Chapter 281: Actually Also An Ordinary Man
Lin Xianzi knew that Liang Chaosu was injured in the heart. The guesses from Nan Province pointed to a father and son killing each other. Liang Zhengping’s careless fatal blow caused this, so she accepted exile and set sail.
And Liang Zhengping returned to the country and let the speculation develop without clarifying, almost implicitly confirming it.
For this reason, she always believed that in the Liang family’s father-son struggle, Liang Chaosu could never lose. This personal injury fundamentally violated the law, and it was only a matter of time before he brought out this knife and killed Liang Zhengping.
Now that she thought about it, if it were Liancheng, the Liang father and son would have overlooked this point unexpectedly.
Liang Zhengping not using this to control them was probably because he already knew during his trip to Iceland that when it came to the marketplace and the Liang family’s struggles, Liang Chaosu would silently accept the moves.
If Liancheng were involved in this aspect, Liang Chaosu would undoubtedly counterattack fiercely and without scruples.
Lin Xianzi suddenly realized that this was the reason Liang Chaosu had been concealing his experiences in Iceland; it wasn’t that he felt guilty, but for Liancheng.
“Liancheng.” Lin Xianzi organized her thoughts, cradled her face, and her slightly warm palm caressed her, “Mom wants to confirm a few questions.”
Liancheng’s cheeks were cupped, and she nodded blankly.
“You returned his evidence of crime, have you forgiven him?”
The waves in the air began to toss her again. Liancheng tossed and turned, going with the flow, trapped in questioning, the four years and the past eighteen years before that being torn apart and unclear.
How good it used to be.
How unforgivable four years were.
Eighteen divided by four equals what.
She lowered her eyes, her face gradually burying itself in Lin Xianzi’s embrace, “I still don’t understand, don’t agree with, and can’t forgive those things, but—”
After a long, muffled silence, she spoke, “But I’m back now. I don’t want to be stuck in the past for a lifetime, unable to move on. One knife, one bullet, let it be. Mom, Duo Le, that’s a good name.”
Lin Xianzi turned her head and exchanged a glance with Lin Lanfeng, stroking Liancheng’s long hair, “Mom agrees with you letting go. Now that the Liang family father and son are fighting, it’s hard to say who will win or lose.”
“In this process, Mom and Uncle will not interfere. But if the result is that Liang Zhengping wins, Liang Chaosu’s fate will surely be tragic. You—”
Liancheng didn’t look up, burying herself further into Lin Xianzi’s embrace.
Lin Lanfeng crushed a cigarette, “For this trip to Europe, Liancheng, you shouldn’t come back. Go relax amidst the exotic scenery. As for that old man Liang Zhengping, your mother and I will handle him when we have the time.”
Lin Xianzi had the same intention, “Your father bought a vineyard in Italy before, near France. Invite the passionate boy and the romantic woman to the estate. A dance party, or tasting some wine, whether life is fiery and unrestrained, or comfortably tipsy, Mom’s only request is that you be happy.”
After a long while, Liancheng hummed.
Lin Lanfeng leaned against the sofa, a evening breeze blew in through the window, carrying a fresh scent of grass, trees, and flowers, clearing the oppressive atmosphere indoors.
His expression gradually relaxed, “That kid Duo Fu needs a lesson. He pushed his sister to protest the nickname. If he dislikes it so much, I’ll go along with him and change it to Laifu.”
Liancheng’s body stiffened, and she suddenly remembered a movie line.
“The moment I entered the door, I saw Chang Wei beating Laifu, and then I fainted.”
She was very sorry, but she really couldn’t help it and burst into laughter through her tears.
……………………………………
The Lin family did not conceal Liancheng and Lin Xianzi’s itinerary. Almost at the same time the plane took off, Xiao Da received the news.
He glanced at his wrist. It was half-past ten.
Only a few hours had passed since Su Chenghuai had his wife pass a message. The detours in between left insufficient time for a medical examination.
He returned to the ICU entrance. The nurse alerted him to Su Chenghuai with Level 1 vigilance and him with Level 2 vigilance. After begging for two minutes, she finally brought out the head nurse and managed to secure a three-minute visiting opportunity.
The nurse angrily withdrew her hand, “Do you think I like to bicker with you? You say one thing, they say another, it’s all just stimulation with no good outcomes. The doctor hasn’t explained the patient’s condition or how dangerous it is.”
Xiao Da watched her go into the outer room and silently put on a protective suit.
His parents were still alive and his grandparents were healthy, yet he had become extremely familiar with places like the ICU, the “white cloth bags,” since the Lunar New Year.
He reached the double door and, through the long glass pane on the door, saw another nurse adjusting Liang Chaosu’s ventilator. The tubes connected to him had increased since Su Chenghuai’s visit.
Xiao Da didn’t know the name of the instrument. He felt his legs and feet were like lead weights, pushing backward with force but unable to move forward.
In an instant, Liang Chaosu’s eyes met his.
Xiao Da composed his expression and pushed the door open.
“The result.”
Every word was difficult to utter, each syllable collapsing his chest. His previously healthy honey-colored skin was now a sickly grayish-white. This gunshot wound was far less damaging than the stab to the heart, yet his condition was weaker.
Like a discarded, poisoned, festering bloody wound, corroding larger with every moment, the invincible and indestructible iron fortress was peeling away. He was, in fact, an ordinary man with flesh and blood, his life fragile.
“Time is tight. Madam might want to do the tests after arriving in Europe.”
A sense of urgency gripped Liang Chaosu’s heart in his chest. He took a breath, steadied himself, and asked, “She’s gone?”
“Yes.” Xiao Da’s gaze fixed on his scar-covered hand. Three or four infusion tubes were connected to three indwelling needles, red, blue, and yellow, like leeches sucking blood, embedded in his bones. “The European side has given Far East Pharmaceutical a deadline. If Lin Xianzi doesn’t appear, they will notify Singapore and take compulsory measures.”
“She went with him—” Liang Chaosu suppressed his breathing rhythm, “What about Jin Tonghai?”
Xiao Da knew he was worried about Liancheng’s safety. Lin Lanfeng’s investigation into the mole was a private action, and the evidence was still being unearthed and collected, so he couldn’t take compulsory measures against Jin Tonghai.
For now, they could only leverage the suspicion of kidnapping Liancheng and exert pressure through the mainland police to temporarily hold him. Once the detention period in the mainland passed, and then in Hong Kong, if it passed there too, Lin Xianzi would find other ways.
But this was undoubtedly very insecure. Having served Liang Chaosu for several years, Xiao Da could infer countless ways of escape from his methods.
Jin Tonghai didn’t have Liang Chaosu’s supernatural abilities, but he was at the end of his rope. If he wanted to perish together and take someone down with him before dying, his lack of scruples would naturally make him unbridled, without needing to rack his brains or try every possible means.
“He’s still in Nan Province undergoing investigation.”
Xiao Da ultimately didn’t mention Lian Yingying.
Liang Chaosu didn’t care about the Lin family members, their opinions, plans, or wins and losses; they were not worth mentioning in his eyes.
Lian Yingying happened to disappear just before the kidnapping. He was unfamiliar with the channels in Hong Kong, and even Xiao Da, who didn’t know the inside story, could narrow down the scope of suspicion.
The Lin family had made no move so far. Lin Xianzi, having experienced many battles, couldn’t possibly miss the strangeness of the situation. Regarding her closest blood relatives, she would definitely have another strategy.
Moreover, Liancheng had also been recognized by the Lin family. Whether Liang Chaosu stopped it or prevented it, with his isolated and tough demeanor, and his iron-blooded style of absolute control, it would inevitably affect Liancheng and create further conflict.
“Have Bo Yizhang call Lin Xianzi and tell her about the condition.”
Xiao Da acknowledged.
After a few sentences, three minutes passed, and the head nurse came to urge him.
Xiao Da took off his protective suit and walked out of the corner. His peripheral vision caught a fleeting figure in the corridor corner that strongly resembled Yao Nianci.
His heart skipped a beat, and he stepped forward to chase after her.
