Chapter 284: Little Yellow Oriole
Budapest is sunny today.
Liancheng’s fever has broken again, and she has regained consciousness. She received a phone call from Bai Ying. Bai Ying has come to Hungary. Lin Xianzi is wary of Bai Ying leaking secrets to Liang Chaosu and refuses to let her visit.
Bai Ying was annoyed, “I thought Liang Chaosu was the biggest obstacle in my relationship with Xiao Da. But he neither used me nor threatened you; he knew everything and ignored it. Instead, Aunt Lin sees me as having a motive for a crime. Am I a woman who would abandon her sister for a man? Heaven, please distinguish between loyalty and treachery.”
Liancheng was amused, “The reason my mother rejected you isn’t that. There’s a lot going on these two days. You can call now; the ban has been lifted.”
“A lot going on? Is it related to your illness?”
“I’ve hinted at it several times.” Liancheng got out of bed and pushed open the window. “It’s hard to explain in a few words. I’ll tell you in detail when we meet.”
Bai Ying’s understanding of the situation was no more than Liang Chaosu’s.
Liang Chaosu had an inside contact at the hospital, trying to find out information by any means necessary. Bai Ying, as Liancheng’s close friend, had been privy to some information that Lin Xianzi had disclosed to some extent.
She burst into the hospital room, bustling and energetic. Liancheng was leaning on the windowsill, propping up her chin and basking in the sun.
Bright light and shadow formed vibrant, shimmering bubbles. The wind stirred her hair, brushing past these colorful hues.
Bright, beautiful, and warm colors.
Bai Ying was lost in thought as she slowly approached. She noticed that Liancheng’s forehead was sweaty, indicating she had been in the sun for quite some time.
Her face instantly fell, and she closed the window, “You’re getting a cold sweat from the wind; do you think the hospital stay is too comfortable?”
Liancheng propped up her face, feeling like a sunflower. After basking in the sun, her mood was good, and she decided not to bicker with Bai Ying.
“I won’t be discharged for a while.”
Bai Ying noticed her unusual relaxed state. The condensation, heaviness, and constant shadows in her eyes had vanished.
Her eyebrows and eyes were bright and radiant, glowing with health.
She looked even more energetic than Bai Ying.
Bai Ying let out a sigh, her eyes turning red. She threw herself at Liancheng, “You scared me to death.”
Tears streamed down her face, and Liancheng’s shoulders were soaked. Liancheng chuckled and dodged, “It’s all over me, you snotty bug.”
Before she could finish speaking, Bai Ying blew a large snot bubble. She covered her mouth in embarrassment.
Through her misty, tear-filled eyes, Liancheng’s skirt billowed past Bai Ying’s bent knees. The skirt was a tender yellow, cinched at the waist. Her fair shoulders and neck, her long, jet-black hair, flew from the window to the hospital bed, grabbed tissues, and happily flew back.
She hooked Liancheng’s chin and gently, meticulously wiped her tears, gazing at her.
Bai Ying tilted her head up and looked for a long time. Suddenly, she asked, “How old are you?”
“Twenty-three,” Liancheng replied, her eyes crinkling into a smile.
“I think you’re eighteen,” Bai Ying’s tears flowed profusely. “You look exceptionally beautiful today, full of youth.”
It was as if four years of dark, dry emptiness had never existed. She was still that fresh, clean little songbird.
“Thanks for the compliment,” Liancheng said playfully, poking Bai Ying’s pig nose with her index finger. “Takeout is 5 yuan off for orders over 23. If you’re older, you get a discount; you’ve given me a break.”
Bai Ying, unwilling to be outdone, pinched Liancheng’s chubby cheeks. When she felt a soft wad of flesh, she burst into tears again, “It’s only been a few days, and you’ve actually gained weight.”
“Graceful,” Liancheng corrected. “Plump.”
She gestured an S-curve, placing her hands on her hips in mock disdain, her expression exceptionally lively and captivating. “Stunningly beautiful.”
Bai Ying’s vision misted over. “Then change your name to Mo Qingcheng.”
“Ew,” Liancheng recoiled in disgust. “That’s so cliché.”
Seeing her so cheerful, Bai Ying choked up.
“I was so scared before I came.”
She buried her face in her hands. “Aunt Lin didn’t say it directly, but she must blame me in her heart. I blame myself too, for giving you the progesterone injection back then and hurting you.”
Liancheng cupped her head. “Don’t take the blame. You’re a doctor, and I’m a patient. Doctors prescribe medication and treat patients; it’s only natural. You also explained the side effects; it was my stubbornness. Besides, is my mother that unreasonable? She doesn’t even blame me, so why would she blame you?”
Bai Ying wiped her tears. As the mist cleared, Liancheng was close, so close that the fluff on her cheeks was soft and distinct, and a blush dusted her nostrils. She rubbed her eyes and looked again.
Red spots dotted her skin, like symmetrical butterfly wings, faint in color, easily overlooked if not noticed.
In an instant, Bai Ying felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. A chill shot through her bones, making her teeth chatter. “You—your face.”
Liancheng paused, then after a few seconds of calm, she held Bai Ying’s hand and sat down beside her. “Drug-induced lupus erythematosus. It was discovered early; it’s a minor illness and not difficult to treat.”
“You’re lying,” Bai Ying’s face turned pale. “I’m a doctor.”
Liancheng pressed her lips together.
“Is it in the early stages?”
Liancheng did not respond for a long time.
The joy in the hospital room, illuminated by the sun, turned into bubbles and then burst like needles, shattering completely.
“What stage is it? Has it invaded your internal organs?”
Liancheng tugged at her skirt. “It’s not serious.”
Bai Ying jumped up. “Not serious? You were hiding it from me just now.”
It was at this moment that Lin Xianzi arrived, carrying a bag of imaging films. She was not surprised to see Bai Ying.
“Xiao Ying,” she said, looking at Liancheng, her tone affectionate. “Auntie has some things she’d like to discuss with you.”
Bai Ying nervously went out the door.
This hospital was private, with high fees and excellent service. To avoid prying eyes, Lin Xianzi had booked an entire floor. Without an invitation or permission, one could not leave the elevator.
There were many empty rooms. Lin Xianzi casually opened one and invited Bai Ying to enter.
Bai Ying entered hesitantly, not daring to sit or look around, lowering her head. “Liancheng’s illness—”
“It has invaded her kidneys. It was just diagnosed as lupus nephritis.” Lin Xianzi took out the X-ray images. “Her current indicators are not stable. If it continues to worsen and kidney damage is severe, a kidney transplant may be necessary.”
Bai Ying’s back stiffened, and she almost dropped the films.
Lin Xianzi truly had no objections to her; her indifferent demeanor was due to other reasons. “Liancheng has told me everything about the past. You are a good child, Bai Ying.”
She used Liancheng’s full name.
Bai Ying flinched, her legs felt weak, her eyes reddened, and she was consumed by regret.
Lin Xianzi’s heart ached, and she lacked the energy to comfort Bai Ying, so she got straight to the point. “I told Liancheng that Liang Chaosu had been safely transferred, but I don’t want her to know about the turmoil in the Liang family these past few days.”
Bai Ying understood. “Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything unnecessary just now.”
Lin Xianzi looked at Bai Ying. “Do you know the inside story of the Liang family’s turmoil, not just what’s happening now?”
Bai Ying hesitated for a few seconds and then nodded gently.
“When Liang Chaosu was transferred back to Nan Province, the illegal financing and bribery during Liang Zhengping’s tenure at Liang Corporation were successively exposed. Zhou Dazhi took all the blame. My father said this proves Liang Zhengping had a crucial weakness of Liang Chaosu.”
“Zhou Dazhi would not have defected to someone who was bound to lose, so he could only go all-in on Liang Zhengping’s path to seek a reduced sentence.”
“Furthermore, Liang Zhengping did not immediately try to kill Liang Chaosu because the internal strife within the Liang Corporation attracted many competitors to prey on them during the chaos. If they couldn’t seize Liang Chaosu’s overseas fortune, even if Liang Zhengping won, Liang Corporation would be on its last legs and would not be what it once was.”
Lin Xianzi pursed her lips tightly. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow in her eyes, devoid of any warmth.
“The fatal blow was the recording Liancheng returned to him.”
Bai Ying was shocked.
“This is what I wanted to discuss with you,” Lin Xianzi said, taking the imaging films from Bai Ying’s hand. “Our Lin family has internal problems. I had originally instructed that this recording be personally handed over to Liang Chaosu to ensure it was foolproof. As for Liancheng’s illness, I didn’t tell you because I intend to announce publicly that Liancheng is not sick.”
At the last sentence, Bai Ying became anxious. “Why? Even if Liancheng’s condition hasn’t worsened, it’s still advisable to broadly match for donors and prepare kidney sources—”
“Because I don’t want Liang Chaosu to entangle her with this, nor do I want her to feel guilty,” Lin Xianzi interrupted. “I want her to maintain the relaxed and happy mood she had just now. You saw it with your own eyes; she has cut ties with the past. She is lively even with a serious illness.”
“As for kidney sources, don’t worry.”
