Chapter 278: Must
Lin Xianzi was lost in thought, leaning on the sofa.
She had inquired with the doctor; due to a close-range shooting, Liang Chaosu had internal hemorrhaging and could not leave the ICU for a while.
Even if he were conscious, his conscious time would be limited, and he would be incapable of handling affairs.
Regardless of what they did to him now, how they did it, or how clumsy their methods were, he could not resist even a bit.
This was the best time to deal with this deeply scheming and unfathomably troublesome individual.
“Sister.” Lin Lanfeng called to her, “Are you hesitating?”
Lin Xianzi looked at him, “In this world, one is not afraid of hatred as deep as the sea, nor of overwhelming kindness. What is most feared are intertwined kindness and enmity, where love and hate are hard to distinguish, entangling into a confusing mess. We are old; some things can be vaguely overlooked.”
“Liancheng is still young. Youth means the world is black and white, with no debts or dues. The impact of life and death, if she wants to untangle everything, for us to take action against Liang Chaosu now would only confuse the ledger in her heart.”
With Lin Xianzi present, Lin Lanfeng dared not smoke. He fiddled with his lighter from time to time, then, finding it bothersome, tore up tobacco leaves and chewed them in his mouth.
He understood that she had just become a mother, was filled with apprehension and caution, and had lost her composure.
“Liancheng doesn’t like smoke either.” He tapped the cigarette butt, “In his social circle on the mainland, Liang Chaosu is known for not touching alcohol or tobacco. This is a good point, but according to what we’ve investigated, he didn’t hold back at all with Liancheng during those years.”
Lin Xianzi crossed her arms, “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m trying to say that Liancheng might not be unable to distinguish. During this period, Lin Lanfeng has had more contact with Liancheng than Lin Xianzi. The fact that she is still not moved by Liang Chaosu, hasn’t collapsed or become confused during his fluctuating condition, shows her mind is more mature than her age.”
“Her state is not right tonight, but it’s only been a short time. Let her sleep and quiet her mind; perhaps tomorrow there will be an answer.”
Lin Xianzi lacked confidence regarding Liancheng. They had missed twenty-three years, and there was too much to slowly make amends for and reclaim. For now, she could only endure this unfamiliarity that couldn’t compare to others.
“That makes sense. Regarding Liang Chaosu, let’s wait for Liancheng to calm down. As for Liang Wenfei—”
Lin Xianzi’s expression was stern and shadowed. “Didn’t Liang Zhengping offer sincerity? Then let his wife come forward personally and marry Liang Wenfei to Liu Qingsong, who has AIDS. Once Liancheng’s kidnapping case is over, let them be a loving couple in the Hong Kong prison.”
……………………………………
Liang Chaosu woke up the next evening.
The incessant beeping of the electrocardiograph by his ear was something he was very familiar with, so much so that it briefly transported him back to Iceland, where the sixth floor was silent and empty like a tomb, with only rows of colorful roofs outside the window, covered in snow that then melted.
Xiao Da went downstairs and was pulled into a dumpling-making session.
With the warmth of the New Year reunion, he wanted to see her.
Su Chenghuai put on a protective suit, and the nurse informed him that the visiting time was only five minutes.
He thanked her.
Liang Chaosu’s consciousness returned, “How is she?”
His voice was hoarse and weak, his breath faltering.
Su Chenghuai had never seen him so frail, his broad, strong bones reduced to ghastly white, broken flesh.
He swallowed and said, “The Lin family is inviting celebrities from all walks of life tonight to publicly announce her identity.”
As expected, that wasn’t what Liang Chaosu wanted to know. “Medical examination.”
Su Chenghuai’s chest swelled, as if he couldn’t exhale or swallow a breath, holding it in. “The Lin family is on guard against you. We couldn’t find out specifics, but we vaguely heard that after tonight’s banquet, Lin Xianzi will take her to Europe.”
Liang Chaosu quietly closed his eyelids.
His breathing was labored. The oxygen mask had pressed a red mark on his nose bridge. Countless tubes connected him; every breath relied on these external forces for support.
Su Chenghuai felt a mix of emotions.
“The Liang Corporation has held a board meeting. In the past, your achievements were numerous. Although there are many opinions among the directors regarding He Jinian’s affairs, most still favor you. In the final vote, your father did not get his way. Considering your body needs time to recover, the directors have agreed to let him temporarily assume the position of chairman.”
Liang Chaosu’s face was bathed in light, indifferent and detached. “His tactics will not stop here.”
“Yes.”
The nurse came to hurry them.
Su Chenghuai sped up his words, “He sent Liang Wenfei to Hong Kong. Last night, he met Lin Xianzi at the hospital. This afternoon, your mother will announce Liang Wenfei’s marriage news; it’s to Liu Qingsong, the former director’s son. They will get their marriage certificate in three days.”
“They have reached a consensus.”
Liang Chaosu opened his eyes. The electrocardiogram at the head of his bed fluctuated wildly. The nurse immediately rushed over to check, and Su Chenghuai was asked to leave.
Liang Chaosu controlled his emotions and waved his hand to stop them.
The nurse was insistent but was pulled away by the doctor, “You have a gunshot wound. The impact and damage of a bullet to the human body are not comparable to ordinary knife wounds. You must be extremely careful.”
Su Chenghuai knew very well how sensitive he was, able to infer ten things from one observation. He shouldn’t have brought up matters related to that woman, but Liang Zhengping was precisely targeting his weakness.
Liang Zhengping’s humble attitude towards Lin Xianzi was partly because the Lin family had benefited, and he wanted to cause less trouble; the other seven parts were a psychological warfare tactic against Liang Chaosu.
His life, he had never hesitated, never stepped back, and without batting an eye, he had blocked that bullet, truly willing to die for that woman.
That woman, the next day, accepted the olive branch from her enemy, similarly without hesitation, without consideration, and without batting an eye.
Su Chenghuai not only wanted to ask Liancheng but also him, was it worth it?
But Liang Zhengping, all the way in the Southern Province, knew this answer. Therefore, nothing could bypass that woman, and that woman was the core of everything.
Harming him, provoking him, seeking revenge, making him lose control of his emotions, worsening his condition; if they couldn’t win against his scheming, they would break his body.
“She came—” Liang Chaosu stopped himself and changed his words, “Did she ask me?”
Su Chenghuai remained silent.
Liang Chaosu’s expression grew even more detached. The lighting was stark white. Outside, the towering mansions glowed with rosy clouds. Bathed in orange-red and brilliant gold hues, he seemed to sink into the light, disappearing.
“Tell Gu Xingyuan that he can take what I promised him back to the Gu family, on the condition that he protects He Jinian.”
Su Chenghuai jolted and looked up.
Liang Chaosu’s gaze was deep and unfathomable, having already shed the recent trace of waves. Perhaps he had become accustomed to Liancheng’s choices, or perhaps he already had his own answers.
This moment of maturity and restraint was the familiar composure Su Chenghuai knew, an extraordinary boldness and control.
“The kidnapping in Hong Kong is not that simple. Liang Wenfei’s involvement indicates my father also played a part. And Mo Shicheng’s people are this desperate; they would never just let my father dip his toes in. He is certainly deeply involved.”
“Go back to the mainland. First, go to Qi Province prison to see Zhou Dazhi, then return to the Southern Province. Dig up all the dirty deeds Zhou Dazhi did for him in the past and expose them one by one. I want to know his reaction.”
Su Chenghuai was invigorated. “Yes, I’ll go right away.” He turned around and hesitated. “What about you? Hong Kong is not a place we are familiar with. She is going to Europe; why don’t you transfer to a hospital in the Southern Province?”
Liang Chaosu had spoken so much that the doctor’s visiting time had long been exceeded. Even the various support equipment connected to his body seemed like leaky pipes at this moment, draining his strength. His lips were frighteningly pale, and the oxygen mask was fogging up.
“No need…”
He forced himself to speak, squeezing out the words through his teeth, “Have her go for a medical examination, absolutely.”
