Ā Chapter 5
** The Wife Has Gone on a Business Trip**
Yu Moxun and Rong Ci had indeed seen very little of each other over the years.
But even from just a few encounters, he could tell that the current her was far from the confident, spirited person she used to be.
Thinking back to the Rong Ci of those days, he never imagined that the word “inferiority” would ever apply to her.
He didn’t know much about Rong Ci and Feng Tingshen’s married life.
But he knew something.
He had his suspicions, but he didn’t say them outright. Instead, he said to her very seriously: “It doesn’t matter if you’ve fallen behind for a while. Your ability and talent are not something ordinary geniuses can compare to. Xiao Ci, as long as you still have the desire to walk this path, it’s not too late to start over now.”
“Don’t forget ā you are the most satisfactory student your teacher has ever had in his entire teaching career.”
Hearing this, Rong Ci smiled: “If the teacher heard you say that, he’d probably scoff and say he was forced to pick the tallest among a group of dwarfs.”
Thinking of her former teacher ā elegant yet sharp-tongued ā Rong Ci’s smile faded slightly: “I saw in the news that the teacher also came back for the celebration. How is he doing?”
“He’s doing well. It’s just that a bunch of us students who keep embarrassing him show up in front of him from time to time, which greatly annoys him.”
Rong Ci laughed out loud, and in her heart, she couldn’t help but feel nostalgic for the days when she was under her esteemed teacher’s tutelage, being forced to write papers day in and day out.
Yu Moxun: “Come back, Xiao Ci.”
Rong Ci’s grip on her teacup tightened. She took a deep breath and nodded: “Alright.”
She had started researching artificial intelligence from a young age.
She truly loved this field.
She had abandoned her dream for six or seven years because of her love for Feng Tingshen.
Having been away for six or seven years, catching up might take considerable time.
But she believed that as long as she worked hard, everything could still be salvaged.
Yu Moxun asked again: “About when will you come back?”
“I still need to wait for someone to take over my current job. It might take a while longer.”
“That’s fine. There’s no rush.”
Since she was willing to come back, what was a little more waiting?
They chatted for a while longer. Yu Moxun checked the time and said, “My subordinates introduced me to a genius in algorithms. I’m told he just returned to the country a few days ago. We arranged to meet shortly. Since we’re here together, why don’t you come along and meet him?”
Rong Ci shook her head: “I don’t know your people very well. How about next time?”
“That works too.”
No sooner had Yu Moxun left than Rong Ci saw Feng Tingshen’s older sister, Feng Tinglin, walking toward her.
Rong Ci had also seen her in the news.
But she hadn’t expected to run into her here by chance.
She greeted her: “Sister Tinglin.”
Feng Tinglin didn’t respond. She frowned at her: “What are you doing here?”
“Today is T University’s centennial celebration. I came back to have a look.”
If Rong Ci hadn’t mentioned it, Feng Tinglin would have forgotten that she was also a T University graduate.
But aside from current students and faculty, most of the people returning to campus today were distinguished alumni invited by the university.
What was Rong Ci, a nobody, doing here, joining in the commotion?
Never mind.
As long as she didn’t run her mouth outside and embarrass the Feng family, Feng Tinglin couldn’t be bothered to lecture her.
With that thought, Feng Tinglin stated her purpose directly: “Xiao Ming said he wants to eat the dishes you cook. I’ll have someone take him over to you and Tingshen’s place later.”
Xiao Ming was Feng Tinglin’s son, a year or two older than Feng Jingxin.
Feng Tinglin and her husband didn’t get along. For years, she had been too busy with work to pay much attention to her child, and over the past two years, her son had become increasingly rebellious. Now she wanted to discipline him, but it was very difficult.
Knowing that her son liked the food Rong Ci cooked, Feng Tinglin had taken to sending him to Rong Ci and Feng Tingshen’s place whenever she had time over the past two years.
Apart from the old matriarch, no one in the Feng family took Rong Ci seriously.
Children at that age are especially prone to copying what they see.
Although Feng Tinglin’s son liked the food Rong Ci made, he looked down on her as his aunt by marriage. When he came to her place, he almost treated her like a maid, ordering her around.
Previously, for Feng Tingshen’s sake, Rong Ci had done her utmost for Feng Tinglin’s child and hadn’t taken the boy’s disrespect to heart.
But now that she and Feng Tingshen were about to divorce, she no longer wanted to humble herself for Feng Tingshen’s sake.
So Rong Ci declined directly: “I’m sorry, Sister Tinglin. I don’t have time tomorrow.”
Now that she was returning to her professional field, she would devote all her time to serious matters going forward.
Whether it was Feng Tingshen or Feng Tinglin ā after the divorce, she would have nothing to do with them.
She would no longer waste her time on them.
Feng Tinglin hadn’t expected Rong Ci to refuse her.
After all, in the past, Rong Ci had often lowered herself to curry favor with the Feng family for Feng Tingshen’s sake.
Still, Feng Tinglin didn’t think much of it.
Rong Ci had never refused her before. Now that Rong Ci said she had something to do, Feng Tinglin figured she must indeed have something to do. Otherwise, how could Rong Ci possibly pass up an opportunity to please her?
But she was still rather displeased: “Tingshen and Xinxin aren’t with you now. What could be so important that you can’t make time?”
Hearing this, Rong Ci couldn’t help but smile bitterly to herself.
Over the years, she had abandoned herself, placing the center of her life entirely on Feng Tingshen and her daughter, revolving completely around them.
Now, receiving such a comment from Feng Tinglin ā she truly had no one to blame but herself.
But she wouldn’t be that way anymore.
Thinking this, Rong Ci was about to respond when, coincidentally, a few people walked over to them.
“Miss Feng!”
They had clearly come looking for Feng Tinglin.
After sizing up Rong Ci, they asked, “Miss Feng, and this is?”
Feng Tinglin didn’t introduce Rong Ci as her younger brother’s wife. She only said coldly, “A friend.”
“Oh, a friendā¦”
They, like Feng Tinglin, had returned to T University for the centennial celebration. Their statuses were not low.
Seeing Feng Tinglin run into an acquaintance, they had assumed it was someone significant.
Now that they saw Feng Tinglin’s attitude toward Rong Ci ā aside from a few who couldn’t help but sneak extra glances at her fair, slender legs because she was good-looking ā no one else gave her another look.
They quickly clustered around Feng Tinglin and walked off.
Feng Tinglin had refused to acknowledge her as her sister-in-law. In the past, Rong Ci might have felt hurt or sad.
But now, Rong Ci no longer cared.
After Feng Tinglin left, she picked up her bag, turned, and walked away.
That night, shortly after 10 PM, the plane carrying Feng Tingshen and Feng Jingxin landed at the airport on time.
They arrived home close to midnight.
Feng Jingxin had fallen asleep before they even reached the house.
Feng Tingshen carried Feng Jingxin upstairs. As he passed the master bedroom, he noticed the door was open, but inside was pitch black.
After carrying Feng Jingxin to her room, he returned to the master bedroom, turned on the dim light, and glanced at the bed.
It was empty.
Rong Ci wasn’t there.
Just then, the butler happened to bring his luggage upstairs. Feng Tingshen loosened his tie and asked, “Where is she?”
The butler quickly said, “Madam has gone on a business trip.”
Half a month ago, when Rong Ci had packed her things and left, he happened not to be there.
Other servants in the villa said Rong Ci had left with her suitcase, presumably on a business trip.
Come to think of it, it was rather strange. Rong Ci rarely went on business trips before, and when she did, she usually only went for two or three days.
This time, she had been gone for half a month and still hadn’t returned.
Feng Tingshen grunted in acknowledgment and didn’t ask further.
