Shen Su: "You do."
Ji Tong: "If you say so."
She no longer wanted to argue. His actions that day, it was normal for her to be angry, right?
Shen Su: "You're in a bad mood today, I'll stay with you."
Ji Tong: "No need, I want to be alone and quiet."
Shen Su: "You'll overthink things more by yourself. Let's talk properly. You go take a shower first."
After speaking, Shen Su kissed her forehead.
Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, Ji Tong stopped wasting her breath arguing. He went to the bedroom to get his pajamas and then went to shower.
Shen Su sat on the sofa, rubbing his temples. Thinking of Ji Tong's attitude, he felt a bit tired and had a headache.
At this moment, Gu Song happened to call. Shen Su glanced towards the bathroom and walked to the balcony to answer.
As soon as the call connected, he heard Gu Song ask, "Did you and Ji Tong argue? Why?"
Shen Su: "It's about her parents, and..."
Shen Su paused before telling Gu Song about what happened that night.
After listening, Gu Song also felt a headache. He really didn't know how to appease a pure young girl who was angry about such a thing.
Shen Su: "I'll talk to her properly later."
Gu Song: "Be careful what you say, don't scare her away again."
Shen Su: "I'll hang up now."
After Ji Tong finished showering, she didn't come to the living room to find Shen Su but went directly back to the bedroom. Shen Su soon followed, took his pajamas from the bedroom, and also took a shower.
After showering, he lay down beside Ji Tong, habitually pulled her into his arms, and kissed her earlobe. "Let's talk."
Ji Tong: "You speak."
Shen Su: "I was inconsiderate about what happened that night. Next time, I'll wait for your consent."
Ji Tong remained silent.
Shen Su stroked her hair and continued, "These are all part of the pleasures between a man and a woman. Weren't you also comfortable when I did it to you? You need to learn to let go. That way, when we cooperate well, we can enjoy each other."
What he said didn't seem wrong. If it were before, Ji Tong would have listened to him and tried to learn. But now, no matter how she heard it, it felt awkward.
Ji Tong retorted, "What you mean is, I've never been able to satisfy you, right?"
Without waiting for Shen Su to answer, Ji Tong added, "You don't need to lie to me."
Since they had decided to speak frankly, Shen Su no longer hid anything from her. He readily admitted, "To be honest, yes. You have no experience and are too shy."
Ji Tong: "Yes, if I had experience, I wouldn't have been kept like a pet by you for over a year without realizing it myself."
This was probably the sharpest thing Ji Tong had ever said to Shen Su.
Ji Tong was never aggressive; she always had a good temper. Moreover, she had never argued with Shen Su before. Her suddenly saying something like this greatly surprised Shen Su.
After the surprise, his expression became a bit more serious. "Are you dissatisfied with our current mode of interaction?"
"Yes," Ji Tong admitted without hesitation. Not just dissatisfied, she had too many opinions.
However, some things couldn't be blamed on one person. She also had a responsibility for their relationship becoming this way. If she had awakened her self-awareness earlier, it wouldn't have developed to this point.
Shen Su looked at her angry and wronged eyes. "Haven't I treated you well enough? Why would you think I'm keeping you like a pet?"
It wasn't self-conceit. How he treated Ji Tong was evident to everyone around them.
Although he had many girlfriends before, he was always very attentive during his relationships. If he couldn't be that attentive, he wouldn't waste time on the relationship.
Shen Su was never one to be perfunctory. Rather than being perfunctory, he preferred to end the relationship as soon as possible.
Ji Tong chuckled self-mockingly at Shen Su's words. "I never said you didn't treat me well. You do treat me very well. But ask yourself honestly, do you place me on an equal footing with yourself?"
Shen Su frowned. This was the first time a woman had asked him such a question, and he was somewhat unable to answer because he had never considered it.
Ji Tong continued, "Including your previous girlfriends, you were so good to everyone because you were in control of all your relationships. When you liked someone, you could be good to her; when you didn't, you could leave without looking back. The other person didn't need to have any thoughts; they just needed to be pampered like a pet when together and then become strangers when apart. It was all up to you."
Ji Tong's emotions gradually calmed down. She spoke these words very calmly.
After hearing this, Shen Su's expression worsened considerably.
Everything Ji Tong said was the truth. At least in their relationship, he undeniably held the dominant position. He never thought there was anything wrong with it, as this was how all his relationships had been for years.
Privileges that were always taken for granted were naturally not examined. Now, enlightened by Ji Tong's words, it was like a sudden revelation.
What he used to be proud of—respecting women, being gentle and considerate—was actually control disguised, "pity" from a superior to an inferior. However, accepting this reality was difficult.
After a long while, Shen Su finally said to Ji Tong, "You've matured a lot."
In over a year, she was no longer the innocent girl who blushed at the sight of him. Not only had her work ability improved, but her thoughts and personality were also gradually becoming independent. She even saw things more clearly than many people older than her.
Ji Tong smiled faintly. "Maturity means I'm not easily fooled anymore, right?"
Shen Su was speechless.
Ji Tong lowered her eyes and looked at his hand. "Actually, you don't like me that much. You just find it easier to be with me, don't you?"
When the passion faded and the infatuation waned, many things would suddenly become clear.
She once thought Shen Su's meticulous care and attention to every detail meant he liked her. Now she realized he could be gentle with anyone; she was not a special case. He might just like the emotional value she provided.
After all, he had told her more than once that he was happy with her.
When infatuated, it naturally felt like a beautiful love confession. But upon deeper reflection, the problems were all exposed.
Shen Su: "If I didn't like you, I wouldn't be with you."
Ji Tong: "I didn't say you don't like me. I said, you don't like me *that* much."
She wasn't arguing with him but calmly emphasizing her point.
Shen Su: "..."
His silence had already shown Ji Tong the answer.
She felt a bit tired and closed her eyes in his arms. After a few minutes, she spoke, "After tonight, let's break up."
Although there had been much groundwork laid, Shen Su had guessed she might propose a breakup, but he hadn't expected it to be so sudden.
Shen Su's expression froze for a moment, then he asked again, "Are you sure?"