Chapter 56: The Person Who Made the Appointment with Me Is Feng Tingshen

Rong Ci put down her phone, went downstairs, and told the old lady that Feng Tingshen had already made dinner plans.

That night, Feng Tingshen did not return home.

The next morning, when the old lady learned Feng Tingshen had not come home the night before, she grew angry: “Tingshen is really something—even if he’s busy with work, doesn’t he have time to come home?”

Rong Ci heard this and merely smiled, saying nothing.

No matter how busy Feng Tingshen was, he always had time to come home.

After all, he needed rest too.

She remembered the voice of Lin Wu on the phone last night.

She thought that was why he hadn’t come back…

He must have found somewhere better to go.

The next two years’ key project for Changmo had been finalized these past two days.

Still, Yu Moxun compiled their ideas and sent them to Nan Zhizhi, hoping he’d offer some feedback.

Nan Zhizhi was usually busy and unpredictable; Rong Ci and Yu Moxun assumed he wouldn’t reply for days, maybe even half a month.

Unexpectedly, he called them that same afternoon.

“The ideas aren’t bad.”

With Nan Zhizhi’s approval, Rong Ci and Yu Moxun felt more confident about their project.

After all, their teacher had extremely high standards.

His “not bad” was already a very high compliment.

Nan Zhizhi added: “From what you sent, you haven’t missed any of the foundational knowledge or recent advances in AI—quite impressive.”

This remark was clearly directed at Rong Ci.

Rong Ci’s nose tingled with emotion, but before she could speak, Nan Zhizhi added coldly: “Yet you’ve become complacent. The path of learning stands still or regresses—you’re actually regressing.”

Rong Ci hurried to say: “I know, Teacher. I’ll do my best to make up for the effort I’ve lost these past years.”

“Hmm.”

Nan Zhizhi’s teaching style always stopped at the point.

Here, he fell silent.

Seeing that Nan Zhizhi seemed free today, Rong Ci couldn’t help asking: “Teacher, do you have time tonight? I’d like to have dinner with you.”

Not just Rong Ci—even Yu Moxun hadn’t had dinner with Nan Zhizhi in a long time.

Hearing Rong Ci’s request, Yu Moxun nodded eagerly: “Yes, Teacher, are you free?”

Nan Zhizhi replied calmly: “I have plans. No time.”

“Ah?” Yu Moxun was deeply disappointed.

Rong Ci was too.

She was about to ask when he might be free next time, so she could make another appointment.

But before she could speak, Nan Zhizhi added: “The person who made the appointment with me is Feng Tingshen.”

Rong Ci froze.

Yu Moxun also paused. He glanced at Rong Ci and whispered: “Teacher… why would General Feng seek you out? Could you tell us?”

“He said he wants to introduce someone to me.”

With that, Nan Zhizhi said no more and hung up.

Yu Moxun looked at Rong Ci and said: “Could the person General Feng wants to introduce to Teacher be Lin Wu?”

Last time they interacted with the Lin family, he learned the Lins had their own tech company.

Lin Wu originally wanted to join their company because of its programming language, Cuap.

The outside world assumed Cuap was developed under Teacher’s leadership.

Now that Lin Wu can’t join their company, it’s possible she’d approach Teacher to study Cuap.

Or even worse—she wants to become Teacher’s student.

Thinking of this, Yu Moxun swore: “Fuck!”

Rong Ci had thought of the same thing.

And she suspected this might be Feng Tingshen’s way of compensating for keeping Lin Wu’s uncle’s family from moving into the house across from her uncle’s.

After all, given his feelings for Lin Wu, how could he bear to let her suffer just to help her?

Yu Moxun: “If she’s truly hiding her abilities, then—”

They were Nan Zhizhi’s students, and though he was usually cold toward them, their relationship with him was actually quite good.

Because while he was strict, he was inwardly kind-hearted.

But he was also a man of firm principles.

If Lin Wu truly had the talent and ability, he wouldn’t refuse her just because of the feud between her and Rong Ci.

So…

Rong Ci quickly calmed down and said: “Let’s focus on our own work.”

All she could do was perfect herself.

That night, she came home late; the old lady had already gone to sleep.

But when she arrived, Feng Tingshen still hadn’t returned.

Or maybe he wouldn’t return at all.

Yet when she stepped out of the bathroom after her shower, she saw Feng Tingshen.

He had come back.

Seeing him, she paused, gave him a slight nod—enough of a greeting.

She didn’t ask why he’d arranged to meet Nan Zhizhi.

Feng Tingshen said nothing either. He glanced at her, then went into the bathroom to shower.

The next morning, she woke up later than usual.

When she went downstairs, she heard the old lady speaking sarcastically to Feng Tingshen: “I went to bed past ten last night, and you still weren’t home—I thought you just didn’t want to come back!”

Feng Tingshen sat across from the old lady, sipping water calmly, saying nothing.

The old lady tapped the table and feigned anger: “Speak! Don’t pretend to be mute!”

Feng Tingshen set down his cup, saw Rong Ci coming downstairs, glanced at her, then turned back and said calmly: “Didn’t you tell me I had to come home because you wanted me to accompany you today?”

“Hmph, I thought you were ignoring me again!”

“Grandson would never dare.”

He said it, but his expression remained indifferent—there was no trace of fear or remorse.

The old lady was furious and ignored him, waving Rong Ci over to sit beside her.

Rong Ci sat down and asked: “Grandma, are you going out today?”

“Not ‘you’—‘we’!” the old lady smiled. “We’re going together. Xiao Ci, where do you want to go? Grandma will follow your lead.”

Sometimes Rong Ci felt she was truly a dull person.

She couldn’t think of any entertainment spots others enjoyed.

She said: “I’m fine anywhere. Whatever you choose.”

The old lady already had a plan. Hearing Rong Ci’s reply, she asked: “What about hot springs? Last time we planned to go but got so angry we ended up sick—I’m making sure someone makes it up to me this time.”

That “someone” was clearly Feng Tingshen.

Feng Tingshen, upon hearing this, continued sipping tea calmly, showing no discomfort or embarrassment at the old lady’s mention of the incident.

As if it meant nothing to him.

He had never cared about it in the first place.

Thinking of this, Rong Ci looked away.

She had already been to the hot springs before.

She felt nothing about them now.

But since the old lady had said it, she merely agreed: “Fine.”