Chapter 22：We Absolutely Have to Find Out Who Leaked the Info to the Paparazzi.

Secretly letting out a breath of relief, Hua Lianxi glanced at Kong Chengyi out of the corner of her eye. She saw him still eating elegantly, and she couldn't guess his mood at the moment.

After lunch, Hua Lianxi took Fang Xiufang around a shop specializing in nourishing and precious medicinal materials. Then, they went straight to the hospital and found an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor to take her pulse. After getting a few prescriptions, they returned to Xiaoyue Residence. While stewing bird's nest soup, she also brewed a dose of Chinese medicine according to the doctor's instructions.

The next morning, Aunt Yang suddenly appeared at Xiaoyue Residence, saying that her grandson was much better and she could come back to take care of the old lady.

Fang Xiufang considered it for a while and finally went back to the old Kong family mansion with Aunt Yang. She gave Hua Lianxi a few ambiguous glances, saying frankly that she wouldn't disturb their alone time and urging Hua Lianxi to hurry up and get pregnant, quickly giving her a big, healthy great-grandson.

After seeing Fang Xiufang off, Kong Chengyi also went back to work. The huge Xiaoyue Residence suddenly became empty again. Hua Lianxi sat quietly for a long while before getting used to the silence again. Finally, she cheered herself up and returned to her own room, taking out the blueprints Cheng Shaobai had given her and studying them intently.

After a brief morning meeting with the senior executives, where he assigned urgent and important tasks, Kong Chengyi returned to his office from the conference room. He casually picked up a morning newspaper, his sharp eyes quickly scanning the pages. He narrowed his eyes slightly and pressed the intercom.

"President!" Ke Jie knocked and entered the office less than a minute later.

"The 'Scandal Weekly' exclusive headline?" Kong Chengyi raised the newspaper, his thin lips pressed together. "I remember saying recently not to expose my whereabouts!"

After the previous few deliberate displays of affection and exposures, he had stopped provoking the media and didn't want to be endlessly photographed and harassed by them anymore. But today's "Scandal Weekly" exclusive not only clearly captured his and Hua Lianxi's kiss from yesterday, but also exaggerated the old lady's and Hua Lianxi's shopping trip and visit to the TCM doctor. What infuriated him the most was that they even published the old lady's prescription, violating her privacy – this was a bottom line he couldn't tolerate.

"I'll immediately investigate which paparazzi took the photos and followed you!" Having followed Kong Chengyi for many years, Ke Jie knew how protective he was of Fang Xiufang and would never allow anyone to harm his beloved grandmother.

"We absolutely have to find out who leaked the info to the paparazzi!" Kong Chengyi said coldly. He had to know who was so audacious as to sell his whereabouts to reporters, allowing them to disclose his privacy at will.

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away!" Receiving the order, Ke Jie left quickly, not daring to delay for a moment.

Standing for a moment, Kong Chengyi picked up his phone and called the old Kong family mansion, instructing Aunt Yang to put away all the newspapers and try not to watch TV, so that the old lady wouldn't be upset if she saw her prescription published.

While studying the blueprints, Hua Lianxi jotted down any fleeting inspirations in her notebook. It wasn't until her neck was stiff and sore that she pulled herself away from the drawings. The design scheme had a basic direction now; all she needed to do was refine the details and discuss it with Cheng Shaobai.

Having a basic idea for the design scheme made Hua Lianxi feel instantly relieved. She casually threw herself onto the bed, a genuine smile she hadn't shown in a long time spreading across her face.

The phone on the desk buzzed. Hua Lianxi propped herself up on the bed with one hand, her thumb lighting up the screen. Seeing the WeChat content, she casually put the phone back on the desk, her smile gradually fading.

At 3:10 PM, Ke Jie knocked on Kong Chengyi's office door, holding a blue folder.

"President, this is what you wanted!" He respectfully placed the documents in front of Kong Chengyi, considering how to report the contents.

Lowering his eyes to the blue folder, Kong Chengyi didn't put down the file in his hand. "Just say it!"

"Yes, someone sold your whereabouts for a high price, and the person who sold them was..." Ke Jie paused, not continuing with the name.

Not hearing the final name, Kong Chengyi put aside the file in his hand and picked up the blue folder instead, quickly flipping through the pages.

Seeing that Kong Chengyi was quickly browsing the information, Ke Jie added, "We checked, and the money from 'Scandal Weekly' has already been transferred to Madam's account!"

After quickly reading the thin two pages of information, Kong Chengyi slammed the folder heavily on the ground with a "thwack," standing up abruptly. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely sure. We even pulled up the bank records!" It wasn't a very difficult matter, and Ke Jie was certain he hadn't made a mistake.

"You can leave now!" Turning around and staring fixedly at the floor-to-ceiling window, Kong Chengyi's forehead veins throbbed, his thin lips pressed tightly together as he tried his best to control his anger.

After two minutes of silence, Kong Chengyi took out his phone and scrolled to Hua Lianxi's number. Just as his thumb was about to press down, he suddenly smashed the phone against the wall. With a crisp "smash," the gold phone fell to the ground, the screen resembling a blooming, vibrant flower with slender cracks spreading across it.

The dazzling lights in the dimly lit, palace-like luxurious bar kept changing, and one explosive dance track followed another. The crowded dance floor, with people swaying wildly to the music, seemed even more unrestrained, their indulgent expressions as if they were enjoying the last feast before the end of the world.

His long legs casually crossed, Kong Chengyi leaned back against the sofa, his deep gaze cast upon the swaying strangers on the dance floor. One hand held a glass full of amber-colored liquor, while the other held a lit cigarette. He remained silent, like a calm judge observing the frenzied crowd.

"Bro, what's wrong with you?" Ran Fang, sitting beside him, glanced at Kong Chengyi, who hadn't said a word since entering the bar, utterly unable to guess what was going on with him.

Taking a slow drag of his cigarette, Kong Chengyi didn't respond. He picked up his drink and finished it in one gulp, then leaned over and refilled his glass.

As his cousin and friend, Ran Fang rarely saw Kong Chengyi continuously pouring drinks for himself like this. Finally, he couldn't help but cover Kong Chengyi's glass with his hand and shouted, "You dragged me away from a beauty, ruining my romantic evening! At least let me know what's going on. This is liquor, not water, you can't just keep chugging it like that!"

The loud music swallowed Ran Fang's shout as if he were a mute opening his mouth soundlessly. Kong Chengyi glanced at the glass covered by his hand, then reached out and directly picked up the bottle, tilting his head back and taking a large gulp straight from it.

Staring at him dumbfounded, Ran Fang lowered his hand that was covering the glass. "Is this what getting drunk looks like? I never thought the legendary cold-blooded Young Master Kong would ever get drunk!" He snorted coldly, then raised his hand and filled his own glass, clinking it against Kong Chengyi's bottle with a "clang." "Come on, bottoms up!"

Not arguing, and not even caring what Ran Fang said, Kong Chengyi slightly raised the bottle in a symbolic toast. He tilted his head back and again took a large mouthful of liquor. The numbing spiciness instantly filled his mouth. His tongue curled, and he swallowed with a self-abusive "gulp." His empty stomach immediately burned, the fiery sensation spreading throughout his body. Yet, the expression on his face remained his usual cold indifference, making it impossible to guess his thoughts at that moment.

Refilling his glass by himself, Ran Fang clinked glasses with Kong Chengyi again. This time, Kong Chengyi didn't even move the bottle to clink it. He picked up the bottle and took another large gulp, the fine amber liquid dripping down the corners of his mouth, finally landing on his snow-white shirt, instantly staining a large area.

In just half an hour, Kong Chengyi had emptied a bottle of strong liquor by himself. He still held the cigarette leisurely between his fingers, his head tilted back, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if staring at the ceiling but also lost in thought. The only thing that infuriated Ran Fang was his cold silence, as if he were being treated like air.

"Bro, bottoms up!" Annoyed by his indifference, Ran Fang opened a new bottle of liquor, poured a new glass full, and handed it to him. Holding his own drink, he forcefully clinked their glasses together, causing some of the liquor to splash out.

A mocking smile played on Kong Chengyi's lips. He took the glass, raised it, and drank it all down without hesitation.

Kong Chengyi didn't want to put down his glass anyway, trying to numb himself with alcohol and give his angry and agitated mind a moment of blankness. However, Ran Fang was jealous of his even-tempered elegance even when getting drunk. He was determined to get him completely wasted, not stopping until he was utterly drunk.

Over the next two hours, Ran Fang not only bought a round of drinks for everyone in the bar but also used his charm to invite several beautiful and scantily clad women to drink with them, constantly trying to get the women to pour drinks for Kong Chengyi.

With a cold face, Kong Chengyi refused the women who tried to snuggle up to him, but he didn't refuse the drinks they offered him under various pretenses. From the beginning, he had an attitude of never refusing a drink, finishing each one cleanly before continuing to silently smoke his cigarette alone.

Hiding in her room all day to study the blueprints and gradually sketching out rough design drafts, Hua Lianxi's eyes were already sore and strained by ten o'clock in the evening. She finally went to bed early.

Suddenly, a series of loud crashing sounds woke Hua Lianxi with a start. Clutching her chest, she held her breath in the darkness, straining her ears to hear if there would be any other noises.

After waiting for a while, Hua Lianxi faintly heard messy footsteps, and occasionally a violent cough. Then, she heard the sound of Kong Chengyi's door being slammed open heavily.

Determining that he had returned, the weight in her heart finally lifted, and she let out a relieved breath, closing her eyes to try and fall back asleep.

"Bang... bang... bang..."

One heavy knock after another slammed against the thick bedroom door. Hua Lianxi, who had just managed to relax and fall asleep, was startled awake again. She sat up quickly, staring at the tightly closed door in the darkness.

Was it Kong Chengyi? What was wrong with him? Guessing wildly, she turned on the bedside lamp and quickly stood barefoot against the door.

"Open the door, Hua Lianxi, open the door!" Kong Chengyi, who had been silent all evening, was now like an enraged lion, roaring madly as he pounded on the door panel with a force that almost seemed like he would break it down.

His urgent, low roars in the middle of the night completely woke Hua Lianxi. She was very certain that the person outside the door was Kong Chengyi, but she had no idea what was wrong with him.

"Open the door, open it for me!" Kong Chengyi kicked the door heavily, his dizzy head leaning against the door panel, a throbbing pain in his forehead.

The door panel vibrated, but then suddenly there was no sound. All sounds disappeared for a moment. After considering for a moment, Hua Lianxi still turned the doorknob.

"What's wrong...?" Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Hua Lianxi's soft lips were covered by his hands. Before she could even see Kong Chengyi clearly, she was pulled into his chest.

His slender arms locked her tightly in his embrace, the strong smell of alcohol surrounding her. Kong Chengyi's tall figure pressed down tightly, and suddenly he spun her around, his long leg slamming the door shut with a "bang," directly pinning Hua Lianxi against the door panel.

Pressed heavily against the door panel, Hua Lianxi groaned softly, a sharp pain shooting through her back. Her head was firmly held against his chin. Even the pain only lasted for a second. The thick, spicy scent filled her nostrils, a familiar yet strange and ethereal aroma that captivated her.