After a brief silence, Lin Xiao held her breath and softly resolved to fight to the end. "Chengyi, just listen to your mother this once. You can't marry that woman. No matter what kind of woman you want, I can help you find her. But Ding Jia is simply not worthy of you. You mustn't have anything to do with her!"
"Get lost! Don't say another word!" Unable to tolerate her persistent maternal admonitions any longer, Kong Chengyi finally turned away from her with disgust. "Don't hold any hope—you can't stop me. Now, get lost!"
Hearing the rude command "get lost" repeatedly, Lin Xiao's lips trembled with anger, but she couldn't utter a word.
The silent air was filled with Kong Chengyi's barely restrained rage. For several seconds, Lin Xiao felt as if her throat was being strangled for a century, her face pale and her heart twisted with pain.
Veins bulging on his forehead, Kong Chengyi pressed his thin lips tightly before releasing them. He turned back around, his face devoid of any anger or pain, but cold frost had settled over his entire being, making him unapproachable.
Meeting Kong Chengyi's icy gaze, Lin Xiao involuntarily took two steps back. Her parted lips quivered as she clenched them shut, finally resigning herself to the harsh truth: Kong Chengyi gave her no chance to persuade him. It was as if if she spoke another word, she would never see him again or exchange even one more sentence.
With his hands in his pockets, Kong Chengyi strode past Lin Xiao, leaving the spacious, silent office in which she seemed frozen in place.
His footsteps gradually faded away, and Lin Xiao's blocked heart suddenly emptied. Feeling weightless, she sank heavily to the cold floor and burst into sobbing tears.
Her dearest son—the one she loved most—treated her like a complete stranger, even colder than a stranger, evidently harboring hostility toward her.
Walking down the bright, glaring corridor, Lin Xiao held her head high with pride. One hand gripped her handbag firmly while the other carefully and slowly adjusted her perfectly styled hair bun to ensure it was not even slightly loose. Her high heel clicks were crisp and decisive, reflecting her resolve at that moment.
"Madam, please this way!" The lead waiter stopped at the end of the corridor, turning to make an inviting gesture toward Lin Xiao, indicating the private room she had reserved.
Slightly nodding to the waiter, Lin Xiao waved him away. "No other service is needed. No one is allowed near the private room!" Determined to settle matters here—even if it meant a fight—she insisted everything be resolved inside this private space.
Taking a deep breath and lifting her chest proudly, Lin Xiao pushed open the door—only to be met with dense smoke filling the room, the heavy smell of cigarettes instantly causing her to furrow her brows sharply. For a moment, she thought she had entered the wrong room.
A glamorous, enchanting face broke into a bright smile. Ding Jia glanced at Lin Xiao and raised her exquisitely pale, slender fingers like creamy porcelain. "Want a smoke?"
Having enjoyed the media's surrounding attention and Kong Chengyi's careful escort, not yet fully savoring the sweetness of being his fiancée, Ding Jia had just received a call from Lin Xiao. She could already guess her mother-in-law's frenzy and fury. Fearless and eager, she also wished to see Lin Xiao—to witness her frantic yet powerless, ridiculous expression.
Quietly sniffing the air, Lin Xiao fixed her sharp gaze on the smoke-wreathed Ding Jia and grabbed a teacup from the table, hurling it straight at her.
Startled by the sudden silent throw, Ding Jia managed to raise her bag, blocking the flying cup. "Heh, don't like me smoking? Fine, I won't." She said this with a smile, then crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray, her smile growing even wider.
"Ding Jia, I warned you—you must stay away from Chengyi, and there's no way you'll marry into the Kong family!" A woman who could be bought with money was not worthy of living under the same roof as her.
The smile on Ding Jia's lips clearly widened, as if she had heard the best joke in the world. She replied leisurely, "But now, I'm Chengyi's fiancée, and soon I will be his wife. Sorry, but I'm going through the gates of the Kong family!" Whatever she desired, she would eventually hold in her hands, and no one could stop her.
With hands gripping the edge of her bag tightly, Lin Xiao's perfectly made-up face revealed bulging veins on her forehead. Her nostrils flared repeatedly as she trembled in anger, hating Ding Jia's victorious smile and mocking words.
"You're shameless! Aren't you afraid I'll expose your ugly past? The money I gave you back then was already my greatest mercy!" Gritting her teeth, Lin Xiao stared with wide eyes unblinkingly at Ding Jia.
"Do you really think that after your shameful deeds are revealed, Chengyi will still marry you? You're just dreaming!"
Suppressing a laugh behind her hand, Ding Jia slowly stood up, the smile on her face full of confidence.
"Shameful deeds? Back then? Drug use? Besides Chengyi, there were other men?"
She spoke as if these scandals belonged to someone else, effortlessly and lightly, as though the one who had been caught using drugs and cheating was a stranger unconnected to her.
"Do you still remember your drug use and infidelity? Do you think Chengyi wouldn't mind? Do you think he'd accept discovering that the obedient woman in his eyes is actually so filthy and despicable? You're just dreaming!"
From the moment she discovered Lin Xiao's secret dirtiness, Ding Jia had sworn she would never allow such a woman near Chengyi, let alone marry into the Kong family—unless she was dead!
"Does he mind? I guess he does… but…" Ding Jia dragged her words, lifting her chin and pointing to an envelope on the table.
"You should take a look at that envelope first. I think Chengyi would care more about this… his mother's infidelity."
She deliberately prolonged the words, revealing a triumphant smile without hesitation.
If it were not for that chance encounter and Kong Chengyi's harsh attitude toward Lin Xiao, she wouldn't have sensed the strangeness between mother and son. She wouldn't have uncovered Lin Xiao's unspeakable private life.
Ding Jia's words hit like a powerful bomb, shattering Lin Xiao's once-certain confidence and causing her to tremble. Her lips quivered, unable to form coherent words.
"You… you said… what? You…"
Impossible. How could it be? Ding Jia must be lying. How could she possibly know? Lin Xiao repeatedly comforted herself and warned herself to stay calm—absolutely not to lose control in front of Ding Jia.
"Gu Feng…" Ding Jia's enchanting brows slightly rose. Her beautiful phoenix-shaped eyes fluttered, exuding a classic beauty's grace. As if everything were calm and natural, she had become the last victor.
The name Lin Xiao least wanted to hear slipped from Ding Jia's lips. Lin Xiao visibly trembled, doing her best to maintain control; otherwise, she might have turned and fled in panic.
"Clear enough? That's the proof of you and Gu Feng back then! If Chengyi knows even a bit of what I found out about you, your romantic escapades with Gu Feng will reach his ears immediately—complete with photos and text. For the rest of your life, you will not be able to hold your head high in front of him!"
Ding Jia withdrew her carefree smile and narrowed her eyes, shooting Lin Xiao a cold, unhidden glare. She spoke plainly in threat, leaving no chance for Lin Xiao to threaten her back. She was confident that from now on, Lin Xiao would be her puppet.
"You…" Lin Xiao bit her lip hard, utterly unprepared to be trapped by this woman. She was caught, with no opportunity for a counterattack.
Picking up her bag, Ding Jia stood firmly in front of Lin Xiao, her crimson lips slightly parted.
"As long as you stay quiet, I will too, mother-in-law!"
She smiled sweetly and walked past Lin Xiao, leaving the private room.
She was no longer who she was before. Now, she had every reason to refuse to give up on Kong Chengyi. Of course, she wouldn't let anyone block her way. Even if she had to keep playing the obedient, innocent fool in front of Kong Chengyi, she could do so effortlessly. Lin Xiao no longer had any capital to obstruct her.
The heavy perfume quickly dissipated. The door to the private room creaked open and then shut swiftly. Lin Xiao felt as if all her strength had been drained. She leaned heavily forward, clutching the brown envelope on the table tightly, and tears streamed down her face.
She had thought that even if she couldn't stop Kong Chengyi, she could at least drive Ding Jia away since she held evidence of her disgraceful past. Unexpectedly, she was the one defeated. The sins of youth now brought retribution in old age.
Later that evening, Hua Lianxi stretched lazily and casually turned on the TV. The large screen was showing the most popular reality show. A not-handsome but humorous male actor was mischievously teasing a teammate. Just a glance was enough for Hua Lianxi to burst out laughing carefree.
Lost in the amusement, Hua Lianxi temporarily forgot all the surrounding chaos. She grabbed some grapes from a fruit plate and shoved several into her mouth. They were refreshing and sweet, and she couldn't help but eat a few more quickly.
After only half an hour, the reality show ended, and the grapes were nearly gone. Hua Lianxi instantly felt a twinge of regret, somewhat annoyed by her greed, and worried about dinner. Clearly, she had lost appetite.
Slowly standing, she lightly shook her legs, numb from sitting too long. She reached for the remote to turn off the TV but froze stiff, captivated by the screen.
"Chengzai Group's CEO Kong Chengyi has announced his engagement to his first love, Ding Jia, and personally declared an end to all past gossip… which means…"
Staring fixedly at the television, Hua Lianxi suddenly felt plunged into darkness. She could no longer hear the TV sound. Her eyes and mind were filled only with the image of Kong Chengyi tenderly holding Ding Jia's hand.
He's engaged? Really engaged? Finally, he belongs to that woman.
Her throat tightened, and an intense ache swelled in her chest. Hua Lianxi dropped the remote and covered her mouth with both hands. She dashed to the bathroom and vomited violently into the toilet.
In mere seconds, it was as if a flood had poured out of her belly, expelling all the grapes she had eaten with satisfaction earlier. Tears and snot dripped onto her face with the retching. She steadied her breath leaning on the toilet, barely able to clean her disheveled face before nausea surged again. Her stomach was empty with nothing left to vomit, yet she kept dry heaving, as if even bitterness was coming up.