Chapter 285: Recording Exposed
Bai Ying fell silent.
She had recently lost contact with Xiao Da; the last time was when Liang Chaosu was transferred to another hospital.
Xiao Da told her that Liang Chaosu was returning to Nan Province, most likely judging Lin Xianzi’s firm stance of isolation, wanting to quickly end internal strife and forcefully intervene in Liancheng’s treatment process through the Liang family.
Bai Ying had not previously thought that Liang Chaosu loved Liancheng so deeply; his actions were hard to praise, possessing Liancheng for a selfish purpose.
In this, whether Liancheng liked it or not, whether she was in pain, he completely ignored. While he seemed to spare no effort, pouring in all he had, from Liancheng’s perspective, it was like a dark fog descending, a grand rottenness, a scene of utter devastation.
Such a fusion of paranoia, greed, and confusion, extreme as it was, would destroy temples and smash idols upon falling in love with his deity, punishing his deity for being high above and not yielding to him.
Yet, he risked his life in Iceland, took a bullet for her in Hong Kong, like every devout and loyal believer, unhesitatingly dedicating his life to his deity.
His love was like hatred, turning to ashes, yet not so bad as to be hated to the bone or wished dead.
It was just enough to create conflict, struggle, and an entanglement that balanced precariously.
“This is the primary reason.”
Bai Ying’s thoughts returned, and she was instantly stunned, “There’s a secondary reason too?”
Lin Xianzi reached out and held her hand. “Xiao Ying, Liancheng regards you as family. You are the only steadfast warmth she has had during these years of invasion and abuse. Auntie hasn’t been a competent mother, and I’m very grateful that you’ve always been with her, so Auntie won’t hide anything from you.”
Bai Ying was helpless.
“Liancheng’s first check-up showed no problems, but Mr. Bo from China contacted me, and I became suspicious. I did another one privately, and only then was it confirmed.”
“What,” Bai Ying’s throat was dry. “Someone interfered even while in Europe?”
A hint of cruelty flickered across Lin Xianzi’s lips. “It’s still an internal problem within the Lin family. Liancheng’s grandfather quietly disappeared a while ago; I thought he felt guilty towards Liancheng and couldn’t bear to pressure her. Now it seems he still favors his son and is secretly manipulating Lin family members.”
“Lin Ziqiu?”
Lin Xianzi glanced at her and shook her head with a smile. “Liancheng really doesn’t hide anything from you. It’s not him; it’s someone closer than Lin Ziqiu. As for who it is, I have narrowed down the scope now, but I can’t tell you.”
Bai Ying suddenly realized, “Are you telling me this so that I will maintain that Liancheng is not sick, no matter who I am in front of?”
“Yes.” Lin Xianzi patted her hand. “The main focus is still Liang Chaosu. He may not believe the information I’ve made public and will surely observe your reaction.”
“But—” Liang Chaosu’s face flashed through Bai Ying’s mind, expressionless, ice-cold, hard, his gaze like a sharp ice pick. She shivered violently and gripped Lin Xianzi’s hand.
“Aunt Lin, Liang Chaosu won’t believe it. He is certain and resolute; once he’s made up his mind, no one’s reaction can shake him, unless he sees it with his own eyes.”
Lin Xianzi’s face was veiled with an unfathomable mask, and she smiled without answering.
Bai Ying felt a baseless panic; the situation was likely to devolve into a vicious mutation, plummeting into an abyss of ashes.
…………………………………………………………
Nan Province experienced its first heavy rain of early summer, with strong winds cutting off electricity. The hospital switched to backup power, and the windows rattled noisily.
Outside, it was pitch-black and desolate.
After Xiao Da finished his call with Bai Ying, his face, reflected in the glass, looked odd. He stood between the hospital bed and the window, not turning for a long time.
Liang Chaosu urged, “What did she say?”
Xiao Da struggled feebly. “Perhaps the signal was interrupted due to the strong wind.”
Liang Chaosu was anxious and scolded Xiao Da, “I promoted you, and this is what you learned – to deceive and mislead?”
“Budapest is bathed in sunshine. Madam’s results are all normal; she’s wearing a bright dress and went on an outing with Feng Shien.”
He truly didn’t want to say it, but Bai Ying, perhaps afraid he wouldn’t believe her, sent a video. The phone chimed repeatedly.
The special attention ringtone was lingering and sweet, almost sickeningly so.
Xiao Da’s hair stood on end. He fumbled to silence the phone, but it slipped, accidentally triggering it.
“Shi En, could you shift the camera a bit? I’ve put on makeup today, and my right side photographs better.”
“That’s great! You can even make a lily wreath. Then I’ll take another picture by the Danube.”
“Cherry blossoms? Late May means late-blooming cherry blossoms. I’ve changed my preferences now; I like sunflowers, red roses, vibrant and upward-facing, every single day…”
Xiao Da hung up. The hospital room lighting was direct, with a dizzying, piercing glare, making the darkness outside seem to have already encroached, shaking this space.
He dared not look up, remaining by the edge of the hospital bed.
There, a hand with an indwelling needle inserted into it slowly clenched, veins bulging under the skin, forming a terrifyingly twisted protrusion. Bright red blood broke through the infusion tape, surging like a fierce, powerful tide, rising rapidly.
“Mr. Liang—”
“Director Liang—”
As their voices overlapped, Su Chenghuai knocked and entered. “Your father is downstairs and wants to see you.”
Liang Chaosu turned his head towards the doorway.
Su Chenghuai flinched. The dark vortex in the man’s eyes was tinged with a trace of crimson, his chest heaving as if solidified.
That surge of anger also solidified, accumulating deep in his bones.
But the more he endured and restrained, the more destructive it became. Anything that obstructed or hindered him was annihilated in an explosive manner.
As expected.
His words were piercingly cold. “Let him in.”
Xiao Da lowered his head meekly and went out with Su Chenghuai.
Liang Chaosu called out to him, “Send me the video.”
Xiao Da sent it.
Budapest was indeed bright, and Liancheng was even brighter.
She wasn’t hospitalized, nor was she gaunt.
Her makeup was radiant and elegant, her long, wavy hair, and a pure white slip dress. The hem revealed a section of her calf, slender and fair.
Colorful bag accessories and pedestrians of all shapes and sizes on the street accentuated her smiling face, revealing her teeth.
She kissed a statue and jumped to reach for flower branches. At a street-side cafe, she leaned against a red table and chair, tilting her head back, her waterfall of black hair falling to the tabletop, her jawline flowing smoothly.
Such vibrant uninhibitedness, ease, and lazy comfort.
Liang Chaosu lowered his eyes, his thumb stroking her smiling face beneath the lily wreath.
As Liang Zhengping stepped into the corridor, he heard a burst of clear, cheerful laughter. It wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, and after listening for a while, he could recognize it.
All the conflict, the father-son estrangement, the source of the Liang family’s destruction, echoed Shen’s father’s assessment.
A femme fatale.
The door had remained ajar. Su Chenghuai knocked to signal, and the joyful, clear voice stopped abruptly.
Liang Chaosu looked up. “Father, is there something?”
Liang Zhengping keenly sensed something was wrong. He didn’t know what kind of feeling Liang Chaosu had upon confirming that the recording had fallen into his hands.
But he was overjoyed; with both his son and daughter grown and useless, the blow he suffered was not just the loss of power but also psychological.
His educational approach had let go too early, resulting in the initial signs of scandal. He was arrogant and overly crude.
It had become uncontrollably hopeless.
“I’m here to give you one last chance. Overseas assets will be combined with the Liang Corporation. I won’t submit that recording, and you will leave the country immediately, change your name, and never return to Huaxia.”
“At this point, Father, do you still have to be so secretive and hypocritical?” The surging wrongness emanating from Liang Chaosu grew more rampant, spreading and swelling.
“If you can see Zhou Dazhi, you must have given that recording to many people. In the business and political circles, I am ruined.”
