At that moment, his phone suddenly began to ring.
Rong Ci happened to glance over and saw the caller ID on the screen: "Baby."
She thought she had already stopped caring. But after loving him for so many years, how could she truly let go just by saying so? The sight of those two words stung her eyes, and she quickly looked away.
Feng Tingshen noticed the heavy sorrow in the depths of her eyes as he looked up. However, he didn't care in the slightest, answering the call right in front of her. His voice was incredibly gentle as he spoke. "What's wrong?"
Feng Jingxin also noticed the commotion on Feng Tingshen's side. In her memory, her father only showed such a tender side when facing Lin Wu.
Forgetting for a moment that Rong Ci was right there, she asked happily, "Daddy, is it Auntie Wuwu?"
Feng Tingshen replied in a low voice, "Mhm."
Feng Jingxin was about to say that she wanted to chat with her auntie as well, but then she remembered Rong Ci was there. Knowing her mother didn't like Lin Wu, she swallowed the words before they could leave her mouth.
However, her good mood was dampened. Her small brow furrowed as she couldn't help but think that it would be so much better if her mother could just get along with Auntie Wuwu.
Lin Wu must have said something on the other end, for Feng Tingshen's brow knit with worry. Without even finishing his breakfast, he stood and left in a hurry.
Seeing his rushed departure, Feng Jingxin couldn't help but worry as well. But because Rong Ci was present, she didn't ask any questions. She lost her appetite, pulling on Rong Ci as she stood up. "Mommy, I'm full. Let's head out quickly."
Even though Feng Jingxin didn't say it aloud, Rong Ci saw through all her reactions. She knew the girl was anxious to leave because she wanted to find out about Lin Wu's situation as soon as possible.
Rong Ci said nothing. She simply replied, "You haven't eaten much. Take some food to eat in the car."
"No need, I'm not hungry"
Rong Ci paused. She didn't insist further.
Once they were in the car, Feng Jingxin didn't wait a second longer. As soon as she sat in the back seat, she immediately sent a message to Lin Wu. Rong Ci saw it, but remained silent.
A moment later, Lin Wu replied, saying it was just a fever and a cold nothing serious. However, Lin Wu's voice message sounded a bit raspy, and Feng Jingxin remained worried. She immediately messaged back, telling Lin Wu that she would visit her after school.
As she sent the message, Feng Jingxin felt a twinge of guilt. It had been a long time since she had eaten a meal cooked by Rong Ci, and she had originally planned to have dinner with Rong Ci tonight.
Fortunately, she hadn't had the chance to say it yet. Thinking of this, she peeked secretly at Rong Ci in the driver's seat. Seeing that her mother hadn't noticed anything, she finally relaxed.
Once they reached the school, Feng Jingxin gave Rong Ci an affectionate hug. "Mommy, I'm going in now!"
"Mhm."
Feng Jingxin didn't notice Rong Ci's coldness and skipped happily into the school.
Shortly after returning to the office, Rong Ci received news that Feng Tingshen had an urgent matter. The meeting originally scheduled for ten o'clock that morning was postponed until the afternoon.
The so-called "urgent matter" was, of course, Feng Tingshen personally going to take care of the sick Lin Wu. Rong Ci didn't react, focusing intently on her work instead.
Around two in the afternoon, it seemed Feng Tingshen had returned to the company. Jiang Zhe contacted everyone, saying the meeting would start at three, and asked her to brew a cup of coffee for the boss.
During the meeting, after Feng Tingshen entered the room, Rong Ci's fingers suddenly paused over the keyboard.
He had changed his clothes. They weren't the same ones he wore this morning.
He had gone to see Lin Wu that morning. While she was sick, they might not have actually done anything, but it was very likely that Feng Tingshen, out of pity for her, had climbed into bed to coax her to sleep...
The thought made her expression drift for a moment. Perhaps he thought she was being unprofessional and ogling him, for when she snapped out of it, she found Feng Tingshen looking at her with a cold, indifferent gaze.
Recalling his tenderness and care for Lin Wu compared to his impatience and coldness toward her, Rong Ci clenched her hands into fists and withdrew her gaze.
Not long after the meeting ended, Jiang Zhe came to find her. He said her handover work was mostly complete and that she didn't need to come into the office starting tomorrow.
"I understand," Rong Ci replied.
Even if Jiang Zhe hadn't brought it up, she would have gone to him to discuss it once she finished the last of her current tasks. Since he had come personally, it saved her the trip.
Jiang Zhe hadn't expected her to agree so decisively. "You..."
Rong Ci reached out her hand. "Thank you for looking after me over the years."
Still a bit dazed, Jiang Zhe reached out and shook her hand. "You're welcome."
Rong Ci packed her things and left. Jiang Zhe could hardly believe that she was truly gone just like that.
"What are you staring at?" Cheng Yuan slapped him on the shoulder.
"Rong Ci has left the company."
Cheng Yuan froze. "For real?"
Was she really willing to leave the company? He found it hard to believe. He let out a scoff. "She's gone for now, but that doesn't mean she won't find a way back. Just wait; she'll probably be back before long with the help of Old Madame Feng."
Jiang Zhe said nothing. Although it seemed incredible, the feeling Rong Ci had given him lately made him think she was serious.
After leaving the Feng Group, Rong Ci went straight home. Likely because her mind was back on Lin Wu, she didn't receive another call from Feng Jingxin for the next two days.
Late the following night, Chu Zilan developed a fever. Rong Ci hurriedly closed her book, grabbed her car keys, and headed out. It had been raining all day, and even at this hour, the downpour showed no signs of letting up.
Chu Zilan lived in the Old Town district. At this time of night, there were very few people or cars on the road.
Rong Ci bought some medicine at a pharmacy near Chu Zilan's neighborhood. Just as she closed her umbrella and got into her car, the passenger door was suddenly pulled open, and a tall figure sat inside.
Rong Ci's heart skipped a beat. She had just turned her head when a black muzzle was pointed directly at her.
"Don't move."
The man was dressed entirely in black, wearing a mask and a cap pulled low over his eyes. His face was hidden, but his gaze was cold and sharp.
Rong Ci raised her hands slightly and remained still.
The man took her bag and phone. "I won't do anything to you. Once you take me where I need to go, you can leave." Without waiting for a response, he commanded coldly, "Drive."
The surroundings were empty no cars, no people and the pharmacy was some distance away... As Rong Ci calculated her options, she noticed a thick scent of blood filling the car.
She paused for a moment, then started the engine. "Where to?"
"Go straight, toward Rongdong Pier," he replied. "I'll tell you the specific route."
"No need. I know the way."
Rong Ci spoke as she drove the car out. After that, she focused on driving. The man didn't speak again, and the car fell into silence.
Rongdong Pier was half an hour away. Throughout the trip, Rong Ci showed no signs of panic. Her driving was steady and precise, and she didn't take a single wrong turn.
Holding the gun, the man's gaze toward her slowly shifted. But Rong Ci didn't notice.
A while later, the man said, "Stop under the banyan tree up ahead."
"Alright," Rong Ci replied.
The car pulled over smoothly. The man's gun was still pointed at her. As he prepared to exit, she reached back for her bag and calmly rummaged through it in front of him. "I have wound medicine here," she said.
During that half-hour drive, the scent of blood in the car had grown increasingly thick. She knew his injuries were likely quite severe.
The man paused but ignored her, getting out of the car and quickly vanishing into the darkness.
Seeing as he wasn't willing to accept her kindness, Rong Ci didn't push it. she turned the steering wheel and left.
A few minutes later, the man boarded a waiting boat. He took off his hat and mask. At that moment, his phone rang. He allowed someone to tend to his wounds while he answered the call.
Before he could speak, Qi Yuming spoke up anxiously, "He Changbai, are you alright? My men said they didn't find you. Where are you?"
"There was a slight accident, but I've reached the pier now."
"That's good. How did this happen? You scared the life out of me!"
A moment later, after hanging up, He Changbai looked at the tall banyan tree in the distance and fell into deep thought.
Rong Ci arrived back at Chu Zilan's place half an hour later. After taking the medicine and some porridge, Chu Zilan felt a bit better, but then she frowned. "Why do I smell blood? Xiao Ci, are you hurt?"
"No."
The man had been the one injured. When he took her phone and bag, blood must have rubbed off on them. Although she had already wiped them down after returning, it seemed she hadn't cleaned them thoroughly enough.
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