Rong Ci slightly covered her nose, then let her hand drop as if nothing were wrong, taking a small step back to put some distance between them.
Feng Tingshen didn't seem to notice her subtle movements. He took the invitation, opened it, and glanced over the contents. "A seventieth birthday?"
"Yes," Rong Ci replied. This time, she didn't ask if he was free, nor did she beg him to make time to attend the banquet. She simply said, "Please let your parents know for me."
It was hard to tell if Feng Tingshen noticed that she hadn't asked for his presence this time.
He glanced at her, tossed the invitation onto a nearby surface, and said, "Understood."
With that, he turned and walked into the bathroom.
Rong Ci watched his retreating back for a moment. After putting away the hairdryer, she went to Feng Jingxin's room to give her a bath.
By the time she finished bathing the girl, washing her hair, and drying it, nearly an hour had passed.
Jingxin clung to her arm, snuggling into her embrace as she asked if Rong Ci could sleep with her tonight.
Given the current state of things between her and Feng Tingshen, what reason was there to refuse?
Rong Ci returned to the master bedroom to gather her things. As she was leaving, she said to Feng Tingshen, "I'm going to sleep in Xinxin's room."
Feng Tingshen was reading a book. He offered a brief "Mm" in response, neither asking questions nor trying to make her stay.
The next day.
After breakfast, Rong Ci dropped Jingxin off at school as requested and headed to the office.
The Old Madam's birthday was fast approaching. She had been so preoccupied with company matters over the past month that she still hadn't bought a birthday gift.
During lunch, Rong Ci called Chu Zilan and made plans to go shopping for a gift that evening.
Upon hearing that Rong Ci was looking for a gift for her grandmother, Chu Zilan agreed immediately.
The invitation for Feng Tinglin had yet to be delivered.
After hanging up with Zilan, Rong Ci dialed Feng Tinglin's number.
The call went through, but no one picked up.
Rong Ci knew Tinglin disliked herin fact, Tinglin disliked the entire Rong family. It was highly likely she was intentionally ignoring the call.
However, out of respect for the Feng family matriarch, Rong Ci had to follow the proper protocol.
After the first call timed out, Rong Ci tried again.
This time, the call was flat-out rejected.
Rong Ci understood then that Feng Tinglin was avoiding her on purpose.
She didn't mind. She was merely going through the motions.
She composed a text message to Feng Tinglin, explaining the purpose of her call and asking when she might be free so the invitation could be delivered.
After sending the message, Rong Ci didn't bother checking if Tinglin replied and went back to her work.
That evening, after dinner, Rong Ci and Chu Zilan browsed the shops for a long time but couldn't find anything that satisfied her.
"There's a charity auction at Chonghua the day after tomorrow," Chu Zilan suggested suddenly. "Why don't we see if there's anything there?"
"But I don't have an invitation..."
Chu Zilan looked troubled. "The invitations for that auction were sent out half a month ago. It's really not easy to get one at this stage. However, maybe you could..."
Zilan's meaning was clear. She wanted Rong Ci to ask Feng Tingshen for help.
After parting ways with Chu Zilan around nine in the evening, Rong Ci eventually returned to the villa.
When she arrived, she found that Feng Tingshen was already home.
He was busy in the study.
Knowing he didn't allow her near his study, Rong Ci stayed in the bedroom, reading a book while she waited for him.
It was nearly one in the morning by the time Feng Tingshen returned to the room.
Seeing him enter, Rong Ci set her book down and looked at him.
Feng Tingshen asked in a cool tone, "Is something the matter?"
Rong Ci didn't take a circuitous route and spoke directly. "I heard there's a charity auction at Chonghua in two days"
Feng Tingshen elegantly removed his necktie. He glanced at her and cut in, "You want an invitation to the auction?"
Rong Ci blinked, startled. "Yes."
"I'll take care of it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he headed into the walk-in closet and, shortly after, went into the bathroom to shower.
Rong Ci was a bit surprised by how readily he had agreed.
Still, since he had promised, her mind was at ease.
It was late, so she set her book aside and lay down. She was asleep before Feng Tingshen even finished his shower.
Since the auction was scheduled for the day after next, Rong Ci returned to the villa again the following evening after leaving Changmo.
Feng Tingshen wasn't home when she arrived, but Jingxin was.
Seeing her mother return, Jingxin pestered her to make something delicious.
Rong Ci obliged.
After they finished dinner, the butler approached her. "Madam, someone just delivered this for you."
Rong Ci opened the envelope and looked inside.
It was an invitation to the Chonghua charity auction for the following day.
Feng Tingshen had actually managed to get it for her.
And there were two.
However, since he had someone else deliver it to her, did that mean he wasn't coming home tonight?
Just as Rong Ci was about to go take a shower, her phone buzzed twice.
Chu Zilan had sent her two messages on WeChat.
Rong Ci opened them and froze.
It was a screenshot of a post from a friend's Moments.
The screenshot featured a photo. Beneath a sky filled with brilliant fireworks, Lin Wu's profile was captured in a sweet smile, with Feng Tingshen's back visible beside her. The caption read: The Fireworks Festival is beautiful tonight.
In the background of the photo, several other couples could be seen.
It was clear that the Fireworks Festival was a popular spot for dates.
Lin Wu's caption claimed the fireworks were beautiful, but looking at her ecstatic expression, it wasn't hard to see that while the display might be lovely, her mood was even better.
Because she was with Feng Tingshen.
So, the reason Feng Tingshen hadn't come home was that he was out on a date with Lin Wu, and he hadn't even brought Jingxin along...
Rong Ci looked at the image with a calm heart. However, a small doubt crept in, and she sent a message back to Chu Zilan.
[Are you friends with Lin Wu?]
Otherwise, how would she have a screenshot of Lin Wu's Moments?
[I have a friend who knows her. After hearing her mention it, I had her send me a screenshot.]
In truth, what Chu Zilan didn't say was that her friend was currently green with envy over Lin Wu.
Almost everyone in their social circle now knew that Lin Wu had managed to climb her way up to Feng Tingshen, and that he loved her dearly, treating her like a precious treasure.
Thinking of the extra invitation, Rong Ci sent another message to Chu Zilan, asking if she wanted to go to the auction together the next day.
Chu Zilan agreed excitedly at once. "I'm in! I absolutely have to go!"
That night, Feng Tingshen did not return.
Rong Ci had already guessed as much.
After all, he and Lin Wu were out on a date. She assumed that after the festival, they would share an even more wonderful and sweet night together.
With Feng Tingshen away, sleeping alone in the master bedroom suited her just fine.
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