Chapter 68: Someone Has Been Secretly Taking Photos All Along
“Stop quibbling.” Liang Chaosu’s voice was laced with sarcasm, as if he was fed up with her clinging to him like a leech, “When Father finds you, you will honestly refuse and leave the Liang family.”
Lian Cheng forcefully pushed his hand away, smoothed her disheveled hair, straightened her back, and stared at him, asking, “You want me to get married, and I leave the Liang family, how can I get married?”
“Who said you must be in the Liang family to get married?”
Liang Chaosu’s expression at this moment could be described as mystical. The corners of his lips curled into a faint line, yet it didn’t seem like a smile, as if it were just ordinary lip contours, worthy of contemplation and appreciation.
Lian Cheng couldn’t speak. Her back stiff, she looked at him. What kind of iron and stone was his heart made of, and what ink could make it so black.
Just as she couldn’t figure out what kind of person could help Liang Chaosu out of his dilemma without her having the identity of a Liang family member.
Unless it was like Liu Qingsong, perhaps even worse than Liu Qingsong.
Or perhaps someone with special hobbies, of a certain age…
Half a month ago, she had eloquently analyzed with Bai Ying, and half a month later, she had personally confirmed it after going in circles.
“This is the last time I’m willing to give you a chance to choose. Don’t choose wrong.”
……………………
Aunt Wang finished stewing the black chicken soup and quickly knocked on the master bedroom door.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Liang Chaosu, with a stern face, walked past her. Aunt Wang took the opportunity to enter and look for Lian Cheng.
She sat slumped on the sofa, her hair disheveled on her cheeks, her expression unreadable. The whole person looked even paler and more dejected than she had yesterday in the nanny room.
Aunt Wang was startled. She quickly walked over, held her shoulder, and checked her from head to toe.
Except for a few red finger marks on her cheeks, which were particularly striking against her fair skin, there were no obvious injuries on her arms or thighs.
“Did he pinch you?”
Lian Cheng gave a forced answer, “Aunt Wang, I’m not in the mood to eat tonight. I want to sleep.”
Aunt Wang opened her mouth, stammered for a long time, and mumbled, “Lian Cheng, Aunt Wang watched you grow up, watched you grow up—” She suddenly clasped Lian Cheng’s hand, “After you finish the soup tonight, Aunt Wang will secretly let you go tomorrow.”
Lian Cheng shook her head and just smiled, “Aunt Wang, I’m a bit tired. Can you let me sleep for a while first?”
“Okay.” Aunt Wang picked her up, half-hugging her, “You sleep.”
Lian Cheng couldn’t actually sleep, but she needed some time to sort herself out.
Being in close proximity with Liang Chaosu these past two days, suddenly returning to the state of cohabitation from four years ago, the constant tension of being on guard day and night, plus the child as a nuclear bomb, and constantly disguising her menstrual period, Lian Cheng couldn’t bear it anymore.
After all, she was only twenty-two years old, freshly graduated from university. Girls of similar age, like Liang Wenfei, were doted on and cherished. Marriage, career, status, and wealth were within her grasp.
Lian Cheng didn’t expect to compare herself to her.
She envied Tai Duoduo.
In the morning, she slept in until the last moment before work, chased the bus while buying breakfast, clocked in at work, complained while working, and occasionally discussed TV show plots or celebrity gossip.
After finishing her tasks and getting off work, she would meet colleagues and best friends for roadside barbecue, and after dispersing, she would slowly walk home with the unfinished beer, enjoying the evening breeze.
She also had daily worries: high housing prices, low salaries, frequent overtime, nagging bosses, her mother urging her to get married, and how to dress attractively, and where to take photos on Sundays…
This was what Lian Cheng had witnessed as the prime years of a normal twenty-something girl should be like.
It made her unable to help but fantasize and compare. The more she compared, the more she felt that the winter that began when she was eighteen had been truly long, so long that spring felt like a distant, dreamy mirage.
When it came to Liang Chaosu, anyone who opposed him was afraid.
Her little thoughts, whether spoken or not, were transparent to him. Lian Cheng couldn’t help but think that the reason she had been able to hide her pregnancy until now wasn’t because she was that smart.
It was purely because the doctor’s diagnosis over the past four years had deeply ingrained itself, and Liang Chaosu had believed it.
………………
At the same time, in the restaurant.
Aunt Wang served the last dish and turned back to the kitchen.
Liang Chaosu suddenly asked, “Does she eat chestnut cake?”
Aunt Wang stopped, without turning, “She probably does.”
“From Heji on Huancheng Road’s Huimin Street?”
Aunt Wang was stunned. She knew many pastry shops from Madam Liang, such as Yu Su Pu in Nan Yu, Lao Ji Xiang on Zhonghuan Street, and Gui Xiang Zhai at the entrance of the municipal government, all favored by the upper class for afternoon tea.
But she had never heard of Heji on Huimin Street.
Unable to figure it out for a moment, she vaguely replied, “Miss Lian Cheng eats chestnut cake,” wondering where Liang Chaosu, who never touched anything greasy and never paid attention to food, had heard of it.
Liang Chaosu said nothing further.
When Aunt Wang came out again, the man was no longer at the dining table. Fearing that Liang Chaosu would trouble Lian Cheng again, she quickly scooped a bowl of chicken soup and went to the master bedroom.
As a result, the master bedroom was quiet, with only a small bulge on the left side of the bed. Aunt Wang calmed down, gently pulled down the quilt, and saw Lian Cheng sleeping heavily, her arms wrapped around her lower abdomen, her knees almost touching her chin, in a posture of vigilance and unease.
Aunt Wang watched for a few seconds, then before leaving, went to the restroom and took out the trash.
………………
Heji was located in the middle shops on Huimin Street, with restaurants on both sides. Barbecue tables were set up on the curb, and there were also snack stalls along the road.
The street was narrow, and many people came out for late-night snacks. Zhang An couldn’t drive any further after covering a third of the distance.
Liang Chaosu instructed him to pull over and stop. He got out of the car and walked towards Heji. A new batch of chestnut cakes had just come out, and the shop was filled with steam. The scent of chestnuts was faint, but it was greasy and sweet.
But there were many people queuing. Liang Chaosu stood in the line, his figure outstanding, wearing a black suit, sharp and stern, with an imposing aura that drew attention but dared not approach.
When it was his turn, the owner’s scalp tensed. Huimin Street had become a street of affordable night markets in recent years.
He had seen a few idlers from the second generation, but he had never seen a man with such noble bearing and imposing presence.
“We just made taro paste, with purple yam filling. Would you like some?”
“No.”
“Boss, just take some. It doesn’t cost much, but it tastes especially good. The purple yams and taro are all grown by ourselves in the countryside.”
Liang Chaosu paid for the chestnut cake, “Take what you like, not other things.”
“Then your taste is quite dedicated. But if you eat it for too long, you’ll get tired. Try other flavors—”
“I won’t get tired.”
His voice turned cold, steady and powerful. The owner dared not say more and handed over the food bag with both hands.
Liang Chaosu took it and returned to the car.
The phone suddenly rang; it was Father Liang.
Liang Chaosu stared at the screen for a few seconds and pressed mute.
Outside the car window, the colorful neon signs were hazy in the smoke. The small string lights of the barbecue stalls cast clusters of light spots into the car, illuminating the man’s noble and handsome face in the interplay of light and shadow.
Zhang An vaguely sensed a trace of impatience, irritability, and an unvented gloom.
This gloom had lasted for a month at the end of summer.
Zhang An’s phone signaled movement.
The caller ID was the butler.
Zhang An received a signal and answered, “Where is the eldest young master?”
After Zhang An consulted, “Mr. Liang is resting.”
The butler seemed to be consulting someone on his end as well. After a moment, “Remind the eldest young master tomorrow that he must come home. The master has something to discuss.”
Zhang An agreed, and the call ended. The vehicle started.
Left behind in the noisy crowd behind the car, a figure dodged and weaved, holding a mobile phone and chasing after them at the intersection.
The figures were blurry, and Zhang An did not notice.
Neither did Liang Chaosu.
