A Complete Failure

Dan Heng had just placed a book on the shelf and turned to pick up the second one when a bright-eyed young woman smiled at him. "Are you Dan Heng? Small Town's Hidden Gem?"

Her voice was soft as water, and her flowing dress made her look delicate and lovely.

Yet a trace of mischief flashed through her large eyes.

Dan Heng paused slightly. "Small Town's Hidden Gem" was a nickname one of his blind dates had given him.

He did not particularly like the nickname, but it had spread throughout Small Town.

Now even this young woman had come looking for him because of it?

Dan Heng glanced at her, shook his head slightly, and said nothing. He picked up the second book and continued his work.

"My name is Ning Rongrong. I came here especially for you."

Ning Rongrong curled a lock of hair around her finger and spoke with a smile.

Seeing not the slightest ripple in Dan Heng's gaze as he looked at her, she felt a little dissatisfied.

She was obviously so beautiful, yet he had no reaction at all... He had to be pretending!

"..." Dan Heng was helpless.

The tree wished for peace, but the wind would not stop.

He could even sense by instinct alone that Ning Rongrong had approached him with the intention of causing trouble.

"I'm working. Please do not disturb me," Dan Heng said seriously.

Usually, when his admirers heard him say that, they would quietly back away.

Ning Rongrong clearly lacked that awareness. Her mind was filled with the thought of captivating Dan Heng so that she could suppress Zi Ji.

She picked up a book from the cart, flipped through it casually, and said with a grin, "I can help you. Let's organize them together. Once you're done working, I'll treat you to a meal!"

Ning Rongrong casually placed the book in her hand onto the shelf.

Dan Heng frowned slightly, took the book back down, and said sternly, "I don't need help, nor will I accept your invitation. Do not disturb my work. If you're bored, the library is not the place for you."

With that, Dan Heng pushed the cart to the next bookshelf.

Leaving Ning Rongrong behind.

Ning Rongrong narrowed her eyes as she watched his retreating back.

This was the first time she had ever been rejected so thoroughly.

The "self-respect" of a little witch would never allow anyone to disregard her like this!

"You don't want me clinging to you? Then I'll do exactly that! No man could possibly dislike me. He must be playing hard to get!" Ning Rongrong snorted, brushing back her hair with a spirited gleam in her eyes.

Her looks were absolutely among the finest. She did not believe that a man who had spent so long in Small Town could withstand the temptation of her beauty!

Thus, Ning Rongrong followed behind Dan Heng, tirelessly trying to strike up conversations with him.

Perhaps because the city lord had given Dan Heng gifts a few days ago, the curator and the others were wary of Ning Rongrong's status and did not dare offend her. Not a single person stepped in to rescue Dan Heng, allowing Ning Rongrong to "harass" him.

Ning Rongrong was like a little lark. The more Dan Heng ignored her, the more energetic she became.

In a coquettish tone, she whined to Dan Heng, "...Dan Heng, am I not pretty? If you went on a date with me, you'd look good too, wouldn't you? Let me tell you a secret..."

At that moment, a cold voice sounded behind Ning Rongrong.

"Little girl, why are you pestering my Husband?"

Upon hearing that voice, Dan Heng turned around.

Ning Rongrong froze as well and looked back at the suddenly appeared Gu Yuena.

In that instant, she did not even need to see Gu Yuena's full face. A pair of eyes, long curled lashes, and a gaze so clear and luminous were enough for Ning Rongrong to fully realize something.

Compared to the other woman, the beauty she had always taken pride in was not outstanding at all.

Gu Yuena walked past Ning Rongrong and naturally wrapped her arms around Dan Heng's.

"Little girl, what do you want with my Husband?"

Gu Yuena did not even sound accusatory as she looked calmly at Ning Rongrong.

Yet she already brought immense pressure upon Ning Rongrong as another woman.

"I... I..."

Looking at Gu Yuena's "smiling face," Ning Rongrong stammered. For a moment, she actually felt inferior.

She... she had just been seducing a married man?

She had even smugly praised her own looks, only for his wife to appear before her now, possessed of beauty that could topple kingdoms.

Everything she had said just now came back like a boomerang and struck her squarely in the face.

Gu Yuena tilted up her chin slightly. Her snow-white neck carried the elegance of a swan as she gently patted Ning Rongrong's shoulder, leaned close to her ear, and whispered:

"Seduction of another woman's husband is not a good thing."

"If there is a next time, hehe..."

Gu Yuena was still smiling, but to Ning Rongrong, that smile sent a chill through her entire body.

"I... I..." Ning Rongrong staggered back several steps, her face pale. After stammering at Gu Yuena for a moment, she suddenly turned and fled in embarrassment.

Gu Yuena smiled softly, winked at Dan Heng, and teased, "Husband, you can't let women outside turn your head so easily. I'm no worse than any of them."

Dan Heng shook his head. "I don't like this."

Gu Yuena said softly, "Husband, it's because you show your face in public now that all these frivolous women come bothering you. But if you were more ambitious—say, became a city lord—then no one would dare treat you this way."

Gu Yuena looked at Dan Heng expectantly. If persuasion worked, that would be for the best.

Dan Heng gave Gu Yuena a surprised look. What kind of suggestion was this bargain wife of his making?

He had wanted a peaceful life, yet she was instead telling him to stir things up?

Wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?

Dan Heng shook his head. "I still have work to do. You should go back first."

He pulled his arm free and continued working.

Gu Yuena let out a quiet sigh. Her attempt at persuasion had failed. Looking at Dan Heng's back, she suddenly became uncertain. Could she change her Husband's mind through her efforts alone?

Perhaps she was not that important to her Husband after all.

But if she followed Di Tian's method, she could not bear to do it...

Elsewhere, Ning Rongrong had been dealt a blow both physically and emotionally, and the color seemed to have drained from her entire person.

She had never expected that her smug behavior in front of Dan Heng would turn out to be nothing more than the actions of a clown.

With her head lowered, she returned dejectedly to the hotel where the Shrek group was staying.

As it happened, everyone from Shrek was eating on the first floor.

The moment they saw Ning Rongrong's dispirited appearance, they immediately stood up.

"Rongrong, what happened?"

Xiao Wu hurried over to support Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong's nose stung. Thinking of how humiliating she had been, she burst into tears with a wail.

"Wuwuwu..."

Seeing this, the Shrek group all gathered around her.

Only Zi Ji remained at the table, eating while criticizing, "It's not as tasty as Old Pervert's cooking!"

Everyone asked Ning Rongrong what had happened, but she only kept crying and refused to say anything.

Xiao Wu clenched her teeth and said angrily, "I know! Rongrong must have been..."

Xiao Wu did not continue. She gave Tang San a look.