The group had been seated for quite some time, yet Feng Tingshen and Yu Moxun had not exchanged a single word.
Hearing the suggestion, Feng Tingshen picked up a napkin and dabbed the corner of his mouth. He looked toward Yu Moxun and smiled. "I do indeed have such an intention. I wonder what President Yu thinks?"
Yu Moxun, naturally, would not let a business opportunity delivered to his doorstep slip away. "It is an honor for Changmo to be held in such high regard by President Feng."
Lin Wu was more than happy to see a potential partnership between Feng Tingshen and Yu Moxun. After all, if their dealings became frequent, she would have more opportunities to interact with Yu Moxun. When the time came, it would be much easier to win him over to her side.
Thinking of this, she cast a cold, indifferent glance at Rong Ci.
Rong Ci had spent most of the meal talking to Professor Liu. Although she was aware of the movements of the others at the table, she wasn't particularly invested in them. If Yu Moxun truly wanted to collaborate with Feng Tingshen, she naturally had no objections. There was no reason to get in the way of making money.
As the meal drew to a close, the guests didn't remain tethered to their seats. Those with intentions of collaboration rose and gathered on the nearby sofas to chat.
Feng Tingshen's mention of collaborating with Changmo during dinner had been merely verbal; Rong Ci wasn't sure if it would actually materialize. However, President Yuan, who had dined with them, was genuinely interested. Before the meal was even over, he had pulled his management team aside to talk with Yu Moxun.
Rong Ci followed them over. She was an expert when it came to technical discussions, but the business negotiations were better left to Yu Moxun.
She sat to the side, rarely speaking. Seeing that Yu Moxun's glass was empty, she took it from him. "I'll get you a refill."
Yu Moxun smiled. "Thanks."
Seeing Rong Ci acting as a pseudo-secretary for Yu Moxun, Lin Wu and Lin Lilan were even more convinced that her role at Changmo was essentially that of a glorified errand girl.
Rong Ci turned with the glass. After only a couple of steps, as she neared Feng Tingshen, someone else suddenly turned from the side and accidentally bumped into her.
Caught off balance and holding the glass, Rong Ci pitched forward and tumbled straight into Feng Tingshen's arms.
The surrounding crowd froze. To the eye, it looked as if she had been knocked over, but who could say if it wasn't intentional? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that she fell precisely into Feng Tingshen's embrace?
Then again, Rong Ci was undeniably stunning. She had a lithe, supple figure, and her skin was as tender and fair as fresh tofu... While Lin Wu was also very sexy and beautiful, in the eyes of most men present, Rong Ci was the one who held the edge.
Having such a woman "accidentally" throw herself into one's arms was enough to stir the thoughts of many men in the room.
But Feng Tingshen was different.
His expression remained cold and indifferent as he steadied Rong Ci by the shoulders before immediately pushing her away. He showed not the slightest hint of being moved by her beauty.
It was only when she was pressed against him, catching the familiar scent of his cologne, that Rong Ci realized the man she had fallen into was Feng Tingshen. Once she realized, her expression turned neutral. She straightened herself and whispered a soft "Sorry" before turning to walk away.
Lin Wu and Lin Lilan were convinced Rong Ci had done it on purpose.
Lin Lilan huffed, whispering to Lin Wu, "I told you she couldn't just behave herself. But all that effort was for nothing."
Feng Tingshen had remained completely unmoved.
"True," Lin Lilan smiled. "Tingshen's reaction certainly gave you all the security you could ask for."
Hearing this, Lin Wu lowered her head with a sweet smile.
Lin Lihai, however, frowned. He felt he had misjudged Rong Ci; he hadn't expected someone who looked so quiet and reserved to have so many little schemes.
Noticing the commotion, Yu Moxun immediately cut short his conversation with President Yuan and hurried over to Rong Ci. "Are you alright?"
Rong Ci shook her head.
"Did you twist your ankle?"
"A little." Her ankle was indeed throbbing; she had likely sprained it.
Seeing Yu Moxun's genuine concern warmed her heart, but it also brought a sting of bitterness. She had noticed the way the people around them were looking at her. She knew they all thought she had intentionally thrown herself at Feng Tingshen. Now, even if they saw she was injured, they probably thought she deserved it.
As for Feng Tingshen... he wouldn't even offer her a proper hand. When he saw her fall, he hadn't even bothered to ask if she was okay. The only person here who truly cared for her was Yu Moxun.
"Let me see it?"
"No need..." Rong Ci stammered. There were so many people watching.
Yu Moxun ignored her protest. He swept her up in his arms, carried her away from the crowd, and set her down. He knelt, removed her high heels, and gently lifted her leg. Seeing that her ankle was indeed swollen, he instructed a waiter to call for a doctor and asked them to buy a pair of flat shoes for her.
Seeing Yu Moxun show such blatant and meticulous care for Rong Ci, many people in the room paused, looking surprised. Suddenly, the idea that Rong Ci had been trying to seduce Feng Tingshen seemed like a mere misconception born of prejudice. After all, it looked as though her relationship with Yu Moxun was already quite deep.
Lin Wu pursed her lips and withdrew her gaze. She looked toward Feng Tingshen. Although he had clearly noticed the intimate interaction between Rong Ci and Yu Moxun, he continued chatting with the others as if nothing had happened. He seemed completely unconcerned by their closeness.
Lin Wu's tight expression softened. She smiled and resumed her conversation, no longer paying attention to Rong Ci's side of the room.
Before long, the hotel's on-call doctor arrived. After examining Rong Ci, the doctor prescribed some topical medication. Once the doctor left, Yu Moxun applied the medicine himself. Rong Ci wanted to do it herself, but Yu Moxun shot her a glare that made her raise her hands in surrender.
After the medicine was applied, a waiter returned with the shoes. Rong Ci stood up and tested them. "It's fine, I can walk."
"Good." However, since walking wasn't very convenient, Yu Moxun told her not to go back to the exhibition hall. He had already arranged for someone to photograph all the exhibits, so she could just review the videos later.
Though it was a shame, there was no other choice. Yu Moxun excused them both and sent Rong Ci home. After they left, the rest of the gathering began to disperse.
After dropping Rong Ci off at home, Yu Moxun had other matters to attend to and left shortly after.
Rong Ci was exhausted after a long, busy day. She wanted to rest for a while; later, when Yu Moxun was finished with his work, they planned to discuss the "assignment" their teacher had given them.
She put her phone aside and was just about to fall asleep when it rang. She picked it up to see an unfamiliar number. After a moment of hesitation, she answered. "Hello, who is this?"
"He Changbai."
Rong Ci blinked, sitting up in bed. "Mr. He?"
To be honest, she had been so busy today that if He Changbai hadn't contacted her, she would have completely forgotten about the incident from this morning.
"I've had your car taken care of," He Changbai said before she could speak. "You can come and pick it up later. Or, if you're busy, I can have someone drive it back to you."
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