Chapter 13: Lin Wu Indeed Has the Qualities That Attract You

It was Feng Tinglin’s voice.

Rong Ci turned toward the sound.

It was Feng Tinglin and Feng Tingshen.

She halted her steps.

Feng Tingshen smoked, silent.

The distance was too great, and Feng Tingshen stood with his back to the light; Rong Ci could not make out his expression.

Feng Tinglin: “Actually, I understand you. I’ve met Lin Wu a few times—I heard she’s only twenty-five, yet already holds a Ph.D. from a top global university, manages her family’s business well, is stunningly beautiful, and has a wild, untamable nature—her excellence and brilliance are truly unmatched by most women. She does have the kind of appeal that draws you in. But her background isn’t honorable, Tingshen. Have you thought this through? You—”

Feng Tingshen: “I know what kind of woman I want.”

“But—” Feng Tinglin frowned. Though she looked down on Rong Ci, she also looked down on Lin Wu. She wanted to say more, but seeing the displeasure in Feng Tingshen’s eyes, she gave up: “You’re so protective you won’t even let me say a word. Fine, I won’t say anything anymore.”

Rong Ci listened, fists clenched, her cheeks stinging from the night wind.

She gave a bitter smile, lost all interest in listening further, and turned to leave.

No sooner had she left than Feng Tinglin remembered something: “By the way, didn’t Rong Ci say she submitted her resignation and plans to leave the company?”

Feng Tingshen: “Last Tuesday afternoon, Cheng Yuan told me she made a mistake. He was furious—I told him to follow company procedure and fire her.”

Feng Tinglin snorted: “So that’s how it is. When she mentioned this before, she sounded like she quit herself. No wonder… with her clingy, glued-to-you nature, how could she ever have the guts to quit voluntarily? So she got fired, huh? Hah～”

Feng Tingshen said nothing, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Rong Ci went upstairs, preparing to return to her room, when she nearly collided with Feng Tingyi on his way down.

Both were startled.

Recovering first, Feng Tingyi apologized and asked Guanqie ly: “Sister-in-law, are you alright?”

Feng Tingyi was the only person in the Feng family, besides Grandma, who treated her kindly.

Rong Ci shook her head and smiled: “I’m fine.”

When Rong Ci married Feng Tingshen, Feng Tingyi was still young and didn’t know the full story.

Over the years, he had always thought Rong Ci beautiful and gentle; after marriage, she never provoked arguments with his brother and always showed him patience.

If his future wife were like her, he would treat her with endless kindness.

That’s why, even after growing up and learning the full truth, he still liked Rong Ci.

Seeing she seemed unhappy, he guessed it had to do with his brother. He scratched his head and said sincerely: “Sister-in-law, you’re so good—my brother will see it someday. Don’t be too sad.”

Rong Ci paused, unsure how to explain that they were about to divorce, so she smiled: “Thank you, Tingyi.”

“I’m going downstairs for a drink. It’s late—get some rest, Sister-in-law.”

Rong Ci smiled: “Alright, good night.”

Back in her room, Rong Ci turned off the main light and switched on the bedside dim lamp before lying down.

She had barely lain down when she heard Feng Tingshen’s footsteps entering the bedroom.

Rong Ci opened her eyes.

Feng Tingshen looked at her; their gazes met.

Rong Ci stared at him.

In the past, she would have gotten up to hang up his suit, happily picked out his pajamas, and gone to the bathroom to run him a bath…

But now, she had no intention of rising—she slowly closed her eyes.

Though Feng Tingshen never cared for Rong Ci and dismissed her usual attentiveness,

the stark contrast between her current indifference and her past warmth could not go unnoticed.

He was surprised.

But he assumed she was throwing a tantrum and paid it no mind.

He didn’t even want to know why she was upset—he said coldly: “Jingxin’s enrollment is finalized. Tomorrow morning, you take her to school.”

Rong Ci: “Understood.”

Feng Tingshen said nothing more, turned, and went to the walk-in closet to find clothes for his shower.

This was how he treated her.

Rong Ci watched his back, thinking of their divorce, and almost asked when they could go to the civil registry.

But Feng Tingshen was busy, and with his nature, if all the paperwork were ready, he would contact her without her prompting.

After all, he was the one who wanted the divorce more than she was.

Precisely because of that, for the past half-month, she had waited quietly for his word—never once pressed him.

At that moment, Feng Tingshen’s phone rang.

Rong Ci saw him answer the call—the single “Hello” sounded nothing like how he spoke to her.

His tone was gentle.

Rong Ci immediately guessed the caller was Lin Wu.

As she thought this, she didn’t know what Lin Wu had said, but Feng Tingshen let go of the closet handle and said: “I’m on my way now.”

Without looking back, he hurried out of the room.

Rong Ci watched him leave without calling after him.

A while later, she heard the sound of a car.

Feng Tingshen had left the ancestral home.

Rong Ci closed her eyes, calmly turned off the light, and slept.

The next morning.

Because she had to take Feng Jingxin to school, Rong Ci woke at six-thirty.

The room was empty—Feng Tingshen had not returned since leaving last night.

Rong Ci no longer cared.

She checked the time calmly, learned Feng Jingxin hadn’t woken yet, and went to wake her.

Feng Jingxin’s door was locked.

Rong Ci knocked.

After a long while, Feng Jingxin finally got up and opened the door.

Seeing Rong Ci, Feng Jingxin pursed her lips and complained: “Mom, why did you knock so loud? You gave me a headache.”

Last night, she told Aunt Wu about it. Aunt Wu said Mom was her mother, so it was right for Mom to take her to school.

But Aunt Wu’s tone had been so disappointed.

She felt deeply guilty.

She’d had several nightmares last night.

Now she’d been woken up by Rong Ci—her mood was terrible.

Rong Ci watched her throw a tantrum, unangered, and said calmly: “The school is far away—if you don’t get up now, you’ll be late.”

Since it wasn’t Lin Wu taking her, Feng Jingxin didn’t want to go to school at all.

She huffed, silent.

But though she was spoiled, she knew she couldn’t be spoiled about school.

She lay on the bed, sulking: “Fine.”

After lying there a while without moving, she looked at Rong Ci: “Mom, squeeze the toothpaste for me.”

Rong Ci: “Alright.”

After Rong Ci entered the bathroom, Feng Jingxin picked up her phone, sent Lin Wu a good morning message, then went in and picked up the toothbrush Rong Ci had squeezed toothpaste onto.

As Feng Jingxin was nearly done brushing, Rong Ci heated a towel in hot water, wrung it out, and handed it to her to wipe her face.

She opened the closet, glanced inside, and asked: “Which outfit?”

Feng Jingxin looked and said: “Mom, I’ll change clothes myself. You go out first.”

Rong Ci closed the closet: “Alright.”

After Rong Ci left, Feng Jingxin pulled out the outfit she’d Teyi brought from home yesterday.

It was a super cool camouflage suit—chosen for her yesterday by Aunt Wu.

Today, she would wear it to cheer for Aunt Wu!