The narrow hospital corridor was brightly illuminated by glaring incandescent lights overhead. At the end of the hallway, the operating room's red light shone piercingly, and the silence was so profound that one could almost hear breaths.
Time passed second by second, yet the operating room, as if time had stopped, remained tightly closed and airtight, giving no indication of the urgency or intensity inside.
Her shoulders sagging weakly at her sides, fingers clenched tightly into fists with the fingertips painfully pressing her palms, Hua Lianxi slightly tilted her face upward. Her hollow eyes blankly stared at the glowing red light, her delicate features pale and lifeless.
The relentless onslaught replayed like a fierce movie in her mind—the snarling face of Cai Meiren flashing rapidly. Hua Lianxi's eyes remained wide open, terrified that even a blink would allow this dreadful, relentless pursuit to invade every corner of her thoughts.
Her heart and soul were lost amid the media's ceaseless attack. At this moment, she seemed like a ghost; it felt as though the slightest touch would topple her, throwing her far away.
Kong Chengyi suddenly slammed his fist hard against the wall. His long fingers turned a vivid red, blood staining them brightly. Veins twitched visibly on his forehead, his sharp eyes gleaming with intense coldness. His lips were pressed tightly, and his entire body radiated rage.
He could not bear seeing Fang Xiufang collapse right before his eyes, suffering such an assault.
"President!" Ke Jie, who was anxiously waiting nearby, was startled by Kong Chengyi's furious strike. He hurried forward worriedly to check his hand.
Turning to look at Kong Chengyi, Hua Lianxi's eyes remained hollow and vacant, as if she did not see him or realize what was happening—just mechanically observing what was before her.
Brushing Ke Jie's hand aside with one hand, Kong Chengyi strode over to the operating room door, anxiously pressing the intercom button beside it twice. "It's me, Kong Chengyi. How is my grandma? I want the latest update!"
An hour had passed since she was rushed into the emergency room, yet no information was known. His patience and certainty were nearly exhausted; he even began to doubt his own faith, fearing that his most beloved grandmother might slip away.
Like a frightened little rabbit, Hua Lianxi leaned back slightly, afraid that sorrowful news would come from inside the operating room. Yet her eyes remained fixed upon the door.
Quick footsteps and faint breathing sounds echoed from the intercom.
Before the breaths finished, Kong Chengyi urgently exclaimed again, "How is she? My grandmother?!"
"Young Master Kong, Old Madam Kong has just been revived from emergency treatment. She is currently out of danger, but there is a slight intracranial hemorrhage. Further observation is required," the young doctor on the other end of the intercom held his breath, fearing that "intracranial hemorrhage" might provoke an outburst.
"Intracranial hemorrhage? Has my grandmother regained consciousness? What effect does the slight bleeding cause?"
The one least able to endure stimulation had suddenly been humiliated among the surging crowd. How could her already elevated blood pressure not spike? How could it not cause fainting?
Intracranial hemorrhage—would it cause paralysis? Or hemiplegia?
Clenching his fists again, Kong Chengyi slammed his fists against the wall repeatedly, leaving bloodstains on the pristine white surface.
Hua Lianxi clutched her collar, her chest aching painfully, barely able to breathe. Big tears fell in a steady patter as she finally snapped out of her stupor.
Intracranial hemorrhage?
What had she done to cause such suffering to a beloved elder, struggling at the gates of death? What if she ended up paralyzed?
"The old lady hasn't awakened, but she's no longer in danger. As for other issues, further observation is necessary," the doctor carefully chose his words, fearing exaggeration yet wanting to avoid misunderstanding.
"What's going on? How is your grandma?" Sharp footsteps echoed loudly on the shiny floor, and Lin Xiao hurriedly appeared.
"Son, how is Grandma?" Kong Zhendong, dressed in beige casual sportswear, panted as he anxiously asked Kong Chengyi.
"Hey, what happened to your hand? You're injured too? Ke Jie, get a doctor to bandage President Kong's hand immediately!" Before Kong Chengyi could respond, Lin Xiao spotted his bloodied hand, her carefully made-up face paling in alarm as she shouted nervously.
Her precious son had never been hurt before; why was he injured now? And with Grandma rushed to the hospital—what was going on?
"What's happening? Weren't you attending the opening ceremony? How did Grandma end up rushed to the hospital?" Like a machine gun, Lin Xiao fired questions while catching sight of Hua Lianxi's tear-streaked face, interrogating her with increasing harshness.
"Shut up! Grandma is still inside!" Unable to endure the shouting and commotion, Kong Chengyi growled, his eyes fixed on the staggering Hua Lianxi.
"Sorry, sorry… I'm sorry, Grandma, sorry…" Covering her mouth, Hua Lianxi sobbed softly, retreating step by step, tears blurring her gaze upon Kong Chengyi.
"Chengyi, what happened? What's going on?" Kong Zhendong's face turned grave as he asked steadily, wanting to quickly understand what had occurred in the past hour.
"Grandma has escaped danger for now, but due to slight intracranial bleeding, doctors continue treatment. As for her final condition, more observation is needed," Kong Chengyi confessed grimly to his father, but offered no further answers.
Though his heart was somewhat eased hearing no immediate danger, Kong Zhendong's face remained heavy. "Why did Grandma's blood pressure spike suddenly? What happened at the Elderly Activity Center?" They had joyfully gone to host the ceremony, then suddenly rushed to the hospital. Seeing Hua Lianxi in tears meant something was seriously wrong.
"President, we should treat your hand wound first; Old Madam will be upset if she sees you injured!" A young doctor followed close behind. Ke Jie forced himself to interrupt the tense scene and gestured for the doctor to come forward quickly.
Still cold-faced, Kong Chengyi finally allowed the young doctor near. His dark eyes, sharp as a hawk's, remained fixed on Hua Lianxi. The sting of disinfectant did not seem to affect him. He hoarsely gave orders to Ke Jie, "Ke Jie, find out where their information is coming from!"
They had accurately detailed the contents of the contract, even listing Hua Lianxi's credit card statements. Without reliable sources, this wouldn't be possible. Only both sides knew the contract. Flashing through his mind was the last time she had sold news about her temple visit to Scandal Weekly. Kong Chengyi narrowed his eyes, seeming to see through the sorrowful woman with tear-streaked cheeks.
Lin Xiao grabbed Hua Lianxi's arm angrily. "Tell me, what really happened at the scene?"
Biting her lip, Hua Lianxi stared vacantly at Kong Chengyi but said nothing.
Suddenly, a pleasant ringing sound came from the phone. Lin Xiao released Hua Lianxi's arm and pulled a phone from her bag. After seeing the caller ID, she took a deep breath.
"Hello, Mrs. Lin?"
"Hmm? What? You must be mistaken! How could that be?!" The fingers clenched on the phone suddenly turned white. Lin Xiao's previously feigned gentleness vanished, replaced by eyes full of anger and disbelief staring intently at Hua Lianxi.
"If you don't have evidence, don't make false claims! Our Kong family will sue you for defamation!" Shaking with anger, Lin Xiao slammed down the phone, her eyes shooting flames. "Fake marriage? Fake wife? Privately customized? Is the price tens of millions or just millions? Hua Lianxi, tell me it's not true! Tell me!"
Mrs. Lin, normally a mahjong-playing acquaintance, eagerly made the call, feigning sympathy but sneering with schadenfreude at the Kong family's scandal.
Privately customized? Pretending to be Young Madam Kong, but just a deceitful gold-digger?
"What's going on? Fake marriage?" Kong Zhendong was confused and hadn't yet processed Lin Xiao's words when he anxiously asked.
"I'm sorry, sorry. I don't want Grandma harmed. I want Grandma well. She must be healthy!" Tears streaming, Hua Lianxi kept shaking her head and stepping back, her heart aching with guilt for Fang Xiufang's love and her own failure to deserve it.
"Ke Jie, give me the iPad!" Lin Xiao shouted, grabbing for the device beside her. "The city's media are crazily reporting this unprecedented scandal, a headline story we haven't seen in a decade, and here we stand like fools knowing nothing. Kong Chengyi, what on earth are you doing?"
The president of the prestigious Cheng Group was acting so recklessly and ridiculously—it was unbelievable. Her chest felt like it was going to explode with anger, ready to unleash every bit of fiery rage in her.
Hesitantly, Ke Jie took out the iPad from his briefcase and carefully handed it over to Lin Xiao, sneaking glances at Kong Chengyi. He wore a dark expression but didn't stop the action.
"What media reports? What's the headline about?" Kong Zhendong quickly stood beside Lin Xiao, eyes fixed on the screen, unable to imagine what Kong Chengyi and Hua Lianxi had done to cause such headlines.