Chapter 9: The Surveillance Cameras Are Here
“Alright.”
Liang Chaosu took three steps in two, pulling her away from the doorway, “What are you shouting about so late at night? Calm down.”
“I’m not calm enough.” Lian Cheng struggled powerfully to break free from him, “What more do you want me to do to be calm?”
The anger vibrating in her chest cavity, the fear of checking the surveillance, all combined into a wild, rampant vine, quickly consuming Lian Cheng entirely, trapping her with no escape.
“Was it me, a baby, who made trouble when they switched babies back then? Your sister is innocent, but I’m not? You dote on Liang Wenfei, protect her, love her, and even help her ascend to heaven, but why do you mistreat me? On what grounds do you mistreat me?”
Liang Chaosu exerted force and pulled her, suppressing her without room for doubt, and covered her mouth, “When have I ever mistreated you?”
Lian Cheng’s heart grew cold; she didn’t even want to struggle anymore.
She had anticipated many answers from Liang Chaosu.
Because of Shen Lichuan, because he appeared abstinent but secretly needed someone like her to vent.
Because the Liang family had raised her for twenty-two years, she owed the Liang family.
She hadn’t expected this answer.
It sounded like he never thought he was mistreating her.
Lian Cheng shivered densely; she had been naive. People without compassion or loyalty have no heart.
“You don’t mistreat me.” Lian Cheng’s back felt so weak it curved, “You toy with me. In the hospital, in the car, your attitude was calm and collected. Then, when I wasn’t vigilant or prepared, you quietly went to verify the evidence. All for Liang Wenfei’s single statement of being pregnant, you went to such great lengths. You are truly a good brother.”
“Feifei wouldn’t make trouble out of nothing,” his voice was deep, “Your reaction is so intense, are you pregnant?”
“I am pregnant.”
Lian Cheng glared at him, patting her stomach, “There are many things inside me, the long catheter, the stiff guidewire, the contrast agent that was injected. Wasn’t it you who watched me get pregnant time and time again?”
“Lian Cheng,” the man was annoyed, with a tone of warning, “Have I been too indulgent with you?”
After a long moment of suffocation, Lian Cheng let out a cold laugh, “I’m sorry, I made another mistake. I was blind and didn’t recognize your favor.”
She ultimately didn’t dare to enrage Liang Chaosu. Her words fell, and she turned and went to the bathroom.
She didn’t come out after showering, stubbornly waiting until the man got angry and left.
That night, Lian Cheng stayed awake until dawn.
After seven o’clock, Liang Wenfei clamored for her to come downstairs.
Liang Chaosu sat in the living room drinking tea, his personal assistant opened the computer.
Lian Cheng leaned closer.
The screen displayed footage of her being embraced by Bai Ying all the way to the eighth floor and entering room 03.
The secretary then played another video of her and Bai Ying taking the elevator downstairs. The timestamp showed 10:03 AM.
Lian Cheng’s heart suddenly felt greatly relieved. She and Bai Ying had indeed gone to the eighth floor, but they came down at nine to prepare for the blood draw.
The video had been tampered with.
It seemed that her notifying Bai Ying to try and mend things after deliberately angering Liang Chaosu last night had been useful.
“Is there anything else?” Liang Wenfei asked the secretary, “What about the corridor surveillance?”
The secretary glanced at Liang Chaosu and said cautiously, “A first-tier celebrity had an appointment in the obstetrics department yesterday, so the surveillance was turned off in advance.”
Liang Wenfei, not seeing the crucial video, couldn’t put her mind at ease, “What first-tier celebrity? Is their status even higher than the Liang family’s? I’ve never heard that they can shut down surveillance whenever they go.”
The secretary flattered her, “People in the entertainment industry are messy. Most pregnancies are best kept out of sight. Compared to you, the esteemed Liang, Shen, Qin, and Jin families are open and aboveboard. Who wouldn’t envy that?”
Liang Wenfei, having heard kind words, didn’t pick any more faults and turned her head, waiting for Liang Chaosu to make up his mind.
She saw him lean slightly sideways, looking at Lian Cheng.
His eyes were covered with a layer of dark clouds, but it wasn’t disgust or displeasure; it was more like something else.
A strange, gloomy feeling that she couldn’t quite describe.
For some reason, her chest inexplicably felt heavy.
Looking at Lian Cheng again, she had her head bowed, her expression unreadable. Her thick, long hair cascaded down, framing her shoulders. Amidst her grace, there was a cool, detached aura.
It was this aura that Shen Lichuan yearned for in his dreams at midnight, the aura that most easily seduced men.
Liang Wenfei felt uneasy, “Brother, how could such a coincidence happen? I think she was prepared in advance. Let her go for the blood draw.”
Lian Cheng was startled and looked up, “If dogs had intelligence, they wouldn’t say something like that. If you’re capable, protect yourself; stop blaming the heavens, the earth, and others.”
“Lian Cheng.” A scolding voice came from the stairs.
Mother Liang walked down, “I raised you, and all you’ve learned is to insult others?”
Lian Cheng looked at her, her vision blurred and unclear, “Mom, this time you heard it with your own ears. It was Liang Wenfei who first made unreasonable accusations against me, and only then did I fight back.”
Mother Liang walked past her directly and stood beside Liang Wenfei, “Where is your politeness? You should address Feifei as ‘sister’.”
In an instant, Lian Cheng fell silent.
If she reasoned and was told she was wrong, it was her fault. If she was unreasonable and evasive, it was still her fault.
She couldn’t deceive herself any longer.
For four years, Liang Wenfei had found fault with her in everything. As the matriarch of the family, could Mother Liang not know?
It was simply that she felt Lian Cheng deserved to endure it.
After suppressing her, Mother Liang turned and took Liang Wenfei’s hand, “We should go to the Shen family. Today we’ll discuss the wedding process. Your and Lichuan’s wedding rings have also arrived; you’ll try them on then, and Madam Shen and I will pick out dresses and jewelry.”
Lian Cheng stood there, watching Mother Liang’s back disappear.
She was usually strong and rebellious, able to stand up to anyone, but with Mother Liang, a few casual words were enough to defeat her completely.
Liang Chaosu saw this and his expression was unreadable, “I’ll believe you one last time. The blood draw is canceled.”
Lian Cheng turned to look at him.
She deeply felt that his linguistic artistry was highly cultivated. Even if she didn’t have the blood draw today, the medical examination in four days was unavoidable. It was merely a difference of waiting one day versus waiting three days.
By saying it this way, it sounded like deep affection and friendship, as if he believed her declaration that she had no past relationship with Shen Lichuan in the car.
“Then—” Lian Cheng curved her eyebrows, “Thank you?”
…………………………
After Lian Cheng went upstairs, she quickly tidied up her belongings.
Legal weekends were a holiday for employees like her.
As President, Liang Chaosu was naturally different. He was focusing on expanding the northern market and had only returned a month ago, entering a new phase of integration and adaptation at headquarters.
On these two weekend days, company affairs combined with social engagements and banquets would only make him busier than usual.
Lian Cheng hid behind the curtain and watched him walk to the garage, the butler following behind him.
“Lian Cheng, when you go out these two days, remember to have the driver follow her.”
The butler asked for instructions, “Miss Lian Cheng’s exclusive driver will start on Monday. How about letting Xiao Liu continue to follow her for these two days?”
Liang Chaosu tilted his head, glancing at Lian Cheng’s room twice. There was some loosening of his resolve, but not enough for him to go back on his word.
“Arrange someone else,” he reiterated, “I said, Xiao Liu is prohibited from driving her.”
Lian Cheng almost got discovered. She steadied her heartbeat and confirmed that the engine sound downstairs had faded.
She picked up her bag and went downstairs, only to be stopped by the butler at the doorway, “Lian Cheng, the Eldest Young Master instructed that you must have a vehicle arranged when you go out.”
Lian Cheng clenched her bag, feigning casualness, “Then let’s use Xiao Liu.”
“The Eldest Young Master prohibited Xiao Liu from driving,” the butler actually had a lot of affection for Lian Cheng, “I specifically asked. The Eldest Young Master’s attitude is very resolute.”
Lian Cheng gritted her teeth. He was monitoring her, guarding against her, and yet he expected her to remember his kindness and be grateful.
