It was just after nine in the evening when Rong Ci landed at the airport in Country A.
Today was her birthday.
Upon turning on her phone, she was greeted by a flood of birthday wishes. They were all from colleagues and friends, yet there wasn't a single word from Feng Tingshen.
The smile on Rong Ci's face faded.
By the time she reached the villa, it was already past ten.
Auntie Liu was startled when she saw her. "Madam? What... what are you doing here?"
"Where are Tingshen and Xinxin?"
"The Master hasn't returned yet, and the young lady is playing in her room."
Rong Ci handed her luggage to Auntie Liu. As she headed upstairs, she found her daughter in her little pajamas, sitting intently at a small table. The girl was fiddling with something so focused that she didn't even notice someone had entered the room.
"Xinxin?"
Feng Jingxin heard her and turned around, calling out happily, "Mommy!"
Then, she immediately turned back to whatever she was working on.
Rong Ci walked over and pulled the child into her arms. She had barely managed to give her a kiss when she was pushed away. "Mommy, I'm busy."
Rong Ci hadn't seen her daughter in two months and missed her dearly. No matter how much she kissed her, it felt like it wasn't enough. She wanted nothing more than to talk with her.
Seeing her daughter so absorbed, she didn't want to spoil her fun. "Is Xinxin making a seashell necklace?"
"Yes!" At the mention of the project, Feng Jingxin's interest clearly piqued. "It's Auntie Wuwu's birthday in a week! This is the gift Daddy and I prepared for her. Daddy and I carefully polished these shells with tools ourselves. Aren't they beautiful?"
A lump formed in Rong Ci's throat. Before she could find her voice, she heard her daughter continue excitedly with her back turned, "Daddy also custom-ordered other gifts for Auntie Wuwu. Tomorrow—"
Rong Ci felt a sharp pang in her chest. She couldn't hold it back any longer. "Xinxin... do you remember Mommy's birthday?"
"Huh? What?" Feng Jingxin glanced up at her briefly before looking back down at the string of beads, complaining, "Mommy, don't talk to me. The order of the beads is all messed up now—"
Rong Ci slowly let go of her hands and said nothing more.
She stood there for a long time, but her daughter never looked up at her again. Rong Ci pursed her lips and finally left the room without a word.
Auntie Liu saw her and said, "Madam, I just called the Master. He said he has something to take care of tonight and suggested you get some rest."
"I understand," Rong Ci replied softly. Remembering her daughter's words, she paused for a moment before dialing Feng Tingshen's number herself.
It took a while for him to answer. His voice was indifferent. "I'm busy. We'll talk tomorrow—"
"Tingshen, it's so late. Who is it?"
It was Lin Wu's voice.
Rong Ci's grip on her phone tightened.
"It's nothing."
Without waiting for Rong Ci to speak, Feng Tingshen hung up.
They hadn't seen each other in two or three months. She had traveled all the way to Country A with great difficulty, and not only did he not rush home to see her, he didn't even have the patience to listen to a single sentence over the phone...
After all these years of marriage, he had always been like this—cold, distant, and impatient.
She had actually grown used to it.
In the past, she would have certainly called him back, patiently asking where he was and if he could come home for a bit. But perhaps she was simply too tired today; she suddenly found herself without the energy to do so.
When she woke up the next morning, she thought it over and called Feng Tingshen again.
There was a seventeen to eighteen-hour time difference between Country A and home. In Country A, today was actually her birthday.
The reason she had come to Country A, aside from missing her daughter and husband, was the hope that the three of them could share a nice meal together on this special day. That was her birthday wish this year.
Feng Tingshen didn't pick up.
A long time later, a message finally came through.
Something the matter?
Rong Ci replied: Do you have time at noon? I thought the three of us could have lunch together?
Understood. Tell me once you've set the location.
Rong Ci: Okay.
After that, there was no more news from him. He hadn't remembered that today was her birthday.
Though Rong Ci had prepared herself for this, she still couldn't help the wave of disappointment that washed over her.
After washing up and preparing to head downstairs, she heard the voices of her daughter and Auntie Liu coming from below.
"The Madam is here. Is the young lady not happy?"
"Daddy and I already promised to take Auntie Wuwu to the beach tomorrow. If Mommy suddenly comes along, it'll be so awkward."
"Besides, Mommy is mean. She's always shouting at Auntie Wuwu—"
"Miss, Madam is your mother. You mustn't say such things; it will break her heart, you know?"
"I know, but Daddy and I both like Auntie Wuwu more. Can't I just have Auntie Wuwu as my mommy?"
"..."
Rong Ci could no longer hear whatever Auntie Liu said next.
She had raised her daughter single-handedly. In the past two years, as the father and daughter spent more time together, the girl had grown more attached to Feng Tingshen instead. When Feng Tingshen moved to Country A last year to expand his business, the daughter had insisted on coming along.
Rong Ci hadn't wanted to part with her, naturally wishing for her daughter to stay by her side. But she couldn't bear to see the child sad, so she had agreed.
She never expected...
Rong Ci stood frozen in place, her face deathly pale. She didn't move for a long time.
She had pushed aside her work to come to Country A specifically to spend more time with her daughter. Now, it seemed there was no point.
Rong Ci returned to her room and placed the gifts she had brought from home back into her suitcase.
A short while later, Auntie Liu called to say she was taking the child out to play and told Rong Ci to contact her if she needed anything.
Rong Ci sat on the bed, her heart feeling empty and lost. She had abandoned her work to rush here, only to find that no one truly needed her. Her arrival was nothing more than a joke.
After a long time, she finally left the house. She wandered aimlessly through this country that felt both strange and familiar.
As noon approached, she remembered her lunch appointment with Feng Tingshen. Just as she was hesitating over whether to go home and pick up her daughter, she received a message from him.
Busy at noon. Lunch is canceled.
Rong Ci looked at the screen without a trace of surprise. She was already used to it.
In Feng Tingshen's heart, whether it was business or a gathering with friends... anything was more important than her, his wife. He canceled their plans whenever he felt like it, never considering her feelings.
Was she disappointed? Perhaps she would have been in the past. Now, she was numb. She felt nothing.
Rong Ci felt even more lost. She had come here with such high spirits, only to receive a cold shoulder from both her husband and her daughter.
Without realizing it, she found herself driving to a restaurant she and Feng Tingshen had visited many times before. Just as she was about to enter, she saw Feng Tingshen, Lin Wu, and Feng Jingxin inside.
Lin Wu sat intimately on the same side as the child. She teased the girl while chatting with Feng Tingshen. Her daughter kicked her legs happily, playing around with Lin Wu and leaning over to eat a pastry Lin Wu had bitten into.
Meanwhile, Feng Tingshen smiled as he served them food, his eyes lingering solely on Lin Wu across from him. It was as if she were the only person in his world.
So this was the "business" Feng Tingshen had to take care of. And this was the daughter she had carried for ten months, the child she had nearly died giving birth to.
Rong Ci laughed.
She stood there, watching. After a long while, she looked away and turned to leave.
Back at the villa, Rong Ci prepared a divorce agreement.
He had been the dream of her youth, yet he had never truly seen her. Had it not been for the accident that night and the pressure from the old Master, he would never have married her in the first place.
She had been naive enough to believe that if she worked hard enough, there would come a day when he would finally notice her. Reality had delivered a harsh slap to her face.
It had been nearly seven years.
It was time for her to wake up.
She placed the divorce agreement in an envelope and instructed Auntie Liu to give it to Feng Tingshen. Then, dragging her suitcase, Rong Ci climbed into the car and told the driver, "To the airport."
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