Early next morning.
Qingyang carried a bit of dazzling light.
Rong Zhi stepped out from the comfortably warm room, wearing a light blue sweatshirt, still loose.
She had a mint-flavored lollipop in her mouth, a trace of drowsiness lingering on her face as she slowly made her way to the hall.
Not a single step went wrong.
Only the men of the Rong Family were in the hall.
After silently finishing breakfast, Rong Fangjun led the group to the Rong Family Ancestral Hall.
The ancestral hall was located deeper in the courtyard, taking roughly ten minutes to reach.
The main door was grand, the plaque above was inscribed by the first Family Head of the Rong Family, serious and upright.
Inside, beams and rafters were beautifully adorned, and by the side hung the lineage's origins and the clan members' honors, numerous and abundant, witnessing the Rong Family's past glory.
Rong Fangjun had his hands cleansed by Lu Zhao, offered incense to the ancestors of the Rong Family, then solemnly brought out the family records, carefully adding Rong Zhi's name.
They had discussed earlier that Rong Zhi's name would remain as per her habit, continuing with her current name.
Upon completing the final stroke, Rong Fangjun's expression moved, and he bowed to the ancestors once more.
"Thank you, ancestors, for your protection, today the third son of the sixteenth generation of the Rong Family returns."
Rong Xian'an maintained a stern face, saying nothing.
Rong Qichuo glanced at Rong Zhi with a flicker of dark emotions in his eyes.
The person being watched lowered their face, obscuring their expression.
As if sensing his gaze, the person turned slightly.
Sleepy eyes at the corner exuded exhaustion, akin to just waking up.
Rong Qichuo let out a faint scoff internally.
No manners.
Rong Zhi, with an indifferent face, suddenly tilted her lips slightly, momentarily unsettling the morning sunlight, even if Rong Qichuo felt she was rude, he couldn't help but be momentarily distracted by her face.
In the next second.
Rong Zhi elegantly rolled her eyes at him, full of sarcasm.
Then she lowered her eyes, her whole aura relaxed.
She actually wanted to make a gesture, but the venue was unsuitable.
Rong Qichuo, startled, suddenly returned to reality.
"Rong..."
She actually dared to despise him?!
"What's all the noise!"
The sound of a cane striking the ground accompanied Rong Fangjun's scolding voice echoing above them.
Rong Qichuo choked, gritted his teeth, adjusted his expression and said stiffly, "Sorry, Grandpa."
Rong Fangjun gave him a sidelong glance, snorted, and did not embarrass him.
He really thought he was too old to notice these little actions!
The ancestral hall was utterly silent.
Rong Qichuo's gaze darkened.
Seeing that their minds were not in this place, Rong Fangjun, having finished noting names, waved them away, taking Rong Zhi for a stroll around the courtyard.
"You've just returned, they might not be used to it yet, give it some time and it'll be fine."
All family, can't really speak as if strangers, right?
Rong Fangjun sighed, speaking on behalf of his troublesome son, "Your dad back then thought you... plus the matters that tied up the Rong Family at that time, he couldn't find you, he was helpless too."
So his helplessness led to Rong Zhi being adrift outside for eighteen years.
Rong Zhi peeled open another mint candy, spun the stick in her mouth once, gently inhaling, the hot air meeting the refreshing mint in her mouth, dispelling some of the fatigue, "I understand, Grandpa."
She had a small quirk of bed recognition; no matter how exhausted, as long as it wasn't a familiar bed, she would have trouble sleeping for a long time.
The headache from a sleepless night made her not want to speak much.
Rong Fangjun nodded.
Such obedient attitude, why don't his son and daughter-in-law like it?
"Well, Grandpa, I'm heading out," Rong Zhi took out two transparent wrapped lollipops from her pocket, without any trademark, handed them over to Lu Zhao, her lips curving, "For you and Housekeeper Lu to try, they're quite tasty."
She took them from He Songzhi's ward the day she left Qingqu County; there were only five left, now there's one left in her pocket.
Rong Fangjun was dazzled by her smile, and as he saw those candies, his heart felt layers of warmth, he grabbed them before Lu Zhao could, hiding them in his clothes like treasures.
"Good child."
This was the first gift the third child had given him; it must be well stored.
Lu Zhao's face rarely showed a complex look.
Rong Zhi's gaze passed over Rong Fangjun's pocket, the curve at her lips deepening, without a sound.
The sweetness and sugar content of mint candy were still within the old man's acceptable range.
Was the old man not wanting to eat, or afraid to eat?
But having already given the candy, whether he eats it or not is up to him.
...
Beijing is the capital of Hua Country, and by ten in the morning, the streets are bustling, cars streaming by.
The boy wore a simple blue sweatshirt, his legs long and straight, the profile of his face slightly distant as he looked down at his phone, and when he lifted his eyes to the traffic light, the morning sunlight scattered into his eyes like stars, glimmering with radiance.
The light across the zebra crossing turned green.
The boy walked leisurely across, neither rushed nor slow.
In the roadside car.
"Isn't that the bartender from Seventh Sense?"
Jiang Gujun wondered aloud, his gaze following the silhouette, but with more people moving around, his sight became confused.
He turned his face, looking toward Bai Su sitting in the back seat, "Should we follow him?"
Bai Su had a cigarette in his mouth, unlit.
Expression was quite composed, tone was also calm.
"Follow."
Jiang Gujun raised his brows, instructing the driver to trail the person.
Half an hour later, the silver-white car slowed to a stop by the side of the street.
The car window rolled down.
Jiang Gujun lightly turned his face, just in time to see the boy they followed all the way stop in front of a little beggar for two seconds, then squat down, a pale hand reminiscent of porcelain covering the beggar's head.
Jiang Gujun suddenly felt the scene was somewhat discordant.
Those hands were too beautiful, they should be touching high-priced artworks in museums on display, not the slightly dirty hair of a little beggar.
But those artistic hands not only touched, they slowly rubbed.
Without a hint of impatience.
Then.
He saw the boy withdraw his hand and began gesturing in front of the little beggar.
"Sign language?"
Jiang Gujun heard the voice from the back seat, asked in surprise, "Mr. Su, do you understand this?"
Bai Su's white shirt collar had two buttons undone, revealing a bit of collarbone, his composed and elegant face slightly tilted, aura lazily casual.
He absentmindedly said, "Never learned."
His gaze fell on the person's hand, a shade of dark passing through his eyes.
So he didn't understand.
Jiang Gujun became curious.
The other party is a bartender, not mute, why does he know sign language?
"Mr. Su, that little beggar entered a restaurant," Jiang Gujun hesitated only a moment on the sign language issue, then tossed it aside, intending to ask Bai Su if they should leave, when suddenly puzzled, he asked, "He entered... Shiwei Xuan?"
Shiwei Xuan, the most famous restaurant in Beijing, with over 120 years of history since its founding, renowned for its "imperial cuisine," a must-try restaurant for many dignitaries visiting Hua, its reservation is extremely difficult to secure.
Why did the boy let the little beggar enter?
Not to mention how strict security is in Beijing, how a little beggar managed to appear here, but allowing him into the magnificent Shiwei Xuan, is he preparing to face disdain?
The security at the entrance was about to stop the little beggar.
Bai Su lifted his eyelids slightly, said indifferently, "I'm hungry, let's go eat."
Jiang Gujun paused a bit upon hearing this, replied slowly, "But Mr. Su, I remember you just finished breakfast."
"Too much of chatter."
Jiang Gujun was left speechless by his reply, muttering inside.
How is he being chatty, he was stating facts the whole time.