Chapter 86

The sky had completely darkened.

The temperature in the mountains had grown colder.

After putting away her phone, He Zhangbai turned back and saw Rong Ci and Dan Dan sitting close together, eating and chatting; he returned to the tent and brought out two thick coats, one large and one small.

He handed the larger one to Rong Ci.

Rong Ci saw it and said, “I’m not cold—”

“Put it on,” he said, unfolding the coat and draping it over her shoulders, then putting the smaller one on Dan Dan.

Rong Ci wasn’t cold, but the thick coat blocked most of the mountain wind and did make her warmer, so she didn’t refuse.

After finishing the barbecue, the bonfire party was about to begin, so they went over there.

As soon as they arrived, someone couldn’t help exclaiming, “Oh my, this family of three looks so striking.”

Rong Ci paused and explained, “We’re not a family of three.”

The group laughed, thinking that even if they weren’t a family now, they might become one someday.

After a while, Dan Dan went off to play with friends her own age.

Everyone else had come camping with relatives or friends, sitting in groups of three or five, chatting, playing cards, building snowmen, and having snowball fights—full of noise and cheer.

She and He Zhangbai weren’t close, and after Dan Dan left, the two of them fell silent.

They truly had nothing to talk about.

Talking about family meant bringing up Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu, which Rong Ci avoided.

Talking about work? That might lead to memories of unpleasant moments at Xundu.

Finally, He Zhangbai spoke: “How are you adjusting since moving to Changmo?”

Rong Ci found it boring, but she had no intention of engaging in deeper conversation with He Zhangbai.

The silence between them suited her just fine.

When He Zhangbai spoke, she was idly weaving a butterfly from dry grass; she replied coolly, “I’m adjusting.”

“Yu Moxun treats you well.”

“Mm.”

“Did you major in AI in college?”

“Mm.”

“How did you meet Yu Moxun?”

At this, Rong Ci did not answer.

He Zhangbai sensed she didn’t want to talk much with him, and he knew she had always kept her distance from him.

He understood why.

So he didn’t press further.

Along the way, he took a few calls.

When he returned, it was already late.

Rong Ci had woven several butterflies, and Dan Dan loved them, carefully stowing them in her pocket.

Seeing Dan Dan treasure them so, Rong Ci’s smile faltered.

Once, Feng Jingxin had been just like Dan Dan—enthusiastic about everything she did.

But all that was long past.

That night, Dan Dan insisted on sleeping with Rong Ci.

He Zhangbai looked at Rong Ci, asking for her opinion.

Rong Ci agreed.

Dan Dan happily curled up in her arms.

Though they slept together, it was only in the same tent.

Each still slept in their own sleeping bag; Dan Dan couldn’t expect to be held this time.

Dan Dan’s constitution was weak; the wind had been too strong last night, and she must have caught a chill—when she woke up the next day, she had a cold.

Rong Ci hadn’t slept well either, and she felt sluggish when she rose.

He Zhangbai decided to take Dan Dan to the hospital; Rong Ci wanted to drive home herself, but Dan Dan begged to have Rong Ci accompany her, and seeing her listless state, Rong Ci agreed.

Then she and Dan Dan got into He Zhangbai’s car.

Soon after getting in, both Rong Ci and Dan Dan fell asleep.

He Zhangbai turned his head, watching Rong Ci’s pale face and her long hair partially covering it; he instinctively reached to smooth her hair, but when he saw her eyelashes flutter slightly—as if she might wake—he withdrew his hand.

In someone else’s car, Rong Ci had dozed for a few minutes, sleeping uneasily; when she opened her eyes and saw He Zhangbai’s hand pulling back, she didn’t think much of it, only asked, “Are we there?”

“Almost.”

Two minutes later, the car arrived at the hospital entrance; He Zhangbai carried Dan Dan out and said to Rong Ci, “Shall I have someone drive you home?”

Rong Ci shook her head: “No, I’ll drive myself.”

He Zhangbai didn’t insist.

Back in her car, just before reaching home, her phone buzzed—it was a message from Feng Tingshen: Grandma will visit your mother soon; let all three of us go back to Rong’s house together.

This message couldn’t go unanswered.

She picked up her phone and called Feng Tingshen.

He answered quickly: “Hello.”

Rong Ci: “I’ll come pick up Jingxin right away.”

By saying this, she assumed Feng Tingshen had no intention of returning to the Rong household with her.

After all, whenever she’d asked him to go with her before, he always made excuses.

And her family now likely didn’t want to see him either.

Feng Tingshen was silent for two seconds, then said, “Alright.”

After hearing him, Rong Ci hung up and turned the car toward Feng Tingshen’s villa.

When she arrived, Feng Jingxin was already packed and ready.

Seeing Rong Ci, she stayed curled beside Feng Tingshen, turning her face away.

She was still angry about last week, when Rong Ci hadn’t taken her skiing.

Feng Tingshen looked up at her and suddenly paused: “Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

Rong Ci hadn’t expected him to ask that.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t put on makeup and her hair was messy, making her fatigue obvious.

She gave a cold “Mm,” with no intention of elaborating; at that moment, the butler interjected with concern: “Insomnia? We have excellent incense here to help with sleep—I’ll place some in your room later—”

Rong Ci then explained: “I don’t usually have sleep problems; I just camped out last night and wasn’t used to sleeping outside.”

The butler frowned: “What’s so fun about camping in winter? Don’t catch a cold.”

Rong Ci smiled slightly and said, “Winter camping lets you play snowball fights, build snowmen, hide-and-seek by the fire… the atmosphere is actually better.”

Last night, everyone else who’d come camping had clearly had a great time.

She’d actually been envious.

Hearing this, Feng Tingshen put down his newspaper and regarded her thoughtfully.

Feng Jingxin, however, grew even angrier, her curiosity piqued.

Last time she was upset, her mother hadn’t even comforted her.

And now, on such a fun outing, her mother hadn’t taken her either!

Feng Jingxin dragged her backpack off the sofa, huffed, and ran straight upstairs.

Rong Ci watched, frowning, before she could speak; Feng Tingshen set down his newspaper and said calmly, “Jingxin, come back.”

His tone revealed no anger.

Yet Feng Jingxin immediately stopped.

She pressed her lips together, turned, and stood still.

Feng Tingshen looked at her.

Feng Jingxin lowered her head, dragging her backpack as she trudged back.

But she didn’t go to Rong Ci.

Instead, she tugged on Feng Tingshen’s hand and pleaded, “Daddy, come too, okay?”