Chapter 267: Twin Imperial Consorts
“When?”
Liancheng also wanted to know. She had a flight at 8 PM, and at 8:15 PM, Lin Lanfeng was following the police’s operation.
This round, not to say a sure victory, but a seventy percent grasp of victory was achieved. In the next few hours, it would be best to minimize changes and avoid causing any alarm.
She had checked, and after 4 PM in Hong Kong, there was only a flight back to Nan Province at 9 PM.
Based on this, she came to cooperate, to stabilize Liang Chaosu, the threat.
Regardless of anything, delay him past four o’clock.
Liang Chaosu looked at Liancheng with a smile, “I haven’t booked the ticket yet.”
Their eyes met, and Liancheng was the first to look away.
Entering the villa, the living room had floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, with white curtains tied back. The brown leather sofa had two chaise longue sections. Liang Chaosu sat in the main seat, while Liancheng and Lian Yingying sat opposite each other on the chaise longue sections.
Once the seating arrangement was decided, Lian Yingying’s eyes immediately showed strangeness.
Having navigated the social circles since childhood, she wouldn’t understand the complexities of the business world, but she was acutely aware of the subtleties between women.
Liancheng now radiated resistance, as if the air was full of thorns, each one pricking her, making her want to bolt, yet she forced herself to sit down.
Lian Yingying looked out the window, “Director Liang’s villa has a beautiful view. I heard there’s a national key protected tree fern. It’s a pity the old banyan tree canopy outside is too large; I didn’t see it just now.”
Liang Chaosu shifted his gaze from Liancheng, glanced at her, calm, yet appearing relaxed. “If you’re interested, I’ll have someone take you.”
Lian Yingying, for the first time, clearly caught his emotion and couldn’t help but soften her own attitude, remembering her mission.
“I used to live in the mainland for a long time and am not used to Hong Kong domestic helpers. I feel uncomfortable with their deference. Could Madam Liang take me?”
Liancheng’s eyebrows twitched.
Lian Yingying said sincerely, “The last time we met, your knowledge was profound, you understood wine and taboos. I’ve always regretted not having the opportunity to ask you for advice properly.”
Liancheng’s interest was also piqued.
Lian Yingying’s every move represented Mo Shicheng’s intentions. Her proposal for the two of them to spend time alone undoubtedly related to plans concerning her.
Was it Lin Lanfeng’s movements that they had detected, and the guess that they were starting with her was correct?
“Okay.”
“No need.”
The words overlapped. Liancheng looked at Liang Chaosu, who also turned his head.
Outside the window, green trees and red flowers were in full bloom within the confines of the grounds, more lush and vibrant. The dark color of his thin windbreaker seemed to diminish the brilliance of the surrounding multicolored flowers.
“The guest you invited.”
Regardless of their private dealings, Liang Chaosu consistently maintained a dignified and proper demeanor in public, showing politeness, a good attitude, and cultivation in all his interactions, leaving no room for error.
Over the years, Liancheng had only seen him be sarcastic and difficult towards Shen Lichuan. Bai Ying had verbally abused and belittled him to his face, and he had reacted with a cold, angry expression, but he had always let it pass.
Xiao Da brought tea at this moment and handed it to Lian Yingying, “You may have a misunderstanding. Mr. Liang doesn’t have domestic helpers; I will show you around.”
Lian Yingying opened her mouth to refuse.
Xiao Da was a second faster than her, “I handled everything from the negotiation to the purchase application for Mr. Liang’s villa myself. I understand the trees and scenery better than Madam.”
Lian Yingying felt awkward and flustered.
She was unsure of Liang Chaosu’s purpose in inviting her, but it was clear he intended to prevent Liang Liancheng and her from being alone together.
He allowed her to approach, but not to make contact.
She thoughtfully considered the subtlety of this.
“Sorry… Actually, I have some social anxiety, and I get particularly nervous interacting with opposite-sex individuals I don’t know…”
With her saying that, Lian Yingying’s intention was more than obvious.
Liancheng weighed the pros and cons. Meeting her would provoke Liang Chaosu, not provoke Liang Chao, and she didn’t know about the new developments with Lian Yingying.
However, on second thought, if it truly concerned her, she couldn’t meet him under Liang Chaosu’s watch. Once she left this place, Lian Yingying would surely find other opportunities.
She stopped speaking.
“Next time,” Liang Chaosu picked up his teacup. “Miss Mo, something has suddenly come up, and I need to return to Nan Province. Time is short, so please excuse this abrupt departure.”
It was a clear dismissal. Lian Yingying twisted her hands. Her repeated lack of sense had angered Liang Chaosu.
After a few seconds of stalemate, she couldn’t bear the frigid atmosphere that felt like it could freeze ice.
“It’s not abrupt,” she said with a dry laugh, on the verge of tears. “I knew about the news and still came to bother you. We’ll meet another day.”
Xiao Da escorted her out, and Liancheng followed close behind.
Liang Chaosu called out to her, “I’m returning to Nan Province, you should move in with me.”
“Living here, and living across the street, the distance is no more than ten meters. There’s no difference.”
“There is,” Liang Chaosu stepped closer. “Lin Lanfeng has left Hong Kong, and the Lin family’s hidden attacks are hard to guard against.”
Liancheng’s pupils contracted sharply, and sweat broke out on her palms. She forced herself to steady her tone. “You’re guessing. Why would my uncle leave?”
“I’ll make Mo Shicheng’s intentions clear to you.” He looked down at her from a close range, his eyes deep and sharp, like arrows and mirrors. “If he still doesn’t react, he’s too stupid.”
Liancheng’s face turned pale. She took a step back, moving out of the range of his tall figure’s shadow, yet she felt she hadn’t escaped at all, floating like a tender feather of a young bird, adrift within the circle he had drawn.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Liang Chaosu put an arm around her waist, pulling her powerfully into his embrace. “Since I’m exporting this information, I naturally won’t stop you.”
Liancheng held her hands still, gazing at Liang Chaosu.
After the confrontation behind the door last time, she had actually broken the agreement. They had agreed that if she couldn’t win, she would back down, but she couldn’t play that game and wanted to perish together.
Liang Chaosu’s angry outburst was an unexpected development.
In the end, she gained an advantage.
“Are you true to your word?”
Strike while the iron is hot, and pursue the victory.
Liang Chaosu’s eyes crinkled with a smile, genuinely, “I can afford to lose.”
In this regard, Liancheng trusted him.
Liang Chaosu was not a gentleman, but he was not a scoundrel either. He was deep in schemes and ruthless in his methods, but he was not petty or underhanded.
The atmosphere softened, and Liancheng struggled.
As soon as she moved, Liang Chaosu held her tighter again. The wind made the window rattle with a bang, and broken branches fell to the ground.
Liancheng’s heart pounded.
The distance between them was too close, so close that she could see the wound on his neck, hidden by his scarf, the dark circles under his eyes, and the weariness and age in his eyes, all crystal clear.
Suddenly, Liancheng also noticed that streaks of white hair were beginning to appear on his temples.
“I’m very happy that you could propose a bet,” the faint scent of pine wood and the bitter fragrance of Taiping Houkui from his lips lingered in Liancheng’s breath. She leaned back, and Liang Chaosu’s palm cupped her back, his touch burning.
Xiao Da’s footsteps sounded from the foyer and appeared for a second before he retreated back the way he came.
Liang Chaosu didn’t pay it any mind. “He has been looking for an opportunity to explain himself to you.”
Liancheng bent her elbow, pressing it against his chest, separating flesh from flesh. “Explain what?”
“Explain that he has re-established contact with Bai Ying, and it wasn’t at my instigation.”
Liancheng’s alarm bells rang again, but it had nothing to do with Bai Ying or Xiao Da. The night she left Nan Province, Bai Ying had already actively explained.
When she returned from Hong Kong last time, Xiao Da, her personal assistant, had become her half-secretary. He had been kept in Nan Province by Liang Chaosu to handle Liang’s business.
Bai Ying accidentally saw him meeting with He Jinian, who had already resigned. Xiao Da had been very cautious and vigilant, deliberately asking her out and asking her not to pass on the information.
This instead aroused Bai Ying’s suspicion, and she insisted on telling Liancheng. Xiao Da could only try to stop her, and their entanglement dragged on until that day it was exposed.
“His contact with He Jinian was at my instigation.”
Liancheng’s palm sweated. She didn’t understand why he would suddenly reveal this and not follow up.
“Lin Lanfeng’s connections in the mainland helped my father. Liang Wenfei’s appearance in the news indicates that my father is ready. My return this time is very disadvantageous,” he stroked her spine, his tone softer than ever.
Liancheng was taken aback.
She looked up at him.
