Chapter 257: Skillful
Late spring and early summer, it was the season of blooming flowers in the mortal world. The flower seeds were richly colored and dazzling. In the Southern Province, pink cherry blossoms were in full bloom. In the deserted old residential community, the paulownia trees bloomed more beautifully.
Clusters of pale purple small bells weighed down the branches. White curtains swayed gently, revealing a tall, relaxed silhouette. His elbows rested on the railing, fingers interlocked, looking down at her with a smile between his brows.
“Did you forget your passport?”
When Liancheng went to Qingxi Valley to pack her luggage, Liang Chaosu was also there.
There was an agreement not to touch her. After he entered her bedroom once that night to discuss the engagement, Liancheng strictly guarded against him entering again after she returned from trying on her wedding dress at the Liang family’s. So he leaned against the doorway.
Liancheng locked the door, and he found topics to lure her into opening it.
“Why did you come back so soon?”
“Perhaps Zhang An is more skilled than your driver.”
He emphasized the word “driver” with a mocking tone. Liancheng took a step back, “Are you going to keep your word?”
Liang Chaosu understood she was referring to the bet, reminding him not to interfere.
“Yes.”
The wind blew, causing the paulownia flowers to sway. One flower brushed past Liang Chaosu’s shoulder and hit Liancheng’s forehead.
Unprepared for this projectile, Liancheng raised her hand to touch her forehead. “Throw my passport down.”
Liang Chaosu didn’t move.
She said politely, “Please, thank you.”
Liang Chaosu chuckled. The sunset filtered through the branches, illuminating his face as if coated in a warm golden light.
“You forbade me from entering the bedroom,” he enunciated, “Non-invited guests shall not enter.”
Liancheng retorted with his own words.
“Since non-invited guests shall not enter, why are you in my house?”
Liang Chaosu’s fingers were still interlocked, and he lazily tapped his chin. “The engagement is still valid, Madam Liang personally agreed to me living here, and the security guard at the entrance can testify.”
Liancheng had just returned to Happiness Home from Hong Kong. The engagement had not yet been finalized, and she had only registered her information with the security guard. After the engagement was finalized, Liang Chaosu immediately took her downstairs to update the records.
Now, the bet was the bet, the information at the entrance was unchanged, the engagement was still valid, but the agreement not to touch her had been lifted.
Liancheng turned and left.
Liang Chaosu watched her back disappear at the end of the flower branches. He did not stop her.
Gu Xingyuan’s question hit the core. She was in the Southern Province, which was unsafe. Going to Europe, with the vipers around Lin Xianzi not yet cleared, was untrustworthy.
Hong Kong was just right, the Lin family’s base, neither too close nor too far from the Southern Province.
As for why Lin Xianzi didn’t send her there, Liang Chaosu could guess, so he didn’t consider it, nor did he care.
………………………………
Liancheng got into the car empty-handed. Feng Shien was confused.
She didn’t explain much, “Liang Chaosu is here.”
Feng Shien’s expression changed. “Did he find you?”
Liancheng pressed her lips together. “He did, and we spoke a few words. His attitude was very clear: he wouldn’t stop me from leaving, but I couldn’t go abroad.”
Feng Shien frowned, not fully understanding the meaning. “Does he want you to stay domestically? Not too far away?”
Liancheng felt a surge of frustration, a sense of being limited, as if escaping one wolf den only to fall into a tiger’s mouth.
“Do you have any news about my mother now?”
Lin Xianzi had tried many methods but couldn’t pinpoint the mole. The people she trusted numbered fewer than ten, all holding important positions. At this critical juncture, she couldn’t act rashly or make a mistake.
She was severely constrained.
Regardless of Mo Shicheng’s purpose in this kidnapping, it was an excellent opportunity for Lin Xianzi.
Only through great storms and crises can gold be separated from sand and dross.
“Ms. Lin Xianzi instructed us to avoid calling the police in the early stages. She is carrying a small tracker, standard European and American military issue, disguised as a mole and attached to her inner arm, constantly sending her location and vital signs.”
Feng Shien started the car and turned around. “The latest status was just updated. Mr. Lin speculates their destination is likely the mountain range where they escaped after the kidnapping that year.”
Liancheng’s face tensed.
Under what circumstances would a murderer revisit the scene of the crime, rekindling old feelings?
It was because they didn’t cut the weeds and eliminate the roots back then, and he regretted it.
He was also smug about his secret ingenious plan and was now certain of success, leaving Lin Xianzi with no escape and bringing his twenty-three years of patient waiting to a complete end.
“My mother is certain Mo Shicheng won’t kill her this time,” Liancheng’s mind raced.
“Then it’s Europe. Mo Shicheng’s extradition is imminent. Upon his return to Singapore, he will be able to secure bail soon. By then, many European countries will have filed cases. If my mother is not heard from for a long time, it will create a negative impact.
“Once public anger is aroused, and victims and the media exert pressure, Europe can hold parades and demonstrations. The court will inevitably investigate strictly.”
Feng Shien looked through the rearview mirror.
Time was short, and he only managed to tell Liancheng the general direction of the plan, clarifying some connections and the factions involved.
The focus was on the collusion between Mo Shicheng and Gu Zhoushan, the several negotiations with Liang Zhengping, and the progress of the Lin family’s investigation in Iceland.
The situation was entangled with Singapore, Hong Kong, and the mainland, and also involved Europe. An ordinary person would only hear a few locations and become confused.
Liancheng, being in the midst of it, understood the key points and clear logic, and was not surprised.
She was amazed by her thorough insight, patience, and composure.
Not every noble lady could remain calm in times of crisis, listen to advice, follow a plan, and maintain composure.
This time, it was Liancheng’s turn to awaken him, “Feng Shien?”
Feng Shien let out a breath. His heart felt a strange, indescribable warmth. He saw the car slowly driving down an empty lane. There were no accidents. His earlobes began to redden.
Fortunately, Liancheng’s heart was not with him, and she didn’t notice his fleeting disappointment. He ignored the momentary look of loss. “Sorry, I’ll be more careful when I drive from now on.”
Liancheng agreed. “Let me drive. You must be very tired after driving for several hours on the highway.”
Feng Shien shook his head and smiled. “It’s not tiredness.”
Before he finished speaking, he moved on without explanation and asked Liancheng, “Without your passport, have you thought about your next step?”
Liancheng had an idea. “I am also a target. I can’t stay in the Southern or Qi Provinces. Let’s go to Hong Kong. My Hong Kong and Macau Pass is still valid, and I can get a replacement in one day with expedited processing.”
…………………………
Lin Xianzi ate two cold steamed buns. The small pickup truck with a tarp covering it drove onto a bumpy mountain path.
Moonlight shone into the rear of the car. A bearded man sat against the tailboard, using a dagger to scrape the scraps of meat off the bones. He put the meat into his mouth under the cold, sharp light of the blade.
The hand he held had its little finger missing, a long scar ran across the back of his hand, and there was a circle of bite-mark scars on his wrist.
Lin Xianzi’s eyes were deeply unfathomable. Intense hatred surged for a moment, then was suppressed.
In the chilling silence, the man’s phone rang. He casually threw the bone out of the car, licked his lips, and pressed the answer button.
“Where are you now?”
The voice on the other end was distorted by a voice changer, an mechanical electronic sound, indistinguishable as male or female.
The bearded man glanced out of the car. “Tiger’s Cave. About two more hours to go.”
“Did you split up?”
The bearded man’s voice was rough. “The guy named Lin doesn’t have much of a feud with those country bumpkins from Liu Li Village. If they can’t wait for that little Liang girl to save her mother, those bumpkins won’t be able to sit still.”
The voice on the other end gritted their teeth. “When did you split up, and where are they now?”
