Chapter 117: Miss Lian Cheng Confirms Pregnancy
In the morning, Lian Cheng was still asleep. Liang Chaosu received a video call from Gu Xingyuan and hung up with a frown.
The phone screen displayed the time: six o’clock in the morning.
Iceland has a five-hour time difference from the mainland. It was one o’clock in the morning there.
At this hour, Gu Xingyuan would normally be taking care of his wife at the hospital and would not contact him.
In the darkness, Lian Cheng’s breathing was warm and hot, puffing against his chest, rising and falling rhythmically. Liang Chaosu gently withdrew his arm, ensuring he hadn’t woken her.
Then, he silently got out of bed, dressed, and went to the next room.
This room was originally a small reading room, complete with a walnut bookshelf and desk. It had been cleared out and re-equipped with lighting these past two days to become his study.
Liang Chaosu opened the computer. The wallpaper on the main interface was an image of glaciers and auroras. He clicked open his email, and as dozens of unread messages popped up, Gu Xingyuan’s call came through again.
This time, he answered.
Gu Xingyuan’s voice was extremely hoarse, “Xiao Rou is awake.”
“I know,” Liang Chaosu replied, browsing his emails.
“Yes, I forgot, Xiao Da reported to you.” Gu Xingyuan sounded terrible, dejected and dazed. “My child is already fifteen weeks old. It has grown a nose and eyes, its features resemble Xiao Rou’s, and it’s moving. The doctor said at this stage, the fingernails should be growing. It’s barely the size of a palm, just a tiny mass, bloody and mutilated…”
Liang Chaosu’s voice was calm, “You are taking revenge.”
“No.” Gu Xingyuan’s voice choked up. After a few seconds of silence, he continued, “During the surgery, Xiao Rou saw the aborted child, and now she wants a divorce from me.”
Liang Chaosu remained silent.
Since they had known each other, Liang Chaosu had been serious and focused only on their cooperation, otherwise he was stern and aloof. Gu Xingyuan didn’t expect him to offer comfort; he needed targeted advice.
He didn’t need comfort or advice; he just needed an outlet for his emotions.
Gu Xingyuan took a deep breath. “Xiao Rou said we can’t break free from the shackles of the world. The price we pay keeps accumulating, and in the end, it costs a life. It’s too much, she can’t accept it.”
“There are no shackles that cannot be broken, of course—” Liang Chaosu unexpectedly chimed in, “the process will be very difficult.”
“…” Gu Xingyuan remained silent.
“Did you give up?”
Gu Xingyuan raised his hand to rub his face. “I only completed half of your plan. They only think I’ve gone mad and am reckless, biting anyone. Your father didn’t suspect anything. But I can’t hold on anymore.”
He apologized. “My alliance with you was all for Xiao Rou. Now that she’s leaving, I have to go after her. Find someone to take my place.”
Liang Chaosu’s expression darkened.
Before he could speak, Gu Xingyuan had already hung up.
Liang Chaosu called back, but the other party’s phone was switched off.
On the computer screen, Xiao Da’s video communication popped up at the opportune moment.
Liang Chaosu put down his phone and accepted the call.
Xiao Da’s background was his office, with Su Chenghuai sitting next to him.
Liang Chaosu was detached. His subordinates had their own duties; they didn’t overstep boundaries or pry. The work secretary was the work secretary, and the personal assistant was the personal assistant.
No matter how long Xiao Da had been with him, he couldn’t achieve the same level of intimacy as Secretary Zhou, who was by Director Liang’s side.
Regarding the affairs of the Liang family, if they were not important or if everything was running smoothly, it was acceptable to mention them on behalf of the company. However, for detailed reports concerning changes in the situation, it was not.
This time, the matter concerning the Liang family was urgent, so Su Chenghuai came first.
“Vice Chairman, half an hour ago, President Gu urgently handed over his work to me. He’s leaving. According to the original plan, it’s not yet time to attract Director Liang’s attention. Do you need me to take over?”
Su Chenghuai’s question was essentially rhetorical.
If it were the normal operations of the Liang family, even a ten-billion-dollar acquisition case, they would be capable of handling it.
But this time, it was a hunt, and the target was Director Liang himself. Compared to them, Gu Xingyuan’s actions were erratic, and coupled with his wife and child’s injuries and deaths, and the deep-seated hatred, his reckless pursuit of revenge, attacking anyone who stood in his way, was understandable.
To suppress the Vice Chairman, Director Liang had publicly supported Gu Zhoushan. Gu Xingyuan had also attacked Director Liang’s faction. Director Liang, busy with other matters, paid no attention.
If it were them, Director Liang would immediately become wary, and all their previous efforts would be in vain.
Liang Chaosu’s gaze shifted to Xiao Da. “What about your side?”
Xiao Da’s reply was brief. “Director Liang’s people investigated the black clinic. Miss Lian Cheng is undoubtedly pregnant, and she is twelve weeks and one day along.”
Liang Chaosu’s face showed no surprise or joy, but he froze, his expression as blank as a shell. A sudden spark ignited in his eyes, as if all the bright white light from the newly installed lamp in the study had converged within them, piercing deep into his pupils, so dense it was impossible to disperse.
Su Chenghuai was still waiting for his instructions when the computer screen suddenly went black. Liang Chaosu’s image disappeared, revealing Xiao Da’s tropical rainforest wallpaper.
He instinctively tried to reconnect the video. “Xiao Da, did your internet cut out?”
Xiao Da stopped him. “Let’s wait. Just assume my internet is down.”
……………………
Lian Cheng was still asleep.
She had been experiencing drowsiness lately. Last night, during her brisk walk in the snowfield, although the pace wasn’t fast, she didn’t dare to linger too long, trying her best to stay within a reasonable distance, not to alarm Liang Chaosu, and not to get too close to him.
After the walk, combined with the mental and physical exertion, it was no less demanding than a marathon.
Plus, she had eaten a late-night snack upon returning, so her stomach was full and she wasn’t hungry, leading her to sleep more soundly.
Liang Chaosu stood by the bedside. His chest heaved with a turbulent surge, a wild expansion that made him dizzy.
Over the years, in the treacherous social circle, everyone was a shrewd and experienced old fox. Many matters, once scrutinized for five or six parts, were considered confirmed, enough for him to set a course and stabilize morale.
But this matter, confirmed by his own ears, was different.
Liang Chaosu’s right hand trembled involuntarily, almost unable to hold the object in his grasp.
He squatted down. Relying on his excellent night vision, in the dimness, her slender silhouette was peaceful. Her cheeks were fair, her hair jet black, spread out and covering the pillow.
Liang Chaosu gazed for a long time, then suddenly, with extreme lightness and slowness, he shed his clothes. With his chest bare, he quietly got into bed, lifted the quilt, and embraced her.
The thick hair cascaded like water onto his arm, gentle and boneless.
In this regard, the object did not follow its owner.
Liang Chaosu opened his right hand. In his palm lay a hard, emerald green jade buckle. The woven red cord knot was not long, and the jade beads on either side of the buckle, meant as decoration, were also of varying sizes.
Overall, it was a jade buckle bracelet of excellent material but poor appearance.
Liang Chaosu gently pulled Lian Cheng’s hand and put it on her, securing the knot.
Green jade and fair skin, in the relentless wind of Iceland on a quiet morning. Indoors, the silence flowed like a sandglass, grain by grain, slow and gentle.
He caressed it and bowed his head to kiss it.
………………………………
At the same time, in Director Liang’s study.
Secretary Zhou bowed deeply, his bow almost ninety degrees.
It was the middle of the night. Outside the window, the sky was dim. Only a small desk lamp was lit in the room.
The dim white light illuminated the desk, but did not clearly show Director Liang, who was seated behind it. He was wearing a dark green robe, his hair disheveled and messy, unlike its tidiness during the day, yet it was chilling to the bone marrow.
After Secretary Zhou’s report, the atmosphere grew increasingly suppressed and tense with each passing moment.
