Twenty-four stars
As the project delivery deadline approached again, Lin Tang started to come home late as expected.
A few days ago, he was able to sneak back in by getting through the access control, but tonight, Feng Chibai was sitting on the sofa, and only a small light was on in the room, and the light in the living room was out.
He looked at the time on the wall clock. It was almost eleven o'clock.
The phone screen was still stuck on the chat interface with Lin Tang. When I sent her a message at around 9 o'clock, she replied with "Right away." Then I sent her another message at 10 o'clock, but her profile picture said she was busy and forgot, and she never replied.
He tapped the phone case with his fingertips from time to time and was about to call her when the other end called first.
As soon as I picked up the phone, the person on the other end immediately said, "Your door is locked. What should I do?"
Feng Chibai stood up and walked to the window. His room wasn't exactly close to the main door, but he could vaguely glimpse a corner. Outside the main door, Lin Tang sat bored on the steps, and he couldn't see her expression.
He said calmly, "Climb over the wall and come in."
"Really?" Perhaps because his tone was so normal, the other party didn't think anything was wrong and even seemed eager to try. "Then I'll give it a try."
The courtyard wall wasn't particularly high, but it was almost as tall as her. A faint babbling sound came from the phone, and his gaze fixed on one spot, the corners of his lips curling up unconsciously.
After a moment, the person on the other side sighed breathlessly: "No, it's too high."
Feng Chibai naturally had no intention of letting her actually climb over the wall, so he replied, "Wait a moment."
He then hung up the phone, went downstairs, and called Butler Wang.
When they reached the first floor, Butler Wang just came out of his room. He looked at Feng Chibai with some embarrassment and said, "Third Young Master, it's not that I don't want to, but this rule was set by Elder Feng, and we can't go against his words."
Feng Chibai leaned nonchalantly against the wall, his gaze drifting to the outside of the gate. He said slowly, "Ah, that's a bit bad. I wonder what Grandpa would think if he woke up tomorrow morning and found out that his precious daughter-in-law had been locked outside all night."
Butler Wang: “…”
Having been with the old man for many years, he can be said to have some understanding of the old man's temperament.
Rules are dead, but people are alive, so rules are also alive.
So he nodded quickly, said "oh", and went back into the house to get the key.
When the door was opened, their eyes simultaneously fell on Lin Tang, who was sitting back on the steps and playing Candy Crush nonchalantly.
Hearing the noise, Lin Tang turned back. Feng Chibai was walking towards her. He took her bag and said, "Let's go."
When passing by Butler Wang, Lin Tang stopped and said, "Thank you, Butler Wang."
Steward Wang waved his hand hurriedly: "As I should."
He should thank her for saving his job.
But when they walked into the living room, they suddenly saw one more person in the huge space. Feng Siru was leaning against the escalator, watching the people who came in leisurely.
Her lips were thinly lined, not noticeably curved. She took a few steps closer to the group, her voice sharp but deliberately suppressed: "Why are you back so late, Third Brother?"
After asking casually, he turned his attention to Butler Wang: "How do you do things, Butler Wang? Have you forgotten Grandpa's rules?"
Butler Wang's heart trembled, his job was in jeopardy again. He was about to speak tremblingly, but Feng Chibai explained first, "Occasionally, there are special circumstances. Does Second Sister have to take it into account?"
It was rare to catch such a small trick, so Feng Siru refused to let go: "There are many special cases on weekdays, why do you have to break the rules today?"
Seeing the situation, Lin Tang stood in front of Feng Chibai and confessed, "I am wrong and I admit it. It has nothing to do with him and Butler Wang. I will go and explain it clearly to Grandpa tomorrow morning. Thank you, Second Sister, for reminding me."
Feng Siru narrowed her eyes slightly. She had thought they were both there together, but it seemed that only Lin Tang was late. She knew what this meant. The old man favored her, and since she wasn't a member of the Feng family after all, the old man would at most just give her a few verbal scoldings and wouldn't really punish Lin Tang.
Unable to gain any benefits, she quickly changed her words and said with a smile, "I'm not deliberately making things difficult for my sister-in-law, but after all, our family has its own rules. My sister-in-law should still adapt to it."
After a brief reminder, she turned and went upstairs.
After she disappeared from sight, the two of them returned to the room.
Lin Tang took her bag from him and instinctively moved to put it on a table. Suddenly, she noticed she had never seen this table before. She turned to Feng Chibai and asked, "Why is there another table? Was it delivered today?"
Feng Chibai hummed, but didn't continue the conversation. He walked closer to her and said, "You don't have to tell the old man about this tomorrow."
After all, if it were her, Feng Siru wouldn't file a complaint. Even if she did, the old man would remain indifferent.
But Lin Tang refused: "No, I have to keep my word. Besides, if this matter is ever brought up again, then Steward Wang will be in trouble."
On the surface, he was also half an accomplice. As fellow workers, he could understand them best, so why should he make things difficult for them?
"Don't worry, I won't implicate you." Perhaps worried that he might have concerns, she added.
Feng Chibai didn't respond and walked to the sofa and sat down.
After Lin Tang simply packed up his things, he also came up to him and asked, "But I'm still curious, how did you convince Butler Wang to open the door?"
Feng Chibai's eyes were calm. He folded his arms and looked at her, saying word by word, "I said, if you don't open the door, you'll kick it down and disturb everyone."
Lin Tang's expression changed, as if she was deeply reprimanded for something that tarnished her image. However, because he had indeed helped her, she could only grit her teeth and swallow her anger. "...Butler Wang is truly understanding."
She glared at him, then went into the bathroom with her pajamas in her arms without looking back.
Because of this, Lin Tang set a series of alarms, fearing that he would get up late, but Feng Siru exaggerated and changed them.
After having breakfast with the old man, I followed him to the study and told him what happened last night.
Although she made some changes herself and used the excuse that she came back late and wanted to climb over the wall to get in, Butler Wang and Feng Chibai were afraid that she would get hurt, so they opened the door and let her in.
When she mentioned climbing over the wall, the old man frowned, disapproving of the idea. But after all, there were reasons for everything, and he understood. He told Lin Tang, "Xiao Tang, I know you're busy at the institute. Next time, if you're delayed, just send me a message in advance. I'll have Butler Wang hold the door open for you. Climbing over the wall is too dangerous, you know."
Lin Tang nodded obediently. The old man chatted with her for a few more words and didn't say anything harsh before letting her go.
After coming out of the study, she ran into Feng Yunjing.
Not understanding the reason, he thought she was forced to go over by the old man, and asked worriedly, "Did you get caught doing something wrong?"
Lin Tang didn't hide it: "Yes."
"Then you're really unlucky." He lowered his voice and followed her footsteps. "Next time, ask me to go with you. I have more experience."
Lin Tang let out a breath, and when he raised his eyes, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Feng Chibai standing at the corner of the stairs.
He glanced at the two of them, finally stopping at Feng Yunjing, and coldly reminded him, "Fourth brother, it seems you shouldn't bother yourself with this kind of thing."
Lin Tang paused, quickening his pace to approach him. The next second, he covered his mouth and whispered, "If you say another word, I'll kick you first."
On the way to the institute, there was silence in the car for a while. When they were near the institute, Feng Chibai asked, "What did you say?"
Knowing he was referring to the conversation with the old man in the study, she replied, "Nothing much. Your grandfather is a very nice person."
Feng Chibai was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "If you can't come back tonight, send me a message before ten o'clock."
"What's the point of sending a message?" Will she come back after sending it? Besides, shouldn't she send it to the old man?
The next second, I heard the person next to me reply: "I'm going out."
"Why are you going out?"
"Let's live outside together."
Lin Tang was stunned for a moment, then realized what he had said and raised his eyebrows: "Then I'm quite embarrassed to make you run back and forth."
Feng Chibai looked at her with interest, and said slowly, "A few days ago, I just mistakenly called her Miss Lin, and you started scolding me. How come you are so picky now?"
Lin Tang choked: "..."
He didn't say another word until he reached the entrance of the institute.
*
In early June, an auction was held in the exhibition hall.
That night, the old man specifically asked Feng Chibai to bring Lin Tang along. Although the two had been married for quite some time, they still hadn't held a wedding. The old man felt that he owed something. In addition, he had heard some inside information that the auction would only feature "Hebi Suizhu" (a type of pearl with a jade texture) and wanted Lin Tang to pick out the ones he liked.
Lin Tang refused at first, but the old man repeatedly told her to relax, saying that the Feng family was very wealthy and any news that the media photographed or mentioned her would be bought.
Unable to resist the old man's enthusiasm, Lin Tang got into Feng Chibai's car to the exhibition hall as soon as he got off work.
There were no fixed seats in the exhibition hall, so the two of them chose a seat near the side. There were a lot of people at the auction, and Lin Tang felt a little cramped and depressed.
In addition, I had just got off work and my mind was still a little tired. After taking a few deep breaths, I opened the Candy Crush game and played it without paying any attention to what the host on the stage was shouting.
When an item came out for auction, Feng Chibai grabbed Lin Tang's hand, motioned her to look up, and asked casually, "Do you want this?"
Lin Tang waved his hand and replied casually: "No need."
Another incident happened, and Feng Chibai asked the same question again, and got the same answer.
Seeing that she was enjoying the game, Feng Chibai covered her screen for no reason.
Lin Tang frowned immediately: "What are you doing?"
Feng Chibai coughed lightly, his expression looking a little off, but he tried hard to suppress the faint discomfort that was rising up, and lightly reminded, "I have a task to report to."
After all, this is a task assigned by the old man. Although I don’t have to buy them all with a wave of my hand, it seems unreasonable not to buy one.
Lin Tang wasn't one to be unreasonable, so he simply quit the game and started watching it carefully. But after just a few seconds, his thoughts suddenly wandered to something else, and he asked curiously, "Hey, do you know how to do that?"
She didn't know much about it, having only stumbled across it online. She tried to recall: "What's it called? Oh, lighting a sky lantern."
Feng Chibai raised his eyebrows and looked at her expressionlessly. After a moment, he suddenly said, "Pick one."
"What?"
Feng Chibai raised his lips slightly, his brows and eyes clear and handsome: "Isn't it about lighting a sky lantern?"
Lin Tang immediately reached out and held down his hand holding the sign, stopping him: "I was joking. This is considered joint property of the couple. I feel bad about the money."
Although the contract clearly stated that the property under the names of the couple after marriage would belong only to the individuals, Lin Tang had long forgotten about it and only took what he remembered.
She looked around, feeling extremely depressed, and whispered to Feng Chibai, "You can have fun first. I'm going to go out for a while."
Without waiting for his answer, she pulled over and slipped out through the back door.
There were few people outside, and Lin Tang suddenly felt her breathing easier. She walked to the lounge area, ordered a small cake and a cup of coffee, and sat alone on the lounge chair to continue playing the paused game of Candy Crush.
Suddenly, a person sat down opposite.
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