Chapter 222: Identification And Sampling
Mo Shicheng turned and waved, Lian Yingying quickly stepped forward, Lian Cheng a step behind.
Liang Chaosu held her arm, “She withdraws, then you go. Don’t rush to be there.”
Lian Cheng shook her arm, but couldn’t get free.
Liang Chaosu pulled her back forcefully, lowering his voice, “Only from a distance can you clearly see others’ expressions and features. The paternity test is about to begin. The result, whether it’s yes or no, is right there.”
“But the person who instructed the surveillance on you is among these people. You might as well see them clearly now and prepare yourself defensively.”
Lian Cheng stopped struggling and was silent for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.
Mo Shifu’s bodyguards and Mo Shicheng’s men were all in black suits, mixed together, indistinguishable.
Lin Xianzi was surrounded in the center, gripping the wheelchair handles. Her gaze scanned to the lower left, where Mo Shicheng was holding Lian Yingying, half-crouching there, looking up expectantly at Mo Shifu’s question.
There was a third part coldness and seven parts gloom in her eyes, then her gaze fell on Lian Cheng from afar.
Their eyes met. Lian Cheng felt as if she had been struck by a paralyzing charm; her whole body became stiff and uncontrollable. Her line of sight was also drawn and stuck to Lin Xianzi, completely unable to move away.
Lin Xianzi was almost fifty years old, fine lines appearing around her eyes, traces of time passing. Her pupils, however, were jet black and bright. Looking at her, her gaze held a hint of surprise, more of an exploration, mixed with something hard to distinguish, like she was scrutinizing and measuring her depth.
After half a minute, she smiled and nodded, withdrawing her scrutiny.
The longing that grew in Lian Cheng’s chest was like fleeting bubbles in the sunlight, instantly burst by the cold wind.
Liang Chaosu held her shoulders tightly, the gradually increasing strength of his grip, his palm caressing to comfort her, “It’s your turn. Go.”
Lian Cheng looked up, almost numbly.
Perhaps because of the close distance and bright light, Liang Chaosu’s face was incredibly clear. He was serious, deep, without a smile, and in his eyes, there was pity and sadness.
Lian Cheng wasn’t sure what he was sad about.
She had originally thought he would try every means to stop her, but he didn’t.
The Lin family’s attitude was not hidden from him. She had no possibility of leaving, and he wasn’t happy.
Was this sadness because he understood her frustration at still not finding her biological parents?
Lian Cheng hastily averted her eyes.
Liang Chaosu’s arm was steady, firm, and strong. His embrace around her felt like support, and after another second, he gently pushed her in the direction of the Mo family.
“I’m here.”
Lian Cheng took a step.
Lian Yingying made way, and Mo Shicheng held her arm, pulling her to squat in front of Mo Shifu.
Mo Shifu was eighty-two years old, in his twilight years, wearing an indigo brocade Tang suit with auspicious cranes and pines as the dark pattern. The skin under his sleeves was dry and wrinkled, with age spots.
Mo Shicheng urged, “Closer.”
Lian Cheng leaned forward.
Mo Shifu laboriously raised his hand to caress her cheek. His fingers trembled, and his touch was cool, carrying a scent of old medicine. When he spoke, his breath was faltering.
“You… are called Lian Cheng?”
Lian Cheng replied, “Yes.”
Beside them, Lian Yingying tightened her hands, subconsciously looking at Mo Shicheng.
Old Master Mo’s energy was depleted. He hadn’t touched her just now, nor had he asked her anything. It was like going through the motions, grudgingly allowing her to approach for two minutes.
Mo Shicheng ignored her, “Father, Lian Cheng is her name. Her surname is Liang, the Liang family that cooperates with Huang family in e-commerce. They received long-term investment from African capital after the year. You praised them for being decisive and sharp-sighted.”
Mo Shifu already knew, and asked Lian Cheng knowingly, “Has your brother come?”
Mo Shicheng answered again, “He has. This Director Liang came in with you, but he’s standing far away. Sister-in-law didn’t introduce him to you.”
Mo Shifu touched Lian Cheng’s nose tip and withdrew his hand. The conversation reached this point, and Lian Cheng thought he was going to see Liang Chaosu.
However, Mo Shifu didn’t mention it at all. As if Lin Xianzi didn’t intend for him to meet him, he complied and didn’t see him.
Lian Cheng looked towards Lin Xianzi, whose reaction was even more indifferent. She casually glanced over and asked with a smile, “Father, the doctor has been ready for a while. Can we begin?”
Mo Shifu agreed.
Lian Cheng stood up. Liang Chaosu had told her before that the Mo family’s inheritance dispute had reached its final stage, with the two branches currently in a stalemate.
Mo Shifu focused on Lin Xianzi’s outstanding ability, favoring the blood relation of Mo Shicheng.
This identification was certain to cause a stir. Multiple samples would be collected and sent to different institutions for verification, to prevent any tampering.
The scene unfolded exactly as he expected.
Lian Cheng had her hair pulled, her fingernails clipped, and more than ten blood samples collected.
A nurse packaged them into different silver briefcases. Mo Shifu’s bodyguards opened portable recorders and clipped them to their chests. In pairs, they accompanied the doctors in batches as they left the VIP lounge.
The room gradually emptied. No one from the Mo family spoke, and the atmosphere became inexplicably tense and weird.
Lian Yingying became even more uneasy. Her fingers were intertwined, and she couldn’t help but look at Lian Cheng, who had already returned to the window side, leaning expressionlessly against the sofa, calm as if detached from this family recognition.
Liang Chaosu stood up and walked towards her. His right arm rested on the sofa back, like a solid, reliable backer shielding Lian Cheng.
She still didn’t want him there. She pushed Liang Chaosu, but he didn’t move. She shifted her body, creating distance.
Liang Chaosu wasn’t annoyed at all. It seemed he sensed her bad mood, or perhaps he also felt the tense atmosphere in the room, like being slowly tortured.
His gaze swept over, his voice unhurried, magnetic, deep, yet with heavy strength.
“The sample identification needs time. We’ll leave first.”
The suffocating silence was broken. Lian Yingying’s heart relaxed for a second, then tightened again. She had always longed for someone to protect her, and they were right in front of her, but the person wasn’t her.
Mo Shicheng remained in his half-kneeling position and looked back at Liang Chaosu.
“Director Liang doesn’t need to rush to leave. The fastest channel is used for identification. It will take at least three hours for the lab to get the results, so we’ll know immediately.”
He glanced obscurely at Lin Lanfeng by the doorway, “And for the smooth identification process, the people involved in this matter should not leave midway.”
Lin Lanfeng brushed a speck of dust off his clothes and swaggered over, sitting on the sofa closest to Lin Xianzi.
“I’m not leaving. Brother Cheng, Hong Kong abides by the law. No one will carry guns to change results, nor will there be car accidents to damage samples. Singapore is different. My sister nearly had accidents several times, so we had to transfer Uncle Mo to Hong Kong. You can understand, right?”
Mo Shicheng’s smile was subtle. He shifted to a more relaxed squatting position, appearing somewhat leisurely, unfazed by the provocation.
Lian Cheng witnessed this scene of hidden currents and storms, and her last shred of hope vanished.
If she put herself in that position, if her daughter, born eight months prematurely, was lost for over twenty years, her life and death uncertain.
Suddenly seeing a girl who was seven parts like her, with no parents, how would she react?
There would certainly be hope, longing, closeness, and apprehension.
But Lin Xianzi and Lin Lanfeng showed none of that. From their condescending positions, all that was present was a conspiratorial vigilance.
She took a deep breath, her almost inaudible sigh asking Liang Chaosu, “Ms. Lin doesn’t want to find her daughter at all, does she?”
Liang Chaosu held her hand, and with his other hand, gently stroked her long hair.
“Don’t be sad. The Mo family isn’t a good place. They have already lost their bottom line in their struggle, including the Lin family. Lin Xianzi lost her husband and daughter in a kidnapping. Her hatred is heavier than anything else. When she weighs pros and cons, giving up becomes a habit.”
Lian Cheng was silent. After a moment, she looked up at him, her tone calm and inquiring.
“And you? Why did you let me come for the paternity test?”
A smile appeared in Liang Chaosu’s eyes. Sunlight streaming through the glass reflected in his deep eyebrows and eyes.
He was almost thirty years old, and faint lines had appeared at the corners of his eyes, hiding something soft yet passionate within them.
“Lian Cheng, you’re starting to try to understand me.”
Lian Cheng’s breathing hitched. She didn’t shy away.
Liang Chaosu’s past behavior was beastly, but he was now willing to pay the price, and there had been a change.
She couldn’t be willfully blind, insisting on her fixed opinion, and viewing him as a pervert to the end.
Not far away, a mobile phone suddenly rang.
Lian Cheng glanced over. Mo Shicheng held up his phone for Mo Shifu to see, “Dad, it’s the person in charge of the sample delivery.”
Mo Shifu nodded, then made a gesture.
Mo Shicheng swiped to the answer key and put it on speaker.
“Mr. Mo, we’ve caught someone trying to swap the samples.”
