Chapter 23：I Seriously Want to Strangle You.

"Kong Chengyi... Kong Chengyi..."

Suddenly, Kong Chengyi forcefully gripped her jaw, letting out a cold "tch" sound. His deep voice was hoarse as he said, "Is all you see money? Money?"

Even though he had downed nearly three bottles of strong liquor, even though his thoughts were muddled and his steps were unsteady, he still hadn't touched any of the women at the bar. He had still stumbled his way back to Xiaoyue Residence, still hoping to find her presence and fragrance in his room, still obsessively and bewilderingly drawn to her, his chaotic mind only wanting to crush her into his body, punishing her for her senselessness, her boundless greed.

The sudden pain made Hua Lianxi gasp sharply. A sliver of reason remained in her dazed mind. A cold voice emerged, seeming even clearer and icier in the darkness. Hua Lianxi suddenly felt ice-cold all over. The tenderness that had felt so familiar just a moment ago vanished without a trace.

The breath exhaled from his nostrils reeked of strong smoke and alcohol. Kong Chengyi's face was contorted as his large hand forcefully gripped her jaw. "Hua Lianxi... you... I really want to strangle you!"

The intertwined figures illuminated by the dim bedside lamp suddenly froze. Hua Lianxi opened her round eyes wide, staring straight into Kong Chengyi's gloomy gaze. "Kill me? Why?"

One moment, passionate kisses; the next, utter disgust. Hua Lianxi's agitated heart instantly turned cold. Her nose stung, and she desperately held back the tears that were about to spill.

He actually loathed her so much that he wanted to strangle her? Was she so utterly despicable and hated? Son or daughter? All the secret joy was just a hypocritical joke. And even though she knew it was just a bubble in the sun, just an illusion, her heart had secretly started to have some expectations, a faint glimmer of hope for something.

Letting out two mocking "heh-heh" laughs, Kong Chengyi released her jaw and used one hand to push himself off the door panel, moving away from where he had been pressing against her. "Why? You give me enough reason to strangle you a hundred times!"

Clearly, all she wanted was money, a custom-made girl who only recognized money. Yet, he had started to have expectations of her, to dote on her.

The so-called truth and outcome were nothing more than her true colors. What was there for him to find strange or be angry about?

Why was he angry, even to the point of drinking himself into oblivion?

Without waiting for her to argue, Kong Chengyi forcefully pushed her aside and strode out the door.

Pushed away heavily, Hua Lianxi lost her balance and fell to the ground, her forehead hitting the floor with a "thud." The pain and dizziness made her collapse onto the floor, powerless to move for a long time.

Clear tears dripped down her cheeks. Hua Lianxi bit her lip tightly, stubbornly refusing to cry out loud, absolutely not wanting Kong Chengyi to hear even the slightest sob.

Bright sunlight streamed directly into the room. Kong Chengyi sat up in bed, holding his throbbing head. He squinted and looked up, seeing that the window was open and the heavy curtains hadn't been drawn. The direct sunlight made the whole room feel hot and stuffy.

Pressing his forehead, Kong Chengyi realized he was still in his dress pants and shirt, reeking of smoke and alcohol. The kisses and accusations from last night flashed through his mind, and his newly awakened face instantly darkened.

Casually pulling off his belt, he then took off his shirt and dress pants as he walked towards the bathroom. Kong Chengyi stepped into the shower naked, letting the hot water pour down from above, deliberately washing away the lingering scent of yesterday.

Changing into a fresh, tailored suit, Kong Chengyi appeared in the living room as impeccably dressed as ever.

White porridge and milk were already set on the dining table, and the sound of sizzling could be heard from the kitchen, a fragrant aroma drifting into his nostrils.

Coming out of the kitchen with a freshly pan-fried, slightly runny egg, Hua Lianxi looked up and saw Kong Chengyi staring blankly at the breakfast on the table.

His gaze swept over the food coldly. Kong Chengyi turned and walked straight towards the door. "No need to cook anymore!"

"Okay, Young Master Kong!" Hua Lianxi deliberately raised her voice, a sweet smile appearing on her face.

It wasn't until the door slammed shut heavily with a "bang" that the composure Hua Lianxi had been desperately faking crumbled. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably, but her face mechanically maintained the sweet smile as she slowly and quietly sat down at the dining table to eat her breakfast.

After that morning, Kong Chengyi didn't appear at Xiaoyue Residence for a whole week. He vanished from Hua Lianxi's world like thin air, leaving her with absolute silence.

All the media outlets that had once enthusiastically sought him out and followed him suddenly went silent, with no reports about him at all. Hua Lianxi stayed confined in Xiaoyue Residence, faintly persisting in sketching design drafts, but she constantly found herself just sitting blankly. Her thoughts always wandered uncontrollably, her mind replaying the heat and loss of control from that night, finally settling again on his angry and contemptuous departure, slamming the door. The heart that had been hanging in the balance seemed to have nowhere left to settle.

Finally, on the eighth day, she didn't want to imprison herself anymore. She could no longer endure this boundless, disoriented feeling. She finally picked up the phone and called Cheng Yi, who had been protesting being neglected for a long time.

Walking on the bustling, prosperous street, the two of them laughed heartily. Everything seemed to have gone back in time to the beautiful old days. However, Hua Lianxi knew clearly in her heart that Cheng Yi was still the straightforward Cheng Yi, while her own taste was full of bitterness. The rose in her heart that seemed about to bloom but was stifled had nowhere to confide. Even when she laughed heartily, she felt like she was just laughing hollowly.

After strolling through the bustling streets, the two of them even walked tirelessly through a popular ancient architectural scenic spot favored by tourists, claiming to appreciate the wisdom of the great builders and also to find inspiration for their own designs.

After a whole day of walking and non-stop, machine-gun-like chatting, Hua Lianxi finally felt exhausted, finally gradually erasing some of the bitterness in her heart, completely immersing herself in the playful banter with Cheng Yi, waiting for a sumptuous dinner.

"Sorry, I'm late!" A cheerful voice suddenly landed above them. Hua Lianxi looked up and saw Cheng Shaobai pulling out a chair and sitting down, his eyes full of surprise.

"My brother happened to be nearby, so I invited him to have dinner with us!" Cheng Yi stuck out her tongue and quickly explained to Hua Lianxi, pretending it was just a casual invitation, not daring to clearly express a certain intention.

"Do you mind if I join? Am I interrupting you?" Raising an eyebrow, Cheng Shaobai also asked Hua Lianxi with a serious expression, as if he would leave immediately if she said "yes."

"How could it be? I was actually planning to look for you. I have some initial ideas for the house and wanted to discuss them with you to see what you think." She happened to have some rough ideas for the design and was looking for an opportunity to ask for his opinion. Seeing him now was a very good opportunity.

Casually taking off his jacket and draping it over the back of his chair, Cheng Shaobai even loosened his tie and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. "I've been busy all day. Now I just want to have a relaxed dinner. We can talk about the house later when I take you back!"

"Xixi, you took the design proposal? That's fantastic! Hurry back to 'Cheng Family Manor'! We can go to work together, leave work together, and design the most comfortable and client-favorite houses!" Not expecting Hua Lianxi to actually take the design draft, Cheng Yi was so happy she almost screamed. She leaned over and hugged her directly. "Your design talent is better than mine. You'll definitely become an outstanding designer!"

Suddenly hugged by the excited Cheng Yi, Hua Lianxi was still holding her water glass. The water in her mouth hadn't had time to be swallowed and went straight up her nose, causing her to cough violently.

"Why are you always so reckless? Didn't you see she was drinking water?" Cheng Shaobai quickly pulled Cheng Yi away and handed several tissues to Hua Lianxi, his large hand gently patting her back to help her catch her breath.

"Cough cough cough..." Her nose felt uncomfortable and started running, and her eyes were watering from the choking. Hua Lianxi coughed while clutching her chest and used the tissues to cover her nose. Her petite body trembled violently with each cough.

As soon as Kong Chengyi's tall figure stepped into the restaurant, it immediately attracted countless gazes. A dark blue, high-end tailored suit perfectly showcased his impressive physique. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, and his Italian black leather shoes looked even more polished and exquisite on the carpet. His hawkish gaze was fixed straight ahead.

His large strides suddenly halted, his gaze unexpectedly caught by that petite figure. Kong Chengyi's usually cold features instantly darkened, and then his pitch-black eyes stared at the large hand placed on her back.

"Young Master Kong, this way please!" The restaurant manager respectfully bowed slightly to lead Kong Chengyi, while flatteringly introducing, "Our restaurant has just launched new seasonal dishes. Please take your time to savor them later, Young Master Kong!"

Finally catching her breath and wiping away her tears and runny nose, Hua Lianxi looked up and suddenly met a pair of gloomy eyes. She tilted her head back, stunned and at a loss.

"What's wrong? Still can't breathe?" Cheng Shaobai's large hand gently swept up and down her back, his face full of anxiety, afraid she was suffocating.

Nodding coldly to signal the manager to lead the way, Kong Chengyi resumed walking straight ahead.

Staring straight ahead as he gradually walked closer, his face against the light was faintly visible. Hua Lianxi's heart suddenly pounded, and as if instantly realizing something, she hurriedly shifted her body, simultaneously reaching out and shaking off Cheng Shaobai's still gently patting hand.

"You?" His large hand inexplicably shaken off, Cheng Shaobai was about to ask, but he looked up and saw Hua Lianxi staring blankly ahead. Turning his head, he saw Kong Chengyi walking straight towards them with a cold face.

Looking at his shaken-off hand, Cheng Shaobai nodded calmly at Kong Chengyi, not feeling that his actions were inappropriate in any way.

As if he hadn't seen her at all, Kong Chengyi walked straight past Hua Lianxi, without even glancing sideways.

His tall figure passed by, and a faint familiar scent wafted through the air. He gradually walked further away, until no trace of the scent could be smelled anymore. Only then did Hua Lianxi lower her head, taking a sip of water to hide her expression, a self-mocking smile slightly curving her lips.

"Hmph! What's with the arrogance! Xixi, you have to leave her!" Clearly having seen them but treating the person like air, Cheng Yi grumbled with dissatisfaction, having absolutely no liking for the aloof Kong Chengyi.

Smiling slightly, Hua Lianxi didn't speak, and Cheng Shaobai beside her also remained silent, his eyes filled with gentle affection as he gazed at her.

The car moved smoothly and slowly on the busy road. A low, pleasant English song played in the car. Cheng Shaobai held the steering wheel with both hands, his eyes occasionally glancing at Hua Lianxi beside him. He saw her sitting upright, staring blankly ahead, her fingers interlaced.