"This is a private area. Please leave!" Cheng Shaobai frowned displeased as he strode quickly toward Hua Lianxi, urgently taking the heavy bags of groceries from her hands and knitting his brows. "Why didn't you let someone help with such heavy things? What if you overexert yourself?"
Looking at Cheng Shaobai with concern, Hua Lianxi pointed toward the persistent paparazzi. "What's going on? How did they suddenly appear like this? They really startled me!" Her heart was still pounding wildly. Hua Lianxi clearly felt fear and disgust toward these paparazzi.
Protectively pulling her behind him, Cheng Shaobai held his head high and walked straight forward. "Ignore them. Don't get upset!" Leading her directly toward the lobby, he called out to the security guards from a distance. "These two people trespassed into a residence. Please call the police!"
Watching the two being stopped by security, Cheng Shaobai and Hua Lianxi quickly went upstairs, finally escaping the aggressive atmosphere.
"Don't go out these days. The Sensational Weekly is stirring up trouble again. Today's headline is nonsense about you and me. The online discussions have occupied large sections of the forums already. Give me some time, and I'll find out who's behind trying to smear you!" Suddenly becoming the headline of a gossip magazine—titled boldly "The Private Custom Girl Strikes Again, Heiress of the Cheng Mansion Falls, A Secret Love Nest"—he suspected there must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes. Their target was definitely Hua Lianxi, or else they wouldn't repeatedly hype stories about her.
Still startled, sitting on the sofa, Hua Lianxi looked at Cheng Shaobai in shock, her red lips slightly parted, unable to understand what on earth was going on.
"Why did Sensational Weekly suddenly start spouting nonsense again? I'm nobody special, so why keep picking on me? And now they're painting you in such a light? No, this mustn't continue. I have to clear things up. I can't let them keep twisting facts and blackening the truth!" Although she was just an ordinary woman in this vast world, why did she keep becoming the city's talk of the town? Moreover, all the reports distorted the facts.
Making herself comfortable in the kitchen, Cheng Shaobai poured some warm water and handed it to her. "Calm down first. Drink some water and take care of yourself."
Pulling over a chair opposite her, Cheng Shaobai appeared calm and steady, his voice deep and magnetic. "There must be a mastermind behind this, whose aim is to blacken your name and portray you as a gold-digging private custom girl. If you clarify now, it will only cause another wave of attention, making you the favorite topic of Sensational Weekly again. The real winner will be that magazine. Trust me—wait a few days. I will find out who's behind this with the most solid evidence to clear your name. Otherwise, this matter will keep flooding in endless waves and disturb your peace." He intended to resolve it once and for all. It could not be solved by a simple statement.
Finishing the whole glass of water in big gulps, Hua Lianxi listened to his reassuring analysis and finally calmed down. "Okay, I trust you! I'm sorry, Brother Cheng. This time you've been falsely implicated and your reputation stained because of me. I really apologize!" For a brother who cared so much, who had always lifted her up when she was lonely and helpless, offering both moral support and material aid, she felt guilty for dragging him into slander.
Smiling gently, Cheng Shaobai stood up handsomely, one hand slipping into his pants pocket. "Nonsense like this isn't worth caring about. But if you want to apologize, I'm hungry now—treat me to lunch!"
"Are you really okay with that? I don't want my troubles to affect you. I can talk to Uncle and Auntie about this!" Although he seemed indifferent, Hua Lianxi was still worried about whether the elders of the Cheng family might be upset. If they got angry and blamed Cheng Shaobai, she would feel uneasy.
"Xixi, you're overthinking. If you went to apologize in person, I guarantee my parents would keep you in the Cheng family and treat the gossip as the truth, making you their daughter-in-law!" Cheng Shaobai's dark eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, emitting dazzling light, openly expressing his love and longing for her.
In fact, before coming here, he had already explained everything to the elders. He also told them that he liked Hua Lianxi and wanted to marry her. Since they had a good impression of her from before, they happily agreed.
Catching the gleam in his eyes, Hua Lianxi quickly lowered her head to avoid his gaze and forced a light laugh. "Brother Cheng is talking nonsense again!"
"Xixi, I've always been behind you. As long as you look back, you'll see me. Whenever you need me, I will rush to your side. Remember that!" Smiling in his eyes, Cheng Shaobai neither denied nor concealed his feelings but repeatedly emphasized that as long as she needed him, he would be there. He had promised to be her strongest support.
Avoiding his affection, Hua Lianxi only smiled lightly without responding. Just as she was about to head to the kitchen, her steps stopped abruptly. "Sensational Weekly? Cai Meiren?" The image of Cai Meiren's relentless pursuit flashed through her mind, and Hua Lianxi's face turned pale.
Cheng Shaobai, who had been gazing at her tenderly, looked at her in confusion when she stopped walking, his own face paling. He immediately stepped forward. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should I take you to the hospital?" As he spoke, he prepared to scoop her up horizontally.
Hastily grabbing onto his arm, Hua Lianxi held him tightly, trembling slightly. "Brother Cheng, you said today's headline was also from Sensational Weekly? I suspect it's her. Maybe she made up stories to deliberately smear me!"
Although the worried expression faded somewhat, Cheng Shaobai could still feel her trembling and uncertainty in her voice. "Who? What person? Someone connected closely with Sensational Weekly?"
"Cai Meiren, a reporter for Sensational Weekly!" After thinking for a moment, Hua Lianxi finally revealed the history between them. "Actually, you've met her once. When Mom was first admitted to the psychiatric hospital, her mother was there too. You two crossed paths briefly. Out of shared hardship, I was somewhat acquainted with her. After I became Kong Chengyi's custom girl, I met her again. I have met her several times and even sold her information about where Kong Chengyi and I appeared together, earning corresponding informant fees!" Because she didn't care and all of it was just a role, a customization, after witnessing the media's relentless pursuit of Kong Chengyi, she resolutely decided to sell information about events she attended or outings she made with him to Cai Meiren for money.
"Cai Meiren?" Cheng Shaobai pondered, then took out his phone and ordered someone to look her up.
"I used to think it was just leaking whereabouts, not expecting that the paparazzi would shamelessly dig deeper—uncovering Kong Chengyi's ex-girlfriend and finally exposing my contract and identity. I don't know if this was Cai Meiren's doing, but she's the one who knows me best. I think she's the prime suspect!" From her initial aggressive questioning at the senior activity center, the escalating turmoil broadcasted continuously through the day, she had been mentally shaken and just wanted to escape Kong Chengyi. But she never carefully considered how all this happened so matter-of-factly and thoroughly. If it wasn't someone who knew her well, how could they have dug up Hua Zhenzhen? How could they be so certain about labeling her as a mistress? Even if not entirely factual, her customized identity was fully exposed.
"That makes sense. It's very possible!" Relating to the media's deep investigation, Cheng Shaobai agreed with Hua Lianxi's suspicion. If it weren't someone familiar with her past, there would be no way to uncover Hua Zhenzhen and directly point at her role as the other woman, so confidently spitting half slander, half conviction.
His phone vibrated suddenly. Cheng Shaobai took it out and squinted slightly. Having just ordered the lookup on Cai Meiren, news arrived within minutes.
Suspiciously, he pressed the answer button, listened briefly, and then immediately hung up.
"Cai Meiren was fired after exposing your customized identity last time. However, records show this time she sold the scoop to Sensational Weekly, and even wrote the article for them!"
As if expected yet still surprised, Hua Lianxi covered her mouth with both hands. "It really is her. But why would she do this? We have no grudge between us!"
"Her mother has stayed in the psychiatric hospital for a long time. Maybe she needs money, or maybe she was bribed by someone!" Cheng Shaobai's eyes were clear and confident in his judgment. Without reason or grievance, yet relentlessly attacking one person—it was clearly rent-seeking activity, using her position to slander Hua Lianxi.
"Don't think too much. Stay home these couple of days. I'll investigate everything thoroughly! If you need anything, just tell me. I'll have Cheng Yi bring it to you!" This storm would certainly last two or three days. His earlier act of protecting her would likely be exaggerated, and more media might stake out the neighborhood anytime to capture their every move.
Early that morning at the company, Kong Chengyi habitually held a coffee cup in one hand while flipping through the newspaper with the other. Even before reaching the financial section, his eyes caught a striking headline on the entertainment page: "Private Custom Girl Strikes Again, Cheng Mansion Heir Falls, Secret Love Nest."
Taking a sip, allowing the warm bitterness to flow down his throat, Kong Chengyi fixed his gaze on the densely printed text—full of passionate entanglements between Hua Lianxi and Cheng Shaobai, layered with intimate photos clearly indicating cohabitation.
The image of Hua Lianxi's home came to mind—furniture simple and understated, fitting for a man's residence, with hardly any feminine touches. This suggested the place was Cheng Shaobai's, as with Hua Lianxi's finances, it would be impossible to secure such a high-end apartment so quickly.
Pressing his lips tight, Kong Chengyi clenched his fist instantly, veins bulging on his forehead as he recalled spending a night at Cheng Shaobai's place.
Quickly pulling out his phone, Kong Chengyi dialed Kong Huan.
"Is Hua Lianxi currently living at Cheng Shaobai's? Are they cohabiting?" Kong Huan, who was close to both, must have reliable info.
"Yes, it's the boss's place, but Hua has been on long leave recently and hasn't come to work. I don't know about their relationship now, but just now, new photos were posted online showing the boss holding Sister Hua's hand as they shopped and went home together!" Clicking the mouse swiftly, Kong Huan gossiped while scrutinizing the photos of Cheng Shaobai holding Hua Lianxi's hand, elaborating on their intimacy with a sly smile, as if eager to irritate Kong Chengyi.