The persistent drizzle, like silk threads, continued unabated under the somber, gray sky, a week-long rain that had enveloped the entire city.
Catherine watched the rain streaks outside the car window with annoyance, but what made her even more irritable was that the Feng couple had not yet departed back to Country Y.
The private chauffeur opened the car door, and Catherine stepped out of the vehicle with a frown, her high heels clicking as she strode towards the hotel entrance.
With a soft ding, the elevator arrived at their floor. Catherine, with a clear objective, walked towards the Feng couple's room, only to find the door ajar.
"Dad, Mom, why didn't you close the door?"
Catherine asked casually. What greeted her eyes were neatly packed suitcases, stacked orderly by the door, the bed slightly disheveled with hotel pajamas placed upon it.
"Xiao Lin, why are you here today?"
Song Lijun hadn't expected Catherine's visit and smiled a little awkwardly. She was looking in the mirror, checking her attire.
Feng Zhenhua also looked as if he were about to leave, sitting on the sofa, waiting for Song Lijun.
Catherine observed the room with a hint of confusion. Upon confirming the Feng couple's travel attire, her heart began to pound with excitement in her chest.
She had planned to make a special trip to persuade her parents to return to Country Y sooner, never expecting them to be ready to leave on their own!
"Dad, Mom, you're going back to Country Y, and you didn't even tell me." Catherine suppressed her joy, linking her arm through Song Lijun's, and nuzzled her shoulder affectionately.
"We just saw how busy you are at the company all day, and we didn't want to disturb you," Song Lijun patted Catherine's back, consoling her.
Seeing Catherine, Feng Zhenhua's smile widened. He nodded.
"That's right, you're ambitious. Mom and Dad support you."
A flicker of warmth arose within Catherine. Looking at the sincere faces of her parents, she sighed inwardly.
If only they could always be like this! She wouldn't need to search for her birth parents; they would be enough. But alas, they insisted on finding Wei Yumeng!
"Compared to you, nothing is more important," Catherine acted like a spoiled little girl in front of the Fengs. "I happened to drive over, why don't I take you to the airport?"
If she personally took her parents to the airport and watched them board their flight back to Country Y, only then could she truly feel at ease.
"We're not in a hurry to leave yet. We still want to pay a visit to Madam Zhan," Feng Zhenhua shook his head, his smile now more pronounced. He was dressed particularly smartly today.
This statement plunged Catherine into an abyss of cold. She froze for a long moment, looking at the two meticulously dressed individuals, and blurted out two words.
"What?"
"Xiao Lin, how do you think this necklace looks? Does it really match today's dress?"
Song Lijun, oblivious to Catherine's peculiar emotions, twirled in front of the mirror, touching the necklace around her neck. She frowned, seemingly dissatisfied.
"You've been picking for ages. Just wear this one; I don't see any difference," Feng Zhenhua grumbled softly, his right leg twitching involuntarily.
Catherine noticed this. Feng Zhenhua's right leg suffered from rheumatism, and whenever he was anxious, it would rhythmically twitch.
This little secret was known only to Catherine in the Feng family, and even Feng Zhenhua himself hadn't noticed it.
"Hey! When you were rummaging through the drawers for a tie this morning, you knocked over my foundation! Did I say anything?"
Song Lijun placed her hands on her hips, her demeanor matching Feng Zhenhua's. They bickered like primary school children.
"I'll buy you another one... Don't be so fierce."
Feng Zhenhua knew he was in the wrong and cleared his throat weakly. His right leg twitched even more violently.
Upon hearing the word "fierce," Song Lijun raised her eyebrows. She lifted the hem of her skirt and strode towards Feng Zhenhua, glaring at him.
"Feng Zhenhua, you dare say I'm fierce? How am I fierce?"
"I misspoke. Can you not be angry?"
Feng Zhenhua quickly admitted his mistake, put his arm around Song Lijun, and patiently coaxed her.
This was a scene that frequently unfolded in the opulent Feng villa when they were in Country Y.
Catherine used to find it amusing, but now, it was like a bloody knife being twisted in her heart.
Everything the Feng couple was doing was to see Wei Yumeng...
What was so special about that Wei Yumeng, who was as naive as a hothouse flower, unaware of her own lineage? Why did they insist on finding her?
Only she herself could shoulder everything for the Fengs. That woman was only fit to live a quiet life under the protection of the Zhan family!
"Why do you want to see Madam Zhan?"
Catherine clutched her aching chest and couldn't help but ask the Feng couple.
Before her words were even fully spoken, all three people in the room froze. Catherine came to her senses, her eyes filled with anticipation and panic as she looked at the Feng couple.
"Yes, that's right. The child looks very well-behaved, and she was the first person we met when we arrived here. Since we're leaving, we thought we'd say hello..."
Song Lijun responded to Catherine with an unnatural expression, casting a pleading glance at Feng Zhenhua beside her.
"Yes, your mother and I thought the same. Besides, the Zhan family has helped you a lot in business. It's only proper for us to go and see them."
Feng Zhenhua subtly squeezed Song Lijun's hand, signaling her not to slip up, and explained to Catherine with feigned composure.
It was too late. What they didn't realize was that the girl they had personally raised was not only cunning but also adept at seeing through people.
Most importantly, Catherine already knew the truth about her lineage.
She looked at the couple in silence, and unconsciously, the distance between her and her parents seemed to grow further and further apart.
When did it start? It must have been after they met Wei Yumeng.
Catherine lowered her head, the bitterness and jealousy deep within her intensifying. She clenched her fists tightly, the ruthlessness in her eyes becoming increasingly apparent.
Every cell in her body screamed to replace Wei Yumeng and become the sole heir of the Fengs!
"Xiao Lin, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Song Lijun finally noticed Catherine's unease. She exchanged a worried glance with Feng Zhenhua and asked Catherine.
"No, I'm fine. Don't worry."
Catherine snapped back to reality. She looked up at the couple and smiled faintly.
"That's good. Your father and I are almost ready. We're going to the hospital to see Madam Zhan. You should go back to the company and get busy."
Song Lijun breathed a sigh of relief. She affectionately tidied Catherine's hair, her face beaming with a smile.
To Catherine, however, that smile was particularly glaring.
"Dad, Mom, you shouldn't go."
Catherine suddenly grabbed Song Lijun's hand, a flicker of fierceness in her eyes. She leisurely looked at their carefully chosen outfits and spoke, her voice urging them.