Chapter 171: Hello, Shen Lichuan
“It’s not a threat.”
Liang Chaosu’s breathing was uneven. After calming down, he spoke again, his voice hoarse and hoarse, “I live, and you are by my side.”
Lian Cheng’s body tensed. She realized this was a reminder, and that *not* doing so would be the threat.
She took a step back, moving out of the range of the foot of the bed. “You also said we should maintain a distance between men and women.”
Liang Chaosu turned his head slightly. The backrest of the hospital bed only tilted slightly. As Lian Cheng stepped back, the bright white light from the ceiling light engulfed her, leaving only a vague silhouette, blurred and indistinct.
The incision on his chest where he was sutured ached dully, and the electrocardiogram line on the instrument next to him fluctuated.
The sound of the alarm startled the nurse outside, who rushed in to check. “Before the surgical incision has healed, absolutely do not stimulate the patient.”
Lian Cheng was indifferent.
Seeing this, Xiao Da echoed a few words and escorted the nurse out.
The ward became quiet and deserted again. Lian Cheng remained standing in place, motionless.
Liang Chaosu’s heart felt as if it were empty. He had expected this. When that knife went in, the blood that poured out extinguished her desire for mutual destruction, not her deep-seated hatred.
“With Shen Lichuan’s condition, he has at most another half a month.”
Lian Cheng’s jaw tightened even further, like a rubber band stretched to its extreme, and when it snaps, neither end will be spared.
“I can fly back to the country in ten days at the earliest. Based on the time, he can be saved.”
Lian Cheng clenched her fists, veins popping on her wrists. “The Shen’s scheme was yours, the charges were fabricated by you. If you don’t harm him, he will be safe immediately.”
The ceiling light hung directly above the hospital bed, near the foot of the bed. The light slanted into his eyes and was immediately swallowed.
Darkness.
Lian Cheng found no danger or sharpness within it, only a deep gloom, so heavy it felt condensed.
“I stopped a long time ago.”
Lian Cheng didn’t believe these five words, not one bit.
Liang Chaosu also knew she didn’t believe him. He raised his hand and called her, “Come here.”
Lian Cheng didn’t move.
Every second of silence was the highest form of contempt.
Liang Chaosu spoke first, “You can be my secretary and access Liang Family’s information to verify if I have stopped.”
Lian Cheng’s eyebrows twitched slightly, showing a flicker of reaction. Then, she became even more vigilant, staring at him, her gaze searching his face for a long time, examining his muscle structure and expressions.
Lying in the hospital bed, he was powerless, like withered wood. She didn’t believe his words, not even close enough to trust him.
Liang Chaosu suddenly let out a laugh, dispirited and desolate, his voice hoarse and tragic, “I won’t touch you, just let you get a little closer.”
He took a breath. “This time, I don’t want you to guess my thoughts. Regarding how we interact in the future, and what the boundaries are, let’s talk openly.”
Lian Cheng hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly approached, stopping about a meter from the head of the bed.
As the distance closed, she emerged from the light, her wariness visible to the naked eye, as if any slight movement from him would make her retreat immediately and leave without looking back.
“After returning to the country,” Liang Chaosu’s dark pupils reflected her, “you will join Liang Family and live in Jade Mansion. Outside of work hours, whether you see me is your freedom. But you cannot leave, and you cannot be involved with Shen Lichuan.”
Lian Cheng’s reaction was ice cold. “Joining Liang Family means being under your watchful eye during the day. Living in Jade Mansion means it’s your house, your industry, and I will still be under your surveillance. I don’t want to see you, and your property security alone could create no less than ten ways to force me to see you. Such behavior is an insult to freedom.”
Liang Chaosu’s chest vibrated, and a low, short laugh escaped him. “I expected you to think that way. Can I have a chance to explain?”
Lian Cheng scoffed, “If not, will you shut up?”
“I dare not shut up.” Liang Chaosu’s smile intensified, his eyes filled with helplessness. “If I can’t explain clearly, and you hold it against me again, I can’t afford to be stabbed a second time in a short period.”
Lian Cheng stared at him.
Liang Chaosu sensed her impatience and raised his hand in surrender. “You want Liang Family’s identity and want to restrict me, but you are also bringing danger upon yourself. He cannot be as reckless here as he was in Iceland, but it doesn’t mean there are no other options. Living in Jade Mansion, I won’t deny that I will know your whereabouts, but it’s more to protect your safety.”
Lian Cheng knew clearly who “he” referred to.
Father Liang was ruthless and decisive. In Iceland, he could have caused “Mother and Child Death” for her, and after failing, he held a funeral and revoked her household registration, showing his unwavering determination not to let her go, which was as firm as a rock and unlikely to change.
This time, her return to the country and the cancellation of her death declaration was another slap in his face, publicly slapped in the face of the fame and fortune circle.
The more luxurious and grand her funeral was, the harder and more humiliating that slap was to Father Liang’s reputation.
One could even imagine how people at social gatherings would speculate about Father Liang and tease the Liang Family.
“So, do I need to thank you then?” Lian Cheng’s face held even more mockery. “Culprit.”
Her attitude was one of disgust, irrecoverable. Liang Chaosu’s throat bobbed several times, and the blood in his limbs seemed to freeze under her cold gaze. “Lian Cheng, it was my miscalculation.”
His breathing became erratic. There was too much accumulated resentment, and she felt the pain of each and every incident.
“The incident at White Jade Capital was not an attempt to suppress you.”
“At that time, the African assets were preparing to be listed. According to the plan, after Liang Wenfei’s marriage on the ninth of the twelfth lunar month, the first batch of funds would flow into the country. The Liang Gu project was on the verge of success, and I was confident I could protect you. In the private room, I thought you would resist, and I wanted you to vent your anger and show your attitude to the social circle.”
“Later, in the car, I was jealous of Shen Lichuan and spoke carelessly. He misled me into thinking it was for Liang Wenfei. Liang Wenfei’s heart was still set on him, and she had doubts, yet you immediately believed him. Even when I tried to explain that I didn’t dislike him, you still firmly believed Shen Lichuan.”
Lian Cheng’s expression vanished.
Her eyes were dark and serene, with a hint of mockery.
Liang Chaosu expected her to counterattack, to scold, or perhaps to deny.
Lian Cheng didn’t even spare him a glance and turned to leave.
Liang Chaosu’s entire chest felt hollowed out. Amidst the sharp beeping of the instruments, his flesh and blood seemed to be peeled away, suffocating him bit by bit.
He had actually prepared himself. What they lacked was not an explanation, nor was the truth important.
If he wanted her, he had to repay the same pain she had endured, and only then would it be considered an apology.
And an apology was just the beginning.
…………………………
Lian Cheng went downstairs to the ward. Bai Ying and Bai Yixian had gone out and had not yet returned.
Xiao Da quickly brought her mobile phone and mentioned, “Staff from the embassy will arrive in an hour. After they provide the certificate, the domestic application will be submitted.”
“If the application is submitted, it will inevitably alarm the Liang Family,” Lian Cheng asked, “Will it be blocked?”
Xiao Da shook his head. “There will be attempts to block it, but with Mr. Liang’s involvement, the obstruction will not be significant.”
Lian Cheng asked no further questions.
Liang Chaosu was now Director Liang, and Father Liang had been forced to retire at home. Based on Lian Cheng’s upbringing in the Liang Family and her understanding of Father Liang, he was by no means someone who would easily give up or admit defeat.
Not to mention him, Mother Liang and Liang Wenfei would cause a huge scene when they learned she had canceled her death declaration.
It was possible they might even take a private jet to Iceland.
After Xiao Da left, Lian Cheng picked up her phone, directly accessed the dialer, and entered a number.
International calls take a bit longer to connect, and it took nearly twenty seconds before the call was answered on the other end.
A very tired voice said, “Hello.”
Lian Cheng replied, “Hello, Shen Lichuan.”
