Chairman Husband, Too Boorish - 173

Chapter 173 : Your Life Has Only One Road, and at the End of That Road Lies Liang Xi Cheng

Across the street, a black van pulled up. The door opened, and someone bent down to get out—

It's been five months, almost half a year. Yan Liang remembered the last time she saw him. They were on the summit of Ming Yang Mountain in City A. He had watched the sunset with her and promised to watch the sunrise with her, but Liang Xi Cheng had taken him away.

Yan Liang never expected Chu Yi Sheng to come to England.

He was dressed casually, a pink shirt paired with black casual trousers, and sunglasses perched on his nose. As he bent down to get out of the black van, his hands were in his pockets. Across the street, Yan Liang could clearly see him smile at her—sexy, alluring.

He came for her.

She didn't know why Chu Yi Sheng had come to find her, but it wasn't surprising that he had found her. However, secretly, he didn't want to tell Liang Xi Cheng. He already harbored resentment towards Chu Yi Sheng, and now that they were separated, Yan Liang thought it best to avoid trouble. So, he paused subconsciously before speaking casually.

"... I have something to do here, I'll hang up now."

Just as he was about to hang up, he thought for a moment and added, "... Okay, I'll call you tonight."

***

In Liang's office in City A, Liang Xi Cheng listened to the curt dial tone. He frowned, staring at the blacked-out phone screen for a long time before finally putting it down. His tightly furrowed brows remained unchanged. He reached out, lit another cigarette, took a couple of puffs, and then dialed the landline.

"Guan Jiu, come in for a moment."

Less than two minutes later, Guan Jiu knocked and entered.

"Chairman Liang."

Liang Xi Cheng narrowed his eyes, flicking off some cigarette ash. "Any news from Chu Yi Sheng?"

Guan Jiu nodded. "Chu Yi Sheng's assistant said before that he'd give us a reply in three days, but ... Chairman Liang, it seems Ye Sheng Ming has privately contacted Chu Yi Sheng several times. As for whether they actually met, I'm not sure."

Liang Xi Cheng leaned back comfortably in his executive chair, a cold smile playing on his lips. "He's certainly very thorough, wanting to have everything done before he can accept my contract with peace of mind."

Guan Jiu remained silent.

Liang Xi Cheng added, "There's no need to keep an eye on Chu Yi Sheng anymore. If he wants to cooperate with me, he'll naturally come to me. However, as far as I know, he probably doesn't want to side with Ye Sheng Ming."

Guan Jiu instinctively pressed, "... Why?"

Liang Xi Cheng chuckled and flicked his cigarette. "A few years ago, Chu Yi Sheng wanted to become the president of Far East. He and his brothers were competing for a project, which Ye's Group also wanted to bid for. Chu Yi Sheng was determined to win, but Ye's Group's capabilities shouldn't be underestimated. So, after careful consideration, Chu Yi Sheng probably ... He did contact Ye Sheng Ming, but unfortunately, Ye Sheng Ming completely cut off his escape route."

"... Because of this incident, the Ye family snatched the project, and Chu Yi Sheng's president position was almost taken by his brothers. Fortunately, another highly profitable project came along, which he won, allowing him to retain his position. Chu Yi Sheng is a vengeful person; Ye Sheng Ming had already contacted him before, but he probably didn't meet with him. So this time, I'm 80% confident he'll side with me."

Guan Jiu secretly admired Chairman Liang; he truly had a masterful strategy.

***

Oxford, England.

Chu Yi Sheng reached up and removed his sunglasses, tucking them into his collar. He strode towards Yan Liang.

Ning Zhi Yuan stood beside Yan Liang. Being from City A as well, he couldn't possibly not recognize Chu Yi Sheng. But what was surprising was that this man was here to see Yan Liang?

He frowned. Men often have this mentality: even when a woman is no longer theirs, they still harbor feelings for her, yet they still arrogantly dislike anyone getting too close. Therefore, his gaze towards Chu Yi Sheng was wary.

“Liang Liang, who is he?”

Yan Liang had a slight headache. Ning Zhi Yuan's sudden appearance, after almost half a year, was something she was quite at peace with. After all, they had been in a relationship for so many years, and even with the betrayal, so much time had passed that she had moved on. She simply considered him a friend who understood each other well.

But now he keeps mentioning "Liang Liang," showing no concern whatsoever for Liang Jing Shan, who bore him children in City A. He's approaching her like a man standing beside her, which makes Yan Liang uncomfortable.

She frowned, her tone somewhat stiff, "I know him, a friend."

"A friend? Isn't this Chu Yi Sheng? The president of Far East in City A, Chu Yi Sheng, right?" Ning Zhi Yuan looked unconvinced, as if he was quite surprised that Yan Liang explained Chu Yi Sheng was her friend.

“Zhi Yuan, he came to see me about something. You should go back now, I …”

“Why should I leave?”

“…”

Chu Yi Sheng happened to walk up to Yan Liang, having apparently overheard Ning Zhi Yuan’s words, “Why should I leave?”

A slight smile played on his lips; he appeared debonair, but his words lacked any grace. “Are you sure you can handle those two men behind me?”

He gestured behind him, and sure enough, two tall, burly black men stood by the car door.

Ning Zhi Yuan's face darkened, and he looked at Yan Liang, "What does this mean? Liang Liang, you—"

"Who told you to call her Liang Liang?" Chu Yi Sheng chuckled, his face full of disdain. "Who do you think you are? You think you can call her that? Let me tell you, I don't have much patience. I came all this way not to talk to you."

Chu Yi Sheng reached out and grabbed Yan Liang, a smirk playing on his lips. "Her time is mine now. Those who are not involved, please step aside."

Ning Zhi Yuan was indignant and wanted to say something, but the two black men Chu Yi Sheng had brought stepped forward and blocked his way.

"... What are you doing? Let me go! Let me go!" Ning Zhi Yuan shouted.

Yan Liang sighed softly, knowing that Chu Yi Sheng was always capricious. She tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Don't make things too difficult for him. He doesn't have any bad intentions."

"The ex-boyfriend, right?" Chu Yi Sheng knew everything about her.

Yan Liang didn't hide anything from him and nodded. "I don't know why he's in England, but ... if I'm not mistaken, Liang Jing Shan should be giving birth soon. You ... have someone send him back to City A."

"I don't think he necessarily wants to go back."

Chu Yi Sheng raised an eyebrow. "Besides, will the Liang family have a place for him?"

Yan Liang had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on. Ning Zhi Yuan's departure from City A was probably related to Liang Xi Cheng, but after all, he was the father of Liang Jing Shan's unborn child. A child growing up without a father is a very tragic thing.

She sighed softly. "Send him back. I don't want the child to be born without a father. Also, please have your people take him to see Liang Jing Shan. No matter what the Liang family thinks of him, I think ... as long as he stands obediently by Liang Jing Shan's side, everything can still be forgiven."

Chu Yi Sheng chuckled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Yan Liang's shoulder with his long, slender fingers, playing with it between his fingertips. "Yan Liang, the moment you saw me, you begged me for help. Tell me ... did I really owe you something in my past life?"

"…"

"But it's alright. You need my help, which means I still have a place in your heart." He raised an eyebrow, looking self-comforting. "I'll help you, hmm? And then, treat me to dinner?"

Yan Liang didn't know why, but ever since last time, her feelings towards Chu Yi Sheng seemed to have changed. Like seeing an old friend who knew her inside and out, she always felt that no matter how much time had passed, seeing him again wouldn't feel strange or awkward at all.

"What do you want to eat?"

Yan Liang suppressed her emotions and smiled faintly.

Chu Yi Sheng looked up at the coffee shop, dissatisfied, and shook his head. "Let's go, of course we'll eat something delicious."

In the end, they chose a Chinese restaurant. Eating Chinese food in England is very expensive, but Yan Liang clearly wouldn't skimp on a meal. She only used a small fraction of the money Liang Xi Cheng transferred to her card each month; he had everything prepared for her. Yan Liang had a very balanced attitude towards spending her husband's money.

"Coming to England, eating Chinese food, Mr. Chu, do you think this is a good idea?" Two bowls of noodles, simple as they were, but Chu Yi Sheng ate with great relish.

"What's wrong with it?" He extended his thumb, lightly wiping the corner of his mouth, his smile innocent and harmless. "Haven't I told you? With you, everything tastes good."

"…"

Yan Liang put down her chopsticks, looking at him seriously. "Chu Yi Sheng, please stop joking like that. Actually, you've always known my situation, so I don't want to hide anything from you. Um … what brings you here?"

Chu Yi Sheng paused in his chewing of noodles—a joke?

He never liked joking. But it seems she'll never know, or perhaps she doesn't want to know.

"I can only come to you when I need something. Can't I come to see you if I don't need anything?" Seeing her slightly embarrassed expression, Chu Yi Sheng raised an eyebrow, quickly changing the subject. "Can I come to see you as a friend?"

Yan Liang visibly relaxed, smiling. "Of course."

Chu Yi Sheng reached out and pinched her cheek. Yan Liang stiffened instantly, but quickly released her, shaking his head. "Don't be so tense, hmm? I'm not really going to eat you. I did come to see you because I have something to ask you. Actually … I just wanted you to give me some advice."

Yan Liang puffed out her cheeks, rubbing the cheek he had pinched. She looked up at him, half-jokingly saying, "You came all the way from City A to England just to see me, just so I could give you some advice? It must be a major life event, right? But Chu Yi Sheng, I doubt I can give you any good advice on dating or marriage."

"What do you think when I say I'm never going to get married?" The man opposite her suddenly looked at Yan Liang seriously.

Yan Liang's heart skipped a beat, not out of nervousness or shyness, but perhaps because she felt a burden under his undisguisedly intense gaze.

She lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes, and coughed lightly. "... Don't joke around. The president of the Far East, how could he not get married?"

If the person he marries isn't you, then what difference does it make whether he marries or not?

Chu Yi Sheng put down his chopsticks, frowning. "Why do you think what I said to you was a joke? Does my face scream 'I'm joking'?"

Yan Liang felt a little embarrassed. Actually, that wasn't what she meant at all, but with Chu Yi Sheng's gaze and tone, she truly didn't know how to respond.

With a sigh, she finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Please don't be like this, Chu Yi Sheng. You came all the way from City A just to say something like this to me? Then I ..."

"Yan Liang, I came to ask you some things."

Chu Yi Sheng reached out and pressed down on the back of her hand, releasing it before she could struggle. Looking at her, he finally said, "There are some things I've always been incredibly curious about, and I want to figure them out. I won't hide my feelings. I really like you. The first time I kissed you, I felt something, a feeling that no one else could give me, and I don't even understand it myself. But for so long, no matter what methods or means I used, you remained unmoved. Your feelings for Liang Xi Cheng ... I'm truly ... envious and jealous. I really want to know, what do you like about him?"

"... Between the two of you, so much is weighing on you—the grudges of the previous generation, his sister stealing your boyfriend, his mother harming your mother, and now he's sent you to England ... I've seen it all."

"... For five months, I didn't come to see you because I wanted to see how long you could hold out. Liang Xi Cheng didn't come to see you either, did he? Yan Liang, do you know? My interest in you slowly turned into a strange obsession. It's like, when I look at your picture, I wonder, what is it about this woman that attracts me? Why can't I let go? She's just another man's woman, but why can't I, Chu Yi Sheng, forget her?"

"Later, I understood. You possess an incredibly attractive resilience. Like with Liang Xi Cheng, no matter how deep or great the obstacle, it seems unable to pull you back. Your life is like a ... There's a road, and at its end lies Liang Xi Cheng. Your courageous journey makes my heart ache, and it also fills me with longing."

"... Actually, I don't envy Liang Xi Cheng or Bai Yan Liang. What I envy is that in this world, there is a woman who, for love, disregards everything, bearing heartbreak and pain alone, brave, resilient, and refusing to bow to fate."

"You know what? Yan Liang, you are so radiant to me, so incredibly attractive. Can you tell me why? How much do you love Liang Xi Cheng? Don't you see the good in other men besides Liang Xi Cheng? Yes, I admit Liang Xi Cheng is good, but I don't believe he's the only best one in the world. When a better man stands before you, equally willing to love you wholeheartedly, wouldn't you ... be even slightly moved?"

(T/N: I kinda like Chu Yi Sheng right now. And Happy Valentine.)

Chapter 172        |        TOC        |        Chapter 174