Chapter 21: Warning Her To Be A Stepping Stone For Liang Wenfei
Back at the Liang family’s home, as Liancheng entered the living room, Liang Wenfei was pouring tea. Shen Lichuan sat beside her, with Mother Shen and Father Shen on his right.
A long sofa was crowded with four people, making the sofa where Father Liang and Mother Liang sat opposite appear even more empty.
The atmosphere, however, was harmonious and joyful.
Liancheng didn’t want to be involved in such a suitable occasion for both families. After politely greeting them, she took her leave and went upstairs.
Liang Chaosu called out to her, “Is this your upbringing? A guest is still here, sit down.”
Liancheng turned around, her gaze sweeping over Liang Wenfei and Shen Lichuan. “I’m not suitable for this kind of occasion.”
Mother Liang glimpsed Father Shen and Mother Shen looking at Liang Wenfei simultaneously, their complexions not looking good.
Her heart sank. The Shen family, being merchants descended from scholars, placed great importance on character and etiquette. Father Shen’s attitude today was lukewarm, and Mother Shen also had quite a few criticisms.
Liang Wenfei sat between them and coaxed them with gentle words for a long time before their expressions softened. Liancheng’s remark was like a spark igniting fire, threatening to rekindle.
Mother Liang immediately turned and stared intently at Liancheng, her tone stern.
“Feifei has already apologized to you proactively in the hospital. In public, she knows she made a mistake and is willing to correct it. How long do you intend to hold onto this? The Liang family has raised you for over twenty years; have you only remembered the bad and forgotten the kindness?”
Liancheng fell silent.
Holding grudges and forgetting kindness. Liang Wenfei had also said that when she insulted her. When similar words came from two different people, it either meant their opinions were surprisingly aligned, or they had already communicated privately.
And when people subconsciously calculate favors, it’s time to demand repayment. Therefore, in Mother Liang’s view, it was acceptable for Liang Wenfei to demean her, and acceptable for Liang Chaosu to oppress her.
The Liang family had raised her, so she should offer her skin, flesh, blood, and bones, shatter her self-esteem and personality, live for the Liang family, die for the Liang family, prostrate herself before the Liang family, and dedicate all her efforts.
She could not offer any resistance, otherwise, she would be ungrateful and rebellious.
“Mother, girls occasionally bicker. Bringing up kindness and grudges is going too far. The Liang family is prosperous and prosperous; there’s no need to quibble over a debt of upbringing.” Liang Chaosu suddenly spoke.
He sat upright, and his gaze towards Liancheng was stern. “Aren’t you coming over to apologize to Mother?”
Liancheng remained motionless.
She saw the crystal chandelier hanging in the living room, its refracted, colorful light casting two worlds.
The sofa was one world, brilliant and united.
The stairwell where she stood was another world, dim and solitary.
Such a stark and shattering division.
Liancheng suddenly curved her brows into a smile. “You can consider me a thankless wretch, inherently narrow-minded and sarcastic.”
She turned and went upstairs.
Liang Chaosu, uncharacteristically losing his temper, said, “Come here, sit down.”
His voice held an unprecedented aggression, dangerous.
Liancheng’s steps paused.
Meeting the man’s gaze from the sofa, his eyes were like ice, chilling her heart in waves.
Further away, Father Shen and Mother Shen glanced at her, then at Liang Wenfei, their faces showing a shift from displeasure to relief. Following Mother Liang’s tense expression, it visibly relaxed, and with a glance at Father Liang, they shared a tacit understanding.
Liancheng suddenly remembered Liang Wenfei’s phone call in the car, and it was as if she had a sudden enlightenment.
Liang Chaosu was trying to clear Liang Wenfei’s name. First, he intentionally let her see the phone’s contact name, causing her surprise, then brought up Spring Cherry in the car, creating a rise and fall, unsettling her.
After returning, he forced her to stay, further provoking her, staging a scene where she was rebellious and eccentric, using the facts to prove that Liang Wenfei’s extreme behavior was all due to extenuating circumstances.
A chill seeped into Liancheng’s very bones.
No wonder it was rumored in business circles in the South that Liang Chaosu was far-sighted, capable of turning the world upside down with a flip of his hand.
She had never lost a battle when it came to manipulative tactics between women.
But with just one phone call from him, in such a short time, he had already devised a solution. Step by step, sentence by sentence, hidden traps led her to willingly fall to the bottom of the pit.
His methods were superb, his intentions deeply malicious, and his grasp of her temperament was also exquisitely precise. Even if she had another chance, she still wouldn’t be able to escape.
Realizing this, Liancheng no longer resisted.
It was obviously a scheme to step on her to highlight Liang Wenfei. How could Liang Chaosu let her escape at the last moment?
Liancheng retreated down the stairs, her gaze scanning the room.
Of the two rows of sofas, only the seat next to Liang Chaosu was empty.
She didn’t want to sit, but she had to. After a few seconds of hesitation, she sat down, leaning against the armrest.
Silence fell in the living room for a moment, then it became lively again.
Originally, there was not a large distance between her and Liang Chaosu, and as the atmosphere in the living room grew more heated.
He actually leaned closer to her, his tone filled with anger, “What did you promise me in the car? You don’t dare to stay because you’re afraid of facing Shen Lichuan and Feifei’s intimacy?”
Liancheng turned her head, seeing the brilliant light of the crystal chandelier reflecting in his eyes, dark and deep, so calm that his entire being felt sharp.
However, her thoughts were completely unfocused.
She had agreed not to get involved with Shen Lichuan. Shouldn’t that mean avoiding everyone she saw, keeping a vast distance? Sitting there to watch Shen Lichuan be intimate with Liang Wenfei would only emphasize that she cared deeply and couldn’t forget him.
“Disgusting,” Liancheng turned her head away, too lazy to guess his thoughts, and even less inclined to look at him. “I only feel disgusted by people I dislike and detest.”
The man beside her, whether he heard it or not, his breathing became rapid.
This drew Mother Shen’s concern, “Is Chao Su feeling uncomfortable?”
Liang Wenfei, who had been afraid to interject earlier to maintain her image, couldn’t help herself now. “Brother is still angry with Liancheng. She has always looked down on me and wants to compete with me for everything.”
Liancheng lifted her eyelids.
Liang Wenfei, afraid Liancheng would reveal more secrets, was on high alert.
Mother Liang also noticed and spoke first, “What are you trying to stir up now? You’re sharp-tongued in private, and Feifei has been tolerant of you. Now we are discussing her lifelong happiness; can you have some sense of the bigger picture?”
“Mother.” Liancheng couldn’t bring herself to say “Mom.” “I haven’t said anything.”
Before her words were out, Liancheng’s waist suddenly tightened with surprising strength.
Her heart pounded wildly.
She hadn’t expected Liang Chaosu to be so brazen. He knew he was warning her to behave herself, to quietly be a stepping stone for Liang Wenfei.
But with seven or eight pairs of eyes watching, wasn’t he afraid of being discovered?
Perhaps… he was no longer afraid of being discovered.
Currently, it was publicly acknowledged that he was a man of self-control and propriety, an ascetic, who would never have an illicit affair with his sister. If such a taboo were exposed, everyone would only assume that she had shamelessly seduced him first.
He would be the victim, receiving public sympathy and forgiveness. She would be the vixen and bitch, bearing all the blame and bitter fruit.
Liancheng felt as if she had been immersed in an icy pool from head to toe. She didn’t dare to utter a sound.
“The older you get, the more unruly you become…”
“Every time you put Feifei in an awkward position…”
“Too frivolous, aggressive, and undisciplined…”
It was practically a distortion of facts.
Liancheng couldn’t bother with these matters; her spirit was stretched to its absolute limit.
She lowered her head and accepted everything. However, Liang Chaosu’s arm did not retract; it remained clasped around her waist, his fingers occasionally caressing it.
With every slight movement he made, she shivered.
“When is Vice Chairman Liang getting married?” Shen Lichuan suddenly spoke.
Mother Shen was startled, then became curious.
Liang Chaosu was truly outstanding among the second generation of wealthy families.
He was handsome, more capable, ambitious, and a man focused on his career. In four years, he had conquered the North, and the Liang family’s assets had multiplied several times. Privately, he didn’t smoke, didn’t favor alcohol, wasn’t lustful, and didn’t gamble. His investments always succeeded. Most importantly, he was family-oriented.
Besides work and necessary socializing, he spent all his remaining time with his family, worrying about everything and patiently handling everything.
Even though Mother Shen favored her own son, she felt that Shen Lichuan couldn’t compare to Liang Chaosu in any aspect.
Thinking this, she began to understand Liang Wenfei. Who, having such a brother, wouldn’t feel anxious and dissatisfied when looking at Lichuan?
