Chapter 250: Promise
Lian Cheng’s personality wasn’t rash; she clearly understood that repeatedly questioning Liang Zhengping would displease Liang Chaosu and even arouse his suspicion.
But the phone call Lin Xianzi suddenly made this morning was Liang Zhengping’s way of increasing his leverage, telling Lin Xianzi that she had been forced to live with Liang Chaosu four years ago, and he provided her university leave of absence application.
Lian Cheng couldn’t deny it. She then emphasized that Liang Zhengping was suspected of colluding with Mo Shicheng, and the continuous provision of evidence was meant to provoke her into making a move against Liang Chaosu.
Liang Zhengping would seize the opportunity to take over the Liang family, and Mo Shicheng’s pressure for extradition would also be reduced.
But Lin Xianzi’s attitude was firm. Lian Cheng couldn’t persuade her over the phone. Meeting tomorrow to decide whether to leave or wait was beyond her expectations.
She could only try her best to ascertain Liang Zhengping’s whereabouts and gather more information.
“Tomorrow evening,” Liang Chaosu’s tone was calm and collected. “We’re going back to Nan Province to pick someone up.”
Lian Cheng jolted, barely controlling her expression. “It’s over four hours back to Nan Province by highway. Are we departing in the afternoon?”
Liang Chaosu looked down upon her, gazing at her stiff smile. “Do you have something tomorrow?”
Lian Cheng nodded. “Tomorrow is Saturday, Director Qin has the weekend off. We arranged to visit a Yun Jin research institute to learn about fabrics.”
Liang Chaosu remained silent.
After a long gaze, he stood while Lian Cheng sat.
Outside the window, the urban area was filled with tall buildings and a clear blue sky, casting no gloomy shadows on him, and his expression didn’t change. Yet, it felt as if he had returned to last year, the year before, with unfathomable pressure, concealing a wild and ferocious nature.
Lian Cheng saw through it, her guilt making her counter-question, “You asked your father to return just to keep him under your watch for peace of mind?”
Liang Chaosu raised his hand to caress her cheek. The scars on his fingertips were rough and scalding hot, scraping across the corner of her eye like hard, hot iron blocks, with sandpaper rubbing away her disguise, exposing the truth.
“Half.”
Similar to his answer to Gu Xingyuan, Liang Chaosu’s expression was inscrutable.
“Isn’t it good for them to return? The reporter’s appearance still leads to much speculation online. If they return with sincere blessings, it will quell public opinion. I will watch him personally and guarantee our wedding proceeds as scheduled.”
“They could never publicly bless it.”
“Whether they bless it is their wish, but whether it’s possible is my ability.” Liang Chaosu hooked her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “Do you believe in my ability?”
Goosebumps appeared densely on Lian Cheng’s arms. She vaguely felt that he wasn’t just referring to Liang Zhengping’s obedience, but also hinting at the wedding.
It would certainly proceed as scheduled.
“Director Qin said the custom phoenix crown and robe have a long production period. A wedding in one month might not be enough time.”
Liang Chaosu bent down.
Before Lian Cheng could react, his arm had already passed through the bend of her leg. In the next moment, their positions reversed, and he firmly held her, sitting on his lap. “The long production period is because there are few artisans in the workshop making the phoenix crown and robe. The Liang family has a non-heritage support project in cooperation with the government, including kingfisher feather inlay, mother-of-pearl inlay, Bian embroidery, and Lu embroidery. It won’t be too late.”
Lian Cheng was stunned.
Liang Chaosu smiled and gathered her hair, his actions tender and his gaze gentle. “You didn’t know?”
Lian Cheng truly didn’t know. If she had known even a little, she wouldn’t have suggested changing the wedding to Chinese style.
But at the banquet, she had used the excuse that no one around her understood classical culture and requested Director Qin’s help. Liang Chaosu hadn’t stopped her then, nor had he even mentioned it.
“These projects were investments made in the North to maintain relations with the government. Several banquets were occasions where I brought you to meet leaders responsible for non-heritage culture, but you wouldn’t enter the private room and waited for me outside.”
Lian Cheng had an impression.
During those four years in the North, when occasions arose that didn’t involve Nan Province, Liang Chaosu would have her act as his companion. At that time, Lian Cheng was like a startled bird, fearing exposure of their relationship even in her dreams, and would barely appear even if she managed to reach the venue.
Not working, not contributing, and never asking, she naturally wouldn’t know.
“Then tomorrow morning, after Director Qin and I have seen the fabrics and decided on the style, I’ll send it to you to have someone make it.”
Liang Chaosu pulled her closer. Lian Cheng’s entire body felt stiff, her joints also rigid. Looking into his dark, deep eyes at close range, she asked, “Is that okay?”
His embrace was both confining and scalding hot. His chest rose and fell steadily, his powerful strength emanating calmness and control, making Lian Cheng’s chest throb with a rhythmic beat.
“As long as it doesn’t delay our return to Nan Province in the afternoon.”
………………………………………………
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.
Lian Yingying hung up the phone expressionlessly. Lin Xianzi hadn’t visited Mo Shifu in the hospital for three consecutive days.
When she called, Lin Xianzi would answer, but her excuses became more perfunctory each time, almost dismissive this time. Mo Shifu had also begun to distance himself from her yesterday. When subordinates reported to him, he would deliberately dismiss her beforehand, and he had started to be defensive about who was reporting and what they were reporting.
She didn’t understand the hidden dealings between Mo Shifu and Mo Shicheng. Although Mo Shifu had decided to rescue Mo Shicheng, he wasn’t aligning with Mo Shicheng’s people; instead, they were each on their own.
Now, he was even showing a tendency to stop cooperating with Mo Shicheng’s plan and continue collaborating with her and Gu Zhoushan.
Half an hour later.
Lian Yingying ascended via the emergency stairwell. Two bodyguards stood outside the hospital room, and the mysterious subordinate who had reported earlier hadn’t left.
She waited for another ten minutes, but there was no sign of the door opening.
Lian Yingying’s heart churned. She turned and went downstairs, calling Gu Zhoushan.
“I can confirm it, Mo Shifu’s intentions have truly changed.”
Gu Zhoushan had just disembarked from the airplane. He lowered his head and boarded the dedicated car waiting at the tarmac, and only after the driver closed the car windows and raised the partition did he reply, “Second Master Mo hinted to me that the old master is old and soft-hearted, and nostalgic. He can’t bear to see him imprisoned, nor can he bear Mo Jianhong being without an heir, nor Lin Xianzi who has remained devoted to Mo Jianhong and lived as a widow for twenty years. He wants her to hand over real power, but not to harm her life.”
Lian Yingying trembled slightly. “Then what we told him about the plan before—”
“Why panic?” Gu Zhoushan reprimanded. “What we originally agreed with him was to prevent Lin Xianzi from acknowledging her daughter and delay until Second Master Mo successfully extradited. Second Master Mo hasn’t returned to Singapore yet, so are we wrong to continue obstructing Lin Xianzi from going to Qi Province to acknowledge her?”
“But the extradition is a foregone conclusion. This time, we’re still instigating a kidnapping in the mainland, revealing Lin Xianzi’s whereabouts, and forcing Liang Chaosu to intervene to prevent the acknowledgment.” Lian Yingying paused before continuing, “Our malice towards Lin Xianzi, being irreconcilable, is too obvious. Mo Shifu will definitely try to stop us.”
“Irreconcilable and obvious?” Gu Zhoushan scoffed. “Do you think Mo Shifu, with his indecisive old heart, would speculate that his own son is in dire straits and instead of seeking release, he would look to the distance and plot the complete ruin of his first wife from prison?”
Lian Yingying remained silent.
Gu Zhoushan looked suspicious. “Did you tell Mo Shifu that Liang Liancheng was the one who administered the progesterone injection?”
“No,” Lian Yingying denied. “I remember your teachings: be cautious with your words and actions.”
Gu Zhoushan smiled. “It’s good you have a memory. I’ll tell you clearly, this kidnapping case isn’t just about revealing Lin Xianzi’s whereabouts and stopping her from acknowledging Liang Liancheng, that’s too basic. Second Master Mo plans to bring up some doubts from the twenty-year-old kidnapping case, so that Jin Tonghai can use this to eliminate Lin Xianzi’s true staunch ‘right arm’.”
“At that time, Lin Xianzi will only have Jin Tonghai, her ‘left arm’, by her side. When they reach Europe, Second Master Mo will be released from prison, and she will be imprisoned. An eye for an eye. Then, when Liang Liancheng suffers the aftereffects of the progesterone injection, and the first wife’s lineage ends, you can truly become what you pretend to be.”
