Chapter 89: For Now, I’ll Spare Her This Once
Liancheng originally planned to go to Shenheng. When she arrived downstairs at the office building, she suddenly received a phone call from Shen Lichuan.
The street was bustling with people at eight in the morning, and the background was noisy.
Shen Lichuan’s voice pierced through the loudspeaker, with a barely perceptible dejection, “Liancheng, are you leaving? Which country in Northern Europe are you planning to go to?”
Liancheng was stunned. She knew her resolve to resist was unwavering, and the only people who knew this much detail were Bai Ying, herself, and the snakehead Old Ghost.
Bai Ying looked at Shen Lichuan like a fool. She believed that every time he didn’t get involved, it was fine, but once he did, it would absolutely be a mess that couldn’t be cleaned up. She would never leak her plans to Shen Lichuan.
Liancheng thought of Old Ghost.
How could snakeheads involved in this kind of gray business trust someone completely based on a single phone call? There would definitely be an investigation behind it.
Although her previous text message self-introduction was vague and didn’t mention Shen Lichuan’s full name, that snakehead number was so important. It was likely that only trusted individuals knew it, so it wasn’t that rare for them to guess Shen Lichuan after some investigation.
“Yes, I am leaving. As for where I’m going, I won’t tell you.” Liancheng walked to a secluded spot. “Shen Lichuan, I’ve always wanted to officially say goodbye to you, but the origami cranes before, I released them into the river in Cui County. The vastness of nature has heard them, so I won’t say it today.”
Shen Lichuan paused for a long time before replying with a hum.
“Since I won’t say goodbye, I’ll give you some peace of mind for your departure. I happened to help Old Ghost out of a difficult situation once. In their line of work, even though people can be bad, they value loyalty and gratitude. You would definitely refuse if I didn’t let you pay that two hundred thousand, so consider this peace of mind my send-off gift to you.”
Liancheng lowered her eyes. “What you said before—”
“The price I mentioned before, right?” Shen Lichuan had a slight smile, but it seemed as if it stretched across thousands of gullies, a deep sea, and flames, into which he would fall and never climb out. After a moment, this smile vanished.
“That was the bride price for marrying Liang Wenfei.”
Liancheng breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn’t know what to say. Wishing him happiness felt too fake, and wishing him peace seemed like she was being deceitful if he wasn’t happy.
Finally, in the long silence, the atmosphere was subtle and heavy.
Shen Lichuan listened to the faint, clear breathing sounds from the phone, which were as close as his ear. Outside the door, his father was giving him earnest advice.
“This time, your father is not betraying you. Even if your father doesn’t stop you, and it’s not recognized as a bride price, as long as Liang Chaosu wants it, you won’t be able to compete with him. It’s Liang Wenfei’s good fortune to have such a good brother, and it will be your good fortune in the future too.”
Shen Lichuan gazed out the window at a withered French plane tree, its sparse branches obscuring the morning light.
On the windowsill, two birds sat. One flew away towards the sun, while the other remained in place, looking at him through the glass.
“Liancheng, the snakehead will contact you later. I wish you a smooth journey, and never come back.”
The call ended.
Liancheng put down her phone. The snakehead had already sent a text message, arranging to meet at Zhenghong City in the city center in about an hour.
The morning rush hour was congested. It would take at least forty minutes to get from Shenheng to Zhenghong City.
Time was not ample. Liancheng decided not to go to Shenheng and simply hailed a taxi by the roadside to head directly to Zhenghong City.
She sat directly behind the driver. The scent of the taxi’s warm air conditioning made her dizzy and nauseous.
After getting the driver’s consent, she rolled down the window. Cold air poured in through the gap, making her hair fly. She vaguely saw a familiar figure, resembling Liu Lan, holding up a mobile phone and chasing after her.
She wasn’t sure, so she pushed her hair back to get a clearer look.
The vehicle turned at the intersection, and the thick spring cherry blossoms in the green belt completely blocked her line of sight.
Liancheng didn’t ask the driver to stop. Liang Chaosu had already discovered the black clinic, and Liu Lan had already caused trouble. She had nothing to say to her.
………
Zhenghong City was an old marketplace over ten years old. Its facilities and layout had not kept up with the times. Two years ago, a new general manager was appointed, and the mall decisively adopted a nostalgic retro style.
Among the trendy, modern, and high-end shopping malls, it became uniquely charming and regained popularity.
Upon entering the main gate of Zhenghong City, Liancheng didn’t go far. She bypassed the 1980s-style train engine display at the entrance and found a chair to sit down.
As if sensing something, she glanced at the automatic escalator. The general manager, who had been featured in Nan Province’s top commercial publication, was bowing and introducing something to a man in the middle.
They were surrounded by several bodyguards and mall staff, creating an imposing scene.
Liancheng wanted to hide, but it was too late.
The man in the center of the crowd suddenly looked up. His gaze was like a hawk circling from high above. Amidst the noisy, chaotic gazes, his eyes precisely captured her.
Liancheng felt as if she had been immobilized and stood frozen on the spot, unable to move.
A flicker of surprise crossed Liang Chaosu’s eyes, and he turned his head to instruct the mall’s general manager on a few things.
The general manager’s eager expression paused, and he looked in Liancheng’s direction. The escalator reached the top, and the imposing entourage continued their inspection. A bodyguard at the end of the line headed straight for Liancheng.
Liancheng had just stopped bleeding after her pregnancy preservation. If she ran now, the bodyguard could stop her before she even left the main gate. So, she remained still, using this time to send a text message to Old Ghost to postpone it to another day.
The bodyguard led her to the VIP reception room on the second floor. Liancheng held a cup of hot tea, beginning to think about how she would deal with Liang Chaosu next.
Unfortunately, before she could come up with a plan, footsteps sounded outside the door—steady, powerful, unhurried strides.
Liancheng took a sip of hot water, and the door was pushed open from the outside.
“Aunt Wang said you were working today.”
Liang Chaosu, dressed in a dark gray business suit with a neatly tied tie, stood in the doorway under the light. His face was a blur of shadow, and he exuded a distinctly unapproachable aura.
Liancheng couldn’t tell his mood and wasn’t sure if he was questioning her. “Yes, today, in the afternoon.”
Liang Chaosu walked closer. “And in the morning? You went out without eating breakfast, who did you meet?”
“No one,” Liancheng sipped her water. “Bai Ying went to work, so I was just browsing around.”
Liang Chaosu leaned down, his cheek near the side of her forehead, looking at her at close range. “When did you have the leisure for this?”
Liancheng raised her head slightly. The invisible steam from the hot water in the cup warmed both of their faces.
The light converged into a single line with Liang Chaosu. His eyes flickered, hiding an invisible undercurrent. In a close-range gaze, one could easily be drawn in, sucked in, and become his captive.
Liancheng raised her water cup. “Your lips are chapped, do you want some?”
Liang Chaosu’s gaze moved down to the cup. The corner of his eye twitched, and his gaze shifted back to her face. “Just water? Is there any sugar in it?”
“Yes,” Liancheng said matter-of-factly. “Seven spoons, like the seven stars connecting in a sweet, sweet celestial alignment.”
“Why seven spoons? What does that have to do with the seven stars connecting?”
Liancheng smiled. “Less afraid of being unable to block your cleverness, the seven stars connect and travel through time to leave you, you big idiot.”
“Six-six-great-luck would also work. I’ll arrange it for you next time.”
Liang Chaosu was amused, the deep darkness in his eyes transforming into bright light. “And the time after next?”
There won’t even be a next time, let alone the time after next.
Liancheng pondered for a moment. “Five blessings arrive, four seasons of peace, three sheep usher in prosperity, two dragons soar, and one sail smooth. How about that? Is it enough?”
“Your true feelings?”
Liancheng’s stomach began to churn. “Yes.”
Her tone was circuitous, completely sarcastic.
Liang Chaosu wasn’t a spider clinging to the internet. He knew something was odd, but he didn’t know what or where the oddity lay.
He glanced at Liancheng a few times and took the water cup.
For now, he would let her off the hook.
