Chapter 122: I Want To Die, But I Feel Someone Else Deserves It
The meeting host reported the preceding events and consequences, leading to the voting stage.
Father Liang expressed his stance first, “A thousand-mile dike collapses from an ant’s nest. If one nest appears, then a hundred have already existed. I propose that all projects in cooperation with Gu Corporation be halted, and an internal audit be initiated.”
As soon as he finished speaking, after a brief second, the entire room erupted in commotion.
The directors exchanged glances.
If this proposal passed, Liang Chaosu’s efforts over the past four years would be in vain, his status and influence would crumble overnight, and the Vice Chairman would be left with only a title.
They knew the father and son were competing, but they hadn’t expected it to be a fight to the death.
Father Liang scanned the room, and two-thirds of the directors showed resistance. He smiled, “Let’s vote.”
As expected, someone immediately jumped up, “Wait a minute.”
That person stood up, “Director Liang, everyone understands your concern for the Group. However, whether that project has indeed cut corners is still unknown. To act so drastically and halt all projects based solely on a real-name report, with temporary losses not even counted. If this is a setup by someone with ulterior motives targeting the Liang Family, and we don’t even investigate and fall right into it, wouldn’t that be too foolish?”
Father Liang extended his hand in invitation, “Then what is your opinion?”
“Let’s make a decision after discussing it with the Vice Chairman upon his return.”
Father Liang’s smile remained unchanged, “Where is the Vice Chairman?”
Secretary Zhou immediately stepped forward and reported loudly, “The Vice Chairman is abroad for an inspection, for a period of one month.”
Father Liang tapped his knuckles on the table, “Half of the projects with Gu Corporation are national projects. Engineering quality is paramount, above me, above the Vice Chairman, above all your calculations. If there is the slightest error, we stop immediately for self-inspection. If the report is true, I, everyone present, including the Vice Chairman, should surrender ourselves to atone to the country.”
The atmosphere in the large conference room became subtle and tense.
The projects with Gu Corporation, when scrutinized against national projects, were only distantly related after much winding. Yet, they couldn’t outright deny any connection to the country.
With such a serious accusation leveled, the directors’ urge to resist instantly diminished by thirty percent.
Father Liang did not press further, “I know that everyone present has already leaned towards a certain direction. Halting all projects would incur immeasurable losses for the Group. How about this—”
He got up, “We will immediately form an audit team to first investigate the problematic project. The Vice Chairman’s overseas inspection will be canceled; we will discuss it further when he returns.”
Human nature is largely like this; if one wants to open a window, they’ll first dismantle the house. The directors would surely realize this, but they felt that an overseas trip was just that, and canceling it was fine. When Liang Chaosu returned, with his methods, he could immediately resolve the situation.
A faint smile flickered in Father Liang’s eyes, but he wasn’t trying to dismantle the house or open a window; he merely wanted to see his son in the country.
To lure the tiger away from its mountain is the only way to capture its cub.
…………………………
After lunch, Liang Chaosu received several phone calls from directors who were staunch supporters of his.
“Vice Chairman, Director Liang is about to make a move against you, and he is completely serious.”
“With one of the Gu Corporation projects being a success, you have the potential to become Chairman. Director Liang making a move now is undeniably fierce. Please return immediately to take charge of the situation.”
“The audit team’s meeting has attendees handpicked by Director Liang. They are impermeable to outside influence. The mess left by Gu Xingyuan requires you to return and make a decision; no one can stand against Director Liang.”
Liang Chaosu’s unified reply was, “Understood.”
He silenced his mobile phone, went upstairs, and turned the doorknob. Liancheng had locked it from the inside.
The key to the entire villa had been handed to him upon his arrival. Liang Chaosu turned and retrieved it.
The sound of the key entering the lock was extremely piercing and ferocious in the room’s silence.
Liancheng’s eyes were filled with sarcasm.
This was the true Liang Chaosu: dictatorial, arrogant, unreasonable, stubborn, and capricious. He would never empathize with anyone.
No.
He would empathize with Mother Liang, Liang Wenfei, Father Liang; he empathized with his blood relatives.
As for her, she was merely a pet that had gained his meager favor, temporarily precious because she was carrying a child.
It was a pity that the pet was unappreciative. He had shown enough tolerance and indulgence, yet she still disobeyed, refused to submit, didn’t comply with his arrangements, and snarled and snapped at him.
Liancheng turned her back to the door and curled up under the quilt.
Footsteps approached from behind, and a corner of the quilt was lifted.
The man’s strong and imposing body enveloped her from behind, pressing against her chest, firm and broad. The swell was not significant, and his heartbeat was deep and slow.
Liancheng could no longer imagine his terrifying demeanor before lunch. Amidst a catastrophic event, where she was in despair and not given a moment’s respite, he had already calmed down, displaying extraordinary self-control.
Recalling their four years of living together, and the sparring matches they had, she had lost more than she won, but she had undeniably won at times.
But those wins, compared to his current flawless perfection, were they truly wins, or had he gone easy on her, sensing she was about to break and giving her a small treat to ease her nerves?
Liang Chaosu lifted the hem of her clothes, his burning palm pressing against her lower abdomen. It was still flat and smooth, but now there were two people and three heartbeats, truly a unique sensation.
Joy, profound fear, excitement – countless emotions churned and swelled in her heart, making it both sore and soft.
“We’ll be able to see him soon.”
Liang Chaosu’s deep, magnetic voice was only two or three inches from her ear. His breath was columnar, spraying into her ear canal, causing a tingling itch.
Liancheng shifted away, “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you.”
Liang Chaosu’s lips landed on her earlobe, soft and gentle, like a wisp of breeze in early March, sweeping through willow branches before lingering on her neck. “You’re always so stubborn.”
Liancheng’s stomach churned, and the food she had eaten surged towards her throat.
She frowned, “Gentleness and kindness don’t suit you. Liang Chaosu, you act for a bit, and I’m disgusted for a year. At this point, there’s no need for us to feign peace. Use all your methods of taming people. It was like that for four years, and it’s the same now.”
Liang Chaosu’s chest swelled and deflated like a massive tide, surging and then receding. “Liancheng, if you had been obedient during those four years, if you had made one correct choice among those…”
Liancheng violently vomited, along with the shrimp and beef she had barely managed to eat at lunch, spraying a pillow.
She was utterly disgusted, disgusted by the mess and disgusted by Liang Chaosu. She flipped over, sat up, and pushed him away, going to the restroom.
When she came out again.
The bed sheets were changed. Liang Chaosu was at the doorway talking to a blonde female doctor. Behind her were several assistants also wearing white coats. Liancheng didn’t see any examination instruments.
She assumed they must be downstairs.
She knew clearly that this time she couldn’t escape and wouldn’t make any futile struggles.
Liang Chaosu treated her like a cat or dog. When taming a pet, a few scratches from sharp claws and teeth were insignificant.
But if the owner was determined to do something, such as taking the pet for a bath or to the vet for sterilization, regardless of whether the pet naturally hated water or didn’t want to be mutilated.
The final outcome would not change.
The only difference would be the process: whether she went willingly or was bound and taken.
Liancheng detested this lack of control over her own body.
She wanted to die, but she felt that someone else was the one who should die.
