Chapter 197: No One Is Like You
The tea room fell silent for an instant.
Liang Chaosu’s jaw tensed, and Lian Cheng gazed at him for a long while before asking Gu Xingyuan.
“To what extent are they similar?”
Gu Xingyuan had already noticed the change in Liang Chaosu’s expression. He knew he had chosen the wrong direction for his breakthrough.
“Lian Yingying is pitiable and delicate, and Secretary Liang is pure and refined. They are not beautiful in the same way. Upon closer inspection, the differences are significant, and they are not alike.”
Lian Cheng pressed, “At first glance, they seem similar, it’s their facial features. So, how similar are they?”
“Lian Cheng.” Liang Chaosu stood up, his back blocking the cold, golden morning light from outside the window. A mountain breeze blew in, filling the air with the bitter scent of bamboo forest, mixed with a faint medicinal smell and woody sandalwood.
“No one is similar to you.”
His face appeared calm as water, yet subtly hinted at gloom.
Lian Cheng remained unfazed, “Director Liang, have you met Lian Yingying?”
Liang Chaosu didn’t expect her to ask that. He stiffened for a moment and honestly replied, “I’ve met her twice.”
Twice?
Lian Cheng was surprised.
Bai Ying had only said that Liang Chaosu met Lian Yingying for a blind date at the Liang family’s home, without mentioning the number of times.
If one of those times was at the Liang family’s, what was the other occasion for?
Liang Chaosu’s methods were as deep as the sea; his tactics and objectives were such that others could speculate endlessly and never guess them all.
However, after just one encounter, Gu Xingyuan suggested Lian Yingying resembled her. Lian Cheng couldn’t help but become more vigilant.
Gu Xingyuan offered a wry smile to break the silence, “Sorry, this involves the Gu Corporation. I’d like to ask Director Liang to reconsider his stance. I spoke impulsively in my haste, so please forgive me, Secretary Liang.”
Liang Chaosu lifted his eyelids to look at him, a slow, unhurried gaze.
Gu Xingyuan said no more, pulled out a stool, and took his leave.
As Secretary Lian Cheng’s duty, she put down the files in her arms and escorted him to the stairwell.
Morning light streamed through the window panes, the serene chill of the mountains reflecting on Gu Xingyuan, a profound and indescribable melancholy.
The tea room door was open, and a screen couldn’t block out the sound. Lian Cheng didn’t ask about Lian Yingying, “Is Madam Gu doing well?”
Gu Xingyuan’s steps faltered, his breathing softened. He turned to look at her, “Secretary Liang, do you know Xiao Rou?”
Lian Cheng shook her head, “I’ve only heard about her.”
Two people with similar yet vastly different experiences, both ultimately losing their children.
Gu Xingyuan’s expression turned grim. He managed to maintain his composure and gave a bleak smile, “She’s doing well, painting in Italy. She used to love traditional Chinese painting, but now she’s switched to oil painting and sketching. Her work is very good, and she’s started a new life.”
Lian Cheng spoke softly, not to comfort Gu Xingyuan, but to wish that Xiao Rou well, “The path is lost in white clouds, spring lingers with the long green stream. A new life is very good.”
Gu Xingyuan gazed at her.
Liang Chaosu, with his sophisticated scheming and control, always revealed only a fraction of his intentions, and only then would he know another fraction.
He had suspected something at the bus stop, and it wasn’t until Liang Chaosu went to Iceland that the truth became clear.
It was a pity that it was a thousand miles away from his speculation. A cautious and astute hunter, who meticulously engineered the situation, defeated everyone, but lost everything.
He hesitated for a long time, then saw the same hidden pain in Lian Cheng’s eyes as the person he constantly thought about. His heart ached, and he lowered his voice to remind her.
“Secretary Liang, Gu Zhoushan never acts without motive. It’s no coincidence that Lian Yingying could get involved with the Mo Corporation.”
Lian Cheng suddenly clenched her fist.
Her asking about Xiao Rou was not for any ulterior motive. The information she received was completely unexpected, and the details were far beyond what she could currently grasp.
In fact, strictly speaking, Lian Yingying’s mere resemblance to her couldn’t prove that she might be related to the Mo family.
Many people without blood relation looked remarkably alike. Lian Cheng’s vigilance was directed towards Liang Chaosu making a move.
Now, Gu Xingyuan hinted at a conspiracy, and Lian Cheng’s heart was in turmoil.
Just as she was about to turn back, footsteps rushed up from the turn of the stairs.
She couldn’t help but look back. Xiao Da was panting, his expression grave. He looked up and saw Lian Cheng, and without greeting her, asked, “Is Director Liang inside?”
Lian Cheng nodded. “He is.”
Xiao Da scrambled up the stairs, three steps at a time. As he got closer, Lian Cheng saw sweat beading all over his forehead.
Xiao Da was usually taciturn and tight-lipped, very steady, and rarely this agitated. It could only mean it was an important matter.
Lian Cheng’s heart skipped a beat, but she still asked, “Do you need me to step aside?”
Xiao Da asked her to join them, “No, you are Director Liang’s secretary now. Did you give Director Liang the documents related to the new urban area of the ancient city today?”
“Just now,” she said, quickly following Xiao Da into the tea room. “What’s wrong? Did the project encounter trouble?”
Xiao Da walked around the screen. Liang Chaosu was sitting in his original spot, holding a pen, and signing the documents Lian Cheng had organized.
“Mr. Liang, Old Wang was attacked by villagers this morning during his morning exercises.”
Lian Cheng froze instantly, then grabbed Xiao Da’s sleeve and anxiously asked, “Teacher was attacked? Is he injured? How serious is it? Why did they attack—”
Liang Chaosu strode over, put an arm around her shoulder, and released Xiao Da. “Tell me in detail.”
Xiao Da took a deep breath. “Behind the new city is Liu Li Village. When the new city was being built, it was initially within the chosen site. But they demanded too high a relocation fee, so the new city was built eastward. Liu Li Village has strong opinions about this.”
“This time they reported us to the Environmental Protection Bureau for damaging the environment. They knew you were coming to inspect last night, so the whole village mobilized to see you, but Director He intercepted them. This morning, Professor Wang was exercising and was surrounded at the bottom of the boardwalk.”
“The village chief of Liu Li Village claims the Liang Corporation ruined their mountain spring water. Someone has already been hospitalized because of it. You’re here, and they’re afraid to show themselves, so they asked Professor Wang to go to the village to talk, so they could see you.”
Lian Cheng pushed Liang Chaosu away, her heart filled with fear and anxiety. She asked again, “It was just a threat, why would they attack? How is my teacher?”
Xiao Da continued, “When the construction workers in the new urban area saw Old Wang being cornered, they immediately went to rescue him. Liu Li Village wouldn’t allow it, and during the struggle, Old Wang was injured, with bleeding on his brow.”
“Once blood was drawn, the conflict escalated. Both sides pulled at Old Wang, and he lost his footing and fell down the stairs. It seems he fractured his hipbone. He’s currently in the team’s office, and they’ve contacted a hospital down the mountain. The ambulance is already on its way.”
Lian Cheng’s face turned ghastly white. She glanced at Liang Chaosu and then ran outside.
Liang Chaosu immediately followed, directing Xiao Da to contact orthopedic specialists in the provincial capital.
Elderly bones are brittle. The hipbone is not like a leg bone or forearm. If it’s severe, surgery might be necessary.
He also asked who was handling the situation after the incident occurred and whether the police had been called.
Xiao Da followed her downstairs. The resort’s shuttle bus was parked outside. Lian Cheng was already sitting in it.
Waiting for Liang Chaosu’s car would involve a detour on the mountain road. She wanted to catch up to the ambulance, so she negotiated with the shuttle bus driver to take a small road and combine it with a short walk to save half an hour.
Liang Chaosu got in without a word, and Xiao Da followed.
On the way, Liang Chaosu made several phone calls to control the situation.
Lian Cheng sat beside Liang Chaosu, listening to the reports from the scene, clenching the fabric of her pants at the knee until her knuckles turned white.
Ignoring Liang Chaosu’s close proximity, she asked Xiao Da again, “What about my mistress? Does she know?”
Xiao Da nodded. “When I came, I had already sent someone to notify Madam Wang.”
Liang Chaosu rested his arm on the back of Lian Cheng’s seat and held her shoulder. Sensing her tension, he gently tightened his grip. “Don’t worry, He Jinian is on the scene. Do you remember him? He’s one of the Liang Corporation’s old guards, upright and meticulous. He’ll take care of Madam Wang’s health.”
Lian Cheng turned her head to look at him, her voice tight, but she had already calmed down. “I need to go down the mountain to the hospital with Teacher later.”
