Ignoring her furtive glances, Kong Chengyi elegantly adjusted his sleeves and took a seat right beside Fang Xiufang.
Seeing him sit down, Hua Lianxi guessed in her heart that he had no intention of leaving. In that case, she could only grit her teeth and continue to play the role of a loving wife with him here.
His sharp gaze swept over Hua Lianxi's disappointed expression. Suddenly, he stood up again. "Grandma, I have to hold an emergency meeting. I'm heading back to the company now!"
The sudden, cold, husky voice startled Hua Lianxi out of her melancholy. She naturally stood up too, looking at him with big, expectant eyes.
Holding the tea, Fang Xiufang snorted coldly and said no more.
Glancing at the man who had stood up, Kong Chengyi bypassed Fang Xiufang, suddenly reached out and intertwined his fingers with Hua Lianxi's. Pulling her along, he called out loudly to everyone present, "We're leaving first!"
"Grandma, Dad, Mom, I'm going back first!" Hua Lianxi said goodbye to the people seated as she walked ahead.
"Hey, sister-in-law, what about me? Am I supposed to go by myself?" Last night, they had agreed she would accompany him to meet Cheng Shaobai today, but now he was leaving with his brother instead.
"Just go at the scheduled time this afternoon!" Hua Lianxi waved toward Kong Huan, then followed Kong Chengyi's pace until they reached the door.
"Where are you going? Where are you sending Kong Huan?" Kong Chengyi frowned and questioned suspiciously at their conversation.
"Nowhere special. Kong Huan just wanted to go outside for a walk and get familiar with the surroundings."
Her finger being squeezed painfully, Hua Lianxi furrowed her brows. After thinking it over, she chose not to tell him. She felt Kong Huan would handle everything, and since this involved Cheng Shaobai, deep down she sensed he didn't like Cheng Shaobai at all.
Not feeling like a truthful answer, Kong Chengyi forcefully opened the car door. His cold eyes shot toward Hua Lianxi, who was about to open the back seat door. "Sit up front, or stay here!"
He hated how she always seemed eager to distance herself from him, as if he were a fierce calamity.
Without responding, Hua Lianxi chose to go around to the front passenger seat. She calmly fastened her seatbelt and waited for him to drive.
Starting the car, Kong Chengyi didn't immediately leave. His eyes, shining with a chill, continued to stare at Hua Lianxi who was gazing out of the window, his thin lips pressed tightly, full of hatred for her indifferent demeanor.
Adjusting her uneven breaths slightly, Hua Lianxi kept her head stiff, staring outside as though unaware of Kong Chengyi's odd and angry mood, choosing to pretend complete ignorance.
The small car cabin contained only their shallow breaths and the roar of the air conditioner. The dead silence made Hua Lianxi, who was usually indifferent, almost feel suffocated.
Like a century-long moment, Kong Chengyi finally turned his head to look straight ahead and stepped hard on the accelerator. The car shot out from the Kong family mansion like an arrow, racing along the winding mountain roads.
Stiffly staring at the lush, fleeting trees, Hua Lianxi lightly propped her hand on the handle, her breaths growing rapid and nearly screaming from the sudden speed.
With hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, Kong Chengyi glanced at the seemingly calm Hua Lianxi, then suddenly hit the brakes. The car, once like an arrow, was abruptly stopped with a long screech of tires. The inertia caused the car to lurch forward before coming to a complete halt.
Caught off guard, although Hua Lianxi was still holding onto the handle, she lost her balance and hit the door with a thud, letting out a muffled groan in pain.
"Get out!" Kong Chengyi's voice was cold. Veins bulged on his forehead, his face dark with displeasure.
Supporting her head, Hua Lianxi had just straightened up when the monotone voice rang in her ears, leaving her dizzy and unresponsive.
"Get out!" Kong Chengyi spoke again, his tone steady.
Finally coming to clarity from the dizziness, Hua Lianxi looked back in disbelief but saw only his resolute profile; his facial features were hidden.
Her heart tightened with suffocating shock. Forcibly lifting a faint smile, she nonetheless swiftly pushed open the car door.
As soon as the door closed, Kong Chengyi's car shot forward again like an arrow, disappearing from Hua Lianxi's sight within a second.
Standing alone on the empty mountain road, Hua Lianxi felt powerless and slowly crouched down, hugging her head and burying her face in her knees, biting her lip tightly to keep the pitiful tears from falling.
She had never enjoyed the sweetness of loving someone yet when she had just begun to love, she had fully tasted cruelty and been utterly hurt.
The morning sun had already hung high in the sky. The hot air swept over the asphalt road. Soon, Hua Lianxi was soaked in sweat all over, and she could no longer tell if the moisture on her face buried in her knees were tears or sweat. When she struggled to stand, her legs had gone numb, and she stumbled, falling outright onto the road.
Wiping the dampness from her face with her palm, Hua Lianxi suddenly raised a faint smile. Supporting her numb legs, she slowly stood up. Even though her legs still felt numb and powerless, she continued to walk forward.
No matter her mood or how far the road ahead was, she could only grit her teeth and keep moving forward. She could not collapse just because she was heartbroken on the way like a weak child crying and throwing tantrums. She understood that as long as her mother was still alive, she had no right to be weak or spoiled.
Time quietly passed. Hua Lianxi still lived calmly at Xiaoyue Residence, repetitively revising design drafts every day. Occasionally, she met with Cheng Yi and unfailingly accompanied Hua Zhenzhen daily. The only difference was that Kong Chengyi had completely disappeared from her life like water vapor evaporating into thin air.
Waking in the late night, Hua Lianxi sat alone at the bar counter holding a glass of red wine, staring at the large, dark house. Loneliness and sorrow suddenly overwhelmed her.
Clearly, she was just a stranger in this house, yet day after day she carried the posture of the owner, becoming the one who lived with the house daily.
The fresh flowers on the dining table were replaced every few days with three lovely stems. The hyacinths on the balcony had bloomed passionately, then gradually withered as time passed. Occasionally gazing upon them and the thoughts buried in her heart, she was certain she had already lost the desire to make the hyacinth bloom again. Those lingering thoughts gradually faded with the blossoming and wilting of the white flowers.
On the eve of the Double Ninth Festival, Hua Lianxi continued as usual to visit Hua Zhenzhen at the convalescent home, then returned to Xiaoyue Residence in the evening carrying fresh ingredients.
"Madam!" Holding three brand-new clothing bags of different colors, Ke Jie respectfully called out to the person he had been waiting for a long time.
Startled, Hua Lianxi looked at Ke Jie, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, but said nothing.
"Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival, and the old madam's broadcasting studio officially opens. There will be an opening ceremony tomorrow as well. The president will attend together with madam!" Ke Jie handed the clothing bags to Hua Lianxi, clearly conveying Kong Chengyi's intentions.
Slightly nodding, Hua Lianxi took the bags and walked past Ke Jie, entering the house without a word.
Casually placing the bags on the floor without another glance, Hua Lianxi headed straight to the kitchen. For her, cooking to feed herself was the most important thing at the moment.
After all, it was just a performance. Then it was purely a show, right? Wasn't she just a custom-made woman? Wasn't she supposed to have no emotions? Then she would discard all her emotions—worries and joys no longer concerned her. Playing the role on time was professionalism.
In an unprecedented move, the traditional elderly activity center had established a broadcasting studio, and the main broadcasters were still a group of white-haired elderly.
Seizing the opportunity, the elderly activity center promoted this innovation to superiors and citizens. The Double Ninth Festival opening broadcast not only invited senior officials to participate, but also grandly invited the city's main media. Especially emphasizing that the studio's sponsor was the city's famous Kong Chengyi, successfully garnering the entire city's attention.
Dressed in a dark red cheongsam paired with a jade necklace, Fang Xiufang appeared early at the elderly activity center, warmly greeting elderly gentlemen and ladies she hadn't seen in a long time and exchanging news of their upcoming first broadcasts.
"Ah, my grandson and granddaughter-in-law have arrived!" From afar, Fang Xiufang spotted the two walking arm in arm and happily introduced them to others nearby.
"Truly elegant and outstanding, a man of remarkable appearance!" Thanks to Kong Chengyi, the broadcasting studio existed. Now seeing them in person, the elderly guests were very pleased and kept praising.
"Oh, such a perfect match, how lovely!"
"Grandma Kong is so lucky. Not only is her granddaughter-in-law considerate, but her grandson is also very filial!"
"Grandma!" Standing beside Fang Xiufang, naturally linking arms with her, Hua Lianxi wore a soft pink long dress and smiled, greeting the elderly present.
"Grandma!" Kong Chengyi simply nodded to Fang Xiufang and scanned the surroundings sharply, estimating the scale of today's opening ceremony.
Though it was a coincidence that brought Fang Xiufang to the elderly activity center, the establishment of the studio was a pleasant surprise. Hua Lianxi felt deeply gratified and was very happy that the elderly could again do what they wished when they were young and fulfill forgotten dreams.
The dazzling couple sparkled in the crowd. Hearing the praise from others, Fang Xiufang was delighted, raising her voice to emphasize again and again, "This is my grandson Chengyi. The broadcasting studio is all his responsibility!"
The scattered guests' attention suddenly converged, each scrutinizing the famous entrepreneur often featured in media, whispering among themselves.
Hearing the buzz, the elderly activity center's person in charge who was receiving the officials swiftly approached with a bright smile. "Young Master Kong! Old madam! Young madam! Thank you so much for Young Master Kong's strong support. The elderly activity center is very grateful to have such innovative facilities. We thank Young Master Kong for creating a more interesting and broader world for our elders!"
Kong Chengyi nodded coolly, little moved by the official's grand speech. He glanced at his watch. "May the opening ceremony begin now?"