A slight twitch appeared between his brows as Kong Chengyi let out a cold snort. "What position does she hold at Cheng Shaobai's company?"
"There have to be benefits to spilling the beans!" Throwing her phone casually under the pillow, Kong Huan scrambled up with a bit of a coaxing smile. "If I tell you, will you let me keep my job? If I stay at the Cheng family mansion, I can see Sister Hua every day, and you know… I must know a lot…" She deliberately dragged out the last words, ambiguously hinting that what she knows concerns Hua Lianxi, waiting for Kong Chengyi's nod.
"Depends on whether what you know is worth it!" He reached out to ruffle Kong Huan's already messy hair, a faint smile tugging at his lips, without immediately agreeing to her terms.
"Old fox!" Frustrated, Kong Huan scoffed but ended up detailing the company's affairs bit by bit. Most of what she said was eyewitness accounts of Cheng Shaobai's care and unmistakable affection for Hua Lianxi, with some embellishments added for effect. Watching Kong Chengyi's sharpened features, she smirked quietly to herself.
Kong Huan rambled on for more than an hour before running out of steam and finishing her report. Throughout, Kong Chengyi listened silently with a cold expression. Even after leaving her room, he didn't say a word—despite Kong Huan yelling behind him to retract his order that she quit.
Having not stayed in a Kong family room for some time, Kong Chengyi pushed open the door. The dim room reminded him of the shadowy Xiaoyue Residence. Pausing, he realized it had been a while since he last visited Xiaoyue—almost as if it had been sealed away.
Opening the wardrobe, his eyes caught a conservative pink cotton pajama set. He stared for a few seconds before reaching for the gray robe beside it.
Tilting his head up, eyes narrowed, he stood under the shower letting the icy water cascade down. His mind replayed Kong Huan's description of Hua Lianxi's every smile and frown in front of Cheng Shaobai—as if she truly received boundless affection there. Oddly, hearing this stirred an inexplicable irritation and anger within him. Suddenly, he recalled the day she defiantly poured warm water on Puran—full of stubborn pride—as if that was her truest self. And this version of her seemed something he was seeing for the first time.
After stewing under the cold shower for a full half hour, Kong Chengyi left the bathroom and grabbed a bottle of fine red wine from the cabinet. Lighting a cigarette, he drank silently alone until fatigue finally claimed him around three or four in the morning. He woke at eight or nine, disheveled beneath the sheets, vaguely recalling a passionate dream—one filled with the radiant smile of Hua Lianxi—which left him utterly embarrassed.
Throwing back the covers heavily, Kong Chengyi raised his hand and smashed the ashtray on the bedside table onto the floor with a loud crash. Crystals of shattered glass littered the floor, but he ignored them and headed straight to the bathroom.
The entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows gleamed against the bright blue sky. Inside the large office, silence was absolute except for faint breathing. Long, knobby fingers released curling smoke upward.
Leaning lazily in the swivel chair, Kong Chengyi supported his forehead with one hand and skillfully exhaled smoke, eyes slightly narrowed as he watched the smoke curl. He remained in this trance-like state all morning, even canceling a scheduled business department meeting without explanation.
A crisp knock sounded at the door. Polished leather shoes paused at the threshold as Kong Chengyi spun his chair toward the door.
About a minute later, the heavy office door swung open. Ke Jie stepped in briskly. "President, Miss Ding Jia has arrived. She's waiting in the reception room. She said your phone was off!"
Kong Chengyi tilted his head slightly, his hoarse voice replying, "Let her come in." Then he stubbed out his cigarette.
Wearing chic short shorts and long boots, paired with a loose knit sweater, Ding Jia walked in, occasionally checking her makeup with a mirror before reaching to push open Kong Chengyi's office door. She softly called out, "Yi!"
Unexpectedly, Kong Chengyi stood right at the door. As she stepped in, he immediately looped an arm around her slender waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace.
Startled but delighted, Ding Jia wrapped her arms around Kong Chengyi and raised her face to plant a kiss on his lips. Brightly, she called out, "Yi!"
She had returned home alone last night, unable to sleep all night with her eyes open. Finally, she decided she couldn't passively wait for Kong Chengyi to come to her; she needed to take the initiative and appear in his life herself. So early that morning, she sneaked out—enjoying a spa at a beauty salon, having a professional makeup artist do her makeup, and diving into a clothing store. Refreshed, she took a taxi straight to Chengzai Group. If Ke Jie hadn't stopped her, she would have surprised him right then and there.
"Why are you here? Not feeling well?" Kong Chengyi's long fingers gently brushed through her soft hair. Bowing his head, he caught the faint fresh scent of shampoo, which slightly eased his previous irritation.
"I missed you so much I couldn't sleep last night because you didn't come back!" She coyly pressed closer to him, boldly pulling his hand to rest on her chest. "Hear that? My heart is saying it misses you!"
Her palm pressed against a soft swell, but Kong Chengyi made no movement. Instead, he gathered her in his arms and headed out. "What do you want to eat? I'll take you."
Noticing his hand pulling away coldly, uninterested even in her touch, a wave of frustration surged in Ding Jia's heart. Yet she maintained a sweet smile. "Anything's fine, as long as you eat with me!" As long as she could stick close to him, what they ate didn't matter. But she thought she could no longer let him ignore her or avoid physical contact. The most dangerous thing was a man who no longer desired his own woman.
Kong Chengyi did not take Ding Jia to the Chengzai Hotel but instead chose a French restaurant far from the company. During the drive, he personally called the restaurant manager to confirm the order.
Seated in the passenger seat, Ding Jia smiled sweetly at him as he drove.
"I'm so happy to be with you!" When the traffic light turned red, Ding Jia unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned over, and planted a kiss on Kong Chengyi's cheek. Shyly, she linked her arm through his, tilting her head up, eyes shining with admiration and happiness.
This man, famous throughout the city and so handsome, belonged to her. Ding Jia truly felt lucky, almost as if wanting to announce her status to the whole world.
Lowering his eyes to look at her admiring gaze, Kong Chengyi bowed his head slightly and gently kissed her forehead. "Ding Ding…"
"Hm?" Long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, cheeks blushing shyly. Ding Jia eagerly awaited another kiss, praying silently for him to lean down again.
Smiling slightly, Kong Chengyi made no further intimate moves. Seeing the green light up ahead, his rich voice rang out clearly in the confined car space: "Buckle up!"
Denied any affectionate gestures or tender words, Ding Jia's expression froze, the blush instantly fading. Sullenly, she buckled her seatbelt again and sat upright.
While driving, Kong Chengyi caught sight of her displeased face. He gripped the steering wheel with one hand and took hers in the other, their fingers intertwining.
Surprised by his gesture, Ding Jia turned toward him, then smiled brightly. The sulking vanished without a trace.
They kept their fingers entwined all the way to the restaurant. Ding Jia's face remained radiant with smiles, occasionally rising on tiptoes to plant a kiss on Kong Chengyi's cheek. He never stopped her.
Delighted that he did not resist such public displays of affection, Ding Jia's heart secretly bloomed with joy, thinking that her earlier irritation at work must have been an illusion.
The restaurant manager was waiting at the door. Upon seeing Kong Chengyi, he respectfully approached, discreetly glancing at Ding Jia.
In front of the manager, Ding Jia summoned courage and quickly kissed Kong Chengyi's cheek. Then, bashfully lowering her head, she stole a sideways glance at the manager, clearly asserting her status.
Leading them respectfully to the private room, the manager noticed their intimacy and figured she must be the Ding Jia the media had been buzzing about—Kong Chengyi's current girlfriend. He quietly committed her appearance to memory to avoid any future neglect.
Just as they entered the long corridor, someone approaching made Kong Chengyi stop in his tracks. His sharp eyes darkened with cold light.
Ding Jia, looking down, stopped with him. She lifted her head, about to ask what was wrong, but saw Lin Xiao and a middle-aged man approaching, apparently leaving the restaurant after their meal.
"Auntie, what a coincidence!" Ding Jia raised her face, offering a sweet smile. Before Lin Xiao noticed them, she cheerfully called out, "Are you here to dine as well?"
Originally whispering softly to the man beside her, Lin Xiao's face stiffened noticeably and her steps halted heavily. She looked awkwardly at Kong Chengyi.
Squinting, Kong Chengyi stared coldly at Lin Xiao, then pulled Ding Jia into his arms and turned away. "Let's change restaurants."
"Chengyi!" Lin Xiao froze for a few seconds but quickly hurried after him. "Chengyi, wait, Mom, wait…"
"Lin Xiao…" Gu Feng also hurried after them, softly calling to Lin Xiao, who was already caught up in anxious thoughts.
"Yi, Auntie is calling you!" Held tightly, Ding Jia kept glancing back at Lin Xiao, seeing her rushing in heels, a far cry from her usual poise and grace. Doubt swirled deeply in her heart.
"Kong Chengyi, wait for your mother!" Gu Feng intercepted Kong Chengyi first, pleading in a low voice for him to stop, while constantly looking back toward Lin Xiao.
"Waited on by the president of the Xing Weekly and then stopped to wait for my mother? President Gu really cares about my mother!" Kong Chengyi's gaze sharpened fiercely, his face cold.
Their intertwined fingers tightened noticeably; Ding Jia felt as if her fingertips might be crushed. Yet her heart fluttered at Kong Chengyi's words. In an instant, she seemed to understand something and narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully studying the middle-aged man before her.