Chapter 6: Drowning his sorrows.

Closing his eyes, black and white still images flashed through his mind. Quietly feeling the burning churn in his stomach, uncontrollable spasms wracking him, Kong Chengyi abruptly poured another mouthful of the harsh liquor down his throat, trying to use the pain to suppress the turmoil in his head.

The entire bottle of strong foreign liquor was easily emptied, and the strong cigarettes were almost gone. Forcefully stubbing out the last one, Kong Chengyi rubbed his eyes and turned back into the room.

Dragging his feet, he cleaned himself up. He checked his long-sleeved cotton pajamas, making sure all the buttons were fastened, then put on his pink robe and tied the belt. Smoothing his hair, he pushed open the bathroom door, only to bump headfirst into a muscular chest. "Ah!" he exclaimed, instantly enveloped in a strong scent of smoke.

Kong Chengyi had originally intended to knock on the door to hurry her out, but a head bumped into him. Naturally, his hands wrapped around her waist, and with a quick turn, he pinned her against the wall.

"Throwing yourself into my arms?" Leaning down slightly, Kong Chengyi sniffed her fair neck. The fresh, light scent of her body wash instantly captured his breath, and his troubled thoughts vanished.

Trapped between his chest and the wall, Hua Lianxi felt his breath grow heavier. The tip of her nose brushed against his earlobe, and her hands, which were meant to push against his chest, were instead squeezed between them. She held her breath.

A jolt of pain shot through her back. Hua Lianxi suddenly snapped awake and pushed back hard, directly shoving Kong Chengyi, who was lost in her fragrance, away from her. Then, she bit her lip tightly and stared straight at him.

Caught off guard, Kong Chengyi stumbled back a couple of steps to steady himself. A layer of coldness instantly washed over his handsome features. He narrowed his eyes slightly with displeasure, sizing up her wide-eyed stare.

Their intense gazes met in the air, both their faces pale with anger. Neither of them spoke, a deathly silence hanging between them.

After a long while, Kong Chengyi roughly wiped his lips, strode past her decisively, and slammed the bathroom door shut with a "bang." The sound of rushing water followed.

The loud "bang" made Hua Lianxi flinch involuntarily, trembling slightly. She supported herself against the wall with one hand, moving slowly as if she had just gone through an exhausting battle.

Half an hour later, Kong Chengyi emerged from the bathroom wearing a bathrobe. Only a dim bedside lamp illuminated the room. His gaze fell on the large sofa, where Hua Lianxi was curled up in a ball wrapped in a blanket, only her forehead visible.

Tightening the belt of his bathrobe, Kong Chengyi walked over to the liquor cabinet, grabbed another bottle of amber-colored liquor, and returned to the balcony.