The warm morning sunlight bathed the spacious balcony of the Cheng family mansion, where three or four tables were set up. A few colleagues leisurely enjoyed various breakfasts, while Hua Lianxi sat alone at a corner table, with only a plain glass of water before her.
Her slender fingers rested on the rim of the cup, idly swirling it. Raising her eyes to the distant horizon below, her thoughts gradually drifted away.
"Sister Hua!" Suddenly, a crisp voice broke through her reverie, pulling Hua Lianxi back from her endless wandering.
"I bought your favorite tiramisu!" Holding up a pink box, Kong Huan slid back her chair and plopped down. "I also got one for Sister Cheng Yi; she'll be here soon!" As she spoke, Kong Huan opened the box, revealing small portions of tiramisu.
Lowering her gaze to look at the tiramisu, Hua Lianxi suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, as if a wave of emotion rose to her throat. She reached out and pushed the box slightly away, taking a deep breath. "I think I ate too much for breakfast just now. I'm still full—can't eat dessert!" Quietly scooting her chair back, she distanced herself further from the table, no longer looking at the tiramisu.
"Well then, I'll put it in the fridge in the break room. If you get hungry later, you can have it!" Smiling brightly, Kong Huan took out two pieces—for herself and Cheng Yi—before closing the box again.
Holding her breath, Hua Lianxi adjusted her breathing slightly, then stood up with the cup in hand. "No, my stomach isn't feeling well today; I'm afraid to eat cold things. You guys go ahead; don't save any for me!" She refused repeatedly and began to step away toward the office.
Surprised, Kong Huan looked up at her, feeling something was off. "Cheng Yi said tiramisu was your favorite. Are you really not going to eat it? Can you resist its temptation?" She had said it was her favorite, so why now wouldn't she even glance at it?
Pouting, Kong Huan felt her efforts were completely wasted—Hua Lianxi was not appreciating her thoughtfulness at all.
Just as Hua Lianxi was about to leave, seeing Kong Huan's saddened face, she sighed helplessly. "Today I really can't eat it; it's not that I'm refusing your gift on purpose. What kind of thoughts are going through your head?!"
"Hmph. You won't even eat what I bought for you. You just don't want anything to do with our Kong family. Grandma's lying in the hospital and still thinking about you!" Suddenly her eyes reddened and lips pressed tight; if not for the other colleagues around, she might have already burst into tears.
"Grandma? How is she recently?" After a moment's hesitation, Hua Lianxi spoke softly, initially intending to feign indifference—it was all unrelated to her anyway.
She wasn't sure if her concern was unnecessary, or if Fang Xiufang was still resentful of her, hating her and unwilling to see or hear about her.
"Hmph!" Sniffling, Kong Huan pursed her lips. "Grandma's still in the hospital! She's always thinking about her granddaughter-in-law, but the granddaughter-in-law never visits. She's almost lovesick!" Since reuniting with Hua Lianxi and becoming friends at the Cheng family mansion, every time she visited Fang Xiufang at the hospital, Kong Huan subtly mentioned work matters—especially revealing news about Hua Lianxi—and carefully observed her reactions. Over time, she realized Fang Xiufang truly missed Hua Lianxi, even pleaded for her to treat Hua Lianxi well, sighing that she was such a suffering child.
A soft giggle escaped Hua Lianxi as she propped one hand on the chair's back and clasped the cup with the other. "Do you know what lovesickness means? You're making an old lady lovesick—what are you doing?"
Narrowing her eyes, Kong Huan was displeased with Hua Lianxi's lightheartedness, as though she didn't take Grandma seriously.
"You're the one being unreasonable—just because she misses someone doesn't mean she should be ignored! Doesn't care if she recovers or not!"
"My mom doesn't want to see me. If I show up, I might get kicked out. And your brother doesn't want to see me either!" The smile vanished instantly from her eyes, replaced by deep sorrow, and her tone grew heavy.
Kong Huan, who had been angry moments before, bit her lip, regretting her own immaturity. It was as if her words had opened a wound, causing someone who had just brightened to sink into sadness.
"I usually visit Grandma during lunch breaks. Mom and brother don't go. Why don't you come with me at noon? Grandma really does think about you; she's not angry!" After thinking it over, Kong Huan again clarified Fang Xiufang's feelings toward Hua Lianxi, repeatedly assuring she was truly concerned, not upset.
"Is that appropriate? Right now, I'm still an outsider. Disturbing her might not be good. As long as she's well and recovers quickly, that's enough!" After several seconds of thought, Hua Lianxi refused Kong Huan's invitation, steeling herself not to care about Fang Xiufang.
"Sister Hua!" Stomping her foot, Kong Huan grew anxious. "Just think of her as an ordinary old lady who's been lying in the hospital a long time and just wants to see the people she cares about! Besides, hasn't she always loved you? Such a loving elder relative, and you just ignore her? Don't you know the elderly in hospital beds are very fragile and need lots of care and attention?" To persuade her, Kong Huan really pulled out all the stops.
"Are you sure no one else will be there then?" Furrowing her brows, Hua Lianxi hesitated before asking again, emphasizing she didn't want to be embarrassed in front of others, since once boundaries were set, she wouldn't give anyone a chance to hurt her. "Kong Huan, you know I don't want anything to do with your family, nor do I want to cause misunderstandings!"
Kong Chengyi was skilled at hurting her in the simplest ways, and if she approached Fang Xiufang, she couldn't predict whether he would arrogantly think she was after something.
"Absolutely, I promise!" Kong Huan raised her right hand, vowing repeatedly with a bright smile.
"What's wrong? Did you do something to upset Xi Xi? Swearing like that?" Cheng Yi finally arrived, dark circles under her eyes, holding a cup of coffee.
"Let's talk at lunch—I'm heading back to the office!" Without answering Cheng Yi's question, Hua Lianxi turned and left.
"Xi Xi, let's talk!" Quickly reaching out to grab her, Cheng Yi wanted to clear up the mystery in her heart.
"Why would Ran Fang threaten you? Did he know you before? How long ago? Why didn't I know?" Why had Ran Fang been chasing Hua Lianxi repeatedly, yet her best friend knew nothing about their acquaintance or any connection?
"Yi Yi, I'm sorry, I can't tell you!" Suddenly hesitant, a veil of doubt appeared in Hua Lianxi's clear eyes. She paused before continuing, "You can take on his contract. There's no need to give up a money-making opportunity just because of me!" She felt it unnecessary to lose a client over their relationship, and there was no need to care about anything Ran Fang did, as long as she wasn't involved.
They were strangers unrelated, distant as the horizon, and should have no ties.
Realizing it was a secret she couldn't reveal, Cheng Yi slowly relaxed her grip on Hua Lianxi's hand, feeling a pain in her chest, sensing it was a big secret.
"Xi Xi, can't I say anything? I..." Hesitating, Cheng Yi's rising words stuck in her throat. If Hua Lianxi needed to be honest, did that mean she did too?
"Ran Fang? What about my cousin? Sister Hua, did he come looking for you? Could it be that idiot brother of mine caused him to lose it?" Since childhood, Ran Fang had loved to follow Kong Chengyi's orders and cause trouble outside, so perhaps it was the same now.
"Maybe you can help Cheng Yi—you know Ran Fang better. I'm going now!" Smiling faintly, Hua Lianxi ignored the two and briskly left the increasingly noisy balcony.
At lunch break, Kong Huan immediately pulled Hua Lianxi out of the company and drove her to the hospital.
"Kong Huan, let me buy some fruit for Grandma first. Can't just visit empty-handed!" She had been busy all morning at the company and hadn't expected Kong Huan to rush straight to the hospital, not even giving her a chance to get out mid-way.
"Grandma can't eat fruit—it just sits there for days and goes to waste!" Without argument, Kong Huan linked arms with Hua Lianxi and stepped into the elevator, afraid she might change her mind.
"Besides, Grandma is hungry waiting for us to eat. I've already arranged for the hotel manager to send her meals!"
Having no choice, Hua Lianxi was pushed forward all the way. When they reached the ward, Kong Huan didn't even knock but pushed the door open.
"Grandma, look who's here?!" Excitedly, Kong Huan shoved Hua Lianxi ahead. "Sister Hua is visiting officially!"
"Hello, how's your recovery going?" Pushed to the front, Hua Lianxi smiled politely, lowering her head slightly to greet Fang Xiufang. Her body trembled, fearing a sharp rebuke.
"Old bones—it's hard lying in bed for so long!" Reclining slightly, Fang Xiufang's cloudy eyes were warm with a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry!" Still with her head bowed, Hua Lianxi bit her lip and finally apologized in person. Waves of regret and sorrow welled up as she blamed herself for all the suffering Fang Xiufang endured.
"Apologize without looking up? Raise your head and let Grandma see you!" Fang Xiufang frowned at her lowered attitude and pointed at Kong Huan. "Raise the bed; I want to sit up!"
Tears big as beans fell drop by drop. Hua Lianxi finally looked up, face wet with tears. "I'm sorry for causing you pain. It's all my fault—I owe you an apology!"
"You caused me pain and didn't come to see me? But now here you are, still well in bed. As long as you visit this old lady often, I'll happily recover every day and get better soon!" Fang Xiufang reached out her right hand, full of hope.
Hurriedly stepping forward, Hua Lianxi grasped the waxy yellow hand tightly. "Madam, you must get well!"
"Now Grandma doesn't even want you? I don't care what kind of relationship you have with that brat—anyway, I'm your grandma, and from now on, you have to visit me often!" Fang Xiufang glared in dissatisfaction at Hua Lianxi's distant form of address and immediately corrected her.
"Why have you lost so much weight? Huanhuan, has she been skipping meals every day? You haven't been supervising properly!" Carefully examining Hua Lianxi's face, Fang Xiufang indeed thought she had become thinner, her cheeks sharper. She then glared at Kong Huan.