Chapter 178: Inviting Father Liang To Play Bumper Cars In The Snowfield
Xiao Da offered no resistance.
“That group kept their promise and deleted the call records with you. However, with the abortion law in Iceland being so sensitive, they covered their tracks by saving Madam Liang’s content.”
Veins bulged on Father Liang’s temples, throbbing and causing strands of hair to droop at his temples, giving him a gloomy and anxious look.
Liang Chaosu listened to him play the recording repeatedly, the third, fourth time… By the time fierce lights flared in his eyes, he threw the mobile phone, which hit Liang Chaosu’s chest.
With a “thump,” the sound was deafening. Xiao Da’s face turned pale. He strode a few steps and in an instant was by the bed, activating the bedside display to call for a doctor.
Liang Chaosu raised his hand, signaling no.
Father Liang gripped the railing at the foot of the bed with both hands, lowering his body into an aggressive posture, “Do you think I have no way to deal with you?”
Liang Chaosu’s expression was unperturbed, and his tone was even, “I know how poisonous you are. At this point, we might as well be frank.”
The bluish-purple veins on Father Liang’s neck protruded beneath his aged, slack skin, taut to the point of almost breaking, “What do you want?”
Liang Chaosu’s emotions were more stable than his, yet he was stern and solemn, “You take a step back, and I won’t advance.”
Father Liang stared at him gloomily.
With this recording, Zhou Dazhi could not take the blame. If the investigation tracked down to the end, either he would confess and be punished, or Nianci would be named the mastermind.
His counterattack was merely to make a move against Liancheng. Whether it succeeded or not, it would land him back in trouble.
He was clearly at a disadvantage. The reason Liang Chaosu didn’t press his advantage was due to the precedent with the Gu family and Liancheng’s subsequent miscarriage. Liang Chaosu was afraid and could not afford even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of anything happening to Liancheng.
Father Liang had not yet responded when Mother Liang, who had been waiting for Xiao Da to emerge from the room for a long time, impatiently pulled Liang Wenfei and opened the door.
The father and son remained silent, the atmosphere excessively oppressive. Xiao Da stood to the side like a puppet.
Mother Liang frowned, breaking the strange discord. She turned her anger towards the outsider, “Are they fighting? You’re the assistant, why didn’t you mediate? Even if you couldn’t, couldn’t you go out and find someone?”
Xiao Da lowered his head and bowed slightly, not refuting.
Liang Chaosu handed his phone to Xiao Da, “He has no obligation to. He is an assistant, employed by me, not sold to the Liang family to be a slave.”
Mother Liang’s expression changed; she was put on the spot.
Xiao Da straightened his back, stealing a glance at Father Liang’s face. In ancient times, they offered gold on terraces to seek loyal ministers who would die for their lords. In modern society, however, there is no selling of oneself; everyone has rights.
Although Father Liang owed Zhou Dazhi a debt of gratitude, Zhou Dazhi had carried both burdens for thirty years. He served as a secretary, acting like a house slave, doing dirty and difficult work, risking danger. He had managed to stay safe all these years through constant worry and extreme caution, day and night.
Father Liang sensed Xiao Da’s gaze and could no longer maintain his composure, which Mother Liang noticed.
After years of marital union, Mother Liang understood the tacit understanding between them. There was definitely something going on between father and son, and it was no small matter.
She asked, “Were you just talking about Liancheng?”
Liang Chaosu smiled, his smile in the light and shadow carrying a threatening, piercing quality, “He said retiring was too boring and he wanted to take you on a world tour.”
Father Liang’s chest puffed up twice fiercely, his voice cold, “We’ve already toured the world.”
Liang Chaosu’s smile didn’t change as he slowly uttered a few words, “Then let’s go again.”
The threat grew more severe. Even Liang Wenfei, standing by the door, could feel it. She held her breath, observing Father Liang’s reaction, her peripheral vision also focused on the rigid Mother Liang.
Father Liang accepted. “We’ll go back to the country first.”
“No need.” Liang Chaosu didn’t believe Father Liang. “I’ve already planned it for you: a global cruise. The scenery on land is not as peaceful or grand as at sea. We depart on the sixth. Stay in Iceland for these few days to watch the aurora and experience some stimulating local customs and traditions.”
Father Liang understood perfectly, and fearing he might alarm Mother Liang, he gritted his teeth but spoke in a low voice, “What do you intend to do?”
Liang Chaosu clasped his hands together over his abdomen, “What can I do? Just bumper cars in the snow.”
Father Liang’s facial muscles tightened, showing extreme suppression and endurance.
The global cruise would be entirely at sea, ensuring he couldn’t disembark and return to the country to interfere with him. Bumper cars in the snow referred to the car accident caused by Red Beard’s recklessness, and the local customs and traditions made Father Liang think of the gangs Liang Chaosu had long since partnered with.
With every step calculated, he didn’t even want to play Tai Chi with him anymore, opting for a swift, precise, and ruthless resolution to the threat.
Father Liang, with a stiff face, silently took Mother Liang away.
Xiao Da quickly followed. Liang Wenfei stood by the door, and after the footsteps outside had completely receded, she locked the door and walked to Liang Chaosu’s bedside.
“Brother, I’ve found out for you,” Liang Wenfei crouched down, looking up at Liang Chaosu eagerly. “Liancheng personally said she doesn’t want to be a good person and wants to go back to see Shen Lichuan. She also said Shen Lichuan is a gentleman and deserves a new life.”
“Brother, with her personality, she could openly say that even in public. It shows she thinks I’m delaying Shen Lichuan, and by ‘new life,’ she means she wants to start over with Shen Lichuan no matter what.”
…………………………
The following afternoon at one o’clock, the plane landed.
After the aircraft taxied to a halt, Liancheng opened the aircraft’s porthole.
The entire airport was filled with festive New Year cheer. Red lanterns hung in the nearby waiting lounge, and paper cuttings adorned the glass windows. In the distance, the outdoor electronic billboards displayed New Year greetings. Even the uniforms of the ground crew, visible beneath their fluorescent vests, had been replaced with red.
Bai Ying saw the joy in her eyes, a blush coloring her pale cheeks. She was happy yet reluctant, poking Liancheng in the waist with her finger.
“You really don’t need me to accompany you? You’ve just returned to the country, and your identity information has been purged. Even with arrangements and plans made, many things will still be inconvenient.”
Bai Ying’s mother was from the North, and every year on the third day of the Lunar New Year, she would visit her maternal home. She had thought Bai Ying couldn’t join her this year, but now it was perfect timing.
Moreover, Bai Ying’s maternal grandfather was not in good health. He had been looking forward to this all year. Since she was back in the country, not visiting the elder would cause him worry and longing.
Liancheng felt the tickle and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She grabbed Bai Ying’s hand, stopping her.
“Go on your trip with confidence. Give my regards to Grandpa for me and wish him enduring strength like a pine, steadfastness like bamboo, the might of Wu Song fighting the tiger, and robust health.”
Bai Ying said with reluctance, “I’ll definitely get you a red envelope.”
Outside the window, the ground crew placed the gangway, and a Bentley and a black stealth Land Rover were led to the aircraft by a ground vehicle.
The rear door of the Bentley opened, and Aunt Wang and the butler quickly approached the gangway. Bai Yixian lagged a step behind, emerging from the black stealth vehicle.
After alighting the plane and seeing Bai Ying off, Liancheng turned her head, only to be embraced tightly by Aunt Wang. “You’ve become so thin.”
Her voice trembled with choked sobs.
Liancheng felt the tight embrace, yet careful not to squeeze too hard, as if afraid of crushing her. Warm palms landed on her back, stroking her lightly and then heavily, filled with tenderness that made her lose her strength.
Liancheng couldn’t help but close her eyes, burying her face in Aunt Wang’s embrace. Aunt Wang smelled particularly soft, so soft that Liancheng wanted to sink into her.
The butler draped a coat over her. “It’s cold outside, and Liancheng shouldn’t be exposed to the wind. Sister Wang, let’s talk in the car.”
Liancheng looked up, about to ask who had sent them when she saw a person standing by a car not far away, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, his hairstyle neat despite the wind.
She recognized him; it was Su Chenghuai, Liang Chaosu’s secretary at Liang Family.
The butler invited her into the car. “The Eldest Young Master went to Iceland the night he was elected Chairman. He didn’t even attend the inauguration ceremony. Secretary Su has been incredibly busy and didn’t take his annual leave this year. Upon hearing you were returning, he specifically came to pick you up.”
Liancheng’s expression darkened. Liang Chaosu was actually aloof, maintaining strict boundaries between his personal and professional life. Su Chenghuai was responsible for the Liang Family’s work, not his private affairs, and he disliked anyone crossing that line.
Therefore, for the past four years, Su Chenghuai and she had only exchanged nods. There was no friendship that would warrant him coming to the airport to pick her up when he was so busy, unless it was work-related and Liang Chaosu had instructed him to do so.
Meeting Liancheng’s increasingly wary gaze, Su Chenghuai opened the rear door.
A car suddenly swerved from the side.
Speeding at breakneck pace, it braked sharply, the screeching tires a piercing sound. The front of the car collided with the rear of the Bentley. The driver’s door opened.
Shen Lichuan sprinted into Liancheng’s line of sight.
