautiful, someone like Wang Jiancheng, who had good prospects in her Shanghai company, would only have been willing to engage in some light flirting with her.

But becoming too beautiful led her astray from her original life, gradually bringing her into contact with people she would never have even dreamed of before. Being admired, pursued, and excessively praised and fawned over—Su Tong wasn't afraid of any of that. But she began to fear that she would forget herself in this kind of life, that she would start to consider herself extraordinary, and that she would become complacent because of her face.

Xie Chengjing's words now made her realize that she was still clear-headed. If someone like Xie Chengjing had expressed affection for her when she was 16, she would probably have been overjoyed, but now she was 26 and fully understood what real life was like.

So Su Tong continued, "Second Young Master, thank you for giving me the opportunity to treat you as an ordinary person, but to be honest, I really can't do it. I can try to be less afraid of you, but I can't treat you as an ordinary person, because you are anything but ordinary."

While Su Tong was speaking, Xie Chengjing listened quietly without interrupting or urging her, simply looking at her calmly but not coldly.

Indeed, if he wanted to, he could also tone down his imposing manner and become a very good listener, quietly guiding you to express your thoughts calmly and truthfully. This is probably a remarkable skill.

After Su Tong finished speaking, he nodded calmly, showing no dissatisfaction or being moved by her words. "You're right. So, from now on, be less afraid of me. And then—" He looked at Su Tong, "I care about you and I pay attention to you. These things won't change because of who I am. You don't need to feel too much pressure. This is my business."

His intensely focused gaze as he spoke gave the illusion of profound affection. Before Su Tong could say anything, he continued, "Then, I'm hungry, and I want to eat shrimp today."

"Shrimp?" Su Tong was startled, not expecting Xie Chengjing to jump to such a drastic change in topic. She then remembered that because of Xie Er'er's injury, she and Xie Chengjing had rushed back and hadn't eaten much. Thinking about it, she realized she was a little hungry herself. She practically jumped up, saying, "Okay, then you can play on the computer. If you don't want to, just turn it off. I'll go cook. I think there's some shrimp left over from making shrimp dumplings last time, and there are plenty of other ingredients in the freezer. Second Young Master, is there anything else you'd like to eat?"

“Xie Chengjing,” he emphasized coldly, “While you can’t treat me like an ordinary person, you don’t need to constantly remind me of my identity. From now on, just call me by my name.”

"Okay, then," but the three simple words just wouldn't come out. After a short while, Su Tong was able to pronounce his name smoothly and naturally. "Xie Chengjing, is there anything else you'd like to eat?"

He seemed to think for a moment before saying, "How about stir-fried tofu? It's quite delicious. Besides, you like it too."

As a result, there was also a dish of fish-flavored eggplant. Xie Chengjing looked at Su Tong with some curiosity. Since Su Tong cooked green pepper and eggplant for the second time, knowing that Xie Chengjing did not eat eggplant at all, this was the first time Su Tong had cooked eggplant. She was extremely proud of her eggplant and ate half a plate by herself.

After finishing his meal, Xie Chengjing washed the dishes and then went to check on Xie Er'er for a while. He said he would ask someone to come and give it and Kong Kong a follow-up check-up tomorrow. Although he didn't look extremely worried, he still seemed quite concerned.

Su Tong could tell that Xie Chengjing still cared about Xie Er'er. After thinking for a moment, she finally decided that she had gotten along better with Xie Chengjing today, so she boldly asked, "Second Young Master..." She was turned to look at by Xie Chengjing before she changed her words, "Xie Chengjing, do you mind asking why your Caucasian Shepherd is named Ear? Of course, if you mind, just pretend I didn't ask this question."

Xie Chengjing wasn't surprised, as if he had known all along that Su Tong had been curious about this question and would ask it sooner or later. He said, "Come here and touch its ears."

Su Tong was a little surprised and didn't move. Xie Chengjing thought she might still be a little afraid of Xie Er'er, so he said again, "Come and touch its ears and you'll know. Don't worry, it's already very familiar with you and won't bite you. Besides, I'm here."

"Okay, then." Su Tong squatted down in front of Xie Er'er, who was lying on the ground. Xie Chengjing stroked its back to make sure it wouldn't get agitated because Su Tong wanted to touch its ears. He first gently touched its right ear, which felt normal. Then he touched its left ear. Compared to the right ear he had touched earlier, it felt like there was an uneven spot in the middle, like a scar.

When Su Tong touched the scar again to confirm, Xie Er'er visibly shuddered. Despite being in poor spirits, he still bared his teeth at Su Tong and barked fiercely.

As a result, Kongkong, who was standing next to them, was not satisfied. Su Tong and Xie Chengjing were both surrounding Xie Er'er, which made it a little unhappy. When Su Tong petted Xie Er'er, and Xie Er'er looked fierce, it provoked Kongkong even more, making it want to attract the attention of Su Tong and Xie Chengjing. It barked loudly.

Su Tong immediately let go of his hand, patted the empty air, and said sternly, "Stop fooling around!" before looking up at Xie Chengjing with a hint of doubt.

He explained knowingly, "It was born to a female Caucasian Shepherd at the home of a relative of one of my comrades in T City. Although it was bred with a purebred male Caucasian Shepherd, it was born with a noticeable disability; its left ear was broken in the middle. I happened to be there on official business at the time, and knowing that its owner didn't really want it anymore, I figured I could keep a dog at home, so I brought it back with me. I had its left ear surgically repaired and kept it at home. It was still small then, so I didn't rush to name it. Every day when I came home, I would call it to show me its ear to check the healing. I didn't expect that its left ear would be almost completely healed, but it still knew I was calling it when I called its name, so its name was just Ear."

"So that's how it is," Su Tong said with a touch of emotion, "It may have been just a small favor for you, but meeting you and being taken away by you is the luckiest thing that ever happened to Erduo."

"Maybe." Xie Chengjing replied after a long pause, but it seemed as if he had left out half a sentence. He stared quietly at Su Tong, making Su Tong feel a little uneasy. She quickly made an excuse to take a shower and went inside.

Su Tong thought for a moment, and before going to sleep, she naturally took Xie Er'er's water bowl to change the water. When she filled it with a lot of water, her fingers, which were holding the rim of the bowl, touched the surface of the water. She then quietly channeled some of the spring water from her spatial spring into the bowl before giving it to Xie Er'er and Kong Kong to drink, thinking that it might have some effect.

The veterinarian who came to observe Xie Er'er observed her for three consecutive days and finally confirmed that Xie Er'er was not in the incubation period of rabies and that there was indeed nothing wrong with her.

When Su Tong returned from the film set that evening, carrying the snacks that she and Wang Hai had specially gone to get, she saw Xie Chengjing returning earlier than her in the entryway as she was changing her shoes. Upon seeing her, he said, "I already know who did the biting of Erduo and Kongkong last time."

Author's Note: This isn't really a confession from the Second Young Master, and he really only cares about Tongtong a little bit~ But things will be different after they get to know each other.

Thank you everyone ~

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