Chapter 190: Feng Shien Asks About Liancheng’s Background
Lian Cheng’s breathing hitched.
After returning to the country, he yielded and conceded, laying the groundwork to this point; Qingxi Valley certainly had extensive preparations.
“Go.”
Liang Chaosu opened a drawer, revealing several white medicine bottles.
He unscrewed one, poured out two pills, swallowed them with water, and lowered his eyes to the water surface in the cup, the rippling waves causing Lian Cheng to vaguely appear on the glass.
He quietly watched for another moment, calm and self-controlled.
“Secretary Liang, go back and prepare. Zhang An will pick you up at 4 p.m.”
This time, Lian Cheng didn’t refuse.
A business trip was different from going to work. The apartment she rented was in Youfangkou, far from Liang’s, the Liang Family’s, and Jade Mansion, but on the way out of the city towards the highway.
Qingxi Valley was near Qinling. There was no airport nearby, but there was a high-speed train. However, Liang Chaosu was reclusive and usually drove himself.
As Lian Cheng’s secretary, she would typically sit in the co-pilot seat.
After leaving the Chairman’s Office, Zhou Dazhi stood near the workstations in the secretary’s area and waved to her.
Lian Cheng knew it was to arrange her workstation. As she approached, Zhou Dazhi led her to a private office, “This is Secretary Su’s office. He’s on a business trip, so you’ll temporarily take over his work here.”
Lian Cheng looked at the nameplate.
Zhou Dazhi said kindly, “Your rank isn’t high enough, but the work is important. You can view the project data, but others cannot; that would be commercial espionage.”
Lian Cheng stared at the cabinet behind the office chair. Behind the glass, rows of files were neatly categorized. She nodded, “Thank you, Secretary Zhou.”
Zhou Dazhi added, “Director Bai from Shenheng Company has been waiting for you in the reception room for half an hour.”
Lian Cheng was surprised.
Suddenly, she remembered that before going abroad, she hadn’t resigned to avoid alerting them. Afterward, Father Liang publicly declared her dead, and now he had revoked that statement. Legally speaking, the agreements she had signed previously were still legally binding.
But Bai Xiwen’s visit was not about the labor contract.
As soon as they met, she warmly shook Lian Cheng’s hand, “Our project with Liang’s Botanical Garden was very successful. You are undeniably the project’s biggest contributor. Your share of the project profits and bonuses has been kept for you, and I’ve brought them to you this time.”
“There’s also a car, which is a project reward. I’ve had the driver bring it over, and it’s in the underground parking garage.”
The second-generation individuals Lian Cheng usually met, whether socialites or strong women, often addressed each other casually. When Bai Xiwen first learned of her identity, their communication was also equal and at eye level.
Now she used ‘you,’ a subtle flattery, an enthusiastic attempt to foster a close relationship, aiming for Lian Cheng’s connection with Liang Chaosu.
The board of directors had just adjourned, and Liang Chaosu’s statement had not yet been released. Lian Cheng withdrew her hand, “I didn’t resign before, the labor contract—”
Bai Xiwen said briskly, “Director Liang had informed me earlier. Your resignation procedures were completed long ago.”
Lian Cheng’s smile curved, “My brother.” She emphasized the word, “When did he inform you?”
Bai Xiwen paused for a moment, observing Lian Cheng’s expression for a few seconds, realizing her suppressed displeasure, and immediately retracted her over-familiar warmth, “At the end of December. You were traveling in Iceland at the time.”
Lian Cheng froze, lowering her eyelids.
It wasn’t after the new year; it was earlier than she had thought.
She had always been unsure of the exact time Liang Chaosu discovered her pregnancy, but now she had some ideas.
Perhaps he had suspected it before she went abroad, and after she left, his confirmation was undeniable.
“I won’t refuse the profit share and bonus,” Lian Cheng said, “but I’ll pass on the car. The project team leader didn’t get one, so no matter how great my data contributions were, they can’t compare to the team leader’s overall coordination.”
“Do you think I’m favoring Director Liang and indirectly giving you a gift?” Bai Xiwen hit the nail on the head. “Putting aside whether that’s true or not, strictly in terms of the project, your data is worth 200,000, and a car. Besides, who says Mi Lefu didn’t get one? He drove a BMW after the new year, which is more expensive than your car.”
For a normal reward, not involving Liang Chaosu, Lian Cheng couldn’t refuse.
…………………………
As noon approached, Lian Cheng suddenly returned home, startling Aunt Wang.
“Isn’t your commute too long, so you don’t come back for lunch?” Aunt Wang observed her expression. “Did something happen again?”
Lian Cheng shook her head and pulled Aunt Wang into the bedroom, “I’m going on a business trip, about a week. While I’m away, you can go back and see Brother Tao and Uncle Liu. They all miss you.”
Aunt Wang had a husband and children; she should be enjoying her retirement with her family. She wasn’t her biological mother, and even if she were to provide for Aunt Wang in her old age, that was a matter for later.
It had been selfish and despicable to keep Aunt Wang living with her for so long.
A little past one in the afternoon, Lian Cheng drove Aunt Wang to the high-speed train station.
The car Bai Xiwen rewarded her with was a domestic brand, priced under 150,000 yuan.
The driver Bai Xiwen sent had driven her back that morning. They had chatted on the way, and not only she and Mi Lefu had received cars, but half the team members had too.
The other half had chosen cash. Tai Duoduo had enough for a down payment on a house and had also paid off a loan early.
Lian Cheng thought of the young lady who was marrying a house; that was a life she could only dream of.
Waving goodbye to Aunt Wang, Lian Cheng watched her figure disappear through the ticket gate.
A group of people emerged from the VIP lounge not far away. Feng Shien finished replying to a message, looked up, and immediately stopped in his tracks.
People always remember those they have a good impression of.
He had met Lian Cheng three times: twice when he was embarrassed, once when she was in distress, and this time, she looked lonely and reluctant.
He instructed his companions, “Change to the next train. I have something to handle.”
Among the companions was a female secretary who disagreed slightly, “Mr. Feng, the place we’re going is a mountainous area. After the high-speed train arrives, it’s another four hours by mountain road, and the last part is on foot. If we delay, the mountain road at night will be cold and difficult to navigate.”
Feng Shien raised his wrist to look at his watch, “I remember the next train is in twenty minutes. It won’t be a big problem.”
The female secretary hesitated, but intimidated by his stern expression, she followed the group away.
Lian Cheng received a message from Aunt Wang, confirming she had found her seat.
She replied “Okay” and was about to turn when a tall figure approached from her side, extremely gentlemanly, stopping about two meters away.
“Miss Lian Cheng, long time no see.”
Lian Cheng recognized him, “Mr. Feng, long time no see.”
Feng Shien nodded. He maintained his distance and did not approach, gesturing towards a waiting chair a few meters away, “Please forgive my boldness, but may I delay Miss Lian Cheng for ten minutes?”
He was tall, exceptionally noticeable in the station, and possessed a gentle demeanor similar to Shen Lichuan’s.
However, after two months, his gentleness was subtly infused with a commanding aura, not domineering, but composed and dignified.
With his politeness and good manners, Lian Cheng had no reason to refuse.
She sat on the far right of the seat, and Feng Shien on the far left, leaving a seat between them. People were coming and going in the station, and there were many empty seats, but no one came to sit there for a while.
“Miss Lian Cheng, how have you been recently?”
His words were neither frivolous nor overly familiar, but a proper and sincere greeting.
It was difficult for Lian Cheng not to feel favorably towards him, “Not very well.”
Feng Shien pondered for a few seconds and asked, “Is it a family matter?”
Lian Cheng looked at him, their eyes met, and he appeared more embarrassed and flustered than she was.
“I’m sorry,” he confessed. “I recently made a friend whose aunt invested in China many years ago and was unfortunately kidnapped, leading to premature birth and bleeding. Medical treatment was poor at the time, and the child did not survive after birth.”
“For years, I’ve grieved and couldn’t move on. Just before the new year, new clues suddenly emerged, indicating that the child born prematurely might still be alive.”
