Just then, another elevator door slid open, and Qi Yuming stepped out.
Rong Ci was somewhat surprised to see him. She hadn't expected him to show up at the Hot Spring Villa as well. However, the lack of surprise on the faces of the Old Madame and Feng Tingshen made it clear they had known Qi Yuming was coming.
When Qi Yuming spotted Rong Ci, he arched an eyebrow before turning to greet the Old Madame with warm familiarity. "Old Madame, are you leaving already? Won't you stay for lunch before you go?"
The Feng and Qi families were on excellent terms. Having watched Qi Yuming grow up, Old Madame Feng smiled at him kindly. "No, no. You all go ahead and have a good time."
The group escorted the Old Madame to the door. Once the car had driven off, Feng Jingxin asked happily, "Uncle Qi, how come you're here?"
Qi Yuming bent down and lightly pinched Feng Jingxin's fair, tender cheek. "Your father asked me to come. I paid my respects to Grandma Feng and hurried right over. Well? Isn't your Uncle Qi a stand-up guy?"
"Oh, so Daddy asked you to come?"
"That's right," Qi Yuming said with a grin. "And since I knew your great-grandmother was leaving, Uncle Qi also notified your Uncle He and Auntie Lin Wu. They've already set out and should be here a bit later. Are you happy?"
As he spoke, Qi Yuming pointedly glanced at Rong Ci. He had said those words specifically for her benefit, and Rong Ci knew it.
Feng Jingxin was naturally thrilled. She was about to nod when she remembered Rong Ci was right there. She hesitated and looked up at her mother.
Rong Ci acted as if she hadn't noticed. She ruffled the girl's hair and said, "Go ahead and play. Mommy is going back inside now."
With those words, and without sparing a single glance for Feng Tingshen or Qi Yuming, she turned and walked away.
Qi Yuming watched her go. Her expression had been cold and indifferent; there wasn't a trace of the anxiety or insecurity she used to show whenever she heard Lin Wu was coming. She genuinely seemed not to care at all.
Because Feng Jingxin was still there, he couldn't speak plainly. As he watched Rong Ci's retreating back, he leaned closer to Feng Tingshen and lowered his voice. "What's the deal there?"
Feng Tingshen's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Did you come alone?"
"Of course not. What's the point of coming to a hot spring alone? Naturally, I brought my babe along"
Before he could finish, Qi Yuming paused, glanced at his friend, and muttered, "Wait, you're changing the subject."
Feng Tingshen didn't deny it. He simply said, "Your babe is here."
As he spoke, a tall, striking beauty with an open bathrobe revealing a sexy bikini underneath walked toward them.
After returning to her room, Rong Ci changed back into her everyday clothes. She sat at the small round table, opened her laptop, and began a deep dive into the items that had been on display at the recent technology exhibition.
Combining the data she had gathered over the past few days, a sudden idea struck her half an hour later. she called Yu Moxun. "Are you free?"
"I'm at a masquerade ball. What's up?"
Rong Ci explained her idea to him.
Yu Moxun's voice shifted from solemn to excited. "Hold on, I'm coming back right now."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Rong Ci focused her attention back on her work.
Some time later, the sound of muffled conversation drifted up from downstairs. Rong Ci paused. She knew it was likely that He Changbai and Lin Wu had arrived.
She stood up and closed the window.
By now, Rong Ci was feeling a bit hungry. She used the internal line to call the front desk and asked them to send a meal up to her room. They agreed immediately.
Once her meal was ready, a staff member from the villa brought it up. While passing through the lobby toward the elevator, the staff member ran into Feng Tingshen and the others.
Qi Yuming asked, "Who is that meal for...?"
The staff member replied at once, "It's for the Madame."
The person the staff referred to as "the Madame" was, naturally, Rong Ci.
Qi Yuming didn't make things difficult for the worker and let him go on his way. However, after the man left, he chuckled. "Looks like we don't need to call her for dinner later."
Feng Tingshen said tonelessly, "We should still call her."
Hearing this, Lin Wu froze for a second, then pursed her lips as she looked toward Feng Tingshen. He Changbai and Qi Yuming were also taken aback.
However, Qi Yuming quickly recovered with a smile. "True. The Old Madame specifically told you to take good care of her. If we eat without inviting her and the Old Madame finds out, it'll be a mess to clean up."
After all, this was the Feng Family's private villa, and the Old Madame likely had eyes and ears everywhere. Any little thing that happened here would get back to her easily.
Lin Wu's lips relaxed when she heard that. For a moment, she had worried that because of the Old Madame's matchmaking efforts, Feng Tingshen was actually starting to...
But hearing Qi Yuming's explanation, she realized she was overthinking it. He Changbai withdrew his gaze as well after hearing those words.
Just then, Feng Jingxin returned. Feng Tingshen ruffled her hair and said, "Go upstairs and ask Mom to come down for dinner."
Feng Jingxin was stunned. She asked hesitantly, "You want Mom to come down and eat with us?"
"Mhm."
Feng Jingxin opened her mouth, frowned, and then looked toward Lin Wu. She didn't want her mother to eat with them. If her mother joined, she would definitely target Auntie Lin Wu, and then everyone would be unhappy.
Lin Wu gave a gentle smile and said softly, "Go on."
After a moment's hesitation, Feng Jingxin went upstairs.
When the doorbell rang, Rong Ci was already in her room eating. Seeing Feng Jingxin standing outside through the monitor, Rong Ci set down her chopsticks and opened the door. "Jingxin?"
Feng Jingxin bit her lip and looked up at her. "Mom, Daddy said I should ask you to come down and eat with us."
Rong Ci refused directly. "Mommy is already eating. You guys go ahead."
Feng Jingxin let out a sigh of relief. "Okay, then... then I'll just tell Daddy that?"
Rong Ci knew the girl didn't want her to come down. Seeing the expression on her daughter's face, she said calmly, "Yes, go ahead."
Feng Jingxin beamed. "Okay!"
She turned to leave, but after a few steps, a pang of guilt hit her. "Mom, are you okay being by yourself? Should I stay and keep you company?"
It was lively and crowded downstairs. Leaving her mother up here alone seemed a little pitiful. However, her tone was forced when she offered to stay. It was obvious that, compared to staying with her mother, she much preferred going back down to eat with Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu.
Rong Ci had no desire to force her. She didn't need companionship that was given out of obligation.
She bent down and said gently, "It's fine. Mommy likes being alone. Go on."
Upon hearing this, the guilt in Feng Jingxin's heart vanished instantly. She nodded. "Okay, I'm going then!"
Feng Jingxin left quickly. Rong Ci watched her retreat, then closed the door and went back to finish her dinner.
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/kleinmoretti to access 100+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).