Whether there can be pure friendship between men and women is a long-standing and highly controversial topic, and to this day, there has been no conclusive answer.
However, at least Mao Dun seemingly had no such romantic intentions toward Tong Dan.
Different strokes for different folks.
Not every man is an animal driven by his lower half, ogling every woman and itching to get physical, especially the sons of wealthy families.
Due to their high social status, women are not a scarce resource for them, much like the scene just now where Yu Feihong was "spending money like water."
Just by beckoning with a finger—no, by giving a glance—those beauties, oblivious to the cold, would eagerly and willingly become a warm bed companion, but could Yu Feihong even handle that?
Men are not women.
There's a saying, there is no field that's been overfarmed, just oxen that have been worked to death.