Chapter 3: His Ruthlessness
“No.”
Her voice cracked. Liancheng realized she had overreacted and gave a forced smile. “Mom, every check-up is suffering for me, and the result is always the same. I don’t want to do it this time, okay?”
“You’re not listening to your mother?” Mother Liang pressed her cheek against Liancheng’s forehead. “I raised you myself. How could I not know if you’re afraid of pain or if you’re strong?”
At any other time, Liancheng would have been grinning from ear to ear, overjoyed by these words.
But she was pregnant, with Liang Chaosu’s child, and was filled with panic and nowhere to turn.
“Mom understands you feel wronged about Feifei and Lichuan getting married, but Feifei is pregnant, and it’s a done deal.”
Liancheng froze, not expecting Liang Wenfei to be pregnant too. “When did this happen? How long has she been pregnant?”
“Not long, she just found out.” Mother Liang took her hand. “Liancheng, you need to look forward. Lichuan isn’t the only outstanding young master from a prestigious family. Broaden your horizons. As long as you find someone you like, Mom will make the decision for you.”
Having grown up in high society circles since childhood, Liancheng understood the weight of Mother Liang’s words.
Marriage alliances among the elite were a tradition: you sought my power, I sought your wealth, or at the very least, shared connections.
Of course, all of this was based on bloodline.
Liancheng was openly declared a fake. By all logic, marrying a nouveau riche in the future would already be a sign of the Liang family’s prestige.
Mother Liang now asking her to choose from among the young masters of prestigious families was a clear statement of her stance: the Liang family acknowledged her as a daughter.
Liancheng was filled with mixed emotions, but she dared not agree. “Mom, I just graduated. I want to focus on my career for a couple of years.”
Mother Liang thought she couldn’t let go of past feelings and became anxious. “Liancheng, you know what’s important. It’s fine to have certain thoughts in your heart; after all, no one is a saint. But to act on them is a different matter.”
What did “acting on them” mean? What was “different”?
Was she afraid of Liancheng competing for Shen Lichuan, embarrassing the Liang family, or was she afraid of Liang Wenfei being hurt?
Liancheng found she couldn’t smile anymore. “Mom, I wasn’t thinking of that.”
In fact, she should have explained more, been completely upfront. She had long since let go of Shen Lichuan.
But the warmth that had just begun to sprout in her heart solidified into lead, weighing her down with pain and emptiness, making her dizzy.
“Alright then.” Mother Liang, speaking kindly, believed her. “Give me your identification documents, and Mom will help you arrange the medical examination.”
Liancheng’s hands turned ice-cold.
She realized her logic had entered a dead end.
The medical examination was no longer a simple check-up; it had become her peace offering to ensure Liang Wenfei’s marriage proceeded smoothly. Her agreement would signify her submission, while her refusal would indicate lingering resentment and a premeditated attempt to cause trouble.
Mother Liang noticed the cold, clammy sweat on her palms and her gaze turned suspicious.
Liancheng couldn’t think of a solution for the moment and could only agree. “I don’t have my documents with me. I’ll bring them to you tomorrow.”
After Mother Liang left, Liancheng remained stunned on the sofa for a long time without speaking.
It wasn’t just about the medical examination; her identification documents were still in Liang Chaosu’s possession.
That man wouldn’t give anything away without getting something in return.
If she wanted her documents, she had no idea what price she would have to pay.
………………
The next morning, Liancheng got up very early. Seizing the moment before the servants started preparing breakfast, she knocked on Liang Chaosu’s door from the main entrance.
Aunt Wang happened to be passing by and quickly stopped her. “Liancheng, the Eldest Young Master has morning grumpiness and hates being disturbed in the morning. You know this.”
Liancheng understood this well, but she had no other option.
Liang Chaosu appeared to practice abstinence, but he was actually very driven by desire. Once he had a thought, he had ways of achieving his aims without necessarily going all the way.
Moreover, her menstrual period was a fabrication. She genuinely couldn’t risk being alone with him; she couldn’t afford that risk.
“Aunt Wang, I have something important to discuss with him.”
“What important matter can’t be discussed over breakfast?” Aunt Wang earnestly advised her. “The Eldest Young Master has a bad temper. Don’t provoke him and make him angry with you.”
Everyone in the Liang family knew that the person who most wanted Liancheng gone wasn’t Liang Wenfei, but Liang Chaosu.
He treated her with cold indifference daily, but if Liancheng made a mistake, his reprimands were severe, showing no leniency.
Liancheng wouldn’t admit fault and wouldn’t back down.
“Aunt Wang, I know what I’m doing.”
Ever since Liancheng returned after graduation, she had avoided Liang Chaosu at all costs. Aunt Wang couldn’t understand her actions this time. “Liancheng—”
The next second, the double red wooden doors opened from the inside.
Liancheng turned around.
Liang Chaosu was wearing a dark silk robe, his collar neatly fastened. His aura naturally carried a hint of piercing coldness, a dominant, possessive sharpness.
Coupled with his tall, robust physique and long limbs, his rather unpleasant expression made him appear exceptionally imposing.
“What important matter?”
He had heard from inside the room.
Aunt Wang felt guilty. “You’re awake. I’ll go down and hurry up the breakfast.”
Aunt Wang began to slip away.
Liancheng was greatly shocked. “Aunt Wang, wait for me. I have something to say, and then we’ll go down together.”
Aunt Wang hesitated and stopped. She glanced at Liang Chaosu peripherally, seeing his half-smile. His originally gloomy face now radiated an even deeper chill. “You called me up early in the morning just to tell me one thing?”
Liancheng forced herself and quickly spoke. “Mom wants me to prepare for a medical examination. Give me the things.”
Liang Chaosu feigned ignorance. “What things?”
Aunt Wang’s gaze followed, filled with confusion.
Liancheng squeezed her hands tightly. She wanted to use Aunt Wang as a shield to avoid close contact with Liang Chaosu.
However, any advantage would surely come with a disadvantage, specifically that the matter couldn’t be explained too clearly.
If she were to specify that it was her identification documents, how would she then explain that they were in Liang Chaosu’s possession, in the hands of someone who detested her?
“You know.”
“I don’t know.” Liang Chaosu’s gaze was sharp, and his tone was already impatient. “Remember your identity, and don’t stir up trouble.”
The door slammed shut with a bang. Liancheng’s expression was blank.
Aunt Wang sighed and came over to pull her downstairs. “Liancheng, the Eldest Young Master is a man. Men are different from women. In their eyes, blood relation is unsolvable.”
She had been diplomatic enough, Liancheng thought, and thanked her.
However, what Aunt Wang understood as sibling affection was different from the emotion Liang Chaosu was warning her about.
He was threatening her, reminding her to remember their forbidden relationship, that it couldn’t be revealed, and not to do anything that might expose it.
In reality, Liancheng already regretted it.
She knew Liang Chaosu was heartless and unforgiving towards her, yet because of the brother who had doted on her in her memory, she always left a sliver of room.
The facts once again proved that Liang Chaosu only sought to toy with her, not to feel any affection.
During breakfast, Liang Wenfei’s gaze darted back and forth between the head and tail of the table.
Liang Chaosu calmly allowed her to watch him. Liancheng lowered her head, drinking her porridge, ignoring her scrutiny.
“What did Liancheng want from Brother early this morning?”
Liancheng didn’t even lift her eyelids, continuing to drink her porridge.
Liang Wenfei’s expression immediately soured. She turned her gaze to Mother Liang. “Mom, are you asking Liancheng to help with our family’s medical examination? She asked Brother for documents early this morning.”
“No,” Mother Liang responded. “Mom only asked for Liancheng’s documents last night.”
Liang Wenfei suddenly let out a laugh. “Does Liancheng think Mom arranged for you to help?”
The attempt to provoke was clumsy and low-level.
Liancheng’s mind was in a mess, and she was impatient to deal with her. She lifted her eyelids to look at her.
Liang Wenfei prepared herself for a confrontation.
Liancheng lowered her eyes again, poking at the porridge in her bowl.
Liang Wenfei, brimming with readiness, was stuck in an awkward position, her face flushed and green with frustration.
She put down her chopsticks and played her trump card. “Did I wrong you? You weren’t just being self-important, were you trying to find an excuse to curry favor with Brother?”
Liang Chaosu looked over. His gaze was neither teasing nor disdainful.
Liancheng tightened her grip on her chopsticks.
She didn’t want to engage in a low-level battle. A weak player shouldn’t be so brazen.
Even if Liang Chaosu was present, she was a bun, but a soup-filled one.
