Chapter 564: Dad, Mother

At first, Qin Jingqiu didn’t want Feng Nanshu to come along, feeling as if once bitten by a snake, one fears the rope for a decade.

Wasn’t it the same back then? They came wanting to take away, but ended up causing their niece to develop social anxiety.

They suddenly returned this time wanting to take her away; how could she possibly accept that?

But in the end, Qin Jingqiu was persuaded by Feng Shihua.

After all, the daughter belongs to someone else.

Besides, this time was different from the last; they weren’t taking her away, just taking her out, and you had no reason to stop them.

Moreover, the Feng family was already critical of Qin Jingqiu’s overstepping. Starting a conflict now would not be a wise choice.

So, they agreed to pick up Feng Nanshu at dinner time.

As soon as Feng Shi Rong and his group left for next door, Qin Jingqiu and Wu’s mother began frantically cooking, the kitchen clanging noisily as if in battle.

It was the peak of midday brightness, precisely two in the afternoon.

By half-past two, a lavish “dinner” was served on the table, and Qin Jingqiu took off her apron, ready to pick up Feng Nanshu.

Feng Shihua looked at the blazing sun, his mind foggy.

“Who eats dinner at half-past two in the afternoon?”

“What’s wrong, can’t I, the mistress of this house, decide when we eat dinner?”

Feng Shihua was speechless from the retort.

Qin Jingqiu threw her apron on the sofa: “I’ve always felt that a stepmom implies a stepdad.”

“Is that necessary…?”

“Why not? Isn’t that what the old saying goes? I might not respect Duan Ying, but I must admire her tactics. After being influenced by someone like her for years, even a good person can turn bad.”

Feng Shihua fell silent for a moment: “Big brother might feel that you want to control the Fengs and their daughter too.”

Qin Jingqiu retorted, “I don’t care. Besides, Nanshu is the child I fostered with Jiang Qin. Although he didn’t ask outright before he came, he still hinted at Nanshu’s father now and then. You can tell just by his business style that Jiang Qin is not someone willing to suffer a loss.”

“…”

After her words, Qin Jingqiu hurried into the next house.

The Feng family had strong opinions against her using Feng’s real estate to boost Qin’s properties. Perhaps she shouldn’t have rushed to provoke Feng Shi Rong.

But the woman called Duan Ying always gave her a viper-like feeling. Just thinking of her niece being taken again by this woman, even for a few minutes, left her restless and uneasy.

Moreover, she always believed the saying that a stepmom means there is a stepdad.

No matter how good her brother and his ex-wife’s relationship was, how much they loved Feng Nanshu, that was many years ago.

Being abroad for so many years, constantly impacted by foreign cultures and values, and having a son, his mindset was inevitably bound to change.

Especially as his daily routines no longer included his daughter, it became normal to neglect her.

Suddenly having one less person at home feels strange, as does suddenly having one more; it’s natural.

“Big brother, I’ve come to take Nanshu back for dinner.”

Qin Jingqiu reached the next house quickly and started calling out with the air of Wang Xifeng.

Hearing this, Feng Shi Rong turned to look at the daylight outside the window, confusion appearing on his face: “It’s not even three yet, why eat dinner so early?”

Qin Jingqiu gripped Feng Nanshu’s hand: “Eating smaller, multiple meals aids digestion. Our family eats five times a day; dinner is always at this time.”

“I was thinking of having Nanshu stay here for dinner.”

“Big brother, we’ve already prepared everything.”

Feng Shi Rong looked towards his daughter: “Nanshu, do you want to have dinner with daddy or go to your uncle’s house?”

Feng Nanshu stood up: “Goodbye, Daddy.”

Qin Jingqiu, smiling, took Feng Nanshu’s hand and led her away without looking back.

Feng Nanshu’s anxiety eased; she looked up at her aunt: “Daddy never told me what that boy’s name was.”

“Who knows what that bastard’s called—it’s not important.”

“Auntie, you’re kind of mean.”

Qin Jingqiu looked at Feng Nanshu with some heartache: “I’ve always been worried that coming with them would scare you.”

Feng Nanshu handed her phone to Qin Jingqiu.

“What’s this?”

“From Jiang Qin.”

Qin Jingqiu glanced down, the WeChat message was like reading a diary.

[At the internet cafe, haven’t eaten, Yan Shuangying has left, don’t know what to do next, when are you coming back?]

[Still at the internet cafe, planning to poach their investment manager, arranged a meeting, it’s that manager from yesterday’s dinner, a man.]

[Boarding the plane, will arrive in about two hours, will talk more when I get to Linchuan.]

Feng Nanshu took her phone back, softly spoke, “I used to be afraid when no one wanted me, not so much anymore.”

“It’s not that no one wanted you before, your auntie did, but couldn’t compete.”

“I know, auntie.”

“When you and Jiang Qin have kids, make sure you cherish them.”

Qin Jingqiu remembered what her niece said, Jiang Qin never wore one—it doesn’t just happen.

Then the two little rich ladies returned to the next house, looking at the full table of “dinner” with a sensation of unsure how to begin eating.

Meanwhile, Feng Shi Rong in his villa glanced at Duan Ying and his son, then the direction his daughter left in, and began to grow silent.

“What did you say to Feng Shihua earlier?”

“About Feng’s real estate.”

“Figures, my sister-in-law really knows how to stir things up. Probably just heard your brother’s complaints got heated and used our daughter to show off.”

Feng Shi Rong stood with hands in his pockets in front of the door: “Without evidence, don’t assume.”

Duan Ying laughed lightly: “It’s not without basis. Think about it. Is her monopolizing Nanshu different from trying to monopolize Feng’s real estate?”

“After all, she doesn’t have her own children, yet she has raised Nanshu for so many years.”

“I raised Nanshu for many years too, yet she doesn’t feel close to me at all. Being a stepmom is really tough.”

Feng Shi Rong stayed silent: “I and Shihua have agreed to go see our mother later. You take our son out for dinner tonight.”

Duan Ying acknowledged, “Okay, go ahead. My son and I will wait for you at home after dinner. Don’t come back too late.”

“Understood.”

Feng Shi Rong changed his clothes, stepped out of the villa, and saw Feng Shihua waiting at the doorstep.

The two brothers walked to visit Mrs. Feng, but after her condition worsened, she only remembered Feng Shihua and barely recognized Feng Shi Rong. Talking to her felt mismatched.

So, it ended up being just the two brothers chatting.

Feng Shihua thought his brother would stay in Shanghai for a few more days, yet he mentioned returning home the next day.

However, according to him, once their external affairs were handled, they intended to refocus their investments domestically.

Amidst the economic crisis in Europe and America, China rose against the current to become the world’s second-largest economy, possessing the world’s largest market—a juicy target many desired a bite of.

However, this was still just a plan, and implementing it would require time for strategic adjustments.

Afterwards, Feng Shihua had the servants assist Mrs. Feng to rest, and the two brothers left together.

“Does Nanshu really dislike me? She hardly spoke to me all day.”

“Yes.”

Hearing such a certain answer, Feng Shi Rong was momentarily taken aback.

Feng Shihua glanced at him: “At eight, you left her behind. After a few years, you suddenly returned, introducing her to a new mom while you then had a son and neglected her entirely. Isn’t it normal for her to dislike you?”

Feng Shi Rong stopped in his tracks: “After Axian’s death, I really didn’t know how to cope, so I focused all my energy on business.”

“Did you ever consider how Nanshu was supposed to cope?”

“Duan Ying is an education expert and also studied psychology. I married her primarily hoping she could help Nanshu grow well.”

Feng Shihua halted and turned around: “So you handed over your emotionally fragile daughter to a woman who abruptly entered your family. Was that truly your original intent?”

Feng Shi Rong fell silent: “I still care deeply for Nanshu.”

“Your ‘caring’ is setting up a lifelong trust account for her, letting the bank transfer money to her monthly, thinking that’s fatherly love, while you and Duan Ying live comfortably even having a son, habitually forgetting about her.”

“…”

Feng Shi Rong’s first wife was Lin Xian, and their relationship was always very close.

Lin Xian’s unexpected death left him unable to move on, forcing him to escape from his past home, from the familiar environment, allowing him not to dwell on memories.

Duan Ying, a friend of Lin Xian and a well-known education expert at the time, volunteered to help him raise his daughter.

Feng Shi Rong agreed, but due to his deep feelings for his former wife, he never touched Duan Ying.

Back then, Feng Shi Rong was truly healing himself while protecting his daughter’s fragile heart.

Later on, Duan Ying started showing him the various awards Feng Nanshu had won, praising how well she was doing, which finally comforted Feng Shi Rong.

Feng Shi Rong’s perception of Duan Ying gradually improved, entrusting her with full responsibility for his daughter, and naturally, they developed a marital relationship.

In the following years, Feng Shi Rong’s affections gradually shifted, especially after having a son, he rarely thought of the past.

New people outshine the old, new affairs surpass the old.

Time is a fearsome thing, there’s hardly anything it can’t change.

Feng Shi Rong said no more, realizing his brother was right; he really had habitually forgotten his daughter.

Especially during those years abroad, at first, he often contacted Duan Ying for updates about his daughter, but later he couldn’t keep up.

He couldn’t even remember when he stopped caring about his daughter’s news.

Probably during the time Duan Ying was pregnant, a period of emotional transition, it just happened naturally…