Chapter 42: There’s Another Kind of Deception in the World

Chapter 42: Yet Another Deception

She paused, realizing. Yes, it seemed she had forgotten — whether in the original novel’s depiction or through personal interaction, he had always disdained everyone.

He would neither sacrifice family for principle nor act as a champion of justice.

Could this be considered selfish?

Perhaps "selfish" was too strong a word; he simply loved himself more.

Their values had never seemed aligned.

Newly married, they were both still enjoying the novelty of it all. The question was, how long would this freshness last?

Suddenly, she felt this man was like a bottomless lake.

She let out a soft sigh and turned to continue upstairs.

Liang Zeqian followed behind her, his leather shoes making faint sounds on the wooden staircase. When they reached the room door, he asked, "Are you hungry?"

Shen Nanxi was startled, not expecting him to care about such a thing amidst the family turmoil. She patted her stomach. "A little."

"I’ll have the kitchen prepare some snacks." Liang Zeqian walked to the house phone and deftly dialed the internal line.

Shen Nanxi gazed at his sharp profile, a flicker of confusion washing over her.

This man, who had coldly said "none of my business" just moments ago, could now considerately ask if she was hungry.

These past few days, whether he was merely playing a role or genuinely expressing himself, his affection for her was clearly visible — a man’s admiration for a woman. But what expression would he wear when, one day, he learned the whole truth?

Would he blow up upon discovering she had deceived him so thoroughly?

Or would he calmly cast her aside, watching coldly as he quickly accepted reality?

One person’s fondness for another is always built upon many conditions. When appearance, personality, or experiences change, could everything simply vanish?

Liang Zeqian, well-read and understanding principles better than anyone, was never the gentle, refined second male lead type.

He always had his own ideas and never allowed anyone to change or interfere.

She took off her high heels and stepped barefoot onto the carpet, inexplicably feeling a strange twinge of fear toward him.

It seems one really shouldn’t do bad deeds; it’s easy to develop a guilty conscience.

By dinnertime, the atmosphere had finally eased. Liang Furong’s expression relaxed considerably, and Third Wife’s did too.

It seemed the matter was largely resolved.

When Liang Zefeng returned home, he was all smiles. He casually plopped down at the dining table and said, "Dad, don’t worry. Youzai is fine at the police station. After assisting with the inquiry, he’ll probably be released in a few days."

Liang Furong finally had an appetite and drank several bowls of soup.

After a moment of silence, Liang Furong looked at Ren Shuzhen. "Youzai has done so many things at such a young age — it’s because you, as his mother, didn’t keep him in line. All you do is buy clothes and play mahjong all day, without even knowing where your son goes or who he associates with."

Seeing this, Liang Zefeng quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Dad, how old is Youzai? At that age, who isn’t a bit playful?"

Ren Shuzhen also chimed in, "That’s right. Besides, Youzai didn’t actually do anything this time — it doesn’t count as a real offense."

It was probably the first time she had seen the second son stick up for Youzai like this, and she was filled with gratitude and relief.

"Playful?" Liang Furong snorted coldly and turned to Liang Zeqian. "A Qian, you tell me — what seventeen-year-old goes to Lan Kwai Fong to pick up girls and ends up causing trouble that lands him in the police station?"

The eyes of everyone at the table instantly focused on Liang Zeqian.

Shen Nanxi stole a glance at her husband and saw him calmly pick up a piece of bok choy with his chopsticks before replying indifferently, "At seventeen, I was studying at Cambridge."

Third Wife’s face instantly turned grim.

Her husband — while the second son was making calls, pulling strings, and seeking help — he, on the other hand, couldn’t resist adding a sarcastic remark.

Liang Furong snorted, "Hear that? He was studying at Cambridge at seventeen, while your son was out chasing prostitutes at seventeen!"

Third Wife couldn’t help but defend him, "Youzai... he just had a few too many drinks... he didn’t do that kind of thing."

"I’m not talking about this time — I mean before! Whether he’s done it or not, he knows himself." Liang Furong didn’t want to discuss it further. "Hurry up and arrange for him to transfer to a school in the UK. Staying here will only make him more out of control."

Shen Nanxi thought to herself that with his personality and behavior, it would be better to keep him close. Sending him abroad would only make him wilder, and he might even get involved with things he shouldn’t.

Liang Zefeng defended Youzai because he knew deep down that his father still had a soft spot for his youngest son. His agreement was merely to help Liang Furong accept Huang Rouer.

Moreover, according to the original story, he was meant to take over the family business, so he needed to ensure everyone had leverage over each other, willingly bowing to his authority.

He figured Youzai was only in his teens now and would be in his twenties in a few years. Many men straighten out after sowing wild oats — there was no need to ignore him like the third son did. Knowing how to use him to his advantage was more important.

If he ever became uncontrollable, he could always publicize the matter widely, keeping the evidence and photos handy — it would be all upside.

Liang Zefeng set down his chopsticks, a faint smile on his face. "Youzai does need discipline. But he’s young — we should give him a chance to start fresh. Send him to a strict private school to redo his senior year. He can still apply to a good university."

They had planned meticulously, but unfortunately, things didn’t unfold as expected.

On the third day, when the police released Youzai, the Hong Kong media descended on the scene.

Cai Qibang stated vehemently in front of the cameras that he would demand severe punishment, lower the age of criminal responsibility for minors, and make sure offenders pay the price.

Youzai emerged from the police station, covering his face as he was quickly escorted home in a police car.

Shen Nanxi had gone to school early, sick of the family drama.

Liang Zeqian stood stone-faced on the balcony, watching the disgraceful return of the group with no interest in getting involved. He simply drove away.

He was well aware of his father’s dissatisfaction with him and understood that he never really belonged in this family.

But so what?

He didn’t care.

Liang Zeqian called Uncle Chen and asked him to pick up Shen Nanxi after school and take her directly to Cheung Chau Sai Yuen.

The scenery there was indeed quite nice, but it was so remote — what was the point of going there?

Shen Nanxi wasn’t exactly thrilled about going.

Still, his family was so complicated, and the constant scheming over Youzai’s affairs was draining. Even returning home was awkward and uneasy, so it might be better to accompany him for a trip to the small island.

The car wound through the twists and turns of the road, and in the distance, a red-and-white building came into view, looking like a research lab.

To enter, they had to scan a card, but when they saw Shen Nanxi, the staff immediately opened the door.

The English sign at the entrance clearly said something like "Asia Research Center."

She carried her backpack and climbed all the way to the fifth floor in one go, out of breath.

The door was tightly locked. After knocking twice with no answer, she leaned against the doorway, not wanting to be a bother.

The door remained locked. After knocking twice with no response, she leaned against the doorframe and waited quietly.

After a long while, Liang Zeqian finally opened the door. Seeing her standing there silently, he frowned and asked, "Why didn’t you knock?"

"I did. You didn’t answer."

He pulled her inside, and Shen Nanxi was stunned.

The room wasn’t particularly large, but it featured a glass roof, with a massive astronomical telescope in the center.

The tables inside were covered with instruments — likely the world’s most advanced precision astronomical tools, all gathered here.

Every time she saw these, she immediately forgot about him being overlooked within the family. It was incredibly lavish!

These devices were worth millions, and even decades later, they would be worth a fortune.

Expensive items were everywhere; even the globe on the table was more exquisite than those sold on the market, like something from the Age of Exploration.

Shen Nanxi held her backpack, unsure where to place it, feeling that such a cheap item belonged tossed at the foot of the table to avoid ruining the room’s aesthetic.

Liang Zeqian led her to the telescope. "Look."

These were his most treasured possessions, things no one else was allowed to touch.

Though uninterested, she didn’t want to disappoint him, only noting that the telescope didn’t seem as well cleaned as the one at home, making it hard to see anything clearly.

"Interesting?"

Shen Nanxi: "It’s okay."

Liang Zeqian: "Did you see something flickering inside? It’s not very clear."

"Yeah... I saw it."

"I’ve been observing it for years, and it seems to be getting brighter."

"Ah? Really? You don’t think the Trisolarans are actually coming, do you?" Shen Nanxi leaned in for a closer look and indeed spotted a faintly flickering star. "Do you think aliens will really come? Are you part of the Adventist or Redemptionist faction?"

"What factions? Trisolaris? Is that a newly discovered star system?"

She suddenly realized that at this point in time, the book hadn’t been published yet.

Shen Nanxi laughed it off, "Just a novel I saw at a roadside stall. It’s about humanity being sick of Earth’s troubles and hoping aliens will come to save them or something."

He sounded intrigued. "Oh," he added, "I should look for it and read it someday."

Shen Nanxi noticed the instruments on the table and asked casually, "Do you believe humanity will be judged by a higher civilization?"

Liang Zeqian suddenly found this woman quite interesting: "Such a philosophical question — are you really interested?"

"Just curious," she said softly. "For example, what if, at this very moment, everyone is shaped and controlled, their joys and sorrows, even the course of their lives dictated? Wouldn’t that be terrifying?"

"If undiscovered, it naturally isn’t terrifying. Compared to being manipulated by a higher civilization, I believe humanity is more likely to destroy itself, just like Betelgeuse — after its brilliance, it will eventually collapse inward."

Liang Zeqian’s words went over Shen Nanxi’s head. She was never into philosophy, nor did she care to think about the meaning of life or fantasize about outer space.

However, she seemed to understand why this person remained so calm and detached about everything. Those who often delved into such topics indeed found it hard to be stirred by trivial matters.

She didn’t dare touch the precision instruments. While he continued observing, she quietly slipped out to the balcony outside.

The large terrace overlooked the entire island, and the sea breeze blew in, bringing a coolness.

They were indeed very different — she was an ordinary person clinging to worldly pleasures, while he seemed to already live beyond the everyday world.

Liang Zeqian could tell she was distracted and not into it. He soon turned off the instruments and came out.

In the past, he could stay here for three days and nights alone, but today was different. With a wife and someone he loved, some sacrifices had to be made.

When Liang Zeqian reached the balcony, he saw the wind blowing through the window lifting her skirt.

She stood with her back to him, her slender shoulders looking particularly delicate in the twilight.

He walked over and took her hand. "Let’s go."

His wife’s expression immediately brightened. She held his hands and said in a playful tone, "Why stop? Did I disturb you?"

He shook his head, his gaze firm. "No."

Shen Nanxi gently tickled his palm with her fingertips. "Really?"

"No, I never lie."

"What if I lie to you someday? Will you be angry?"

"It depends on the situation. I won’t take jokes seriously."

Like the usual little lies told in social situations — they were part of the fun, a necessary compromise in life, no big deal.

"What if it’s something really serious?"

"Have you killed someone or set something on fire?" He raised an eyebrow, then paused and said, "Even if you did, I wouldn’t care."

People really are double-standard.

He didn’t care about Youzai, yet he was so indulgent toward his wife.

She liked this side of him.

Shen Nanxi pushed further, "What if it’s even more serious than murder or arson?"

"Nothing is more serious than that."

He would never know that there was a deception in this world — even she herself was a lie.

Shen Nanxi looked up at his face, his expression gentle and smiling. He had never shown such happiness even with his family.

Somehow, she wanted to let go of his hand, but he gripped it tightly, holding on tight, not allowing even the slightest escape.

The evening at Cheung Chau Sai Yuen was quiet and empty, with yellowish street lamps glowing faintly.

Liang Zeqian opened the passenger door for her. After closing it, he stood by the car door in silence for a few seconds, then turned and knocked on the window.

Shen Nanxi tried to open the door, but he pressed it shut, pointing at the window.

She rolled it down.

He leaned against the window frame, his gaze intense, and asked softly, "Can I kiss you?"