Chapter 9

Kong Wanxiang sat neatly next to Kong Liqing. When Ou Xingshu spoke to him, he politely replied, "Hello, Auntie." What is rare is that he was neither shy nor awkward at all

Ou Xing Shu is a delicate person, and after getting into the car, he greeted Wan Xiang with a beaming smile, saying: "Hello there"

Kong Liqing paused for a moment as he looked at the envelope in front of him, but ultimately reached out to take it.

Kong Liqing looked around and found that to her left was a large door and to her right was a bar counter. Following Ou Xingshu inside, the entire living room came into view. The living room was divided into two parts in the middle. To the right of the entrance was a normal living room, featuring a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, a bar counter, a sofa with a coffee table, and a huge LCD television. To the left, elevated by two steps compared to the right, seemed to be another room, where a grand piano was placed. The piano, with its pure black body, gleamed with a bright luster. On the off-white walls hung several oil paintings framed in gold, and in the corner was a set of deep green fabric sofas. The cushions on the sofa matched the color scheme of the paintings on the wall, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

There is nothing much to tidy up either. Kong Liqing still responded coldly

Wan Xiang was very well-behaved, walking towards Kong Liqing with his little backpack on his back. Kong Liqing could tell that the child was not very happy and his mood was not high, but she said nothing, took the child's hand, pulled the luggage, and opened the door

Hmm. Kong Liqing, standing aside, responded with a tone of indifference.

Ou Xing Shu gently patted the child's head and said to Kong Liqing, "You have taught the child very well"

The feeling of humiliation once again crept over Kong Liqing's entire body. She endured the immense sense of oppression in her heart, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled: "I understand."

No matter how many thoughts and grievances Kong Liqing harbored in her heart, she had no one to confide in, nor would anyone cherish her; her world had always been one of solitude

Kong Liqing took it and then took out another envelope and handed it to her: "Inside are two bank cards, one is for your account, and every month, pocket money will be transferred to your account. The other is Mr. Zhou's supplementary card. Mr. Zhou instructed that you can directly use the card to purchase certain items, with a monthly limit of 100,000."

Ou Xing Shu let out a faint sigh without leaving a trace, then turned and walked to Kong Liqing's side, taking out a card from her bag: "This is the dedicated magnetic card for the elevator, please keep it safe."

Kong Liqing silently accepted the business card, and as Ou Xingshu was about to enter the elevator, he sincerely said one last thing: "Miss Kong, I wish you good luck"

Once again, the black Lincoln carried Kong Liqing towards an unknown future

Kong Liqing did not say much, just smiled. In fact, she did not feel that she had taught the child anything; rather, having experienced hardships in her own childhood, she never hit or scolded Wanxiang, treating him equally and striving to provide him with a relaxed environment for growth. She had long noticed that Wanxiang possessed a high IQ and a sensitivity to things and his surroundings that surpassed his age, but these traits were inherited from his parents' genes; she truly had not taught him anything.

The car stopped after approximately thirty minutes. The building in front of them, Kong Liqing, was somewhat familiar; it was a landmark building relatively close to the city center, with two structures standing side by side like two swords piercing the sky. The area in front of the building was spacious with few pedestrians. Ou Xingshu stood next to Kong Liqing and pointed to one of the buildings, saying, "That one is a commercial office building, and Mr. Zhou's office is on the top floor. This one is a purely residential building, and Mr. Zhou's apartment is also on the top floor here." After saying this, she glanced at the woman and child beside her, one large and one small, and said, "Let's go in."

Kong Liqing's personality has been tempered by life over the years, rendering her quite dull. Her life has always been monotonous and routine, and her inner self has become almost numb and sluggish. No matter how significant the events in her mind, as long as there is no external interference, she will continue to do what she is supposed to do. This day is undoubtedly exhausting for her; this exhaustion stems from the oppression of her emotions. However, her life does not allow her the space to be willful, as she still has to take care of her children. For her, as long as life continues, she can only move forward step by step. This day is undoubtedly exhausting for her; this exhaustion stems from the oppression of her emotions. However, her life does not allow her the space to be willful, as she still has to take care of her children. For her, as long as life continues, she can only move forward step by step.

Ou Xingshu smiled and said nothing more, turning to press the elevator button. Just before leaving, she turned her head to take one last look. The small living room was still bright, with sunlight spilling across half the room. On the fabric sofa, there was a slight indentation, the mark of where she had just sat. In this house, she had spent two years of peaceful time, the best days she could remember. This was the only place in the world where she felt she truly belonged, and she hoped to return here soon. On the fabric sofa, there was a slight indentation, the mark of where she had just sat. In this house, she had spent two years of peaceful time, the best days she could remember. This was the only place in the world where she felt she truly belonged, and she hoped to return here soon

Kong Liqing had just let out a slight sigh of relief, but immediately afterward, Ou Xingshu said, "Although Mr. Zhou does not reside here often, you must stay here during his absence." Finally, she emphasized, "Moreover, during the period when your relationship with Mr. Zhou is ongoing, you cannot have any ambiguous relationships with other men. Although there is no monitoring of your personal freedom regarding this matter, it is best that such things do not happen, do you understand?"

As the elevator doors opened, it led directly into the living room, which was a vast space with a black marble floor. The sound of high-heeled shoes clicking echoed as Kong Liqing led Wan Xiang out of the elevator. Upon exiting, the first sight was a set of enormous black leather sofas, with a large pure white wool carpet laid out on the floor in front of them, creating a striking visual impact.

Hastily returning home to pick up the child, she busied herself around the child for half the evening. Only after finally lulling Wanxiang to sleep could she allow herself to rest.

Everywhere there is marble gleaming with a bright luster, a grand lobby that echoes with footsteps, and a private elevator leading directly indoors. This is a world that Kong Liqing has never encountered before, and she feels a considerable shock as well as a sense of inferiority.

Ou Xing Shu gazed deeply at the woman before him. After a moment, she took a business card from her bag and handed it to Kong Li Qing, saying, "This is my business card. If you have any matters in the future, feel free to call me directly. Anything is fine."

Mr. Zhou is currently not in City B, and he usually does not spend much time there

Kong Liqing extended an arm to half embrace Wan Xiang, knowing that the child was feeling awkward at that moment. Last night, she had told him a lie, explaining that the reason for their move was that she had a boyfriend. Although the child's reaction at the time was not significant, his mood had been low throughout the night. She had repeatedly assured him that they would never be separated, yet the child still woke up several times during the night, crying while half-awake, holding onto her. She understood that the child lacked a sense of security; there were certain things she could give her all to provide, but for the child, there were still deficiencies. She felt helpless because she was not his real mother and could not provide him with a complete home

The term "keeping a mistress" has become so familiar to people nowadays. For Kong Liqing, who is exposed to a certain level of life, the straightforward meaning of this term is nothing more than a naked transaction of money and flesh. Of course, she does not delve into the deeper implications of disrespect and trampling of personality that it entails, as this is an era that mocks poverty but not prostitution, where the concept of chastity is rather weak. She simply feels humiliated; all she desires is a stable life to raise Wanxiang, which only requires a slightly better job. She cannot understand why it is so difficult. Surrounded by swirling smoke, she sits there in silence, with a hint of tears in her eyes. Behind her lies a bustling metropolis filled with lights, yet there has never been a stage for her within it. She is merely a small character subject to the whims of others, and finally, two streams of tears fall down her cheeks.

The large door slowly closed before my eyes, and with the soft sound of the lock clicking shut, everything was sealed inside.

Does Mr. Zhou stay here every day?" Kong Liqing tightly grasped the envelope in her hand, lowering her head and quietly asking Ou Xingshu.

At the entrance of the staircase in the "Ka Ka" European-style building, he turned to Kong Liqing and said: "Miss Kong, downstairs are the living room, dining room, kitchen, and a storage room that includes a bathroom. The study, gym, and bedrooms are all upstairs. You can familiarize yourself with the environment later."

Kong Liqing did not bring much, just a suitcase filled with some clothes of hers and Wan Xiang's. After having breakfast in the morning, she accompanied Wan Xiang in the living room to watch television. Upon hearing the doorbell ring, she got up, turned off the television, pulled up the suitcase, and said to Wan Xiang: "Let's go"

Kong Liqing felt that the path of her life had never been smooth. Although she put in considerable hard work and effort with each step she took, it seemed that she always had to give more than others to achieve her goals. This was akin to the humiliation she faced each time she asked her father for tuition during her studies, the agreement she made to give up her own love in her work with He Mu, and now, having secured a job again, she found herself in a situation where she was to be kept by someone.

In that small study of less than ten square meters, Kong Liqing sat down at her desk and lit a cigarette for herself. After exhaling a long puff of smoke, she finally felt her heart settle down. Watching the cigarette slowly burn at her fingertips, a self-mocking smile crept onto her lips. It seemed that this was the only thing in her life that brought her a semblance of comfort. However, this was something she could not indulge in frequently; as a doctor, she was all too aware of the harm nicotine could inflict on the human body. She could not afford to develop lung cancer, at least not before Wanxiang reached adulthood. The constraints of life weighed heavily upon her.

I originally thought you had something to take, and I was planning to come up and lend you a hand" said Ou Hangshu with a generous smile

Outside the door, Ou Xing Shu saw Kong Li Qing, who had evidently been prepared for some time, and was slightly taken aback. However, Kong Li Qing calmly said to her: "Let's go"

Time continues to move forward, and for the past two days before the weekend, no one disturbed Kong Liqing. Two days have passed, and on Saturday at nine in the morning, Ou Xingshu appeared at Kong Liqing's doorstep, as she was there to pick them up