"No offense, I just feel sorry for you, a girl being bullied like this," Hong Jiaxi said.
Lili responded with an "oh" and said, "Then I've really met a good person today. I already said I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."
"Alright." Hong Jiaxi didn't want to meddle further and turned to leave.
Lili suddenly reached out and grabbed his trouser leg, saying, "You, if you truly pity me, can you take me in for a few days? I have no money and nowhere to stay right now."
Hong Jiaxi pulled his trouser leg back and looked down at Lili. He felt as if she were a pitiful stray dog, stirring his compassion.
Lili lowered her head, realizing her request was too abrupt and that this man likely wouldn't take her in. She silently used one hand to support herself on the ground, intending to get up and leave.
"Let's go, I can provide you with a place to stay for a few days." With that, he walked directly to his car.
Lili got up from the ground, enduring the pain in her abdomen, and quickly followed him, getting into his car.
Hong Jiaxi took her back to his hotel room.
As Lili entered the luxurious suite, she asked in surprise, "You're staying here?"
"I didn't want to go home these past few days, so I'm staying at a hotel," Hong Jiaxi said, spreading his hands. "I can only let you stay in this room."
"It's great to have a place to stay." Lili immediately pointed to the sofa in the room and said, "I'll sleep on the sofa outside, I definitely won't bother you."
Hong Jiaxi, preparing to take a shower, said, "You didn't bring anything with you. You can buy whatever you need at the hotel or order room service. It will all be charged to the room."
"Okay." Lili looked at the luxurious hotel room and sat on the sofa. She felt it was more comfortable than the bed in her previous rented apartment, as if she were dreaming.
After Hong Jiaxi went into the bathroom, she lay down on the sofa and massaged her kicked abdomen. Exhausted, she fell asleep.
When he came out of the bathroom, he found Lili sleeping on the sofa. He casually draped a jacket over her and went into the inner room to rest.
Hong Jiaxi had slept too much during the day and couldn't sleep at night. The thought of Mengyao's cold and indifferent attitude towards him, and how she had called out Song Jiaping's name during their intimacy, filled him with anger and resentment.
He couldn't shake off this feeling and could only keep scrolling through his phone until his eyes were sore and tired, finally falling asleep from exhaustion.
In his dream, a pair of slender, soft hands touched him, lightly caressing his body.
Hong Jiaxi suddenly opened his eyes and saw a pair of amorous eyes gazing at him. He quickly grabbed Lili's hands and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I won't let you host me for nothing." As she spoke, she leaned over him, wrapped only in a bath towel.
A fire ignited within Hong Jiaxi, but he tried to maintain his composure, saying, "I have a fiancée, and we're getting married soon. You should get up, I don't need you to do this..."
Lili didn't care. She pulled one of the hands he was holding and unwrapped the bath towel. "I don't need any promises from you, nor do I need you to take responsibility. We're both adults, and I'm willing to repay you this way."
Mengyao had also said similar words about being adults and not needing him to take responsibility. He suddenly flipped over and pinned her down.
Hong Jiaxi fiercely gripped Lili's chin and said, as if venting, "I know you don't like me! But what's so good about that guy surnamed Song? How is he better than me? What can he do that I can't!"
Lili was bewildered by his questions and asked confusedly, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Hong Jiaxi didn't need her to understand. Filled with rage, he choked her neck and forcefully took her, demanding, "What right do you have to treat me like this? Why are you always so high and mighty, trampling on my love for you!"
Lili looked at him, completely different from how he was in the bar, and was terrified. She stared at him blankly.
Hong Jiaxi, still not satisfied, hit her a few times. After the frenzied release, he held her tightly and repeatedly whispered in her ear, "Mengyao, you are mine, and you can only ever be mine!"
Lili hadn't expected that the seemingly gentle man could be like a demon when he lost control. He had exhausted her, likely mistaking her for his fiancée.
His fiancée had probably done something wrong to him, yet he still loved her deeply.
She had become a scapegoat for his fiancée, but as long as she could stay by this man's side, she was willing to do anything.
Hong Jiaxi woke up to find himself holding a naked Lili and hastily pushed her away.
He got up, put on his pants, took out a bank card, and placed it by the pillow. He said to Lili, "The money in this card is enough for you to rent a place for several years. Last night was an impulse. You should leave now."
Lili got up and hugged him tightly from behind, whimpering like a small animal, "I'm not doing this for money, don't abandon me..."
Hong Jiaxi quickly pulled her hands away, stood up, got dressed, and picked up his suitcase. "We don't know each other, and we're not familiar. Last night was a transaction. Remember, we are just strangers."
With that, he left the room directly, thinking he had lost his mind. How could he have done something he shouldn't have with this kind of woman? And he absolutely couldn't let Mengyao find out about this!
Seeing that he had left, Lili dropped her heartbroken facade. She picked up the bank card from the bedside table and lay back on the bed. She examined it carefully and found it was a supplementary card for a top VIP account, with a password on the back.
She kissed the card, believing this man would come looking for her again.
...
At the charity event, Wu Xiufang was occasionally distracted. Fortunately, Hong Jiaxi's mother reminded her, preventing any mistakes during the event.
After the event, Hong Jiaxi's mother proactively invited her for tea, which she gladly accepted.
Hong Jiaxi's mother took her to a high-end Cantonese tea house and booked a VIP private room.
As Wu Xiufang sipped her tea, Hong Jiaxi's mother solicitously placed the dim sum served by the waiter in front of her, saying, "Try some. The peach blossom pastries here are very famous."
She picked one up and took a bite, sensing that Hong Jiaxi's mother had something to say to her.
However, Wu Xiufang didn't ask. She smiled and said to Hong Jiaxi's mother, "They're quite good. You should eat some too. Thank you for your hard work today."
"It's not hard work at all. I'm able to participate in the foundation thanks to you," Hong Jiaxi's mother said, looking at her with admiration. "I've been staying at home for a long time, I don't understand anything, and those other wives don't pay much attention to me. Unlike you, you're well-maintained and capable, and they all look up to you."
"Oh, that's not true. My husband always says I like to worry unnecessarily and can't sit still," Wu Xiufang said with a smile, her mood lifting slightly.
Hong Jiaxi's mother then hesitated for a moment, leaned closer, and said, "Is Jiaxi getting married to Mengyao? Do you know about their recent situation?"
"Are they getting married?" Wu Xiufang found it quite sudden. "This girl went on a business trip a few days ago and didn't tell me anything. Did Jiaxi say anything to you?"