Rong Ci put down her phone and went downstairs, telling Old Madam that Feng Tingshen already had other arrangements for dinner.
That night, Feng Tingshen did not return.
When she woke up the next day, Old Madam was quite upset to learn that Feng Tingshen hadn't come back the previous night. "Tingshen is really something. No matter how busy work gets, could he really not find the time to come home for even a moment?"
Rong Ci simply offered a small smile and didn't respond.
No matter how busy Feng Tingshen was, he definitely had time to come home. After all, he needed rest just like anyone else.
She recalled the sound of Lin Wu's voice over the phone the night before.
She suspected the reason he hadn't come back... was because he had a better place to be.
Changmo's key projects for the next two years had been finalized over the last couple of days. However, Yu Moxun still integrated their thoughts and sent them over to Nan Zhizhi, hoping for some feedback.
Nan Zhizhi was usually incredibly busy and his whereabouts were always uncertain. Both Rong Ci and Yu Moxun assumed it would take a few days, or perhaps even half a month, before they heard back from him.
To their surprise, he called that very afternoon.
"The ideas aren't bad."
With Nan Zhizhi's validation, Rong Ci and Yu Moxun felt significantly more confident about the projects they were building. One had to understand that their teacher's standards were exceptionally high. His "not bad" was already a glowing review.
Nan Zhizhi continued, "Looking at the content you sent, you haven't missed a beat regarding past fundamentals or the new developments in the AI field over these past few years. It's decent."
These words were clearly directed at Rong Ci.
Rong Ci felt a sting in her nose, but before she could speak, Nan Zhizhi added coldly, "But you have still been too slack. In the pursuit of knowledge, if you aren't moving forward, you are falling behind. In reality, you are still regressing."
Rong Ci hurriedly replied, "I know, Teacher. I will do my best to make up for the effort I've missed during these years."
"Mm."
Nan Zhizhi's teaching style was always to the point. With that, he stopped speaking.
Seeing that Nan Zhizhi seemed to have some free time today, Rong Ci couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, are you free this evening? I'd like to treat you to dinner."
It wasn't just Rong Ci; even Yu Moxun hadn't shared a meal with Nan Zhizhi in a long time.
Hearing Rong Ci's suggestion, Yu Moxun nodded eagerly. "That's right, Teacher. Are you available?"
Nan Zhizhi replied in a flat tone, "I have an appointment. No time."
"Ah?" Yu Moxun was deeply disappointed.
Rong Ci felt the same. She was just about to ask when he might be free so she could schedule another time, but before the words could leave her mouth, Nan Zhizhi spoke again.
"The person who invited me is Feng Tingshen."
Rong Ci froze.
Yu Moxun also paused. He glanced at Rong Ci and whispered into the phone, "Then, Teacher... why would President Feng be looking for you? Could you tell us a bit?"
"He said he wants to introduce someone to me."
Having said that, Nan Zhizhi didn't elaborate further and hung up.
Yu Moxun looked at Rong Ci and said, "The person your husband wants to introduce to Teacher... it wouldn't happen to be Lin Wu, would it?"
During their last contact with the Lin family, he had learned that they had their own technology company. Lin Wu had previously wanted to work at their company specifically because of their programming language, cuap.
The outside world believed that cuap was developed by a team led by their teacher. Now that Lin Wu couldn't get into their company, it was highly likely she would seek out their teacher directly to study cuap.
Perhaps she even wanted to become their teacher's student.
Thinking of this, Yu Moxun couldn't help but swear, "Dammit!"
Rong Ci had considered that possibility as well. Furthermore, she felt this might be Feng Tingshen's way of compensating Lin Wu for forcing her uncle's family not to move into the house opposite her own uncle.
Given his feelings for Lin Wu, how could he bear to let her feel wronged just to help Rong Ci?
Yu Moxun added, "If she really has hidden her true strength, then wouldn't that mean"
Though they were Nan Zhizhi's students and he was usually cold to them, their relationship with him was actually quite good. Despite his severity, Nan Zhizhi was the type to be cold on the outside but soft on the inside.
However, he was also a man of strict principles. If Lin Wu truly had sufficient ability and talent, he wouldn't refuse to take her as a student just because of the grievances between Rong Ci and Lin Wu.
So...
Rong Ci calmed down quickly and said, "Let's just focus on our own work for now."
All she could do was be the best version of herself.
That evening, she returned home a bit late, and Old Madam had already gone to bed. Feng Tingshen wasn't back when she arrived, either. She thought he might not return at all.
However, when she came out of the bathroom after her shower, she saw Feng Tingshen.
He had actually come home.
Seeing him, her steps faltered. she gave him a slight nod as a greeting. As for why he had met with Nan Zhizhi today, she didn't ask a single word.
Feng Tingshen didn't speak either. He glanced at her once before heading into the bathroom to shower.
The next morning, she woke up somewhat late.
When she went downstairs, she heard Old Madam speaking to Feng Tingshen in a snide tone, "I stayed up past ten last night and you still weren't back. I thought you were too reluctant to come home again!"
Feng Tingshen sat opposite Old Madam, sipping water with a composed air, offering no rebuttal.
Old Madam tapped the table, feigning anger as she barked, "Speak! Don't play mute with me!"
Feng Tingshen set down his glass. Seeing Rong Ci come downstairs, he glanced at her before turning back to reply calmly, "Didn't you insist that I must come home because you wanted me to accompany you out for some fun this morning?"
"Humph, I thought you'd treated my words as wind passing your ears again!"
"Your grandson wouldn't dare."
He said the words, but his expression remained indifferent, showing not a trace of actual fear.
Old Madam was nearly driven to madness by him, so she simply ignored him and waved Rong Ci over to sit.
Rong Ci sat down and asked, "Grandmother, are you two going out to have some fun?"
"It's not 'you two,' it's 'us'!" Old Madam laughed. "We are all going together. Xiao Ci, where do you want to go? Grandmother will listen to you."
Rong Ci sometimes felt that she was indeed a very boring person. She truly couldn't think of any entertainment venues that everyone would enjoy. She replied, "Anything is fine with me. I'll follow your lead."
Old Madam actually already had an idea. Hearing Rong Ci's response, she asked, "What about soaking in the hot springs? Last time we planned on it, we didn't get to go and I was even driven to illness by someone's temper. This time, a certain someone has to make it up to me."
This "certain someone" naturally referred to Feng Tingshen.
Hearing this, Feng Tingshen continued to sip his tea calmly. His face showed not a hint of discomfort or embarrassment at Old Madam bringing up the past incident. It was as if that matter wasn't even worth mentioning to him. He had never taken it to heart.
At that thought, Rong Ci withdrew her gaze.
She had already gone to the hot springs recently and currently had no interest in them. But since Old Madam had put it that way, she could only cooperate. "Alright."
🚨 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).