Chapter 38: The Black Diamond Card

"Wife?" Whispering her words, Kong Chengyi watched her relaxed gait with a ghostly smile, his eyes gleaming as he stared at her, "Have you fulfilled your wifely duties today?"

With a disdainful lift of her chin, Hua Lianxi turned to leave, "Sir, husband and wife must respect each other like ice. If there's a kiss, the patron must initiate it, and it costs a hundred thousand per kiss. As for wifely duties, no Black Diamond Card, no service."

His brow arched, Kong Chengyi flicked out a Black Diamond Card, swiftly grabbed her wrist, and agilely pulled her into his embrace, "I'll pay, I'm the patron."

It was all a deliberate pretense of nonchalance. Before Hua Lianxi could react, she was yanked into his chest, trapped firmly within his arms, and she cried out in surprise, "Kong Chengyi!"

With one hand squeezing her soft waist, he mischievously lifted her slightly, pressing her abdomen against his thigh, "What? I'm the patron, aren't I?"

A hundred thousand per kiss. And wifely duties require a Black Diamond Card? Kong Chengyi's lips curled in mockery, never expecting her to speak so fluently, as if everything was a matter of course.

Sensing his displeasure, Hua Lianxi pursed her lips and struggled to retreat, ironically realizing that reality was far from her expectations. In the tangled web of reality, he was always the patron, and she was merely a custom-made lady, willing to bow to his trousers as long as there was money.

"Mr. Kong is indeed generous!" She forced a dry laugh, repeatedly trying to escape his embrace, to flee from his familiar yet strange scent.

His large hand gripped her squirming chin, and Kong Chengyi leaned in with a dark expression, his warm, fragrant breath brushing her cheek, "You like it, don't you?"

In a daze, Hua Lianxi felt herself being scooped up by Kong Chengyi, who hurriedly carried her to his room and unceremoniously tossed her onto the large bed.

He hated her matter-of-factness, yet upon touching her, he was willing to drown in her fragrance as the patron.

Like repeating a frog squat hundreds of times, her body ached all over. Hua Lianxi slowly opened her eyes to find her hands resting on his narrow waist, like true lovers, intimately embracing in exhaustion.

Her long lashes fluttered like delicate butterflies. Hua Lianxi held her breath, staring at the bronze skin so close to her, her bright eyes sparkling with a smile.

The spacious room was bathed in bright light, with dappled sunlight casting patterns on the floor, creating a serene and warm atmosphere.

Pouting slightly, Hua Lianxi closed her eyes, carefully feeling his warmth, when suddenly she felt her chest tighten and opened her eyes.

Kong Chengyi growled lowly, "Didn't I satisfy you last night?"

He had woken up the moment she did, but kept his eyes closed, thinking she would fall back asleep.

Hua Lianxi froze, not daring to move, her face flushed with embarrassment for being caught red-handed in her earlier sneak attack. Her gaze dropped, not daring to meet his teasing eyes.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and Kong Chengyi's just-awakened, hoarse voice seductively murmured, "Hmm?" He felt her uncontrollable tremors and chuckled softly, pleased with her shy, immobile demeanor.

Hua Lianxi turned her face towards the bedside table, her hazy eyes suddenly fixing on it, "Black Diamond Card..."

Kong Chengyi's smiling eyes instantly clouded with anger. Following her gaze to the bedside table, he saw the bank card he had carelessly tossed there last night. He sneered coldly, swiftly got out of bed, and headed straight for the bathroom.

The sudden departure of his warm chest seemed to take all the warmth from the air. Hua Lianxi shivered involuntarily, quickly pulling the blanket around her, her expression wooden as she looked towards the bathroom.

Listening to the sound of running water in the bathroom, Hua Lianxi wrapped the blanket tighter and tighter around herself, repeatedly murmuring, "Black Diamond Card... Black Diamond Card..."

She had merely been lost in his tenderness, her thoughts muddled, and had blurted it out without thinking, only to be met with his disgust. This was not what she wanted.

In the short ten minutes, Hua Lianxi kept thinking about how to explain herself when he came out, how to convey her true feelings.

The bathroom door creaked open. Hua Lianxi, wrapped in the blanket, hurriedly sat up, her round eyes fixed on him with his wet hair.

With a towel in hand, Kong Chengyi's thin lips were tightly pressed, as if Hua Lianxi didn't exist in the room. He walked straight to the walk-in closet without a glance.

"Kong..." Watching his dark expression, Hua Lianxi clutched the blanket and finally spoke urgently, but before she could finish calling his name, her phone's vibration interrupted her.

The buzzing sound filled the room. Kong Chengyi paused his towel-drying and turned towards the bedside table, seeing his phone screen light up.

As he approached the bed step by step, Hua Lianxi, wrapped in the blanket, also moved, hoping to get closer to better explain her earlier slip.

Glancing at the caller ID, Kong Chengyi's deep voice resonated, "Ding Ding..."

The name "Ding Ding" exploded in Hua Lianxi's heart like a powerful firecracker. Her hands clenched the sheets even tighter, wrinkling them into a ball. The eagerness in her gaze gradually cooled.

"I'll be right there!" Holding the phone, Kong Chengyi quickly dried his short hair and hurried into the walk-in closet.

Her moving lips finally closed tightly. Hua Lianxi, as if drained of all strength, leaned back against the headboard, watching his hurried figure disappear into the closet. A minute later, the sound of a door slamming echoed from downstairs.

The loud noise shattered all of Hua Lianxi's hopes and intentions to explain. Slowly sliding back onto the bed, she wearily pulled the blanket over her head, sniffled, and even though the thin blanket still carried his fresh scent, large teardrops silently rolled down her cheeks. The vast Xiaoyue Residence once again became a silent castle.

For three consecutive days, Kong Chengyi disappeared from Hua Lianxi's dim sky like a dazzling firework. Even though she forced herself to accompany Hua Zhenzhen as usual and sit at her desk revising design drafts, she felt hollowed out, lifeless, as if even the lines she drew lacked vitality, devoid of any spiritual essence.

For three days, Hua Lianxi even chose to sleep in Kong Chengyi's room, weakly clinging to the lingering scent on his blanket, but he never returned.

The dappled morning sunlight shone on the balcony. Hua Lianxi stared blankly at the still-budding white flower ball, mirroring her current state of mind—dim and unable to express her longing. Looking up at the azure sky, her peripheral vision caught the swaying teru teru bozu, and her mind flashed back to his resolute departure.

Suddenly standing up, Hua Lianxi grabbed her keys and wallet, rushing to the supermarket. She quickly gathered a pile of ingredients and efficiently prepared lunch.

Standing on the opposite side of the road from Chenzai Group with lunch in hand, Hua Lianxi repeatedly took deep breaths, mustering her courage. Just as she was about to step onto the crosswalk, she joyfully saw the tall figure of Kong Chengyi emerge from the entrance.

Her lips parted, ready to call out, but upon closer inspection, she saw the petite woman following behind him.

Watching her stand quietly by his side, her sweet smile, seeing her being escorted to the passenger seat, watching Kong Chengyi walk around to the driver's side, then lean over to affectionately touch her forehead and kiss it.

The midday sun blazed down. Dressed lightly, Hua Lianxi stood exposed on the roadside. Her once clear head suddenly felt dizzy, beads of sweat like raindrops forming on her forehead, gradually dripping into her eyes, making her blink repeatedly.

Staring blankly as he drove away quickly, watching the entrance of Chenzai Group across the street become completely empty, only the thick glass automatic doors remained.

Closing her eyes, she fiercely wiped away the indistinguishable tears or sweat with the back of her hand. Hua Lianxi tossed the lunchbox into the trash, hailed a taxi, and headed straight to the nursing home.

It was all just a dream, brutally awakened by the midday sun. What pained her most was that she had let herself become infatuated, continuously falling into endless speculation and fantasy.

As night fell, the quiet evening gradually hung in the sky. The restaurant, filled with the melodious sound of a violin, welcomed its busiest time of the day.

"Brother Cheng, here's the first draft. Take a look!" Pushing the thick stack of design drafts across the table to Cheng Shaobai, Hua Lianxi forced a polite smile.

Taking the drafts, Cheng Shaobai flipped through them briefly before setting them aside, "How's Auntie been? Sorry, there's been some trouble at the U.S. branch recently. I've been flying there almost every week and haven't had time to visit her."

It had been several days since they last met. When he received her invitation call in the evening, he immediately ended his meeting and hurried over.

"She's been doing well. She recognized me this afternoon!" Speaking of Hua Zhenzhen, Hua Lianxi smiled with relief, grateful for each day's progress. "Thank you for all you've done for us. I never had a chance to properly thank you. Tonight's meal is my way of saying thanks!" Remembering Cheng Shaobai's unwavering support, Hua Lianxi still felt she owed him too much.

His intense gaze fell on her lightly made-up face. Cheng Shaobai keenly noticed her subdued mood but smiled brightly, "Just one meal? I miss your cooking. When can you cook for me again? Gratitude requires sincerity."

Just like in the past at his home, she had bustled around like a little chef, happily playing with Cheng Yi, yet creating flavors he had always longed for. He had always wished to quietly watch her cook again, to enjoy her handmade meals.

With a faint smile, Hua Lianxi took a small sip of water, "When my mom gets discharged, she'll cook for you. I'll invite you and Cheng Yi then!" The subtle flirtation in the air was palpable, but Hua Lianxi pretended not to notice, repeatedly emphasizing that Cheng Yi would be invited too.

"Yi... Can we change restaurants?"

The familiar name and call reached her ears. Hua Lianxi suddenly looked up, her round pupils reflecting Kong Chengyi and the petite woman not far ahead.