The next morning, in Feng Main Mansion.
"Ask the driver to prepare the car. It's already time for me to leave" Feng Yu Hao said to the butler while leisurely reading the newspaper. His expressions, having pride, seeing the headlines of the rise of Feng Internationals on the very front page of the sheet.
This was not new for him, most of the time he gets to read such articles in the newspapers and magazines. But every time he gets to read things like this, he could not help but feel a surge of pride in his heart.
"Yes, Master! I will go and ask the driver to prepare the car" The butler bowed politely and made his steps out to keep the arrangements ready as per the commands.
"Honey, are you going somewhere?" Suddenly a soft voice came from the staircase followed by the woman after. Zhen Qinrou walked down the stairs, with all soft features defining her face and smile plastered on her expressions.
The man gazed up with a smile but that smile did not reach his eyes. It had never been, in all these years. "Oh, that's not anything important. I was just visiting a school annual event as a chief guest. They invited me and since I was not busy, I accepted the invitation." He said as he folded back the paper and stood up to his height, ready to leave. "Oh, okay! I would make my move then" He said, bringing his wrist up to check the time.
Once said, he did not wait. Turning on his heels, he was about to walk out when suddenly heard the woman halting him from behind.
"Yu Hao!" Zhen Qinrou called out, before pacing herself to come in front of the man. Something has changed, she could feel it but could not put her fingers onto it. She looked at the man, trying to read something that she could feel was there but wasn't visible to her eyes. "Did something happen, Yu Hao? You seemed a little different"
She asked. Her brows, getting slightly wrinkled. Her hands got extended to reach the man to proper his jacket a little, but before she could even get to reach him, the man dodged her intention with a chuckle.
"Haha … Do I look more handsome than before?" he punned out, straightening his suit jacket himself. "What could I say, I always have the charms" He added more.
"Yu Hao, I am serious. Is there something?" The woman pressed on the topic more. Even the laughter which the man was showing at the front looked different, more and more distant. She felt like there was something ongoing around her that she was unaware of, otherwise, from the last two nights, the man would not have become this aloof and indifferent to her, same as he used to be before.
"What can be there, RuoRuo? Everything is fine. I am just visiting a school. What's so unusual about it?" Feng Yu Hao said out with utmost usualness, keeping his composure all normal. But he also knew well that no matter however he tries to conceal things, he would not be able to hide it well from the woman given to the years she has spent beside him, watching him out in every shade.
Zhen Qinrou stared at the man for some moment. Though she could see the man hiding something behind, she could not bring herself to probe him more. "You are going to the school as a chief guest, will you not ask me to come with you?" She said with a smile, giving light blushes to the man.
"You want to come with me. I thought you were again having some of your usual gatherings and you might not have time to accompany me, so I didn't ask you" The old man said nonchalantly, before looking back at his watch.
The woman pouted a little. "Even though I have gatherings, if you ask me out, I would cancel all of them just to spend my time with you. Didn't you know me this bit in all these years? I feel disappointed now."
The man chuckled at her words. "Silly, don't get disappointed now. We don't have time for that. Why not just go and get ready first? It's already time and being the chief guest, it won't look nice if we get there late" He said, making the woman purse her lips at him.
"Fine. Give me some time, I will get ready and come" Zhen Qinrou said, quickly moving her steps to act fast. Though she was not successful in probing her queries earlier, she would make sure to keep a keen eye on him from now on.
"RuoRuo, wait. Since it's getting late already, let's do this. You take your time in getting ready while I go first there. Once you reach, I will make someone go receive you" Feng Yu Hao suddenly suggested. It was already time and reaching late for anything was not his habit.
The woman sighed internally but then nodded, "Yes, I think that would only be suitable. You go first, I will come later". She said and the man did not wait before walking out.
What was this man up to? Zhen Qinrou eyes turned a little contemplative as she looked at the disappearing figure of the man from behind.
***
Soon Feng Yu Hao's car came to a halt inside Cygnus International School. Stepping out of the car he was soon greeted by the Principal and the other staff members.
"Mr Feng, we are really grateful that you took out some time from your busy schedule to visit our annual school event. It really means a lot. Please come with us". The lady Principal said, respectfully gesturing to the man to come inside.
Feng Yu Hao nodded and soon followed along with her. But right when he was about to take a turn to get inside the auditorium, his steps were interrupted due to the call. He paused to take his phone out.
Staring at the number calling him for a moment, he said, "Excuse me! I have to take this call."
"Sure, Mr Feng! You can take your time. We would wait here for you" The Principal said, before asking one of her staff to show the man a lone space to accept the call.
"Hello! Did you find anything about her", Feng Yu Hao asked, connecting the call the moment he was brought to the waiting room of the school. There was no one inside to look at him, so he did not hold back his emotions. Anxiousness all visible in his demeanour.
"Sir, as you have asked, I have investigated all well but there is nothing found. This could only say two things, either there is nothing as we have thought or someone has already been fast and active to wipe off everything, without leaving any traces behind", the man replied all politely on the call.
The old man's knuckles went pale as he fisted his fingers tight. But right then, suddenly he felt something soft touching his balled-up fist lightly.
"Mr Grandpa, are you upset about something?" a cherry soft voice asked out lightly, with a voice just above a whisper.