Yu Moxun was still fuming as they left Xundu and got into the car.
Thinking of something, he turned to Rong Ci and asked, "By the way, who was that girl in the professional suit standing behind Lin Wu? She didn't look at you with very kind eyes. Do you know her?"
"Lin Wu's cousin," Rong Ci answered simply.
Yu Moxun went silent for a moment before bursting out again. "It's bad enough that Feng Tingshen let Lin Wu work at Xundu, but he's even bringing her whole family into the fold? At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if Xundu changed its name to Lin in a few months."
Rong Ci felt the same way. "Mm," she agreed quietly.
Given Feng Tingshen's love for Lin Wu, she wouldn't be surprised if he gifted the entire company to her. Compared to that, finding a job for a member of the Sun family at Xundu was a trivial matter.
Yu Moxun decided to drop the subject; the more they talked about it, the angrier he became.
That night, Rong Ci and Yu Moxun stayed at the office very late to finish replicating the engine specs from Feng Tingshen's company vehicles. Snow began to fall on the journey home.
Back at the house, Rong Ci was just about to step into the shower when her phone rang. It was Feng Tingshen.
Rong Ci didn't answer. She grabbed her clothes and went into the bathroom.
When she emerged and checked her phone, she saw two missed calls. Perhaps seeing that she wasn't picking up, he had sent a text instead, informing her that Jingxin had a parent-teacher meeting the next day.
Rong Ci looked at the message and typed back a few brief words: I'm busy tomorrow.
After that, she put the phone down and ignored it.
On the other side, Feng Tingshen was occupied with work. Jingxin was playing with his phone when she saw Rong Ci's reply. She beamed with joy. "Daddy, Mommy said she's busy tomorrow. Does that mean I can ask Auntie Wuwu to come to school for my parent-teacher meeting instead?"
Feng Tingshen didn't look up, merely offering a soft "Mm."
"Yay! Hooray!" Jingxin jumped up from the sofa, dancing around in excitement.
Feng Tingshen added, "I'll be going as well."
"I know, I know!" Jingxin chirped. "If Auntie Wuwu is going, how could you possibly stay away, Daddy?"
The next day, Rong Ci arrived at Changmo to start her workday. She was discussing a project with Su Yuquan when her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Jingxin's homeroom teacher. "Jingxin's mother, are you not coming to the parent-teacher meeting today?"
Rong Ci saw it and replied, "I have something else to attend to, so I won't be making it."
A moment later, the teacher sent another message. "Jingxin's father is here today, but he brought another woman with him..."
The teacher even sent a photo. In the picture, Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu were sitting together, with Jingxin tucked beside Lin Wu, intimately hugging her arm.
Rong Ci wasn't surprised to see them together at the school. After all, Jingxin had been desperate for her not to show up so that Lin Wu could take her place. And since Lin Wu was going, how could Feng Tingshen bear to let her go alone?
The teacher seemed worried on her behalf, so Rong Ci replied, "I'm aware of the situation. It's fine. Thank you, Teacher Yang."
Setting her phone aside, Rong Ci returned to her work.
Busy times always seemed to fly by. Before she knew it, Friday had arrived.
Shortly after she woke up that morning, He Changbai called. He mentioned that Dandan wanted to go camping.
Rong Ci paused. "An overnight trip?"
"Yes," He Changbai said. "Don't worry, I'll have people there to ensure your safety. I'll prepare the sleeping bags, tents, and heaters. You just need to show up."
"Alright."
On Saturday morning, Rong Ci went back to the Rong residence for a meal and asked about the progress of Rong Changsheng's new project. Once she was certain everything was on track, she finally felt at ease.
Around two in the afternoon, she drove out to the campsite. By the time she arrived, He Changbai and Dandan had just reached the spot as well.
He Changbai's staff were busy pitching tents and setting up the barbecue grills. It had been snowing for several days, leaving the mountains covered in a thick, white blanket.
Seeing her arrival, Dandan ran over and pulled at her hand, saying she wanted to build a snowman together. In the past, Rong Ci had often built snowmen with Jingxin. It was a simple task for her.
Before long, they had crafted a small snowman. Dandan had even prepared a scarf for it. Once they were finished, she scurried off to ask a servant to help find a carrot for the nose.
He Changbai walked over to Rong Ci.
Rong Ci saw him but remained silent.
He Changbai crouched down beside her. "I heard you went to work at Changmo?"
Rong Ci was still adjusting the snowman and didn't look up. "Mm."
Recalling her cold, indifferent attitude toward Feng Tingshen and Lin Wu when they had crossed paths at Xunduas if she truly no longer caredhe asked, "When did you start?"
"A while ago," she replied.
He Changbai wanted more details, but Rong Ci clearly didn't want to talk. He dropped the subject and said instead, "Five times in total."
Rong Ci paused, understanding he was referring to the number of times he wanted her to accompany Dandan. "Understood," she said.
Dandan returned with two scarves, announcing she wanted to build a larger snowman so they could stand side-by-side, just like her and Rong Ci. She even bossed He Changbai around, making him help. He Changbai silently followed the child's instructions.
When the big snowman was finished, Dandan insisted that He Changbai take a photo of her and Rong Ci. Holding his phone, He Changbai watched Rong Ci's smile through the lens and snapped several photos in succession.
Time passed quickly during their play. By the time they finished the photos, the sky was growing dark. The aroma of food began to waft from the barbecue grills, and the lights inside the tents flickered on.
"Do you eat seafood?" He Changbai asked.
"Yes."
He handed her a few skewers.
There were quite a few people here for winter camping. The tents weren't crowded together, but the atmosphere was lively. Word had it that there would be a bonfire party later in the evening.
"Do you want to go?" He Changbai asked.
"Either way is fine."
He was about to respond when his phone rang. It was Qi Yuming. He stepped away to take the call.
"Want to go for a drink later?" Qi Yuming asked.
"I can't. You guys go ahead."
"What are you up to"
At that moment, Dandan ran over, clutching a barbecue skewer. "Uncle, grilled wing!"
He Changbai leaned down to take it.
Qi Yuming heard her. "Are you having a barbecue?"
"Mm."
"Where?"
"Outdoors," he said casually. "I'm out camping."
"Holy crap! It's been snowing so hard lately. Camping, a snowball fight, and a bonfireit sounds perfect! Why didn't I think of that?" Qi Yuming paused, realizing something. "Wait a minute, you went camping and didn't invite us?!"
He Changbai replied blandly, "Maybe next time."
"Hold on, that woman is there, isn't she? Dandan's 'Auntie'? Where are you? I'm coming over right now. Better yet, I'll call Tingshen and the others and we'll all go"
"I'm hanging up now," He Changbai cut him off and ended the call before Qi Yuming could say another word.
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