"Young Master Kong, have you really gotten engaged?"
"Young Master Kong, is this Miss Ding Jia your fiancée? May I ask when you plan to get married? Will the wedding banquet be held at the Chengzai Hotel?"
"Young Master Kong, this engagement came so suddenly—does this mean double happiness? Have you fulfilled the Old Madam's wish for a great-grandchild?"
Holding tightly onto Kong Chengyi's broad hand, Ding Jia made a sincere effort to smile sweetly and lightly nodded, gazing affectionately into Kong Chengyi's eyes.
She was slightly surprised by how fast the media moved. Just half an hour ago, she had instructed Ke Jie to announce their engagement, and as soon as they stepped out of the private room, they were immediately surrounded by a swarm of reporters who already knew their location in such a short time.
Biting her trembling lips, Ding Jia suppressed the wild joy in her heart. This was exactly the outcome she wanted: to be confronted directly by the media, relentlessly followed by cameras, having everything witnessed under the public eye. Only in this way would her fiancée identity be solidly established and no longer be shaken or treated like a child's game full of uncertainty.
"Young Master Kong, could you say a few more words? Please tell us how you feel right now."
"Young Master Kong, is your private arrangement with Hua Lianxi officially over?"
...
Flashes of camera lights flickered incessantly as a sea of black-clad reporters surged forward, microphones thrust toward him.
Scanning the wildly excited crowd with his sharp eyes, Kong Chengyi held Ding Jia's hand and steadily walked on without haste. Ignoring the mixed-up questions amid the commotion, his cold features revealed a faint trace of impatience—there was none of the happiness one might expect from a newly engaged man.
"Young Master Kong, Hua Lianxi was just exposed to be romantically involved with the head of the Cheng family estate, and you announced your engagement immediately after. Is this a coincidence or a deliberate choice of timing? Is this meant as retaliation? It seems your relationship with Hua Lianxi wasn't just a financial private arrangement?"
His steady footsteps suddenly halted, and his cold gaze fixed sharply on the source of the harsh voice.
"Indeed, it was a deliberate choice!"
His calm voice landed like a bombshell, instantly silencing the crowd. People gasped, swallowed hard, and waited tensely for his next words.
Fingers intertwined tightly twitched, and Ding Jia's eyes widened in astonishment at his sudden declaration. She was unsure of his intent and even vaguely feared he might say something related to Hua Lianxi.
Kong Chengyi's tall figure stopped. He slightly turned his head to glance at Ding Jia, whose eyes were still wide open. Gradually, the icy chill in his gaze softened, and a mischievous smile curled on his lips.
"All the noisy gossip ends here. She is the woman by my side—my fiancée!"
Finally, Kong Chengyi turned toward Ding Jia and gently pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment. The act caused an even more intense burst of camera flashes.
Clutching Kong Chengyi's suit lapel, Ding Jia still stared wide-eyed, but her worry instantly turned into joy. The incessant clicking of cameras overwhelmed her senses, freezing her expression momentarily, unable to even move the muscles in her cheeks.
Straightening up to face the flashing lights, his sharp gaze swept across the surrounding reporters. Without waiting for their questions, Kong Chengyi lifted the still-dazed Ding Jia and strode forward decisively.
The reporters, forced backward by his steady steps and still lost in interpreting his brief personal statement, finally caught up and fired a volley of questions once again:
"Young Master Kong, when is the wedding scheduled? Will it be held in this city?"
"Young Master Kong, is Miss Ding Jia truly your first love? Why did you break up back then? What's different about now?"
"Miss Ding, have you always been Young Master Kong's woman behind the scenes? Do you not mind his previous private arrangements? Do you know Miss Hua Lianxi?"
...
Smiling fully at last, Ding Jia looked sweet and happy under the hot spotlight. Having finally proclaimed it openly to the world, she was beginning to feel a faint sense of reality in becoming Kong Chengyi's wife. She longed to hold him tightly, to announce to everyone with the simplest, most natural embrace: Kong Chengyi is hers, and everything she desires will ultimately belong to her.
Ignoring the relentless barrage of questions, Kong Chengyi kept his face cold as he held Ding Jia close and walked away.
Having just finished lunch, Lin Xiao sipped her tea lightly and casually turned on the television.
"Around noon today, Kong Chengyi, president of Chengzai Group, announced his engagement to his first love, Ding Jia, through his assistant. Later, they were surrounded by the media at a hotel, where he personally confirmed the engagement and implied that all previous gossip should end. This naturally causes people to suspect that he was referring to the private arrangement with Hua Lianxi…"
In the dull-colored studio stood a brightly dressed young woman who fluently reported the sensational gossip. The camera then cut to focus on the intertwined hands of the couple being swarmed by reporters.
Lin Xiao's hand holding the tea trembled, and the scalding liquid spilled onto the back of her hand. The slight burn caused her to furrow her elegant brows tightly.
Engaged?
Her son is engaged?
Staring fixedly at the screen, Lin Xiao's clear eyes grew wider and wider as the cold, defined features on the screen were tightly surrounded by the media. Her tea cup slipped limply from her fingers and shattered on the floor with a crisp sound. The hot water splashed onto her foot, but she didn't notice.
Covering her mouth in disbelief with one hand, she fumbled wildly for her phone. The long busy signal ("beep beep beep") only made her more frantic as she paced nervously in circles.
"Kong Chengyi, you're insane! Why must you marry that woman? Is this your revenge against me? Are you trying to kill me with anger?!"
Still faced with an uncaring busy tone, Lin Xiao muttered curses under her breath in urgency and suddenly slammed the phone down.
"I won't allow it. I won't let that woman into the Kong family! She can dream on!"
Glaring angrily at the screen, Lin Xiao ran up the stairs shouting, "Aunt Yang, get the driver ready. I'm going to the company. I want to see Young Master!"
"Kong Chengyi, have you lost your mind? I won't allow that woman to set foot in the Kong family, not even half a step—unless I'm dead, unless I'm no longer here!"
The dark, silent conference room suddenly had its door pushed open, followed by Lin Xiao's sharp scream. The executives attentively listening to the report looked up in shock, some gasping.
The bright light outside the conference room shone on Lin Xiao's grimacing face, revealing her fierce resentment. Kong Chengyi remained seated with one hand propping up his head, lips pressed tightly. His handsome features concealed his true emotions.
Ke Jie stood up in surprise, quickly walked over to Lin Xiao, and respectfully lowered his voice.
"Madam, the president is in a meeting. Please wait a moment in the office."
Biting her lip and speechless, Lin Xiao ignored Ke Jie and refrained from further shouting, neither daring to advance.
Squinting slightly, Kong Chengyi inserted one hand into his pocket and stood up in full view of everyone. His voice was calm and steady.
"Ke Jie will preside over the meeting."
With that, he left the room.
Watching Kong Chengyi's broad, cold back retreat, Lin Xiao suddenly stopped, regretting her rashness. Her hands twisted the handbag straps into a knot unconsciously.
Pushing open the office door, Kong Chengyi first walked to the liquor cabinet, slowly poured himself a glass of fiery whiskey, and elegantly sipped it before looking up at Lin Xiao standing in the doorway.
"Chengyi…" Lin Xiao slowly closed the door behind her and took a step forward but stopped, her chest feeling as if blocked by a heavy stone, choking her into silence.
Holding the glass in his palm, Kong Chengyi fixed his cold and sharp gaze on the richly dressed Lin Xiao, his eyes piercing her as if with a blade.
"Your hasty shouting doesn't suit your appearance. Why couldn't you hold back until closing the door before yelling like this?"
Such shrill outbursts usually come with a disheveled look, but he noticed her perfectly done makeup at a glance, and with a mocking smile, Kong Chengyi looked at her like a stranger.
"Son, you!" Lin Xiao's heart was blocked with frustration, and she was insulted to be mocked. She hurried over,
"Yelling with the door closed? You even announced your engagement on the media. Do you still have any respect for me, your mother? I told you, I absolutely won't allow that woman to step foot in the Kong family! Can't you close the door and talk to me?"
Taking a big sip of whiskey, letting the sharp burn slide down his throat into his stomach, Kong Chengyi lifted his head again. His handsome cheek twitched slightly.
"I told you before, my affairs don't need your concern, nor your permission. As for whether she can enter the Kong family—it's not for you to decide!"
He neither needed her approval nor allowed her interference. Every time she shouted, to him it was just ridiculous.
"Chengyi, I am your mother! You should respect me! I can ignore everything else you do, I can tolerate anything, but marriage and family are important matters I cannot ignore! I firmly oppose this!"
With her hand clutching her chest, Lin Xiao's heart felt like it had been pierced by an arrow, and doubts nearly escaped her throat.
What had she done to make her son despise and even look down on her like this? Resentment and frustration surged inside her. Clenching her handbag tightly, Lin Xiao bit her lip, holding back tears.
With a cold "humph," Kong Chengyi suddenly raised his hand and smashed the glass against the wall with a sharp crack. Amber liquid poured down the wall, sharp shards splattered everywhere. His usually sharp eyes now bore a mocking smile, his voice icy cold.
"Oppose? Does your opposition carry any weight?"
The sudden, violent breaking made Lin Xiao flinch involuntarily. Her delicate features briefly showed panic. Such a Kong Chengyi terrified her from the depths of her heart.
Staring at the surprised and frightened woman before him, Kong Chengyi's heart suddenly surged with a strange irritation and a faint sting. He hated seeing her like this, yet felt no ounce of satisfaction inside himself.