With one hand undoing his cuff, his tie loosened and hung crookedly around his neck, and a strand of his once-neat short hair drooped over his forehead, Kong Chengyi appeared unruly yet effortlessly stylish. The room was silent and empty, the only clue telling him where he was being the strong scent of perfume lingering in the air.
He shook his head and tiredly squinted, desperately trying to recall the joyful scenes from years ago, though he couldn't remember if the air back then carried such a heavy fragrance or if the perfume had been so strong.
Listening intently for any sound in the room, he clearly heard the door shutting. Ding Jia stood up excitedly, hurriedly rinsed off the bubbles on her body, casually wrapped a bathrobe around herself, and barefooted, opened the bathroom door.
Irritated, Kong Chengyi yanked off his tie, then unbuckled his belt as he unbuttoned his shirt. Suddenly the bathroom door opened, and when he turned his head, he saw Ding Jia standing barefoot at the bathroom entrance, her hair still wet. Her bathrobe hung loosely with the belt tied carelessly around her waist, radiating a freshly bathed charm.
Her slightly hazy, phoenix-shaped eyes fixed on his lazily attractive demeanor with delight as she took a slow step forward, dragging her delicate, sweet voice, "Yi…"
It was only around seven or eight o'clock that he had returned, and in such a carefree state. In that instant, Ding Jia resembled a lovestruck girl, her bright eyes filled with shyness. Had she not wanted to preserve some decorum, she would have rushed to him eagerly.
Though alluring and enchanting, with a captivating shyness, he seemed oblivious to it. He pulled off his belt directly, uttered a low "hmph," and turned to walk straight into the walk-in closet to change.
Staring at his broad, well-defined waist, Ding Jia felt suddenly wronged as her eyes reddened. She hurriedly quickened her steps and tightly embraced him from behind. "Yi, I miss you. I really miss you…" Pouting, she kissed his neck. In that moment, all her restraint was cast aside—she only wanted to be with him.
Her soft lips touched his firm muscles. Kong Chengyi's Adam's apple trembled slightly, yet he remained motionless, as if meticulously feeling the touch but also seeming indifferent.
Kissing him urgently, Ding Jia circled around to face him, stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss on his lips, pulling his hand to clutch her bathrobe belt. "Yi, it's been a long time since we've been together. Don't you want me?" Blushing, she shyly looked into his sharp features, summoning the courage to drop all reserve, actively claiming him completely.
They had been back together for a while now. Initially, he excused their lack of intimacy by citing her poor health, but now, although they slept together every night, he barely held her, sparing even kisses, his coldness making her worry and borderline desperate.
Her lips were as soft as ever, her nose gently upturned, cheeks flushed with shyness. Lowering her gaze, she watched her small hand wrap around his while holding the long belt of his robe; with a gentle pull, the loose garment would come undone.
"Yi…" Ding Jia lifted onto her toes, eyes full of hope as she slowly narrowed them, her long lashes fluttering. The corner of her mouth clearly held an invitation.
He regarded her for a moment. Suddenly, images of Hua Lianxi struggling to avoid his kiss flashed through his mind—stubborn and hurt. Kong Chengyi abruptly withdrew his hand, merely pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "I'm very tired today."
Ding Jia stood frozen, staring at his retreating back in disbelief. The man who had once relentlessly tormented her through whole nights was now excusing himself because he was "tired?"
Kong Chengyi, do you no longer love me? Don't you like me anymore? Do you even resent touching me?
Having changed into comfortable loungewear, Kong Chengyi emerged from the walk-in closet. Ding Jia still clutched her robe's belt tightly.
Seeing that even in casual clothes he looked proud and refined, Ding Jia suddenly grabbed his arm. "Kong Chengyi, do you hate me? Don't you like me? You don't love me at all? You love that Hua Lianxi who recklessly maxed out your credit cards?" Tearful, she stared unwaveringly at him, refusing herself any more excuses. She had to pull him back before he drifted further away—not giving him a chance to escape.
Silently watching her tear-streaked eyes, Kong Chengyi furrowed his brows in irritation and stepped closer. Gently hooking her into his embrace, his voice hoarse and cold: "Ding Jia, don't make baseless accusations. I'm simply tired. I have no interest tonight, and I think you need more rest—to recover properly." No interest—that was indeed the truth. He didn't want to cause discomfort to everyone at this critical juncture, and her bringing up Hua Lianxi made him all the more displeased.
She looked up at him, frozen by his cold gaze. Tender tears slipped down. "Yi, I don't want to overthink, but… you never touch me anymore. You don't want me. I worry—have you been with her again? Are you not tired of her yet?" She just wanted to know if he'd touched her, if he secretly tangled with her again, or if Kong Chengyi's heart had already shifted away.
"Ding Jia!" With a hard expression, Kong Chengyi loosened his hold on her waist, growing inexplicably annoyed by her words. "You rest!" With that, he turned and was about to leave the room.
"No, no! Yi, don't leave. I want you to stay with me. I just want you here! I know I was wrong. I won't talk nonsense again. I know you love me. You still love me most. You just can't forget me—that's why you had Hua Lianxi privately customized, why you went through all that trouble to have her imitate me, live out our past days!" Clinging to him desperately, she burst into tears, affirming their love and past repeatedly.
"Ding Jia, you should understand—choosing you, taking you to see Grandma means a lot! You sleep now. I still have things to deal with." In the end, her sobbing softened him. Turning back to her, Kong Chengyi's face melted at her tears. "You can't deny your place." He settled her here—didn't that make her status clear?
Amid thick steam, watching him finally leave the room, the door closing to separate their worlds, Ding Jia instantly held back her tears. She wiped the droplets fiercely from her cheeks. Her once tender, watery eyes now radiated a sharp, piercing chill.
She had been so proactive, so disheveled, yet was still pushed away from afar. Could simple words appease her? It was like an impossible dream. What she was certain of was that she was not the only one in his heart—that Hua Lianxi probably already controlled his thoughts.
"Hua Lianxi, I swear I won't let you off easy. I will ruin you just like your mother!" Glaring fiercely at the heavy door, Ding Jia engraved this vow into her heart. On her path to becoming Kong Chengyi's wife, whoever stood in the way must be eliminated.
Taking a deep drag, Kong Chengyi supported his head with one hand. His long legs crossed casually atop the desk. His sharp eyes fixed on the ceiling. Surprisingly, his calm heart churned with unrest.
On the white ceiling flickered the fresh, homey image of Hua Lianxi. Then flashed her stubborn struggle as she avoided his kiss—finally silently bearing his passion with tears falling. He had never known how many faces she could shift in just minutes. Why did she silently endure his fervor while tears kept flowing?
Glancing at his wrist, the clock pointed to 8:30. Only half an hour remained before the deadline he'd set for Ke Jie's investigation. What could he glean about her from the probe? He couldn't imagine. She was just a woman he had paid to customize, yet like the wind, she was full of mystery and secrets, causing him to repeatedly order Ke Jie to investigate.
A stranger unrelated to him? Constantly declared by her as such? He got so angry he nearly wanted to choke her, refusing to let her casually sever ties.
Suddenly, his fingertips burned. A long ash silently dropped onto his fingers, lightly burning his skin. The sting snapped him back. He deftly stubbed out the cigarette, pulled back his long legs, sat upright, and composed himself to work properly.
The phone on the desk vibrated, flashing Ke Jie's number.
"Hm? How is it?" His voice was low and concise, but the sharp eyes involuntarily gleamed.
"The detailed report has been sent to your email. It includes deeply researched media coverage from some time ago. Also, we found information about her university life and studies. She performed very well and is a promising interior designer. However, her mother developed intermittent mental illness during her college years, making her life much harder. She worked while studying and cared for her mother. The report also details her current work at the Cheng family residence, just as you requested!" Ke Jie reported breathlessly to his boss—he was somewhat moved, never having imagined Hua Lianxi had endured such hardships. The details clearly showed a brave woman whose attitude towards life earned respect, and who was not the gold-digger portrayed in the media.
Holding the phone tightly, Kong Chengyi's pale fingers clenched slightly. A simple statement had stirred his unwillingness and pain. What kind of life had she actually lived?
Opening his email, drawing in a deep smoke, his fingertips slowly moved the mouse, carefully reading her brief yet rich past. His heart felt as if scorched under a blazing sun—breathless and overwhelmed.
Such a proud and stubborn woman—able to smile radiantly and bite her lip to shed tears—had hidden her true self perfectly beside him for so long. "Haha, Hua Lianxi, well done. You have truly mastered the essence of private customization: perfectly interpreting the role customized by someone else."
Mixed with tenderness and betrayed anger, Kong Chengyi suddenly slammed his fist hard on the desk. The loud "bang" almost knocked the computer to the floor.
"Hua Lianxi, since you need money so badly, you should just be greedily honest in real life. Why donate in my name? What I give away, I never intend to get back!" Clearly she needed lots of money for her mother's treatment, yet had resolutely donated over ten million—a clear mockery of his foolishness.
Veins bulging on his forehead, Kong Chengyi took several deep breaths to suppress the fury coursing through him. Had she been in front of him now, he would surely roar at her fiercely.
Late at night, the ashtray full of cigarette butts, Kong Chengyi still held a freshly lit cigarette between his fingers. His dark eyes remained fixed on the dense report, repeatedly catching the name Cheng Shaobai. His previously suppressed anger flared again instantly, his usual cool and detached demeanor completely gone.