Chapter 44: Unusually Eye-Catching

“Just her.”

He Zhangbai came over and took the little girl from Rong Ci’s arms.

Only then did He Zhangbai notice the girl was soaked all over.

He paused, looking at Rong Ci: “This is…”

Rong Ci hadn’t expected the little girl to be his niece.

She explained: “She fell into the pool—I saw her and pulled her out.”

He Zhangbai: “...Thank you.”

“No need.” Rong Ci said. “Change her clothes. Don’t let her catch a chill.”

He Zhangbai nodded, staring at Rong Ci, wanting to say something—but his little niece clung to him, crying uncontrollably, clearly terrified. He said nothing more, softly comforting her, gave Rong Ci a nod, and carried her into the elevator.

Seeing there was nothing more for her to do, Rong Ci returned to soak in the hot spring.

After the hot spring, Rong Ci changed clothes and went to the buffet area to eat.

Before she’d finished, He Zhangbai appeared before her, holding his little niece by the hand.

“Can we sit here?”

Rong Ci really didn’t want much interaction with He Zhangbai.

But since he’d asked, she nodded and said: “Please sit.”

“Single, sit here and don’t move. Uncle’s going to get you food.”

Single glanced shyly at Rong Ci, then nodded, whispering: “Okay...”

He Zhangbai added to Rong Ci: “Watch her for me.”

Rong Ci didn’t want to interact with He Zhangbai—but given the situation, she could only nod: “Alright.”

Once He Zhangbai left, only Rong Ci and Single remained face to face.

Single looked extremely shy; Rong Ci feared speaking suddenly might frighten her.

She didn’t know Single’s eating habits or dietary restrictions, so she dared not offer her any food from her own plate.

After hesitating, she gently said: “Your uncle will be back soon.”

Single’s dark, beautiful eyes fixed on her; after a long moment, she nodded.

“Did the water choke you earlier? Does your nose still hurt?”

Single shook her head again.

Soon after, He Zhangbai returned, placed one plate in front of Single, and handed her a knife and fork.

Single quietly began eating, small bites at a time.

He Zhangbai asked: “Tasty?”

Single nodded.

He Zhangbai glanced at Rong Ci, then told Single: “This lady saved you earlier. Say thank you to her.”

Single licked the cake off her fork, lifted her eyes to Rong Ci, and whispered: “Thank you, Auntie.”

So that was why the child had come over—to thank her.

Hearing this, Rong Ci softly replied: “No need to thank me.”

Single turned to He Zhangbai again; he said: “It’s fine now, eat.”

Single bowed her head and resumed eating.

He Zhangbai turned his attention back from his niece, took a bite, then asked Rong Ci: “Came alone?”

Rong Ci: “Company team-building. Came with colleagues.”

He Zhangbai didn’t know Rong Ci had resigned from Feng’s Group.

Hearing this, he assumed Feng’s Group was also holding their team-building here.

He paused, then replied: “I see.”

At that moment, Yu Moxun noticed Rong Ci and waved to her.

Since Rong Ci now wished to avoid deep ties with anyone close to Feng Tingshen, and felt she had nothing to say to He Zhangbai,

seeing Yu Moxun, she quickly waved back and took the chance to leave, saying to He Zhangbai: “Thank you again for what happened last time. I have something to attend to—I’ll go now. Enjoy your meal.”

He Zhangbai could sense her discomfort around him.

He could also sense she was no longer as warm toward him as before.

He assumed it was due to their unpleasant conversation at the racetrack last time, and didn’t think further.

Seeing she wanted to leave, he nodded without pressing her.

As Rong Ci walked over, Yu Moxun glanced at He Zhangbai: “Who’s that?”

He’d waved to Rong Ci while He Zhangbai was facing away.

From the man’s broad, tall back and the child beside him, he’d assumed he was just joining her table.

But the way Rong Ci had risen to speak to him suggested they knew each other.

“He Zhangbai.”

“Him?” Yu Moxun was astonished: “Aren’t you two not close? How’d you end up sitting together?”

“His niece fell into the hot spring—I saw and pulled her out. He came over to thank me.”

Yu Moxun understood: “Ah, I see.”

Rong Ci said she came with colleagues; He Zhangbai assumed the man who waved was just a coworker, so he didn’t turn to look.

Only after Rong Ci and Yu Moxun had walked farther away did He Zhangbai see their retreating figures—and realized the man was a tall, young man.

From his back alone, he looked quite compatible with Rong Ci.

And the distance between them as they walked suggested a close relationship.

“Uncle...”

Hearing his niece’s voice, He Zhangbai snapped back: “Finished eating? Then let’s go upstairs.”

Single: “Finished.”

He Zhangbai had already eaten; he laid down his napkin and went upstairs with Single.

When Rong Ci returned to her room, she was about to read on the balcony when her phone suddenly rang.

It was Feng Tingshen.

Usually, he only contacted her when he had something to say.

Rong Ci answered, her tone cool: “Hello.”

“Grandma wants you home for dinner tomorrow night.”

Rong Ci paused, then said: “Alright, I know.”

The moment she finished speaking, he hung up without delay.

Rong Ci didn’t care.

She set the phone aside, calmed her mind, and resumed reading.

That night, she slept well.

She woke early the next morning.

She got up, ran for a while in the hotel gym, rested briefly, then returned to soak in the hot spring.

At that moment, a woman in her forties or fifties came over, holding Single’s hand.

Rong Ci had seen the woman yesterday.

She was the nanny He family had hired to care for Single.

Yesterday, it was because she’d taken an urgent call and momentarily lost focus that Single vanished.

If Rong Ci hadn’t happened to be at the hot spring and pulled Single out, the consequences could have been dire.

Now seeing Rong Ci, the woman hurriedly thanked her.

Rong Ci said: “No need to thank me.”

Rong Ci assumed Single wouldn’t dare enter the water again after yesterday’s experience.

But perhaps He Zhangbai had helped her overcome her fear—Single held the nanny’s hand in one, clutched her floatie in the other, tested the water with her foot, then slowly stepped in.

Soon after, she kicked her legs and swam toward Rong Ci, softly calling: “Auntie...”

Rong Ci turned: “What is it?”

Single said nothing, but her mood was bright; she swam happily around Rong Ci.

The nanny smiled: “Single really likes you.”

Rong Ci smiled but said nothing.

Later, the company had more activities; Rong Ci had to leave.

Before departing, she greeted Single.

But Single opened her arms: “Auntie, hold me.”

Rong Ci had no choice but to lift her out of the water.

After putting on a dry bathrobe, Rong Ci carried her into the elevator, planning to part ways once they reached the floor.

But just as they waited for the elevator, He Zhangbai appeared.

Single’s small, pale face lit up with a pure smile: “Uncle.”

He Zhangbai walked over and extended his arms to take her—but Single didn’t want to let go of Rong Ci, yet still wanted He Zhangbai to hold her, so she extended only one arm.

He Zhangbai picked her up, but as he did, Single’s other hand still gripped Rong Ci’s bathrobe collar.

His lift, combined with Single’s tight grip, pulled open Rong Ci’s bathrobe.

Rong Ci stood before He Zhangbai, clad only in a blue lace bra and panty set.

Her flawless pale skin, full and beautifully curved breasts, and slender waist that could be encircled by one hand were all strikingly conspicuous.