Chapter 111: The Days Are Desperate Like Screaming Glass
“No.”
Liancheng insisted, “The medical examination, two menstrual periods, you saw it with your own eyes.”
Liang Chaosu’s face was covered by a mask-like calmness. In the past, he was deep and cunning, and even his mask fit his face perfectly, making him impossible to decipher.
But now it was extraordinarily clear and false. To the point that the malevolence and aggression beneath the mask, in every second he silently stared at people, were ghastly.
Liancheng met his gaze without flinching.
The long struggle, every time she gave her all, in the end, all turned into a bubble of illusion, often falling into a situation with no way out, no retreat, and no trace of hope.
Who wouldn’t be tired? She was truly tired, tired to the point of collapse, continuously collapsing, then getting used to collapsing, collapsing for a long time but not dying.
Even if the days were as desperate as screaming glass, like fingernails scratching a coffin lid, nail caps shattering, wood splinters piercing fingertips, resulting in a bloody mess.
Suffocation and pain, both occupying her heart in the second before.
She still didn’t give up.
Liang Chaosu saw the desperate brilliance in her eyes. Gathering all his strength, the diamonds glittering and reflecting light throughout the entire store, added up to less than her pupils.
Steadfast, resolute, awe-inspiring.
Like unreachable snow on a mountain peak, one step further would trigger an earth-shattering avalanche, leaving no room for maneuver.
“You promised me, you’d give me a ring.” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, his voice deep and steady, hiding bitterness, “Are you going back on your word? Or are you lying to me again?”
Liancheng was certain that he was at least eighty to ninety percent sure she was pregnant, but he didn’t expose her at the moment.
He didn’t force her for a blood test or continue to press her, not seeking that necessary answer. All the white-hot rage Liancheng had prepared and was about to unleash cooled down.
Her heart suddenly lost its strength, her fingertips trembled uncontrollably, “A ring, I’ll give you a thumb ring.”
Liang Chaosu wanted to put his arm around her shoulder, but he raised his arm, turned it in mid-air, picked up tissues from the counter, and wiped his chest, “There are no thumb rings here.”
“Later.” Liancheng handed him tissues one by one, making empty promises, “When I return to my country, I’ll give you ten.”
Liang Chaosu’s chest vibrated, and his voice, amidst a muffled laugh, was deep, resonant, and vague, “Ten for each finger, then.”
The boss, unable to understand Chinese, only saw the two inexplicably squaring off, the atmosphere tense as if they would draw guns at any moment, fighting to the death.
Then, after a few words, they were reconciled. It wasn’t exactly affectionate, but the woman was obedient and followed the man to the restroom to clean up the stains.
When they came out again, the oppressive and intimidating aura of the man had completely vanished.
The woman lowered her head, her lips red and swollen.
After they left, the boss looked at his wristwatch. Three minutes.
He looks like a respectable person, but inwardly he’s just a flower stand, not as good as him, who is almost fifty.
Heh.
……………………
Shen Lichuan arranged to meet Bai Ying at the teahouse.
Bai Ying initially didn’t want to come.
Liancheng had flown overseas and hadn’t reported her safety yet. Her father was reporting in real-time that the Liang family was in turmoil, father and son were killing each other, Gu Xingyuan was acting like a mad dog, and Gu Zhoushan was uniting forces everywhere. Yet, at the center of the whirlwind, Liang Chaosu had disappeared.
Bai Ying had a guess in her heart, and when she received news that Mother Liang had privately met with the examining doctor that morning, it turned into a chilling premonition.
She sat down and got straight to the point, “Liancheng has been found by Liang Chaosu again, and the Liang family knows she’s pregnant, right?”
Shen Lichuan lowered his eyes, “The Liang family only suspects she’s pregnant, and Liang Chaosu is in Iceland.”
Bai Ying’s chest heaved rapidly, and she endured it, “You asked me to come here just to tell me this?”
Shen Lichuan heard the dissatisfaction and mockery hidden in her words.
Bai Ying’s love and hate were fierce. She looked down on him for the past four years. Clearly, he couldn’t let go, but he always endured and didn’t speak up. Privately, she cursed him for being too gentle, too old-fashioned, telling him to fight for love and stop being indecisive like a woman.
At that time, Shen Lichuan thought Liancheng was going to give up, that she loved Mother Liang and made concessions for family affection over love. His excessive entanglement would only make Liancheng uncomfortable and put her in a difficult position within the Liang family.
By the time the truth came out, he had already touched Liang Wenfei and betrayed Liancheng. It was too late to fight for her; he wasn’t worthy of her anymore.
“No.” Shen Lichuan was good-natured towards Bai Ying, “I plan to support Gu Zhoushan with the Shen family, help Director Liang, and control Liang Chaosu, forcing him to return to China. Some things will no longer be convenient, so I want to ask you—”
Bai Ying understood and said irritably, “You don’t need to ask. That brood of vipers in the Liang family is investigating my hospital, and I’ve bribed the head of gynecology at City First Hospital, so I’m involved no matter what. My father has already taken action.”
Shen Lichuan smiled, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Bai Ying looked at him, “But your support for Gu Zhoushan means you’re inserting yourself into the Liang family’s internal strife. Will your father agree?”
Shen Lichuan twirled the teacup in his hand, “I have to grow up sometime. I can’t stay under my father’s thumb forever.”
Bai Ying gave him a thumbs-up, “You’ve finally become a man, at least once. What about Liancheng? Even if Liang Chaosu returns, he’ll definitely bring her with him, and she still won’t be able to escape.”
Shen Lichuan didn’t explain further, “Their father and son’s competition isn’t that simple. I have arrangements.”
……………………
After returning from the jewelry store, Liang Chaosu changed his clothes, turned on the computer, and handled domestic affairs.
Liancheng was curled up on the sofa beside him, lost in thought, holding a cup of hot milk.
The confrontation at the jewelry store had drained her energy. She really wanted to go to bed and sleep, but she didn’t have a habit of napping, and she had vomited earlier. With Liang Chaosu’s meticulous nature, he would definitely associate it with pregnancy reactions again.
That would lead to another storm.
She forced herself to stay alert and focused.
The indoor heating was quite strong. Liang Chaosu was wearing a black cotton shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing firm muscles with smooth, powerful lines. A mechanical wristwatch was on his right wrist, and it occasionally clicked against something as he typed, making a “da da” sound.
However, he always reviewed documents seriously and meticulously, completely absorbed, and didn’t notice at all.
Liancheng, however, was made drowsy by the “da” sound, and almost dropped the milk. She vaguely thought, “If you’re so busy, why don’t you go back to your country?”
Liang Chaosu heard her and looked up from the screen, glancing at her, “Not going back. Aren’t you going to see the aurora, go whale watching, hike glaciers, and visit blue ice caves?”
Liancheng paused, then realized that in her fatigue, she had spoken carelessly and actually asked.
Furthermore, back then, she was just looking for an excuse, saying whatever came to mind. Besides, that was also for him to see.
Even if she wanted to go, it would be after she gained her freedom, to take her young lady.
What did it have to do with him?
Liang Chaosu caught the expression on her face, “You don’t want to go with me? Why did you invite me this morning?”
Liancheng composed her expression, her mind completely cleared.
This morning, he had asked if she wanted to go out, and she had used it as an excuse.
At the time, she only wanted to test his attitude and ignored the context. Thinking back now, it did imply that she agreed to go out with him.
“I misunderstood,” Liancheng sipped her milk, “I thought you weren’t busy and were going on vacation.”
Little liar, she always had the initiative to explain, speaking first and then changing her story.
If she couldn’t change it, she would twist the meaning.
Liang Chaosu’s attention was completely diverted from the documents. Liancheng’s mouth was a perfect cherry shape, her upper lip pouting, with a soft cupid’s bow in the middle, and her lower lip was relatively thinner, stained red with milk.
His eye color deepened, “I am on vacation.”
