Chapter 36: I Haven't Eaten Yet

Her long hair was loose, showing faint signs of disarray, and the previously swaying hem of her long dress appeared slightly wrinkled. Her ears were flushed, and Hua Lianxi lowered her head to stare at her shoes, not daring to meet the gaze of the passing crowd.

Carrying a shopping bag with a lunch box in one hand and holding her with the other, Kong Chengyi strode through the lobby on the first floor, his eyes like a hawk's fixed straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding commotion and surprised glances.

"President, Madam!" The receptionist finally snapped out of her shock as the two approached, standing up hastily.

"President, there's a lady over there looking for you!" She quickly pointed to a woman sitting on the sofa not far away, terrified of Kong Chengyi's cold gaze.

"Yi..." Ding Jia called softly, quickening her pace toward Kong Chengyi, passing through the small crowd that had stopped to watch.

The unfamiliar yet familiar call made Hua Lianxi halt and turn her head, feeling a chill run through her body in an instant.

As she stopped, Kong Chengyi also paused, his eyes coldly fixed on the petite figure running toward him.

Having only jogged a short distance, Ding Jia was slightly out of breath, covering her heart with one hand and smiling brightly. "Are you going out? Can we talk again?"

His sharp gaze fell on her hand covering her heart, and his dark eyes dimmed slightly. Kong Chengyi coldly refused, "No time!"

Standing quietly beside him, Hua Lianxi tried to smile but found even her cheeks couldn't move. She subtly twisted, attempting to escape his grasp.

Noticing Hua Lianxi's stiff face from the corner of his eye, Kong Chengyi tightened his grip, pressing her against his chest. "Have Wu Youwei contact me about the cooperation; I won't discuss anything else!" With that, he turned and left the lobby with Hua Lianxi.

Following his steps, Hua Lianxi couldn't help but look back, seeing Ding Jia clutching her heart, slightly bent over. Even from afar, she seemed to see the tear marks on her cheeks. Her heart clenched, and she bit her lip, trying to cover the pain with the sting.

In the cramped car, Kong Chengyi sat with closed eyes, lips tightly pressed, while Hua Lianxi sat upright, her bright eyes staring at the road ahead. The previously relaxed atmosphere suddenly turned heavy, and the silent space felt suffocating.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of the exhibition center.

Kong Chengyi remained silent, his lips tight, not even glancing at Hua Lianxi beside him. He stepped out of the car and headed straight to the meeting place with the client.

Sitting in the car, Hua Lianxi watched his tall, broad back through the window, her fingers clenched into a fist, trying to control the urge to cry. She blinked quickly to clear the mist from her eyes.

Moments ago, they had been intimate, kissing without barriers, yet now he had reverted to his usual cold demeanor, back to being strangers.

Her forehead rested weakly against the window, her empty eyes watching the bustling streets flash by. Though it was a sunny afternoon, it felt like she was in the darkness of night, trapped with no way out.

Would he feel the secret, intense love she had for him?

How did the walls she had firmly built crumble so easily under his teasing? How did she forget her identity so easily? How did she so easily want more?

How could she rebuild the walls that had been torn down?

Tears welled up in her eyes, gradually spreading down her cheeks. Hua Lianxi bit her lip, stubbornly refusing to let herself sob. She never knew that someone as stubborn as herself could cry so easily.

At midnight, Kong Chengyi opened the door to find the room brightly lit, with dinner still on the table and a plate of peeled oranges on the coffee table. Yet, the large house was devoid of her slender figure.

With hands in his pockets, he walked elegantly toward the room, suddenly turning to look at the golden flowers on the dining table. The once empty table seemed full of life because of the simple blooming flowers, as if it had been touched by warmth.

Waking from sleep, the fragmented sunlight streamed through the window. Memories of waiting alone for him last night surfaced in her mind. Hua Lianxi stared quietly at the window for a moment before slowly getting out of bed.

Standing at the corner of the stairs, Hua Lianxi saw from afar the dinner she had prepared last night and the untouched plate of fruit on the coffee table.

Since the silent afternoon, he hadn't called, nor did he inform her if he would return. Yet she stubbornly followed his orders, wasn't dinner required?

With a sad smile, Hua Lianxi dumped the oranges into the trash bin, then turned to the dining table, intending to dispose of the food as well, when she noticed a check under the bowl.

She reached for the check, counting the amount carefully. Her smile stiffened as she swiftly and decisively threw the food into the trash, grabbed her keys, and left the house.

"Mom, it's Xixi, can you chat with me?" In the empty room, Hua Lianxi smiled as she spoke to Hua Zhenzhen, who was tied to the bed. "Mom, you have to be strong. If you get better, I'll take you for a walk, okay? There are many beautiful flowers in the garden here, and look, it's surrounded by mountains. Various birds come here often. When you get better, I'll take you to see them. You can tell me what kinds of birds they are!" When she was little, Hua Zhenzhen often took her to the nearby park, not only introducing the colorful flowers but also happily pointing out birds for her to identify.

"Xixi? Xixi, let me go..." With her hands bound, Hua Zhenzhen murmured, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Mom, if you listen, Xixi will let you go soon, just like before, taking you for walks and shopping, okay?" Tears fell swiftly, and Hua Lianxi lowered her head, covering her face with her hands, biting her lip tightly to swallow her tears, determined not to let Hua Zhenzhen see her crying.

"Xixi, Xixi... Daughter, my daughter..." Constantly murmuring, as if lost in a distant time, Hua Zhenzhen couldn't notice Hua Lianxi's sobbing.

Her phone suddenly beeped, indicating a message. Hua Lianxi stopped crying, opened it, and saw only a few simple words: "No need to deliver food today!"

Quickly wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Hua Lianxi smiled again, leaning close to Hua Zhenzhen's ear, whispering softly, "Mom, should I tell you our past again? Do you remember when we first arrived in America? One night, I had a high fever that wouldn't go down, and you carried me alone in the middle of the night..."

Spending most of the day at the nursing home, Hua Lianxi meticulously recounted their past to Hua Zhenzhen, finally leaving at sunset, exhausted but reluctant, returning to the confinement of Xiaoyue Residence.

Whenever she lost the courage to live, she found strength in her mother to continue bravely, a courage only her mother could give, allowing her to fulfill her role as a bespoke escort.

Carrying simple groceries, Hua Lianxi turned the door handle, unexpectedly finding it open. Pushing the door, she was surprised to see Kong Chengyi in casual attire.

"You?" Her lips parted slightly, unprepared for his presence at home. She had repeatedly imagined not seeing him today.

With his long legs casually crossed, Kong Chengyi glanced at her standing at the entrance, his sharp gaze sweeping over the groceries in her hand. "I haven't eaten yet."

Having left the check earlier, he found himself distracted several times during meetings throughout the day. As soon as work ended, he chose to come back without hesitation, only to find the house silent, patiently waiting for her appearance, waiting for two whole hours.

His rich voice carried a hint of gentleness, warming Hua Lianxi. She suddenly snapped out of her daze, her lips curling into a smile. "I'll go make dinner right away!"

Rushing into the kitchen with the groceries, Hua Lianxi quickly washed the rice, mentally planning how to pair the dishes.

"Where did you go today?" Silently approaching, Kong Chengyi wrapped his arms around her waist, his palm resting on her belly, his warm lips brushing against her earlobe.

Suddenly embraced, his warm chest enveloped her, his hot breath tickling her tender skin like a feather, making her tremble. Hua Lianxi stopped washing the rice, slightly dodging as she turned her head. "I went to City Mall for a walk!"

Deliberately, Hua Lianxi chose the place most fitting for Kong Chengyi's expectations, holding her breath for his response.

His hand tightened around her waist, Kong Chengyi snorted softly, lowering his head to nibble her earlobe.

The slight pain made Hua Lianxi instinctively lean away, naturally crying out in surprise, her wet hands resting on his, trying to pull him away.

Reversing his grip on her slender fingers, his arms tightened around her, Kong Chengyi suddenly locked her in a fierce embrace, as if hating her cleverness, not allowing her to speak again.