Gong Si keenly caught the momentary softening of Jiang Cong's expression. She guessed that Jiang Cong might have fallen for someone.
Gong Si probed casually, "Jiang Cong, you've achieved quite a lot in your career. When are you going to marry a lovely wife and reach the pinnacle of life?"
A lovely wife?
The image of Chen Er's natural face flashed through Jiang Cong's mind. She was indeed a little sweetheart.
However, if the little one was going to get married, it would be after graduating from college. Roughly calculated, it would be more than four years away.
Thinking of those long four years, Jiang Cong felt a twinge in his teeth. He waved his hand, his tone tinged with an indescribable helplessness. "I don't know. Maybe soon."
Hearing Jiang Cong's answer, Gong Si knew that he was indirectly admitting that he had someone in his heart. A fine, needle - like pain shot through her heart, constantly reminding her that Jiang Cong had moved on.
As they were talking, a lively figure dashed in and pounced on Gong Si who was sitting on the sofa.
"Sister Gong Si!" The little girl with a ponytail looked up and called out sweetly. "You're finally back. I've missed you so much."
Gong Si's expression and body stiffened. Her breathing quickened, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She tried to stay calm and gently pushed the person on her away. "Ning Ning, long time no see!"
Nan Xiangning noticed Gong Si's strangeness and thought she had a fever. Immediately, she got closer and touched Gong Si's forehead with concern. "Are you sick? Why do you look so pale?"
Gong Si leaned slightly to the side, avoiding Nan Xiangning's touch. She shook her head, indicating that she was fine.
Nan Xiangning was innocent and straightforward, so she believed Gong Si's words. But Jiang Cong was not as easy to deal with as Nan Xiangning.
Suddenly meeting Jiang Cong's scrutinizing gaze, Gong Si felt completely exposed. She bit her lower lip uneasily, almost certain that Jiang Cong had noticed her abnormality.
Nan Xiangning was overjoyed to reunite with Gong Si and started chatting non - stop about the interesting things that had happened over the years. After the initial panic, Gong Si gradually calmed down and regained her elegant and proper demeanor.
Time flew by during their harmonious conversation. Nan Xiangning clearly wasn't satisfied and wanted to keep chatting with Gong Si. But Jiang Cong interrupted her. "We have a meeting tonight. You can leave first."
Seeing the cold - faced Jiang Cong speak, Nan Xiangning didn't dare to refute. She said dejectedly, "I'll come to you tomorrow." Then she left the room.
Jiang Cong's fingertips tapped rhythmically on the mahogany sofa. After a while, he said firmly, "You've been living a tough life. Did he do anything excessive to you?"
From his observation just now, when Nan Xiangning got close to Gong Si, Gong Si's first reaction was self - protection and avoidance.
Nan Xiangning and Gong Si used to be very close and could talk about anything. Even though their relationship might have faded over the years, it shouldn't have turned out like this.
Moreover, Gong Si's dodging eyes and cowering body, along with her involuntary plea and timidity, proved that she had suffered violence from someone close. Unable to resist or having gotten used to it, even though she was scared, she could only bear it alone.
This wasn't the Gong Si she used to be.
She was proud and should have been cherished and pampered. She shouldn't be so cautious.
Gong Si lived abroad and her parents had passed away long ago. So, apart from him, there was no one else who was that close to Gong Si.
Gong Si knew she couldn't hide it anymore. A bitter smile appeared on her face, and her voice was hoarse. "Yes, I've been living a miserable life. For all these years, I've been living in fear every day. Jiang Cong, I'm really exhausted."
Gong Si finally took off her perfect mask. She slumped on the sofa, closing her eyes tightly and recalling all the sufferings she had endured over the years.
Back then, the reason she left Jiang Cong wasn't that she didn't love him. It was because her tutor at that time had offered her a rather tempting deal.
Gong Si came from a wealthy family. Although her parents passed away early, with the help of her relatives, she still lived a care - free life, and all the family property under her parents' names belonged to her.
One could say that Gong Si had wealth that others might never be able to obtain in their lifetime.
But humans were like this. Their desires were endless. After obtaining wealth, they wanted both fame and fortune.
Although Gong Si had published numerous academic papers, their influence was only limited to the domestic market. Ambitious Gong Si always wanted to break through her own limits and reach a higher peak.
Gong Si's tutor, Yuan Xiangdong, clearly saw her ambition. He offered to help Gong Si get an offer from a well - known international club, but the condition was that Gong Si had to marry him.
Gong Si had struggled. Between the fame she had been chasing and her beloved lover, her heart inevitably leaned towards that offer.
She was so eager to be famous. She didn't want to be a parasite relying on her relatives. She wanted to make a name for herself.
So Gong Si left Jiang Cong.
Later, Yuan Xiangdong kept his promise. They settled in the UK. Gong Si's reputation in the foreign legal market soared. Countless applauses and flowers came her way, blinding her.
Gong Si was addicted to this kind of success and couldn't extricate herself.
She was happy. She finally got what she wanted the most.
However, Gong Si was also lonely. She sadly found that there was no one around her who could truly share her inner joy.
Gong Si had thought about making a good life with Yuan Xiangdong. But no matter how much she calculated, she never expected that Yuan Xiangdong would be a wolf in sheep's clothing. He sent her to the clouds with his promise and then dragged her into the endless hell.
Whenever Gong Si wanted to share her achievements with Yuan Xiangdong, he would always sneer at her, saying that everything she had today was because of him.
Gong Si didn't refute, but this silent acquiescence made Yuan Xiangdong even more extreme.
He began to suspect the real reason why Gong Si agreed to marry him. He would beat and scold her at will, but then kneel down and beg for her forgiveness after venting his anger.
Gong Si was at the peak of her career at that time. She had to bear the work pressure while silently enduring Yuan Xiangdong's suspicion.
She didn't dare to get a divorce, fearing that it would stain her perfect career. And Yuan Xiangdong took advantage of this. When he got home, he would unbridledly vent his dark side on Gong Si.
Gong Si really wanted to escape this kind of miserable life, but she couldn't break free from the shackles in her heart.