Chapter 84: Coaxing Him As If
“Aren’t we supposed to eat?”
Liang Chaosu put down his suitcase. “Are you dawdling waiting for Shen Lichuan?”
Here we go again.
Liancheng’s face was stiff. “Why would I wait for him? You warned me, he’s your brother-in-law. I’ll keep my distance from him to be able to return to the Liang family.”
The man opened the co-pilot door, leaning against the door frame, staring at her motionlessly.
“Draw a clear line.”
His gaze was still threatening, sharp, but the ferocious intent to devour her had vanished.
Liancheng felt annoyed. This slight probing felt like coaxing him, “No meeting, no talking. If he leaves, I leave. If I leave, he stays.”
She really should do that.
Shen Lichuan was responsible and liked children. During adolescence, romance novels were rampant, with the male and female leads either being orphans or volunteering at orphanages.
Coincidentally, they were following trends back then, having spare money and compassion, feeling as radiant as the protagonists.
But reality is often dull and boring. Real orphanages are not filled with the tinkling laughter of children and vibrant, cheerful cherubs like in novels.
The buildings there were old, and it was fortunate that the facilities could maintain basic functions.
For ease of management, children under five, regardless of gender, had the same hairstyle and wore similar clothes.
On their small faces, their eyes held vigilance and tension; they didn’t talk much and seemed withdrawn.
Young masters and ladies raised in wealth would lose interest after visiting once or twice.
Only Shen Lichuan.
Twenty-one orphanages in Nan Province, new buildings, new daily support, new management. It started the moment he first entered and his smile disappeared.
So even without that letter, Liancheng knew that the moment Liang Wenfei became pregnant, it was his way of saying goodbye.
Liancheng had already said goodbye four years ago. This time, she would be the one to sever ties completely, and even sooner.
She didn’t want him to pay, nor did she want his help.
That’s it.
Just like two parallel lines, walking onward in this life.
Never to intersect.
Liang Chaosu’s face was still grim, but his gaze softened. “He threatened me. If I push you again, he’ll perish with me.”
Liancheng stared at him for a few seconds, finding his words cleverly phrased.
He’s pushing her, and Shen Lichuan will perish with him.
Or she will perish.
She guessed it was the latter. Shen Lichuan wouldn’t say something as extreme as the former.
“It’s not perishing together, at most it’s like a moth to a flame.”
She decided to reply just as cleverly, without a subject, leaving him to interpret.
Liang Chaosu paused for a few seconds, his features softening. He patted the car door. “Get in, don’t make me ask you.”
Liancheng didn’t trust him and was unwilling to move, racking her brain for an excuse.
Just as the man’s gaze turned dangerous again, Bai Ying ran over, out of breath. “Your phone’s on silent! I called the operator, and they almost told me I was a crazy stalker. Why aren’t you checking it?”
Liancheng supported her and walked towards the car rear. “I was too focused, I didn’t notice.”
She threw open the trunk, and Bai Ying immediately grabbed the luggage.
Their coordination was seamless, and they left quickly.
Liang Chaosu didn’t stop them. Liancheng sensed his gaze fixed on her from behind. It wasn’t sharp, but it carried a chilling quality.
Liancheng internally exclaimed her good fortune.
That jerk was indeed planning to take her to the hospital for a check-up just now.
Liang Chaosu watched the taillights of Bai Ying’s Mercedes disappear at the exit. The smile that had formed in his eyes then vanished.
It was replaced by boundless mockery and coldness.
He called Father Liang. “I’ve asked Zhang An to retrieve four bottles of vintage wine from the cellar in the west of the city. Tonight, you can drink to your heart’s content with Uncle Shen. I’ll handle Mother.”
Father Liang smiled. “And the condition?”
“Tie ourselves to the Shen family.”
Father Liang understood immediately. “You’re referring to Feifei’s marriage?”
“Mention the end of this month. It’s better than her belly getting big and looking bad in a wedding dress.”
Father Liang didn’t accept that reason. “You never pay attention to women’s clothing. I want the truth.”
Liang Chaosu started the car. Amidst the roar of the engine, he chuckled softly. “I think a big belly makes wearing a wedding dress dangerous. That’s the truth. Of course, it’s not impossible that I want to make a move on Gu Xingyuan. Will you drink this wine?”
Father Liang seemed to be thinking, a hint of contemplation in his voice.
Liang Chaosu turned out of the underground parking garage. “If you don’t drink it, I’ll call Zhang An back.”
Father Liang said, “No need to trouble him. It’s a small matter. Happy cooperation.”
Liang Chaosu hung up the phone.
The green light turned on, and the vehicle drove into the intersection. The golden light of the setting sun streamed through the skyscrapers by the roadside, converging there. Through the car window, it illuminated the mocking sneer on his lips.
……………………
The next day, as Liancheng got up to wash up, she found that the bleeding had decreased again.
She gently touched her lower abdomen. The dull, aching sensation was almost gone.
Her heart felt a moment of relief. She looked up and saw the woman in the mirror smiling, her almost-rusted eyes shimmering with moisture.
By breakfast, Liang Wenfei was even more pleased and excited.
“My wedding date has been moved up so suddenly, with only twenty-something days left! The wedding dress, diamond ring, and guests all need to be expedited. Can we manage?”
Liancheng paused in confusion.
Liang Wenfei continued, “Besides, during this time, Lichuan has to fly to Africa to handle matters there. He won’t be able to attend the wedding rehearsals.”
This time, Liancheng understood. This was Shen Lichuan and Liang Wenfei’s wedding, originally planned for after the New Year, now moved up to the end of the month.
Liang Chaosu sat diagonally opposite, lifting his eyelids to glance at Liancheng. Seeing her chopsticks pause before she buried her head in her food again.
Outside, the daylight was bright, and the dining table was illuminated by lamps. Her profile was submerged in the light, fair and clean, delicate and small, not tense, nor saddened.
There was no anger, no despair, just an unruffled demeanor, as if it were all in the past.
“Chaosu?” Mother Liang’s voice was louder. “Chaosu, what are you thinking about? Feifei has called you several times.”
“Is something wrong?” His voice was surprisingly gentle.
Liang Wenfei sensed it and became even happier. “Brother, are you reluctant to let me go? But I’m almost twenty-three, the proper age to get married. However, I’ll come back often in the future so you don’t miss me. So, Brother, give it to me quickly.”
Liang Chaosu picked up a siu mai. “Give you what?”
“The jade.” Liang Wenfei put down her chopsticks and made a large circle in the air. “The old pit glass jade that you bought from Yuhua at the Gu family’s place when you went on a business trip to Dian Province for my and Mother’s jade gifts. Isn’t it my wedding gift? Brother, give it to me now. I’ll have people rush the jewelry, I want to wear it on my wedding day.”
“Who said that was your wedding gift?” Liang Chaosu took a bite of the siu mai, frowned with it in his mouth, and put it aside.
Liang Wenfei was greatly astonished. “If it’s not for me, then who is it for?”
Liang Chaosu swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving, but he didn’t answer.
Liang Wenfei’s gaze scanned the dining table. “Could it be for Mother?”
Mother Liang shook her head and smiled. “If it were for me, he would have given it to me long ago.”
Father Liang, sitting at the main seat, suddenly looked up, scrutinizing Liang Chaosu. His gaze held an unreadable quality, neither clearly pleased nor angry, only appearing unfathomably deep, sending a chill down his spine.
His eyes swept over Liancheng before returning to Liang Chaosu. “That time, why didn’t you give Liancheng a gift?”
