Chapter 214: City Of Sarcasm Vs. Yingying, Sweet And Stuffed
Liang Chaosu was expressionless, his coldness stemming from his bones.
“Worst case scenario—” Gu Xingyuan had a prior record, so he didn’t dare provoke him much. “Worst case scenario, you meet this big shot today. Just like before the new year, leave me a ‘Memorial of Exhortation,’ and if I fail as Liu Shan this time, punish me by never being able to win back Xiao Rou in my lifetime.”
The police booth’s barrier arm lifted. Liang Chaosu stepped on the accelerator, the wind whistling outside. His voice, steady yet with a hint of ferocity, said, “You’d best be able to be Han Xin too, otherwise, I’ll arrange for someone to marry your wife.”
“You pervert.” Gu Xingyuan yelled. “If I find someone to marry Lian Cheng—”
Liang Chaosu’s speed dropped sharply. His gaze swept over, calm and unwavering, neither angry nor displeased. Gu Xingyuan shut up.
The next second, Liang Chaosu’s phone on the center console rang. The caller ID was Xiao Da.
Liang Chaosu put on his Bluetooth headset. “It’s me.”
“Lin Xianzi transferred Mo Shifu to Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. She landed almost immediately after Miss Lian Cheng’s flight, but didn’t meet Miss Lian Cheng right away. She only had Feng Shien come forward to arrange for Miss Lian Cheng to check into the Rosewood Hotel. On the same floor were Lian Yingying and Gu Zhoushan.”
The air in the car was visibly sucked out, the temperature dropping to an extreme chill.
Outside the window, plants and mountains swiftly and perilously receded. With the sudden surge in speed, Gu Xingyuan gripped his seatbelt, his scalp tingling.
The Old Provincial Governor had been waiting for a long time. After Liang Chaosu’s introduction, he took the hand of Gu Xingyuan, whose face was slightly blue.
He kindly inquired, “This young Gu, are you sick?”
Gu Xingyuan spoke frankly. “I was scared. The pressure of life and death was too great, and my heart isn’t good.”
The Old Provincial Governor laughed heartily and looked at Liang Chaosu. “Chaosu, you didn’t teach him to say that, did you? The provincial level is having joint meetings, I know you’re in a crisis now. If you truly have a grievance, you can tell me directly. Having a junior comrade whisper in my ear isn’t good.”
Gu Xingyuan glanced sideways. Political leaders were all kind, but for them to be so familiar to a junior… apart from someone they had personally promoted, they rarely treated younger generations like this.
Let alone the fact that Liang Chaosu was in business, not politics.
The corner of Liang Chaosu’s mouth stiffened. “You’re teasing me.”
The Old Provincial Governor observed him for a few more seconds, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
“Teasing you is the most boring thing. You, sir, have no sense of humor, you’re rigid and inflexible. No wonder you haven’t been favored by girls until now.”
Liang Chaosu cleaned the tea set, steering the conversation back to the main topic.
…………………………
Bai Ying emerged from the teahouse in a daze.
Shen Lichuan followed behind, rubbing his temples.
“I suspect it may not be correct. Liang Chaosu’s patience is both good and bad. If he’s not sure, he can lay low for four years without anyone noticing. If he’s sure, based on me and the Shen family alone, he can be deadly like lightning.”
“If it were related to Hu Tiande, Liang Chaosu wouldn’t have kept him for four years.”
Bai Ying raised a hand to stop him. “Stop. I haven’t slept for a day and a night, my mind is foggy. I believe that if Lian Cheng heard this news, she wouldn’t be clear-headed either.”
Shen Lichuan followed Bai Ying to her car. “So I’m just suspecting. I’m looking for you to understand the situation.”
Bai Ying gripped the door handle, then, before getting in, turned back. “Why are you investigating this in the end? Liang Feng’s behavior, he himself admitted to it. You’re his broken-up ex-boyfriend, why are you looking for the truth for him instead of giving him a piece of your mind?”
Shen Lichuan gave a bitter, cold, and numb smile.
“Perhaps I’m cowardly, or perhaps I can’t let go of Lian Cheng. I hope she can break free, not just from Liang Chaosu, but also from the past and from her shadows.”
Bai Ying fell silent and opened the car door.
“If you can admit it, then you’re not cowardly. I understand the situation. Before there’s any evidence, I advise you not to tell Lian Cheng. She’s already having a lot of trouble with family recognition. As a friend, you need to think for her.”
Shen Lichuan nodded. “I know.”
“You know nothing.” Bai Ying irritably rolled down the car window. “Even the old doorman’s dog at school knew you were the most obedient. If Lian Cheng patted your head, you’d spill everything. Don’t contact her proactively recently.”
Shen Lichuan’s face turned pale. Under Bai Ying’s gaze, he still nodded.
………………
At three in the afternoon, Lian Cheng finally managed to doze off. In a semi-conscious state, she heard a knock on the door.
She got up and opened the door.
A young girl stood outside.
She was around the same age and build, and about the same height, with a few similarities in her features.
Her temperament was sweet and her voice even sweeter.
“Hello, Lian Cheng, I’m Lian Yingying from the Gu family.” She extended a hand, graceful and composed. “We look very alike, it seems we’re fated.”
Lian Cheng shook her hand.
She had heard of Lian Yingying but never met her. Mentioning Lian Yingying’s name always brought to mind conspiracies.
Upon their first meeting, Lian Cheng wasn’t going to let down her guard, nor was she going to be hostile.
“You’re staying here too?”
Lian Yingying smiled, her sincerity quite genuine. “Yes. Grandpa Mo’s flight encountered severe turbulence. After the bumpy ride, he showed signs of a stroke recurrence. Aunt Lin took some time to see me, and then she arranged for me to stay here.”
She turned and pointed down the corridor. “Look, that’s my room.”
Lian Cheng’s heart constricted.
Feng Shien had omitted a lot of information when explaining the situation to her and had shown no sign of arranging a meeting with Lin Xianzi. She had originally thought it was internal strife within the Mo family, requiring checks and balances. Now that Lin Xianzi could meet Lian Yingying, it meant her guess was wrong.
Perhaps it wasn’t a matter of inconvenience or lack of time, but rather…
She wasn’t qualified.
Lian Yingying was personally found by Lin Xianzi’s younger brother, Lin Lanfeng. She was brought here hastily, representing an opportunity Feng Shien couldn’t complete a paternity test for.
With this detour, the perceived closeness of their relationship was separated by many layers.
“What a coincidence.” Lian Cheng looked around. “But how did you know my room?”
“Uncle Lan Feng told me.” Lian Yingying took her hand. “He brought me here just now. Feng Shien called to ask if he was available to see you. Uncle Lan Feng was going to see you, but Aunt Lin suddenly had something to attend to and called him home. So he asked me to come and keep you company first, and he also told me not to neglect our guest.”
Company, a guest.
After all, they were both here for family recognition. Feng Shien had told her that Lian Yingying had yet to undergo a paternity test. Speaking with the tone of a host, he was subtly pointing that out to her.
Lin Lanfeng approved of her and treated her with familiarity.
Lian Cheng pulled her hand away. She liked sweet girls, and while Lian Yingying was sweet, she had a hidden agenda. She was too overtly saccharine, her insincerity not sophisticated enough to fool those involved.
It reminded her of Liang Wenfei.
“Mr. Lin is very thoughtful.” Lian Cheng faked a smile. “How about you give me Mr. Lin’s contact information? I’ll arrange a time to thank him in person.”
Lian Yingying’s expression showed surprise. After a moment’s hesitation, she said gently, “Aunt Lin just returned, and the entire Lin family is very busy. We shouldn’t disturb them easily.”
Lian Cheng smiled faintly and said nothing.
Lian Yingying couldn’t gauge her reaction. “You’re not willing?”
“I am willing. It’s just that moment of hesitation you had made me misunderstand. I thought you didn’t have it.” Lian Cheng placed her hand on the doorknob. “I’m truly sorry.”
Among socialites, sparring was common, especially when there was a competition for benefits and they couldn’t afford to fall out.
Lian Yingying and Lian Cheng were in different environments. Lian Yingying’s sharp edges were softened, her aggression never overtly displayed, wrapped in honey.
Those who weren’t smart or sensitive would find it difficult to endure and would have no way to refute.
Smart and sensitive people would either stay away upon noticing or directly retort.
Lian Yingying had strategies to deal with both.
But Lian Cheng was different; she was expressionless yet apologized.
Any further doubt on Lian Yingying’s part would seem petty, making her feel stifled instead.
Lian Yingying bit her lip. “It’s okay, I don’t blame you.”
Lian Cheng pushed open the door.
“Yingying, you are truly a beautiful and generous young lady, I really like you. The hotel has excellent Biluochun tea, would you like me to brew you a pot?”
Lian Yingying stood there, eager to regain the upper hand. “Actually, Uncle Lan Feng also gave me a card—”
