Chapter 183: Liancheng’s Lively Atmosphere And Background
Liancheng did not go to the hospital.
After Zhang An left, Old Ghost’s Wife called to reschedule, saying that if the fifty million yuan payment arrived at dawn, Old Ghost would be cured of all ailments, and he insisted on being discharged from the hospital to prepare for the opening of the international hotel.
They set a time to meet again on the fifth day of the new year at six in the evening. Liancheng thought she would be visiting, but unexpectedly, Old Ghost and his whole family came to her place.
They brought their own drinks and ingredients, a hot pot, and an electric grill. Fearing that Liancheng had just moved into her rental apartment and the electrical circuits had not been checked and might not handle two high-power appliances, they also bought an extension cord along the way.
After Old Ghost greeted them, proving he was fully recovered, he rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen.
A series of swift actions left Liancheng breathless. Aunt Wang, unable to let guests do the work, immediately went to stop him.
Old Ghost’s Wife, shyly pulling on Liancheng, called out to Aunt Wang, “Auntie, in our family, the men cook. He really loves to cook, so please let him do it.”
Aunt Wang looked at Liancheng. Liancheng, being pulled by the graceful and gentle Old Ghost’s Wife, couldn’t break free and hurriedly asked her to sit down.
Old Ghost’s Wife sat at the edge of the sofa and held Liancheng’s hand again, with a hint of shame, “On the phone earlier, I was confused about the situation. Later, when we signed the agreement, Old Ghost confessed and was lenient, and I only then understood. I am truly sorry, my attitude was terrible.”
Liancheng chuckled and squeezed her hand back, “Don’t be sorry. Actually, I think you should have been fiercer, cursed me out more dramatically, or even worse, otherwise—”
She looked at the bob-haired little girl closest to her, who was four years old, with chubby cheeks and round eyes. Noticing Liancheng looking at her, she leaned closer and rested her head on Liancheng’s lap.
It was a knockout blow.
Liancheng couldn’t help but stroke the little girl’s hair, “Otherwise, how heartbroken would such a cute baby be, and how sad would she be in the future.”
On her lap was the younger of Old Ghost’s two daughters. She stretched her arm towards Liancheng and called out, “I’m not a baby, I’m Xiuxiu. Auntie is pretty, give me a hug.”
A double knockout blow.
Liancheng’s whole body went soft, and she held the younger sister, refusing to let go.
Not far away was the older sister with a long ponytail. Old Ghost’s Wife introduced her, saying she was ten years old and her nickname was Jia Jia. Aunt Wang doted on her, stuffing red envelopes into her pockets until they bulged.
Old Ghost finished preparing the ingredients and started the hot pot. He suddenly slapped his thigh, “Liancheng, have we forgotten President Shen? It’s a gathering for our three-person team, it’s not right to have one person missing. I’ll call him.”
Liancheng hesitated, “He’s very busy recently. There’s a lot to prepare for the international court, and he needs to be there in person.”
Old Ghost dialed the number, “It’s okay, it’s just a phone call. If he’s too busy, I—”
The call connected, and Shen Lichuan’s voice had a hint of a smile, “I’m not busy. What a coincidence, open the door.”
Old Ghost’s eyes widened and then blinked. He had put the call on speaker, and Liancheng realized what was happening and immediately went to open the door.
Shen Lichuan was wearing a long black overcoat, a scarf, and gloves, carrying two bags. He looked extremely gaunt, but a smile spread from the corners of his eyes when he saw her.
“I brought my own provisions too: wagyu beef, edible fungi, matsutake mushrooms, and black tiger shrimp. Is that enough for entry?”
Liancheng gazed at him for a long while, finding it amusing, “That’s too much. How long have you been waiting downstairs?”
Shen Lichuan subconsciously raised his hand to touch his nose. The bags rustled like an alarm, announcing his guilt to everyone.
Liancheng let him in, “Since you’re here, why didn’t you come up with Old Ghost?”
Shen Lichuan didn’t reply. Old Ghost teased him, “President Shen was afraid you hadn’t invited him, so he came unannounced. If you hadn’t let him in.”
Shen Lichuan’s slight embarrassment was imperceptible, “That’s not the reason.”
Xiuxiu was eating corn, blinking her eyes. “I know.” She confided in Liancheng, “When you grown-ups were talking, I heard everything. They want to give Auntie shares, to make Auntie rich, so she can have a big villa and a big car.”
Liancheng’s eyebrows curved into a smile, and she pinched Xiuxiu’s little nose, “Auntie knows. Thank you for telling me, Xiuxiu. You’re so smart.”
She looked at Shen Lichuan, then at Old Ghost. None of them brought up the topic further, and they ate the meal lively.
Old Ghost cleared the dishes and went into the kitchen. Shen Lichuan followed with a few half-empty beverage bottles. Liancheng walked behind, closing the door.
Shen Lichuan took out his mobile phone and handed it to Liancheng, “Old Ghost and I have jointly opened an international travel agency, with shares divided three ways. Old Ghost is the actual operator, so he gets a larger share, fifty-six percent. The rest is divided equally between you and me. Here’s the information.”
Liancheng didn’t take it, “I don’t want anything for free. I don’t want what I haven’t paid for.”
“How can it be considered free?” Old Ghost took the phone from Shen Lichuan and put it into Liancheng’s hand, “How did our travel agency come about? It’s the family business we built through life-or-death adventures as a three-person team abroad. If you don’t want it, are you looking down on me?”
“I have great respect for you,” Liancheng couldn’t avoid it and held the phone, “but I didn’t do the crazy driving. It was always you who took me driving.”
Old Ghost snapped his fingers at her, “You’re not admitting it, are you? You personally said you could drive like crazy, and then the first time I left you in Iceland, I wasn’t taking you on a crazy drive, was I?”
Shen Lichuan’s eyes widened as he looked at Liancheng. Liancheng knew what he wanted to ask, “You, President Shen, can testify that I can’t drive like crazy. At that time, I was abroad, and the skills were self-taught. If I hadn’t said that, you would have been hesitant to leave and would have had a burden returning home.”
Old Ghost was stunned speechless for a moment. A twenty-year-old girl against a forty-year-old schemer, and he actually believed her. After Red Beard caused the car accident, he always regretted not having the “Goddess of Speed” drive back then.
Aunt Wang’s voice suddenly came from outside the door, “Liancheng, Liang Wenfei is here.”
The kitchen immediately fell silent. The three looked at each other. Shen Lichuan opened the door, and Old Ghost asked, “Do you need any help?”
Liancheng shook her head, “Jia Jia and Xiuxiu are still young. Don’t let adult matters affect them. You and your wife should go back first.”
Old Ghost thought of Xiuxiu’s cleverness just now and didn’t refuse for a moment. He said goodbye to Aunt Wang and left.
After the family left, the lively and bustling living room became quiet and deserted. Aunt Wang turned off the television and stood uneasily to the side.
Liang Wenfei sat on the sofa, appraising the house. It was near the fourth ring road in the oil mill district, on the border between the suburbs and the city. Most of the residential communities were twenty years old.
The decoration was dilapidated, the space was narrow, and the layout was unreasonable. Enjoying good fortune without hardship, and enduring hardship without cause.
Yet, despite such simplicity, Liancheng could still live here, indicating that she refused Liang Chaosu’s overtures, firm and resolute, and Liang Chaosu could do nothing about her.
Liancheng would also not use Liang Chaosu to take revenge on her. With Shen Lichuan around, she would honestly play her role. The more helpless Liang Chaosu was with Liancheng, the more he would keep her, and perhaps she would even become his trump card.
The situation was better than she had imagined on the plane, and Liang Wenfei’s heart gradually settled back into her stomach.
As for Hu Tiande, it was likely a coincidence. Liang Chaosu wanted to use this to warn her, to demonstrate to her that she was within his grasp, not that he truly knew about that matter.
Shen Lichuan comforted Aunt Wang and asked her to return to her room. He signaled to Liang Wenfei, “If you have something to say, let’s discuss it outside.”
Liang Wenfei raised her hand and touched her belly. She was very tired. After the shock, exhaustion washed over her like a tide, and she lost her previous arrogance and imperiousness. Her demeanor was low and dishevelled.
“I’m not here to see you today. I want to talk to Liancheng.”
Shen Lichuan didn’t relax at all. He took a step forward, his voice tense, “Talk about what?”
Liang Wenfei looked at him, then seemed to not be looking at him, “It has nothing to do with you, and I won’t make a move or say anything. Let’s just talk calmly.”
Shen Lichuan frowned. His upbringing made him very respectful of women, but Liang Wenfei had crossed the line too many times, and his trust in her was completely depleted.
“It’s too late—”
“What is it?” Liancheng asked coldly from a distance, looking at her.
Liang Wenfei said, “Your background.”
