Chapter 71: Today Is Also the Sun Family

Feng Jingxin didn’t notice Rong Ci’s coldness; hearing her say that, she relaxed.

After Rong Changsheng gave his gift to the old lady, Rong Ci also handed hers over.

She was the first to present the embroidery: “This embroidery was prepared for you by Tingshen, at Grandma’s request.”

The old lady took it, opened it, and studied it for a while; the gift struck right at her heart, and she was satisfied, saying, “He thought of me.”

Rong Ci then handed the emerald jewelry set to the old lady: “This is from Tingshen.”

The emeralds in this set were of excellent quality.

The old lady truly liked it.

But because it came from Feng Tingshen, she glanced at it once, closed the lid, and set it aside, saying coolly, “Very beautiful. Thank him for me.”

As for whether Feng Tingshen would come today to wish her a happy birthday,

she didn’t ask a single word.

She was too lazy to ask, and didn’t want to ask.

Rong Ci knew she disliked Feng Tingshen; in the past, she would have spoken up for him.

Now, she said nothing of the sort, but instead presented the gift she had prepared for the old lady.

As Rong Ci had expected, among all the gifts, the old lady loved her set of scholar’s brushes and ink most.

The old lady held it in her hands, unable to put it down; she immediately went happily into the study and wrote a piece of calligraphy.

After giving the gifts, their family sat together for breakfast.

The breakfast was lively and cheerful.

The old lady smiled broadly, clearly delighted.

Yet…

Occasionally, a trace of loneliness still flickered in her eyes.

Rong Ci and Rong Changsheng knew that today was also a day of family reunion for them.

But on such an important day, one person was missing.

Thinking of this, Rong Ci turned her face away, her eyes slightly reddening.

Still, to preserve the mood, they all silently avoided mentioning Rong Yingsheng.

By nine o’clock, a group of guests closer to the Rong family began arriving.

In the evening, they would dine at a hotel they had reserved in advance.

Only then would the birthday banquet officially begin.

While Rong Ci helped greet guests, Rong Changsheng’s son, Rong Yunhe, noticed Feng Jingxin sitting quietly to the side. He gently rubbed her beautiful face and asked, “What are you thinking about, Xinxin? You seem distracted.”

Hearing this, Rong Ci realized she was thinking of Lin Wu.

Feng Jingxin had indeed followed Feng Tingshen’s instructions and stayed quietly at the Rong household.

But her mind was clearly elsewhere.

She had sent multiple messages to Aunt Wuwu today, but Aunt Wuwu seemed busy and barely replied.

In the afternoon, the group went to the hotel.

Around six o’clock, guests began arriving.

Rong Changsheng took the gifts and led guests to their seats, only to hear one guest say awkwardly, “Sorry, Mr. Rong, I have another wedding to attend today—I’ll just have a sip of water and must leave.”

Rong Changsheng and Rong Ci, understanding the guest had prior commitments, didn’t press him to stay.

They assumed this was an isolated case.

But half an hour later, many business partners gave their gifts and left immediately; several hadn’t even come in person, sending their secretaries instead.

They had booked many tables; at this rate, half the banquet would go empty tonight.

On such a joyous day, with such a carefully prepared birthday banquet…

If the old lady found out, her mood would surely sour.

Rong Changsheng could understand if others had urgent matters and left early.

But his expression couldn’t help turning grim.

Seeing so many people rushing off to another wedding, Rong Changsheng couldn’t help asking Lan Zong, a business partner he was closer to: “Many friends today say they can’t stay for dinner, and all of them say they’re going to another wedding. May I ask, Mr. Lan, which family’s wedding are you attending?”

Could it be that all those who didn’t come—or came only to drop off gifts and left—were heading to the same wedding as Mr. Lan?

Otherwise, how could such a coincidence happen?

“The Sun family,” Lan Zong said, adding, “It’s the maternal family of Feng Zong’s girlfriend. They aren’t from Y City; they’ve just moved to Ducheng and bought a house. Today is their housewarming.”

Upon hearing this, Rong Ci and Rong Changsheng’s faces turned pale.

They had thought the villa matter was settled, and no further issues would arise.

Yet the Sun family had planned this to ambush them!

They didn’t believe the Sun family had chosen today for their housewarming by accident.

After all, the Sun matriarch and Rong Ci’s grandmother had known each other for years, having celebrated each other’s birthdays countless times.

Could the Sun family have forgotten today was the old lady’s birthday?

No.

They remembered perfectly.

Precisely because they remembered, they deliberately chose today for their housewarming!

Lan Zong didn’t know the grudges between the Rong, Sun, and Lin families.

On such a joyous day, their meticulously prepared banquet was half-empty; he understood Rong Changsheng’s mood.

He lowered his voice: “There’s nothing to be done. The Sun family has Feng Zong backing them. They sent invitations—we’re not close to the Sun family, but who dares to snub Feng Zong? Old Rong, I’m truly forced into this…”

If he didn’t attend the Sun family’s housewarming, or if he went but left without eating, the Sun family would think he looked down on them.

He’d heard Feng Tingshen might marry that Lin girl soon.

If they offended the Sun family, they’d offend both the Lin girl and Feng Tingshen.

They couldn’t afford to anger Feng Tingshen.