Chapter 32: Miss Shadow

Opening the balcony door of the kitchen, Hua Lianxi took a deep breath of the fresh morning air, silently encouraging herself. She habitually masked all her emotions with a smile before turning back to the kitchen to meticulously fry an egg.

Returning to his room in a fit of anger and frustration, Kong Chengyu spent the night in silence, staring at the vast night sky. A pile of extinguished cigarette butts lay at his feet. As the sky gradually lightened, he wearily returned to his room, took a quick shower, dressed neatly, and left, planning to head straight to the office.

"Good morning, Mr. Kong! Breakfast is ready!" Hua Lianxi was momentarily stunned as she carried the freshly fried egg to the dining table. She hadn't expected him to wake up early, and there he was, dressed in a full suit, clearly ready for work.

With his hands in his pockets, Kong Chengyu's sharp eyes quickly scanned her standing by the dining table. Her pure and clean homey appearance was endearing but filled him with disgust. Pressing his lips together, he ignored her greeting and strode out of Xiaoyue Residence without a word.

For several days in a row, Hua Lianxi prepared breakfast early in the morning, each day offering a different Western-style dish. Yet, every day, Kong Chengyu merely gave her a cold glance before leaving, not even sparing her a step closer or a second look.

Holding a book by a famous foreign designer, Hua Lianxi's mind drifted to Kong Chengyu's icy, tense features. His eyes no longer held any trace of her presence, and the coldness had long since numbed her limbs. Each time she forced a sweet smile, it lacked a bit more life and affection than the last. Gradually, all that remained was an empty smile, barely holding her together.

Frustrated, she put the book down and pulled open the curtains, letting the evening glow seep into the suffocating room. She leaned against the window, her eyes gazing blankly at the empty, wide road outside. Suddenly, she felt trapped—if he didn't pull her along, she was stuck in place, and this suffocating stagnation was becoming unbearable.

The silence of the room was broken by the vibration of her phone. Mechanically, she turned and picked it up, her finger tapping to open a rare text message: "Attend the banquet at 7 PM tonight!"

No greeting, no location or time for the banquet—just a cold, empty few words exuding infinite disdain and command.

Clutching the phone for a moment, Hua Lianxi suddenly put it down and rushed to the walk-in closet. She flung open the wardrobe door, her slender fingers quickly running through the rows of expensive evening gowns. She wanted to see him, to stand by his side, even if it was just a pretense of intimacy. At this moment, she craved it.

With her long hair cascading down and a floor-length nude gown elegantly draping her figure, her fingers intertwined naturally as they walked through the banquet hall filled with the soothing melody of a piano. The moment Hua Lianxi and Kong Chengyu entered, they captured the attention of all the guests.

Elegantly following his steady steps in her 10cm high heels, Hua Lianxi nodded gracefully at the gazes fixed on her. Her phoenix eyes glanced sideways at Kong Chengyu, who remained expressionless, ignoring the attention.

Her fair shoulder brushed against his broad one as she softly whispered into his ear, "Mr. Kong, I need to sit for a while." Even though it had only been a short ten minutes, the high heels were already causing her discomfort, her feet quickly going numb, forcing her to request a break.

Taking a sip of champagne, Kong Chengyu lowered his eyelids, scanning her high heels. His large hand then rested on her waist as he leaned in, his hot breath brushing against her delicate features. "Hurt? Tired?" He chuckled lowly before coldly adding, "Once you've taken the money, you have no right to complain about pain or fatigue."

The elegant nude gown paired with towering heels made her stand out, but while the front of the dress was modest, the back was completely open, revealing her graceful spine. Her fair skin glowed under the dazzling lights, and from the moment they entered, he had noticed the lustful gazes of the men in the room. Those greedy eyes stirred the already restless irritation in his heart, making him wish he could lock her at home, away from prying eyes, or crush her into his body and punish her fiercely.

Her smile froze instantly, and Hua Lianxi held her breath, her entire body turning cold.

That simple statement of fact plunged her into an abyss, and the world around her darkened in an instant.

No right? Indeed, having taken the money, she was nothing more than a custom-made wife. What right did she have to make demands?

Noticing her stiffness, Kong Chengyu tugged at his lips in mockery, taking another sip of champagne. His other hand lightly pressed against her waist. "Smile."

With a desolate look, Hua Lianxi leaned her head against his chest, her slender hand naturally wrapping around his waist, even provocatively kneading his firm muscles.

His face tense, Kong Chengyu endured her subtle kneading before suddenly tightening his grip and pulling her closer into his embrace.

Pressed against his chest, Hua Lianxi's phoenix eyes fixed on his strong jawline. She completely forgot to resist, oblivious to the fact that they were still in the bustling banquet hall, attracting the astonished or curious gazes of everyone present.

"Yi..." Ding Jia called out softly, holding a glass of champagne.

From the moment Kong Chengyu and Hua Lianxi entered the Wu family's anniversary celebration banquet, hand in hand, she had spotted them. If she hadn't been occupied with Wu Youwei and other conversations, she would have approached earlier. What she couldn't fathom was that in less than ten minutes, the two were passionately kissing in front of everyone.

In the distant past, Kong Chengyu had never been intimate with her in public, even refusing her request for a kiss.

"Yi..." The soft female voice reached her ears, and Hua Lianxi's fingers, which had been caressing him, suddenly stopped. She awoke from the embrace, startled.

Giving her slender waist a firm squeeze, Kong Chengyu took a deep breath before straightening up.

"Yi..." Ding Jia's cherry lips parted slightly, her cheeks maintaining a sweet smile as she waited for him to turn around.

His handsome brows furrowed, and Kong Chengyu turned around. His dark eyes, once filled with desire, dimmed as he recognized the petite figure before him. Pressing his thin lips together, he didn't respond to her call.

After adjusting her breathing slightly, Hua Lianxi looked up, ready to force a smile, but she froze instantly.

The tight black dress revealed her fair collarbone, and on her feet were a pair of pink high heels, simple yet exuding feminine charm. Her shoulder-length black hair cascaded softly, and her delicate features were lightly made up. Petite and charming—that was Hua Lianxi's first impression. The familiar attire made her feel as though she was seeing herself in Xiaoyue Residence or at various banquets. Tight black dresses had always been Kong Chengyu's favorite.

He had repeatedly tailored her to look like this.

Her heart felt as though it had been struck hard, and Hua Lianxi couldn't move, her entire body turning cold.

So, this version of herself was nothing more than a shadow of the petite woman before her. She had always been a custom-made shadow, without a trace of her own identity. She should be called "Miss Shadow."

A self-mocking smile appeared on her lips, and Hua Lianxi couldn't bring herself to greet the woman before her, nor did she have the strength to ask her name.

"Yi, can we talk alone?" Ding Jia gave Hua Lianxi a soft smile before turning her watery eyes to Kong Chengyu, pleading for a chance to explain.

Ignoring her plea, Kong Chengyu downed the rest of his champagne, set the glass aside, and with a slight pressure on Hua Lianxi's waist, led her toward the garden.

Hua Lianxi numbly followed him to the garden outside the banquet hall. The cool night breeze gently brushed against her, but it couldn't dispel the tangled tremors in her heart. Memories of their time together flooded her mind, and in every scene, her attire, her demeanor, even the way she made breakfast in the morning or the way he suddenly embraced her—it was all just a shadow of someone else.

Finding a secluded corner in the garden, Kong Chengyu released her and leaned against the wall, lighting a cigarette. He tilted his head back, gazing at the starry sky.

The familiar scent of smoke filled the air, snapping Hua Lianxi out of her reverie. Trembling, she whispered, "I need to use the restroom." Without waiting for his response, she lifted her skirt and hurried off toward the restroom.

Taking a drag from his cigarette, Kong Chengyu exhaled heavily, the thick smoke filling his lungs before he released it. His dark eyes stared at the starry sky, yet it seemed as though his thoughts were far away.

"Yi, please listen to my explanation!" Ding Jia stepped out from the shadows, standing before him, her voice choked with emotion. "I had a reason for leaving back then. I never wanted to leave you. I miss you, I love you, I won't leave you again!" She poured out her feelings in one breath, tears streaming down her face. As soon as she finished speaking, she broke into sobs, her entire body shaking.