Chapter 71: Father Liang Sent People To Check The Ward
Father Liang’s study.
The cigar in his hand was not finished, and gray-white smoke lingered and extended in the room. Liang Chaosu stopped at the edge of the dissipating smoke and stood still, then took a step back.
Seeing his action, Father Liang stubbed out his cigar, “I remember you used to smoke too.”
“As you said, that was before.”
Father Liang waved away the smoke and got up to open the window, “It’s not easy to quit smoking when you’re under a lot of pressure. Your mother supervised me for years before I managed to restrain myself. It seems you quit smoking silently and suddenly.”
“Mother dislikes the smell of smoke.” Liang Chaosu waited for the smoke to dissipate before approaching, “You should have quit long ago.”
“Oh?” Father Liang suddenly countered, “Then, by that logic, you quit smoking because someone didn’t like the smell?”
Liang Chaosu was expressionless, “Are you attributing that to me?”
“Just chatting between father and son.” Father Liang sat down on the sofa, spreading his hands, “Your mother couldn’t push your marriage, so she sent me, a soon-to-retire old general, to charge in. I’ve never been able to refuse your mother in my life, so I have to give her an answer, right?”
“You can’t refuse Mother, that’s your business.” Liang Chaosu sat opposite him, “I’m not a pawn for you to appease.”
“Then what are you?” Father Liang asked with a smile, “The disobedient son who angers your mother?”
Liang Chaosu lifted his eyelids and glanced at Father Liang, “You’re good with your tongue, go find Uncle Shen. His major in Chinese Language is relevant. I’m very busy lately, but I don’t mind giving you a ride.”
Father Liang genuinely laughed this time, “Your mother said you inherited all my cunning, ten parts. I think you’ve surpassed me. Father is old.”
“You are strong and healthy.” Liang Chaosu stood up, “It’s nothing, I’ll leave first.”
“I’ve looked at the financial reports for the Gu family’s affairs.”
One sentence successfully made Liang Chaosu sit back down, “Do you have any advice?”
“You’ve done very well.” Father Liang’s eyes held pride, “I have no fault to find. But Chaosu, there’s a deficit of one billion in the financial reports. This makes me very confused. Why aren’t you anxious?”
“Anxiety is the most superfluous emotional reaction, it only causes internal consumption and is useless.” Liang Chaosu reassured Father Liang, “At the latest, in three months, I will give you a satisfactory answer.”
Father Liang pondered for a moment, “What are your thoughts on Gu Xingyuan?”
After a long detour, his true intention was finally revealed.
Liang Chaosu asked nonchalantly, “I am his partner now. What are your thoughts?”
“I heard his wife went abroad while pregnant?”
Liang Chaosu did not confirm or deny, not taking the bait.
Father Liang continued, “Gu Xingyuan’s third uncle approached me. You privately offered to cover for Gu Xingyuan yesterday, and he panicked a bit. He asked me to pass on a message: he can yield an additional three percent of what Gu Xingyuan can give you, to equalize your and the Gu family’s shareholding.”
Liang Chaosu narrowed his eyes.
Father Liang, “Furthermore, in the long run, Gu Xingyuan is not a good partner. His wife going abroad while pregnant indicates that their scandalous relationship couldn’t withstand the test. Gu Xingyuan is showing signs of bowing to worldly affairs.”
“But after his rebellion, his reputation was ruined, and his previously stable position has cracks. In the future, there will be endless people challenging him for control of the Gu family.”
“If you support him, you are supporting a rotten tree that cannot stand. Later, this rotten tree will become jealous of your success due to your excessive support, and will blame you for his failures and relationship troubles.”
“Closeness breeds contempt, and proximity breeds insolence. This is human nature, without exception.”
Liang Chaosu replied indifferently, “Understood.”
Understood, but not accepted.
Father Liang savored this for a long time, then suddenly smiled, “Secretary Zhou ran into you just now when he went out?”
Liang Chaosu raised an eyebrow, “Yes.”
“You moved out so suddenly, and I haven’t given you a housewarming gift yet. Secretary Zhou is going to make a trip for me now to give you a surprise.”
Liang Chaosu stared at Father Liang, then his expression became distant and calm, “Thank you, Father.”
Father Liang’s gaze remained fixed on him, “I forgot to tell you, your sister is coming back.”
Liang Chaosu frowned, “At this time, she should be with Shen Lichuan.”
“You mean Feifei?” Father Liang’s eyes grew even stranger, “Why not Liancheng?”
Impatience surfaced on Liang Chaosu’s face, layering one after another, until finally, he was extremely annoyed, “Father, I hope this is the last time you indulge in such baseless speculation without any evidence.”
He turned and left.
The expression on Father Liang’s face solidified.
………………
Liancheng’s heart sank uncontrollably upon learning that Liang Chaosu had gone out wearing a casual jacket and without any luggage.
She tidied up a bit and went downstairs with Aunt Wang.
Liancheng wanted to test Liang Chaosu’s bottom line. Previously, her strategy was to strive for opportunities while avoiding angering him as much as possible.
But now, Liancheng had a premonition that internal and external troubles were brewing, and the storm was coming.
Jade Mansion was the flagship project of Liang Family Real Estate last year, redefining the standard for luxury residences. The community’s plot ratio set a new domestic record, with a garden-like greening and luxurious landscaping.
Liancheng strolled along, accompanying Aunt Wang.
Approaching a waterside pavilion, a group of people suddenly emerged. The man leading them had a very grim expression, and the bodyguards behind him were tall and strong. They left aggressively from another direction, with quite a formidable display.
Liancheng retracted her gaze, but stopped halfway.
Another person emerged from the waterside pavilion. He had a clear and refined face, a restrained temperament, and thick black hair neatly styled.
He wore a camel-colored cashmere overcoat, his shoulders were straight, and his posture was slender.
Aunt Wang noticed Liancheng’s pause and asked, somewhat confused, “Liancheng, do you know him?”
Liancheng proactively approached the man, “Yes.”
“Shi En.” She had just raised her voice.
A man in a black suit ran out from the waterside pavilion, “Mr. Feng, I suggest you follow Director Feng’s arrangements. You come from a small town and may not fully understand the rules of prestigious families. Marriage is another integration of power and resources, which will also benefit you.”
The man smiled politely, and only politely, “Assistant Liu, I will consider it carefully.”
The man in the black suit was displeased, “Mr. Feng, from a professional lawyer’s perspective, I am sincerely advising you. Director Feng values this cooperation greatly. If there are any mistakes on your part, I believe none of us would want to see that outcome.”
Liancheng stopped.
Shi En saw her and was obviously startled. He then politely nodded to Liancheng and whispered a few words to the man in the black suit before walking over.
“Miss Liang, what a coincidence.”
His face showed no embarrassment from being witnessed in a private and awkward moment. Liancheng also responded with a smile, “Mr. Feng, thank you for your help last time.”
“Shi En.” He walked in the direction Liancheng had come from, deliberately slowing his pace, adopting a relaxed posture to guide her for a leisurely walk, “And, you’re welcome.”
Liancheng stood in place, not intending to follow.
Feng Shien turned his head to wait. The dappled light from the leaves fell perfectly on his face. His eyes were a deep amber caramel brown, perfectly matching his demeanor. He was a proper and refined gentleman.
“Miss Liang, did I cause you any trouble that day?”
Liancheng pursed her lips, paused for a second, “Liancheng. And, help is not trouble.”
A few smile lines appeared at the corners of Feng Shien’s eyes, deeper than the previous polite ones, with a full smile evident in his eyes, “Miss Liancheng, are you going the same way?”
Having someone like Liang Chaosu, who was overbearing and shameless, bullying her every day, Liancheng unconsciously developed a good impression of gentle and upright gentlemen.
