Chapter 259: Liancheng Teaches Uncle
The cabin door opened, and yellow light spilled out from the gangway as Liang Zhengping helped Yao Nianci down onto the tarmac.
After a long sea voyage filled with swaying waves, the moment her feet touched solid ground, she couldn’t help but look up at Liang Zhengping.
“Zhengping.”
Liang Zhengping scanned the welcoming crowd, then pulled Yao Nianci closer, saying, “Don’t be afraid, I won’t let you go back to sea again.”
Yao Nianci’s heart settled. The cruise ship offered a limited world, with terrifying winds and waves that had drained her spirit as a noblewoman and chilled her heart towards her children.
It was Liang Zhengping’s meticulous care that had sustained her until now. The man in his sixties appeared vigorous and ageless.
He had become thin, tanned, with his temples frosted white and wrinkles showing at the corners of his eyes.
He had lost weight and darkened, staring expressionlessly at a spot not far away. She followed his gaze.
“Father, Mother.”
Their eyes met, and Liang Chaosu was the first to greet them, yet he stood still in place.
Since he didn’t move, the people behind Liang Zhengping dared not move either. They all stood there nervously, watching Liang Zhengping and his wife walk towards them step by step.
It didn’t feel like Liang Chaosu was picking them up; it felt more like Liang Zhengping was paying a visit.
“Chaosu, we’re getting married,” Liang Zhengping said with a slight smile, not much, a superficial display that seemed to cling to his skin, just like Liang Chaosu’s.
“I didn’t expect it either,” Liang Chaosu stood ramrod straight. “I also have to thank Father for this test.”
Gu Xingyuan raised an eyebrow.
The press conference had brought Lin Xianzi into the spotlight, but his wife had gone far away.
A test.
As expected of a boss, a sliver of his inherent wild and heroic spirit was enough to be magnificent.
“Mother has lost a lot of weight,” Liang Chaosu said, looking at Yao Nianci. “Was the food on the five-star cruise ship not to your taste?”
The atmosphere instantly solidified.
Yao Nianci trembled subtly, and Liang Zhengping protected her, his anger mounting, his temper burning through his eyes, only to be suppressed in an instant.
“We’re very tired from our long trip, let’s go back first.”
Liang Chaosu’s smile remained unchanged. “No hurry. Everyone here today is Father’s loyal follower, eagerly awaiting Father’s return to the country. It would be best if Father could see them.”
Liang Zhengping’s face was like a kind mask that, under the erosion of surging venom beneath, grew thinner and thinner, increasingly unable to hold, revealing a darkness more profound than the surrounding night, eerie.
“Is this an order?”
“I dare not.”
Liang Zhengping revealed a corner of his formidable nature. “The weather tonight is not good, dark and windy. Seeing each other tomorrow will be the same.”
The directors and executives gathered around immediately echoed, “No stars, no moon. Old Director Liang is tired. Young Director Liang’s kind intentions are appreciated.”
Gu Xingyuan’s expression gradually turned serious. After a few breaths, this group unanimously agreed, no one objected, and they beat a retreat.
The stone in his heart settled to the bottom.
Liang Zhengping and Yao Nianci got into the Rolls-Royce in the middle of the convoy. Gu Xingyuan squeezed into the back seat of Liang Chaosu’s Bentley.
“They said their intentions are appreciated,” Gu Xingyuan stared at the man’s profile. “Is that them publicly taking sides?”
The group shivered in the night wind. After half an hour of indecision, not a single one faltered.
Liang Chaosu played with his phone, his expression unreadable, his gaze fixed on the green belt outside the window. “Because they understand that changing allegiances would lead to losing both sides.”
Gu Xingyuan felt stressed and couldn’t help but regret it. “You forcing people into this situation, to fight to the death, why bother?”
Show an attitude, open a door, whether it’s overt recruitment or covert bribery, weaken the enemy, expand yourself, isn’t the chance of winning greater?
Liang Chaosu, uncharacteristically, comforted him. “Do your best, win or lose doesn’t matter.”
Gu Xingyuan didn’t feel comforted; instead, goosebumps rose on his back. “Something is wrong, this is not your usual style or pace.”
Liang Chaosu’s phone screen suddenly lit up. He glanced at it and instructed Zhang An to stop the car by the roadside.
Gu Xingyuan was shocked. “You’re kicking me out of the car?”
Liang Chaosu shot him a look, opened the car door, and stepped out.
“What do you mean?” Gu Xingyuan leaned over to his side. “You’re on the street late at night—”
His peripheral vision caught sight of a man carrying a briefcase approaching briskly. “Mr. Liang, the car is ready.”
“Xiao Da?”
Xiao Da nodded politely. “President Gu, Mr. Liang has some private matters to attend to. I’ll leave the Liang family in your care.”
Gu Xingyuan was completely bewildered. Before he could ask more, Liang Chaosu had already left.
He was quick-eyed and quick-handed, leaning out to grab Xiao Da. “Hiding things like this, and then asking me to go into battle, at least let me know the situation.”
Xiao Da replied concisely, “You ask.”
“Where is he going?”
“To Hong Kong, via the highway.”
Gu Xingyuan choked and understood.
“Then when he said ‘do your best, win or lose doesn’t matter,’ was he implying I should slack off?”
“No,” Xiao Da chose his words carefully. “He means for you to do your best, you absolutely cannot be careless about this right now. It’s just that Mr. Liang doesn’t care about the final outcome, win or lose.”
Gu Xingyuan was stunned. “Doesn’t care?”
Xiao Da pried his hand loose. “Yes, Mr. Liang promised the Madam something, and it won’t be in vain. He no longer cares about the win or loss of the Liang family.”
Gu Xingyuan’s upper body was almost hanging outside the car, unable to find a point of leverage. Xiao Da easily pulled away from him and disappeared around the corner in a few steps.
Zhang An had heard the entire conversation. After Gu Xingyuan settled back in, he couldn’t help but ask, “Director Liang doesn’t care about winning or losing anymore, so why does he still want you to do your best?”
Gu Xingyuan glanced at him. “Would you dare ask Liang Chaosu that?”
Zhang An naturally didn’t dare to say more.
The partition rose. Gu Xingyuan had a moment of realization.
Doing his best was for the present. He had to perform well in the grand drama of Liang Zhengping’s return to the country and the ensuing struggle.
Winning or losing didn’t matter for the future.
That night at the resort, he guessed Liang Chaosu had sent Liang Zhengping back to the country to give him the authority to bring himself down.
He hadn’t admitted it when it was just a joke back then.
Later, when Lin Xianzi was mentioned, Gu Xingyuan thought he was using Liang Zhengping as a pawn.
He never expected that the most absurd and comical guess would turn out to be true.
So, did he use his own eternal damnation to gain forgiveness for what he promised Liancheng?
The experience at the sinkhole was not to be replicated, but Gu Xingyuan was greatly inspired.
……………………………………………………
Liancheng made an appointment online to reapply for her Hong Kong and Macao Permit, which she would pick up at the port tomorrow.
They filled up the gas tank at a highway gas station and then discussed the route at a fast-food restaurant next door, preparing to take the Wu-Guang route.
It was past ten o’clock, approaching the Taizhou exit, when the phone Feng Shien had placed in the center console kept ringing. The caller was Lin Lanfeng.
Liancheng, sitting in the co-pilot seat, answered it for him.
“Are those people still there?”
When they left Nan Province earlier, Feng Shien had noticed a group of people following them.
Liancheng recognized the driver as the nephew of the village chief of Liu Li Village.
The village chief had two nephews; the older one had injured Professor Wang previously and was detained. This younger one had caused trouble at the resort, leaving a deep impression on Liancheng.
“No, you had someone block them. They didn’t get on the highway, so they must have given up.”
Lin Lanfeng paused. There was respect between relatives, but a lack of intimacy.
It wasn’t convenient to discuss further over the phone, so he temporarily put it aside.
“Don’t let your guard down. Both Nan Province and Qi Province have dispatched police. Be careful, they might make one last desperate attempt.”
Liancheng acknowledged this and then asked, “Are you sure? Is Liu Li Village targeting me this time because Liang Zhengping and Mo Shicheng have joined forces?”
Liu Li Village had a grudge against Liang Chaosu. Taking revenge on her, the apparent Madam Liang, out of spite, was not surprising.
However, the timing was too coincidental, and it was even more coincidental that Liang Zhengping was behind Liu Li Village.
She had to be cautious.
Lin Lanfeng pondered for a moment. “We inferred from Lian Yingying’s reaction that Mo Shicheng was making a move. After your mother was kidnapped, we only had information about her location and physical condition, and no way to contact her. Now, there are clues. As for whether it’s true, we’ll have to wait for Lian Yingying’s next move.”
Liancheng frowned, unaccustomed to the Lin family’s style of operation.
“When undertaking major tasks, infer seven parts from five parts of certainty. If there are preceding events, seven parts of inference can reach nine.”
“My mother is in grave danger. The situation between us and the enemy must be clear and definite. You release some ambiguous rumors. If there are concerns, use the media, acquaintances, or even hint to Mo family members, guiding them to voice it themselves, and then observe Lian Yingying.”
“We can remain inactive, but we must maintain control.”
There was silence on the phone for a long while.
Lin Lanfeng asked, “Liancheng, who taught you this, Liang Zhengping or Liang Chaosu?”
