When Su Ning saw her outfit, her makeup was neat and flawless, with no mistakes to point out.
A weight lifted from her chest.
She turned to Shen Ming.
"I need to speak with Zhaonan for a moment. I haven't seen Xiaofeng in the banquet hall, so I'll go check on her."
Shen Ming walked over and linked arms with Su Ning.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Su. I saw Xiaofeng earlier; she's probably outside the venue."
Since Xiaofeng was found, Su Ning had no reason to stay any longer and, along with Shen Ming, returned to the banquet hall.
Shen Ming, with her arm still hooked around Su Ning's, stepped away from the crowd.
However, halfway there, she suddenly turned around, glaring at Rong Zhaonan, who was laughing behind them.
She shot him a sharp, hateful look.
Rong Zhaonan remained calm, unfazed, holding her phone in his hand.
He addressed Chang Wen, the secretary, with a relaxed air.
"Have the room tidied up."
"Understood," replied Chang Wen.
After the banquet, Rong Zhaonan left with Gu Feng, leaving the event early.
When Shen Ming went to change clothes in the lounge, she realized she had left her bag in Rong Zhaonan's private room. The hall manager told her that Secretary Chang had already brought it over for her.
When she opened her bag, she noticed her phone was missing.
The next morning, before dawn, Rong Zhaonan was jolted awake by the shrill ringing of his phone.
He groggily picked it up and saw an unfamiliar number.
A sinister voice came through the line.
"Rong Zhaonan, where is my phone?"
He glanced at the time—it was six in the morning.
"Waking up early today, huh?"
He threw off the covers, tied his bathrobe, and stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the vast expanse of greenery outside.
"Your phone? How should I know?"
Shen Ming almost lost her temper.
"Rong Zhaonan, the phone you're holding right now is mine."
She could see the phone in his hand clearly now. She had missed it earlier, but it was unmistakably hers.
Still groggy, with a sleepy, gruff tone, he spoke slowly.
"You want your phone?"
Shen Ming's voice was cold as ice.
"Do you think I'm asking for it because I enjoy it?"
He didn't respond right away but merely let out a nonchalant chuckle.
"If you want it, come and get it."
With that, he ended the call.
Rong Zhaonan was unbearable. She never realized he had this side to him before. Had he always been like this, or was this some untapped aspect of his personality?
She gritted her teeth. It was so frustrating—especially recalling the events of the night before.
The mere thought made her cheeks burn with embarrassment. How could she have been so reckless?
Frustrated, she tossed her phone aside and decided to handle her tasks through a tablet.
She sent an encrypted email to one of her informants.
"Currently without my phone to prevent data leaks. Please refrain from contacting me for the time being."
The reply was swift—an "OK" emoji, followed by another email and a photo.
"Here's the new batch of goods. If you have time, come take a look."
Shen Ming opened the image, revealing a recently unearthed bronze vase. From the looks of it, it seemed to date back to the Ming Dynasty.
Just seeing it made her hands itch.
She tossed the tablet aside and headed downstairs.
It was early, and the lights outside the old house were still on. A few servants were trimming the garden flowers.
"Miss Xiaofeng is back? Isn't she rarely here at the old house?"
"She came back with Mr. Rong. She chatted with the eldest madam until late last night. I noticed Miss Xiaofeng hasn't been in a good mood these past few days."
"I heard that the eldest madam is worried Xiaofeng might be depressed, so she's planning her wedding."
"A wedding? With the Rong family's eldest son…?"
A slight cough interrupted the conversation.
Shen Ming raised an eyebrow at the servants who quickly turned their heads, scattering in a hurry.
At the sound of the commotion, Shen Ming's face darkened. Wedding plans? What was going on?
Rong residence.
Before the sun had even risen, an unexpected visitor arrived at the Rong family estate.
The house was still quiet, with everyone still asleep. Shen Ming explained her purpose, and the servant led her toward the area where the eldest son's rooms were.
Shen Ming knew the Rong residence well—it was a place she had frequently visited in her previous life.
But as she reached the base of the building, something unexpected caught her attention in the yard.
Rong Tianqi.
He was Rong Zhaonan's younger brother, the illegitimate son left by Mr. Rong from an affair. He had only returned to the Rong family a few years ago.
This man was sharp, and in a short time, his outstanding business acumen had earned him Mr. Rong's favor. He was even sent to manage a branch of the group.
Shen Ming didn't expect to see him so early, but it seemed he was out in the yard for morning exercise. He was jogging vigorously, his body glowing with energy, until he noticed the servant and Shen Ming approaching.
Wiping his sweat with a towel, he slowed to a stop and glanced at her.
The servant immediately greeted him.
"Second young master."
As the dawn light began to grow, Shen Ming's features became clearer. She looked like a fresh morning flower, her bright eyes shining with a captivating beauty.
Rong Tianqi paused, stunned for a moment.
"Ah, the eldest daughter of the Su family."
Shen Ming's expression remained distant, and she didn't want to engage in a lengthy conversation. She simply acknowledged him with a brief response.
"Mm."
Rong Tianqi, still wiping his neck with the towel, looked incredibly charismatic, his demeanor sunny and energetic.
"I didn't manage to attend your welcoming banquet last night due to some business, but I heard the news from the media. Congratulations on your return! We should meet more often—I live nearby."
Shen Ming nodded, giving a short reply.
"Mm."
Rong Tianqi turned to the servant.
"Is Miss Su here to see someone?"
The servant replied, "She's here to find the eldest son."
Shen Ming, feeling no need to continue, walked away.
Rong Tianqi stood in place, watching her retreating figure. The admiration in his eyes didn't fade.
The rumors about her were true. This young lady had a bad temper, and her cold demeanor made her difficult to approach.
After standing there for a while, he eventually turned his gaze away.
Upstairs, Rong Zhaonan, from the balcony, watched the whole exchange clearly.
Once he saw Shen Ming enter the building, he withdrew his gaze and made a call to the housekeeper downstairs.
"Bring her to the first floor."
Downstairs, the housekeeper informed Shen Ming that she would have to wait on the first floor since the eldest master hadn't woken up yet.
Hadn't woken up? Then who answered her call earlier?
She had come all the way here to find him, and he wanted her to wait?
Ignoring the housekeeper's protests, she marched up to the second floor.
The housekeeper trailed behind, unsure whether to stop her or not.
"Miss Su, Miss Su, the eldest master really isn't awake yet."
Shen Ming navigated the halls with ease, heading straight for his bedroom.
She pushed the door open without hesitation.
The room was empty.
She turned back to the housekeeper.
"I need to speak with your master. If you don't want to disturb the old master, keep quiet."
The housekeeper seemed reluctant to speak but didn't stop her. Shen Ming slammed the door shut.
The room was eerily quiet, with no sign of Rong Zhaonan.
She began searching the room, desperate for her phone.
But she couldn't find it.
Frustrated, she took out her backup phone and called her missing one.
The ringtone came from the adjoining room.
She followed the sound and pushed open the door to find… a bathroom.