Delicate fingers tightly clasped his large hand, their ten fingers intertwined. Ding Jia finally smiled through her tears, revealing a trace of relief. "Yi, thank you. Don't worry about my health—I'll be fine. I still want to have your baby!" Shyly lowering her eyelids, Ding Jia silently repeated in her heart the longing to truly be together with him and to have a child with him.
With a low, simple "Hmm," Kong Chengyi glanced at his watch before standing up. "You get some rest. I'll head back first!" He thought about how he had left without greeting his grandmother and how he still could make it back without her noticing, preserving her good mood today.
They hadn't embraced enough, nor had they spoken all the words from their hearts. She even wanted him to stay the night; how could she let him go home?
"Yi, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Don't you like me? You don't like me at all now, do you?" Holding onto the same approach as before, Ding Jia pressed anxiously, determined to get a confirming answer and use this moment of questioning to keep him.
"Don't overthink it. I promised Grandma I'd stay home today. My sister just came back from abroad, and our whole family is gathered at the old house," Kong Chengyi said, his brows furrowing. He clearly disliked being questioned all the time but still bent down gently to plant a kiss on her forehead in comfort.
"Family?" Imagining how Hua Lianxi was happily with the family, Ding Jia instinctively gripped the bedsheets. "Then can I go back with you? I want to meet your parents and your sister. I'm your true girlfriend—the future mother of your child!"
"I told you, the timing isn't right now. When the time's ripe, we'll talk about it." Having just insisted on meeting Grandma this morning, now she wanted to meet his parents. Kong Chengyi's displeasure grew, and his tone chilled noticeably.
His handsome features radiated anger. Ding Jia shivered as she sat up, tilting her head slightly and speaking mournfully, "I knew it—you despise me now. You despise the scars on me and see me as a patient!" If this was unreasonable, then she would be unreasonable; through her insecurity, she sought his pity. So long as he lowered himself to comfort her, it meant she still had a place in his heart, and one day she could truly belong to the Kong family's old mansion.
"You…!" Kong Chengyi massaged his forehead speechlessly. He never expected she always traced every problem back to her scars, filled with deep self-doubt.
Sitting again at the edge of the bed, Kong Chengyi leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Ding Jia, don't say things like that. I'm not such a shallow person. Don't belittle yourself—you don't need to!"
"But why can't I meet your family? I'll be part of that family one day!" No matter what, she was going to be his wife—the young lady of the conglomerate.
"As I said, the timing isn't right. Hua Lianxi still holds the title of my wife. To my family, she is my wife—that's the reality." Indeed, Hua Lianxi still had the favor of his grandmother, and in the eyes of others, they were still husband and wife.
Looking up anxiously, Ding Jia blurted out, "Then just make her leave! If she's gone, we can be openly together. I'm not a mistress; I don't want to meet you secretly or be hidden from the city!" Thinking of herself as a mistress who couldn't be seen in the light, her anger surged, adding to her hatred of Hua Lianxi.
Kong Chengyi's face darkened. His black eyes fixed on hers, clearly irritated by her impatience. He straightened up, hands in pockets, like a detached king about to say farewell.
Staring at his rare distant expression, Ding Jia's heart jolted, thinking her urgency made him angry.
Suddenly clutching her chest, Ding Jia gasped heavily, then bent over coughing violently, trembling all over.
"What's wrong? Lie down and rest!" Just about to leave her alone to calm down, Kong Chengyi saw her coughing violently and hurried to support her. "Are you feeling bad? I'll take you to the hospital!"
Grabbing his arm to stop him from carrying her, tears pricking her eyes, Ding Jia stammered, "Yi... I, I…"
"Don't say any more. Not now." Worried about her harsh coughing, Kong Chengyi rested his forehead against hers. "Stop thinking unrealistic things. Just stay safe by my side."
Oddly, he was unwilling to say that things would soon end with Hua Lianxi—that divorce would happen. That thin marriage contract was like a fragile string between them; he couldn't bring himself to cut it. If severed, they'd be like drifting souls scattered endlessly apart.
"Hmm." Though she still couldn't get a final promise, Ding Jia fell silent and only asked to rest, insisting he stay with her. Otherwise, if she became unwell again or even died alone at home, no one would know.
At least during the joy within the Kong family, she had kept him to herself.
Ding Jia clung to him until late into the night before Kong Chengyi finally returned to the Kong family's old mansion.
Under the dim garden lights, the old house was silent. Kong Chengyi parked and looked up at the second-floor window of his room. A faint yellow light spilled through the glass.
His heart tightened, and he strode quickly inside.
Turning the doorknob, he saw a slight figure lying under the covers, gentle breaths beside a dim bedside lamp, as if in a warm realm. Kong Chengyi quietly softened his steps, standing at the bedside, gazing at her sleeping face from afar.
She had slept soundly through the night. Upon waking to the bright morning, unknown birds chirped loudly outside. Hua Lianxi sat up in a daze. The simple decor immediately reminded her she was still in the Kong mansion.
A faint smile touched her lips as she mocked herself for sleeping so peacefully, as if she had grown accustomed to this place.
She glanced beside her—her pillow was slightly dented, the sheets somewhat disheveled. A gray suit jacket draped over the sofa showed that Kong Chengyi had come home last night, though she had been completely unaware.
Looking down at herself, her clothes were neat, not disturbed in the slightest. Shaking away the absurd thoughts, Hua Lianxi threw back the covers and got up to wash.
With toothpaste squeezed in one hand and a toothbrush raised in the other, Hua Lianxi stared blankly at her reflection—a desolate face like a worn-out doll, embodying abandoned sorrow.
Though she no longer held any expectations, why did she still feel so lost? As if her whole heart had been hollowed out, leaving her empty and helpless.
Taking a mouthful of warm water, Hua Lianxi held her breath for a minute, forcing herself to meet the sorrowful yet delicate features in the mirror, letting the foggy thoughts clear. She kept reminding herself not to hope or fantasize.
"You little brat! Don't think I'll forgive you just because you're having breakfast with me now. We still have last night to settle!"
Reaching the stairs, Hua Lianxi heard Fang Xiufang's forceful scolding. Looking up, she saw Kong Chengyi sitting upright at the dining table.
Startled, she had thought he'd already left the mansion, thinking they wouldn't have to meet today.
"Sister-in-law, why are you so slow? Hurry down and eat!" Having just come out of his room, Kong Huan saw Hua Lianxi stop at the hallway's end. Cheerfully, he ran up behind her, grabbing her arm and leading her quickly downstairs.
Pushed and pulled all the way down, Hua Lianxi took deep breaths, a faint smile tugging her lips as she constantly reminded herself of her current identity.
"Why are you only coming down now? Your breakfast's getting cold!" Fang Xiufang watched their descent and busied herself calling Aunt Yang to bring out freshly cooked dishes.
"Tired out last night!" Kong Chengyi smiled mysteriously and suddenly said something ambiguous, his dark eyes fixed intently on Hua Lianxi, clearly referring to some intimate matter.
Kong Huan opened his mouth to argue with Fang Xiufang but blushed deeply at Kong Chengyi's shameless tease. For the first time seeing this side of him, no words came out.
Hua Lianxi, pulling back her chair, froze. Her still groggy mind struggled to keep up, even losing the usual blush of shyness.
Only Fang Xiufang smiled brightly and enthusiastically called out to Aunt Yang in the kitchen, "Prepare extra delicious food for Lianxi. She's exhausted and needs to eat more!"
Fang Xiufang's warm laughter gradually cleared Hua Lianxi's foggy head. She sighed softly but forced a coy smile, her phoenix eyes casting fleeting glances at Kong Chengyi.
Still gazing comfortably at her, Kong Chengyi's lips curled into a consistent smile.
Observing the two, Fang Xiufang smiled broadly, her eyes flitting between them, envisioning a future with a great-grandchild in her arms.
With her head bowed, busy with her breakfast, Hua Lianxi no longer glanced sideways at Kong Chengyi, only replying vaguely to Fang Xiufang and Kong Huan's chatter.
Because Lin Xiao and Kong Zhendong arrived late, the breakfast dragged longer than Hua Lianxi expected. Kong Chengyi seemed unhurried, not insisting on leaving early.
Finally, the lengthy breakfast ended. Hua Lianxi helped Fang Xiufang to the living room to sit down, but her eyes drifted toward Kong Chengyi, trying to see if he would leave the mansion soon.