Chapter 63: What Can You Hide?
Aunt Wang was greatly surprised.
“Liancheng, your affairs absolutely cannot be known by Madam.”
Liancheng’s mind was filled with the thought of leaving just now, and the emotion of resentment erupted like blooming flowers, and under the impact, she blurted out. Now that Aunt Wang stopped her, she calmed down.
“Sorry, Aunt Wang, I know they are preparing to marry me off far away. Just pretend I didn’t say that.”
“It’s not marrying you off.” Aunt Wang moved a small stool and sat opposite her. “It’s—”
She looked troubled, her gaze filled with a pained pity. Before Liancheng could figure out what this pitying hesitation meant, her hand was held.
Aunt Wang’s hands, with rough lines from years of kitchen work, had a pressing sensation of peeling skin and burrs from water exposure, sinking heavily into her flesh.
“Liancheng, the Liang family’s attitude towards you has already become—just defense.” Aunt Wang’s palm was warm, but her words chilled the heart. “Little Ye went to Mr. Liang’s study to tidy up the cups and heard Madam say that marrying you off far away is like letting a tiger return to the mountain. If something were to happen between you and the Eldest Young Master, it would threaten the Liang family in the future.”
Liancheng froze, like a cracked ice lake. The clearer it was, the more devastated she felt.
Aunt Wang didn’t dare to look at her eyes. “Then Mr. Liang said Madam is protective of her own, and if anything happens, he will handle it.”
“Aunt Wang—” Liancheng’s hands trembled, her lips quivered. “I grew up in the Liang family. You know my temperament, Aunt Wang. Do you think… I would ever threaten the Liang family?”
Aunt Wang shook her head.
Liancheng’s expression on her face was about to crumble. “Then why did they raise me—and think of me this way, and be so hostile towards me?”
Why did they suddenly stop loving her?
Regarding these four years, Liancheng could never understand. Even if she wasn’t their biological child, after eighteen years of parent-child affection, those warm moments, affection, and devoted upbringing built a high wall, brick by brick, drop by drop.
Even if the whole world warmed up, icebergs melt slowly. Why, for her, did the high wall collapse overnight, shattering into pieces?
Previously, at the blind date, Mother Liang had gone back on her word at the last moment. She thought it was because Mother Liang was angry that she was involved with Liang Chaosu, touching a sensitive nerve, and that after calming down, she was still reluctant and somewhat pitiful.
So this time, with Father Liang’s return, even if he was ruthless, he chose to marry her off far away, rather than directly driving her away like Liang Chaosu, trading her for benefits.
But all of this now was just her, like the little match girl, fantasizing and intoxicating herself from objectively existing flames.
And every time she thought she saw the reality and cooled herself down, there were still layers upon layers, deeper and deeper, voids and coldness awaiting her fall.
“Liancheng—” Aunt Wang didn’t know how to answer.
Little Ye was new and had only overheard these two sentences before retreating according to the rules. If Aunt Wang hadn’t happened to run into her in the kitchen and asked about it, she wouldn’t have even known these two sentences.
Liancheng wanted to force a smile, but her lips felt heavy as a thousand pounds, only able to droop downwards.
She didn’t want to bother Aunt Wang any further in this state. While Liang Chaosu was still in the study, Liancheng retreated to the master bedroom.
In the afternoon, Liang Chaosu had four consecutive video conferences in the study. Liancheng took a short nap.
For dinner, Liang Chaosu ate in the restaurant, and Liancheng had already eaten in the kitchen.
Returning to the master bedroom, Liang Chaosu went to wash up, and Liancheng was in the walk-in closet. After he finished washing up, Liancheng went to the restroom.
When he knocked and asked, Liancheng would come out to water the flowers on the balcony. As soon as he arrived on the balcony, Liancheng would go to see Aunt Wang again.
Liang Chaosu’s patience, accumulated from dealing with his wound, was completely consumed.
Liancheng knew that such playful avoidance had to end the moment his patience ran out.
Liang Chaosu wouldn’t care about her thoughts or state. Even if her entire being shattered into a QR code, it would still have to scan as: “I’m fine, how can I serve you.”
Back in the master bedroom.
Liang Chaosu leaned on the left side of the bed. “Did you bathe?”
Liancheng’s face stiffened. “Yes.”
“Why aren’t you changing into pajamas?” His gaze swept over Liancheng’s sweater and pants. “Aren’t you planning to sleep tonight?”
Liancheng stood at the foot of the bed. “My pajamas were stolen.”
Liang Chaosu paused for two seconds, then asked amusingly, “Stolen by whom? Can thieves get in here?”
“I don’t know, I just can’t find them.”
Liang Chaosu glanced at her. “An entire closet of pajamas, and you can’t find a single one?”
Liancheng really couldn’t find any. The closet was filled with red, yellow, and green; some exposed chest and legs, others exposed back and waist. The most modest fabric was the camisole, but that camisole was transparent.
“The only pajamas in the closet are yours.”
“Are you playing games with me?” Liang Chaosu got up and grabbed her as she walked into the walk-in closet. “These dresses are mine?”
Liancheng held her breath for a few seconds, gazing at him. “They aren’t yours, are they supposed to be for me?”
“What do you think? They can’t be for Aunt Wang.”
“I don’t like to dress up, why did you give me these?”
Liang Chaosu gazed at her upturned face, saying nothing.
The lighting in the walk-in closet was pearlescent. His newly changed pajamas were deep sea blue. One bright, one dim, they contrasted and enveloped his handsome and imposing figure, exuding a silent, passive yet sharp aggression.
Liancheng took a step back. She had actually acted impulsively.
Liang Chaosu had been soaring forward these past few years, and while there were storms and crises, they didn’t harm his foundation, and in the end, they all bowed at his feet, becoming medals of honor. Only this time, with the Gu family.
It held him back, entangled him, and the only way to resolve it was not through his skill and strategy, but by selling a woman.
Now that she had directly confronted him about it, it had undoubtedly greatly wounded his pride.
Liancheng finally changed into the most conservative nightgown and, with her back turned to him, burrowed under the quilt.
Immediately, she was embraced from behind.
The silk nightgown’s straps were bright red and narrow, accentuating her full, fair shoulders. Under the ambiguous wall lamp by the bedside at night, she was alluring.
Liang Chaosu gripped her shoulder, his large hand tracing the curve downwards. Liancheng blocked him several times, and at her lower abdomen, she hugged him with both hands. “Menstrual period.”
“It’s been two menstrual periods.”
His nose bridge was high and firm, pressing against Liancheng’s shoulder as he suckled and bit. She felt a clear grinding sensation and the heat of his breath.
Liancheng keenly sensed his pent-up frustration and irritability, a feeling of holding back with nowhere to vent, and now unable to hold back, on the verge of an explosive, frenzied outburst.
“I want to ask you a question.” Liancheng also hugged his other arm, trying her best to delay him and distract him.
Liang Chaosu paused. “What question?”
Liancheng was also thinking about what question to ask.
What question would be enough to attract his attention, yet spoil the mood, without enraging him, and allow her to ask it and safely escape?
“Today, I overheard your phone call.” Liancheng opened her eyes, her gaze direct, with no specific focus. “The person on the other end was Gu Xingyuan, right?”
Liang Chaosu lifted his head from her neck. “Standing at the study door for so long, asking what you already know.”
Liancheng subconsciously turned her head to look at him. “You know?”
“You came in hurriedly and left stealthily.” Liang Chaosu turned her over to face him. “You’ve been brooding and acting strangely all afternoon. What can you hide?”
Liancheng thought deeply. He knew she was outside. He could have not said those words, but by saying them, did he intend to give her a hint?
Then, for instance, just now, insisting she change into pajamas, was that a test of obedience?
