Chapter 49: Investigated By The Police
Bai Ying received an urgent telegram from Father Bai and rushed back to the Bai Family in the pouring rain.
“What is it?”
Father Bai sat behind the tea table, with Liang Chaosu opposite him, sitting upright. “Is Liancheng with you?”
Bai Ying plopped down next to Father Bai, swinging her legs. “No, she’s been working overtime at the company recently, no time to hang out with me.”
Father Bai glanced at Liang Chaosu and put down her legs, saying, “Has Liancheng contacted you then?”
“Yes.” Bai Ying eagerly pulled out her phone and found the call records. “She cried her heart out to me this afternoon, about her missing father, her biased mother, her overbearing siblings, and her own brokenness.”
Father Bai’s blood pressure shot up, and he clamped a hand over her mouth.
But it was too late. Liang Chaosu’s finger traced the rim of the teacup. “For your father’s sake, I’m speaking to you nicely. It’s not that I’m easy to talk to.”
Father Bai gave a dry laugh and smoothed things over. “Just a little complaint between young girls. My foolish daughter is too serious and took it to heart.”
Liang Chaosu glanced at Father Bai. “She’s serious, so is Liancheng cunning and talkative?”
Father Bai was taken aback and sheepishly apologized. “I misspoke. Vice Chairman Liang, please bear with me.”
Bai Ying pulled his hand away, her attitude sharp. “Are you a trash bag come to life, so good at pretending? Liancheng was driven out of the Liang family by you, and now you’re acting like you’re protecting her. What’s the point?”
Liang Chaosu scrutinized her expression for a few seconds, then suddenly stood up. Perhaps it was a change in angle, but Bai Ying saw a flash of stunned anger erupt in his eyes.
“Where is she?”
Bai Ying was baffled but refused to back down. She also stood up and glared at him, saying nothing.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming stiff and dangerous, Liang Chaosu’s phone rang. He glanced at it and put it down.
His expression was unreadable, his voice wavering between cold and deep, as if rationally calm, yet also filled with enraged depth.
But his ability to control his emotions was too strong. As she tried to probe deeper, that hint of stunned anger vanished, leaving only a pair of eyes devoid of joy or anger, devoid of warmth, fixated on her.
“You went to see her at the company at noon and met Shen Lichuan’s secretary?”
Bai Ying was stunned for a few seconds, then reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on. “You’re following me?”
Then she realized, “No, you investigated me.”
“No denial means an admission.” A smile touched Liang Chaosu’s lips, faint yet infinitely sharp. “So, she went to Shen Lichuan?”
Bai Ying pressed her lips together and sat down, picking up Father Bai’s teacup as a distraction. “Shen Lichuan’s dirty water seems to be a problem that will never go away, always dragging us into it. The diversity of species is truly embodied in you siblings.”
Father Bai kicked her calves under the table as a warning.
Liang Chaosu’s gaze remained fixed on Bai Ying. His skin was tanned, and he wore a black suit, which should have made him look dark, but on him, it exuded a man’s piercing, wild aggression.
Now, with no pretense, their eyes met, and her heart pounded.
“With Shen Lichuan involved, she must have gone abroad.” His tone was certain, and he asked again, “What time was her flight?”
“What abroad, what flight?” Bai Ying’s heart raced. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about?”
Father Bai slapped her shoulder, gesturing to Liang Chaosu’s expression. “Families squabble, it’s all normal little things. Don’t you cause trouble and just confess honestly.”
Bai Ying shoved Father Bai’s hand away. “Dad, why are you also throwing dirt on your own daughter with such disreputable people? I—”
They bickered, but it led to nothing substantial.
Liang Chaosu strode away, and Father Bai hurriedly stood up to see him off.
The man’s back was already passing through, disappearing beyond the ornate doorway.
Father Bai stood at the doorway, with Bai Ying behind him.
The orange-red taillights of the vehicle were rapidly swallowed by the night, but she felt uneasy.
Father Bai turned around, patted her shoulder, and sighed. “You fool, you can’t even outsmart me, let alone him. You’ve really put yourself in a tough spot…”
Bai Ying shivered, her scalp tingling at the tremor in his voice. “I didn’t say anything.”
“This matter doesn’t require official testimony. Whether you say anything or not is irrelevant. A single micro-expression is enough.”
Bai Ying was startled and immediately took out her phone to fiddle with it.
Father Bai sat back with an air of calm, as if he could see everything without looking. “You won’t be completely exposed. I covered for you regarding the medical examination. This time, it’ll count as running away from home.”
Bai Ying’s scalp tingled. “You knew?”
“Of course. If I hadn’t known, when Liang Chaosu retrieved the surveillance footage that day, you two would have been discovered.”
Father Bai walked back with his hands behind his back. “Since he’s already suspicious, you think he’ll only check the surveillance? And the medical examination? Madam Liang sent people to investigate it thoroughly, once before and once after Liang Chaosu’s involvement. Or I can push Shen Lichuan out to divert attention, and then this matter will be settled.”
Bai Ying felt numb from head to toe.
The medical examination was so complicated behind the scenes. What about the black clinic? Shen Lichuan’s secretary has already been investigated. Can Liancheng’s pregnancy and whereabouts still be kept a secret?
…………
Liancheng thought the same. The stack of origami cranes in her pocket felt like they were on fire, burning her with unease.
In terms of her whereabouts, she had stumbled upon the right path by accident.
But her pregnancy had now become a ticking time bomb.
Liancheng tapped on the comments and left a message.
“I didn’t go abroad according to Shen Lichuan’s plan. This time, with my daughter, I want to leave on my own terms. And now my pregnancy is very likely to be exposed. The Cui County I told you about earlier is too close, and the risk is high, so I won’t stay long. As for where I’m going, don’t worry, I have many backup plans. I’ll tell you once I’ve stabilized.”
She prepared to write a few more words to comfort Bai Ying.
Suddenly, the vehicle braked hard, and Liancheng lurched forward, her upper body slamming into the back of the front seat, her face stinging.
There were complaints from inside the vehicle, and the driver didn’t have time to apologize.
The car door opened, and two traffic police officers got on.
“Did you check the passengers’ identification documents when they got on?”
“Of course, we did.” The driver said righteously. “Our Antong is a municipal-level excellent enterprise every year. We absolutely respond positively and strictly follow all policies and regulations.”
“Alright then. Today, we received an urgent notice for a routine document check.” The police officer smiled and announced loudly to the passengers. “Please have your identification documents ready in advance. Thank you for your cooperation.”
As the police officer mentioned identification documents, Liancheng had already crouched down.
She wasn’t tall, and her figure was slender. She could barely squeeze under the seat, but it wasn’t enough to hide her body.
It would have been fine if the police didn’t come to the back row, but once they did, she had nowhere to hide.
Footsteps and voices closed in inch by inch, and cold sweat broke out all over Liancheng’s back.
The driver in front saw that most of the passengers had their documents ready and relaxed, striking up a conversation with the police officer. “With this strong wind and rain, it’s so cold, and you’re still out on duty. Is there an emergency notice because some leader is coming for an inspection?”
The police officers were familiar with these transport drivers.
Although they couldn’t recall names, they couldn’t say when they had shared a cigarette together.
As each passenger was checked and all had their documents, the officer’s attitude became more amiable. “No leader, no inspection, just an urgent notice.”
Liancheng’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could think further, footsteps arrived at the front row.
“Please present your identification document.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
One by one, the few people in the front row were quickly checked.
The footsteps sounded again, and Liancheng tried to shrink further inside but found herself completely with no room to move.
She was gripped by immense fear.
