Chapter 48: Dad Saw

Next month is Grandma Rong’s seventieth birthday.

Rong Ci and Rong Changsheng discussed how to please her.

Grandma listened, but showed little interest, saying, “Don’t bother with all that show. Just have our family sit down together for a good meal—that’s enough.”

Rong Ci’s aunt-in-law He Mingxue said, “It’s still a seventieth birthday; it should be celebrated properly…”

Rong Ci and Rong Changsheng agreed.

Since it was the grandchildren’s heartfelt wish, Grandma stopped refusing.

Feng Jingxin had school tomorrow, so after dinner, Rong Ci drove her home.

Back at the villa, Feng Jingxin got out of the car and ran happily inside.

Rong Ci stayed seated in the car and told Feng Jingxin, “Take a bath and go to bed early. I have something to do—I won’t come up.”

Feng Jingxin’s smile froze. “Huh?”

She turned back, leaned against the car, and frowned up at Rong Ci: “Mom, do you have something to do again?”

Rong Ci’s expression didn’t change. “Yes. Focus on your studies. Call me if anything comes up.”

Feng Jingxin pouted slightly, then said, “Fine.”

When Feng Tingshen was busy with work, he often didn’t come home.

Now, Feng Jingxin assumed Rong Ci was just busy with work too, which explained why she often stayed out late—she didn’t think otherwise.

The butler, informed of their return, came out to greet them.

Feng Jingxin asked, “Has Dad come back?”

The butler smiled broadly. “Yes, he’s back.”

Rong Ci showed no reaction, only said to Feng Jingxin, “I’m leaving now.”

“Oh…”

Feng Jingxin stepped aside.

The butler looked confused. “Madam, are you going out again so late?”

Rong Ci didn’t elaborate. “Yes, something came up.”

Then she added to Feng Jingxin, “It’s cold outside. Go in quickly.”

“Got it.” Feng Jingxin waved to Rong Ci and went inside with the butler.

Rong Ci watched, turned the car around, and drove off.

After entering, Feng Jingxin asked the butler, “Where’s Dad?”

“Probably in the study.”

Feng Jingxin went upstairs and found the study door open. Feng Tingshen’s tall, upright figure stood by the window, seemingly smoking.

“Dad.” Feng Jingxin called out.

“Mm.” Feng Tingshen turned. Feng Jingxin said, “Mom had something to do—she just got back and left again.”

Feng Tingshen crushed the cigarette in his hand and dropped it into the ashtray. “Mm. I know. I saw.”

Feng Jingxin wrinkled her little nose. “Mom’s been so busy lately—almost as busy as Dad.”

Feng Tingshen smiled slightly. “Mm.”

It was late, and Feng Jingxin was tired. She yawned and said, “I’m going to bathe and sleep. Goodnight, Dad.”

“Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

…

Rong Ci returned home, washed up, and went straight to sleep.

The next day, she arrived at the office on time.

In the afternoon, due to work needs, she and Su Yuquan and other technicians went to Xundu to handle some technical maintenance.

This time, she didn’t see Feng Tingshen or Lin Wu again.

In the following days, including when she returned to the villa on Thursday to cook for Feng Jingxin, she still didn’t encounter Feng Tingshen.

She heard he hadn’t gone on a business trip—just had something to do and wouldn’t be home for meals.

As for what exactly “something” was—whether a date with Lin Wu or a real social engagement—Rong Ci didn’t ask.

On Friday after work, as Rong Ci was thinking about what to eat, Feng Jingxin called again.

“Mom, Dad isn’t home Saturday and Sunday. When are you coming back?”

In other words, she’d be taking care of Feng Jingxin all weekend.

Regardless of the reason, over the past two years, Feng Tingshen had usually been the one taking care of Feng Jingxin.

Now, whether Feng Tingshen had personal plans he couldn’t bring Feng Jingxin along on, or simply had obligations, since he was unavailable, Rong Ci had the responsibility to take her.

Rong Ci returned to the villa.

Over dinner, she asked Feng Jingxin where she wanted to go on the weekend.

Feng Jingxin thought for a while, then shook her head. “I don’t have anywhere special in mind.”

Rong Ci saw through her. She wasn’t lacking destinations—she just wanted to spend the weekend with Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu.

Now that neither was around, nothing interested her.

Rong Ci didn’t call her out. Instead, she asked, “Would you like to go horseback riding?”

Feng Jingxin hadn’t ridden in a long time. Hearing this, her eyes lit up. “Yes!”

The next day, Rong Ci took Feng Jingxin to the stable.

At the stable, after changing into her riding gear and stepping out, Rong Ci heard Feng Jingxin, facing away from her, telling the instructor: “My dad and one of my aunts—they’re both amazing riders, so cool. Too bad they’re busy today and couldn’t come with me…”

Rong Ci stood at the doorway, not interrupting her conversation.

It was the instructor who spotted her and stood up to greet her: “Miss Rong.”

Rong Ci nodded. The instructor asked, “Shall I get someone else to accompany you?”

Rong Ci nodded. “Yes.”

Rong Ci could ride—she just hadn’t focused on herself when she brought Feng Jingxin as a little girl; all her attention had been on the child.

In fact, it had been three or four years since she’d ridden properly.

Her riding skills were decent, but for safety’s sake, she’d let someone guide her at first.

Feng Jingxin was taken away by another instructor; Rong Ci went to a different area.

The instructor assumed she couldn’t ride. Seeing how smoothly she mounted, he was astonished: “Miss Rong can ride?”

Rong Ci: “Mm.”

Rong Ci let the instructor lead her for a bit, then took the reins herself, flicked the whip, and the white horse neighed and galloped off.

After riding several laps, she finally stopped and went to find Feng Jingxin.

As she approached Feng Jingxin’s side, about ten meters away, she suddenly halted.

It was Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu.

They’d come here too.

Feng Jingxin happily hugged Lin Wu’s leg. The three of them were chatting, clearly in good spirits.

Then Feng Jingxin and Lin Wu mounted one horse—Feng Jingxin in front, Lin Wu behind.

Feng Tingshen mounted another.

The two horses walked side by side. The three riders laughed and talked. From afar, they looked exactly like a family of three.

Their figures slowly faded into the distance, unaware of her. Rong Ci watched, then looked away and turned to leave.

She changed out of her riding clothes, drank some water, sat for a while—then Feng Tingshen called.

Rong Ci answered: “Hello.”

On the other end, Feng Tingshen said, “I’m at the stable too. I’ll take care of Xin Xin.”

Rong Ci said, “Okay.”

No sooner had she spoken than she heard Feng Tingshen hang up—clean, decisive.

Rong Ci had been sitting here, waiting for this call.

Now that she knew Feng Jingxin’s whereabouts, she picked up her bag and walked away.