The aloof and cold Kong Chengyi choosing something so cute and innocent? Flower Lianxi just couldn't connect these childish pajamas with him. She always thought the woman he liked would be either a strong career woman or at least a refined lady, not someone so sweet and youthful.
Trying on the pajamas in front of the mirror, Flower Lianxi found she didn't mind the style at all. Not only did they make her look cute, but they were also super comfy, even more so than the loungewear she was currently wearing.
By the time it was past midnight, Flower Lianxi had drifted off to sleep without seeing Kong Chengyi again or receiving any calls from him. Her suspicions and uncertainties turned into a definite task as she slept.
With his jacket slung over one shoulder, Kong Chengyi had three buttons undone on his black shirt, revealing a hint of his bronzed chest. His short black hair was slightly messy, and a strand had fallen over his forehead. He kept his head slightly lowered, forcing himself to focus on something to avoid passing out from drunkenness.
It was already 2 a.m. when he slowly pushed open the door to Xiaoyue Residence. The warm orange glow of a lamp in the living room outlined the furniture, making the large house feel cozy and inviting.
He slumped tiredly on the sofa, his throat dry and parched. He could faintly smell a familiar scent in the air, one that belonged uniquely to Flower Lianxi.
Setting aside some urgent documents, he had unexpectedly dragged Ran Fang to a bar tonight, feeling that only the sharp, dizzying effects of alcohol could calm him and temporarily drown out his restless thoughts.
The intoxicating liquor had indeed left him unsteady on his feet, but it also brought a strange clarity. Even now, he could smell Flower Lianxi's unique, faint fragrance, which added a touch of gloom to the already intoxicating night.
Leaning on the sofa's armrest, Kong Chengyi casually switched off the small lamp Flower Lianxi had left on. He walked through the dark space on unsteady feet, pausing briefly outside her room with his hand on the doorknob, before continuing to his own room and collapsing onto the bed.
Flower Lianxi brushed her teeth in front of the mirror, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and her mouth full of toothpaste bubbles.
The mirror reflected the pink cat-patterned pajamas, making her look even more petite and youthful, like a college student just stepping into adulthood with a hint of innocence still on her face.
After rinsing her mouth and washing her face, she dried her features with a towel, revealing her delicate and clean-cut features.
The cool morning air maintained the silence in the house.
Passing through the living room, Flower Lianxi noticed Kong Chengyi's jacket on the floor, as if it had accidentally fallen.
She picked it up, the strong smell of cigarettes and a hint of alcohol hitting her nose. She folded it neatly and placed it back on the sofa before heading to the kitchen to prepare the breakfast he wanted.
Tying on an apron with little yellow flowers, she took two eggs, three sausages, and two slices of toast from the fridge. Then, after a moment's thought, she added some cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and purple cabbage, using the simplest ingredients to get a sense of Kong Chengyi's preferences.
She beat the eggs lightly and poured a bit of oil into the pan. Once it was hot, she added the sausages to fry, adjusting the heat to let them cook slowly while she sliced the tomatoes and cabbage.
In those rare moments of idle time, she'd imagined making breakfast for someone she loved, sitting together at the table in a peaceful morning to start a new day.
Kong Chengyi swallowed, feeling his throat dry and parched. He blinked, feeling the discomfort of a hangover, his head pounding. His sharp ears picked up a faint sizzling sound, like something frying, and then everything fell silent again, returning to stillness.
Closing his eyes, he saw blurry images in his mind. Suddenly, he sat up, startled, and after a few seconds of stillness, he walked barefoot out of his room.
A soft song played, the pan sizzled, and the air was filled with the aroma of cooking food. A slender figure, wrapped in a cute pajama with little cats, was slicing strawberries on a cutting board, her ponytail swaying with her movements.
It felt like a dream from some time ago, familiar yet strange.
Quietly approaching, he lowered his head and leaned close to her neck, his nose finally touching her fair skin. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing his warm lips deeply against her smooth skin, everything feeling just like back then, making him long for it.
Flower Lianxi was humming a song she liked while carefully slicing strawberries when she was suddenly enveloped in an embrace, feeling a nose and warm lips press against her, making her shiver in surprise, almost dropping the knife.
The heavy breathing in her ear, the close embrace, made her clearly smell the lingering alcohol on him, much stronger than the scent on his jacket. Holding her breath, she tried to push away the overwhelming smell.
Kong Chengyi kissed her graceful neck, feeling the smoothness of her skin, and tightened his hold, wanting to pull her even closer, to feel her presence more vividly.
Her flat stomach was squeezed painfully. She set the knife down and waited quietly for a few minutes, but he didn't let go, and the affectionate kisses on her neck gave her goosebumps.
"Kong Chengyi, there's no one else here!" she said softly, reluctantly, as she tried to pry his arms open.
The blurry illusion shattered, and Kong Chengyi opened his eyes, his hawk-like gaze fixed on Flower Lianxi's chin. In the end, he let her pry his hands away, stood up straight, and left the kitchen without a word.
The heavy pressure on her back vanished, and Flower Lianxi took a deep breath, picking up the knife to continue slicing strawberries.
She arranged the fried eggs and sausages neatly on a plate, spread peanut butter on the toasted bread, and quickly tossed the sliced strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and purple cabbage with Thousand Island dressing. She also poured a glass of milk.
After a quick shower to wash away the fatigue and the smell of alcohol he despised, Kong Chengyi appeared in the living room feeling refreshed.
She wore a light yellow apron with small flowers, and from the front, he could only see the cat pattern on her sleeves. Her smooth forehead was exposed as she stood quietly by the dining table, not saying a word.
Adjusting his tie with one hand and buttoning his cuff with the other, Kong Chengyi took in the sight of Flower Lianxi in the morning light. But somehow, he couldn't reconcile her with the figure in his hazy memories. It was as if the shadow in his mind was fading into a distant, blinding tunnel of time, while the real Flower Lianxi stood before him, so strikingly beautiful he couldn't believe it.
Yet, just moments ago, he'd lost himself in her scent, wanting to pull her into himself completely.
Lowering his gaze to the breakfast on the table, he didn't say a word. Kong Chengyi picked up his jacket and walked straight out the door.
The air fell silent once more. Flower Lianxi untied her apron and sat down to enjoy the breakfast herself.
"I thought you wouldn't come out!" Cheng Shaobai's dark eyes were fixed on Flower Lianxi as he sipped his coffee, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.
Taking a bite of tiramisu, Flower Lianxi grinned, "How could I not? I've always considered you and Cheng Yi as family. If Brother Cheng invites me for cake, how could I not come?"
"Yeah, I remember you love tiramisu. Anytime you want, the chef here can make it for you. Anytime!" Cheng Shaobai took a bite of tiramisu, mimicking Flower Lianxi's satisfied expression.
Sitting together enjoying dessert like this was the sweetest dream he'd had night after night.
Ever since he learned she loved tiramisu years ago, he'd always tried the local tiramisu wherever he went, bringing it back for her to taste. When he finally found the best-tasting tiramisu in romantic Paris and brought it to her, she had vanished like air.
A year later, unable to forget the tiramisu, he paid a high price to bring the Parisian pastry chef back, creating a quiet corner in the bustling city, naming it "Tiramisu Love."
Savoring the dessert on her tongue, it was indeed the sweet treat she'd always loved, yet it was also a goodness she hadn't truly savored in a long time. The kind of time where just one bite of tiramisu could fill her with energy and make her feel the beauty of the world had disappeared from her taste buds.
After a few bites, Flower Lianxi realized she couldn't find those past feelings anymore. She even found the tiramisu a bit too sweet.
Setting the small spoon down, she took a sip of warm water to wash away the lingering sweetness before asking, "Brother Cheng, is there something you wanted to talk about?"
Noticing she only ate a few bites elegantly, Cheng Shaobai's previously light-hearted mood dimmed, his hopes silently dashed in an instant.
"Lianxi, break your contract with Kong Chengyi. Come work at the 'Cheng Family Mansion.' You can fulfill your dream of being a designer!" Cheng Shaobai looked at her seriously, unable to stand by and watch her stay by Kong Chengyi's side.
While not surprised that Cheng Yi had told Cheng Shaobai everything, Flower Lianxi still didn't want more people to know. If it got out, she'd be letting Kong Chengyi down, which her professional ethics wouldn't allow.
"Brother Cheng, thank you for your kind offer, but I'm doing fine now. Kong Chengyi isn't treating me badly!" Indeed, she was living comfortably, even if it was all just an illusion.
"Lianxi, this isn't a joke! A girl's reputation is important, and you have to act all lovey-dovey with him every day. What if he demands something more excessive?!" He'd seen their intimate moments and couldn't imagine a day when Kong Chengyi would ask for more, causing her greater harm.
"Brother Cheng, reputation doesn't matter to me! Do you know what's most important to me? Besides, it's all fake. We're just meeting each other's needs!" Flower Lianxi softly argued, not planning to make any other choices. From the moment she became a "custom girl," she'd lost the freedom to choose.
"Is it money? I can give it to you, even if it means paying the penalty to Kong Chengyi. I just want you to achieve your dream and become the interior designer you've always wanted to be!" He knew she and Cheng Yi both dreamed of becoming outstanding interior designers one day. His "Cheng Family Mansion" had grown to be a leader in the design industry, offering her a perfect platform.
"Brother Cheng, you know me. I won't break my contract. As for my dream, I'll pursue it in the future!" Flower Lianxi looked at him with determination, the word "dream" piercing her heart, her mind flashing to the designs hidden away in her dark drawer.
Just the simple phrase "you know me" swept through Cheng Shaobai's heart like a gentle breeze.
At that moment, he was still the Cheng Shaobai who understood her, and this realization shattered all his persistence. All the words he'd prepared, his intentions to persuade her, and his firm stance crumbled instantly. He lost the courage to force her, unable to bear seeing her pressured.
Taking a sip of now-cold and slightly bitter coffee, Cheng Shaobai forced a smile and pushed a stack of drawings across the table to her. "This villa, designed by you, will be your part-time project at 'Cheng Family Mansion.'"
Looking down at the drawings pushed in front of her, Flower Lianxi almost trembled as she reached out to touch them.
"This will be my future home. I hope you can design it. You can choose any style you like. I trust you!" Cheng Shaobai gently pressed her hand onto the drawings, not allowing her to refuse this time.
"There's no deadline. You can work on it at your own pace and discuss the details with me anytime."
Her palm pressed against the thin paper, Flower Lianxi remained silent.
She had pushed her dream of becoming a designer far into the future, leaving no room for it in her current life. She often doubted whether she could truly dedicate herself to completing her work, sometimes not even trusting herself.
"Anyway, the design is yours. I'll take you to see it another day!" Ignoring her silence, Cheng Shaobai concluded decisively.
He had bought the villa the year she graduated, intending to show it to her, to tell her he wanted to spend every day there with her, raise a family. Even now, he hoped she would complete it with her own hands and join him in fulfilling his dream.