Ch 264: I Thought You Weren’t Looking Forward to Seeing Me

Neither of them was particularly skilled at starting conversations.

Rong Xingye had tried hard, occasionally tossing out a topic, but they all ended in bizarre directions.

So, they maintained silence the whole way.

He belatedly realized he’d miscalculated.

He should’ve invited her boyfriend along—anyway, that kid would probably be thrilled to join…

They stepped into the restaurant.

Chen Jinyue and the other followed the waiter toward a private room, where someone had reportedly arrived much earlier.

The closer they got to the room, the more nervous Chen Jinyue felt.

Her fingers gripped her bag tightly, and the moment the door slid open, she caught sight of a woman she’d only heard vague introductions about in rumors.

Dressed in a deep blue gown, her long hair was pinned up, her face lightly made up to mask the traces of time.

Hearing the noise, she turned sharply, her gaze locking onto them.

That cool, refined face remained calm, but her eyes brimmed with a thousand unspoken words.

She stood and walked toward her, step by step.

Chen Jinyue’s heart pounded like a drum, though her expression stayed eerily composed. “Hello, you must be Madam Rong…”

The last few words didn’t make it out.

The woman quickened her pace, opened her arms, and pulled her into a tight embrace.

The hug was gentle yet unfamiliar—something she’d once longed for most but had never received.

Her throat clogged up.

She pressed her lips together tightly, hands hovering, unsure where to settle.

A warm dampness brushed against her neck, freezing Chen Jinyue’s entire body. After a few trembling seconds, her hesitant hands circled around the woman’s back.

She gave two light pats, offering comfort.

After a long moment, Lin Yunqing let go, her reddened eyes finally taking her in closely.

As if she wanted to etch her into her heart.

Chen Jinyue met those eyes that regarded her as a precious treasure, and unable to hold back, a single sentence slipped out.

“I thought you weren’t looking forward to seeing me.”

She’d guessed that her avoiding the entire Rong family and settling abroad alone was an attempt to start fresh in a new environment.

That even if she’d heard the news, she wouldn’t want to revisit the past?

Lin Yunqing shook her head, her voice catching slightly. “I’m sorry. I was too cowardly and avoided it, missing the most important news…”

After so many years of disappointment, she’d grown increasingly resistant to contacting the Rong family.

As if drawing a clear line would ease her heart a little.

But she’d never given up searching for her daughter—hiring people to help, even secretly visiting this city countless times herself.

After another letdown late last year, she hadn’t wanted to return for New Year’s Eve, so she buried herself in the lab, poring over data and cutting off all outside contact.

It was only last night that her son reached the institute’s assistant and personally told her about this.

“Can you tell me about your life these past years?”

She held her hand, guiding her to the booth to sit, her eyes filled with unconcealed heartache. “I came here every year, even visited nearby counties, but always came up empty-handed.”

Chen Jinyue looked at her with a faint flicker of surprise.

Neither Liang Chuyi nor the two elders of the Rong family had ever asked her this.

Before meeting her, they’d already dug up nearly all her information.

From childhood to adulthood.

Her career growth.

Perhaps their only questions were about her personality and preferences.

Lin Yunqing explained, “Files don’t feel as real as hearing it from you. I want to know you, to hear you talk about your growth.”

She wanted to empathize, to understand her childhood from her perspective.

“The birth date on my ID is over a week late, and I didn’t stay in the county town long. Once my adoptive parents found out they were pregnant, I was sent to the countryside…”

That threw their search completely off track.

They couldn’t even grasp the key points.

Chen Jinyue brushed over it lightly with a couple of sentences before changing the subject. “I heard you’re divorced and don’t often stay in the country—is that true?”

She didn’t want to dwell on unhappy memories right now, earning pitying, guilty looks.

So she took the initiative to ask about the other’s situation…

Rong Xingye, never great at small talk, watched the two embrace, feeling a rare stir of emotion.

He tamped down the surge of feelings and quietly observed Chen Jinyue.

Listening as she spoke about her childhood.

But he hadn’t expected her to suddenly drop such a bombshell?

His parents’ relationship had always been a forbidden topic these years—even his grandparents tread carefully around it.

She was fearless.

“Not divorced.”

Lin Yunqing didn’t overthink it—if her daughter was curious, she’d answer. “Too many interests are tied up; divorce isn’t that simple. But without you, all that’s left between him and me are those entanglements.”

Rong Xingye: “???”

Suddenly, he felt entirely superfluous.

The mother-daughter vibe was noticeably warm.

It was clear to the naked eye—one eagerly asking to understand, the other answering every question openly.

By the end of dinner, Chen Jinyue had learned:

Her biological mother was incredible—a PhD in pharmacology with her own research institute and lab abroad.

It seemed she’d found a field she was genuinely interested in and wanted to pursue…

…

As the evening lights began to glow,

Rong Xingye drove the two back.

First dropping Chen Jinyue off at her villa.

The three said goodbye at the gate, watching her walk inside.

Only then did Rong Xingye turn to open the car door for her, testing the waters. “Shall I take you home?”

By “home,” he meant the Rong family’s place.

The Rong family had a residence in the provincial capital, and they’d all been staying there lately.

“No need—I’ve booked a hotel nearby.” Lin Yunqing gave him the address with complete ease.

Rong Xingye’s thin lips pressed together slightly as he got in and started the car.

Glancing at the backseat through the rearview mirror, he spoke softly. “Mom, now that Little Sister’s back, maybe you and Dad can try letting each other go.”

In his memory, his parents had loved each other.

Even been affectionate.

That accident had hurt everyone deeply.

It was as if anyone faring well was somehow guilty.

Lin Yunqing rolled down the window, letting the night breeze rush in. Even in late summer, the wind carried a wave of heat.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance. As Lin Yunqing stepped out, she seemed to remember something.

“How long is your leave this time?” She’d heard he was on break.

Rong Xingye paused, answering with a question. “Why?”

Lin Yunqing said, “Help me find a suitable spot—I want to register a research center here. Qiaolin isn’t familiar with domestic procedures, so I’ll need your help.”

Rong Xingye’s eyes lit up faintly. “You’re planning to stay in the country?”

Lin Yunqing nodded. “I want to be closer to your sister, and she seems interested too.”

Whether it was genuine interest or just a desire to know her, it was a good thing.

She was thinking of coming back…

“Great! Leave it to me!”

…

Chen Jinyue had been in a great mood these past couple of days.

With Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, she boosted employee benefits—beyond the usual mooncakes and fruit baskets, she added a shopping card for each person.

Worth one thousand.

The factory buzzed with excitement, the group chat flooded with “Thank you, Boss!” messages.

Chen Jinyue sent Manager Zhang and Wan Kui red envelopes of five thousand each.

After a moment’s thought, she sent one to Yu Jianing too.

Unlike the other two, Yu Jianing didn’t bother pretending to be busy at work—she replied instantly: 【 “Ahhhhhhh!! I love a boss who sends red envelopes out of the blue! Happy Mid-Autumn, Boss! Family reunion and prosperity to you!” 】

Chen Jinyue smiled. 【 “How’s the silkworm stock I asked for?” 】

Yu Jianing: 【 “It’s arriving at the warehouse this afternoon—I was just about to message you.” 】

Chen Jinyue: 【 “Good, I’ll pick it up this afternoon.” 】

Yu Jianing: 【 “The supplier asked if you want mulberry leaves too, Boss.” 】

Everyone in the supply chain was interconnected.

Seeing Yu Jianing buying in bulk, the supplier eagerly pitched their mulberry leaf supply.

Chen Jinyue had actually considered this.

The primitive tribes didn’t lack mulberry trees.

But long-term, with high demand, there was no guarantee supply would keep up…

Chen Jinyue: 【 “Keep their contact info for now—let’s see how things go later.” 】

Yu Jianing: 【 “Got it!” 】