Yu Moxun and Rong Ci had indeed seen very little of each other over the years.
Even so, after just a few brief meetings, Yu Moxun could see that the woman before him was a far cry from the high-spirited person she had once been.
Remembering the Rong Ci of the past, he never would have dreamed that the word "inferiority" would one day be associated with her.
Yu Moxun didn't know much about Rong Ci and Feng Tingshen's married life. However, he knew enough.
He had his suspicions, though he didn't voice them. Instead, he spoke to her with earnest sincerity. "It's alright to fall behind for a while. Your ability and talent aren't comparable to ordinary geniuses. Xiao Ci, as long as you still have the heart to walk this path, it's not too late to start over now."
"Don't forget, you were the most satisfying student our teacher ever had in his entire teaching career."
Rong Ci listened and smiled. "If Teacher heard that, I'm afraid he'd just scoff and say he was forced to pick the tallest out of a bunch of shorties."
Recalling the elegant yet sharp-tongued teacher from the past, Rong Ci's smile faded slightly. "I just saw in the news that Teacher has returned for the celebration as well. How is the old gentleman doing?"
"He's doing well. It's just that us students the ones who are always embarrassing him keep showing up in front of him every now and then, which seems to annoy him quite a bit."
Rong Ci laughed, her heart involuntarily filling with nostalgia for the days when she was kept under her mentor's wing, forced to write papers every single day.
Yu Moxun looked at her. "Come back, Xiao Ci."
Rong Ci's hand tightened around her teacup. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."
She had been studying Artificial Intelligence since she was a child. She truly loved this field. Because of her love for Feng Tingshen, she had abandoned her dreams for six or seven years.
She had been away for so long that catching up might take a considerable amount of time. But she believed that as long as she worked hard, it wasn't too late for anything.
Yu Moxun asked, "Roughly when will you be back?"
"I still need to wait for someone to take over my current work. It will probably take a bit of time."
"That's fine. There's no rush."
Since she was willing to return, what did it matter if he had to wait a little longer?
The two chatted for a while longer before Yu Moxun checked the time. "My subordinates introduced me to an algorithm genius who supposedly returned to the country a few days ago. We have an appointment to meet in a while. Since we happened to run into each other, why don't you come along and meet them?"
Rong Ci shook her head. "I don't know your people very well. Perhaps next time."
"That works too."
Just as Yu Moxun left, Rong Ci saw Feng Tingshen's sister, Feng Tinglin, walking toward her.
Rong Ci had also seen her on the news. She hadn't expected to run into her here so coincidentally.
She greeted her politely, "Sister Tinglin."
Feng Tinglin didn't respond. She simply frowned and looked at her. "What are you doing here?"
"It's T University's anniversary today. I came back to have a look."
If Rong Ci hadn't mentioned it, Feng Tinglin would have forgotten that she was also a graduate of T University. However, aside from the current faculty and students, those who returned to the school today were mostly honorary alumni who had received formal invitations.
What was a nobody like Rong Ci doing here joining in the fun?
Forget it. As long as she didn't go around talking nonsense and embarrassing the Feng family, Feng Tinglin couldn't be bothered to lecture her.
Thinking of this, Feng Tinglin stated her purpose bluntly. "Xiao Ming said he wants to eat your cooking. I'll have someone send him over to you and Tingshen later."
Xiao Ming was Feng Tinglin's son, a year or two older than Feng Jingxin.
Feng Tinglin and her husband had an unstable relationship. In previous years, she had been too busy with work to care much for the child. Over the last two years, their son had become increasingly rebellious, and now that she wanted to manage him, she found it difficult to maintain control.
Knowing her son liked Rong Ci's cooking, Feng Tinglin had made it a habit over the last two years to send him over to her and Feng Tingshen whenever she was free.
In the Feng family, aside from the Old Madam, no one took Rong Ci seriously.
Children that age were the best at mimicking their elders. Although Feng Tinglin's son liked her cooking, he looked down on his aunt from the bottom of his heart. Whenever he came over, he treated her almost like a nanny, ordering her around as he pleased.
Previously, because of Feng Tingshen, Rong Ci had done her absolute best for Feng Tinglin's child and hadn't taken the boy's disrespect to heart.
But now that she and Feng Tingshen were preparing for a divorce, she no longer wanted to compromise herself for his sake.
Therefore, Rong Ci declined directly. "I'm sorry, Sister Tinglin, but I won't have time tomorrow."
Since she was returning to her professional field, she would focus all her time on serious matters in the future. Whether it was Feng Tingshen or Feng Tinglin, once the divorce was final, 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 actually refuse her. After all, in the past, Rong Ci had often humbled herself to please the Feng family for Feng Tingshen's sake.
However, Feng Tinglin didn't think too deeply about it. Rong Ci had never rejected her before, so if Rong Ci said she had things to do, Tinglin assumed she truly must be busy. Otherwise, how could Rong Ci bear to pass up an opportunity to please her?
Still, she was not particularly happy. "Tingshen and Jingxin aren't even with you right now. What important business could you possibly have?"
Listening to this, Rong Ci couldn't help but smile bitterly in her heart. Over the years, she had abandoned her self-identity, centering her entire life around Feng Tingshen and her daughter, constantly revolving around them.
Receiving such a comment from Feng Tinglin now was indeed justified. But she wouldn't be like that anymore.
With that thought, Rong Ci was about to speak when several people happened to walk toward them.
"Miss Feng!"
They were clearly there to see Feng Tinglin. Seeing Rong Ci, they sized her up before asking, "Miss Feng, who is this?"
Feng Tinglin didn't reveal that Rong Ci was her sister-in-law. She only said coldly, "Just a friend."
"Oh, a friend..."
They were also here at T University for the celebration and held significant social status. Seeing Feng Tinglin with an acquaintance, they had assumed it was someone of importance.
Now, seeing Feng Tinglin's attitude toward Rong Ci, most of them didn't give her another look. Only a few, noticing how beautiful Rong Ci was, couldn't help but steal a few glances at her snowy-white, slender legs.
They crowded around Feng Tinglin and quickly walked away.
Feng Tinglin's refusal to acknowledge her as a sister-in-law might have hurt Rong Ci in the past. But now, Rong Ci no longer cared.
After Feng Tinglin left, Rong Ci also picked up her bag and turned to leave.
That night, around ten o'clock, the plane carrying Feng Tingshen and Feng Jingxin arrived at the airport on time. By the time they reached home, it was nearly 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 the room was pitch black.
After putting Feng Jingxin back in her own room, he returned to the master bedroom and turned on the dim lights. His gaze swept over the bed, but it was empty.
Rong Ci wasn't there.
At that moment, the butler happened to be bringing his luggage upstairs. Feng Tingshen loosened the tie around his neck and asked, "Where is she?"
The butler hurriedly replied, "Madam went on a business trip."
Half a month ago, when Rong Ci had packed her things to leave, the butler had coincidentally been away. He had heard from other servants in the villa that she had left with her luggage, so he assumed she was going on a business trip.
It was actually quite strange. In the past, Rong Ci rarely went on business trips, and even when she did, it was usually only for two or three days. This time, she had been gone for half a month and still hadn't returned.
Feng Tingshen gave a simple "Mhm" in response and didn't ask any more questions.
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/kleinmoretti to access 100+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).