Chapter 20: Don

At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.

Rong Ci happened to look over and saw the caller ID on his phone displayed the words “Baby.”

Rong Ci thought she no longer cared.

But after loving him for so many years, how could she simply let go?

Those two words pierced her eyes, and she immediately looked away.

Feng Tingshen noticed the pain in her eyes when he lifted his gaze, yet he answered the call right in front of her, his tone gentle: “What’s wrong?”

Feng Jingxin also noticed the commotion from Feng Tingshen’s side.

In Feng Jingxin’s memory, Feng Tingshen only showed this tenderness when dealing with Lin Wu.

For a moment, she forgot Rong Ci was there and asked happily: “Dad, is it Aunt Wuwu?”

Feng Tingshen replied coolly: “Mm.”

Feng Jingxin was about to say she wanted to talk to Aunt Wuwu too, but then remembered Rong Ci was still there—she recalled Rong Ci disliked Lin Wu, and swallowed the words on her tongue.

Yet her good mood was spoiled.

She furrowed her small brows, unable to help thinking: If only Mom could get along well with Aunt Wuwu.

Lin Wu said something on the other end, and Feng Tingshen frowned in concern, leaving without finishing breakfast.

Seeing Feng Tingshen rush off so urgently, Feng Jingxin couldn’t help but worry.

But because Rong Ci was there, she didn’t ask.

Still, she lost her appetite and pulled Rong Ci to her feet: “Mom, I’m done eating. Let’s leave quickly.”

Feng Jingxin didn’t say it aloud, but Rong Ci noticed every one of her reactions.

She knew Feng Jingxin was eager to leave because she wanted to find out what was happening with Lin Wu as soon as possible.

But she said nothing.

She said: “You haven’t eaten much. Take something to eat in the car.”

“No, I’m not hungry—”

Rong Ci paused.

She didn’t press further.

In the car, Feng Jingxin waited no longer than a second; after sitting in the backseat, she immediately sent a message to Lin Wu.

Rong Ci saw it but said nothing.

After a while, Lin Wu replied, saying she only had a fever and a cold, nothing serious.

But Lin Wu’s voice message still sounded hoarse, so Feng Jingxin remained worried and immediately messaged her: she’d come see her after school that afternoon.

As she sent the message, Feng Jingxin felt a twinge of guilt.

She hadn’t eaten Rong Ci’s cooking in a long time—she’d already planned to have dinner with Rong Ci tonight.

Fortunately, she hadn’t mentioned it yet.

Thinking of this, she stole a glance at Rong Ci in the driver’s seat; seeing Rong Ci hadn’t noticed her, she relaxed.

At school, Feng Jingxin hugged Rong Ci affectionately: “Mom, I’m going in now.”

“Mm.”

Feng Jingxin didn’t notice Rong Ci’s coldness and skipped happily into the school.

Not long after returning to the company, Rong Ci received word that Feng Tingshen had an emergency and the meeting scheduled for ten that morning was postponed until the afternoon.

Feng Tingshen’s “emergency” was simply going to care for the sick Lin Wu.

Rong Ci showed no reaction, focusing entirely on her work.

Around two in the afternoon, Feng Tingshen likely returned to the company, because Jiang Zhe notified everyone the meeting would be at three, and asked her to brew a cup of coffee for Feng Tingshen.

During the meeting, after Feng Tingshen entered the conference room, Rong Ci’s fingers on the keyboard suddenly stopped.

He had changed his clothes.

Not the ones he wore this morning.

He’d gone to see Lin Wu this morning; she was sick. They may not have done anything, but it was very likely Feng Tingshen, feeling sorry for her, got into bed to keep her company, to soothe her to sleep…

As she thought this, her expression grew distant.

Perhaps he thought she was staring at him like a lovesick fool, because when she snapped back to reality, she found Feng Tingshen watching her coldly.

Remembering his tenderness toward Lin Wu and his impatience and indifference toward her, Rong Ci clenched her fist and looked away.

Shortly after the meeting ended, Jiang Zhe came to her and said her handover work was nearly complete—she didn’t need to come to the company tomorrow.

Rong Ci: “I understand.”

Even if Jiang Zhe hadn’t mentioned it, once she finished her current tasks, she would have approached him herself.

Since he came to her, it saved her a trip.

Jiang Zhe hadn’t expected Rong Ci to agree so readily.

“You…”

Rong Ci extended her hand: “Thank you for your care these past years.”

Before Jiang Zhe could recover, he reached out and shook her hand: “You’re too polite.”

Rong Ci packed her things and left.

Jiang Zhe couldn’t believe Rong Ci had really just walked out.

“What are you staring at?” Cheng Yuan slapped his shoulder.

“Rong Ci left the company.”

Cheng Yuan blinked: “Really?”

Could she really leave the company? He found it hard to believe.

He scoffed: “She’s gone now, but that doesn’t mean she won’t find a way back. Wait—it won’t be long before she returns, with the help of Feng’s grandmother.”

Jiang Zhe said nothing.

Though it seemed unbelievable, from Rong Ci’s recent demeanor, he felt she was serious.

After leaving Feng Corporation, Rong Ci returned directly home.

Presumably, her thoughts had returned to Lin Wu—over the next two days, she received no calls from Feng Jingxin.

Late the next night, Chu Zilan developed a fever; Rong Ci hastily closed her book, grabbed her car keys, and stepped out.

It had rained all day, and even now, the rain showed no sign of letting up.

Chu Zilan lived in the old district; at this hour, the streets were empty, with few cars.

She bought medicine at a pharmacy near Chu Zilan’s apartment complex; as she closed her umbrella and got into the car, the passenger door suddenly opened and a tall figure slid in.

Rong Ci’s heart lurched; as she turned her head, a black pistol was pointed at her.

“Don’t move.”

The man wore all black, a mask, and a low-brimmed hat that hid his face; his eyes, however, were cold and sharp as he stared at her.

Rong Ci slowly raised her hands and didn’t move again.

The man took her bag and phone: “I won’t hurt you. Once you drive me to where I need to go, you can leave.”

Before Rong Ci could react, he ordered coldly: “Drive.”

Around them, empty—no cars, no people; the pharmacy was still some distance away…

As Rong Ci calculated her options, she noticed a strong smell of blood in the car.

Rong Ci paused, started the engine, and asked: “Where to?”

“Straight ahead, to Rongdong Wharf. I’ll tell you the exact route.”

“No need. I know the way.”

Rong Ci spoke and pulled away from the curb.

After that, Rong Ci drove with full focus; the man said nothing, and the car fell silent.

Rongdong Wharf was half an hour away; along the way, Rong Ci showed no panic, driving steadily and precisely, never taking a wrong turn.

The man, gripping the gun, slowly changed his gaze toward her.

But Rong Ci didn’t notice.

After a while, the man said: “Stop at the banyan tree up ahead.”

Rong Ci: “Alright.”

The car pulled smoothly to the side; the man’s gun still pointed at her. As he stepped out, she retrieved her bag and calmly flipped through it in front of him: “I have first-aid ointment.”

Over the past half hour, the smell of blood in the car had grown stronger; she knew the man was badly injured.

The man paused, but ignored her, stepped out, and vanished into the darkness.

Since he refused her offer, Rong Ci didn’t insist; she turned the steering wheel and drove off.

A few minutes later, the man boarded the boat waiting for him, removed his hat and mask.

At that moment, his phone rang; as his men tended to his wounds, he answered.

Before he could speak, Qi Yuming rushed out: “Changbai, are you alright? My people said they didn’t pick you up—where are you?”

“There was an unexpected incident. I’m at the wharf now.”

“Good, thank heaven! How did this happen? You scared me to death!”

After hanging up, He Zhangbai stared at the tall banyan tree in the distance, lost in thought.

Rong Ci arrived at Chu Zilan’s place half an hour later.

Chu Zilan had taken her medicine and drunk some congee; her spirits had improved, but she frowned: “I smell blood. Xiao Ci, are you hurt?”

“No.”

The man was injured, and his blood got on her phone and bag when he took them.

After she returned, she had already wiped them, but now it seemed she hadn’t cleaned them completely.