Chapter 23: Don’t Obsessively Delude Yourself Into Admitting You
Liancheng did not enter the flower hall, and walked around downstairs.
The Liang family always entertained guests separately. Mother Liang hosted Mother Shen in the flower hall, while Father Liang took Father Shen to the study. Liancheng wasn’t looking for them, but after circling around, she didn’t see any sign of Liang Chaosu, not even Shen Lichuan.
She frowned and went to the kitchen to ask Aunt Wang.
Liancheng’s back disappeared at the kitchen doorway, and the window of the billiard room on the second floor, facing the high living room, was also closed.
The indoor billiard lights were very bright, illuminating two men holding long cue sticks.
One had a gentle appearance but angry eyebrows.
One was cold and deep, with an unclear meaning.
Liang Chaosu lowered his gaze, powdered the tip of his cue, and casually placed it by the table leg. He leaned over to set up his shot, precisely aiming at a ball among a cluster of unplayable ones. His angle and aim were perfect. He tightened his arm, exerting force, and the black ball went into the pocket, breaking a deadlocked situation.
“You are not my opponent.”
“Of course not.” Shen Lichuan’s gaze swept across the table, his eyes and brows filled with sarcasm, “Liancheng and I have high morals, we can’t compare to Vice Chairman Liang and Young Lady Liang’s shamelessness and depravity.”
Liang Chaosu stood diagonally opposite him, “When did you find out?”
No beating around the bush, no feigning innocence, he got straight to the point.
Shen Lichuan paused, and the hatred and anger boiling in his chest exploded.
He threw down the cue stick with a bang, the tip hitting the wall and snapping in two.
“I just found out about Vice Chairman Liang’s methods. Truly a peerless brother, helping his biological sister climb into the fake brother-in-law’s bed, that’s a first in history. Insulting his adopted daughter for his biological sister, even more unheard of.”
The cue stick, broken into two pieces, rolled over. Shen Lichuan kicked it away, placed his hands on the billiard table, and the bright light reflected his look of extreme disgust and hatred on his face.
“The social circle praises the Liang family’s good family values, loyalty, benevolence, humility, and charity. Hearing it now is utterly disgusting, it makes one laugh their head off. Such dirty methods, such vile thoughts, behavior worse than beasts, are you even human? I’m afraid even vipers can’t compare to the Liang family.”
“Are you done cursing?” Liang Chaosu seemed unaffected, stepped back a few paces, and sat on the sofa, “Now it’s my turn to ask you.”
Shen Lichuan almost laughed, “Ask me? What right do you have to ask me, with your shamelessness, filthiness, and malice?”
His insults had no effect on Liang Chaosu, who was experienced in the business world. A child’s rant was useless. Liang Chaosu always had clear goals and acted without speaking.
“At the Yunling Tea Restaurant on Ji’an Road, was she there to meet Bai Ying, or to meet you?”
Shen Lichuan’s expression darkened. Liancheng was naturally there to see Bai Ying; he just happened to be next door. Liancheng’s purpose for seeing Bai Ying was to conceal her pregnancy. Liang Chaosu’s question now clearly indicated he already knew Liancheng’s itinerary that day.
Did he already know Liancheng was pregnant?
Shen Lichuan didn’t think so. Liancheng had been terrified and lost that day. He remembered every word. When he left, he had specifically instructed the owner of the tea restaurant, had the waiters keep quiet, and the surveillance footage deleted.
Liancheng had also passed her medical examination today. Liang Chaosu’s reaction didn’t suggest he had noticed anything.
Liang Chaosu leaned back, crossed one leg, and narrowed his eyes, not missing any flicker of expression change on Shen Lichuan’s face, “Why did you send someone to contact the director of Bai Family Hospital for a medical examination the day before yesterday?”
Shen Lichuan suddenly stepped back a few paces, his face hidden in the shadows, “There’s no why. Can’t I contact them?”
“You can contact them.” Liang Chaosu’s gaze was sharp, “If you were asking about Feifei’s condition, caring about her health, I wouldn’t interfere. But you asked about Liancheng’s pregnancy, shouldn’t you explain yourself properly?”
Shen Lichuan’s heart relaxed. He had asked the director of examinations about Liancheng’s medical records from the previous few years.
The topic had only progressed to difficulty conceiving, not how to conceal a pregnancy.
“Then you should explain to me. Liancheng was healthy since childhood, and you took advantage of her, and she immediately became infertile. Does that make sense?”
He reached out and turned the lamp above the billiard table, and the glaring light shone directly on Liang Chaosu.
It illuminated his face, the tense lines, and the icy, gloomy, piercing intensity.
“I’ll remind you again, her health or her ability to get pregnant has nothing to do with you.” Liang Chaosu stood up, strode forward, grasped the chandelier, and forcefully turned it towards Shen Lichuan, “If you’re not giving up, listen to this.”
Liang Chaosu took out his mobile phone, and Liancheng’s sincere voice poured out.
【The doorbell rang then, I thought it was you, so I went to open the door… I have no romantic feelings for him, nor any extra thoughts… This world isn’t only him, the past is the past… He troubles me… I get goosebumps just hearing his name, and feel suffocated even breathing the same air】
Shen Lichuan forcefully twisted the chandelier, but the strength difference was too great. The chandelier didn’t move, casting a light on his face, revealing his desperate ferocity.
“You’re truly a filial brother, willing to do anything for Liang Wenfei. Are these her true feelings? I’m afraid she was coerced and oppressed by you, and she couldn’t resist so she submitted.”
“Can’t you tell if it’s true?” Liang Chaosu smiled faintly and leaned closer, “Her temperament is what it is. Once she says something like this, she’ll never turn back.”
Shen Lichuan’s breathing quickened, veins bulging on his temples, “You think you’ve won? Won a man for your shameless biological sister?”
Liang Chaosu raised his eyebrows nonchalantly, “Isn’t it?”
“You’ve lost.” Shen Lichuan withdrew his hand, “Liang Wenfei is about to marry into the Shen family. Her future life is not in my hands, but yours. And you, even more laughable, lost the big watermelon for a sesame seed. You don’t consider Liancheng your sister, and she won’t consider you her brother now. You will definitely regret it in the future.”
Liang Chaosu suddenly laughed, “Is that your idea? A victory born of delusional thinking?”
He was extremely blunt, “Liancheng had best not delusionally think of me as her brother. I will never regret disowning her as my sister. As for Feifei’s future, your say is not absolute, but what I say, you absolutely must listen to me.”
Shen Lichuan stared at him, filled with extreme annoyance, “Your Liang family is powerful, but my Shen family is not inferior.”
“The Shen family is not inferior, but you are far from it.” Liang Chaosu looked down on him, “I advise you to behave yourself as a brother-in-law. Otherwise, I don’t mind a marriage alliance turning into an arranged marriage for the man.”
Shen Lichuan’s eyes widened in fury. He wanted to refute Liang Chaosu, but Liang Chaosu had the capability. The Liang Corporation currently had plans for international development. While annexing the Shen family might be difficult, dragging them down, uniting with others to encircle and suppress the Shen family, was merely a matter of time and investment.
Shen Lichuan turned and opened the door. As he lifted his foot, he froze mid-air, surprised and astonished, “Liancheng? When did you arrive?”
Liancheng’s gaze passed over him, scanned the room, and immediately retracted when it met Liang Chaosu’s, “Just arrived.”
“You heard everything?”
Liancheng’s fingers trembled slightly, and she did not deny it.
Shen Lichuan turned to look at Liang Chaosu, wanting to find a trace of guilt on his face from being overheard making threats, but the man stood in the light, his shadow obscuring him, only revealing his coldness.
“It’s good that you heard clearly.” Shen Lichuan said meaningfully, “Beasts don’t regret, and bloodline things don’t change.”
Liancheng’s hand, hanging by her side, suddenly clenched. She looked up at him, observing his expression.
Shen Lichuan’s skin was porcelain white, his eyelashes naturally thick and long, and his eyes were a coffee-brown hue, making him appear sincere and clear when looking at people. At this moment, there was a hidden meaning.
Liancheng understood that his mention of bloodline was not a general reference to the Liang family, but to the child in her belly.
