Yu Moxun and Rong Ci had indeed rarely seen each other over the years.
Yet, in just a few brief encounters, Yu Moxun could tell that her current self was vastly different from the spirited, confident young woman she used to be.
Thinking back to the Rong Ci of the past, he could never have imagined that the word “inferiority” would one day be associated with her.
He didn’t know much about Rong Ci’s married life with Feng Tingshen.
But he knew a little.
A guess formed in his mind, but he didn’t state it explicitly.
Instead, he looked at her very seriously and said, “Falling behind temporarily doesn’t matter.
Your abilities and talent are unmatched by ordinary geniuses.
Xiao Ci, as long as you still have the desire to walk this path, it’s not too late to start over.
“Don’t forget, you were the most satisfying student in our professor’s entire teaching career.”
Hearing this, Rong Ci smiled.
“If the professor heard that, he would probably sneer and say he was just picking the tallest among the dwarves.”
Recalling her former professor, who was both elegant and sharp-tongued, Rong Ci’s smile faded slightly.
“I just saw on the news that the professor also returned to attend the centennial celebration.
Is he doing well?”
“He’s fine.
It’s just that we, his students who always embarrass him, keep showing up in front of him from time to time, which he finds extremely annoying.”
Rong Ci laughed out loud, her heart suddenly filled with nostalgia for the days when she was constantly pushed by her mentor to write papers.
Yu Moxun said, “Come back, Xiao Ci.”Rong Ci’s hand tightened around her teacup.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded.
”
Okay.
She had been researching 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 six or seven years.
Catching up might take a considerable amount of time.
But she believed that as long as she worked hard, it was never too late.
Yu Moxun asked again, “When can you roughly come back?”
“I need to wait for someone to take over my current work, so I’m afraid it will take a while.”
“It’s fine.
There’s no rush.”
Since she was willing to come back, what did it matter if they waited a little longer?
They chatted for a while longer.
Yu Moxun glanced at his watch and said, “Someone under me introduced me to an algorithm genius.
I heard the person just returned to the country a few days ago, and we have a meeting scheduled.
Since we happen to be here, would you like to come and meet them with me?
“Rong Ci shook her head.
“I don’t know the people under your command.
Maybe next time.”
“Alright, that works too.”
Just as Yu Moxun left, Rong Ci saw Feng Tingshen’s older sister, Feng Tinglin, walking towards her.
Rong Ci had seen her on the news as well.But she hadn’t expected to run into her so coincidentally here.
She greeted her, “Sister Tinglin.”Feng Tinglin didn’t respond.
Frowning, she looked at her.
“Why are you here?”
“It’s T University’s centennial celebration today.
I came back to take a look.”
If Rong Ci hadn’t said it, Feng Tinglin would have forgotten that she was also a T University graduate.
But aside from the current students and faculty, almost everyone returning to the campus today was an honorary alumnus who had been specially invited by the school.
What business did a nobody like Rong Ci have here, trying to join in the fun?Forget it.
As long as she didn’t talk nonsense outside and embarrass the Feng family, Feng Tinglin couldn’t be bothered to reprimand her.
Thinking of this, Feng Tinglin got straight to the point.
“Xiao Ming said he wants to eat the dishes you cook.
Later, I’ll have someone send him over to your and Tingshen’s place.”
Xiao Ming was Feng Tinglin’s son, a year or two older than Feng Jingxin.
Feng Tinglin and her husband had a strained relationship.
Because she had been busy with work in recent years, she rarely looked after her child.
As a result, her son had become increasingly rebellious over the past two years, and now that she wanted to manage him, it was already very difficult.Upon learning that her son liked the food she cooked, Feng Tinglin had been sending him over to her and Feng Tingshen whenever she had free time over the past two years.
Aside from the old matriarch, no one in the Feng family treated her with respect.Half-grown children were the best at imitating others.
Although Feng Tinglin’s son liked the food she cooked, he despised her as his aunt-in-law deep down.
Whenever he came over, he practically treated her like a nanny, bossing her around.In the past, because of Feng Tingshen, Rong Ci had done her 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 Feng Tingshen’s sake.
So, Rong Ci refused directly, “I’m sorry, Sister Tinglin.
I’m not free tomorrow.”
Since she was returning to her professional field, she would dedicate all her future time to what truly mattered.
Whether it was Feng Tingshen or Feng Tinglin, after the divorce, 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, for the sake of Feng Tingshen, Rong Ci had swallowed her pride countless times to please the Feng family.
However, Feng Tinglin didn’t think too much about it.
Rong Ci had never refused her before.
Now that Rong Ci said she was busy, Feng Tinglin assumed she genuinely had something to do.
Otherwise, how could Rong Ci possibly pass up an opportunity to please her?
But she was still quite displeased.
“Tingshen and Xinxin aren’t with you right now.
What important business could you possibly have?”
Hearing this, Rong Ci couldn’t help but smile bitterly in her heart.
Over the years, she had abandoned herself, making Feng Tingshen and her daughter the center of her life, constantly revolving around them.
Now, receiving such an evaluation from Feng Tinglin was indeed not unjustified.
But she would never be like that again.
Thinking of this, Rong Ci was about to speak when a few people happened to walk towards them.
“Miss Feng!”
They were clearly looking for Feng Tinglin.
Noticing Rong Ci, they sized her up and asked, “Miss Feng, who is this?”
Feng Tinglin didn’t acknowledge Rong Ci as her sister-in-law.
Instead, she said in a cold tone, “A friend.”
“Oh, a friend…”
They had all returned to T University for the celebration, and their status and positions were all quite high.
Seeing that Feng Tinglin had run into an acquaintance, they had assumed it was someone of great importance.
But seeing Feng Tinglin’s attitude towards Rong Ci, apart from a few people who couldn’t help but glance twice at her fair, slender legs because she was pretty, no one else paid her any attention.
They surrounded Feng Tinglin and quickly walked away.
Feng Tinglin’s refusal to acknowledge her as a sister-in-law would have made Rong Ci sad and heartbroken in the past.
But now, Rong Ci no longer cared.After Feng Tinglin left, she picked up her bag and turned to leave as well.
That night, shortly after ten o’clock, the flight carrying Feng Tingshen and Feng Jingxin landed at the airport on time.By the time they arrived home, it was close to midnight.
Feng Jingxin had already fallen asleep before they even reached the house.
Carrying Feng Jingxin upstairs, Feng Tingshen passed the master bedroom and noticed that the door was open, but the room inside was pitch black.
After putting Feng Jingxin to bed in her room and returning to the master bedroom, Feng Tingshen turned on the dim bedside lamp.
Glancing at the bed, he saw it was completely empty.
Rong Ci wasn’t there.Just then, the butler happened to bring his luggage upstairs.
Loosening the tie around his neck, Feng Tingshen asked, “Where is she?”
The butler hurriedly replied, “The madam has gone on a business trip.”
Half a month ago, when Rong Ci had packed her things and left, he had happened to be away.
Hearing from the other servants at the villa that Rong Ci had left carrying her luggage, he assumed she had gone on a business trip.
Strangely enough, Rong Ci rarely went on business trips in the past, and even when she did, it was usually only for two or three days.
This time, half a month had passed, and she still hadn’t returned.Feng Tingshen hummed in acknowledgment and didn’t ask any further.