In the glaringly bright incandescent-lit room, the disheveled bed lay exposed without any cover.
Hua Lianxi, wrapped in a blanket, felt soreness all over her body, while the instigator was peacefully asleep with eyes closed, his hands habitually reaching out as if to pull her into his embrace.
Turning her head, she glared at the sleeping outline of Junyi, puffed her cheeks, and forcefully shook off his grasp. Anger filled her heart; the more she stared at his handsome sleeping face, the more unbearable her rage became. Suddenly, she gave his calf a sharp kick and wrapped herself in the blanket as she headed toward the bathroom, not caring about him lying there unguarded.
With slightly swollen, red eyes, she clearly saw the ambiguous marks all over her reflected in the full-length mirror. She reached out to touch the smooth glass, trying desperately to wipe away those conspicuous, regretful traces. However, no matter how hard she tried, the bright mirror still vividly revealed the marks on her body. Dejectedly, she let her hands drop and let the mirror expose all the ambiguous signs on her without concealment.
After a long while, Hua Lianxi snapped out of her daze, narrowing her eyes as she turned the faucet all the way to let the warm water fiercely wash over her.
He had clearly despised her and branded her as dirty—so why did she still so easily get entangled?
Hua Lianxi, why did you so easily succumb to his grasp? Why did you sink so effortlessly under his temptation?
Where is your stubbornness and pride? Why do you keep trampling on your own dignity? Keep falling deeper?
Not sure whether it was the hot water washing down or the tears spilling endlessly from her eyes, Hua Lianxi felt suffocated and suddenly squatted down, hugging her knees as she broke down in sobs.
A burning pain suddenly struck her forehead. Her heavy eyelids struggled to flutter, and after a few seconds, Kong Chengyi blinked hard, his bloodshot eyes opening to a completely unfamiliar sight. Startled, he sat up abruptly.
The pink curtains fluttered gently, and fractured sunlight sprinkled onto the pure white floor. A medium-sized dressing table neatly displayed a few simple skincare products.
Supporting himself as he got out of bed, Kong Chengyi looked down and saw himself naked, unguarded. Looking up, he saw his clothes scattered messily on the floor. Shaking his head and narrowing his eyes, a voice suddenly popped into his mind—Ran Fang's voice: "Brother, this is Hua Lianxi's new home. I'm taking you in for a tour!"
Hua Lianxi?
Suddenly wide-eyed, Kong Chengyi stood up alone and looked around, finding no trace of Hua Lianxi. His gaze lowered, and the bed appeared in utter disarray.
Squinting slightly, he stared at the messy bed as fleeting images of familiar pleading and coquettishness flashed through his mind—passionate and ambiguous. Evidently, he had toured Hua Lianxi's new home last night.
He couldn't recall how much wine he had drunk; all he remembered was Ran Fang's persistent pouring. Kong Chengyi's forehead twitched noticeably. Now he finally understood that Ran Fang had deliberately brought him to Hua Lianxi's new home.
He methodically picked up his scattered clothes from the floor and put them on before opening the door. Frowning, he found the empty, silent living room completely deserted.
He carefully examined the living room and then headed toward the kitchen, which was neat and clean. Opening the fridge, he saw assorted ingredients laid out in order. A slight smile tugged at his lips.
He quietly stood there for over ten minutes. After confirming Hua Lianxi wouldn't return, Kong Chengyi grabbed his suit jacket and left.
In a secluded suburban café, pleasant piano melodies drifted through the air. Sparse customers sat here and there, leisurely enjoying themselves. Such a café felt like a perfect secluded getaway.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to come back. Marriage? Ding Jia, you sure talk big!" Lin Xiao stirred her coffee slowly, casting a disdainful smile at the woman seated across from her.
Raising her coffee elegantly for a sip, Ding Jia smiled softly, "Madam, Chengyi loves me. What's wrong with marriage? Sooner or later, I'll be stepping through the Kong family gate!"
Lin Xiao's sarcastic expression vanished instantly, replaced with a sharp glare. "Ding Jia, don't be ungrateful. Have you forgotten what you did in the past? No matter what, as long as I'm here, you can forget about entering the Kong family. Stop dreaming that fantasy!" Several years had passed since they last met, and the girl who once was had become even more ruthless and formidable. Lin Xiao's heart tightened, realizing she needed to take ruthless measures to break free from this entanglement.
"Heh…" Ding Jia chuckled into her hand, casting Lin Xiao a contemptuous glance without fear of the harsh stare. "The past? Honestly, I forgot what happened back then. Now, I'm healthy. As long as Chengyi wants kids, I can have them. Having kids will let me enter the Kong family. No, it's not a dream anymore—it's a dream come true!" Puffing out her chest, Ding Jia tried to appear confident and fearless while secretly hiding her dread, gambling that Lin Xiao wouldn't dare reveal past secrets.
"Ding Jia, you're insane—just like your greedy parents—scoundrels!" Shaking with anger, Lin Xiao despised her parents and wished they'd disappear from her life.
Her parents insulted, Ding Jia's anger surged. Suddenly leaning toward Lin Xiao, she smiled with sparkling eyes and whispered near her ear, "Let me tell you, they're not scoundrels. We're a pack of hungry wolves ready to devour the Kong family. But you? You can't stop us!" As long as she gripped Kong Chengyi tightly, she wanted not only the title of the Kong family's youngest lady but the entire family belonging to her.
Sitting back down slowly, a smile crept onto her lips. Ding Jia looked down and daintily sipped her coffee. Pulling out her phone to check time, she kept a watchful eye on the café entrance. The smile on her lips grew wider.
Suppressing her anger, Lin Xiao opened her eyes wide, unable to believe Ding Jia so brazenly revealed her intentions, certain the outcome was now inevitable.
Hands trembling, Lin Xiao lifted her coffee cup and suddenly splashed it toward Ding Jia's face, furious to wash away the victorious smile on her lips. "Wretched woman! You wish!"
"Aunt, wuwu, I'm sorry—I just love Chengyi too much. Please don't tear us apart," Ding Jia sobbed, clutching Lin Xiao's hand desperately without screaming or exaggerated shock, ignoring the coffee dripping down her face. "Aunt, please, please help me and Chengyi…"
Suddenly, her hand was grasped tightly, and a sharp sting spread over the back of her hand. Lin Xiao's usually sharp, vicious expression shifted immediately. She turned around and saw Kong Chengyi striding over. "Chengyi…"
"What's going on?" Annoyed, Kong Chengyi looked at Ding Jia's coffee-covered face. He reached out, pushed her hands off Lin Xiao roughly, and even shoved Lin Xiao hard.
Caught off guard, Lin Xiao fell backward against the chair with a sharp pain in her lower back. Even her exquisite makeup couldn't hide the pale pallor of her face.
"Yi, Aunt asked me to leave you, but I love you. I wanted to ask her to let us be together, to not separate us…" Tearfully clinging to Kong Chengyi's chest, Ding Jia's lips curled into a victorious smile unseen by him. Her sparkling eyes locked on the ashen-faced Lin Xiao.
"Chengyi, don't you know how vicious this woman is? She's so greedy she wants to devour everything…"
"I don't care who you're with. Don't pull any tricks!" Narrowing his eyes and darkening his gaze, Kong Chengyi coldly cut off Lin Xiao and then held Ding Jia, preparing to leave the café.
"Yi, I really didn't mean it. I was just scared and sent you that message to ask you to come and persuade Aunt properly!" Early that morning, Lin Xiao had arranged to meet him in the suburbs. Just arriving at the café, she immediately texted Kong Chengyi. When she had poured out her heart, he suddenly appeared.
"Your face doesn't look good. Why not go back and rest? I can handle this client myself!" Cheng Shaobai and Hua Lianxi entered the café side by side, noticing her clear exhaustion as if she might faint any moment.
Smiling gently, Hua Lianxi touched her slender cheek. "It's nothing. Maybe I didn't sleep well last night. I'll rest after work, and I'll be fine." Her mind suddenly recalled Kong Chengyi's sleeping figure, causing her heart to flutter. Raising her eyes, she saw him holding Ding Jia walking straight toward her.
Hua Lianxi froze in place, stunned as the approaching figures drew nearer.
Holding Ding Jia, Kong Chengyi gently wiped tears from her cheeks. Looking up, he saw Hua Lianxi and Cheng Shaobai walking side by side like a loving couple. Cheng Shaobai's face clearly showed concern. Recalling Kong Huan's description, Kong Chengyi instinctively narrowed his dark eyes.
His heart tightened savagely. Suddenly, Hua Lianxi's chest turned queasy. She hurriedly covered her mouth with one hand and slightly turned away, gently following the rising nausea.
Their eyes met midair. Cheng Shaobai looked back and saw Hua Lianxi's pale, vomiting appearance, quickly wrapping her in his arms. "What's wrong? Not feeling well? I'll take you to the hospital."
Taking several deep breaths, Hua Lianxi barely suppressed the nausea. She refused to raise her eyes again and only nodded faintly. "Thank you."
After a sleepless night and escaping the house steeped in ambiguous feelings that morning, she had forced herself to forget everything through a hectic day. But seeing him hold another woman shattered her completely. Hua Lianxi could no longer pretend to be strong.
Watching Hua Lianxi be held by Cheng Shaobai and leave, Kong Chengyi's dark gaze deepened. He stared for a long time at their retreating backs.
"Yi…" Ding Jia softly tugged on Kong Chengyi's shirt but didn't see Cheng Shaobai and Hua Lianxi. She was puzzled as he suddenly stopped walking.
Dispersing the gloom from his face, Kong Chengyi spoke softly, "It's nothing. Don't respond if she invites you again. She has no right to interfere in our matters."
Irritated, he shoved her into the car, stood by the window, took a hard drag on a cigarette, and then drove off.