Chapter 38: Wanting Her To Be Annihilated
Liancheng frowned, judging from the voice that the person confronting Mother Liang was her blind date partner.
Wealthy Families value face; Mother Liang would never arrange for her to blind date two people at once, that would be too embarrassing.
She counter-questioned, “Are you sure the person you’re blind dating is me?”
Shi En paused, as if remembering something, and said with some annoyance, “Sorry, I’m not sure.”
He did not offer a detailed explanation.
The man’s voice in the corridor suddenly became loud, “Madam Liang, we both know what the situation is with this blind date. My reputation is bad, and I can’t find a proper young lady from our social circle to marry, so you might as well sell me the trash that’s lingering in your house and can’t be presented properly, and get benefits from my father.”
“Since you’re selling, then act like you’re selling. She’s currently using the Liang Family’s name and doesn’t need to serve me, but she also can’t act pretentious and use the identity of a Liang Family young lady.”
Mother Liang’s voice grew angry, “Watch your mouth and your attitude.”
The man’s voice replied, “You want attitude? Fine, if Madam Liang uses the identity of a Liang Family young lady and marries her to my home, I’ll fawn all over her. But Madam Liang, would you?”
Mother Liang did not make a sound.
Liancheng waited for two seconds.
This two-second pause was Mother Liang’s confirmation of the truth or falsehood of her chosen descendant, and her last shred of expectation for the past eighteen years of feelings.
Mother Liang’s voice penetrated the door panel and gave an answer, “Arrange for someone to find her first.”
Liancheng lowered her eyes and suddenly opened the door, “No need to look.”
Hearing this, Mother Liang turned her head and saw her standing at the doorway of the adjacent room, her eyes widened, “Why are you here?”
“I entered the wrong room,” Liancheng answered.
Her voice was soft and her tone was indifferent, with a discernible southern accent mixed with the clear articulation of the north.
It was strikingly distinctive.
The blind date partner turned back, his eyes lit up when he saw her, and he looked her up and down.
Full-chested, slender-waisted, long-legged, with a shapely backside; she looked stunning, dressed purely, yet her temperament was cold.
The three contradictions made her appear neither cleanly pleasing nor likable, completely unlike the alluring and pretentious girls or those feigning purity and sensuality outside.
She was a type he hadn’t encountered before.
The blind date partner swallowed, his expression becoming solicitous. “Liancheng.”
He squeezed over and familiarly grabbed Liancheng’s hand, “Liu Qingsong, my father is Liu Jianjun, the current Director of the General Office.”
Liancheng avoided his hand and, after he finished his introduction, reflexively took several steps back.
Liu Qingsong’s name was widely known in the Second Generation social circle; even if she was not accepted by the circle now, they had heard his rumors.
“Liancheng, why are you hiding?” Mother Liang urged from behind, “Say hello.”
Liancheng looked at Mother Liang in astonishment. She didn’t believe Mother Liang was so well-informed that she wouldn’t know Liu Qingsong’s background.
It turned out that he hadn’t forgotten to tell her who her blind date was, but rather feared that if she knew, she wouldn’t cooperate and would cause trouble.
Even if Liancheng no longer wanted to fall out, she could not tolerate such scheming.
She turned to leave, but Liu Qingsong quickly grabbed her. “What are you running for? You’re good-looking and suit my taste. I have a few more questions. Let’s go talk in a private room.”
The instant their skin touched, his palm was ice cold and slippery, a sticky sensation, as if countless insects were surging, crawling onto Liancheng.
Liancheng got goosebumps, layer upon layer. She forcefully threw him off and rushed towards the stairwell.
Liu Qingsong was angered by her attitude, which was as if she were avoiding the plague, filled with disgust and panic. He raised his hand, grabbed her hair, and forcefully pulled her into his embrace, using his other hand to pry up her chin.
“Young Lady Liang told me that besides Shen Lichuan, you haven’t had any other men, are you a virgin now?”
Lian Cheng’s eyes were red. Who Miss Liang was was self-evident. If she still couldn’t figure out the cause and effect now, she’d be utterly foolish.
The reason she endured and didn’t resist was that she felt, given Madam Liang’s dignified manner, that the person chosen for the marriage alliance would not be too bad, and she just needed to go through the motions.
But she forgot there was also Liang Wenfei.
A figure suddenly flashed through his mind again, as if a silk thread had strung everything together. The unbelievable events of the entire day were now completely clear.
Last night Mother Liang said she had something to discuss with Liang Chaosu, and this morning he was unusually out of sorts.
I suppose giving her money is material comfort; there’s no need to settle accounts with her because of her attitude. After all, no amount of punishment compares to marrying her off to someone with AIDS.
That box of sandwiches was a form of pity, if Liang Chaosu felt pity for her.
Lian Cheng’s jaw throbbed with a heart-piercing ache. Liu Qingsong’s five fingers tightened, “Lost in thought at a time like this, were you thinking of your wild man? So you’re not a virgin then?”
Liancheng’s face turned pale with pain, unable to speak.
Liu Qingsong turned his head to look at Mother Liang, “Madam Liang, the clean person Miss Liang promised has now become a used slut. We need to renegotiate the cooperation we previously discussed.”
Such naked bargaining was like a ruthless iron hand, completely stripping and tearing apart Liancheng’s seemingly glamorous skin.
She was a plucked chicken in the market, awaiting sale.
The Liang family sold her, claiming she was of full weight, but the seller haggled, finding her dirty.
Mother Liang said something, but Lian Cheng could no longer hear. Her blood felt like it was boiling and rushing to her head, yet an endless chill seeped from her bone marrow.
What exactly did she do wrong to suffer this endless humiliation?
Was it her choice to be swapped? Or her choice to linger in the Liang family home?
Was she truly shameless, constantly provoking Liang Wenfei? Or had she ever betrayed the Liang family?
Clearly, she had never harbored any greedy thoughts about the Liang family.
She just wanted to be a person.
In a daze, Lian Cheng felt the confinement around her being pushed away, and a pair of arms held her up in time.
Yet, they were very polite and did not touch further.
Her unfocused pupils gradually sharpened, fixating on a clear, handsome face.
In the instant their gazes met, the fine lines at the corner of his eyes softened into a gentle, comforting smile, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Lian Cheng opened her mouth, her voice slow as she called his name, “Shi… En?”
The next second, his face flashed away. Lian Cheng’s waist was forcefully pulled closer, her body pressing against another iron-like physique.
A chilling, cold breath entered her nostrils, sharply piercing the membrane separating her from the world.
A piercing, frigid voice resonated directly into her mind, waking her up, “This is a private matter for the Liang family. Mister Shi need not interfere.”
Lian Cheng’s line of sight happened to catch Shi En. He paused for a second, his expression solemn, “I have no intention of meddling in the Liang family’s affairs, but Miss Lian Cheng is not in good condition. She is unwilling—”
“Whether she is willing or not, the Liang family will handle it.” Liang Chaosu’s tone was like shards of ice, “Mister Shi’s actions are exceeding boundaries.”
Liu Qingsong, grimacing and clutching his shoulder, chimed in, “Did you hear that? Both the Liang family and I are willing for this to happen. We don’t need you to show off, you idiot from the North.”
Shi En ignored his insult, his gaze frankly falling on Lian Cheng’s face. “Miss Lian Cheng, our country’s constitution protects the freedom of marriage for its citizens. If anyone is forcing you, going against your wishes, you can seek help.”
Liang Chaosu’s icy gaze stirred, he lifted Lian Cheng’s chin, a smile playing on his face, yet it was more sinister than a frown. “Tell him, are you willing?”
Lian Cheng stared directly into his eyes, the coldness intertwined with fire, as if any defiance from her would lead to her utter destruction.
Annihilation.
