Feng Tingshen's words were definitely not meant for her.
In all their years of marriage, Feng Tingshen had never held her while they slept. As for a good-morning kiss, that was even more impossible.
Rong Ci was certain that Feng Tingshen had mistaken her for Lin Wu.
Rong Ci pursed her lips, her eyes slowly reddening.
Feng Tingshen did not wake up.
Looking at him, Rong Ci suppressed the bitter emotions in her heart. She took a deep breath and slowly pulled away, untangling herself from his embrace. They were pressed so closely together that no matter how light her movements were, it was impossible not to disturb him.
Sure enough, just as she removed his hand from her waist and sat up to withdraw her legs, Feng Tingshen woke up.
Their eyes met.
As Feng Tingshen regained consciousness, he likely realized the situation and that he had held the wrong person. He paused for a moment before releasing her.
Rong Ci withdrew her legs and turned away without looking back at him. She slipped into her slippers by the bed and headed straight for the bathroom.
By the time she finished washing up and came out, Feng Tingshen was no longer in the room. When she stepped out, she saw him still in his pajamas, chatting on the phone at the end of the hallway. Rong Ci cast only a single glance before looking away and heading downstairs.
Old Madam Feng was already awake. After a while, Feng Jingxin also came downstairs.
The Old Madam smiled. "Since everyone is up, let's have breakfast."
"Okay!" Feng Jingxin chirped.
Just as the girl finished speaking, Feng Tingshen came down as well and took his usual seat beside Rong Ci. Recalling the events of the morning, Rong Ci shifted her position slightly, increasing the distance between them.
While eating her noodles, Feng Jingxin looked at Feng Tingshen as if she had suddenly remembered something. She opened her beautiful large eyes and asked, "Daddy, do you like hugging Mommy to sleep too?"
Rong Ci, who was currently sipping her soup, choked instantly.
Feng Tingshen heard the question but did not answer.
Rong Ci's face was already flushed from coughing, making the atmosphere even more awkward. Her expression was quite strained.
Old Madam Feng, however, was delighted to hear this. "Oh? Why do you say that, Jingxin?"
"Just now when I woke up and went to Mommy's room to find her, I saw her being hugged in Daddy's arms..."
The Old Madam laughed, letting out a long, enlightened "Oh..." as she looked teasingly at Rong Ci and Feng Tingshen.
Feng Tingshen remained silent.
Rong Ci's expression became even more unnatural because she knew that the person Feng Tingshen wanted to hold wasn't her at all.
Just then, her phone rang. It was a call from Old Madam Rong.
Rong Ci picked up. "Grandma."
Old Madam Rong mentioned that her aunt had returned and brought some souvenirs for her, asking if she had time to come over for dinner later.
Rong Ci looked at Old Madam Feng and said, "Jingxin and I are currently at the ancestral home."
Based on what Old Madam Feng had said earlier, she had wanted them to accompany her to the manor to pick fruit.
The two old ladies were close friends. Knowing the purpose of Old Madam Rong's call, Old Madam Feng spoke up, "Then take Jingxin back with you."
She then turned to Feng Tingshen. "Tingshen, you haven't visited Grandma Rong in a long time. Since you're free now, why don't you accompany Rong Ci back for a visit?"
Feng Tingshen continued eating his breakfast and said flatly, "I have things to do in a while."
Listening to him, Rong Ci wasn't surprised at all. She had guessed as much. When it came to her affairs, Feng Tingshen was eternally "busy." Yet, whenever it concerned Lin Wu, he could always find time no matter how busy he was.
This was the difference.
Old Madam Feng's face darkened. "What could be so important that you can't even go back with her for once"
"Grandma," Rong Ci interrupted her with a calm expression. "It's fine. Since Tingshen has work, Jingxin and I can go back on our own."
"You"
Rong Ci said this because she didn't want to force him, nor did she care anymore. But the Old Madam assumed she was just being considerate and didn't want to make things difficult for Feng Tingshen. Seeing Rong Ci remain so obedient and thoughtful toward him, the Old Madam felt both heartache and helplessness.
The matter was settled.
After breakfast and chatting with the Old Madam for a while, Rong Ci prepared to leave with Feng Jingxin. The Old Madam had prepared many gifts for Rong Ci to take to her friends. Unable to refuse, Rong Ci had no choice but to bring them along.
Feng Tingshen hadn't left yet, so he and the Old Madam walked them to the car.
Feng Jingxin ran over and hugged Feng Tingshen's leg. "Will Daddy come home tonight?"
Feng Tingshen ruffled her head. "Yes."
Between Rong Ci and Feng Tingshen, there was still no communication throughout the entire process. Once Feng Jingxin was in the car, Rong Ci waved to the Old Madam and drove away. In the rearview mirror, she saw Feng Tingshen and the Old Madam standing there, watching her car depart.
Upon arriving at the Rong residence, Rong Ci parked the car in the small courtyard of the villa. Her grandmother and her aunt, He Mingxue, came out to greet them.
Seeing the trunk filled with gifts, Grandma Rong frowned. "Why did you bring so many things?"
"Grandma Feng asked me to bring them for you."
Ever since Rong Ci married Feng Tingshen, the contact between Old Madam Rong and Old Madam Feng had actually become less frequent than before. Hearing this, Old Madam Rong merely huffed and said nothing more.
Rong Ci noticed that the villa opposite theirs was covered in scaffolding and undergoing renovations. She changed the subject and asked, "Is someone moving into that villa?"
"Likely so. The renovations started last week. According to the workers, the owner is in a hurry to move in. It hasn't been many days, but the refurbishment of that massive villa is almost complete. I reckon someone will be living there soon."
This was an old villa district where everyone had lived for ten or twenty years; they were all quite familiar with each other. Now that someone new was moving in right across from them, He Mingxue said while helping carry the items, "I hope the new neighbor is easy to get along with."
If they were unreasonable, life in the future might be difficult.
Once inside, He Mingxue brought out a bowl of high-quality bird's nest she had specially stewed for Rong Ci. "Your mother said you've been looking quite haggard lately. I had someone save this bird's nest for me. Take some back with you tonight and have someone stew it for you."
Rong Ci took the bowl. "Okay, thank you, Auntie."
Rong Ci's uncle, Rong Changsheng, was busy with work and didn't return until dinner.
Recalling the last time Yu Moxun had prevented Lin Wu from joining Changmo because of her, which led to Feng Tingshen's retaliation and Rong Changsheng losing a project, Rong Ci felt immense guilt.
"Uncle, I'm sorry about what happened last time."
"It's fine, it's already in the past," Rong Changsheng said dismissively. "I told you before, even without the Lin Family, the Rong Group wouldn't have been able to handle that project given our current situation. Don't blame yourself."
This matter absolutely had to be kept from Grandma Rong. If she found out that Feng Tingshen had helped Lin Wu bully the Rong family, she would likely be furious.
Seeing the Old Madam approaching, Rong Changsheng nudged Rong Ci, signaling her to stop talking. Rong Ci promptly changed the subject.
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