Chapter 74

Rong Ci sat beside Nan Zhizhi.

But Nan Zhizhi was speaking with Grandma Rong and hadn’t yet noticed her.

She turned to Yu Moxun and said, “Thanks.”

She could feel that since Nan Zhizhi arrived, her grandmother had truly become cheerful all over.

Yu Moxun shrugged: “Don’t thank me. The teacher only replied after seeing your recent project concept—I told him about it, and he came over. So thank yourself.”

Rong Ci was about to speak when she heard someone say, “Feng… Feng Tingshen?”

Rong Ci hesitated, then turned to see Feng Tingshen standing at the doorway.

Under everyone’s gaze, he walked steadily to her grandmother’s side: “Happy birthday.”

As he spoke, he presented the gift box with both hands and added, “I wasn’t sure if you liked the gift I prepared earlier, so I brought another—hope you like it.”

Grandma Rong had never expected Feng Tingshen to come.

Seeing him, her face showed no joy.

Today’s events, though caused by the Sun family’s shamelessness, would never have happened without him backing them behind the scenes—otherwise, the Sun family wouldn’t dare be so arrogant in Ducheng.

One doesn’t strike a smiling face, especially with so many witnesses—so the old lady accepted the gift and replied coolly, “Thank you, you’re too kind.”

Then she told a server nearby, “Please bring another chair and a set of chopsticks and bowls.”

Feng Tingshen showed no displeasure at the old lady’s coldness; seeing Nan Zhizhi beside him, he calmly greeted, “Mr. Nan.”

Nan Zhizhi gave a curt nod.

Seeing Rong Ci look over, he met her gaze, then signaled the server to place the chair between Rong Ci and Nan Zhizhi, and sat down.

Upon seeing Nan Zhizhi, the guests from the Rong family immediately spread the news: “Nan Zhizhi came to pay respects to Grandma Rong on her birthday.”

Within less than two minutes, the news reached the Sun family.

All the Sun family’s guests were stunned.

“Does the Rong family have connections this powerful?”

“I didn’t know. Wait—isn’t that Yu Moxun in the photo? The beautiful woman beside him is actually Cousin Rong’s niece? I never heard Cousin Rong mention her. But now it all makes sense—if the beautiful woman beside Yu Moxun is Cousin Rong’s niece, then everything fits.”

“How so?”

“She attended the recent tech expo with Yu Moxun—they’re clearly close. Probably getting married soon.”

The Yu family is a powerful clan, and Changmo is doing well too. Rumor has it Nan Zhizhi holds great expectations for Yu Moxun as a student.

If Cousin Rong’s niece really becomes involved with Yu Moxun, the Rong family would instantly gain an extremely powerful network.

In that light, the Rong family still can’t be underestimated.

Neither the Lin family nor the Sun family expected Nan Zhizhi to attend Grandma Rong’s birthday.

Seeing guests reassess their relationship with the Rong family because of Yu Moxun and Nan Zhizhi’s presence, the Sun family’s faces darkened.

Sun Liyao rarely followed national news; she knew Lin Wu wanted to study under someone, but she didn’t care about such things and never bothered to remember the person’s name.

She asked, “Who is Nan Zhizhi? Why is everyone reacting so strongly? Is he that important?”

Lin Wu said flatly, “A world-renowned figure in AI, someone who can speak on behalf of the state, and my ideal mentor.”

Sun Liyao froze: “That powerful?”

Then she added, “So that’s why Uncle’s so angry at Rong Ci—because she made you miss the chance to meet this big shot?”

“Yes.”

Sun Liyao snorted: “What a shameless girl!”

She grew even more annoyed: “If such a powerful person came to wish that old woman a happy birthday, does that mean they’re close?”

“No,” Lin Wu said coldly. “They barely know each other.”

In her view, Rong Ci met Nan Zhizhi through Yu Moxun.

Nan Zhizhi’s appearance at the Rong family today was likely thanks to Yu Moxun’s influence.

Sun Liyao: “Oh, good.”

He Zhangbai and Qi Yuming sat at the next table, just behind her.

He Zhangbai had been quietly eating when he heard someone mention Nan Zhizhi attending the Rong family’s birthday banquet—he paused and asked, “The Rong family’s birthday banquet?”

Qi Yuming explained, “Oh, today is also Grandma Rong’s birthday. Their banquet and ours are on the same day, and the guest lists overlap heavily—because of Tingshen and Lin Wu’s relationship, nearly all the overlapping guests are here.”

He hadn’t known about this beforehand.

He’d only just heard it mentioned in the banquet hall.

He Zhangbai realized: “So the Rong family’s banquet is basically empty now?”

Qi Yuming shrugged. “Yeah. Supposedly three-quarters of their tables are still vacant.”

He smiled. “Watching so many guests leave and being powerless to stop them—how pitiful.”

Though he spoke of the Rong family’s pity, his tone dripped with glee.

He Zhangbai’s expression changed slightly, then he stood up abruptly.

Qi Yuming stared, startled: “What’s wrong?”

He Zhangbai said, “I need to make a call.”

Before Qi Yuming could respond, he turned and walked off quickly.

Seeing He Zhangbai leave in a hurry, Lin Wu and Sun Liyao turned to look.

Lin Wu asked, “Where’s Zhangbai going?”

“He has an urgent matter—he’s making a call.”

“Oh…”

Lin Wu didn’t press further.

A seat beside her remained empty.

It was reserved for Feng Tingshen.

Grandma Lin checked the time and said, “Xiao Wu, hasn’t Tingshen arrived yet? Shouldn’t you call him?”

Lin Wu had been thinking the same thing.

She pulled out her phone to call Feng Tingshen.

But the call wouldn’t go through.

Many guests had come to the Sun family’s housewarming banquet, and the Sun family had to go table to table to toast and socialize, building rapport.

Naturally, Lin Wu was included in this.

After all, guests came to the housewarming banquet because of Lin Wu.

And with Lin Wu present, guests would naturally show them more respect.

When they came to toast, guests politely stood up.

After exchanging pleasantries, someone asked, “Miss Lin, hasn’t General Feng arrived yet?”

Lin Wu replied, “He’s on his way—he’ll be here soon.”

Her words had barely left her lips when someone nearby said, “My friend told me General Feng went to the Rong family’s banquet.”

“General Feng went to the Rong family’s? Really?”

“Photos are already out—how could it be fake? Don’t believe me? Look.”

“That’s really General Feng!”

Everyone turned to look at Lin Wu.

They didn’t know the Sun family well—they came to this banquet out of respect for Feng Tingshen, and because the Rong family’s business was in decline and unlikely to recover.

Now, not only had Nan Zhizhi gone to the Rong family, but Feng Tingshen had gone to wish Grandma Rong a happy birthday.

Then… why had they come here?