Chapter 157: Are You Even Human?
The sunset sank, and the last ray of dusk slanted on the glass.
The entire Nan Province replaced neon lights, and clusters of light spots reflected in the rolling Qian River that ran through the city center. The dazzling extravagance bypassed the Liang Group, as if wealth and fame, things that people chased in all sorts of ways but could not obtain, surged and converged before them.
The directors were all optimistic about the prospects of the Liang-Gu cooperation. The only drawback was the excessive capital risk, and later the deficit made them feel as if they were facing an abyss.
So, the Liang father and son engaged in internal strife, and they fell into a tug-of-war. In the end, only forty percent of the directors supported Liang Chaosu.
Now, Liang Chaosu has capital overseas. With a large amount of investment injected, not only the Liang-Gu cooperation project, but almost all the existing capital problems of the Liang family can be solved easily.
Of course, the directors are all seasoned veterans of the business world and would not be convinced by a mere investment proposal. However, the first batch of funds arrived directly that afternoon, and the figures on the books were real money, making anyone who counted them feel ecstatic.
At such a time, Liang Chaosu demands a re-election of the chairman. Although it has the meaning of forcing his way to power, to take a step back, Father Liang is old. If he doesn’t voluntarily abdicate and give way, is there no fault with him?
Liang Chaosu still sat on the lower left. His unnaturally pale, sharp face was extremely cold and extremely calm.
Su Chenghuai carefully moved the chairman’s nameplate in front of Father Liang to his front, “Congratulations, you have been promoted to Chairman of the Liang Group.”
Father Liang at the head of the table had lost his elegance. The hair styled with hairspray was a few stray strands hanging by his temples, showing a bit of old age.
After a long time, he squeezed out words from between his teeth, “Where did you get overseas capital?”
Were they the blood-sucking financial magnates of Wall Street, or the Qatari tycoons who trained eagles and dogs in the Middle East?
Liang Chaosu’s five-hour consecutive meeting ended with his back straight and his posture strong, but his pupils were densely packed with bloodshot veins, and up close, his gauntness was shocking.
“Africa.”
Father Liang was stunned for a moment.
Su Chenghuai first glanced at the atmosphere between the two, then looked at Liang Chaosu’s expression. The conference room was brightly lit, and his face was almost devoid of color, as he struggled to maintain his spirit.
Su Chenghuai inserted softly to explain.
“Director Liang has hunting grounds and mines in Africa, and has some deep cooperation with two local tribes. At the end of last month, the company met the listing conditions, and after listing in Country M, the stock price has been rising.”
Father Liang had a sudden enlightenment. Liang Chaosu had mentioned the African hunting grounds before, and he thought it was just a place for Liang Chaosu to release stress after acquiring it.
After all, since Liang Chaosu entered the Liang family, he had been busy with the Northern Market, and then considered the investment shift to the internet, with a crazy workload and high-density itinerary, he was overwhelmed.
But thinking back, when he first inquired about the Liang-Gu cooperation, Liang Chaosu had confidently promised him a satisfactory reply within three months at the latest. Wasn’t that referring to the African company meeting the listing conditions, cashing out funds, and filling the funding gap for the Liang-Gu project?
And as he pressed harder, Liang Chaosu also accelerated the cashing out process, compressing three months into one week. Such a huge cash flow—
“You sold the African company?” Father Liang said incredulously, “How did you do it?”
According to listing regulations, a company’s shares cannot be transferred within one year from the date of listing and trading, and even if the shareholder announces resignation, the shares cannot be changed within half a year.
“It’s not selling, other preparations were made before listing,” Liang Chaosu stood up, his tall shadow casting over Father Liang, “I said before, if you force it, I will respond.”
Father Liang’s face turned green, then purple.
“For a woman, just for a woman…”
Whether it was indignant rage or heartbroken disappointment, his voice trembled, “Your mother and I worked tirelessly to raise you, gave you wealth, power, and fulfilled your desires. For a woman, you cast aside all filial and nurturing grace. Are you still human?”
Liang Chaosu remained unmoved, from his deep eyes to his straight mouth.
The calmer he was, the more impactful it was.
The solemn silence sent a shiver down the spine.
A pool of stagnant water highlighted the other side of the conference room, where directors were chatting in groups of three or five, glancing at them peripherally, waiting for a father-son showdown, perhaps to intervene and help if it turned physical.
Liang Chaosu walked past him and left after the meeting.
Father Liang stared at the doorway, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
He didn’t mention Iceland at all, nor did he ask about Lian Cheng.
…………………………
Yesterday, Lian Cheng could get out of bed briefly, but her range of activity was limited to indoors.
Today, there was only sporadic bleeding, and she went out to test the waters a few times.
There were no bodyguards in sight, but there were cameras in the corridor. Within two minutes, a servant would appear with various excuses to ask her to return to her room to rest.
Undoubtedly, she was under house arrest.
Lian Cheng’s first thought was Old Ghost.
At the time of the car accident, she was dazed and taken away, while Old Ghost remained in the car.
Wells’ explanation to her was that Old Ghost was rescued by a kind passerby, sent to a nearby hospital, and after recovering from his injuries, he was deceiving the Liang family from the outside.
He had already returned to China three days ago.
But now she was certain she was under house arrest, and Wells was no longer credible. Was Old Ghost rescued or not? The temperature on the ice field was below zero, with strong winds. If he was also injured, was he still alive?
Lian Cheng’s hands and feet began to tremble uncontrollably.
She was wrong.
Getting entangled with a lunatic like Liang Chaosu, she should never have involved others, Old Ghost, Shen Lichuan, Bai Ying…
She could not escape the devil’s labyrinthine schemes. Anyone who helped her would be dragged into the abyss.
Suddenly, messy footsteps sounded from the stairs outside the door. Lian Cheng was startled and snapped back to attention, staring intently at the doorway.
Almost in the blink of an eye, the door was pushed open.
Wells rushed in, his gaze sharp. He first scanned the room, then turned to Lian Cheng, his smile stiff. “Miss Lian Cheng, we have had some minor internal issues, and an unruly mouse has gotten in. For your safety, my father would like to invite you to stay at his home in Reykjavik for a period of time.”
Lian Cheng’s heart was in turmoil. An unruly mouse?
“Sorry, I’m not feeling well. Since it’s a minor issue, I believe with your—”
“Lian.” Wells interrupted, his forceful attitude almost undisguised. “The car is downstairs. Considering your condition, we have modified the cabin and equipped it with a doctor. You will come with me now.”
A servant came to help Lian Cheng. Lian Cheng struggled, “Wait a moment, I need to go to the restroom first.”
Wells flatly refused, “You can do it in the car.”
Lian Cheng didn’t want to go to the restroom at all, and she knew she couldn’t resist, but she wanted to delay for a little time.
The gang was backed by Liang Chaosu. Her failed death escape—how did the gang explain it to Shen Lichuan?
If Old Ghost also had an accident, two lives. Shen Lichuan would never let it go and would come to Iceland himself. And his itinerary would not be hidden from Father Liang. Father Liang would pay close attention throughout and would immediately re-investigate the hospital if there was the slightest anomaly.
If Old Ghost was not in trouble—
Lian Cheng clenched her fist, fervently praying that this was the situation. Old Ghost was fine, rescued from the car accident, and upon learning of her death, he would definitely seek out the gang.
Then, would this “mouse” be him? When Wells entered just now, he first scanned the indoor environment, and his subconscious description was “got in.” He was so eager to take her away. Had Old Ghost already entered?
But this residential building was only two stories, including a kitchen and a bathroom, with no more than eight rooms in total. Wells had many men. Even if Old Ghost could hide and dodge, it would be effortless for them to find and subdue him.
Moreover, strictly speaking, with Wells’s defenses, Old Ghost alone would have no chance or possibility of breaking in.
Unless—Old Ghost was not alone. In places she couldn’t see, perhaps around the small building, or on the street, someone was tying up Wells’s other personnel. That’s why Wells was willing to expose his possession of a “mouse” and wanted to take her away immediately.
It seemed that the situation was urgent and a formidable enemy was at hand.
