"Dammit!"
Chu Zilan was getting angrier by the second, wishing she could charge over and tear Lin Wu to shreds right then and there.
"She's just the daughter of a mistress, and she's a mistress herself! What is she so smug about? 'The Heartthrob'? As far as I'm concerned, she's just a pile of crap. Pui!"
Rong Ci poured her another glass of water and asked, "What heartthrob?"
"Lin Wu! It's like Ren Jifeng's friend Yao Xinbo said. Those brainless second generation heirs in the social circle have somehow become obsessed with her. Everyone's calling her 'The Heartthrob' now, like she's some sort of darling everyone is bound to love!"
Chu Zilan continued her grumbling. "It would be one thing if it was just that bunch of useless scions, but even Feng Tingshen and Ren Jifeng have"
Caught up in her own heat, Zilan suddenly snapped back to reality. Realizing that Rong Ci would likely be hurt by this, she abruptly shut her mouth. "No, Xiao Ci, I just..."
Rong Ci shook her head. "I'm fine."
Since she was young, Lin Lihai, Lin Lilan, and Old Mrs. Lin had all defected to Lin Wu's side one after another. Then, in the last two years, Feng Tingshen had fallen for Lin Wu at first sight, and Feng Jingxin had demanded that Lin Wu be her mother...
Through all of this, she had never spoken to anyone about how she felt. She hadn't even truly cried over it. If she were truly unable to endure it, any one of those events would have been enough to make her break down. Yet, she had made it through all these years regardless.
Compared to those betrayals, what did Ren Jifeng and the others matter? After hearing the words of Ren Jifeng and his friend, her heart remained as still as a stagnant pool.
Chu Zilan paused, said nothing more, and simply reached out to hug her. "Xiao Ci..."
Rong Ci smiled and said, "It's late. Let's head back."
"Alright. About your grandmother's birthday gift, I'll go with you to look again another day. I don't believe we won't find something you're satisfied with."
Rong Ci laughed. "Okay."
She took Zilan's hand, and they left together.
As they exited the building and headed to the parking lot, they happened to run into Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu, who were also leaving. Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu looked over, but Rong Ci acted as if she hadn't seen them and got into her car first.
Chu Zilan gave Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu a cold huff before pulling open the passenger door. The car quickly drove away.
Lin Wu looked at Feng Tingshen.
Feng Tingshen said simply, "Let's go."
Lin Wu gave him a sweet smile. "Okay."
As she spoke, her gaze flickered toward the direction Rong Ci had gone, and her smile deepened.
After Rong Ci dropped Chu Zilan off at home, she was about to turn around and leave when a call from Feng Jingxin came in.
"Mama, when are you coming back?"
Rong Ci connected her Bluetooth and started the car while answering, "Mama isn't coming back today. Get some rest early, and Mama will come to see you another day when she's finished with work."
"Oh, okay..."
Judging by Feng Jingxin's tone, Rong Ci knew the child was simply bored. Jingxin's favorite person to follow was Lin Wu, but Lin Wu had been at the auction with Feng Tingshen all night. With no one to keep her company, loneliness had driven her to remember her mother.
Rong Ci said, "Goodnight."
"Mm, goodnight, Mama."
Over the next two days, Rong Ci was very busy with work. She had intended to find time to look for a birthday gift for her grandmother, but she simply couldn't find a spare moment.
After two consecutive days of hard work, Yu Moxun decided to reward everyone. On the noon of the third day, the company treated their group to a grand feast.
When they were nearly finished, Rong Ci excused herself to the restroom. On her way back to the private room, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Not far away, Lin Wu and a group of seven or eight people were leaving another private room. They quickly entered the elevator without noticing her.
"Who's that?"
Yu Moxun had walked up beside her at some point. He had clearly seen Lin Wu along with Lin Lihai and Lin Lilan. Besides them, he saw a beautiful middle aged woman and an old lady. The woman was walking quite intimately with Lin Lihai; it wasn't hard to guess she was his current wife. As for the old lady, she was being supported by Lin Wu.
Rong Ci retracted her gaze and said, "The Lin family."
Yu Moxun understood. He looked at her and asked, "That old lady... she's your..."
That was Old Mrs. Lin.
"But she has nothing to do with me now."
Yu Moxun gave her a brief, supportive squeeze. "Shall we head back to the room?"
"Mm."
She had changed her surname long ago and severed all ties with the Lins. They truly had nothing to do with her anymore, and she had long since stopped caring about them.
What she actually cared about was something else. Previously, when Lin Wu's maternal family, the Sun family, were looking to buy property in her grandmother's villa district to settle in the Capital, she had guessed the Lin family might also move there. She just hadn't paid much attention to the news. Seeing them all gathered here in the Capital suggested the move was already being finalized.
That afternoon, work ended early. Rong Ci and Chu Zilan had dinner and then went shopping together. However, after an hour of browsing, they still had nothing to show for it.
While Chu Zilan was in the changing room trying on clothes, Feng Jingxin called again.
"Mama, when are you coming back?"
Rong Ci asked calmly, "What is it?"
"Papa is away on a business trip, and I'm so bored."
Usually, Feng Tingshen being away didn't stop Jingxin from going to play with Lin Wu. Tomorrow was the weekend, and the fact that Jingxin was calling her instead of going to Lin Wu suggested that Lin Wu was busy. After all, the Lin elders had already arrived in the Capital. With Feng Tingshen away, why would Lin Wu have time for the child?
"Go play on your own for now. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Yay!" Feng Jingxin cheered up instantly. "Then it's a promise, okay? You have to come back tomorrow morning."
"Mm."
That night, she still didn't find a gift she liked. There weren't many days left until the old lady's birthday, and Rong Ci had considered just settling for something "good enough," but in the end, she still hadn't bought anything.
The next morning.
Rong Ci returned to Feng Tingshen's villa. While Feng Jingxin was eating, Rong Ci remembered she had some things to take with her and went upstairs to the master bedroom.
As soon as she entered, she noticed two exquisite brocade boxes sitting on her dressing table.
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