Feng Jingxin leaped up from the bed. "Really?!"
"Mhm."
"Then why didn't Auntie Wuwu tell me just now?"
"The situation has only just been settled. I haven't told her yet."
Feng Jingxin was beyond excited. "Then Dad, don't tell Auntie Wuwu about this yet. Let's give her a surprise after we get back to the country, okay?!"
"Okay."
"Dad, you're the best! I love you so much!"
After hanging up the phone, Feng Jingxin remained ecstatic, singing and dancing on her bed.
A moment later, she suddenly thought of Rong Ci.
These past few days, her mood had been excellent because her mother hadn't called her. In truth, to avoid talking to her mother on the phone, she had not only been leaving for school early on purpose but had also intentionally left her phone in a distant room or turned it off after returning home.
Two days later, she stopped doing that, worried her mother might get angry if she found out. To her surprise, her mother hadn't tried to call her at all during the following days.
At first, she thought her mother had found out she was intentionally missing the calls. But on second thought, she felt that based on past experience, if her mother knew she had done something wrong, she would have immediately made her correct it rather than refusing to call out of anger.
After all, she was the most important person in her mother's heart. Her mother loved her the most; Jingxin didn't believe her mother could truly bear to stay angry and stop calling her!
At the thought of this, Feng Jingxin suddenly missed Rong Ci a little. This was the first time she had missed her mother in all these days. She couldn't help but dial Rong Ci's number.
But just as the call went through, it occurred to her that although she would see Auntie Wuwu soon after returning home, her mother would surely use every means possible to block her from seeing Auntie Wuwu, given her temperament. She would no longer be able to see Auntie Wuwu whenever she wanted, like she did here.
Thinking of this, Feng Jingxin's mood soured instantly.
It was the early hours of the morning in China.
Rong Ci was already asleep when she was jolted awake by the vibration of her phone. Seeing the caller ID was Feng Jingxin, she was just about to answer when Jingxin angrily cut the call.
Although Rong Ci had explicitly stated in the divorce agreement she gave Feng Tingshen that she was waiving custody of Feng Jingxin, the girl was still her daughter. She felt a certain level of responsibility for her.
Seeing that Feng Jingxin had called only to hang up abruptly, Rong Ci worried that something might have happened. She quickly dialed back.
Feng Jingxin saw the return call but turned her face away, refusing to pick up.
Growing more anxious, Rong Ci immediately dialed the villa's landline.
Auntie Liu picked up quickly. After listening to Rong Ci, she hurriedly said, "The young lady should be fine. she went to sleep very late last night and woke up late today. When I went upstairs earlier, she wasn't even awake yet. I'll go check on her and call you back in a moment."
Hearing Auntie Liu's words, Rong Ci finally felt relieved. "Alright, sorry for the trouble."
By the time Auntie Liu reached the upstairs, Feng Jingxin was already in the bathroom washing up. After Auntie Liu explained the situation, Jingxin lowered her head and lied while rinsing her mouth. "I just pressed it by accident."
Auntie Liu didn't suspect a thing. Seeing her brushing her teeth, she went back downstairs to reply to Rong Ci.
Feng Jingxin watched her leave and let out a huff, her mood finally improving slightly.
Rong Ci was also at ease after hearing from Auntie Liu. However, having been suddenly awakened, she found it difficult to fall back asleep. When she got up for work the next day, she felt rather drained.
As for the envelope containing the divorce agreement that Rong Ci had given to Feng Tingshen, he hadn't thought about it once since receiving Lin Wu's call that day.
On the day of their return, Feng Tingshen placed the last document into his briefcase. After ensuring nothing was missing, he turned and went downstairs.
"We're ready. Let's go."
The stretch Lincoln soon left the villa and headed for the airport.
Rong Ci had no idea that Feng Tingshen and the others were returning. No one had told her.
It had been half a month since she moved out of the villa. During this time, she had gradually grown accustomed to and come to enjoy her quiet, leisurely life living alone.
Since it was the weekend, she woke up a bit later than usual. After washing up, she pulled back the curtains to see the bright sunlight outside. She stretched, watered her plants, and was about to make a simple breakfast when the doorbell rang.
It was her neighbor from across the hall, Mrs. Fang.
"Miss Rong, I didn't wake you, did I?"
Rong Ci replied warmly, "No, I was already up."
"That's good then," Mrs. Fang said enthusiastically. "Our family just finished making these buns and dumplings this morning. I brought some over for you to try."
"Thank you... you're really too kind."
"It's only right. If you hadn't saved my Tiantian the other day, I don't know how badly that stray dog would have bitten her. I've been wanting to thank you properly, but my husband and I have been so busy with work that we just haven't found the time. I felt quite bad about it..."
"It was nothing, Mrs. Fang. Please, don't mention it."
After a bit more small talk, Mrs. Fang left.
Rong Ci returned to her meal, eating breakfast while reviewing the algorithm mechanisms of an AI she had been researching lately.
In the afternoon, a news alert regarding T University's centennial celebration popped up on her phone. Rong Ci paused, checked the date, and remembered that today was indeed the university's anniversary.
She browsed online and found several trending topics about the event. The celebration was drawing immense attention not only because T University was the top-tier university in the country but also because it was its first centennial. Consequently, an extraordinary number of honorary alumni had been invited back to their alma mater.
These honorary alumni were all heavyweights in their respective industries.
Rong Ci looked through the list. When she saw several familiar faces appearing on screen, her hand trembled slightly as she held the phone. Memories of her time at school flooded her mind.
Her heart suddenly felt unsettled.
If she hadn't stepped into marriage immediately after graduating with her bachelor's degree, perhaps she would have been among the honorary alumni invited back today?
Rong Ci closed her laptop. After a moment of hesitation, she drove toward T University.
By then, it was already late afternoon. Many of the major figures invited for the ceremony had already left, but the campus was still crowded.
Rong Ci walked aimlessly through the grounds. When she reached the familiar laboratory building, a well-known voice called out to her.
"Xiao Ci?"
Twenty minutes later, in a teahouse just outside the gates of T University.
Yu Moxun poured a cup of tea for Rong Ci. "How have you been lately?"
Rong Ci held the teacup, lowering her eyes with a faint smile. "I've been well. It's just... I'm preparing to get a divorce."
Yu Moxun hadn't expected such an answer. He paused for a moment. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"So, what are your plans for the future? Do you want to come back to the company?"
"I do have that intention, it's just..."
Yu Moxun didn't know what her concerns were, but he spoke to her seriously. "Xiao Ci, the company needs you. You have a stake in it too. I hope you can come back and take charge of things."
"I... I..."
Looking at Yu Moxun's serious expression, Rong Ci found her difficulties hard to voice. It wasn't that she didn't want to. It was that the AI field was developing too rapidly now.
She had been out of the industry for six years. Even if she returned now, she feared she wouldn't be able to keep up with the times, let alone lead everyone at the forefront of the industry as she once had.
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