Grandfather Liang Zhong kept watch over Dragon Crest Manor's sacred halls, his stern gaze missing little, even when he seemed to be lost in thought. He believed that leadership was not something that was passed down, but something that was built through hard times. He strongly believed in putting his possible successor to the test, and Liang Chen was going through the hardest test of his life right now, dealing with constant cyberattacks and the secret plans of his cousins. Liang Zhong did this to make sure that Horizon Tech would be stable in the future and that the Liang family would stay strong.
His ways of keeping an eye on things were both subtle and widespread. He didn't question Liang Chen directly; instead, he used a complex network of people who seemed to be neutral. He would carefully listen to the filtered reports from board members he trusted and had known for a long time. He would also subtly ask family retainers about the mood in Liang Chen's divisions and pay close attention to what his own kids said at family dinners. During the rare family get-togethers, he would watch Liang Chen's behavior and see how well he handled stress. He would also read the unspoken signs of resilience or fatigue in his grandson's sharp eyes.
It was very clear what he wanted to do: find out if Liang Chen was really fit for the difficult job of president. He wasn't just looking for ways to fix the current problem; he was also judging Liang Chen's leadership skills under pressure, such as his ability to think strategically, handle a crisis, bounce back, and deal with both outside threats and the sneaky family politics that were going on inside the family. Grandfather Liang Zhong was always watching Liang Chen and taking notes on every move he made, every choice he made, and every reaction he had to see how good of a leader he could be.
Liang Chen was very aware of his grandfather's high expectations and the huge pressure that came with being president, but he didn't really notice the constant, unseen scrutiny. He felt the pressure of the demands and the patriarch's critical eye, but not the careful, almost scientific way that he watched every response. This invisible layer of monitoring added an unspoken burden to his already heavy responsibilities. It turned every struggle and success into a planned part of an ongoing, silent test that would ultimately decide his fate in the powerful Liang empire.