Rong Ci noticed that even someone as composed and indifferent as Feng Tingshen was clearly showing an expression of amazement and admiration at this moment.
Feng Jingxin and Qi Yuming were even leaping up from their seats.
The race had reached a white-hot intensity.
Feng Tingyi took the binoculars back. It was hard to say if his focus was entirely on Lin Wu, but he hadn't noticed that Feng Tingshen and the others were also there.
The race came to a temporary halt. Lin Wu was currently ranked first.
Rong Ci asked Feng Tingyi for the binoculars.
Feng Tingyi was pleasantly surprised. "Sister-in-law, you've been charmed by my goddess too, haven't you?! I told you, regardless of whether they're a man or a woman, there isn't anyone who wouldn't like my goddess!"
Rong Ci lowered her gaze and smiled without saying a word.
She suddenly wanted to take out her phone and call Feng Tingshen. She wanted to know how he would react to her call at this exact moment the most likely outcome was that he would hang up the second he saw it was her.
After all, that was how Feng Tingshen had always treated her.
Thinking of this, she felt that the call was unnecessary. She didn't want to do it anymore. It felt pointless.
However, she decided to treat it as the final time.
With that thought, Rong Ci picked up her phone and dialed Feng Tingshen's number, then raised the binoculars.
Through the lenses, she watched with her own eyes as Feng Tingshen looked at his phone, saw her call, and hung up without the slightest hesitation. Afterward, he immediately returned his gaze to Lin Wu.
His eyes held only Lin Wu.
Rong Ci took a deep breath, smiled, and calmly handed the binoculars back to Feng Tingyi.
She didn't watch any more of the race that followed, nor did she pay any further attention to Feng Tingshen's side.
Once all the races were over, Lin Wu was declared the winner.
Feng Tingyi was incredibly excited; he and his friends were desperate to go and ask her for an autograph.
"But I heard that CC is not only the daughter of a prestigious family but also a PhD graduate from a top university. Racing is just a hobby for her. She doesn't need fans, and she certainly doesn't pander to them.
Usually, she just leaves the moment the race is over and has never given an autograph to a fan. So, getting a signature from her is basically an impossible task."
"Yeah, this was a private match, so the chances of getting a signed photo should have been higher, but there's an exclusive passage for the drivers and we don't have the connections to get in there. Sigh..."
As Feng Tingyi and his friends were discussing this, word came that Lin Wu had already left with her friends to celebrate.
Sang Qian had already called to rush them, so Rong Ci rejected Feng Tingyi's request to go out and party with his friends, preparing to take him back.
Before leaving, Rong Ci went to the restroom. As she walked out, she collided directly with someone.
"Pardon me."
"Sorry."
Rong Ci and the other person both took a step back and apologized simultaneously.
When she looked up at the other man, Rong Ci paused.
He Changbai. Another of Feng Tingshen's close friends.
He Changbai naturally recognized her as well. Upon seeing her, his already cold expression deepened by several degrees.
Rong Ci noticed it, of course.
She had known Feng Tingshen since she was ten years old. Feng Tingshen and He Changbai were childhood friends who had grown up together, and their relationship was extremely close. They had gone to school and played together as children; as adults, they collaborated on projects and gathered frequently.
Whether it was during their childhood or after her marriage, Feng Tingshen had always excluded her from his inner circle. Consequently, although she had known He Changbai and Qi Yuming for over a decade, they weren't even considered nodding acquaintances.
Yet, shortly after meeting Lin Wu, he had introduced her to He Changbai and the others. Tingshen would have them help celebrate Lin Wu's birthday, and for this race, He Changbai and the group had come along specifically to watch her...
Word was that Lin Wu's relationship with He Changbai and the others had become very close—so close that even if Feng Tingshen wasn't present, they would still invite Lin Wu to their gatherings. He Changbai and the others completely viewed her as one of their own.
Perhaps because of this, He Changbai and the others had grown increasingly cold toward Rong Ci over the past two years.
In the past, she had wanted to build a good relationship with them, but they looked down on her. They never gave her a chance and treated her with constant indifference. She had her pride,
so since they had made their attitude clear, she stopped trying to force it. Still, when they met in passing, she would offer a polite greeting if necessary. More often than not, she was met with their disregard or even contempt.
This time, Rong Ci didn't intend to speak. She moved to walk past him and leave.
But He Changbai spoke up. "Is Miss Rong interested in racing as well?"
His tone was icy.
Rong Ci was sensitive enough to hear the underlying meaning—he suspected she had followed Feng Tingshen here.
She turned back and asked coldly, "What are you trying to say?"
He Changbai didn't feel the least bit ashamed at having his thoughts read. "I just felt that someone like Miss Rong didn't seem like the type to enjoy racing, so I was a bit curious."
"Someone like me?" Rong Ci looked him straight in the eye. "Mr. He, are we close? Do you know me well? Since you feel you understand me so perfectly, why don't you tell me exactly what kind of person 'someone like me' is?"
To He Changbai, Rong Ci had always seemed quiet, gentle, and even somewhat shy and timid. But he believed that was merely a facade. In reality, he thought she was deeply scheming; otherwise, she wouldn't have done that filthy thing years ago to trap Feng Tingshen into marriage.
Yet, after the fact, she still acted completely innocent, refusing to admit to this day that she was the one behind it.
He Changbai said nothing, merely watching her. He couldn't be bothered to evaluate her, nor did he think she was worth the effort.
However, the way Rong Ci spoke today was different from the way she had behaved when they met in the past. It was as if she had torn off her mask and no longer cared to pretend.
But that wasn't quite right, either. Because the look in her eyes as she watched him was cold, sharp, and clean, yet laced with a hint of irony. It was as if she was mocking him for his self-proclaimed insight mocking him for standing on a moral high ground and passing judgment on her without knowing the truth.
Rong Ci didn't care what He Changbai thought. She retracted her gaze and turned to leave.
Sang Qian had rented an apartment for Feng Tingyi near the school. By the time Rong Ci dropped him off, it was already eleven o'clock at night.
Feng Tingyi was still growing, and though he had eaten dinner, he was already hungry again.
He said, "Sister-in-law, the late-night snacks over there are pretty good. Let me treat you to some."
Rong Ci hadn't eaten dinner yet and wanted something warm to fill her stomach, so she agreed.
Just as they sat down, Rong Ci's stomach gave a quiet growl.
Feng Tingyi froze for a moment, then it suddenly clicked. "Sister-in-law, you... haven't eaten dinner?"
"Mm."
Feng Tingyi immediately felt embarrassed. "Sorry, Sister-in-law, it's all my fault..."
"It's fine. I wasn't hungry before."
Looking at Rong Ci's gentle smile, Feng Tingyi felt a bit uncomfortable. He truly felt that Rong Ci was a wonderful person.
Pity his brother just didn't like her. Sigh...
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