"Grandma, do you really think I'm Hua Jie's nanny? Besides, I only see her at the company; I haven't even been to her new home. Her new place is quite something—they don't even let people visit!" Kong Huan said, eyes wide as she defended herself, recalling how Hua Lianxi forbade her from going to the house, and sneered sarcastically.
With tears in her eyes, Hua Lianxi let out a suppressed laugh at Kong Huan's exaggerated mockery and slowly sat down next to Fang Xiufang. "Grandma, thank you. Thank you for not being angry, and not hating me!" The warm, lively interaction between grandmother and granddaughter was full of love and affection. It moved Hua Lianxi deeply, finally allowing her to open her heart, no longer isolating herself from Fang Xiufang, and once again accepting their love.
"I may not interfere in matters between you young people, but Grandma truly likes you and knows you are sincere with her. Just for that, from now on, you're still my Xi Xi, and you must call me Grandma just like Kong Huan does!" Fang Xiufang dropped her exaggerated act, looking seriously at Hua Lianxi, reaffirming her stance and showing her genuine affection, putting Hua Lianxi completely at ease.
Reaching out gently to hug Fang Xiufang, Hua Lianxi blinked, tears glistening on her long eyelashes. Her dark eyes rolled upward, holding back her sobs as she tried not to let the tears fall. "Thank you so much, Grandma! Thank you for not abandoning me, for not judging me like everyone else! Thank you…" The tears she had stubbornly tried to hold back began to fall, pattering down her cheeks as she choked on her words.
In the chaotic and overwhelming news reports and magazines, all were condemnations of her materialism. They spared no effort digging into her mother's past, even condemning her with disdainful and judgmental tones. After learning the truth, Lin Xiao hated herself even more, and Kong Chengyi's single word, "dirty," cut her deeply.
Cheng Yi had always stood by her side. Kong Huan kindly accepted her. She never imagined Fang Xiufang would treat her this way; she thought all her sufferings were because of herself. But unexpectedly, Fang Xiufang cared for her like her own grandmother and was even willing to have her become her "real" granddaughter-in-law in the future.
"Oh dear, why are you crying? Grandma is fine! She'll recover soon! I'm so hungry, I'm growling—let's eat!" With moist eyes, Kong Huan blinked several times hard before shoving a handful of tissues into Hua Lianxi's hands, not wanting them to get too sentimental.
"Silly girl, if you have anything going forward, tell Grandma, and Grandma will definitely help you!" Fang Xiufang gently wiped away her tears, feeling a tightness in her chest. She thought Hua Lianxi was really pitiful—she'd suffered a lot.
"Xi Xi, from now on, you must often send Grandma soup, okay? I promise you won't have to face anyone you don't want to meet." Since waking up, Lin Xiao had been bombarding the hospital ward, strongly criticizing Hua Lianxi's recklessness and repeatedly emphasizing that Hua Lianxi must cut all ties with the Kong family. Moreover, according to Kong Huan's report, Hua Lianxi didn't even want to see Kong Chengyi and had clearly drawn a boundary with the Kong family.
"All right. As long as Grandma wants soup, I'll bring it. Just don't dislike it!" What precious soups did she not have? Just like now, the lunch she and Kong Huan had was already arranged like a five-star hotel feast—not a simple takeout at all.
"Then it's settled! You have to come often, come every time!" After Hua Lianxi's promise, Fang Xiufang smiled warmly and picked up her chopsticks, eating little bites.
"Grandma, how's your leg now?" Seeing Fang Xiufang slowly able to eat by herself, Hua Lianxi felt happy but also looked at her leg with worry. Due to a minor cerebral hemorrhage, the left side of her body was affected—her left leg could not move at first.
"Recovering quite well! Soon I'll be able to get out of bed and walk. Don't worry!" If it weren't for waiting to see her, she might have been discharged already. She could do rehab just as well at home. But she also knew that if she went back to the Kong family mansion, Hua Lianxi would never step foot in there—it was impossible for her to visit her like she was doing now.
After having lunch together in the ward, Hua Lianxi even personally cut fruit for Fang Xiufang and chatted with her. It was nearly two in the afternoon when she left the hospital with Kong Huan.
"See? Grandma is so happy to see you. Today her appetite was better than usual, she even ate fruit!" Kong Huan happily linked her arm with Hua Lianxi's, proudly showing off her gesture of bringing Hua Lianxi along.
"Does she usually eat little? How can she recover eating so little? Grandma should eat more!" Hua Lianxi smiled back at Kong Huan, feeling completely satisfied. It seemed that after meeting Fang Xiufang, she felt lighter and even walked more happily.
Early the next morning, she appeared at the company and conducted surprise inspections across departments. She quickly called business meetings with all departments, which continued until well past lunch. Kong Chengyi's dark face finally eased slightly before he dismissed the meeting.
He thought about how he hadn't visited Fang Xiufang for days and hadn't even had lunch before rushing to the hospital. Just after stepping out of the car, he pressed the key, hearing the car lock with a "click." He was about to head to the elevator when he overheard a familiar voice.
Frozen, he stopped walking and looked up, seeing her smiling radiantly, eyes sparkling with laughter.
"Yes, yes, I keep coaxing her to eat more, but she just won't. You have the real skill—look…" Kong Huan's clear voice trailed off. However, Kong Chengyi's dark eyes followed the departing figure until it disappeared from sight.
He had never seen such a bright and pure smile and such a fresh and simple demeanor didn't appear at Xiaoyue Residence either. This fresh simplicity was like a spring breeze gently stirring his heart, making him feel comforted.
"Hua Lianxi…" Kong Chengyi murmured softly in the empty underground parking lot before turning toward the elevator.
Knocking politely twice, Kong Chengyi opened the hospital room door to find Fang Xiufang half-reclined in bed, energetically watching TV.
"Why aren't you resting? Sleep first, then watch!" Sitting down beside her, Kong Chengyi noticed the cut fruit and tidied cutlery nearby—obviously, they had just had lunch together.
"I ate too much, can't sleep!" Fang Xiufang frowned at her grandson sitting beside her, refusing to buy his excuse. She was still sulking in her heart, thinking of how he had failed with that obedient girl, and now the relationship was breaking down. Her longtime hope for a chubby great-grandchild had gone up in smoke.
"I haven't eaten yet. I'm hungry!" Smiling, Kong Chengyi showed a rare childish side and pretended to be pitiful in front of Fang Xiufang.
Still staring at the TV, Fang Xiufang coldly replied, "If you're hungry, go eat. Don't stay here and spoil my mood!" She was getting grumpier by the minute and wanted to kick him out.
Raising an eyebrow, Kong Chengyi casually grabbed a piece of apple and took a bite. "Grandma, haven't missed me these days? Now you even want me to leave? Are you getting more and more hateful toward me?" Since being hospitalized, she never showed him a good face. He was annoyed, but happy. As long as she was healthy, he didn't want to explain anything.
"Hmph! You lost your chance for a great-grandchild, now even your granddaughter-in-law is gone. If I don't hate you, who else can I hate? I haven't even accounted for this yet! What nonsense is this?!" Fang Xiufang finally turned her head and scolded him fiercely.
Kong Chengyi picked a slice of apple and popped it into her grumbling mouth. He wiped his hands with a tissue and said, "We'll settle this when you get home. If you don't want me around, I'll leave now!"
"You rascal!" Fang Xiufang spat out her breath hard after taking the apple.
In the early hours, the mountain was quietly still. Ding Jia sat hugging her knees in the huge villa, eyes wide, anger boiling over.
Left alone in the villa, she had been told he would be working there but he'd gone back to the company. All day, she was alone in the spacious villa, without a single call.
If he hadn't returned her phone, she might have been cut off from the world, only finding out today that her parents had already returned. Coming back to her original home she found herself absent, and the Kong family's refusal to marry her kept her restless all day. Kong Chengyi's attitude made her anxious.
She jabbed her sharp fingertips hard into her palm, biting her lips until her fine features twisted with resentment, eyes filled with intense hatred.
Suddenly, a car approached, followed by steady footsteps. After several deep breaths, Ding Jia sprang up from the sofa, running barefoot toward the door.
As she opened it, the lovely figure leapt into her arms. Kong Chengyi frowned but still wrapped his arms around her.
"You're finally back! I was so scared! It's so quiet and dark here; I was afraid something would suddenly break in!" Ding Jia trembled and clung tightly to his strong waist, her voice shaking as she nestled into his embrace.
"It's safe here. I regularly have people patrol around. No dangerous animals will come in. As long as you stay inside, there's no danger!" Kong Chengyi lowered his head to kiss her forehead and gently reassured her. He didn't think such a beautiful mountain scene was dangerous at all.
"Wah… You left me here all alone, so of course I'm scared! I can't live here alone; I want to go back to the city!" Ding Jia tightened her arms and looked up at Kong Chengyi with tear-filled eyes, seemingly deeply mentally burdened.
"Be good, I'm here to keep you company now. Stay here and rest properly!" He only wanted her to recover, refusing to have her faint from excitement or stress.
"I'm fine. My body is good—I'm okay!" Pouting, she kissed Kong Chengyi's chin but kept insisting, "I'm scared being all alone here! Yi, I want to live at the Kong family mansion. It's bigger and better suited for my recovery. I promise I'll be good!" Since they didn't plan to marry her in, at least she wanted to live there. No matter what, she wouldn't be left outside again. Even without status, she wanted to bask in the Kong family's protection.
"That's where Grandma and my parents live. It's not appropriate for you to live there. Besides, too many people and noise wouldn't be good for your recovery!" Kong Chengyi held her and went to the sofa, firmly refusing without any softening or hiding his stance.
"No, I promise I won't be disturbed by others. I just want to spend more time with your parents—to let them know me better and clear up their misunderstandings. After all, we will be one family in the future!" Especially with Lin Xiao's attitude, she had to see her.