31. Chapter 31: I Want to Talk to You

Peng Nan took the opportunity to step down gracefully, and after putting on a sufficient show of courtesy, she left Meng Zexiao’s villa.

After eating, Kong Lingxin returned to the study on the third floor. She sat before the floor-to-ceiling window, clutching her sister’s diary and feeling the bitterness and pain she had once endured.

Having been at the Meng household for a few days, Kong Lingxin had gained a fairly clear understanding of her sister’s social circle. Because her sister had been a day student in college and did not live on campus, she had not made any close, trusting friends. During her senior year, she caught the eye of Meng Haoquan, who chose her to be the second daughter-in-law of the Meng family. The year she turned twenty, she received her marriage certificate the same day she received her diploma. Immediately, her life became even more monotonous than it had been at school; every day, outside of eating and sleeping, she spent all her time waiting for Meng Zexiao to come home.

In the diary, even a single smile from Meng Zexiao was enough for her to write at length about it. Yet, how desolate this wealthy socialite’s life truly was, outsiders would never know.

It could be said that once, Meng Zexiao was Kong Lingxin’s entire world, while she was merely an object by his side—sometimes left discarded for days on end, barely crossing his mind.

Not seeing Kong Lingxin in the bedroom, Meng Zexiao assumed she had gone to the fifth-floor guest room, but he found no sign of her on the security footage.

He then made his way to her third-floor study. The door was left slightly ajar, and he stepped inside.

The night breeze stirred Kong Lingxin’s long hair. There was a trace of confusion and sorrow in her eyes, and she seemed so lost in thought that she did not even notice him approaching.

Seeing that her complexion had improved significantly since he had awoken earlier that afternoon, Meng Zexiao realized the servants’ accounts had not been exaggerated; she really had kept a constant vigil by his side since he fell ill. In that instant, an unfamiliar feeling surged in his heart. Perhaps he should try to understand this woman beside him.

Another gust of sea breeze blew, obscuring half her face with her long hair.

Unable to help himself, he stepped forward, intending to tuck her hair behind her ear. Kong Lingxin, finally jolted from her reverie, suddenly realized Meng Zexiao was standing right next to her, his hand reaching toward her face.

Subconsciously, she recoiled. "What are you doing?"

Meng Zexiao pulled his hand back, covering his embarrassment with a light cough. "I... we should talk."

Not wanting him to see the diary in her hands, Kong Lingxin stood up and walked over to the desk. With a casual motion, she set the notebook aside and, while pretending to tidy the desk, said coolly, "Talk about what?"

His proposal had not been met with an enthusiastic response, leaving him somewhat disheartened. "You are the second young mistress of the Meng family, and I am the second young master. But for the past year, things between us haven't been pleasant. I think we could try starting over—dating, perhaps—and slowly improve our relationship."

Having just recovered from a cold and fever, his voice was naturally a bit husky, and his low, somber tone sounded both haunting and sensual.

In the past, had she not known him, Kong Lingxin might have been completely mesmerized by his appearance and voice, just as her sister had been. But now, she would never be swayed by his harmless, charming facade, even though his words were indeed unexpected.

Kong Lingxin did not stop what she was doing, nor did she look up, responding coldly: "We have always belonged to two different worlds. From the day I became your woman, I became an enemy to many women in this city. No matter how much we improve, it will never be enough to overcome the efforts of your mistresses and flings."

Meng Zexiao insisted stubbornly, "It can be done! I ignored your existence before, and now you ignore mine, but I have found that I truly need you. Especially since I fell ill, your meticulous care has made me understand what it means for someone to truly love another."

After placing a book on the shelf, Kong Lingxin finally turned to look at him. "With your status as the second young master of the Meng family, if you wanted, there are plenty of women who would be willing to do everything I did for you today."

At these words, a flash of sadness crossed his eyes. He gave a faint, self-deprecating smile. "You’re right. There are indeed women willing to do those things, but they love my money more than they love me."

There was a faint, desolate quality to his words that made Kong Lingxin involuntarily glance at him. "How do you know I’m not doing it for the money? Our marriage was a matter of mutual convenience between the Kong and Meng families! I took care of you simply because I had already turned Peng Nan away, and I didn’t want you dying on my watch—that would only bring trouble upon myself."

"Nonsense! If that were true, you could have left it to the servants; you didn't have to do it yourself!" He resumed his usual overbearing manner.

Kong Lingxin glanced at him without a word. It was true—given his family background and physical appearance, no woman would ever say no to him.

The Kong Lingxin of the past would not have said no to him either. But while he remained the same, she had changed completely. The current Kong Lingxin would calculate and scheme just to avoid being intimate with him.

He continued, "You can still get jealous over Bai Tingting and Peng Nan, which proves you still have feelings for me. Why can’t we just talk and resolve your inner conflict?"

"Resolve my inner conflict," she thought. Could her inner conflict ever be resolved? Could her dead sister come back to life?

Kong Lingxin looked at him calmly. "Second Young Master Meng, you want to start over, but can you bear to part with the women by your side?"

Meng Zexiao said dismissively, "You are you, and they are they. Being with them is nothing more than a performance; I have no real feelings for them."

Kong Lingxin gave him an ironic smile. "To put it bluntly, you are a high-class john, they are high-class escorts, and I am your exclusive property. If that’s the case, why should you care about my feelings? They can satisfy your physical needs, and surely among them, there is someone who can satisfy your emotional needs as well. Do me a favor and let me go. I, Kong Lingxin, will be forever grateful to you for the rest of my life."

Seeing her remain unmoved, he began to lose his patience.

"Kong Lingxin, you come from a prominent family; you should know that it is common for men in high society to have mistresses on the side. Why be so harsh with me? You’re making a mountain out of a molehill!"

There was simply no communicating with a man like this. Kong Lingxin stared straight at him. "Right, I’m making a mountain out of a molehill! From an economic perspective, you buying houses, cars, clothes, and jewelry for your mistresses is actually expanding domestic demand. You could even say it’s narrowing the wealth gap, or perhaps, it’s poverty alleviation! In the grand scheme of things, you are indeed making quite a contribution to economic development and the reduction of wealth inequality. What right do I have to stop you from contributing to society?"