Du Ruoxin's hand had been bleeding continuously, staining her clothes and dripping onto the ground.
As soon as Grace got into the car, she smelled the strong scent of blood in the air. "Sigh—"
She picked up the first-aid kit and applied medicine to Du Ruoxin's wound. "Did Cristiano bully you again?"
"Hiss—"
Du Ruoxin gritted her teeth. It hadn't hurt that much before, but now tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.
"It's nothing," she shook her head. "He's my elder brother, after all."
Although her stepmother was not friendly, her three elder brothers genuinely doted on her.
"Trevor, to the clothing store."
Her clothes were stained with blood, and a button had fallen off during the struggle. She couldn't possibly appear in public like this.
After changing into new clothes and tidying herself up, Du Ruoxin arrived at the farm.
Several experts from the design institute had also arrived. Feng Linwan was entertaining them, and they were currently sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting.
Du Ruoxin walked over apologetically. "Daddy, Mommy, I'm sorry I'm late."
Feng Linwan rose with a smile, taking her daughter-in-law's hand. "Look at you, girl, you're all sweaty. Have you eaten?"
Du Ruoxin shook her head. "Not yet."
Feng Linwan said, "Meet the uncles first, then you can eat."
Du Ruoxin responded obediently, "Okay."
Feng Linwan introduced them one by one. "This is Uncle Wu, the director of the planning bureau."
"This is Uncle Zhang, the chairman of the Southwest Design and Research Institute."
"This is Uncle Wei, the chairman of the Civil Aviation Airport Construction Group."
Du Ruoxin greeted them respectfully. "Hello, Uncle Wu. Hello, Uncle Zhang. Hello, Uncle Wei."
The three elders also looked at her kindly. "Go and eat, don't starve yourself."
Du Ruoxin replied, "Yes." Then she looked at Feng Linwan. "Mommy, I'll be back soon."
"Go ahead," Feng Linwan waved her hand.
Du Ruoxin nodded to her father-in-law and the uncles before turning to leave.
"Mrs. Rong, your daughter-in-law is so well-behaved and sensible. The Rong family is truly blessed."
"If my useless prodigal son could marry such a knowledgeable, sensible, gentle, and virtuous wife, I would wake up laughing in my dreams."
"Indeed, we can't envy it, hahaha..."
A chorus of praise came from behind Du Ruoxin.
If they knew she had been trying to divorce Rong Jingyang and hadn't seen him for a year, would they still praise her like this?
o(╯╰)o
After a quick meal, and before she could even hug her daughter, Du Ruoxin returned to the garden.
As soon as she sat down, Feng Linwan steered the conversation to the new airport design.
The overall planning and terminal design of the airport were undertaken by A Country's Southwest Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. and Civil Aviation Airport Construction Group Corporation.
A year prior, Feng Linwan had specifically established a design company, Xinguang Design Co., Ltd., for Du Ruoxin.
When the call for proposals was jointly released by the Southwest Design and Research Institute and Civil Aviation Airport Design Group two nights ago, it instantly set E City ablaze.
The two major companies announced that the outstanding winner would become the chief designer of the new airport.
The selection process would be in two rounds: 1. Public voting, with the top ten advancing to the finals. 2. Judge voting: the first place would be the chief designer, and the second and third places would have the opportunity to participate in the airport construction.
Director Zhang and Director Wei were among the judges.
"Ruoxin, Mrs. Rong mentioned that you graduated from Cambridge School of Design?" Director Zhang asked.
Du Ruoxin nodded. "Yes."
She had already informed her mother-in-law about her graduation certificate and relevant works.
Feng Linwan was not surprised upon hearing this, only remarking that her judgment of people was excellent and that the Rong family had found a treasure.
Rong Jingyang was truly fortunate, having cultivated enough merit over lifetimes to have such a perfect and capable girl like Du Ruoxin sacrifice so much for him.
If Feng Linwan were eighteen, she certainly wouldn't have been able to do it.
Let alone eighteen, even at twenty-eight, she might not have been willing to have children, if not for Rong Jianchen's schemes...
Her child would probably be in junior or senior high school now?
Without extreme love, no woman would be willing to become a mother early and be tied down by daily life.
Yet, Rong Jingyang didn't know how to cherish her!
Thinking of this made her angry.
While her daughter-in-law was chatting with her old friends, Feng Linwan went aside to call her son.
"Where are you?" Before Rong Jingyang could speak, she instructed, "Come and pick up Ruoxin and Doudou. Your father and I won't be back tonight."
After leaving Fengming Mountain, Rong Jingyang went to a dinner party.
Coincidentally, Ai Wei was also there.
As a designer, she accompanied the chairman to the event.
Everyone in the circle knew that Ai Wei had an unusual relationship with Rong Jingyang, and it was through this connection that she had risen to the position of manager at such a young age.
However, strangely, Ai Wei did not speak a word to Rong Jingyang the entire evening.
She seemed to be avoiding him.
Rong Jingyang was somewhat surprised.
"Zzz—"
His phone vibrated. Seeing it was his mother calling, he left the private room and answered.
"Mommy." Listening to his mother's instructions, Rong Jingyang glanced at his watch and replied, "Okay, I'll be there at ten."
Having received his promise, Feng Linwan hung up the phone.
Rong Jingyang put away his phone and turned to return to the private room. Suddenly, he saw Ai Wei following him out.
Their eyes met.
Just as he was about to speak, Ai Wei said first, "I saw the airport design competition call for submissions from the Design Research Institute and Civil Aviation."
Rong Jingyang nodded. "Mm."
He was also about to discuss this matter with her.
"I won't make things difficult for you." Rong Jingyang had once promised her the title of chief designer, but times had changed, circumstances had shifted, and the promise was no longer valid.
Ai Wei said knowingly, "I know Auntie has reservations about me, but I will win the competition with my own strength."
Rong Jingyang: ...
Where was the need for strength?
His mother had already decided that the title of chief designer would go to Du Ruoxin.
Ai Wei...
No matter how hard she tried, she would only be a foil.
After discussing business, Ai Wei continued with personal matters. "Ruoxin is back, so I won't be able to accompany you for rehabilitation training anymore."
"You're allergic to seafood and fish, so don't force yourself to eat it just to make Ruoxin happy."
"You don't like pottery, so don't force yourself to adapt just to accommodate Ruoxin."
"You..."
As she spoke, Ai Wei's voice choked, and a mist of tears welled up in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to hold back her tears, then turned and walked away with hurried steps.
Rong Jingyang watched her slender retreating figure, and his heart gave a sharp tug.
"Ivy!"
He called out.
But Ai Wei did not stop. She had already run into the private room.
Rong Jingyang stood there stunned, unable to calm down for a long time.
"Ai Wei, as long as you are willing to leave Country A, as long as you are willing to give up the chief designer competition, I will fulfill whatever you desire."
He thought to himself.
But looking at the empty corridor, this sentence sank into his heart like a thousand-pound lead ball, forever unable to be spoken.
He—
His dark pupils dimmed, and in an instant, Rong Jingyang collected his thoughts.
After bidding farewell to everyone in the private room, he asked Lin Xuanyao to drive him to the farm.
Du Ruoxin saw the three elders off and was about to go find her daughter. Doudou should be asleep by now, right?
Just then, a car drove up from a distance and stopped at her feet.
Du Ruoxin smiled when she saw it was Rong Jingyang. "Mr. Rong, good evening."