Go upstairs and ask mom to come down for dinner

At this moment, another elevator door opened, and Qi Yuming walked out.

Seeing him, Rong Ci was a little surprised.

She hadn't expected him to come to the hot spring resort as well.

However, neither Grandma Feng nor Feng Tingshen looked surprised—it was obvious they knew in advance that Qi Yuming would be coming.

Qi Yuming raised an eyebrow when he saw Rong Ci, then turned to Grandma Feng with a warm smile and said, "Grandma, you're leaving already? Won't you stay for lunch first?"

The Feng and Qi families had a good relationship.

Grandma Feng had watched Qi Yuming grow up. Hearing this, she smiled kindly and said, "No, no, you all enjoy yourselves."

They all walked Grandma Feng out.

Once her car had driven away, Feng Jingxin immediately asked excitedly, "Uncle Qi, why are you here?"

Qi Yuming bent down and pinched her fair little cheeks. "Your dad asked me to come. I checked in with Grandma Feng, and then I rushed over. So, what do you think? Pretty loyal of me, huh?"

"Oh, so it was Dad who invited you?"

"Yep." Qi Yuming grinned. "And when I heard your great-grandmother was leaving, I also told your Uncle He and Aunt Lin Wu. They're already on their way and should be here soon. Aren't you excited?"

As he said this, Qi Yuming deliberately glanced at Rong Ci.

Rong Ci noticed and understood that he was intentionally saying this for her to hear.

Feng Jingxin was, of course, happy.

She was about to nod but hesitated when she remembered that Rong Ci was there. She looked up at her mother instead.

Rong Ci pretended not to see and simply ruffled her daughter's hair. "You all have fun. I'm going back to my room."

With that, she turned and left without even glancing at Feng Tingshen or Qi Yuming.

Seeing how indifferent Rong Ci was after hearing that Lin Wu was coming—without any of her past anxiety or unease, as if she truly didn't care—Qi Yuming was puzzled.

Since Feng Jingxin was still present, he couldn't be too direct. Instead, as he watched Rong Ci walk away, he leaned in toward Feng Tingshen and lowered his voice. "What's going on?"

Feng Tingshen remained expressionless. "Did you come alone?"

"Of course not. Going to a hot spring alone wouldn't be any fun, right? I obviously brought my baby along—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Qi Yuming suddenly paused, turned to look at Feng Tingshen, and said, "Wait a minute, you're changing the subject."

Feng Tingshen didn't deny it and simply said, "Your 'baby' is here."

Just then, a tall, voluptuous woman wearing an open bathrobe over a bikini walked toward them.

Back in her room, Rong Ci changed into casual clothes, sat at the small round table, and opened her laptop to continue researching the exhibits from the recent tech expo.

Combining what she had found with the information she'd gathered over time, she suddenly had an idea about half an hour later.

She immediately called Yu Moxun. "Are you free?"

"I'm at a masquerade party. What's up?"

Rong Ci shared her idea with him.

Yu Moxun's tone became serious but excited. "Hold on. I'll head back right away."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Rong Ci focused on her work again.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed when she suddenly heard voices from downstairs.

She paused.

It was likely that He Changbai and Lin Wu had arrived.

She got up and closed the window.

By this time, she was feeling a bit hungry. She picked up the internal phone and called room service to request a meal.

The staff quickly agreed and soon delivered her food.

On the way to the elevator, the staff member carrying her meal happened to pass by Feng Tingshen and the others.

Qi Yuming asked, "Who is that meal for?"

The staff member immediately answered, "It's for Madam."

The only person they would refer to as "Madam" was Rong Ci.

They didn't make things difficult for the staff and let them proceed.

After the staff left, Qi Yuming chuckled. "Looks like we don't need to call her for dinner later."

Feng Tingshen said calmly, "Call her anyway."

Hearing this, Lin Wu froze slightly and pressed her lips together as she looked at Feng Tingshen.

He Changbai and Qi Yuming were also momentarily surprised.

But Qi Yuming quickly smiled. "Makes sense. Grandma Feng specifically told you to take good care of her. If we don't invite her and she finds out, it wouldn't look good."

Since this was the Feng family's private resort, it was likely that Grandma Feng had people keeping an eye on things.

If she heard that Rong Ci had been left out, it could cause trouble.

Hearing this, Lin Wu relaxed.

She had been worried that Grandma Feng's meddling had actually made Feng Tingshen feel something for Rong Ci.

But Qi Yuming's reasoning reassured her—it was just for show.

He Changbai also withdrew his gaze.

At that moment, Feng Jingxin returned.

Feng Tingshen ruffled her hair and said, "Go upstairs and ask your mom to come down for dinner."

Feng Jingxin was startled. "You want Mom to eat with us?"

"Yes."

She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, then frowned slightly and glanced at Lin Wu.

She didn't want her mom to eat with them.

If her mom joined them, she would definitely be hostile toward Aunt Lin Wu, which would make the atmosphere tense and unpleasant.

Lin Wu smiled gently. "Go on."

Feng Jingxin hesitated but then went upstairs.

When the doorbell rang, Rong Ci was already eating in her room.

Seeing through the monitor that it was Feng Jingxin, she put down her chopsticks and went to open the door. "Xin Xin?"

Feng Jingxin bit her lip and looked up at her. "Mom, Dad asked me to invite you down for dinner."

Rong Ci declined without hesitation. "I've already started eating. You all go ahead."

Feng Jingxin let out a breath of relief. "Okay, then… Should I just tell Dad that?"

Rong Ci could tell that she didn't want her to come downstairs.

She saw the look on her daughter's face and said calmly, "Yes, go ahead."

Feng Jingxin immediately smiled. "Alright!"

She turned to leave but paused after a few steps, looking a little guilty. "Mom, will you be okay eating alone? Should I… stay with you?"

Downstairs was lively with so many people.

Leaving her mom alone in the room seemed a bit pitiful.

But her voice was hesitant—she clearly preferred to eat downstairs with the others.

Rong Ci didn't want to force her.

She also didn't need reluctant company.

She bent down slightly and said gently, "It's okay. I like being alone. You go ahead."

Hearing this, Feng Jingxin's guilt faded significantly. She nodded. "Okay, then I'll go."

"Go on."

Feng Jingxin quickly left.

Rong Ci watched her daughter's retreating figure, then closed the door and returned to her meal.