Chapter 180: Aunt Wang
Iceland’s time difference is five hours ahead of domestic time. When it gets dark at six o’clock domestically, it’s deep night in Iceland.
The darkness outside the hospital room window stretched and clawed, boundless, as if it would pour in and extinguish the single small light on the bedside.
With the cardiac monitor removed from the head of the bed, the silence and emptiness in the room grew, and Liang Chaosu heard his own heartbeat.
He calculated the time, thinking about what Lian Cheng would do and say after returning to the country. While she was on high alert in Iceland, even Bai Ying couldn’t make her relax. Her emotions were like solidified cement, retaining only sharpness towards him.
So when she saw Aunt Wang, did she cry, did she vent all her sorrow and grief?
And after a long flight, she must be extremely tired; she should be asleep now. If she isn’t—
That overseas Chinese house is on the third floor, with two bedrooms and one living room. Given her personality, Aunt Wang would move in tonight. With the butler helping, and him still working for the Liang family and living in their house, Lian Cheng would invite him to stay for dinner.
Perhaps Shen Lichuan would also be there.
There was no sound outside the door; Xiao Da hadn’t yet received the report from home.
Liang Chaosu leaned back, sinking into the pillow. As his angle changed, the shadows on his face stretched, his gloomy eyebrows and eyes also expanded, and the sense of suppressed collapse grew.
Liang Wenfei’s kind of provocation didn’t use her brain at all; no matter how vigilant he was, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to believe it.
He was just wondering what Lian Cheng liked about Shen Lichuan. Was it his willingness to accept him after breaking up, his obedience? Or was it his gentle demeanor, his inability to say “no,” or perhaps his refined appearance, slender build, and similar age, making him young enough?
If love were like business, analyzing strengths and attacking weaknesses, turning mediocrity into a negative, victory would be within reach.
But for four years, she had never resented Shen Lichuan, not even blaming him for his cowardice.
If he were to imitate Shen Lichuan, would she accept him?
A burning sensation surged in Liang Chaosu’s chest, warming his heart until it softened.
This absurd thought flashed for a second before cooling down, chilling into ice shards that pierced his bone marrow, freezing him to the point of trembling, his blood roaring.
If she truly accepted, would she be accepting Liang Chaosu, or an inferior imitation of Shen Lichuan out of helplessness?
Footsteps from outside approached, and in a breath, the door was pushed open from the outside.
Xiao Da’s expression was neither pleased nor displeased, indicating no bad news, but also no good news.
Liang Chaosu propped himself up on the bed and sat upright.
Xiao Da stood by the bedside, “Mr. Liang, after Miss Lian Cheng got off the plane and sent Bai Ying off, she met Shen Lichuan at the tarmac. He got the news from Liang Wenfei, but Miss Lian Cheng didn’t exchange many words with him. After a few minutes of meeting, she got into Su Chenghuai’s car and went to the rental apartment in Youfangkou.”
“The apartment has already been cleaned by the housekeeping service. After Miss Lian Cheng moved in, Aunt Wang moved in too, and coincidentally bought daily necessities and groceries. The butler helped check the power and water lines, and they had dinner together at five. After the butler left, Miss Lian Cheng went to rest.”
After the report, a brief silence fell in the room.
The dim, hazy lamplight cast a pale gray shadow, covering half of Liang Chaosu’s body and face.
Xiao Da didn’t look directly at him, unable to discern his emotions, or guess his reaction.
Given Liang Wenfei’s personality, she would only deceive Shen Lichuan, delaying the news of Lian Cheng’s miscarriage for as long as possible.
It would be best if Shen Lichuan never found out, but she suddenly changed her mind.
Not only was Iceland informed in detail, but Lian Cheng’s return date was also clear and precise.
Xiao Da felt it wasn’t simple; it was as if someone deliberately wanted Shen Lichuan to lose his reason and impulsively meet Lian Cheng.
Liang Chaosu leaned back into the pillow. The darkness outside the window seemed less deep now. Faint starlight could be seen in the sky. He found one or two stars and gazed into them, lost in thought.
He didn’t believe Liang Wenfei’s provocations, nor did he stop her small schemes and subtle actions.
Lian Cheng had hit the nail on the head with one sentence: as long as he still had thoughts about their future, he was under her control. Those threats were like nuclear weapons, deployable but never to be used.
This time, he had let her return home, let her go to Aunt Wang. If she met Shen Lichuan, became close, and confided in each other, Liang Chaosu hadn’t thought of a solution yet.
He couldn’t be like Shen Lichuan and hand her over to another man with his own hands. Even if he pretended to be generous, even if the thought had only just begun, he couldn’t suppress his violent impulses. His soul was roaring, screaming to shatter that “other person” into ashes.
Liang Chaosu asked, “Have the examination results come out? Do we have to wait until the seventh to be discharged from the hospital?”
Xiao Da nodded, “After all, you were injured in the heart. The doctor advised not to take it lightly.”
“And him?”
Xiao Da knew clearly he was asking about Father Liang, “The car accident was too stimulating. Old Director Liang was injured when he got out of the car. Wells took care of him, and they’ve just arrived at the fjord. They’ll set sail tomorrow.”
Liang Chaosu’s expression was calm, “Expedite the arrangements here. They will board the cruise ship on the fifth, and arrange a private jet for their return to the country.”
Although the statement was ambiguous, Xiao Da understood it completely. The first part meant sending Father and Mother Liang away in advance, and the second part meant Liang Chaosu would also return on the fifth.
He persuaded from another angle, “Mr. Liang, we have already applied for the flight route back on the seventh. The comfort level of a private jet cannot compare to a chartered plane, and it would only be more detrimental to your injury.”
Liang Chaosu directly bypassed the topic, “Tell Liang Wenfei to come here.”
…………………………
The fourth.
Lian Cheng woke up early in the morning, washed up, and left her room.
A table full of dishes was set in the small dining area next to the living room, all her favorites.
The kitchen door was ajar, and the savory scent of chicken soup sneaked out from the narrow gap.
Lian Cheng followed the aroma and pulled open the door. The kitchen window faced the rising sun, and the room was filled with golden morning light.
Aunt Wang was holding a spoon, meticulously skimming the oil from the soup. Her newly dyed black hair gleamed golden, and her clothes were still simple and unadorned.
Lian Cheng stood at the doorway, feeling her whole body go soft, like bones frozen through in the dead of winter, being snugly wrapped in a cotton quilt. The cotton had just been sun-dried, and the scent of sunshine warmed her to the core.
She walked over and hugged Aunt Wang’s waist, pressing her face against her back, rubbing like a kitten, “I’ll set my alarm for five tomorrow.”
Aunt Wang’s hands didn’t stop, and the corners of her mouth couldn’t be suppressed. She asked, “Is something wrong? Can I help you with anything?”
“Yes, you can.” Lian Cheng answered every question, “Get up and make breakfast. Aunt Wang, help me sleep for another two hours.”
Aunt Wang’s heart melted into mud from Lian Cheng’s embrace, and she was even more distraught after hearing her.
“No need, Auntie will make it for you. I don’t sleep much as I’m getting old.”
Finally, Aunt Wang, no longer a servant of the Liang family, couldn’t help but nag with a heart full of concern, “You can’t touch cold water now, can’t be exposed to cold wind. It’s best not to go out, just lie down and rest more.”
Lian Cheng hummed, hummed, hummed, the last sound muffled and barely audible, buried in Aunt Wang’s clothes.
Aunt Wang wasn’t good at comforting people and regretted her unnecessary nagging. At the airport, the butler mentioned it, Shen Lichuan asked, and Secretary Su seemed to be persuading her, but Lian Cheng had handled it all.
She thought Lian Cheng had accepted it, but didn’t expect she was just enduring it.
“Not now—.” Aunt Wang’s soft heart twisted into bitterness. She immediately changed her mind, “Cry, don’t hold back all your grievances. Auntie has watched you for twenty years; you cried in my arms when you were little, too.”
Lian Cheng’s eyelashes were damp, leaving a small wet mark on Aunt Wang’s clothes. The coldness chilled her skin, and every thread seemed to constrict her heart, tearing open a wound.
Like a surging flood, it rushed out, and with a choked sob, Lian Cheng whimpered through gritted teeth.
Her voice was intermittent, with many muffled, small sobs. Finally, a deeply sorrowful cry could not be suppressed. Aunt Wang turned and held her tightly in her arms, her nose stinging, unable to speak, only stroking her hair.
After breakfast, Lian Cheng couldn’t touch cold water. Aunt Wang firmly pushed her out of the kitchen when she tried to wash the dishes and found a rag to clean the dining table.
The doorbell rang, and Aunt Wang hurried out of the kitchen.
Lian Cheng was already holding the broom and opened the door.
