Chapter 96: Father Liang Locates Liancheng
On the other side, in the Liang family’s second-floor study.
Secretary Zhou stood before the desk, flipping through a document, “There’s no progress, or rather, it’s impossible to push forward. We originally found out where Miss Lian Cheng was renting a place, but yesterday someone suddenly interfered, guarding it strictly, and now we can’t find any trace.”
Father Liang’s face was hidden in the undercurrent, “Is it Chaosu?”
Secretary Zhou bowed, “There are suspicions, but no solid evidence.”
“Then that’s it.”
Father Liang tapped the tabletop intermittently with his finger.
He had already suspected that if Lian Cheng could show such a look of hatred towards Chaosu, how could she have had a special relationship with Chaosu for four years.
Furthermore, he had never misjudged people; Lian Cheng was optimistic and straightforward, filial and frank.
This kind of personality wouldn’t lead her to seek revenge on the family that raised her just because of Shen Lichuan. So the reason for her hatred was worth pondering.
And this worst possible speculation was now confirmed. Father Liang, after forty years of battling in the business world, could barely take it.
His most cherished son, his most proud son, Liang Chaosu, never made mistakes. He was experienced, ruthless, meticulous in handling affairs, and left no room for error.
Even the old foxes who wielded power in the social circles were helpless against him, and the absurd and decadent behavior of those useless second-generation heirs was even more unrelated to him.
Yet, he had crossed the line, doing something that noble families most taboo, risking the world’s disapproval.
The gloom on Father Liang’s face was like a thick layer of dust.
“Tell them to withdraw.”
Secretary Zhou agreed, with some hesitation, “It might not be the Eldest Young Master. Before you even started investigating, the Eldest Young Master already knew. If he wanted to stop it, he would have done so long ago. Stopping it now would be a futile attempt to mend things and would also alert you, which isn’t his style.”
“Haven’t you realized yet?” Father Liang’s voice was without warmth. “These past few days, your progress has been smooth entirely because he was manipulating it, step by step. He wanted you to find out what you found out. If I’m not mistaken, you would have smoothly investigated until the end of the month and presented the evidence to me.”
Secretary Zhou froze.
Father Liang leaned back in his chair, “But he changed his mind yesterday.”
Some things couldn’t be explained in detail to a secretary. Father Liang waved his hand, telling him to leave.
………………
At eleven o’clock in the morning, after getting off the bus, Old Ghost took Lian Cheng on a three-wheeled vehicle for an hour’s ride to a small fishing village by the sea.
The cement road leading into the village ran alongside the coastline. Lian Cheng saw a rudimentary dock at the end of the crescent-shaped coastline. It was a bit far, mostly obscured by lush green hills, appearing vague, with only its outline extending outward.
She had been quiet all morning, enduring seasickness without complaint. Old Ghost developed a good impression of her and mischievously said, “We’ll set sail from there at six in the evening. You are the newly hired cook for the fishing boat, skilled in multi-national cuisine and winemaking. The captain has hired you exceptionally.”
Lian Cheng gazed at the dock, adding to her persona, “I can make wine but can’t drink. I have a bad temper and curse very fiercely.”
Old Ghost paused, expecting her to be uncomfortable, the fussiness of a noble lady cultivated from a wealthy family was not just physical.
“I understand a bit why President Shen wants to help you. This personality of yours is not common in wealthy families.”
Lian Cheng glanced at him, “My curses are unpleasant, which is also not common in wealthy families.”
The car stopped at a large old stone at the village entrance. The name of the fishing village, Liu Ge Zhuang, was carved in red on the stone.
Old Ghost helped her out of the car, “You don’t want me to mention President Shen. Are you hinting at me with this? If I bring him up again, you’ll curse me.”
Lian Cheng looked around, “Children talk about everything; adults have tacit understandings.”
The small fishing village was very close to the dock. There were only five or six berths, and a fishing boat swayed in the waves.
That must be the fishing boat that would set sail tonight.
Old Ghost pondered her words and led her into the village, “I understand what you mean. If I ask again, I’m a child. If I don’t ask, I’m an adult. So, I’ll ask halfway; I’m an underage eighteen-year-old.”
The two entered a courtyard house with a single-story main building and a kitchen built to the right with corrugated iron.
Lian Cheng had been silent all along. After entering the house, she handed him a box, “You have a wife, right? Do you want this pink gemstone hairpin, or does someone else?”
Old Ghost opened it and closed it.
“Not domestically. You’re hiding from enemies. Large capital flows are clues that will lead people to catch you. Cash is even worse. Carrying millions on the road makes you a target, and it’s unsafe.”
Lian Cheng took back the box, “So, it’s possible abroad.”
Old Ghost teased her, “Tacit understanding.”
Lian Cheng froze. Is he really forty years old?
Immature.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Lian Cheng waited for Old Ghost to leave before looking at it.
It was Liang Chaosu.
“I’m giving you a chance to breathe, not tolerating your refusal to see me.”
………………
After sending the message, Liang Chaosu put away his phone, walked around the rosewood screen, and entered the banquet hall.
The Liang family had a dedicated Western-style banquet hall for entertaining. Today’s event was nominally a family dinner, with only a few young ladies invited, held in the Chinese-style banquet hall.
Unlike the long dining table used for daily meals, the banquet hall had a large, dark wood round table. Above the round table was a dazzling Chinese chandelier, its light retro and bright, illuminating the red rose arrangement in the center of the table, which was fiery and full of ambiguous charm.
Liang Chaosu’s gaze scanned the room, his steps pausing imperceptibly.
Mother Liang’s seating arrangement was very interesting: Father Liang was at the head seat, Mother Liang was to his right, and Father Shen was to his left, followed by Shen Lichuan and Liang Wenfei.
Below Mother Liang were several young ladies. Although there was ample space at the table, an empty chair was placed only in the middle of the young ladies.
Mother Liang smiled eagerly, “Today you are the birthday boy, so sit among our honored guests.”
Liang Chaosu sat down with a bland expression. He wore a black cashmere sweater with a semi-high collar and a gray-blue casual suit jacket unbuttoned, appearing relaxed and not so serious or intimidating.
After sitting down, his suit jacket naturally lay open, revealing muscular chest and abdomen, but not exaggeratedly so, exuding a blood-pumping wildness. His face, however, was calm and unruffled, subtly revealing an indifferent aloofness.
Especially his silence in response to Mother Liang’s questions made him seem even more indifferent and unreachable.
The young ladies on either side stole glances at him for a few seconds, blushing, yet none dared to speak to him directly.
The silence in the hall, where a pin drop could be heard, gradually solidified into an oppressive atmosphere.
Mother Liang’s smile faded, and her tone turned warning, “Chaosu, Qingdai is your high school classmate, Yiyi is your childhood sweetheart, and then there’s Zhitai, who is now the general manager of Jiang’s and has business dealings with you. The Liang family is not an impolite family. People have kindly come to celebrate your birthday; do you want to embarrass your mother?”
“If it’s purely to celebrate my birthday, Mother has invited them, and I will naturally take good care of them,” Liang Chaosu’s eyes were dark. “But if there are other intentions, I’m afraid I can’t.”
“Why can’t you?” The pretense was over. Mother Liang had been holding back her anger, so she stopped acting. “You’re thirty. At this age, establishing a family and a career is your due.”
Liang Chaosu, “Twenty-nine. Thirty is next year. I’ll establish a family and career next year.”
Mother Liang choked. Father Liang, fearing she would get angry, was about to interject.
A figure emerged from the screen at the entrance and hurriedly approached Father Liang along the wall, whispering in his ear, “Director Liang, the location from Miss Lian Cheng’s hairpin shows she has left the province. Her current location is in a seaside fishing village.”
