《The Favored Heiress》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 ¨C 1 1 Breaking Off an Engagement Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Breaking Off an Engagement Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Breaking Off an Engagement Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio In the city of South Sea, every May always brought continuous rain. At dusk, as the drizzle subsided, the damp air was filled with a thin mist, and even the wild roses in front of the hotel seemed to soak up a sense of damp despondency. Outside the private dining room in the rear garden, Li Qiao leaned against the wall of the rain corridor, looking at the handsome man who was prattling on in front of her, a trace of impatience flowing in her eyes. ¡°So, you understand, right? I¡¯m not going to like you, and it¡¯s even less likely that I¡¯ll marry you. No matter how our engagement came to be, I advise you to give up on the idea of marrying me as soon as possible.¡± The speaker was named Shang Lu, said to be a highly esteemed doctor. Li Qiao didn¡¯t know much about him, only that the sole tie between them was a childhood pledge made before either was born. Extremely cliche! Li Qiao was getting tired from standing, so she shifted her ankles slightly and sighed softly with a hollow voice, ¡°Mm, I understand.¡± ¡°Also, don¡¯t expect¡­ Huh?¡± Shang Lu¡¯s words lingered at his lips, clearly not expecting Li Qiao would agree so readily, and was momentarily stunned. Outside the rain corridor, the rain started pattering again, the sound of water droplets striking the banana leaves clear and melodious. Shang Lu was brought back to his senses by the sound of the rain, and on closer look, the person in front of him was gone. He looked around, and at the corner ahead, only a dash of dark green skirt hem remained. ¡­ Li Qiao walked leisurely along the rain corridor, passing through this walkway to a glass rain-watching pavilion not far away. The VIP rest area on the right was empty. Tucking her skirt, Li Qiao sat down and looked out at the gray sky, her mood exceptionally light. In fact, today was the first formal meeting between her and Shang Lu, and the childhood pledge that had bound them together for so many years wasn¡¯t at all the typical sweetheart narrative. Even in her view, the origin of this engagement was unclear; otherwise, her family¡¯s attitude wouldn¡¯t have been so secretive. In that case, breaking it off was for the best to avoid future troubles. Li Qiao pondered to herself, and with the gradually diminishing rain, she seemed to hear a cry for help. ¡°Save, me¨C¡± It wasn¡¯t an illusion! The voice was very faint, almost inaudible. As if someone¡¯s throat was being strangled, they were pleading with difficulty. Li Qiao straightened herself up from the high-backed sofa, listened carefully for a few seconds, then rose and walked towards the outdoor greenery garden near the rain-watching pavilion. The twilight deepened, with a dark sky overhead, and a soft rain fell silently. Following the intermittent cries for help, Li Qiao walked past a variety of plants of different heights, and at the end she gently pushed aside a banana leaf. What she saw before her was unexpected. Deep in the Green Garden, a man sat firm as a mountain under the octagonal gazebo at the stone table. In her twenty-two years of life, Li Qiao had never seen any man wear black so handsomely and fittingly. A black shirt, black trousers, spotless leather shoes, the arms rolled up at the sleeves resting on the stone table, and the slightly open collar that seemed to express an untamed wildness. In this confined space, Li Qiao could feel the powerful aura emanating from him. ¡°Master Yan, I know I was wrong, please¡­ save me¡­¡± The cries for help sounded again, and Li Qiao shook herself out of her daze, her gaze wandering before finally noticing a thin middle-aged man lying in extreme agony on the wet and slippery bluestone floor. Seeing this, she had a bad feeling, knowing she might have stumbled into a place she shouldn¡¯t have. At that moment, the man known as Master Yan slowly raised his hand and leisurely smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeve, his deep and magnetic voice following suit, ¡°It seems you¡¯ve forgotten the rules of South Sea!¡± CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Vicky_ From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 ¨C 2 2 Surname Shang, given name Yu, styled Shaoyan Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Surname Shang, given name Yu, styled Shaoyan Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Surname Shang, given name Yu, styled Shaoyan Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The man spoke, and for no apparent reason, Li Qiao shuddered. She looked up at the misty drizzle in the sky and rubbed her arms, planning to return the way she had come. Li Qiao had no intention of offending someone else¡¯s territory, especially under such a bizarre situation, she wasn¡¯t keen on inviting trouble for herself either. Just as she turned around, a resonant and forceful set of footsteps approached swiftly from behind her, ¡°Big brother! Big brother, are you there?¡± That voice sounded familiar¨Cit was Shang Lu! Li Qiao furrowed her brows, feeling somewhat caught between a rock and a hard place. Within the depths of this garden, there was only a single path leading in and out, surrounded by damp vegetation that was unevenly distributed, offering no place to hide. Li Qiao weighed her options and finally decided to just watch and see how things unfolded. At that moment, the man under the gazebo nonchalantly raised his fingertip and ordered the bodyguard beside him, ¡°Take him to the Secret Hall.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Master Yan, please don¡¯t, I really realize my mistake, I will never again¡­¡± The pleading voice of the middle-aged man was silenced by a bodyguard clasping his jaw, and he vanished around the corner of the gazebo in a blink. At the same time, Shang Lu strode over, and upon raising his eyes, he saw Li Qiao beside the path. He narrowed his long, phoenix eyes, flicking away the stray hairs on his forehead, and with the look of ¡®I knew you couldn¡¯t let go,¡¯ he sneered mockingly, ¡°So you really can¡¯t give up, can you?¡± Li Qiao gazed back at him with a somber expression and asked regretfully, ¡°I heard¡­ healers can¡¯t heal themselves, is that true?¡± Shang Lu didn¡¯t ponder the implication behind her words and still arrogantly raised his chin, saying, ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the issue?¡± Looking at Shang Lu with eyes full of sympathy, Li Qiao struggled to manage a wry smile, this marriage¡­ calling it off was so right! ¡°Second Master, the Master is calling for you.¡± At that moment, the bodyguard under the gazebo spoke up from behind the banana leaves, suddenly addressing them from a short distance away. Shang Lu glanced at Li Qiao with a cold snort, stepped forward confidently, and muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t think that finding my big brother will guarantee you keep this damn arranged marriage, I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s impossible!!¡± The bodyguard, leaning against the banana leaf with one hand, looked at Shang Lu and then surveyed Li Qiao with a fleeting look of amazement in his eyes. The girl just now, she seemed to be mocking the Second Master for being sick. But their Second Master, it seems¡­ didn¡¯t realize it, tough one! Li Qiao naturally caught the bodyguard¡¯s gaze, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then walked over. Since her accidental intrude was discovered, she had no reason to hide any longer. And if the man opposite was Shang Lu¡¯s elder brother, then she already knew who he was. The most mysterious man in the mouths of the South Sea People, the Overlord of the South Sea: his surname was Shang, his given name was Yu, styled Shaoyan. So, it was him! ¡­ At this time, dense curtains of rainwater cascaded down from the protective eaves around the gazebo, like natural screens of rain enveloping Shang Yu within, his aloof and formidable aura adding a sense of oppression to the surroundings. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only As Li Qiao approached, she detected a faint whiff of blood in the air. Soon, Shang Yu took a towel from the bodyguard and calmly wiped his well-proportioned, slender fingers, occasionally lifting his eyelids to observe Li Qiao approaching in the fine rain. The girl was dressed in a dark green, waist-tied sleeveless long dress, with rain-soaked fabric on her shoulders and neckline, outlining the perfect curve of her collarbone. Looking up, those were the girl¡¯s tranquil and deep-set doe eyes, dark and clear. Even though the green brick under her feet was drenched in a puddle of blood diluted by the rainwater, she seemed unaware, her gaze unwavering and fearlessly steadfast. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¨C 3 3 That Face, Kind of Handsome Chapter 3: Chapter 3: That Face, Kind of Handsome Chapter 3: Chapter 3: That Face, Kind of Handsome Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Shang Yu withdrew his gaze and casually placed the towel on the stone table, his voice deep, ¡°What do you want?¡± Sitting brazenly across from him, Shang Lu opened his mouth to complain, ¡°Big brother, I want to break off the engagement, but she keeps pestering me. What should I do?¡± You really have no shame! Li Qiao glanced at him expressionlessly, about to speak when her phone, which she had been holding, suddenly rang. Li Qiao apologized and raised her hand to see that it was from her second brother, Li Yan. She hesitated about whether to answer it or not, unconsciously glancing at Shang Yu, who simply lowered his eyelids indifferently, as if giving his consent. Seeing this, Li Qiao didn¡¯t hesitate to press the answer button. ¡°Qiaoqiao, where have you gone? Have you seen Shang Lu?¡± came her second brother Li Yan¡¯s light-hearted inquiry from the phone. Li Qiao looked at Shang Lu, who sat with his nose pointed skyward, and curved her lips lazily, ¡°I¡¯ve seen him!¡± ¡°How is it? Do you feel anything?¡± There are too many feelings¡­ Li Qiao didn¡¯t voice this thought, when suddenly there was a ¡®click¡¯ sound ahead, and a puff of white mist spilled from Shang Yu¡¯s thin lips, their gazes clashing again through the curling smoke. ¡°Qiaoqiao?¡± Li Yan urged from the phone, ¡°How about this, once you¡¯re finished seeing him, come and find me. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the private exhibition hall.¡± After hanging up the phone, Li Qiao calmly looked at Shang Lu, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. I agree to the breakup.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Shang Lu, suspicious and mischievously lifting the end of his eyebrow, retorted, ¡°If you agree, why come looking for me? Make up your mind before you make up a story.¡± Li Qiao sighed pityingly, ¡°Whether I¡¯m here to find you or not, your elder brother should know.¡± Ignoring Shang Lu¡¯s nearly hopping mad demeanor, her gaze drifted to Shang Yu¡¯s face, her throat inexplicably itchy. Li Qiao guessed that when she had inadvertently intruded earlier, Shang Shaoyan must have already noticed her. This man, known to all as the Overlord of the South Sea, setting aside his awe-inspiring power, just this face alone was enough to capture the world¡¯s attention. Even the incomparably handsome Shang Lu seemed rather dull in front of his brother. The man sat there with a straight back, his narrow eyes deep and profound, his chiseled brow bones and clear features exuded an elegant coldness, particularly the wildness engraved in his bones that resembled a nobleman of the battlefield in full glory. Li Qiao watched for a long while, her eyes held a barely discernible smile as she looked away. That face is quite good-looking! At that moment, Shang Yu flicked off some ash, his tone cool, ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s not here to find you.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who she¡¯s looking for! In any case, I¡¯m determined to call off this marriage. Big brother, you agreed before, you can¡¯t go back on your word now,¡± Shang Lu asserted, his neck stiff and his face full of wary suspicion as he eyed Li Qiao, as if she might pounce on him at any moment. At this point, Shang Yu looked at Li Qiao and indifferently replied with a hint of a smile, ¡°Then let¡¯s call it off.¡± Hearing this, Shang Lu became energized again, ¡°You hear that? My big brother agrees, what else have you got to say?¡± Li Qiao was inherently a bit carefree, but that didn¡¯t mean she was a temperless doll. She looked down at the increasingly faint bloodstains beneath her feet, a slight smile on her lips: ¡°Mr. Lu, do you know? I¡¯ve always had very good eyesight.¡± With that, Li Qiao turned and headed back down the path. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only In the moment she parted the banana leaves, she looked back again, her gaze meeting Shang Yu¡¯s deep-sea-like eyes, introducing herself, ¡°Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Li Qiao.¡± Shang Yu¡¯s gaze deepened. The rain had stopped, the eaves of the pavilion occasionally dripped with raindrops. Watching the direction Li Qiao had left, Shang Lu muttered to himself in confusion, ¡°What does her good eyesight have to do with me?¡± ¡°If she has good eyesight, she can¡¯t possibly fancy you!¡± Shang Yu, staring down the path with a contemplative voice, stated thoughtfully. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 ¨C 4 4 This Shang Lu, My Li Family Has Unfinished Business with Him Chapter 4: Chapter 4: This Shang Lu, My Li Family Has Unfinished Business with Him Chapter 4: Chapter 4: This Shang Lu, My Li Family Has Unfinished Business with Him Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Shang Lu: ¡°???¡± After Li Qiao left, Shang Lu finally reined in his rascal air and sat quietly across from the man, silent as a chicken. The atmosphere stagnated for a moment before Shang Yu stood up from beside the stone table, propping himself up with his hands on his knees, looking down at Shang Lu, he admonished in a deep voice, ¡°You handle the annulment yourself. Even if you have unspeakable difficulties, you still owe them a reasonable explanation.¡± Shang Lu straightened his back and nodded languidly, ¡°Understood¡­¡± Hearing this, Shang Yu moved his long legs, intending to leave the garden. But as he just stepped down one of the steps, he paused, turned his head to glance at Shang Lu, and asked in a clear voice, ¡°Did you touch her?¡± Shang Lu hurriedly shook his head, ¡°Touch what? I felt sick all over just getting a bit too close to her, let alone touching!¡± His condition of not being able to touch women had been present since childhood, and as he grew up, it had become increasingly severe. He would vomit whenever he touched a woman. What could he do? Hearing this answer, a subtle flicker flashed through Shang Yu¡¯s slightly narrowed eyes, and his thin, carmine lips pressed lightly together, seemingly satisfied and understanding. ¡°Big brother, are you coming with me to the Li family to break off the engagement?¡± At this moment, Shang Lu looked at his big brother¡¯s retreating figure and called out with his neck craned. All he got in response was Shang Yu¡¯s cold retort, ¡°Handle it yourself.¡± ¡­ An hour later, at the South Sea Li Family. Located in the upscale villa district on Huanan Road, both the interior and exterior decor of the villa were exquisitely unique. It was surrounded by lush gardens, quiet and serene like a retreat from the world. Despite the beautiful scenery, there was a suffocating and oppressive air swirling in the Li Family¡¯s living room at the moment. Li Guangming, the wealthiest man in the South Sea, sat in a single-seater sofa, his chest heaving, his temples touched by white, yet he still looked debonair with a pair of shrewd eyes that held the steadiness of years passed. Even in his anger, he did not appear greasy. ¡°That Shang bastard, he¡¯s gone too far!¡± Li Guangming gritted his teeth in fury, his gaze settling on a celadon porcelain cup. His fingers twitched, tempted to smash it to express his anger. Seemingly aware of his intent, Li Qiao was lounging on a sofa opposite him, her legs crossed. She reminded him in a drawling tone, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s Shang Lu who called off the engagement, not the teacup I bought.¡± She had spent three million on that celadon porcelain cup at a charity auction. It would be a pity to smash it. The fire in Li Guangming¡¯s eyes dimmed a bit as he looked at Li Qiao across from him, tousling her hair affectionately, ¡°Qiaoqiao, today¡¯s ordeal is your second brother¡¯s fault. You¡¯ve been wronged!¡± Li Yan, standing in punishment by the window: ¡°???¡± ¡°Dad, how is this my fault?¡± Li Yan was somewhat displeased, yet didn¡¯t dare to be too presumptuous. After all, it was their Precious Sister who had been wronged, and he indeed bore some responsibility. God knows when he heard Qiaoqiao¡¯s retelling in the hotel¡¯s private showroom, he almost wanted to borrow a gun from third brother to take Shang Lu down! What a piece of crap, daring to spout such nonsense to his treasured baby sister! At that moment, Li Guangming looked disdainfully at Li Yan, his eyes filled with scorn, ¡°How can it not be your fault? I asked you to accompany Qiaoqiao to meet Shang Lu, not to abandon her to her fate. Tell me, how are you acting as a brother? If it had been the eldest or third brother in your place today, they would never have left Qiaoqiao¡¯s side!¡± Li Yan, deflated, blinked his eyes and fell silent! Li Qiao, seeing her second brother getting scolded, let out a light sigh, attempting to intercede for him, ¡°Dad, second brother is not to blame, it was my own choice to¡­¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, don¡¯t speak up for him. I know what he¡¯s like. When he sees a famous painting he loses his sense and causes more harm than good! Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you suffer for nothing. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only I¡¯ll have your eldest and third brothers and your mother come back right away. As for Shang Lu, our Li Family isn¡¯t done with him!¡± Li Yan, the Art Tycoon, known for causing more harm than good: ¡°¡­¡± Thus, after a phone call from Patriarch Li Guangming, Li Jun, the eldest brother, dropped his international conference and rushed back overnight from abroad, Li Cheng, the third brother, abandoned orders from a collaborator to return from the border, and Matriarch Li, Duan Shuyuan, left the Paris fashion show mid-viewing. Their Li Family¡¯s precious gem had been wronged, and that was unacceptable! Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¨C 5 5 Full of Aggression Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Full of Aggression Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Full of Aggression Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At 10 pm, the crystal chandelier in the Li Family¡¯s living room went out, leaving only the dim yellow haze of the corner floor lamp. Li Qiao returned to the bedroom on the third floor and opened the floor-to-ceiling window, a rush of humid air hitting her face. The night was deep, and the distant sky seemed covered with a layer of gray-white gauze, quiet and cool. Li Qiao concentrated for a moment before leaning against the window frame and pulling out her phone to open the search page. Search keyword: Shang Yu The next second, the blank page displayed a message: ¡°Sorry, no web pages related to ¡®Shang Yu¡¯ were found.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, and she continued to search for the three characters ¡°Shang Shaoyan,¡± but the result was the same. ¡°Hmm, quite mysterious,¡± Li Qiao tapped her fingertip on her lips, her gaze fixed on the screen with growing interest. Just how domineering is the Overlord of the South Sea? And how obsessive? There were too many rumors about him in this city, but her first impression of Shang Yu seemed to differ somewhat from the tales. Li Qiao¡¯s thumb caressed the screen page, while her mind was filled with the image of that man with a powerful aura and a proud, aloof demeanor. At that moment, a chat window popped up on her phone screen. Li Qiao, seeing the WeChat message, replied with an ¡°ok¡± hand gesture before turning to go to the bathroom. Half an hour later, Li Qiao arrived at the walk-in closet, drying her hair while eyeing the open wardrobe. After a few seconds of hesitation, she casually picked up a set of black casual wear. Tonight, she favored black! ¡­ At eleven pm, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class left the Li Family¡¯s parking lot, its hefty body speeding across the damp road straight to South Sea Entertainment City. As the name suggests, Entertainment City was a place that combined various forms of entertainment. Approaching midnight, Li Qiao parked the car at the entrance, threw the keys to the valet parking attendant, and headed straight to the third floor. In the private billiard room, Li Qiao pushed the door open and heard the crisp sound of billiard balls colliding. In the spacious private room, there was only one billiard table where two unfamiliar young men were playing, and a girl dressed like a schoolgirl was sitting on the sofa. ¡°Wow, Boss Qiao is here!¡± The schoolgirl smiled as she greeted Li Qiao, getting up and striding over, which did not match her student-like appearance at all. Li Qiao, hands in her pockets, looked the girl up and down, eyeing her white shirt and plaid skirt. ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡± The schoolgirl, named Tang Yiting, was Li Qiao¡¯s childhood friend and confidante, with a hearty personality, always hating to wear skirts since childhood. Tang Yiting jutted her neck without regard for Li Qiao¡¯s teasing. Instead, she circled around Li Qiao and said, ¡°You¡¯re asking me what¡¯s wrong? What about you, what¡¯s with this get-up?¡± Li Qiao, who favored black that night, wore a black cotton and linen suit paired with a white T-shirt and matching sneakers. Her hair was tied up in a bun with a few strands swaying by her cheeks, particularly with a black and gold necklace hanging at her chest, exuding laziness and vigor. Li Qiao tugged at the corner of her mouth and sat down on the sofa, looking up at Tang Yiting. ¡°Don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°Like it, I like it so much I could turn gay for you!¡± Tang Yiting said as she sat down next to Li Qiao and nudged her with a shoulder. ¡°Hey, I heard¡­ your betrothal, it¡¯s been called off?¡± Li Qiao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, but she didn¡¯t reply. Tang Yiting couldn¡¯t stand her domineering demeanor and clutched her chest to catch her breath. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I can¡¯t handle it!¡± Li Qiao pulled out her phone from her pocket, her fingertips grazing along the frame. ¡°Did you call me here just to discuss this?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ sort of, so what really happened? Just like that the betrothal is off? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only I thought after we graduate from college this year, you two were going to get married. I even saved up the gift money!¡± Tang Yiting said this while glancing at the two young men playing pool; they were her classmates, both aiming to pursue Li Qiao. But now it seemed unlikely, as even Shang Lu, who was unimpressed by Boss Qiao, wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against these two cream puffs. ¡°No particular reason, we just weren¡¯t suitable for each other and called it off!¡± At this, Li Qiao spoke evenly, as if the person who had been broken off with was not her. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¨C 6 6 Your Aesthetic, Offline Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Your Aesthetic, Offline Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Your Aesthetic, Offline Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Hearing that, Tang Yiting tugged at the short skirt on her knees, boldly crossed her legs in the ¡°second brother¡± style, and glanced sideways at Li Qiao, testing her, ¡°I heard your betrothed is incredibly handsome, but you just let it go, don¡¯t you feel regretful?¡± ¡°Incredibly handsome?¡± Li Qiao slightly curved her lips, but Shang Yu¡¯s face that stirred one¡¯s emotions once again surfaced in her mind. She lowered her gaze slightly, ¡°Your taste in beauty, is off the mark!¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Tang Yiting pulled out her phone, swiped a couple of times, and then pointed the screen at Li Qiao with a serious face, ¡°Please take a good look, isn¡¯t this face beautiful enough?¡± Li Qiao followed her actions and glanced at the phone, which to her surprise showed a photo of Shang Lu in formal attire. Plain as water, beautiful? Li Qiao¡¯s gaze moved to Tang Yiting¡¯s face, and she gave a lazy smile, ¡°Where did this photo come from?¡± ¡°My cousin gave it to me, and he was the one who told me about the annulment of the engagement.¡± After saying this, she added another sentence: ¡°You should still remember my cousin, right? Lu Xiheng, the handsome guy with hair down to his waist.¡± The handsome guy with hair down to his waist¡­ Li Qiao was puzzled for a second, ¡°Oh¡­¡± She didn¡¯t remember. Seeing her reaction, Tang Yiting knew her cousin didn¡¯t catch Li Qiao¡¯s eye at all. After all, in the South Sea¡¯s richest Li Family, they not only had wealth but also looks. That family, standing together, could beat half the entertainment industry just with their looks! Not to mention Li Qiao, born with a face that could topple empires, pure yet seductive, being the school beauty, department beauty, class beauty, all rolled into one. Yet she had an indifferent nature and a cold demeanor; for so many years, not a single boy dared to confess to her face, for fear of being spurned. Tang Yiting sighed heavily while holding her phone, looking as beaten as a frosted eggplant, ¡°Such a beautiful man, what a waste, what a waste.¡± Li Qiao cast her a glance and shook her head as she stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit.¡± ¡°Where are you going? I¡¯ll come with you¡­¡± Tang Yiting was about to follow, but Li Qiao, holding her phone, gestured with her hand, ¡°No need, I¡¯m going to the finance department.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Tang Yiting gave up reluctantly. South Sea Entertainment City is a property of the Li Family. From its inception, it was endowed to Li Qiao with a 45% share by Li Guangming, the doting father, making her the legitimate little boss here. ¡­ After years of development, the Entertainment City¡¯s infrastructure was now very perfect, with countless features including a gambling hall, opera house, bar, art museum, restaurant, exhibition hall, and more. Even late into the night, the place was still bustling like the Sleepless City with crowds of people. Li Qiao strolled through the corridor and took the elevator straight to the Blue Night Bar on the lower floor of the Entertainment City. As night deepened, indulgence was just beginning. The bar was divided into two areas: one side featured a slow bar with elegant tones and melodious music, while the other was a noisy disco with an unrestrained atmosphere. Li Qiao, familiar with the place, headed directly to the slow bar¡¯s counter, where the melody of a violin wafted through the air, adding a dreamy haze to the night. A Mojito was placed in front of her by the bartender, and Li Qiao sat on a high stool, one foot tapping on the ground, tilting her chin up slightly, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, you haven¡¯t been here in a while!¡± The bartender, Wen Shi, was twenty-four years old, two years older than Li Qiao, from an average family background. He worked part-time as a bartender in the slow bar every night and was a graduate student, a paragon of a hardworking and thrifty student. Li Qiao and he weren¡¯t particularly close, but every time she came to the Entertainment City Bar, he would make her a Mojito. At this moment, observing Li Qiao¡¯s detached expression, Wen Shi pursed his lips and asked, ¡°I heard you¡¯re going to graduate from the university next month, are you planning to continue studying?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Qiao took a light sip from her glass and said indifferently, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± ¡°Actually, I think¡­¡± Wen Shi hadn¡¯t finished speaking when suddenly from the private room behind them on the right, someone kicked the door open and bellowed, ¡°Shang Shaoyan, where the hell is my big brother? You were the one who took him, this is a society governed by law, don¡¯t think you can get away with this!¡± Shang Shaoyan? Chapter 7 Chapter 7 ¨C 7 7 Miss Li, Master Yan Requests Your Presence Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Miss Li, Master Yan Requests Your Presence Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Miss Li, Master Yan Requests Your Presence Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao tapped the ground with one leg and swiveled the bar stool to look behind her. At that moment, the roaring man was still cursing and swearing, his eyes bloodshot like blood itself, his overall state slightly crazed. The wooden door he had kicked open was hanging by a thread, with the doorstop broken, and the door panel seemed ready to fall off any moment. Li Qiao¡¯s expression remained indifferent as her gaze wandered to the private room¡¯s inner chamber, where, through a half-meter gap, that familiar silhouette entered her sight. Shang Yu sat on the private room¡¯s curved sofa, one arm casually placed along the back, while the other hand brought a cigarette to his lips, puffing away. His posture was lazy and wildly unrestrained. The appearance and yelling of the roaring man seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever. The swirling mist dispersed, blurring his sharp and handsome features; Li Qiao couldn¡¯t see clearly, yet this only intensified an irresistible itch in her heart. ¡°Is that man really Shang Shaoyan?¡± Wen Shi still held the cocktail shaker while both he and Li Qiao murmured as they looked in the direction of the private room. In the vast South Sea, there should be no one who does not know the name Shang Shaoyan. His Yan Emperor Group encompassed numerous industries including pharmaceuticals, technology, military, banking, and artificial intelligence. The group¡¯s industry portfolio virtually supported the entire economic development of the South Sea. Such a man indeed deserved the title ¡®Overlord of the South Sea.¡¯ Li Qiao seemingly didn¡¯t hear Wen Shi¡¯s words. She peered at the cigarette in Shang Yu¡¯s hand; her gaze followed his movements and landed on his thin lips. His lips were thin, tinged with a faint pink. Even when smoking, the line of his lips was sharp, and when he expelled the smoke, he would narrow his deep-set eyes, appearing proud and domineering. Li Qiao watched intently, perhaps too intensely, because when he leaned forward to stub out his cigarette, he arched an eyebrow and turned his head slightly, causing their gazes to unexpectedly collide. In the confusion of neon lights and the elegant, quiet slow bar, when their eyes met at that moment, unknown emotions fluttered before them like musical notes. He had seen her! Li Qiao boldly met his gaze, showing no embarrassment of being caught or any attempt to hide. Shang Yu¡¯s countenance grew somber as he averted his gaze, and the next second, he put his crossed legs down and got up to leave the private room. From start to finish, he had not given a single glance to the roaring man. His tall figure quickly disappeared at the slow bar¡¯s exit. At that moment, two eye-catching men walked out of the private room. One of them patted the roaring man¡¯s shoulder and lamented, ¡°Buddy, your courage is commendable!¡± The other looked at the roaring man with a cool gaze, his voice mocking, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to know about your big brother¡¯s whereabouts? Let¡¯s go outside and talk.¡± It seemed like the farce had come to an end. Countless people silently watched the direction in which Shang Yu left, looking on. Was that stunningly handsome man the enigmatic Shang Shaoyan? In less than a minute, the roaring man was taken away, and it seemed as though the atmosphere in the slow bar had returned to its original tranquility and harmony. Li Qiao tugged at her lips, turned towards the direction of the bar¡¯s liquor cabinet, and took a sip of her Mojito. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The taste of alcohol was very light, with a tangy bite, much like the cryptic glance Shang Yu had just given her. At that moment, the sound of Ling Kuo¡¯s footsteps approached from behind, a shadow enveloping her from above, and Li Qiao heard a sentence: ¡°Miss Li, Master Yan invites you.¡± Li Qiao paused with her drink still in hand and turned her head lazily. Oh, it was a bodyguard, one she had seen in the afternoon at Green Garden. Undeniably, tonight¡¯s look in the bodyguard¡¯s eyes held more scrutiny and curiosity as he looked at Li Qiao. Being by Master Yan¡¯s side for so long, Li Qiao was the first girl he had personally asked to meet. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 ¨C 8 8 Why Aren¡¯t You and I Engaged Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Why Aren¡¯t You and I Engaged? Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Why Aren¡¯t You and I Engaged? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao nodded slightly and put down her glass, tilting her chin toward the door, ¡°Lead the way.¡± Bodyguard: ¡°Please!¡± ¡­ At one in the morning, the parking lot of South Sea Entertainment City was still filled with luxury cars. Men and women seeking pleasure were everywhere; this Sleepless City was a breeding ground for all things ambiguous. Following the bodyguard to the entrance of Entertainment City, under the night sky, a luxurious motorcade bearing the Yan Emperor Group logo was parked at the foot of the grand entrance steps. The bodyguard brought her to a Phantom nearby, opened the rear door, and gestured with his hand: ¡°Miss Li, please get in.¡± Li Qiao looked down at the open car door, where Shang Yu sat inside. The dim overhead light poured around him, making him shine like he was gilded with gold. He had a document laid across his crossed legs, sometimes flipping through it, sometimes marking it as Li Qiao watched. Only when he turned to the third page and his pen paused, did his deep voice, tinged with a hint of huskiness, break the silence, ¡°Did you come alone?¡± Li Qiao replied calmly, ¡°Yes, alone.¡± Tang Yiting, playing pool in a private billiard room: ¡°?¡± ¡°Get in the car and I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Li Qiao, one hand in her pocket, the other playing with her necklace at her collar, gave a shallow smile: ¡°But I drove here!¡± Shang Yu did not speak, instead slowly turning his head to look at the girl standing beside the car. His pupils were deep, like a bottomless abyss, revealing not a hint of emotion. Yet the weariness was etched between his brows, and even with his indifferent expression, Li Qiao could feel that he seemed very tired tonight. Her heart inexplicably softened. Li Qiao clicked her tongue, no longer hesitating, and leaned into the car. Under the man¡¯s deep and dark gaze, she casually shut the door, boldly arching an eyebrow, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Master Yan. I almost forgot that I had a drink just now.¡± The man gave her a deep look, then averted his eyes and said lowly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡­ For the first half of the journey from South Sea Entertainment City back to Li Family residence, the only sound in the car was the scratch of Shang Yu¡¯s pen against the document. Li Qiao sat next to him, in a similar posture and attire, scrutinizing him for a while before leaning against the door and starting a conversation: ¡°Master Yan, I have a question?¡± His pen paused again, ¡°Ask.¡± So indifferent! Li Qiao pursed her lips nonchalantly, her gaze fixed on the man¡¯s profile, ¡°I¡¯d like to know how the engagement between me and Shang Lu came about!¡± Shang Yu glanced at her sideways, his eyes calm, ¡°Didn¡¯t your father tell you?¡± ¡°Um, not much. I only know that the arrangement was made when I was still in my mother¡¯s womb. But Shang Lu is three years older than me; don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit odd?¡± A sly glint passed in Li Qiao¡¯s eyes, and her smiling lips carried a hint of casual teasing. Shang Yu didn¡¯t look at her, responding effortlessly, ¡°If it¡¯s going to be dissolved, why bother about its origins.¡± ¡°Indeed, you have a point!¡± Li Qiao nodded thoughtfully, gazing at his indifferent cheek, and slowly, as if out of curiosity, said: ¡°Then why wasn¡¯t it me who was engaged to you?¡± The driver in the front nearly peed himself! The girl sure had a lot of gall to act up in front of Master Yan! Due to the driver not holding the steering wheel steady, the car shuddered slightly. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Shang Yu¡¯s eyes sharpened as he glared into the rearview mirror, his voice carrying a warning, ¡°Watch the road!¡± ¡°Sorry, Master, it won¡¯t happen again!¡± Li Qiao glanced at Shang Yu¡¯s slightly displeased expression, then at the driver who was a bundle of nerves. Had she asked some sort of life-threatening question? How could she have frightened the driver so much? Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¨C 9 9 The Time Freed Up Afterwards Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Time Freed Up Afterwards Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Time Freed Up Afterwards Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The carriage fell into a brief silence because of Li Qiao¡¯s words. As for her question, Shang Yu responded with silence. Li Qiao lazily yawned, her eyes misted with a watery gleam as she glanced outside the window. What kind of man was he, really?! There were so many labels attached to him, but Li Qiao felt none of them were him. At that moment, her phone in her pocket suddenly rang. Li Qiao came back to her senses, saw the incoming call display, and then remembered Tang Yiting, who she had left at the billiards hall. She gave Shang Yu a glance, lifted the phone to her ear, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± The clamorous voice of Tang Yiting instantly filled the entire carriage, ¡°Where did you run off to? There¡¯s no one in the financial office, hurry back, everyone¡¯s waiting for you to drink, we¡¯re not stopping until we¡¯re drunk tonight.¡± Accompanied by her questioning, Li Qiao faintly heard the ¡®thud thud¡¯ of door kicking. How should I put it? It was very awkward. Because when she pressed the phone against her face, she accidentally activated the speakerphone. In the quiet carriage, after a moment of deadly stillness, Li Qiao emotionlessly said, ¡°Wrong number.¡± Then, she hung up the call and turned off her phone. Tang Yiting, who was kicking the door at the financial office of Entertainment City, ¡°???¡± At this time, Shang Yu closed the folder in his hand, casually placing it beside his leg, and spoke nonchalantly, ¡°Did you come here with friends?¡± Li Qiao put her phone back into her pocket and shook her head seriously, ¡°No, I don¡¯t know them.¡± Shang Yu leaned lazily against the chair back, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and took a sidelong glance at her with the corner of his eye. The light was warm in the carriage, and Li Qiao caught his gaze, tilted her head, and smiled innocently. ¡­ About ten minutes later, the motorcade stopped outside the Li family villa. As Li Qiao was about to get out of the car, the man who had been feigning sleep suddenly said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Shang Lu will come to apologize tomorrow morning for the cancellation of the engagement¨Cit¡¯s his responsibility.¡± ¡°Let him come the day after tomorrow,¡± Li Qiao paused from pushing the door open and said to Shang Yu. Cancelling an engagement was a significant event; the whole family needed to be united and present a united front. Tomorrow morning was too rushed, and it was uncertain if her eldest and third brothers and mother could make it back in time. Upon hearing this, the man slowly opened his eyes, his deep and dark pupils slightly red, betraying an exhaustion unknown to others. Li Qiao didn¡¯t give him a chance to ask, opened the car door, and stepped out, bracing herself against the door frame with one hand in her pocket, ¡°Thank you, Master Yan, for the ride home. I¡¯ll see you¡­ the day after tomorrow.¡± The girl closed the car door and walked briskly into the house. A faint scent of the girl seemed to linger in the carriage. The driver sneaked a glimpse in the rearview mirror; the man in the mirror kept watching the direction the girl had gone and didn¡¯t come back to his senses for a long time. Should he start the car, or not? It wasn¡¯t until a few seconds later, as Li Qiao¡¯s figure merged with the night, that the driver heard a low sigh, ¡°Clear out the day after tomorrow.¡± The driver looked troubled, ¡°Master, the old master asked you to go back to Parma the day after tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°Clear it!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The driver didn¡¯t dare say more, but he felt that the sudden change in the master¡¯s schedule definitely had something to do with that girl! Hadn¡¯t Master Yan told Shang Lu to solve the issue of cancelling the engagement himself, and now he planned to make a personal visit just because of a word from the girl? The luxurious motorcade once again headed toward the highway, and timely, the driver said, ¡°Master Qiu just sent a message, saying he¡¯s heading to Secret Hall.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡­ The next day, at ten in the morning, Li Qiao sat quietly in the dining room eating breakfast. Her second brother, Li Yan, sat opposite her, scrolling through his phone occasionally, ¡°Mom will be home by three this afternoon, and the eldest brother has already landed. The third brother said he won¡¯t be able to make it until the evening.¡± After speaking, Li Yan stared at Li Qiao across from him and asked, ¡°Did Shang Lu say when he will come to cancel the engagement?¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¨C 10 10 This fruit is quite expensive, right Chapter 10: Chapter 10: This fruit is quite expensive, right? Chapter 10: Chapter 10: This fruit is quite expensive, right? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao bit into a slice of toast and replied indifferently, ¡°Tomorrow.¡± Li Yan nodded solemnly, his tone fierce, ¡°That damn Shang Lu, wait till big brother and the mistress come back, we¡¯ll see how we take care of him.¡± ¡­ After finishing breakfast, Li Qiao returned to her room, picked up her phone, and discovered she had forgotten to turn it back on after shutting it down last night. The moment the screen lit up, Li Qiao felt her phone was about to explode. Over twenty WeChat messages were all from Tang Yiting. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Did I dial the wrong number? [Puzzled] Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Impossible! I know your number by heart! Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Li Xiaoqiao, you¡¯re heartless, the security guy said you left with someone really important. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Am I still the person you care about the most? Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Why aren¡¯t you speaking¡­ Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: [Heartache.jpg] You actually turned off your phone, it hurts so much, I feel like I¡¯m suffocating. After going through all the messages, Li Qiao¡¯s mouth twitched twice. She could almost visualize Tang Yiting standing at the finance office door, angrily texting her. Knowing she was at fault, Li Qiao tapped on the screen and replied with a few words: There really was something. Then, she logged onto the Chanel official website, found the latest handbag release, took a screenshot, and sent it to Tang Yiting with a note: I¡¯ll give it to you tomorrow. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting replied instantly: Thank you, boss. Carry on with your work, boss. [Eager hands rubbing.jpg] ¡­ That afternoon, Li Qiao went back to Entertainment City to collect her car and then made a trip to the Chanel boutique. After tossing the gift box into the trunk, she got into the driver¡¯s seat, tapping her fingertips on the steering wheel, deep in thought. After a while, Li Qiao started the engine and drove directly to the River View Haoting Apartment. This is where her cousin, Li Shaoquan, lived. As she approached the intersection, Li Qiao caught sight of a roadside fruit stall and stopped. She bought a bunch of bananas on a whim. One shouldn¡¯t visit a cousin empty-handed. The apartment featured a duplex design, and Li Qiao, carrying the bananas, pressed her fingerprint on the biometric lock. The door opened instantly, releasing a pungent smell of smoke rushing from the inside. Lii Qiao, accustomed to it, pushed open the door and headed straight to the second-floor study with her long, slender legs. At that moment, Li Shaoquan was sitting in front of his computer, coding away, with heavy dark circles under his eyes and unkempt hair that looked like it hadn¡¯t been trimmed in a while. He was naturally a handsome and refined young man, yet he chose to live like a slovenly tech nerd. Li Shaoquan was the only child of Li Qiao¡¯s second uncle, born into wealth, but at the age of twenty-six, he was still not engaging in any serious occupation. His ultimate dream in life was to become the ¡°Godfather¡± of the Red Hacker Alliance, in other words, the father of hackers. ¡°Red Hacker¡± was simply a codename. There had once been a cross-seas hacker war in South Sea. Afterwards, numerous young people spontaneously formed the Red Hacker Alliance and defeated the gang of illegal hackers who had attempted to destabilize the local economy. That year, Li Shaoquan was eighteen years old, and from then on, he became obsessed with joining the embodiment of justice¨Cthe Red Hacker Alliance. Li Qiao squinted her eyes as she walked up to the computer desk, placing the three bananas in front of Li Shaoquan. The room was filled with the smell of smoke, causing her to frown with disapproval. She turned to glance at the floor-to-ceiling window. To her surprise, the window was open. Looking at the ashtray brimming with cigarette butts, she wondered, how has he not smoked himself to death? Just then, Li Shaoquan, biting on his cigarette holder, looked up and rubbed his eyes, mumbling unclearly, ¡°This fruit¡­ must¡¯ve been expensive, huh!¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Three bananas, such a grand gesture. Li Qiao leaned casually against the computer desk, surveying the yellowing wallpaper around her before lazily shifting her gaze back, ¡°It¡¯s the thought that counts. Help me look up someone.¡± Li Shaoquan¡¯s fingers, which had been tapping on the keyboard, paused for a moment. He took a drag on his cigarette holder, picked up a banana, and waved it, ¡°I¡¯m worth just three bananas to my future Red Hacker Godfather?¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 ¨C 11 11 With Money, You¡¯re the Daddy Chapter 11: Chapter 11: With Money, You¡¯re the Daddy Chapter 11: Chapter 11: With Money, You¡¯re the Daddy Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao watched Li Shaoquan expressionlessly as she took the banana from his hand, peeled one and put it to her mouth, speaking in a detached tone, ¡°So, have you found a way to cover this month¡¯s living expenses?¡± Li Shaoquan¡¯s expression hardened as he put out his cigarette and stood up, wiping his hands on the seams of his pants, and asked solemnly, ¡°Dad, you said to look up who?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Li Shaoquan was spineless, ever since he became addicted to the internet, Li Qiao¡¯s second uncle was so angry that he cut off all his sources of income. For about five or six years, Li Shaoquan¡¯s daily expenses were all covered by Li Qiao. If you have money, you¡¯re the dad! Li Qiao glanced at him with a half-smile, took a bite of the banana, and with her mobile phone in hand transferred five hundred thousand to him, ¡°Shang Yu.¡± Li Shaoquan sat back down and upon seeing the deposit notification on his mobile, cheekily said a word of thanks to dad. He then skillfully opened up a built-in search bar on his computer, asking again, ¡°Which Yu?¡± ¡°The intense ¡®Yu¡¯.¡± Li Qiao thought of Shang Yu¡¯s rich, dark charisma, pursed the corners of her mouth, and even the banana in her mouth seemed to taste sweeter. After the sound of rapid typing, Li Shaoquan raised his head with a peculiar look, scratching his messy hair, ¡°There¡¯s no such person, did you get the name wrong?¡± Li Qiao threw the banana peel into the trash can casually, her perfectly shaped doe eyes looking out the window, she murmured, ¡°Then try¡­ Shang Shaoyan.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± However, after typing only two characters, Li Shaoquan abruptly stopped, looking at Li Qiao with disbelief in his voice, ¡°Shang Shaoyan, is it the Shang, Shaoyan I know?¡± ¡°Otherwise?¡± Li Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly. Li Shaoquan furrowed his brow, asking seriously, ¡°This ancestor from the South Sea, what has he done to offend you?¡± With a series of questions, Li Qiao¡¯s patience was nearly exhausted, her gaze lazily drifting to Li Shaoquan, ¡°Are you unable to find it?¡± Li Shaoquan felt his computer skills were being utterly disrespected. He huffed and continued tapping on the keyboard silently, one minute, three minutes, five minutes¡­ As time ticked away, the only sounds in the study were the clicking of the keyboard and Li Shaoquan¡¯s exclamations, ¡°Eh? Mm? Eh? Ah? Holy shit¡­¡± Listening to his interjections, Li Qiao guessed¡­ he probably failed. That¡¯s it? Still want to join the Red Hacker Alliance? To clean toilets? Ten minutes passed; Li Qiao silently turned to leave, planning to return home. Fifty thousand spent for loneliness, what a loss. Just at that moment, Li Shaoquan suddenly howled like a wolf, slapping the table vigorously, shouting at Li Qiao, ¡°I¡¯m in, I¡¯m in, come and see!¡± Li Qiao halted mid-step, her eyes instantly sparkling with interest. She strutted back to Li Shaoquan¡¯s side. He had already started reading aloud to himself, ¡°Shang Shaoyan, ancestry from Parma, twenty-seven years old¡­ Holy shit, what is this?¡± Following his shocked gaze, the information on the computer screen had been disrupted, and within a few seconds, he was counterattacked. The dark page left only a large red exclamation point and an English word: WARNING! Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only This outcome, Li Qiao was not surprised. She stared at the red exclamation mark, her lips curving into a knowing smile. Sure enough, he was mysterious. At that moment, Li Shaoquan stared dumbfounded at the computer screen, poking at the keyboard and clicking the mouse, but it was unresponsive. Late when Li Qiao stepped out the door, she could still faintly hear Li Shaoquan¡¯s wailing from the study, ¡°Dad, my code is gone¨C¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¨C 12 12 The Mistress¡¯s Ability to Squander Wealth Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Mistress¡¯s Ability to Squander Wealth Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Mistress¡¯s Ability to Squander Wealth Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Li Qiao returned to the Li family villa. As soon as she entered the door, she heard a crisp and melodious call, ¡°Is it my dear Qiaoqiao coming back?¡± A smile crossed Li Qiao¡¯s eyes as she responded toward the direction of the living room, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s me.¡± At this moment, Duan Shuyuan rushed out from the living room dressed in a rose-colored two-piece dress, her hair elegantly done up in a bun. Despite being over fifty, Matriarch Li¡¯s luxurious life had preserved her natural beauty and charm. Though her fair and delicate cheeks bore traces of the years, they did not make her look old but, instead, like a woman just past forty, refined and aristocratic. Duan Shuyuan quickly approached Li Qiao, embraced her, and rubbed her against her chest, ¡°Baby, Mom¡¯s back late, you must¡¯ve been wronged.¡± Li Qiao, with her bun now a mess, ¡°¡­¡± Duan Shuyuan and Li Qiao were of similar height, both nearly one meter seventy, and with her high heels, Duan Shuyuan still had a slender yet well-maintained figure. Li Qiao struggled out of Duan Shuyuan¡¯s embrace and neatly arranged her hair bun as if nothing had happened, ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you go upstairs to rest when you just got back?¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s not tired. Come here, baby. I bought you several outfits when I went to Fashion Week. Take a look and see if you like them!¡± Duan Shuyuan took Li Qiao by the hand back to the living room, sat down on the couch, and started showing off with her phone, ¡°Look at this light yellow skirt, it will definitely be matchless on you, and this one¡­ ¡± The next twenty minutes belonged to Duan Shuyuan¡¯s monologue. Even as Li Guangming, Li Yan, and Li Jun descended from the second-floor study, Duan Shuyuan was still endlessly showing Li Qiao her shopping spoils. Three everyday outfits, two dresses, seven pairs of jeans, eight jackets, including some limited-edition hair clips, totaling twelve million in expenses. All of these were bought for Li Qiao. Duan Shuyuan took a sip of water to soothe her throat, and then handed the phone to Li Qiao, ¡°Baby, do you like them? The brand will send these clothes directly to us. I was a bit rushed coming back this time, missed four or five shows. I¡¯ll buy more for you next time.¡± Li Qiao held the warm phone, turned off the screen, ¡°I like them, thank you, Mom.¡± This was an everyday occurrence. By this time, Li Guangming and the others had taken their seats. Big Brother Xie, a high-ranking official at the South Sea Secretariat, wore a sharp suit that exuded authority and dignity. He had put off a foreign negotiation meeting and rushed back to the Li family first because of Li Qiao¡¯s broken engagement. Li Jun carefully scrutinized Li Qiao, saw that she looked as usual, still with her lazy demeanor, and couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Then, he reached into the inner pocket of his suit, took out a slender, delicate box, and said seriously and with a hint of guilt, ¡°Qiaoqiao, Big Brother has been busy on a business trip; I didn¡¯t get you much, just this Montblanc platinum pen for you to play with.¡± Li Qiao took the small gift box, twirled the pen around her fingers, and thanked Big Brother Xie. Li Guangming watched the scene with satisfaction, then in the next second, he angrily punched Li Yan on the shoulder, ¡°Look at your big brother!¡± Li Yan, stunned by the punch, ¡°¡­¡± After a while, Li Jun straightened the cuffs of his suit, his hawk-like eyes glinting coldly, ¡°Mom, Dad, let¡¯s talk business. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Did Shang Lu ever hint to you about breaking off the engagement before he suddenly proposed it?¡± Accustomed to a position of authority, Li Jun exuded a palpable sense of oppression and legitimacy¨Cqualities befitting someone of his standing. Before Li Guangming could speak, Duan Shuyuan¡¯s previously smiling face darkened instantly, her matriarchal presence fully apparent, ¡°He proposed the breakup unilaterally, never bothering to discuss it with us. If we had known this would happen, we wouldn¡¯t have let Qiaoqiao meet with him alone. It¡¯s downright bullying.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¨C 13 13 I Am Indeed Quite Wronged Chapter 13: Chapter 13: I Am Indeed Quite Wronged Chapter 13: Chapter 13: I Am Indeed Quite Wronged Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Duan Shuyuan¡¯s words came to rest, and an oppressive aura that made one¡¯s heart tremble spread throughout the living room. Originating from Big Brother, Li Jun. Li Jun narrowed his eyes slightly, his deep gaze brimming with chill, ¡°By the sounds of it, Shang Lu has never taken our Li Family seriously!¡± Hearing this, Li Yan, eager to show his allegiance, immediately nodded obsequiously, ¡°Big Brother is right, I think Shang Lu needs to be taught a lesson.¡± Li Jun gave him a cool glance and continued on his own accord, ¡°I¡¯ve looked into Shang Lu¡¯s background over the years, he¡¯s clean, at least where his relationships with women are concerned. This marriage has been arranged for some years now, and he could have backed out earlier or later; why choose to do it just before Qiaoqiao graduates?!¡± Duan Shuyuan, stroking her smooth fingernails, let out a cold laugh, ¡°Didn¡¯t they say he¡¯s coming to visit tomorrow? If he doesn¡¯t provide a reasonable explanation, this matter won¡¯t be settled.¡± The family sat in the living room, wracking their brains for strategies to support Li Qiao. At this moment, Li Qiao, who had been silent for a while, changed to a more relaxed position, nestled on the sofa and spoke at an even pace, ¡°I agree to the dissolution of the engagement.¡± Li Guangming and the others immediately turned to look at her. Duan Shuyuan caressed the top of Li Qiao¡¯s head with a pained expression, ¡°Baby, are you speaking the truth?¡± Objectively speaking, that brat Shang Lu, both in terms of his origins and background, was perfectly matched for Qiaoqiao. Moreover, this marriage¡­ At the same time, Li Guangming also had a troubled expression on his face, ¡°Qiaoqiao, Dad knows you¡¯re upset, but¡­¡± He stopped mid-sentence, seemingly holding back what he really wanted to say. Truth be told, Li Qiao had always been indifferent toward this arranged marriage. But the current attitude of her parents further confirmed her suspicions that there was something problematic about the origins of this engagement. Leaning on the armrest of the sofa, propping her cheek with one hand, Li Qiao watched her parents¡¯ expressions subtly change and hooked her lips lightly, ¡°Since he¡¯s the one proposing the dissolution, let¡¯s dissolve it, I have no objections.¡± Li Yan, filled with resentment, retorted, ¡°Isn¡¯t it too easy for him if we just let it go like this?¡± Li Qiao looked innocently into Li Yan¡¯s eyes, then nonchalantly nodded, ¡°Perhaps, but I do feel quite wronged.¡± After that declaration, the Li family members were ready to flex their muscles, prepared to show Shang Lu countless displays of their power. You just wait, Shang Family¡¯s young Lu! ¡­ Two hours later, as evening approached, the third brother, Li Cheng, also hurried back home, covered with dust. This frontier businessman carried an aura of steely coldness and bloodshed, his shoulders draped in a black trench coat. The moment he stepped into the living room, even the air seemed to grow murky and tainted with the smell of blood. The three sons of the Li Family, each with their own abilities. If the eldest, Li Jun, was a respectable South Sea official, and the second, Li Yan, was an Art Tycoon with his hands full of the stench of money, then the third, Li Cheng, was a bloodthirsty merchant skirting the edge of death. And in the Li Family, Li Qiao was closest to her third brother, Li Cheng. Now, Li Cheng strode confidently to the villa¡¯s third floor, standing in front of Li Qiao¡¯s bedroom door and knocking, ¡°Qiao, it¡¯s me, Third Brother.¡± Li Cheng¡¯s voice carried a hoarse and tired edge, sounding even more deep and resonant. Outside the window, swathes of sunset clouds painted the sky in a dreamlike fantasy. Li Qiao, hearing the knock, casually shut her laptop. Upon opening the door, Li Qiao looked at Li Cheng with a languid gaze and teased him familiarly, ¡°How long has it been since you last came home?¡± Li Cheng, following the crack of the door, marched into the bedroom. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only He pulled over the computer chair and sat himself down with grandeur. The trench coat slid from his shoulders, revealing the handgun stashed at his lower back, ¡°Things have been busy at the border, but I¡¯m back now. So tell me, what¡¯s the deal with Shang Lu?¡± Li Qiao glanced at the ceiling above her, walked over to him somewhat irritated, and leaned on the computer chair. She drew the gun from his waist and started to fiddle with it in her hands, ¡°It¡¯s just like that, nothing much to tell.¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¨C 14 14 Do You Know Shang Shaoyan Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Do You Know Shang Shaoyan? Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Do You Know Shang Shaoyan? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Apparently, Li Qiao did not want to discuss much about Shang Lu calling off the engagement. A baby betrothal of unknown origin, having it called off was exactly what she desired. At this moment, Li Cheng was nestled in a high-backed computer chair, legs crossed in an elegant and carefree posture, especially with that lazy demeanor, identical to Li Qiao¡¯s. He tilted his chin up slightly, his resolute face wearing an indulgent smile, ¡°Don¡¯t want to talk?¡± Li Qiao looked up at him and casually tossed the handgun back into his embrace, then leaned back, supporting herself with her hands behind her as she sat at the edge of the bed, her expression detached, ¡°Mhm.¡± Probably only in front of her third brother, Li Cheng, could Li Qiao¡¯s true emotions naturally reveal themselves. Li Cheng narrowed his dark, cold eyes, a fierce light hiding in their depths, ¡°Then let¡¯s not talk about it. I¡¯ll get back at him for the grievances you¡¯ve suffered there.¡± Li Qiao, sitting on the edge of the bed, kicked her toes lightly, her gaze falling on the black trench coat hanging behind the chair, but the image of another person¡¯s black silhouette surfaced in her mind. Her brow was tinged with impatience as she asked languidly, ¡°Tired from rushing back from the border?¡± ¡°Not tired, what do you want to do?¡± Li Cheng had always indulged Li Qiao with no limits. Seeing this, a different kind of fervor briefly tainted those always carefree eyes of Li Qiao, as if they were veiled in mist, ¡°The usual rule?¡± ¡°No problem, let¡¯s go!¡± As he spoke, Li Cheng stood up, and with a broad palm, roughly ruffled the top of Li Qiao¡¯s head before the siblings went straight to the parking lot. About five minutes later, two Ferrari sports cars drove out of the Li Family gate. The sleek lines of the car body cut through the evening haze, and the roaring sound of the engines seemed as if they could shield all worldly troubles. ¡­ At seven in the evening, at the Bolan Shooting Range. Li Qiao, wearing protective goggles and earplugs, stood in front of a private shooting booth, dressed in a black shooting outfit that highlighted her skin as white as snow, her hair tied into a ponytail that hung behind her head, exuding a cool and brisk temperament like a winter plum in the cold. It seemed only while standing at the shooting range did Li Qiao¡¯s casual demeanor completely vanish. She looked down at the civilian handgun on the table, weighed the grip in her hand, its weight and feel incomparable to the ones manufactured under her third brother¡¯s brand. Li Qiao picked up the magazine, skillfully assembled it, and the next second, she straightened her arm and fired three shots at the target in front of her. Two shots in the ten ring, one in the eight ring. For that result, Li Qiao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly in dissatisfaction. She moved her wrist, aiming at the center of the target once more, and fired several continuous shots. The tremendous force of the bullets flying out of the magazine, accompanied by the sound of tearing through the air, resounded almost non-stop inside the private shooting range. In less than an hour, Li Qiao had fired a hundred rounds, until her trigger finger went numb; then she emotionlessly tossed aside the handgun, propped herself up with one hand on the shooting table, and rubbed her forehead as she spoke in a deep, hoarse voice, ¡°No more shooting¡­¡± Li Cheng had been sitting the entire time on a rest chair behind her, his long legs stretched out, his crossed ankles occasionally shaking slightly. Hearing Li Qiao speak, he glanced at the recorder, licked his teeth, and said with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, ¡°You hit twenty-three eight rings, with this score, at the border, that¡¯s enough for you to die a hundred times.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Cheng knew his sister well; tonight¡¯s shooting results only meant one thing, her mind was not at peace. At this moment, Li Qiao rubbed her forearm and turned to look at Li Cheng, a slight redness in her eyes, ¡°Li San, do you know Shang Shaoyan?¡± Her question was straightforward, as light from her doe¡¯s eyes seemed to be veiled in gloom, showing no signs of life. ¡°Shang Shaoyan?¡± Li Cheng drew back his legs, propped his elbows on his knees and leaned slightly forward, ¡°The one from Yan Emperor Group?¡± Li Qiao walked up to him, picked up the Energy Drink from the table, took a big gulp, and responded with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Yes, do you know him?¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 ¨C 15 15 It Turns Out That Shang Lu is Sick Chapter 15: Chapter 15: It Turns Out That Shang Lu is Sick Chapter 15: Chapter 15: It Turns Out That Shang Lu is Sick Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Cheng looked at Li Qiao with inquiring eyes, his gaze settling on her face for several seconds before he shook his head subtly, ¡°I don¡¯t recognize him. Shang Shaoyan is known for his mystery in the South Sea; it¡¯s been many years and so many people have found it as difficult as reaching the heavens just to snap a photo of him. Why do you ask about him?¡± Li Qiao took the opportunity to sit down on a chair nearby, looking down at the slightly swollen web of her right hand and said absentmindedly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just asking. Since he¡¯s Shang Lu¡¯s elder brother, if it weren¡¯t for the annulled engagement, he would probably become my brother-in-law in the future.¡± After she spoke, Li Cheng glanced at her oddly, ¡°Do you lack elder brothers? Aren¡¯t the three in the family enough?¡± Great, he¡¯s jealous! Li Qiao looked at Li Cheng melancholically, pursing her lips and staying silent. The siblings sat in the resting area in silence for a moment before Li Cheng lit a cigarette. As he inhaled and exhaled, he reminded her, ¡°Qiao, don¡¯t be curious about Shang Shaoyan; he¡¯s not a good person.¡± Li Qiao looked at Li Cheng, taking in the murderous aura about him, and quietly swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. It seemed that no one was willing to talk much about Shang Shaoyan, but the more it was like this, the more obsessed she became with him. What kind of soul was hidden beneath that delicate and wild countenance? ¡­ That evening, after Li Qiao returned to the Li Family home, she locked herself in her room and didn¡¯t come out again. At ten o¡¯clock at night, she was listlessly browsing the internet when a WeChat message suddenly popped up on her phone screen. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: I have a secret¡­ I don¡¯t know if I should tell it or not. Li Qiao: Then don¡¯t tell it. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: ¡­ Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: It¡¯s really a huge secret that involves your happiness in your next life. Don¡¯t you really want to know? Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: [Here¡¯s an opportunity for you to reorganize your language.jpg] Seeing this message, Li Qiao didn¡¯t reply but went back to the Yan Emperor Group¡¯s page to continue reading the news. Three minutes later, four or five messages came in quick succession on WeChat. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: It¡¯s about Shang Lu. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Do you want to know why he called off the engagement? Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Let me tell you, he¡¯s actually sick! Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: I overheard my cousin on the phone. Tang Family¡¯s Xiaoting: Shang Lu has a hidden ailment; he can¡¯t touch women. It¡¯s said that if he does, he¡¯ll start puking, really puking¨Cgushingly!!! These messages appeared one after another, and the last one sent by Tang Yiting ended with three exclamation points, as if to emphasize the extent of her shock. After reading all the contents, the corners of Li Qiao¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, and a look of sudden realization twinkled in her doe-like eyes. So, that was it. Not being able to touch women did indeed count as a hidden ailment. But, recalling Shang Lu¡¯s arrogant demeanor when he spoke outlandish things in her presence while calling off the engagement, he really didn¡¯t seem to have any sign of illness. Then¡­ Li Qiao stared at the WeChat messages on the screen, took a screenshot without a second thought, and flipped it right back to her third brother, Li Cheng. If this marriage arrangement had to be ended, it must be ended thoroughly. She was looking forward to tomorrow. That night, some slept peacefully while others were fraught with trepidation. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Meanwhile, Shang Lu, who was at the Royal Apartment, was drinking with Lu Xiheng, shrugging his shoulders and feeling a chill at the back of his head. Which bastard was plotting against him? ¡°Are you really going to the Li Family yourself to call off the marriage tomorrow?¡± Lu Xiheng, the long-haired handsome man with bleary drunk eyes, kicked Shang Lu under the table and mumbled incoherently. Shang Lu, feeling petty, kicked him back with his leather shoe and rolled his eyes, ¡°What else can I do, big brother asked me to go and apologize in person, I can¡¯t just not go, can I? But what¡¯s wrong, why am I suddenly feeling so uncomfortable, Lu Xiheng, did you hide a woman in the room?¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¨C 16 16 Shang Lu gets pranked Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Shang Lu gets pranked Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Shang Lu gets pranked Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lu Xiheng didn¡¯t bother with Shang Lu, his drunken eyes hazily lifting the glass and downing it once again. Within just a few minutes, he had nestled into the couch and fallen asleep. As for Shang Lu¡­ he had almost spent the entire night unable to sleep. ¡­ The next day, at nine o¡¯clock in the early morning. Shang Lu drove alone to the vicinity of the Li family villa. The sky was overcast with a thin mist, the sunlight blocked out by the dense clouds above. He was still wearing yesterday¡¯s shirt and casual pants, one hand on the steering wheel, his eyes bloodshot and exhausted as he continuously sighed. A few dozen meters ahead was the gate of the Li family, and just the thought of the scene he was about to face made Shang Lu incomparably irritable. What the hell is this! They didn¡¯t consult him about the arranged engagement, and now he had to personally step in to break it off, where was the justice in that! Looking resentfully at the ornately crafted iron gate, Shang Lu spent three minutes psyching himself up before finally pushing open the car door and striding over. He approached and pressed the doorbell. Accompanied by the melodious ringtone, the iron gate slid open to each side. Then, standing empty-handed in the middle of the gate, Shang Lu looked at the throngs of maids inside the magnificent villa courtyard, dumbfounded. What kind of family is this? All maids? At that moment, the lead maid came up to Shang Lu with a tray, picked up a towel from it, and handed it to him with a smile, ¡°Mr. Shang, hello, welcome to the Li family, please wipe your hands first.¡± The maid looked very young and even¡­ excessively flirtatious. Shang Lu stood there expressionless. This wasn¡¯t the Li family; this was damn hell. Shortly after, he came to his senses and looked warily at the maid, taking a step back unconsciously, ¡°Put that down, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± The maid was obedient. She placed the towel back on the tray but without a change in her demeanor, she moved slightly closer to Shang Lu. At this point, Shang Lu¡¯s brows, marked by rebellion, were already showing a hint of anger. He squinted his eyes vigilantly, his voice dropping, ¡°Why are you so close? Is this how the Li family treats their guests?¡± The maid¡¯s smile was blooming as she nodded, ¡°I heard Mr. Shang is a doctor, who often visits hospitals, so this is just routine disinfection, please forgive us.¡± Shang Lu didn¡¯t respond, but inexplicably felt like he was being treated as a wandering virus. After a long silence, Shang Lu, with a grimace, reluctantly picked up the towel. Just as he was about to wipe his fingers, the maid in front of him swayed and flung herself into his arms, exclaiming, ¡°Aiyo, the ground is so slippery¡­¡± Shang Lu¡¯s fur bristled. ¡°Fuck! Ugh¨C¡± In the moment Shang Lu began to vomit, the villa courtyard fell silent. All the ¡®maids¡¯ stared blankly at the scene, completely forgetting to react. Impressive, is there really someone in this world who would throw up upon touching a woman? As for the maid who feigned falling, she immediately pushed Shang Lu away when he bent over to retch, swiftly moving to one side. At this moment, Shang Lu, even if acting foolishly, had pretty much figured out what was happening. It was deliberate by the Li family members. Every time Shang Lu touched a woman, he would vomit until he was drained, and he hadn¡¯t eaten anything that morning, now he had nearly thrown up all the acid in his stomach. ¡°You¡­ get Li Qiao out here for me!¡± Shang Lu¡¯s voice was hoarse as he growled, a watery red gleam in his eyes. Having been pounced upon by the maid, he was now starting to feel itchy with red rashes spreading over his body, his stomach churning wildly, making even moving difficult. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only No one in the courtyard responded to him. Shang Lu¡¯s steps wavered, but he managed to steady himself, looking up to see the Li family members streaming out from the hall. At least they have a conscience! Shang Lu wiped his eyes and straightened his back forcefully, trying to remain calm as he faced Li Guangming, who led the group. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the other man raise his hand to summon the butler, ¡°Hurry and open the gates.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 ¨C 17 17 Shang Yu Personally Comes to Break Off the Engagement Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Shang Yu Personally Comes to Break Off the Engagement Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Shang Yu Personally Comes to Break Off the Engagement Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At this moment, Shang Lu was nearly vomiting his consciousness away. He held his stomach with one hand, his face showing displeasure, and glared angrily at the Li family members in the hall, still thinking they wanted to drive him out. The scolding words were still fermenting on the edge of his mouth when the wrought iron gate behind him opened once more to both sides. A breeze swept past, and outside the gate, a line of luxurious cars driving down the tree-lined avenue caught his eye. At that moment, the first car slowed to a stop, the driver got out and jogged to the rear, respectfully opened the car door while holding one hand over the top, and said, ¡°Master, we¡¯ve arrived at the Li Family.¡± Shang Yu had arrived! Just as Shang Lu was being given a hard time, Li Guangming had received a call from Shang Yu¡¯s confidant, Liuyun. Today, the Overlord of the South Sea had come in person to call off the engagement. Even as the wealthiest man in the South Sea, Li Guangming had only met Shang Yu once over so many years. That was five years ago. Now, across the mottled years, Li Guangming, past his fifties, still held admiration and wariness towards Shang Shaoyan. From the back seat of the car, a pair of long legs clad in black trousers stepped out first, followed by the tall and straight figure of Shang Yu, who exited the vehicle unhurriedly and with composure. The man¡¯s lips were slightly pursed, his chiseled face wrapped in a trace of coldness, his sharp gaze deep and mysterious, standing beside the car, he seemed to envelop the surrounding air with a chill. For some reason, upon first seeing him, Li Qiao felt as though he was in a bad mood. Shang Yu was still dressed in a pure black shirt, its sleeves rolled up to his forearms, three buttons undone at the collar, giving off a sense of seriousness mingled with unrestrained wildness. His gaze, cutting through the crowd, easily caught sight of Li Qiao standing next to Li Cheng. In just a second, his gaze shifted, and he signaled the driver beside him. The driver then went to the trunk to retrieve several gift boxes. At this time, Shang Lu, suppressing his urge to vomit, staggered up to Shang Yu and complained with anger and annoyance, ¡°Big brother, they¡­¡± Without any change of expression, Shang Yu turned his head sharply, a powerful aura of pressure striking forth, immediately causing Shang Lu to gasp in a cold breath and swallow back all his complaints. By then, Li Guangming had already stepped to the entrance with Duan Shuyuan to welcome them. After five years, the underground Overlord of the South Sea in front of them had become more reserved and composed, yet the air of lofty nobility emanating from him was even more oppressive. ¡°Mr. Li, pardon the disturbance,¡± Shang Yu said, nodding to Li Guangming as he initiated the conversation. The man¡¯s rich voice was like fine wine flowing down one¡¯s throat, intoxicating and enchanting. ¡°You flatter us with your politeness, Mr. Shang. Not at all a bother, please, come inside,¡± replied Li Guangming exceedingly warmly, even overly so. In the presence of the Yang Emperor Group mogul who held the economic lifeline of the South Sea in his hands, the status of the Li family¡¯s richest man was actually insignificant. At this moment, Li Qiao stood by the pillar in the entrance hall, watching Shang Yu pass by her, a faint scent of tobacco wafting over, somewhat beguiling. Her third brother smoked, and so did Li Shaoquan, but somehow only his scent was surprisingly pleasant. Li Qiao turned her face away and silently laughed, trailing behind the group as they went in. Shang Lu, however, was left in front of the door, left to retch by himself¡­ unnoticed. ¡­ Inside the living room, the atmosphere was exceptionally solemn. Li Qiao was the last to enter. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The normally spacious hall, where one could run laps, now felt cramped and small due to Shang Yu¡¯s presence. The man sat with his legs crossed on the main double-seat sofa, his silence doing nothing to reduce the overpowering aura that seemed as if it could swallow the heavens and the earth. Li Qiao glanced around, everyone was seated on the sofas. Her parents together, her three brothers each in a single seat, leaving only the spot beside Shang Yu available. Without hesitation, she walked forward, sat down next to Shang Yu, and casually greeted, ¡°Hi, Master Yan.¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 ¨C 18 18 Is This Baby Kiss Important Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Is This Baby Kiss Important? Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Is This Baby Kiss Important? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao smiled faintly as she spoke, and in an instant, the vast living room fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Li Guangming¡¯s gaze flitted between Li Qiao and Shang Yu, fearful that his precious daughter had angered the big shot. He hastily changed the subject, ¡°Mr. Shang¡¯s visit truly graces our Li Family with extraordinary honor!¡± The entire family: ¡°¡­¡± You¡¯re a tycoon, can¡¯t you keep your cool? Li Qiao sighed in resignation, crossing her beautiful legs and leaning back against the sofa. Today, she was dressed in grey jeans paired with a plain white T-shirt. The short sleeves were casually tucked into her waistband, easy and relaxed. Especially those crossed legs, long and slender, were exactly like Shang Yu¡¯s posture. At this moment, Shang Yu glanced at the driver beside him and spoke with a mellow voice, ¡°Mr. Li, regarding the matter of Shang Lu and your daughter¡¯s annulment, I would like to personally express my sincere apologies.¡± His tone was neither hurried nor slow, and his demeanor was warm and polite. The driver timely placed the gift box on the marble coffee table. Li Guangming¡¯s face stiffened, and his smile faded slightly, ¡°So¡­ is the engagement truly to be broken off?¡± Li Qiao: ¡°???¡± Shang Yu took the tea cup from the servant, his long fingers stirring the tea leaves with the lid, ¡°Shang Lu¡¯s illness, I believe everyone here has heard of it, and at this point, I¡¯m afraid this is the only option.¡± ¡°May I ask if Old Mr. Shang knows about the annulment?¡± At that moment, Li Guangming¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of solemnity, his brows furrowed seriously, not feigned. Li Qiao observed Li Guangming without a word, the suspicions long buried in her heart resurfacing once again. Just then, Shang Yu took a sip of the black tea, slowly raising his eyes to meet with Li Guangming¡¯s, ¡°My father is currently unaware, but I will be departing for Parma tomorrow and will convey the message.¡± Li Guangming and Duan Shuyuan discreetly looked at each other. In the moment their gazes met, Li Qiao suddenly let out a light chuckle, astonishingly saying, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then we¡¯ll trouble Master Yan with this matter.¡± Upon hearing those words, Shang Yu slightly turned his gaze while the girl by his side arched her eyebrows, wearing a cunning smile. ¡°Qiaoqiao!¡± Li Guangming called out her name with grave seriousness. Although not a reprimand, disapproval was apparent in his eyes. Seeing this, Li Qiao narrowed her eyes, fiddling with her nails. Her expressive and vibrant eyes remained composed, ¡°Dad, did I say something wrong?¡± In fact, Li Qiao easily read certain messages in her parents¡¯ faces¨Cthey truly did not wish to cancel the engagement. But why exactly? At that moment, Li Guangming, looking into Li Qiao¡¯s inquisitive eyes, knew he had revealed too much emotion. He softened his expression, then turned to Shang Yu, ¡°Mr. Shang, may I talk with you upstairs in more detail?¡± Shang Yu¡¯s thumb caressed the celadon teacup, his gaze settling on the girl¡¯s fair, creamy face. With a slight nod, he agreed in a deep voice, ¡°That would be fine.¡± ¡­ Shortly after, Li Guangming and Shang Yu¡¯s figures disappeared at the top of the second-floor staircase. Li Qiao rested her hand on her forehead, casually glancing towards Duan Shuyuan, ¡°Mom, do you not want the annulment between me and Shang Lu?¡± Duan Shuyuan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, disingenuously refuting, ¡°How could that be, it¡¯s nothing like that.¡± Li Jun took a breath of relief and also asked, ¡°But I also thought Dad¡¯s attitude was a bit strange just now!¡± ¡°Mom, are you and Dad hiding something from us? It¡¯s clear that Shang Lu doesn¡¯t want to marry Qiaoqiao, but you and Dad seem very insistent. Is there some¡­ story behind this child betrothal?¡± Li Yan also asked with a puzzled look. Duan Shuyuan¡¯s eyes flickered as she glared pointedly at Li Yan, ¡°What story could there be? It¡¯s just that a long, long time ago¡­¡± Here we go again! Whenever Li Qiao or her brothers inquired about the origin of the arranged marriage, their parents always responded in this evasive manner. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only At that point, Li Cheng, lacking patience, directly interrupted Duan Shuyuan, his voice cold, ¡°Mom, if that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s just call off the engagement. Today, Shang Shaoyan came on behalf of Shang Lu, and by the looks of it, he intends to protect his brother. Seems I need to think of another way to take revenge for Qiaoqiao.¡± That unusual welcoming ceremony they had outside the door today was Li Cheng¡¯s doing, also serving as the first ¡®welcome gift¡¯ for Shang Lu. As for the enchanting woman disguised as a servant, she was none other than his top lieutenant: Nan Xin. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 ¨C 19 19 What did you and my dad talk about Chapter 19: Chapter 19: What did you and my dad talk about? Chapter 19: Chapter 19: What did you and my dad talk about? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio About twenty minutes later, footsteps echoed from the staircase upstairs. In the silent living room, everyone stood up as if by an unspoken agreement. Except for Li Qiao. At that moment, struggling rays of sunlight pierced through the gloomy clouds and touched down at Li Qiao¡¯s feet through the glass. The girl sat immobile on the sofa, staring indifferently at her own toes without glancing sideways. Only when Li Guangming and Shang Yu returned to the living room did her gaze slightly quiver, and she slowly let her peripheral vision sweep over them. Shang Yu, with his distinguished presence, stepped slowly into the center of the living room and said with a cool demeanor, ¡°Stay put, there¡¯s no need to see me out.¡± Li Guangming gave a sheepish smile, ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll wait for Old Mr. Shang¡¯s reply.¡± The man did not engage in conversation but lowered his eyelids in response. No one knew exactly what they had discussed, but the atmosphere between Shang Yu and Li Guangming was evidently delicate. Duan Shuyuan stepped forward, and as the lady of the house, not wanting to be inhospitable to Shang Shaoyan, invited him with a formal politeness, ¡°Mr. Shang, are you planning to leave? If it¡¯s not too much trouble, would you like to stay for some morning tea?¡± ¡°No need, thank you.¡± Shang Yu answered with an exceptionally deep tone. Although maintaining good manners, the inscrutable depth of his dark eyes was impenetrable. In a moment, he led the way to the front hall, with the chauffeur following closely behind him. The man¡¯s proud and determined stride embodied the essence of ¡®looking down on everything¡¯. While Mr. and Mrs. Li and the others were still immersed in Shang Yu¡¯s inexplicable aura of intimidation, Li Qiao had already stood up and followed him out. ¡°Qiaoqiao¨C¡± Li Cheng¡¯s surprised call came from behind, but Li Qiao¡¯s figure had already disappeared near the front hall. In the villa¡¯s courtyard, Li Qiao followed Shang Yu at an even pace. Nearby in the little garden, Shang Lu was crouched by a small maple tree, clutching his stomach with a pale and handsome face, occasionally retching, looking both pitiful and funny. ¡°Master Yan!¡± Li Qiao¡¯s ethereal and crisp voice softly rose from behind Shang Yu, the chauffeur glanced over silently, then turned away, heading to the small garden as if nothing had happened. At the sound, Shang Yu paused mid-step, his proud and confident demeanor fluttering with unrestrained charisma, and he gazed at Li Qiao with deep and far-reaching eyes, his voice steady and magnetic, ¡°What is it?¡± The girl lazily blinked her eyes, her fingertips tucked in the pockets of her jeans, with her slight, sharp shoulders shrugged slightly, a breeze tousling the hair on her forehead, her voice also tender and faint, ¡°Can I ask what you and my dad talked about?¡± Li Qiao¡¯s mood was evidently gloomy, her thick eyelashes drooping concealing the ripples in her eyes. She never doubted her parents¡¯ love and protection for her, but this time, she wondered why they were so adamant about her and Shang Lu¡¯s engagement. Shang Yu looked at Li Qiao before him, his pitch-black eyes radiating a daunting gleam, ¡°Asking your father would be more appropriate.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me?¡± Li Qiao frowned, suddenly looking up with calm yet sharp deer eyes. The man scrutinized the girl¡¯s hauntingly fine cheeks, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly, refusing frankly, ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t.¡± It had come to this, and Li Qiao¡¯s heart instantly surged with restlessness, her gaze dark and cold, her tone slightly tense, ¡°One last question, can this engagement be called off?¡± Her impatience and annoyance had crept into the corners of her eyes and brow; usually indifferent in her interactions, Li Qiao forgot to pretend in front of Shang Yu. Just when she thought Shang Yu wouldn¡¯t answer, she heard a sentence by her ear, ¡°As long as you want it, it can be called off.¡± CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Vicky_ From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 ¨C 20 20 A Private Word with Him Chapter 20: Chapter 20: A Private Word with Him Chapter 20: Chapter 20: A Private Word with Him Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°As long as you want to¡­¡± Li Qiao¡¯s heart was stung, and a hint of imperceptible shock tinted her eyes. At that moment, Shang Yu slightly squinted his eyes. Clad in black, his proud stature leaned slightly forward, like an alluring siren¡¯s call, he raised his lips and asked, ¡°Tell me, do you want to?¡± Li Qiao raised her eyebrows, trying her best to ignore the palpitations that his handsome face brought, and answered truthfully, ¡°Of course, I do. Can Master Yan help me?¡± Shang Yu¡¯s deep gaze fell on her slender shoulders, and his thin lips lifted slightly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡± Upon hearing this, the questions Li Qiao wanted to ask were suddenly interrupted by footsteps from behind. Li Cheng, her third brother, had unknowingly hurried to her side. The two men had similar temperaments and were of similar height. Li Cheng placed a hand on Li Qiao¡¯s shoulder, his stance full of protective desire as he shielded her at his side. Then he looked at Shang Yu, his tone laden with rivalry, ¡°The ¡®grant your wish¡¯ Master Yan speaks of, is that to let your younger brother bully my sister?¡± Li Cheng didn¡¯t know what exactly Li Qiao and Shang Yu had talked about. But he had heard the phrase ¡®I¡¯ll grant your wish¡¯ very clearly. Although they had never met face to face before, Li Cheng knew well that Shang Shaoyan was not someone likely to be charitable. His deeds over the years had become widely known in the South Sea, and even Li San, the iron-fisted man of the borders, dared not confront him head-on. Li Cheng¡¯s protection brought a knowing smile to Li Qiao¡¯s face, and then she too looked at Shang Yu, curious about how he would respond. At that moment, Shang Yu looked indifferently towards the corner of the small garden. Shang Lu was leaning awkwardly on the driver¡¯s shoulder, his face pale and sickly. In a flash, Shang Yu withdrew his gaze, his hand in his trouser pocket, and said coldly and unfeelingly, ¡°He will bear the consequences of his actions.¡± Li Cheng¡¯s brows furrowed skeptically, ¡°Really?¡± Shang Yu¡¯s cool gaze sharpened, and without a word, he turned and left. ¡°Big, Big Brother, I can¡¯t possibly be a foundling, right¡­¡± At this moment, Shang Lu murmured to the back of his brother, his breath as thin as a thread, and then he tightly clutched the driver¡¯s arm, his eyes warily on Li Cheng. He had heard of Li San of the Li Family, a formidable fighter on the borders! If his brother didn¡¯t care for him today, could he end up dismembered by the maidservants of the Li Family? Damn it! Big Brother, save me! Dragging the driver along, Shang Lu stumbled out towards the gate, while Li Qiao leaned on her elder brother¡¯s shoulder, watching him with a near-smile. Just as Shang Lu was about to step out of the Li Family¡¯s gate and still hadn¡¯t caught his breath, Li Cheng spoke, ¡°Shang Lu, there will be a long time in the future¡­ We shall meet again.¡± Who the hell wants to meet you again! Shang Lu wanted to cuss out loud, but he simply didn¡¯t have the energy. As soon as he stepped outside, he scrambled into the back seat of one of the cars on all fours. An arranged marriage that should have been called off seemed to have reached another deadlock. After the convoy outside had left, Li Cheng then lowered his head and stared at Li Qiao¡¯s hair, asking, ¡°What did you say to Shang Shaoyan?¡± Li Qiao¡¯s gaze still lingered outside the door. After a long while, she came back to her senses, looked up at Li Cheng with a lazy smile, ¡°Nothing much, just a whisper.¡± ¡°A whisper? With him?¡± Li Cheng looked at Li Qiao anxiously, his fingers curving to tap on her forehead, ¡°Are you sure it was a whisper and not a last will? I¡¯ve told you several times not to provoke¡­¡± Li Qiao lazily yawned, blinking her moist deer-like eyes, and waved her hand dismissively, ¡°I know, I know, I¡¯m off to school now.¡± ¡°Li Xiaosi, I haven¡¯t finished speaking¨C¡± but Li Cheng was only met by the casual wave of Li Qiao¡¯s hand as she went over his shoulder. The arrogant, iron-blooded border lord was left in his original spot, full of irritation. Since she was young, his sister had always been headstrong, fearing neither the heavens nor the earth. But if she really provoked Shang Shaoyan, he feared the entire Li Family¡­ would not be able to protect her. CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Vicky_ From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ¨C 21 21 Golden Desert Eagle Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Golden Desert Eagle Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Golden Desert Eagle Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Family¡¯s Garage, Li Qiao had just walked up to her large G when she vaguely saw someone sitting in the passenger seat through the tinted car window. As she approached, the window rolled down, revealing Nan Xin¡¯s unmistakably enchanting cheeks, ¡°Baby, did you miss me?¡± Li Qiao glanced at her and climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, fastening her seat belt as she spoke, ¡°Did you come back with Li San?¡± Nan Xin tossed her thick wavy hair, leaning towards Li Qiao, ¡°Of course, I did this to vent our baby¡¯s frustrations. So, how was my performance just now? Were you satisfied?¡± At this moment, Nan Xin, no longer in her maid¡¯s uniform, with her seductive figure becoming even more charming, the kind of woman who could become one of Li San¡¯s most capable subordinates, relied on much more than just a pretty face. If someone ever saw Nan Xin casually navigating through a hail of bullets, they would never underestimate her again. As for the relationship between Li Qiao and her, it could be described as a life-and-death friendship. Once, in the chaotic and complex borderland jungle, nineteen-year-old Li Qiao had saved Nan Xin¡¯s life. At this time, Li Qiao pressed the window switch, resting her elbow on the window ledge and teasingly said sideways, ¡°Is it that your skills have gotten rusty, or is Shang Lu too delicate to handle it? You didn¡¯t seem to do much¡­¡± Before she could finish, Nan Xin rolled her eyes expressively, ¡°It¡¯s because he¡¯s too weak, okay? He didn¡¯t even give me a chance to show off.¡± While speaking, she noticed Li Qiao dressed casually and asked offhandedly, ¡°Are you going out?¡± Li Qiao turned her head to look outside the window, responding indifferently, ¡°Yes, going to school.¡± Nan Xin tugged at her lips, her fingers with red manicure pulling the car door open, then turned back to remind the next second, ¡°I won¡¯t be returning to the border for now, contact me for anything. Also, I¡¯ve left the latest gift for you in your storage box, no need to thank me!¡± With that, Nan Xin leaned out of the car, and with her black bodycon dress, she left the garage with a bewitching gait. Li Qiao turned and opened the center storage box of the seat, finding a modified Golden Desert Eagle inside. The golden barrel shimmered with a luxurious sheen, and the .357 caliber was a collector¡¯s dream for any mechanical enthusiast. Holding the cold barrel of the gun in her hands, Li Qiao weighed it, finding it many times more powerful than the civilian firearms at the shooting range. She played with it fondly for a while before putting it back after a long moment. Li Qiao loved guns and all kinds of sophisticated machinery, a passion she owed to Li San¡¯s business dealings at the border, which is why she had a particular fondness for all types of mechanical firearms. ¡­ At ten thirty in the morning, Li Qiao drove to South Sea Medical University. With graduation season approaching, there were very few senior students to be seen on the university campus. Li Qiao parked her Mercedes-Benz G-Class on a roadside parking space, and after getting out of the car, she walked towards the main entrance of the medical school. South Sea Medical University wasn¡¯t top-ranked nationally, at best it was merely an also-ran among the key institutions. Back when Li Qiao had taken her college entrance exams, she had been in the top one hundred of her city, but because her family didn¡¯t want her to leave South Sea, after a family meeting, everyone unanimously decided to keep Li Qiao in South Sea, attending medical school. Li Guangming had said at the time, ¡°Whether the school is a key point doesn¡¯t matter. After all, making a name for ourselves is something your three brothers can handle. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re the only daughter in the family, so just enjoy life more. Reading is so hard, just take it easy; it¡¯s not important.¡± Thus, Li Qiao filled in all three of her university preferences with South Sea Medical University, and thanks to her outstanding scores, she ended up choosing the university¡¯s top-rated specialty in Biological Cell Engineering. South Sea Medical University had a large campus, with the teaching areas, residential areas, and sports zones arranged in a triangular layout. Stepping into the academically rich teaching area, on the right side was the Wall of Fame, which still had a photo of Li Qiao winning an award for her research. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¨C 22 22 My Dad Won¡¯t Let Me Show Off My Wealth Chapter 22: Chapter 22: My Dad Won¡¯t Let Me Show Off My Wealth Chapter 22: Chapter 22: My Dad Won¡¯t Let Me Show Off My Wealth Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At this moment, Li Qiao circled around the school¡¯s Mingyuan Lake, wearing sunglasses and strolling slowly towards the direction of her dormitory. Her graduation thesis was still on the computer in her dorm room, and next week she was to enter the graduation defense phase. ¡°Qiaoqiao¨C¡± Someone called her by the shore of Mingyuan Lake. Li Qiao paused slightly, looked over the top of her sunglasses, and saw Tang Yiting. Standing beside her was a familiar figure, the bartender from Entertainment City Bar, Wen Shi. Then Tang Yiting walked briskly towards her, her gaze swept over Li Qiao, and with her chin tilted proudly, she asked, ¡°Boss, did you forget something?¡± Oh, she was reminding her about that Chanel leather bag. Li Qiao casually gestured with her lips towards the gate outside the school, ¡°It¡¯s in the trunk, pick it up later.¡± ¡°Thanks, Boss!¡± Tang Yiting immediately sidled up to her with a fawning attitude, hooking arms with her. ¡°Tell me, who was the big shot you left with that night?¡± Wen Shi happened to arrive by their side, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he nodded at Li Qiao. Instead of answering Tang Yiting¡¯s question, Li Qiao looked at Wen Shi with a light tone, ¡°Why have you come to the medical university?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here with my mentor for some work, just happened to run into Xiao Tang,¡± Wen Shi replied with a light smile. In the past, Tang Yiting often went to the slow bar at Entertainment City with Li Qiao, so she was very familiar with Wen Shi. Tang Yiting, unsatisfied with the change of topic, pinched Li Qiao¡¯s wrist and muttered softly, ¡°Xiao Wen just told me that you left with Shang Shaoyan that night? That big demon from the South Sea? Really?¡± Li Qiao raised her eyebrows, looking at Tang Yiting¡¯s face, which was clearly burning with gossip. She lifted her sunglasses slightly and shook her head noncommittally. Tang Yiting¡¯s neck stiffened, seemingly disappointed, and she slapped her thigh. ¡°Hey, I was saying, how could you know Shang Shaoyan, so you¡­¡± Before she could finish, Li Qiao added expressionlessly, ¡°He¡¯s not a big demon.¡± The stunned Tang Yiting: ¡°!!!¡± She didn¡¯t make a sound but mouthed two words: Holy¡­ shit? Li Qiao proudly raised her eyebrows, ¡°I¡¯m off to my dorm, you guys chat.¡± ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll go too, Xiao Wen can have fun by himself,¡± Tang Yiting left Wen Shi behind and scurried after Li Qiao toward the dormitory building. Wen Shi stood there, watching Li Qiao¡¯s slender and cool back disappear, his gentle features revealing a trace of faint mockery. ¡­ Li Qiao and Tang Yiting arrived shoulder to shoulder at the dormitory building. Just as they arrived at the entrance, they ran into their roommate Jiang Yi. Jiang Yi eyed Li Qiao with an unfriendly look; wearing a simple T-shirt and ordinary jeans, she glanced at her own designer dress and a sense of superiority welled up inside her. ¡°You¡¯re staying here tonight?¡± Li Qiao glanced at Jiang Yi through her sunglasses, her expression cold, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Actually, Jiang Yi¡¯s animosity towards Li Qiao ran deep, mainly because the self-proclaimed beautiful Jiang Yi was confident at the start of school that she would become the belle of the department or even the shining star of the medical university, only to be completely overshadowed by Li Qiao. She remembered the battle for the department¡¯s belle very clearly when eighty percent of the male students in their department voted for Li Qiao, leaving Jiang Yi in an embarrassing defeat. From then on, Jiang Yi saw Li Qiao as a thorn in her side, often sneering with words and setting traps in secret, which continued for a full four years. ¡°Oh, off to ¡®work¡¯ again?¡± Jiang Yi sneered with mocking enjoyment. No matter how beautiful she is, she¡¯s still someone who needs to sell her body for tuition fees¨Ca poor bitch. At that moment, Tang Yiting couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, she was about to start a verbal battle when she heard Li Qiao call out to her, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Feeling indignant, Tang Yiting followed behind her and stomped her foot as they walked into the dormitory building, ¡°We¡¯re almost graduating, why do you still put up with her? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only What¡¯s all this about going to work again? You should throw your dad¡¯s name in her face!¡± Regarding this, Li Qiao just laughed it off, ¡°My dad doesn¡¯t allow me to flaunt wealth.¡± Indeed, he didn¡¯t, because when she was seven years old, she had been kidnapped. Thus, very few knew of the fact that the young heiress of the South Sea Li Family was named Li Qiao. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 ¨C 23 23 I Go to Look for a Job Chapter 23: Chapter 23: I Go to Look for a Job Chapter 23: Chapter 23: I Go to Look for a Job Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao and Tang Yiting returned to their four-person dormitory to pick up their laptops before leaving the campus. Following closely behind her across the street, Tang Yiting saw the Mercedes-Benz G-Class parked on the other side and couldn¡¯t help but ask resentfully, ¡°You¡¯re about to graduate, aren¡¯t you going to teach Jiang Yi a lesson? She¡¯s been spreading rumors about you for years.¡± With her slender laptop tucked under her arm, Li Qiao parted her lips indifferently, ¡°Not interested.¡± The petty squabbles among classmates, she never took to heart. After all, they were not important. Tang Yiting couldn¡¯t help but curse under her breath, muttering, ¡°You might as well say you¡¯re just too lazy!¡± Indeed, Li Qiao was lazy. It wasn¡¯t just her personality; even her manners were casual and nonchalant. It wasn¡¯t intentional, but rather something bred into her by her family. In Tang Yiting¡¯s memory, the Li family¡¯s favoritism for Li Qiao was outrageously evident. She had heard that before the age of five, Li Qiao never needed to walk because wherever she went, her brothers were there to carry her. Wanting to drink water or eat food, she didn¡¯t have to lift a finger; her brothers would rush to do it for her. Thus, Li Qiao¡¯s upbringing perfectly exemplified what it meant to be the sole darling of the family. The more Tang Yiting thought about it, the more she felt she had wasted twenty-two years of her life. Despite being the heiress of the South Sea¡¯s Five Giants¡¯ Tang family, she felt insignificant compared to Li Qiao, as if she were picked up from a gutter. Shortly after, Li Qiao arrived at the G-Class, opened the trunk, and took out a Chanel paper bag. Tang Yiting hugged the bag playfully, sniffing it eagerly¨Cit smelled like renminbi. ¡°I¡¯m leaving first,¡± Li Qiao said, shutting the trunk and turning to Tang Yiting. With a paper bag in her arms, Tang Yiting blinked suspiciously, ¡°Where are you going? You¡¯re busier now than when you had class, and you¡¯re about to graduate!¡± Heading towards the front of the car, Li Qiao opened the door and lazily replied, ¡°I¡¯m going job hunting.¡± Tang Yiting: ¡°???¡± Wasn¡¯t she guaranteed a spot at a research institute? Why the hell is she looking for a job? Before Tang Yiting could come to her senses, the imposing vehicle had already driven away. ¡­ Of course, Li Qiao was not going to look for a job, but instead took a drive around the outskirts of South Sea, only returning to the Li Family home near noon. Entering the foyer with laptop in hand, before she could even make her presence known in the living room, she heard the heated voices of an argument. ¡°Dad, the more you talk, the more confused I am. Are you saying that after all this discussion, you never intended to call off Qiaoqiao¡¯s engagement?¡± The speaker was her second brother, Li Yan. Hearing this, Li Qiao paused in her steps and quietly leaned against the marble wall of the foyer, shamelessly eavesdropping. At that moment, Li Guangming ¡®thunked¡¯ his teacup onto the table with sternness in his voice, ¡°You don¡¯t understand a thing! Even if we want to break off this engagement, it requires Old Mr. Shang¡¯s approval. What right does Shang Lu have to make such a decision?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t Shang Shaoyan make the decision either?¡± Her eldest brother, Li Jun, spoke with a deep voice filled with displeasure, ¡°Dad, for many years, you¡¯ve never disclosed to us the origins of this engagement. Now that Qiaoqiao has been treated with such neglect by Shang Lu, aren¡¯t you going to tell us the truth?¡± Smoking a cigarette, her third brother Li Cheng said, ¡°Dad, you saw Shang Lu¡¯s attitude today. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only I don¡¯t care what difficulties you have, but if you still insist on marrying Qiaoqiao off to Shang Lu¡­¡± Li San continued sternly through the smoke, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind recalling all our forces from the border and facing off against the Shang family! That¡¯s my stance. You decide for yourself.¡± Left to decide for himself, Li Guangming: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 ¨C 24 24 Li San, You Should Retire Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Li San, You Should Retire Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Li San, You Should Retire Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At this moment, the protection of her three older brothers made Li Qiao¡¯s heart burn with emotion. The pretty girl¡¯s eyes gleamed with a hint of light, unbothered by the tense argument unfolding in the living room. Out of the blue, she was certain that the marriage proposal could be called off. Because not long ago, Shang Yu had personally promised her that if she wanted, they could break it off. So, she would wait and see. Li Qiao did not linger in the entryway for too long; she did not want her father and brothers to make a big fuss over her matter, and merely seconds later, she gracefully made her appearance. The moment Li Qiao appeared, the tense atmosphere in the living room instantly dissipated. Li Guangming looked at Li Qiao with faint surprise, perhaps due to a guilty conscience, he involuntarily stood up and walked towards her while rubbing his hands, ¡°My dear daughter is back. Are you tired from being out? Why not stay out a bit longer before coming home?¡± This scene made the eldest brother, Li Jun, support his forehead and sigh, while the second brother, Li Yan, scoffed derisively, and as for Li San, he took a fierce drag on his cigarette, utterly disdainful. This is the famous South Sea¡¯s richest man, a standard doting father of a daughter. Yet when it came to the matter of a childhood betrothal, he was strangely and stubbornly opinionated. How contradictory! At that moment, Li Qiao looked at Li Guangming with amusement, then sized up her three brothers and said lightly, ¡°Dad, since calling off the engagement requires Old Mr. Shang¡¯s agreement, let¡¯s just wait. There¡¯s no need for you all to argue over this.¡± Li Guangming nodded earnestly, patting Li Qiao¡¯s shoulder with relief, ¡°My daughter is the sensible one indeed!¡± With that, he glared at the three men in the living room, and snapped, ¡°See? The three of you are so grown up, yet not as sensible as Qiaoqiao.¡± The three sons of the Li Family fell into a complicated silence: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ After lunch, the several brothers left the house one after another. Li Qiao sat alone on the balcony of the third floor, with a hand-ground coffee pot still on the glass table. The fragrance of coffee beans spread around, adding a touch of pleasure to the boring afternoon. Li Qiao looked at the misty sky, tapped her fingertips on her knees, then picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number. ¡°Baby, you¡¯re missing me already?¡± Nan Xin¡¯s sickly sweet voice came through the receiver, heavily sugared. Li Qiao¡¯s lips pursed slightly as she gazed into the distance, ¡°I want Shang Shaoyan¡¯s phone number.¡± Nan Xin¡¯s breathing paused, and she asked in an extremely serious tone, ¡°What are you going to do with it?¡± ¡°Not giving it to me? Then I¡¯ll get it myself¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving it, I¡¯m giving it!¡± Nan Xin quickly replied, fearing the little ancestor would exert herself, ¡°Such a simple matter, no need for you to bother, I¡¯ll send it to you in a moment.¡± Before hanging up the phone, Li Qiao reminded in a flat voice, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Li San.¡± At that moment, Nan Xin, who was about to use another phone to tip off Li San, was stunned: ¡°¡­¡± In less than five minutes, through Nan Xin, Li Qiao had Shang Yu¡¯s phone number. As she looked at the string of digits, the image of the man proudly standing above all resurfaced in her mind. Of course, she could find Shang Yu¡¯s phone number herself, but if she personally accessed the border¡¯s inquiry system, it would definitely alarm Li San. After all, Li San had said that his information network covered everything in the world, even able to find out the movements of a grasshopper. Thus, having Nan Xin assist was the best choice. Li Qiao stared at the phone number for a moment and then sent a direct message: As long as I want, I can call it off? The reply came instantly: Huh? What? Li Qiao looked at the text message screen, feeling that something was off, but she still patiently replied: Does Master Yan not remember his own words? Then, the other person sent over a line of text: Sorry, I am Master Yan¡¯s assistant, Liuyun. This is my mobile number. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Who may I ask is this, and do you need me to convey a message? Li Qiao looked at the text message emotionlessly, and the next second, she threw the phone onto the coffee table. Just this? An information network that covers everything in the world, capable of tracking a grasshopper¡¯s movements? Li San, it¡¯s time for you to retire! Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¨C 25 25 Baby Girl Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Baby Girl Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Baby Girl Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Meanwhile, at South Sea International Airport. The private plane owned by Yan Emperor was waiting on the tarmac for takeoff clearance. Inside the cabin, Liuyun sat by the window, his rigidly handsome face wearing a peculiar expression as he looked at his phone screen. After a moment, he cast a deep glance at the man opposite him, stood up, and handed over his phone, ¡°Master, take a look at this.¡± At that time, Shang Yu was leaning against a long sofa, resting with his eyes closed. His long legs in dress pants were crossed in front of him, his hands resting on the back of the sofa in a relaxed and comfortable pose. Hearing the sound, Shang Yu slowly lifted his eyelids, the corners of his eyes curving slightly, exuding a touch of languor. Seeing this, Liuyun tapped the screen and said in a measured tone, ¡°I received a text message, I¡¯ve checked, it¡¯s¡­ from Miss Li.¡± Shang Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he took the phone from Liuyun, his voice cool, ¡°Why does she have your number?¡± The soul-inquired Liuyun: ¡°?¡± Master, don¡¯t you think that question should be asked to Miss Li? Liuyun remained silent, quietly returned to his own seat, and looked out the window at the gathering clouds, beginning to ponder life. He wanted to know why too! At that moment, Shang Yu lowered his gaze to the phone screen, quickly scanned the contents of the conversation, and then tossed the phone back onto Liuyun¡¯s lap, ¡°Tell her, I remember.¡± Liuyun blinked, not daring to ask more questions, and immediately used the phone to reply to Li Qiao. During this time, Shang Yu casually picked up his own phone from the small bar beside the sofa, opened the contacts page, and directly entered and saved Li Qiao¡¯s phone number. Nickname: Baby Girl ¡­ Li Qiao¡¯s brooding mood cleared away as she received the text message reply from Liuyun. She faintly felt that even someone like Li San, who prided himself as a borderland big-shot, probably didn¡¯t stand a chance against Shang Yu. He couldn¡¯t even find a mere phone number, which made him less useful than Li Shaoquan. Oh, she almost forgot, the borderland¡¯s information retrieval system was set up by both Li Shaoquan and Li San together. Li Qiao sat pondering alone for a moment, shook her head and sighed, then got up and returned to her room to turn on the laptop she brought back from school. There wasn¡¯t much on this laptop, just a few folders, all containing school coursework. Li Qiao clicked open her thesis, intending to review it once more. But, with the sound of a couple of clicks, the file she clicked on instantly shredded itself. It was a thesis of nearly ten thousand words that had taken her a week to write. Li Qiao¡¯s gaze frosted over as she looked at the destroyed file, quietly calming herself for a few seconds. This computer, she had only set a simple password lock and it was left in the dormitory every day; the file¡¯s destruction was certainly not an accident, but more likely¡­ intentional. Li Qiao flicked the stray hair from her forehead and let out an annoyed sigh, ¡°Troublesome.¡± The next second, she placed her hands on the keyboard, performed a few simple operations, and a built-in record dialogue popped up. Li Qiao pressed enter, and the black screen rapidly displayed the computer¡¯s past login records. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Three days ago, at 1:28 a.m., someone had cracked her computer password and used a shredding tool to set all the data in her computer to self-destruct upon click. Li Qiao tried to recall, and on that night three days ago, she seemed to be hanging out at the slow bar in Entertainment City. Such a low-level tactic of damaging files, apart from Jiang Yi, Li Qiao didn¡¯t consider anyone else. It appeared that just as Tang Yiting had said, she had been too indulgent with Jiang Yi. Li Qiao looked expressionlessly at the login records, then started typing irritably on the keyboard, beginning to restore the data on her computer. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¨C 26 26 Go with the Flow in a Buddhist Way Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Go with the Flow in a Buddhist Way Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Go with the Flow in a Buddhist Way Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao wasn¡¯t a hacker, but her computer skills were still beyond those of the average person. After all, with Li Shaoquan, a zealous fan of the Red Hacker Alliance constantly around, her coding abilities had become quite formidable under his influence. It was just that she was too lazy to lift a finger or a brain cell, approaching her tasks with a laissez-faire attitude. Li Shaoquan once commented that if Li Qiao were willing to buckle down and study Red Hacker techniques, given time, the Red Hacker Alliance would definitely invite her to join. In less than ten minutes, all the smashed files and data were retrieved and restored. Li Qiao placed one hand on the keyboard, lightly tapping it sporadically. Smashing her thesis paper, were they trying to stop her from graduating normally? The requirements for a graduation thesis in biological cell engineering were extremely strict. Even for an outstanding student like Li Qiao, it took a whole week to complete. Had it been anything else, she might have turned a blind eye. But when it came to matters of principle, she couldn¡¯t tolerate any flaws. Li Qiao leaned back in her computer chair, her fingertips caressing the keyboard letters, she subtly curved her lips and closed the thesis page before logging into the camera memory function. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that it was a computer set up by Li Shaoquan; the camera¡¯s memory function system was also specifically developed by him. Maybe the person who smashed the files didn¡¯t anticipate that three nights ago, all of their actions were recorded by the computer¡¯s camera. ¡­ Evening was approaching, and the twilight was deepening. Li Qiao was curled up on the chaise by the window looking at design drawings when someone knocked on her door twice, and her second brother Li Yan entered without waiting to be invited. ¡°Qiaoqiao, what are you up to?¡± Li Yan was dressed in an exceedingly formal pinkish-white suit. His hair was fixed back with gel, and he even wore a pink bow tie, flamboyant and dashing. Li Qiao glanced at him sideways, ¡°Are you going to a beauty pageant?¡± Li Yan smoothed his bow tie with his hand, then looked down at his attire, ¡°What do you think? Isn¡¯t it nice? Come on, I¡¯ll take you out to clear your mind.¡± Li Qiao eyed his pink bow tie with an indescribable expression and shook her head declining, ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°No is not an option!¡± Li Yan said sternly as he approached her, snatching her phone away, ¡°There¡¯s an art exhibition tonight at the Royal Hotel. Accompany me, and help me pick out a few paintings while we¡¯re there. We¡¯ll split the earnings sixty-forty, how about that?¡± Li Qiao sighed, propped herself up from the chaise, and asked languidly, ¡°Do I look like I need money?¡± ¡°You might not, but I just want to give it to you! Hurry up and change, I¡¯ll wait for you downstairs.¡± With a tone that brooked no argument, Li Yan urged her once more, returned her phone, and strode out the door. ¡­ Half an hour later, Li Qiao, now dressed in a black cocktail dress, followed Li Yan into their family¡¯s Ou Lu car. In the back seat, Li Yan was checking the exhibition introduction on his phone, mumbling to himself now and then. ¡°Who¡¯s hosting the exhibition tonight?¡± Li Qiao pinched the hem of her dress and, hearing Li Yan mutter ¡®European classical paintings¡¯, inquired. In recent years, European classical paintings had seldom been shown or circulated publicly; most were held by collectors and museums. And yet there were European classical paintings at tonight¡¯s exhibition? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Yan explained while browsing on his phone, ¡°I heard it¡¯s organized by the Yan Emperor Group¡¯s foundation. I¡¯ve seen the electronic brochure, and there are quite a few nice paintings.¡± At this word, a gleam appeared in Li Qiao¡¯s eyes¨Cit was the Yan Emperor Group. She fell silent for a moment, gazing out of the window with a casual tone, ¡°Will Shang Shaoyan be there?¡± Li Yan replied absently, ¡°He¡¯s unlikely to attend such an event, and dad mentioned this morning that he seemed to be heading back to Parma today.¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 ¨C 27 27 This Girl, I Want to Chase Her! Chapter 27: Chapter 27: This Girl, I Want to Chase Her! Chapter 27: Chapter 27: This Girl, I Want to Chase Her! Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Shang Yu is back in Parma? Li Qiao¡¯s gaze drifted slightly, suddenly developing a bit of longing for the country of Parma. She wondered what kind of local customs could foster Shang Yu¡¯s wild and unrestrained style. ¡­ After a half-hour drive, the Royal Hotel was within sight. Li Qiao, dressed in a black cocktail dress, held Li Yan¡¯s hand as they stepped onto the red carpet leading to the entrance. Under the suddenly bright lights, their contrasting black and white apparel was particularly eye-catching. The art exhibition was held tonight in the art gallery of the Royal Hotel, and when the siblings arrived, the spacious and quiet atmosphere was filled with a rich artistic and cultural aura. There were indeed many famous paintings, and it was said that some were the long-lost genuine works recorded in the ¡°Famous Paintings Guide.¡± At that moment, Li Yan looked around the art gallery and then whispered to Li Qiao with a slight bow, ¡°Baby, take a look at ¡®The Reaper.¡¯ Is it worth acquiring?¡± The classical oil painting hanging in the most prominent place in the gallery was etched with the heavy traces of time, which complemented the depiction of the lower class¡¯s humanity within the painting. Li Qiao looked attentively and meticulously at ¡°The Reaper,¡± a rural-themed oil painting from the latter half of the 18th century that focused on the elements of farmhouses, meadows, and villages, fresh and authentic in style. After a while, Li Qiao nodded slightly and said with a curved lip, ¡°This is an 1882 Falyon piece. If you could purchase this painting, you could flip it for at least double the price.¡± Hearing this, Li Yan patted the top of Li Qiao¡¯s head approvingly, ¡°Not bad at all, even remembering Falyon¡¯s work makes me quite pleased.¡± Li Qiao glanced at him expressionlessly and swatted away his hand coldly, ¡°Thanks to you!¡± The Li Family¡¯s third son had no other hobbies and his only pleasure was to endlessly and unconditionally pass his skills on to Li Qiao. Ever since she was young, it was relentless, as if they feared they¡¯d have no one to follow after them. For example, Li Er, on Li Qiao¡¯s seventh birthday, gave her the complete ten-volume set of ¡°World Famous Paintings Guide¡± as a gift. Under his influence and forced teaching, the memory-gifted Li Qiao soon knew it by heart. Li Yan nonchalantly hooked his arm around Li Qiao¡¯s shoulder again, pausing and discussing in front of various famous paintings from time to time. At this time, in the surveillance room behind the art gallery, a seductive and demonically charming young man sprawled in an office chair as if boneless. He toyed with a strand of amber beads, his eyes landing on Li Qiao with great interest. This person was known as Zhui Feng. One of Shang Yu¡¯s top four assistants. ¡°President Fong, that girl has a sharp eye!¡± said Old Liu, the person in charge of the Yan Emperor Group Foundation, with a cheerful smile, pointing at Li Qiao on the surveillance screen. Because the exhibition included many pricey paintings, the entire art gallery was covered by 360-degree surveillance with no dead angles. Li Qiao¡¯s comments on the paintings naturally were also captured on the surveillance footage. Zhui Feng swayed the bead strand, laughing wickedly, ¡°Indeed, not bad, she¡¯s also quite showy.¡± Upon hearing this, Manager Old Liu immediately rubbed his hands together, understanding the implication, ¡°Then¡­ should I introduce her to you, President Fong?¡± ¡°You know her?¡± Zhui Feng glanced sideways at Old Liu, his raised eyebrow carrying a rebellious charm. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Old Liu chuckled naively, ¡°I don¡¯t know her, but the man by her side is Li Yan. I have a bit of a relationship with him; we can talk.¡± Zhui Feng did not respond, but his eyes watching the surveillance footage grew increasingly fervent as if on fire. After all these years, he hadn¡¯t seen a girl so good-looking and full of personality. She was worth pursuing! Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¨C 28 28 He is one of Shang Yu¡¯s men Chapter 28: Chapter 28: He is one of Shang Yu¡¯s men Chapter 28: Chapter 28: He is one of Shang Yu¡¯s men Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Zhui Feng¡¯s smile grew wider as he stared at the hand Li Yan had wrapped around Li Qiao, mockingly saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him call her ¡®honey¡¯ just now? What do you think their relationship is?¡± ¡°Hey, men, when they come to a place like this, most of them bring a female companion, probably just for show.¡± Old Liu jumped to his own conclusion. Seeing Zhui Feng daydreaming about Li Qiao, he no longer hesitated and stood up, saying, ¡°President Fong, don¡¯t worry, Li Yan doesn¡¯t have any other hobbies, he just likes various famous paintings. If you really fancy that girl, we could trade a couple of paintings with him, and it¡¯s a done deal.¡± Zhui Feng strove to recall this person named Li Yan, and after a long pause, gave a verdict, ¡°Is he that one who calls himself the Art Tycoon of the South Sea?¡± Old Liu slapped his thigh, ¡°That¡¯s him! To put it nicely, he¡¯s called an Art Tycoon, but frankly, he¡¯s just an art dealer.¡± Zhui Feng curled his lips knowingly, slowly stood up, and straightened the collar of his black floral shirt, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°This way, please!¡± ¡­ In the art gallery, it took less than twenty minutes for Li Qiao to glance through all the famous paintings. With the exception of ¡°The Reaper,¡± there was basically no need to acquire the other paintings. She leaned indifferently at the corner of the gallery, using her phone to search for keywords related to Parma. At that moment, clear footsteps came from behind her, and Li Qiao turned off her phone screen, slowly turning her head to see two men approaching her. Unfamiliar. Li Qiao glanced at them and moved her gaze away. Seeing this, Zhui Feng subconsciously raised his eyebrows. His face was being ignored? After all, his face in the past had always attracted countless young men and women as soon as he stepped out on the street. Was she blind? Old Liu sneaked a look at Zhui Feng¡¯s expression, flickered his eyes and whispered to Zhui Feng, ¡°President Fong, you chat with her first, I¡¯ll go find Li Yan.¡± Zhui Feng responded leisurely. After Old Liu left, he walked up to Li Qiao, copying her posture, and very flirtatiously leaned against the wall with his shoulder, ¡°Babe, interested in getting to know me?¡± At this time, Li Qiao and he locked eyes. Both of them leaned lazily against the wall, with one leg bent at their side, and also very coincidentally, wore clothing of the same color. Li Qiao rejected him with a cool expression, ¡°Not interested.¡± Zhui Feng¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He raised his hand to touch his own eyebrow. Such personality, all the more reason to pursue. ¡°Once we get to know each other, you¡¯ll be interested. Allow me to introduce myself, I¡¯m Zhui Feng.¡± Zhui Feng? The name wasn¡¯t common. Li Qiao glanced at Zhui Feng¡¯s wickedly unrestrained posture, feeling vaguely familiar. Suddenly, she thought of a possibility. Li Qiao lowered her lashes, hiding the playfulness in her eyes, ¡°The name Zhui Feng reminds me of Liuyun.¡± ¡°Hm? You know Liuyun?¡± As suspected, he was from the Yan Emperor Group! Such an identical style. Li Qiao¡¯s eyelashes fluttered, and she smiled lazily, ¡°I don¡¯t know him, but I have a friend whose online name is Zhui Feng Liuyun.¡± ¡°What a coincidence!¡± Zhui Feng completely missed the slyness in Li Qiao¡¯s eyes, feeling very good about himself as he leaned toward her, ¡°Then, do you think this is fate?¡± Zhui Feng was a playboy by nature, carefree and loved to stand out. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only What he liked most were unique beauties. Those misty, cool doe eyes of Li Qiao made his heart tremble, he felt electrified! At this moment, Li Qiao looked at Zhui Feng and smiled faintly, ¡°Mr. Zhui Feng is with the Yan Emperor Group?¡± Zhui Feng¡¯s breath hitched, he stared blankly at Li Qiao¡¯s smile, feeling a current run through him, ¡°Yes, I am the CEO of the Yan Emperor Group, albeit not very talented.¡± Chapter 29 Chapter 29 ¨C 29 29 A Fool¡¯s Business Card Chapter 29: Chapter 29: A Fool¡¯s Business Card Chapter 29: Chapter 29: A Fool¡¯s Business Card Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The CEO of Yan Emperor¡­ Li Qiao looked at Zhui Feng with his brows and eyes full of frivolity, insincerely complimenting, ¡°Then you are really excellent!¡± ¡°I am humbled.¡± Zhui Feng waved his hand somewhat proudly, and the fire in his eyes that fell on Li Qiao grew even more intense. In an impetuous society, money and status are a man¡¯s winning magic, and Zhui Feng also felt that he was too excellent! At this moment, Li Qiao slowly adjusted her posture, leaning against the wall, her eyes falling on her phone as she casually asked, ¡°If Mr. Zhui Feng is the CEO, then¡­ what about Master Yan? What¡¯s his role in Yan Emperor Group?¡± The moment the words dropped, Li Qiao keenly felt a dangerous aura. Coming from Zhui Feng next to her. But it lasted only for a second and disappeared in a blink. Zhui Feng looked at Li Qiao with a deep gaze, the teasing on his face gradually fading, replaced by a hint of warning and chilliness, ¡°Girl, it¡¯s good to be curious, but some things are better left unasked.¡± As one of the four top aides, they forbid anyone from trying to casually dig up information about Master Yan. It was their taboo. At that moment, Li Qiao looked at Zhui Feng with his suddenly changed expression, met his gaze, and lazily curled her lips, ¡°Just asking, no need to be so nervous. Isn¡¯t it normal for a poor student like me to be curious about Yan Emperor Group?¡± Still a student? Zhui Feng awkwardly touched his nose, sizing up Li Qiao before changing the subject, ¡°Are you still in school?¡± ¡°Mmhmm, about to graduate, but I haven¡¯t found an internship yet,¡± Li Qiao replied with a feigned look of dismay. Upon hearing this, Zhui Feng raised his eyebrows and leaned in closer to Li Qiao, smiling with ill intent, ¡°Do you want to intern at Yan Emperor?¡± Li Qiao took advantage of the moment to lift her head, her doe eyes sparkling, feigning shock and delight, ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°Yes, of course!¡± Zhui Feng¡¯s heart was struck by Li Qiao¡¯s stunningly beautiful face. He felt like he was floating, otherwise, why would his legs feel weak? This girl, when she smiles, she¡¯s so pretty and lively. ¡­ Ten minutes later, Li Qiao returned to the central courtyard of the gallery, where Li Yan was discussing details of the painting transaction with the person in charge, Old Liu. It was clear that the Art Tycoon Li Yan had been drawn in by Old Liu with famous paintings. The ¡°Reaper¡± was successfully acquired by Li Yan for thirty million US dollars. On the way back, Li Yan was still so thrilled with acquiring the famous painting that he couldn¡¯t snap out of it. As the streetlights outside the window cast light into the car, he noticed from the corner of his eye that Li Qiao was clutching a business card in her palm. ¡°What do you have there?¡± Li Yan curiously pulled her wrist, just as he pulled it out, he heard Li Qiao respond nonchalantly, ¡°A business card from a fool.¡± Li Yan frowned and looked down, and yes, this name did seem kind of foolish. Surname Zhui? ¡°This person is¡­ an executive from Yan Emperor Group?¡± Li Yan was shocked! Not just an executive, even meeting an assistant to an executive from Yan Emperor Group wasn¡¯t something just anyone could do. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only His Precious Sister took a stroll in the gallery and met an executive from Yan Emperor Group? Was this the opportunity created by the Goddess Nuwa? ¡°Why did he give you his business card?¡± Li Yan looked at Li Qiao¡¯s profile suspiciously. Li Qiao propped her chin with one hand and withdrew her gaze from the scenery outside the window to look at the business card, smiling faintly, ¡°He needs an assistant, and I just so happen to be in need of internship experience.¡± To be precise, she needed a way to get into the Yan Emperor Group. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¨C 30 30 When did Li Er get married Chapter 30: Chapter 30: When did Li Er get married? Chapter 30: Chapter 30: When did Li Er get married? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°You¡¯re going to intern at Yan Emperor Group?¡± Li Yan was completely taken aback, his voice pitched higher than usual. Li Qiao massaged her ears with an expressionless face, ¡°What are you shouting for¡­¡± Li Yan glared at Li Qiao before looking down at the business card in his hand, the next second he crushed it to pieces and swiftly lowered the car window, tossing the fragments onto the road with no class,¡±No way, don¡¯t even think about it, I won¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Li Qiao replied indifferently, clearly not taking Li Yan¡¯s opposition seriously. For the following stretch of the journey, the car sped through the streets, filled with Li Yan¡¯s earnest persuasions. After nearly half an hour, with Li Yan talked dry-mouthed and tongue-tied, as the gates of the Li Family mansion slowly opened and the lights outside flickered, he saw¨Cthis brat was asleep. The disheartened Li Er: ¡°¡­¡± After a while, the car came to a stop, and Li Qiao slowly opened her eyes. As the driver opened the car door for her, she glanced sideways at the worried Li Yan and said with patience, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, second brother.¡± Li Yan narrowed his eyes suspiciously, ¡°No way, no matter the deal, I won¡¯t agree to you going to Yan Emperor Group.¡± ¡°Last month, Nan Xin discovered a Qi Baishi¡¯s ¡®Frogs Croaking for Ten Miles¡¯ at the border. If you don¡¯t want it, then I¡­¡± ¡°Damn! I want it!¡± You see, the fish took the bait. Li Qiao¡¯s lips curved slightly as she spoke calmly, ¡°The painting for you, keep my internship a secret.¡± Li Yan fell silent, his lips pursed as he seemed to struggle with a decision he thought long and hard about. It probably lasted all of three seconds before he slapped his thigh, sighing heavily, ¡°Alright. But you promise your second brother to take care of yourself, and don¡¯t let that idiot find out who you are.¡± Li Qiao readily agreed, ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± Li Yan sat in the car, watching Li Qiao walk into the hallway, and almost immediately started to chuckle to himself. Damn it, ¡®Frogs Croaking for Ten Miles,¡¯ I¡¯m going to be rich. That¡¯s right, Li Er of the Li Family, self-proclaimed Art Tycoon, was also a money-lover. ¡­ The next day, at 7:30 in the morning, Li Qiao was awakened by the vibrating ringtone of her phone. Still half asleep with slightly red eyes, she fumbled for her phone. It was a call from Tang Yiting. ¡°Speak!¡± Li Qiao answered the call with a voice that was soft and hoarse, tinged with irritable impatience. Tang Yiting was impulsive and, without regard for anything else, shouted over the phone, ¡°Why are you still asleep? The school¡¯s forum is in uproar because of you!¡± Li Qiao rested her hand on her forehead, half-closed her eyes, and frowned, ¡°What¡¯s going on now?¡± A forum uproar because of her, wasn¡¯t that part of the norm? ¡°Did you go to Royal Hotel last night?¡± Tang Yiting was scrolling through the forum pages on her tablet as she spoke, ¡°Listen, someone took a photo of you with your arm around a man entering the hotel. People are saying you¡¯re the other woman, seducing someone¡¯s husband, and they¡¯re specifically targeting you. Get up quickly, the forum is so hot right now, even the school administration has come out to maintain order. If you don¡¯t explain yourself, you might be delayed from graduating due to misconduct.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only South Sea Medical University¡¯s campus belle, suspected of being a homewrecker, with Li Qiao¡¯s level of infamy at the university, had caused a storm on the med school forum overnight. After all, gossip is the spiritual nourishment for bored people. Seconds later, Li Qiao sternly covered her tired eyes with the blanket, her tone chilling, ¡°Let them talk!¡± Can¡¯t they make up stories with a bit more heart? Since when did Li Er get married? Chapter 31 Chapter 31 ¨C 31 31 This move, so streetwise! Chapter 31: Chapter 31: This move, so streetwise! Chapter 31: Chapter 31: This move, so streetwise! Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At ten o¡¯clock in the morning, Mano Coffee. Li Qiao sat by the window, stirring her coffee with a spoon. She looked languid, her hand propping up her chin, her eyes revealing fatigue. Just then, Tang Yiting took a sip of coffee and viciously poked at her phone screen, ¡°Do you think it was Jiang Yi? I bet it¡¯s eighty percent her, definitely!¡± Li Qiao gave her a sideways glance, shifting her gaze to the window, unhurriedly, ¡°We¡¯ll find out sooner or later, no rush.¡± ¡°How can you not be in a rush?¡± Tang Yiting hit the table in frustration and held up her phone to her face, ¡°Ancestor, take a good look, the reply count on the post has already broken a thousand, aren¡¯t you afraid of delaying your graduation due to misconduct?¡± Li Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly, her tone lazy, ¡°I have my ways.¡± ¡°What ways?¡± Tang Yiting leaned in curiously, a spark of excitement in her eyes, ¡°Are you¡­ planning to take action? Are you finally not going to indulge Jiang Yi? Am I going to live to see the day?!¡± Li Qiao smiled faintly, with a touch of reckless confidence, ¡°Probably.¡± ¡­ After lunch, Li Qiao and Tang Yiting went their separate ways. The school¡¯s gossip forum, although officially locked by the administration, did not dampen the enthusiasm of the gossipy crowd. Li Qiao sat in her Mercedes, one hand on the steering wheel, looking down at the forum page. Boring! Anyone with half a brain wouldn¡¯t be led around by the nose by a gossip post. Li Qiao held her phone, pondering for a few seconds, then found Li Shaoquan¡¯s number and called. It took a while for the other party to answer. ¡°Who is it, calling at this hour?¡± Li Shaoquan¡¯s voice, tired and irritable, came through. Li Qiao glanced at the time in the car and said lightly, ¡°Stop sleeping, get up and work.¡± After three seconds of silence on the line, accompanied by a thud, Li Shaoquan¡¯s wail resounded again, ¡°Ow, I¡¯m going to kill myself!¡± This future ¡°Godfather¡± of the Red Hacker Alliance had fallen out of bed. He grumbled for a while, then took two big gulps of the overnight tea from the bedside table, ¡°Who are we checking this time?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not checking anyone, hack the medical university¡¯s forum.¡± Li Qiao casually gave the order, and Li Shaoquan, without asking further questions, hobbled toward the study, saying as he went, ¡°That¡¯s it? This is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I¡¯m going to be the future ¡®Godfather¡¯ of the Red Hacker Alliance, and I¡­¡± ¡°Beep beep beep¨C¡± Li Shaoquan hadn¡¯t finished speaking when the call was hung up. He scratched his head holding the phone, then just yawned and resigned himself to work. Hacking a forum was too easy for him, a matter of minutes. After the school¡¯s forum went down, Li Shaoquan sent Li Qiao a WeChat message: Hacked it, any more instructions? Five minutes later¨C Li Qiao: [Document] Li Qiao: Withdraw the server attack next Monday and post this content at the top of the forum. Li Shaoquan opened the document and skimmed through it, immediately wide awake, ¡°Fuck, this move, so savage!¡± Wasn¡¯t next Monday the day of the medical university¡¯s thesis defense? His boss, his father, was truly not someone to mess with. ¡­ In the evening, as dusk thickened. Li Qiao drove to the Eastern Suburb Gymnasium, located at the intersection of the Eastern Suburb Expressway and the main road. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only This was a high-end sports venue offering golf, bowling, darts, shooting, and other leisure activities, covering a large area. Li Qiao, familiar with the area, drove into the underground parking lot and parked the car. Then she called Nan Xin, ¡°I¡¯ve arrived.¡± Over the phone, Nan Xin¡¯s voice was full of smiles, ¡°Baby, come quick, I¡¯m in Bowling Hall No. 2.¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 ¨C 32 32 Rumors are not to be believed Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Rumors are not to be believed Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Rumors are not to be believed Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao entered the underground elevator and glanced at the venue distribution map on the wall before pressing the button for the fifth floor. As the elevator ascended, Li Qiao leaned against the wall with her head down, her right leg slightly bent over her left, exuding an air of casual laziness yet also an inherent, bold pride. At that moment, with a ¡®ding¡¯, the elevator stopped at the third floor. The ornately carved elevator doors opened smoothly to each side, bringing a breeze that fluttered her bangs. Li Qiao raised an eyebrow and looked up, and two strikingly broad figures clad in black entered her view. Outside the elevator, Shang Yu, wearing a black shirt and trousers, stood at the forefront, his collar casually unbuttoned to reveal prominent collarbones. Liuyun, also in black, lingered half a step behind. Under the warm yellow light of the cabin, Li Qiao¡¯s gaze met Shang Yu¡¯s dark pupils without deviation. He returned? Before either of them spoke, Liuyun propped his hand against the doorframe and nodded to Li Qiao, ¡°Miss Li.¡± Li Qiao nodded back nonchalantly, her eyes still fixated on Shang Yu. At that moment, the man strode forward, his presence cooler and more aloof in the twilight chill. As the elevator doors closed again, Li Qiao broke the silence on cue, ¡°I heard Master Yan returned to Parma, when did he come back?¡± Standing half a meter away from Li Qiao, Shang Yu could clearly see the faint smile in the girl¡¯s eyes reflected in the glossy elevator doors. That evening, she wore a brown jacket, tight jeans, and Doc Martens which accentuated her long, straight legs. Shang Yu met Li Qiao¡¯s eyes through the mirrored surface, his hand casually in his pocket, and he responded with a husky voice, ¡°Just got back.¡± Li Qiao shifted to the side, her gaze dropping to the man¡¯s pronounced Adam¡¯s apple, ¡°So¡­ what was the result?¡± The cabin fell silent for a few seconds, and as the elevator chimed again, the man¡¯s raspy, magnetic voice came with the opening doors, ¡°As you wished.¡± The door opened, and Liuyun was the first to step out. He kept his hand on the door, looking off into the distance, dutifully playing the part of a tool. As you wished, does that mean the engagement retreat was successful? At this, the smile in Li Qiao¡¯s eyes deepened, revealing a rare pleasure. She casually placed her hands in her jacket pockets, leaning against the elevator, and looked up to suggest, ¡°Then, to thank Master Yan for his help, how about I buy you dinner, would you honor me with your presence?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Shang Yu refused curtly, tilting his head slightly. As a subtle disappointment emerged on the girl¡¯s face, the man narrowed his eyes, his lips curving into a seductive arc, ¡°Do you play bowling?¡± Li Qiao readily nodded, ¡°A little.¡± The man looked at her thoughtfully, his lips curving into a hint of a smile, then he strolled out of the elevator and called to her, ¡°Come here.¡± Li Qiao watched Shang Yu¡¯s retreating figure, blinked her misty doe eyes, and chuckled softly. She was increasingly convinced that rumors were utterly unreliable! ¡­ Li Qiao and Shang Yu arrived side by side at the Bowling Private Room on the fifth floor. The second venue was right next door, but Li Qiao wasn¡¯t in a hurry to move on since Nan Xin was an avid bowling enthusiast who could play all day until the end of the world. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The Bowling Private Room was a separately partitioned and highly private section. The lights inside the venue were bright, and as Liuyun opened the door, the two men at the rest area beside the lanes looked up simultaneously and then froze. Li Qiao had seen these two men before. That night at Entertainment City¡¯s lounge, they were with Shang Yu in a private room, and it was they who took away the bellowing man. Now, one of them scrutinized Li Qiao, his eyes shifting between her and Shang Yu as he stood up, narrowing his eyes, ¡°Yo, Boss Shang, this is¡­¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33 ¨C 33 33 You Don¡¯t Know Ou Bai Chapter 33: Chapter 33: You Don¡¯t Know Ou Bai? Chapter 33: Chapter 33: You Don¡¯t Know Ou Bai? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio In the Bowling Private Room, Shang Yu¡¯s tall and concealed figure slowly stopped near the resting area, pulled out a chair with one hand, and sat down. At this time, the man sitting opposite Shang Yu had an excessively glamorous face. Dressed in a casual shirt and pants, with one leg resting on his knee, he shook the tip of his foot, ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± With his cheeks half-drooped, Shang Yu curled up his shirt sleeves, glanced at the chair beside him, and said to Li Qiao, ¡°Come and sit.¡± Li Qiao wasn¡¯t vague about it, her toes hooked the leg of the chair, and she directly sat down. The man who had been standing and ignored looked around, leaned forward, and pointed back at his own nose, ¡°Shang Shaoyan, I was just asking you a question. Did you not see me?¡± Hearing this, Li Qiao¡¯s gaze flickered. To be able to call Shang Yu by his name, their relationship must be out of the ordinary. Shang Yu smoothed the wrinkles on his shirt sleeves, looked at him from under his lifted eyelids, and then introduced Li Qiao, ¡°Qiu Huan, Ou Bai.¡± The standing man is Qiu Huan? So, he¡¯s the young boss of South Sea Machinery Holdings. Li Qiao remembered this name; he was a guest of honor to her eldest brother Li Jun and a major taxpayer for South Sea. As for Ou Bai, the name seemed familiar, but she couldn¡¯t remember where she had heard it. Still maintaining a posture with her hands in her pockets, Li Qiao leaned against the chairback slightly looking up, introducing herself with a tone neither warm nor cold, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Li Qiao.¡± With questionable intent, Qiu Huan raised his eyebrows, then leaned over the table towards Li Qiao, ¡°So it¡¯s Sister Qiao. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m Qiu Huan, just call me Brother Qiu.¡± Sister Qiao? Hearing this appellation, Li Qiao lowered her eyelashes, revealing a touch of disdain. At that moment, the stunningly beautiful Ou Bai stared intently at Li Qiao, scrutinizing her for a moment before suddenly saying, ¡°What is your relationship to Li Cheng?¡± Li Qiao turned her eyes to meet Ou Bai¡¯s sharp gaze. In a flash, she read a hint of annoyance in his peach blossom eyes. Does he have a grudge against Li San? Observing Ou Bai impassively, Li Qiao replied blandly, ¡°He¡¯s my third brother, Mr. Ou. Do you know him?¡± At the moment her words ended, Ou Bai¡¯s expression became exceptionally strange. What¡¯s wrong now? Ou Bai instinctively turned his head to exchange glances with Qiu Huan, then Qiu Huan pointed at Ou Bai, asking Li Qiao, ¡°Girl, you call him Mr. Ou? You don¡¯t know him?¡± Li Qiao coldly retorted, ¡°Should I know him?¡± Qiu Huan didn¡¯t speak further, while Ou Bai ground his teeth, picked up the coffee from the table, and attempted to remain calm as he drank it down. Li Qiao, clueless, didn¡¯t bother to inquire further, and looked casually at Shang Yu beside her, only to unexpectedly find a fleeting shallow smile at the corner of his flushed lips. In her memory, the man was always cold and indifferent, keeping others at a thousand-mile distance. Yet, at this moment, the curve of his smile was like sunshine pouring through gaps in the clouds, dazzling and gentle. He was laughing, she was watching. The atmosphere near the resting area grew eerily quiet for a while. Qiu Huan put two bottles of mineral water on the table, and Ou Bai stood up with a tense face, ¡°I¡¯m going to get some fresh air.¡± Qiu Huan blinked, ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll go with you!¡± The two left the Bowling Private Room, one after the other. Li Qiao crossed her legs uncomfortably, looking at Shang Yu, ¡°Is it weird that I don¡¯t know Ou Bai?¡± The smile deepened at the corner of Shang Yu¡¯s lips, his mood appearing to be good as he teasingly said for once, ¡°You¡¯re the first girl I¡¯ve met who doesn¡¯t know who Ou Bai is.¡± Ou Bai is famous? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Qiao pondered for a few seconds, pulled out her phone from her pocket, and searched for the name Ou Bai. Ou Bai: national idol, top influencer, pop king, street photography godfather¡­ a total of over a dozen titles. Li Qiao couldn¡¯t be bothered to read on. In conclusion: quite over the top! Chapter 34 Chapter 34 ¨C 34 34 Master Yan Wants to Invite Me for Dinner Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Master Yan Wants to Invite Me for Dinner? Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Master Yan Wants to Invite Me for Dinner? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao stuffed her phone back into her pocket with a complicated expression, took a sip of the mineral water from the table, and changed the subject, ¡°What¡¯s his beef with my third brother?¡± Shang Yu looked at the girl, slowly stood up with his hands propped on his knees, ¡°You can ask your brother when you¡¯re free.¡± As the words fell, Li Qiao looked up at the man¡¯s action of standing, not dwelling on Ou Bai¡¯s issue anymore, and shot back, ¡°Wanna play?¡± ¡°Yeah, come on over.¡± ¡­ A few minutes later, Qiu Huan and Ou Bai returned to the court, and upon glancing up, they saw Li Qiao releasing the bowling ball with a perfect stance after a four-step approach. Qiu Huan stroked his chin and nudged Ou Bai¡¯s shoulder, ¡°This girl¡¯s pretty good. She¡¯s nailing nine out of ten.¡± Ou Bai¡¯s expression had softened a lot, but it still carried a hint of haughtiness, he snorted, ¡°Average.¡± For the first time in the world, he met a girl who so brazenly claimed she didn¡¯t know him. Who was he? The nation¡¯s top idol, the dream lover of women all over the country. Women wanting to marry him had a queue that stretched to the moon! And yet, Li Qiao didn¡¯t recognize him, and¡­ she was actually the sister of Li Cheng, that borderland bandit. Absolutely insane! Qiu Huan coolly glanced at Ou Bai and quipped, ¡°When did I fail to notice your pettiness?¡± At the remark, Ou Bai returned to his seat with a darkened face, his brows filled with gloom. He opened social media, browsed through it, and grumbled stiffly, ¡°Am I not handsome? Or not dashing enough? How can someone not recognize me?¡± Qiu Huan: ¡°¡­¡± Then he heard Ou Bai mutter to himself: ¡°A bandit¡¯s sister, indeed a bandit too. The whole family must be blind!¡± Great, the mega-star Ou, spoiled by his fans, was having another episode! ¡­ In the next ten minutes, Li Qiao and Shang Yu played three rounds of bowling. The result was unexpected, she narrowly beat Shang Yu. At this moment, the two of them returned to the area next to the lane, Li Qiao wiped her fingers, with stars shining in her eyes she sparkled, ¡°Does Master Yan like to bowl normally?¡± ¡°Not really, just occasionally for practice.¡± The man took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, flipped it between his fingers, and lifted his eyelids slightly, ¡°What do you want to eat later?¡± Li Qiao, leaning against the table with one hand propping her chin, her eyes lit up, ¡°Are you treating me to a meal?¡± ¡°Yes, your reward for winning.¡± Shang Yu¡¯s gaze held an inexplicable depth, the bright light above his head casting upon his finely-carved face, enticingly. Li Qiao felt a tickle in her throat and took another sip of water to suppress her fluttering heart, ¡°I¡¯m good with anything, not picky, you decide.¡± After she spoke, she put down the bottle and moistened her lips, ¡°I¡¯ll just go to the restroom first.¡± Li Qiao, exiting the Bowling Private Room, took a moment to gather herself before heading unhurriedly to the adjacent Court No. 2. The truth was, her phone had been ringing incessantly while she was bowling with Shang Yu, all from Nan Xin. At that moment, in Court No. 2, Nan Xin sat in a corner of the sofa with a bowling ball on her lap. Hearing the approaching footsteps, she looked up with mock anger, ¡°Baby, don¡¯t tell me you got lost here!¡± She had made seven or eight calls to Li Qiao without a response. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only If this went on, she was about ready to bring tools to search for her! ¡°Uh, got tied up with something just now.¡± Li Qiao sat beside Nan Xin casually, with an indolent posture of crossed legs. Nan Xin, without any suspicion, held out the ball to her with a seductive, charming smile, ¡°Since you¡¯re done, how about playing a few rounds with me?¡± Li Qiao gave her a look and pushed the ball back with her elbow, ¡°Not now, I haven¡¯t finished what I was doing, gotta go.¡± Nan Xin: ¡°???¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 ¨C 35 35 You Shouldn¡¯t Be Able to Beat My Third Brother Chapter 35: Chapter 35: You Shouldn¡¯t Be Able to Beat My Third Brother Chapter 35: Chapter 35: You Shouldn¡¯t Be Able to Beat My Third Brother Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Next door, after Li Qiao left, Qiu Huan and Ou Bai came to Shang Yu¡¯s side one after another. Three men of superior status and outstanding appearance sitting together made a scene that was quite eye-catching. At this moment, Qiu Huan lounged in his chair in a carefree manner, his chin lifted slightly, looking at Shang Yu seriously, ¡°Is she the one Shang Lu wants to break off the engagement with?¡± Shang Yu¡¯s proud eyes carried a hint of indifference as he looked down and took a puff of his cigarette, ¡°Mhm, what do you want to say?¡± Qiu Huan¡¯s voice turned high-pitched as he choked, then chuckled awkwardly, ¡°What can I say? You brought her in front of us, Boss Shang. Don¡¯t tell me this was just a spur-of-the-moment thing.¡± At that moment, Ou Bai tapped his knuckles on the table in surprise, ¡°Does that mean she, she is Shang Lu¡¯s child bride?¡± Although Li Qiao had introduced herself just now, Ou Bai hadn¡¯t associated her with Shang Lu at all. He thought it over carefully again, and it seemed that Li Cheng, that loser, had indeed only one sister. Qiu Huan licked his back teeth scornfully and looked at Ou Bai, ¡°Is that how you use ¡®child bride¡¯?¡± Ou Bai rolled his eyes at him, picked up the pack of cigarettes from the table, took one out, and sniffed it at his nose, ¡°Shaoyan, what¡¯s the deal with you? Taking over the woman your brother doesn¡¯t want¨Care you playing the white knight?¡± Although the words were harsh, Ou Bai thought he was being quite polite. Thinking back, the bandit Li Cheng had done some truly inhuman things to him. After Ou Bai finished speaking, it was quiet in the tennis court for a very long time. Shang Yu didn¡¯t make a sound, but his sharp eyes seemed to whip up a hurricane. An icy chill seeped into Ou Bai¡¯s flesh and bones, making him shiver. Qiu Huan leaned his forehead on his hand and sighed, glancing at the dumbfounded Ou Bai with the corner of his eye, he kicked him with the tip of his shoe, ¡°Did you feed your brain to the dogs?¡± The person brought over by Boss Shang, even if worthless, couldn¡¯t tolerate others making careless critiques. Ou Bai, this guy, had good looks and a good family background, but his mouth¡­ was just too loose. No wonder Li San hung him up in a tree to be eaten by mosquitoes all night on the border, served the bastard right! Shang Yu¡¯s aura grew cold and icy, filling the large tennis court as if with the white snow of a harsh winter. Ou Bai began to panic, realizing he had touched a taboo, and looked at Shang Yu with a guilty conscience, racking his brains for a way to make up for his mistake. He had indeed been impulsive! In this circle, it was well-known that Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant, was calm until angered, and when angry, blood was certain to flow. Ou Bai was thinking about whether he should cut his finger to appease the boss¡¯s rage when, suddenly, the hair-raising murderous aura around Shang Yu disappeared without a trace. Then, Ou Bai heard a cool and wild statement from behind him, ¡°Mr. Ou, ¡®white knight¡¯ is not how you use that term.¡± Li Qiao was back. And very unfortunately, she heard Ou Bai¡¯s sarcastic remark! How dare he describe Shang Yu as a white knight? Ou Bai turned around in shock and saw Li Qiao. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes instantly rolled up in arrogance. She spoke with a commanding air, ¡°What business is it of yours how I use it?¡± Li Qiao slowly walked back to Shang Yu¡¯s side, as she sat down she crossed her legs and leaned forward on her knees, looking at Ou Bai coolly with a half-smile, ¡°Mr. Ou, do you have a problem with me?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± Ou Bai feared Shang Yu but that didn¡¯t mean he was afraid of Li Qiao. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Especially since she had that brother-sister relationship with Li San, Ou Bai hated both house and crow! ¡°Of course, you can!¡± Li Qiao curled her fingers lazily, her gaze fixed on Ou Bai¡¯s face as wickedness danced in her eyes, ¡°But please keep your opinions to yourself. After all¡­ I guess you probably can¡¯t beat my third brother, and he¡­ can¡¯t beat me.¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36 ¨C 36 36 I Have No Mineral Resources in Africa Chapter 36: Chapter 36: I Have No Mineral Resources in Africa Chapter 36: Chapter 36: I Have No Mineral Resources in Africa Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Ou Bai¡¯s handsome face suddenly clouded over, threatened in public? But, he thought Li Qiao was bluffing! At that moment, before Ou Bai could speak a word of sarcasm, Shang Yu had already lowered his crossed legs, swept a warning glance at Ou Bai, and then his warm and wide palm landed on Li Qiao¡¯s head, gently patting it twice, ¡°It¡¯s time to eat.¡± It was just past seven o¡¯clock at this time. The dissatisfaction in Li Qiao¡¯s mind disappeared instantly because of Shang Yu¡¯s affectionate gesture. Her tangled emotions were like a flower blooming with vigor in spring, fluttering in the wind and slightly drifting. Later, Li Qiao followed Shang Yu out of the court absentmindedly, and was somewhat awakened by the wind that hit her face in the underground garage. She realised belatedly that Shang Yu¡¯s action of patting her head seemed to be like patting a pet dog. Pet Dog Li Qiao: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ At seven-thirty, Crystal Garden. The Crystal Garden Restaurant located in the city center is nestled near the precious Royal Garden Scenic Area. This place is known for its royal top-tier service experience, and those who can dine here are either politicians or nobility. Even ordinary wealthy people can¡¯t get a dining pass to come in. Li Qiao followed Shang Yu through the VIP passage all the way to the Ripples Garden private room, with Liuyun diligently following behind them, playing the role of a handyman. In the private room, there were classic works of calligraphy and painting everywhere, and the tables and chairs made of Huanghuali wood emitted the scent of money. Sitting opposite each other at a square table, were Li Qiao and Shang Yu. Liuyun respectfully took the bamboo menu from the server dressed in court attire and handed it to them both. While ordering, Li Qiao¡¯s gaze fell upon the text on the bamboo menu, but her thoughts were on Shang Yu. In the ancient-style room, he sat upright in a black shirt, his rolled-up sleeves revealing the well-defined muscles, every move radiating wildness and unrestraint. As the man picked up a celadon ear-handled teapot, Li Qiao¡¯s gaze also fixed on his fingers. Just now, it was those fingers that had patted her head. Tsk, even his fingers looked good. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, look at the menu.¡± Right then, Shang Yu placed a teacup across from Li Qiao and tapped the bamboo menu with his fingertips. Li Qiao, not hiding her curiosity at all, tapped on the bamboo with her fingertips, imitating him, ¡°Master Yan, may I interview you for a moment? Just now, Ou Bai called you a ¡®cleanup guy¡¯. What were you thinking then?¡± Shang Yu withdrew his hand from serving the tea and poured himself another cup. The wisps of steam rose and dispersed in front of him, blurring the smile in his eyes, ¡°What do you think I was thinking?¡± His counter-question left Li Qiao silent for a few seconds, teasingly suggesting, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be sending him to Africa to mine?¡± Shang Yu sipped from his teacup as his brows relaxed, ¡°I don¡¯t have any mines in Africa.¡± Oh, so in other words, he was just protecting his buddy, huh? Li Qiao twitched the corner of her mouth grumpily, turning back to the menu, but then she heard Shang Yu¡¯s mellow voice tinged with a trace of amusement, ¡°Do you want him to go mining?¡± ¡°Indeed, I had that thought.¡± Li Qiao nodded lazily, propping her cheek with her hand. Shang Yu set down his water cup, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he looked at Li Qiao¡¯s misty deer-like eyes, eyebrows playfully arched, ¡°Afraid it won¡¯t work; he still has three film contracts with Yan Emperor Entertainment.¡± That meant¡­ Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Qiao¡¯s heart stirred, continuing to probe, ¡°So after those contracts are done, it¡¯s possible?¡± With that said, even the handyman Liuyun couldn¡¯t help but shoot a glance their way. This Miss Li, she seemed not to know when to stop while she was ahead. He could foresee that what awaited her next would definitely be ridicule and rebuke from the master. Then, Liuyun heard his boss¡¯s deep response, ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s worth considering.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¨C 37 37 Who Would Like an Idiot Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Who Would Like an Idiot? Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Who Would Like an Idiot? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The dinner at Crystal Garden took Li Qiao and Shang Yu about an hour. The girl¡¯s dining behavior was exquisite, she chewed slowly and deliberately, and ¡­ she was very picky. Even though she had selected the dishes herself, there were still a lot of deliberately picked out side dishes piled on the plates beside her. Green onions, ginger, garlic, onions, kelp, broccoli, purple cabbage ¡­ Liuyun on the side was stunned. Who was it that said they weren¡¯t picky eaters not long ago? Miss Li, do you have some misunderstanding about picky eating? At this moment, a faint smell of smoke drifted over from the opposite side. Li Qiao bit off a piece of crystal noodle and slightly raised her head to see Shang Yu sitting askew at the table, his deep eyes looking out the window, lost in thought. Li Qiao touched her lips, tasting the soup remnants as she instinctively set down her chopsticks, and blurted out, ¡°The engagement with Shang Lu, is it really going to be called off?¡± The man brought a cigarette to his lips, exhaling smoke, and tapped the ash with his fingertip, ¡°It can be canceled. My father will come next week to personally apologize.¡± Old Mr. Shang is coming to the South Sea? Li Qiao¡¯s red lips parted slightly, and the worries of the past few days gradually dispersed. Actually, as long as the wedding could be canceled, the process and cause didn¡¯t matter that much anymore. That night at nine-thirty, the Yan Emperor Group¡¯s luxury motorcade once again stopped outside the Li Family¡¯s gate. And Li Qiao¡¯s Mercedes was also driven back from the sports field by Shang Yu¡¯s subordinates. At the door, after Li Qiao got out of the car, she turned to look at the half-lowered window of the Charm Shadow Car. Meeting the man¡¯s gaze, she waved and said goodnight before getting into her own car. ¡­ Shortly after, Li Qiao entered the house at a steady pace; the bright living room was empty. She greeted the butler and went straight to the second-floor study. Inside the study, Li Guangming was not there. Li Qiao looked at the cup of steaming hot tea on the table, took off her coat, pulled over a chair, and sat down to wait for him. Less than five minutes later, Li Guangming hummed a tune as he pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Li Qiao, he jumped slightly, ¡°Oh my, girl, when did you get back?¡± Li Qiao leaned back in her chair and gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°Just got back. Dad, I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it? Go ahead!¡± Li Guangming immediately put on a serious face, sat in front of his desk, interlaced his fingers on the table, ready to listen. Li Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly, and without showing any different expression, she dropped a bombshell, ¡°I heard Elder Shang has agreed to call off the engagement and will come to the South Sea in a few days to see you in person.¡± ¡®Clang¡¯¨C Li Guangming¡¯s elbow jostled, knocking over the steaming cup of tea. ¡°What? He agreed?¡± Li Guangming couldn¡¯t care less about the tea soaking into his sleeve as he looked at Li Qiao in disbelief. Li Qiao nodded lazily, her expression much more subdued, ¡°Mhm, Shang Yu himself said so.¡± Li Guangming didn¡¯t utter a word, and after a long while, he sighed reluctantly, ¡°Alright then, if that¡¯s how it is, let¡¯s not force it. Call it off.¡± Li Qiao narrowed her eyes, a hint of irritation twisting at her brows, ¡°Dad, since you refuse to talk about the origins of this arranged marriage, I won¡¯t ask. To be honest, even if Elder Shang didn¡¯t agree, I would still definitely call off this engagement. So, you understand what I¡¯m saying, right?¡± ¡°My girl, do you really ¡­ dislike Shang Lu so much?¡± Li Guangming flicked his sleeve and leaned in to probe Li Qiao. Li Qiao looked at him expressionlessly, ¡°Who would like an idiot?¡± Makes sense! Li Guangming nodded seriously; he also thought Shang Lu wasn¡¯t too bright. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Let it go, then. If you don¡¯t like Shang Lu, let¡¯s just cancel the engagement. My daughter is so exceptional; I¡¯m not worried about not finding a better match! You don¡¯t need to worry, if you¡¯re unwilling, Dad will definitely not force you to do something you dislike.¡± Li Qiao tugged at her lip, ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 ¨C 38 38 Found the Big Shot¡¯s Phone Number Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Found the Big Shot¡¯s Phone Number Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Found the Big Shot¡¯s Phone Number Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Li Qiao, carrying her jacket, returned to the bedroom on the third floor and pushed the door open irritably, then kicked it shut with her leg. One day, she would figure out the ins and outs of this arranged marriage! ¡­ At ten o¡¯clock at night, after a shower, Li Qiao sat in front of her computer desk, drying her hair. She looked at the laptop on the table, then threw down the towel and turned on the computer. She first logged into the external network emulator, then entered the server-side account and password. A few seconds later, a pure black popup window appeared. Li Qiao hesitated for a moment, then grabbed her phone and found Liuyun¡¯s mobile number. She entered the number into the page, followed by typing a few lines of code. After hitting Enter, the screen flickered slightly, and soon the page displayed the contact list of the other party. In short, Li Qiao rarely took the initiative to do something herself and copied Liuyun¡¯s contact list through the positioning system and mobile number. Her actions were quick, bold, and she made no attempt to hide her traces. Liuyun¡¯s contact list wasn¡¯t long, less than a hundred people. Li Qiao didn¡¯t scroll down the page, her gaze fixed directly on the first nickname in the contact list. Ah*Big Boss Her intuition told her this was Shang Yu¡¯s phone number. Li Qiao tapped the edge of her computer lightly with her fingertips and clicked on the nickname. An eleven-digit number, with the last ten digits all being consecutive numbers. Indeed, it matched the style of a big boss. Li Qiao entered the number into her own phone and had just saved it when her computer screen suddenly went black. ¡°Tsk, they found out so quickly?¡± Li Qiao murmured nonchalantly and then directly called Li Shaoquan, ¡°Handle the IP address and operation trails of my computer.¡± Li Shaoquan exhaled smoke and asked with a not-surprised laugh, ¡°What did you do this time?¡± ¡°Copied a contact list,¡± Li Qiao replied languidly. Li Shaoquan smacked his tongue, took a sip of water, and asked, ¡°You weren¡¯t discovered, were you?¡± ¡°I was discovered,¡± Li Qiao replied, glancing at her flickering computer screen and then adding, ¡°Oh, I logged into the tracker using your account.¡± Li Shaoquan nearly cursed out loud. But before he could vent his irritation, his phone suddenly displayed an incoming transaction message, three million. Li Shaoquan immediately smiled obsequiously, ¡°Rest assured, daddy, such a small matter is something I can handle.¡± Li Qiao hummed lazily in response, hung up the phone, then turned and lay on the bed. She opened the page and began searching for Shang Yu¡¯s WeChat ID. ¡­ Meanwhile, under the dense night sky, located near South Sea Mountain, the South Sea Mansion shone like a beacon among the majestic mountains. This was Shang Yu¡¯s private residence, and he held the usage rights to the entire South Sea Mountain. At that moment, in the private garden outside the Mansion, Liuyun was sitting in front of a marble carved table and chairs, watching Zhui Feng rapidly typing on the keyboard. He couldn¡¯t help but urge, ¡°Are you capable or not?¡± Hearing this, Zhui Feng took offense, his fingers stopped on the keyboard, and he gave Liuyun a sideways glance, nudging his chin towards the computer, ¡°Why don¡¯t you try!¡± Liuyun kicked him unceremoniously, ¡°If I knew tracking technology, would I need you wasting time here?¡± ¡°Then shut your trap for your daddy!¡± Zhui Feng retorted irritably, resumed operating the computer, and continued to mutter disdainfully, ¡°What kind of useless creature are you? Even your phone contacts have been hijacked. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only If I hadn¡¯t noticed quickly, you¡¯d already be dead.¡± Although Zhui Feng was a wastrel, his computer skills were absolutely top-notch. Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant, had four major aides, each with their own skills, and all were one in a million. At this time, after being repeatedly mocked by Zhui Feng, Liuyun got a bit impatient and lit a cigarette, ¡°Cut the crap, can you track it or not? If not, I¡¯ll call Wang Yue and have someone from the Hacker Alliance take a shot at it!¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 ¨C 39 39 Baby Girl Sent a Text Message Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Baby Girl Sent a Text Message Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Baby Girl Sent a Text Message Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Zhui Feng glanced displeasedly at Liuyun, fingers maintaining their operation on the computer, and unexpectedly threw out a threat, ¡°Keep spouting nonsense, and I¡¯m going to report you to the boss right now.¡± Liuyun silently straightened up and made a zipper motion over his lips to signify he would stay quiet. ¡­ Elsewhere, in the low-luxury bedroom on the top floor of the Mansion, with its main color scheme of black, gold, and light grey, the style was still unmistakably cold and abstinent, even under the warm glow of the lights. The spacious and tranquil bedroom, with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, made the night seem even denser and inkier. At this moment, in front of the South Sea Mountain-facing window, Shang Yu, dressed in a gray robe, leaned on an Italian custom chaise lounge, the robe half open at the collared neckline, his right arm resting over his forehead in a posture that was both lazy and hauntingly solitary. A decanter next to him still contained half a glass of rum, its faint aroma drifting around, filling the air with comfort. ¡°Buzz¡ª-¡± The phone on the decanter vibrated, breaking the night¡¯s silence. Shang Yu opened his eyes, his deep pupils like the cold stars of midnight, showing not a hint of weariness. He picked up the phone to unlock it, his gaze falling on a text message notification. It was from: Baby Girl. ¡°Master Yan, I am Li Qiao, my phone number, please keep it.¡± The man¡¯s thumb paused on the phone¡¯s screen as another vibration came through. Baby Girl: Master Yan doesn¡¯t have WeChat? Shang Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and subconsciously clicked on the input box, but after typing a single letter, he backed out of the page. He had WeChat; he just didn¡¯t use it often. The man swiped through the home screen for a long pause before finding the WeChat app tucked away in a corner. He went into the WeChat settings, enabled the phone number search feature, then returned to the text message and replied with a very succinct word: Yes. After doing this, Shang Yu put down his phone and picked up the glass of rum from the table, taking a light sip. In the dim light by the window, the man¡¯s deep and handsome features were shrouded in a hazy glow. He looked straight out the window at the night scene, his posture relaxed and leisurely, the corners of his lips hooked in a slight arc, revealing a touch of pleasure. Not bad, actually able to find his private number. Shang Yu shook his glass, the half-melted ice cubes making a crisp clinking sound. At this point, a knock on the door came from outside the room. After Shang Yu responded, Zhui Feng and Liuyun pushed open the door, their faces as pale as death. Zhui Feng pursed his lips and reported with difficulty, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s been a mishap¡­¡± Shang Yu still leaned on the lounge chair, legs crossed in front of him, his voice, enriched by the scent of the alcohol, even more mellow and deep, ¡°What kind of mishap?¡± Zhui Feng glanced at Liuyun, who looked despondent, then bit the bullet and told the truth, ¡°Someone just hijacked Liuyun¡¯s contacts list. I tracked it and found that the other party is also a computer expert, and¡­ it¡¯s very likely that your phone number has been leaked.¡± This was his biggest concern. The other numbers in Liuyun¡¯s contacts could be ignored, but the boss¡¯s private number was of paramount importance. If someone with malicious intent were to publish the boss¡¯s number, the consequences¡­ were unthinkable. After all, in all of South Sea City, countless people wanted to connect with the enigmatic Shang Shaoyan and obtain his private number. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only After Zhui Feng finished speaking, Liuyun stepped forward, ready to face death, and admitted his error, ¡°Master, it was my oversight, please punish me.¡± Liuyun might have appeared contrite on the surface, but he was incredibly aggrieved on the inside. He had never expected someone could hijack his mobile phone¡¯s contacts list. It was an absolute injustice that had befallen him. At that time, the bedroom fell silent for a good while before Shang Yu took another sip of his whiskey, ¡°What did you track?¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¨C 40 40 How the Mistress Met Her Social Demise Chapter 40: Chapter 40: How the Mistress Met Her Social Demise Chapter 40: Chapter 40: How the Mistress Met Her Social Demise Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Hearing this, Zhui Feng hung his head in shame and said resentfully, ¡°Still haven¡¯t pinpointed the exact location, they¡¯re leading me on a merry chase with multiple relay IPs domestically and abroad. I¡¯ve already spoken to Wang Yue, the red hackers on our side will make a move.¡± Shang Yu spoke in an indifferent tone, glancing at his phone on the desk, a barely discernible smirk spilled from his eyes, ¡°No need to look anymore.¡± Zhui Feng¡¯s eyelid twitched and he couldn¡¯t help looking at Liuyun in dismay, ¡°But, Boss, if your phone number gets leaked¡­¡± Shang Yu swirled his glass, his tone leaving no room for doubt, ¡°Call off the tracking.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Three seconds later, Liuyun and Zhui Feng walked out with dazed expressions, neither saying a word, they descended the stairs with synchronized steps and then returned to their own rooms to ponder over life for the whole night. Why the hell had the boss suddenly become so benevolent? ¡­ In the blink of an eye, it was Monday. The thesis defense day at South Sea Medical University had arrived. Early at seven in the morning, Li Qiao headed to the garage, planning to leave. As soon as she settled into her car, Li Shaoquan¡¯s call came through just in time. ¡°The forum issue has been dealt with.¡± Li Qiao tapped the steering wheel, lifting her lips casually, ¡°Thanks.¡± After hanging up, Li Qiao tossed her phone aside and drove straight to the medical university campus. Since it was graduation defense day for the senior students, there were visibly more students on campus than usual. This time, upon arrival, Li Qiao didn¡¯t park her car on the roadside but drove directly into the campus parking lot. Just as she got out of her car, a Maserati sports car pulled into the parking space next to her, its engine roaring. The window rolled down to reveal Tang Yiting¡¯s smiling face behind sunglasses, ¡°Hey, why didn¡¯t you park outside today?¡± Li Qiao twirled her car keys in her hand and leaned lazily against the car door with crossed legs, ¡°Just felt like showing off my wealth.¡± Tang Yiting rolled her eyes and fished out her paper materials from the passenger seat as she got out of the car, ¡°Let¡¯s go, my defense classroom is in Building 402, what about you?¡± ¡°307.¡± Tang Yiting affectionately linked arms with Li Qiao as they walked and asked, ¡°How about lunch together? Xiao Wen will be there too.¡± At the mention, Li Qiao glanced at her and asked flatly, ¡°He¡¯s here again?¡± ¡°Yeah, he sent me a WeChat message this morning, said he was accompanying his supervisor again for some business, can¡¯t finish till evening. If you¡¯re free, join us for lunch.¡± Li Qiao didn¡¯t agree but didn¡¯t refuse either. The two of them walked from the parking lot toward the main building, encountering many lower-year students along the way, nearly every one of them paying a respectful glance at Li Qiao. The heat from last week¡¯s forum post was still there, but then the forum suddenly crashed and hadn¡¯t been fixed for days, leaving everyone wondering if there were any melons left in the melon field. At that moment, Tang Yiting noted the malicious looks from the other students and twisted her brow, removing her sunglasses and handing them to Li Qiao, ¡°Wear these so that bunch of idiots won¡¯t covet your beauty.¡± Li Qiao smiled, didn¡¯t take them, but instead chuckled softly, ¡°Heard the forum crashed?¡± ¡°Totally!¡± Tang Yiting exclaimed in a loud voice, then surreptitiously moved closer to Li Qiao¡¯s ear and asked, ¡°Was it someone you had do it?¡± Li Qiao raised her eyebrows noncommittally, ¡°Try logging in and see.¡± Tang Yiting was taken aback, the next second she whipped out her phone and tapped into the forum. Not only had the page recovered, but there was also a new pinned post. Title: How a Mistress Meets Her Social Death! The two keywords were amongst the hottest discussion topics of the moment. Curious, Tang Yiting clicked on the post and swiftly read through the well-illustrated essay. She exclaimed on the spot, ¡°Damn, so that¡¯s how it is!¡± CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Vicky_ From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 ¨C 41 41 Why Be a Stranger Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Why Be a Stranger? Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Why Be a Stranger? Ten minutes later, Li Qiao arrived at the defense scene in the comprehensive building. Room 307, a small classroom, was sparsely filled with students from the same defense group, and Jiang Yi was conspicuously among them. Li Qiao¡¯s defense was scheduled seventh in order, with the official defense starting at nine. The teachers from the committee hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and the expressions of the other students varied as they caught sight of Li Qiao, each flickering with different emotions. Jiang Yi was seated at the second desk in the front row, her eyes raised with an arrogant and mocking look as she glanced over at her. Especially upon seeing the thesis materials in Li Qiao¡¯s hands, she couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips contemptuously and asked with a sneer, ¡°How well prepared is your thesis, are you confident about passing?¡± Li Qiao casually placed the thesis on the table, kicked a chair open with her knee and sat down, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her voice cold, ¡°You should ask the committee that.¡± Jiang Yi was taken aback, forcing a smile as she gathered her wavy long hair, ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about you!¡± At the sound, Li Qiao turned her head slowly, her gaze meeting Jiang Yi¡¯s flickering eyes. A trace of sarcasm crossed her doe eyes, ¡°Do I need to thank you?¡± The smile on Jiang Yi¡¯s face gradually solidified, she lowered her head and fiddled with her manicure, putting on airs as she said, ¡°No need for thanks, after all, we¡¯ve been roommates for so many years, no need for formalities.¡± Li Qiao didn¡¯t bother to respond to her again but bent her lips deeply, meaningfully. ¡­ Soon, the defense began. The four teachers from the committee arrived at the long desk on the stage right on schedule, and the students began their defenses in sequence. Due to the high level of knowledge and hands-on experience required for a thesis in Biological Cell Engineering, the committee¡¯s control over the details of the thesis was very strict. Moreover, Biological Cell Engineering at South Sea Medical University was nationally one of the top programs, and it also had a cell gene laboratory supported by a national special fund, so one can imagine the difficulty level of the graduation thesis for this major. About fifteen minutes passed, and the first student finished their defense. The atmosphere on the stage was very serious. It seemed that the committee¡¯s teachers had some disagreements and, after several discussions, didn¡¯t give an immediate pass or fail decision. Instead, they asked the student to wait off-stage and invited the second student to come up. This time, Jiang Yi was scheduled to go third. She sat beside Li Qiao, occasionally glancing at her with an air of confidence. At this moment, a few students sitting in the neighboring seats suddenly started whispering among themselves. Apparently quite shocked, their voices gradually got louder despite their attempts to restrain themselves. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s that kind of person? So she was the one who framed Li Qiao on purpose.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just disgusting, it¡¯s like the pot calling the kettle black. If I were Li Qiao, I¡¯d definitely sue her for defamation and infringement of reputation!¡± The whispers grew louder, and Jiang Yi furrowed her brows, looking back suspiciously at the students behind her. To her surprise, those students were looking at her, their eyes filled with disdain and contempt. Jiang Yi: ¡°?¡± A bad feeling suddenly rose in her heart, and she looked away, pretending to be composed. Just as she took out her phone from her pocket, the second student¡¯s defense ended and it was time for her to take the stage. Left with no other choice, Jiang Yi had to abandon the idea of logging into the forum, thinking that it had been down for several days and that it was unlikely to suddenly come back online on the day of the defense. However, the discussions among the students intensified as she walked up to the stage. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°Quiet,¡± an assistant teacher from the committee sternly warned, and the classroom was once again calm. Jiang Yi gathered herself and began her self-introduction. Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion, but just as she was about to talk about her thesis, a sharp and piercing shout from outside the hallway of room 307 disrupted everyone¡¯s rhythm. ¡°Where¡¯s Li Qiao? That shameless campus belle Li Qiao, isn¡¯t she in this classroom?¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 ¨C 42 42 Someone¡¯s causing trouble Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Someone¡¯s causing trouble Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Someone¡¯s causing trouble Is there a commotion?! In the third-floor corridor of the comprehensive building, many students who had finished their defenses were also craning their necks to see what was happening. At this moment, outside the door of classroom 307, stood a fashionably dressed and visibly angry woman. She wore a small decorative felt hat on her head, with black hair draped over her shoulders, and appeared to be under thirty years old. ¡°Li Qiao, you dare to seduce my husband, yet you don¡¯t have the guts to face me? Such ¡®exemplary¡¯ students the South Sea Medical University turns out, you¡¯re really a credit to your school!¡± The woman¡¯s accusatory words were harsh, and she was convinced Li Qiao was the mistress. In the corridor, teachers and instructors who had heard the commotion came to intervene, but the door to classroom 307 suddenly opened. The assistant from the committee looked troubled as she stood holding the doorframe, frowning as she spoke, ¡°Madam, this is a school, not a place for you to make a scene. If you delay the students¡¯ defenses, can you take responsibility?¡± ¡°Then bring out Li Qiao for me, otherwise, I¡¯m set on making a scene today!¡± the woman insisted, wedging her leg against the wooden door, pushing and shoving while her eyes constantly scouted the classroom. In an instant, her gaze clashed with Li Qiao¡¯s across the room. The woman angrily pointed and said, ¡°You, yes you, Li Qiao, I would recognize that face of yours even if you turned to ashes!¡± At that moment, Jiang Yi, who stood at the podium, slightly lifted the corners of her mouth. She looked down at the thesis material in her hands and suggested with feigned empathy, ¡°Teacher, maybe we should deal with the problem first. My defense can continue later.¡± The seated teachers, with many years of teaching experience at South Sea Medical University, had never encountered such a disturbance on a defense day. Several teachers instinctively looked at Li Qiao, their eyes filled with dissatisfaction and disappointment. Li Qiao¡¯s name was well-known in the field of cellular engineering, even famous. Apart from her striking appearance, she was also at the top of her professional classes. What a pity, such a promising student, yet lacking in character. The post from last week had caused quite a stir at the school, and if things were not handled properly, her guaranteed spot at the research institute could be at risk. The committee assistant looked over at Li Qiao with a troubled expression. Before she could speak, the woman took advantage of her distraction to push open the door with a nifty move and charged into classroom 307. ¡°I hear today is your thesis defense day. A student who¡¯s a mistress, as teachers, do you still want to let her graduate smoothly?¡± The woman¡¯s eyes were sharp, and her presence aggressive. At that moment, Jiang Yi slightly turned on the stage, her gaze falling on the woman, and pretended to defend, ¡°Are you confused? Although Li Qiao comes from a poor background, I¡¯ve shared a dorm with her for four years. I believe in her character; she couldn¡¯t possibly be someone else¡¯s mistress.¡± Jiang Yi¡¯s hypocritical support was, in fact, a dig at Li Qiao¡¯s humble origins. The woman also quickly caught on to the subtext, ¡°Oh, so she¡¯s a poor bitch. No wonder my husband¡¯s credit card gets charged tens of thousands every month. Looks like you haven¡¯t been shy about taking his money.¡± In this situation, Li Qiao seemed to have become the target of all. Even though the assistant teacher closed the classroom door, the ordinary wooden door did nothing to block out the sound. The number of students outside the door had grown larger. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Then, faced with the woman¡¯s ridicule and provocation, as well as Jiang Yi¡¯s honeyed words with hidden blades, Li Qiao watched them emotionlessly, her brows and eyes frosted with impatience, and sighed softly, ¡°Have you said enough?¡± The woman did not notice the iciness in Li Qiao¡¯s eyes and stepped forward to the desk in a flash, raising her hand intent on slapping her, ¡°You still have the face to talk? Today, I will properly teach you, the shameless mistress, a lesson.¡± She stood, and Li Qiao sat, from a positional standpoint, the woman had an absolute advantage in the space to make a move. Seeing this, the teachers exclaimed and moved forward to help, while Jiang Yi stood in place, her expression one of smug satisfaction with victory seemingly in her grasp. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 ¨C 43 43 Li Qiao is My Dad, and Even More So, Your Ancestor Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Li Qiao is My Dad, and Even More So, Your Ancestor Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Li Qiao is My Dad, and Even More So, Your Ancestor Of course, the slap was never going to reach Li Qiao. The moment the woman made her move, Li Qiao had already calmly picked up the thesis materials on the table and, as the palm was mere centimeters from her cheek, she used the thick materials to forcefully knock the woman¡¯s wrist back. Under the effect of inertia, the woman¡¯s body swayed unintentionally, and she propped herself against the table with barely concealed anger, her eyes slitting with fury, ¡°You dare to fight back?¡± Li Qiao remained indifferently seated in her original position, and the teachers who had rushed over to separate them now stood protectively by her side, warning the woman not to strike again. Li Qiao found this whole scene quite ironic. In truth, ever since that expose was posted last week, few in the campus sought the truth; the majority of students, including the teachers, predictably had their opinions led by the prevailing winds of public sentiment. And with today¡¯s drama incited by the concerned party at the university, it seemed to defensively confirm Li Qiao¡¯s assumed role as the other woman. If she hadn¡¯t prepared in advance, she might be at a loss for words now. Li Qiao raised her hand to massage her forehead, took out her phone from her pocket, unlocked the screen, and casually threw it on the table, ¡°Lu Wen, is it? Before you start cursing and hitting, take a look at this.¡± Indeed, the woman who had come to make a scene was named Lu Wen. She scoffed disdainfully, barely giving the phone a glance before she was about to retort with scorn, but stopped dead when she saw the content on the screen. At the back of the classroom, students participating in the same panel were now whispering, ¡°Teacher, the real mistress isn¡¯t Li Qiao at all, it¡¯s clearly Jiang Yi. The forum¡¯s new post has put up comparison photos. It¡¯s actually Jiang Yi who framed Li Qiao, she¡¯s the real mistress.¡± The farce experienced a sudden plot twist. Jiang Yi, who was smugly content at the podium, turned pale. She rushed back to her seat and logged into the forum on her phone at breakneck speed, completely panicking upon seeing the content. The post titled ¡°On How Mistresses Meet Their Social Demise¡± was prominently pinned to the top of the homepage. Poster: Li Qiao is my dad and even your ancestor The content of the post was almost illustratively detailed. It included a thorough debunking analysis of the expose from the previous week. Li Qiao and the man had only gone to the Royal Hotel to attend an art exhibition, accompanied by surveillance screenshots of the art gallery. In another comparison photo, Jiang Yi in a black dress was seen entering the hotel arm in arm with a young man in a white suit. However, they only stayed at the art exhibition for a few minutes before heading to an upscale suite upstairs. Surveillance records, hotel check-in records, were all unedited screenshot photos. Lu Wen, who came to create a scene at the school, wasn¡¯t a hired actress, and her husband truly had an affair. Only, the woman he cheated with wasn¡¯t Li Qiao but Jiang Yi, who had remained outwardly uninvolved all along. At the bottom of the post was a screenshot of an anonymous email sent last week to Lu Wen¡¯s private mailbox, informing her that her husband had an affair with the belle of South Sea Medical University. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The picture attached in the email was the one taken in front of the Royal Hotel, showing the backs of Li Qiao arm in arm with Li Yan. This photo was clearly taken secretly; the angle was tricky so while it didn¡¯t show a clear face, it still let people vaguely believe what they saw was real. If one were to speak of coincidences, it¡¯s likely that Lu Wen¡¯s husband and Li Yan had a similar build, both attended the exhibition that evening, and even wore similarly colored suits. This gave Jiang Yi the perfect opportunity. In the classroom, after being prompted by the students, several teachers in charge of the defense also logged onto the forum one after another. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 ¨C 44 44 Jiang Yi, have some shame! Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Jiang Yi, have some shame! Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Jiang Yi, have some shame! The teachers finished reading the post, and each of their expressions was a sight to behold. Guilt, embarrassment, and a kind of anger at being used. The direction of public opinion also began to massively shift at this point. After all, last week¡¯s expose only included a few blurry photos of people¡¯s backs, as well as the incisive written accounts of the people involved. But the sticky post at the top of the forum, restored after the forum came back online, was detailed to a chilling degree. Who would go to such lengths to help Li Qiao, sparing no expense to publicly post even the confidential check-in records of the Royal Hotel, and even to hang the surveillance footage of them going in and out of the hotel on the webpage? It was utterly inconceivable! At this moment, Lu Wen, who had been silent for a long time, stiffly turned to Jiang Yi and asked in a tight voice, ¡°So, the person who sent me an anonymous email about my husband¡¯s affair was you?¡± Jiang Yi panicked, standing near the teacher¡¯s desk, shaking her head frantically, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on! Someone is trying to frame me. Li Qiao, it¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it, you¡¯re trying to frame me!¡± ¡°Jiang Yi, have some shame!¡± said a student from her group, who couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She scrolled through the forum page, and then said aloud, ¡°It¡¯s clearly stated on this post, it was you who gave Lu Wen¡­ madam the newly registered school account so she could log in to the forum and make the explosive post. It even has the IP address and the posting record. You dare to do it but not admit it; you¡¯re clearly trying to divert the trouble elsewhere!¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, I didn¡¯t!¡± Jiang Yi turned her head, screaming in denial, but no matter how loud her voice, the panic in her eyes betrayed her guilt. At that moment, Lu Wen, who prided herself on being astute, had a look of jealous hatred fixed on her face. She had intentionally come to cause trouble today, wanting to put the mistress in her place, to shame her and force her to back off. Instead, she found herself used as a pawn. Not only that, but had she even mistaken an enemy for an ally?! Lu Wen, looking at Jiang Yi¡¯s panic-stricken face, found her even more detestable. She moved stiffly to step away, but after only two steps, a composed Li Qiao dropped the thesis materials onto the table with a ¡®slap¡¯, and said coolly, ¡°Going through such great lengths to frame me, Jiang Yi¨Chow tiresome for you.¡± As the words fell, Li Qiao glanced at Lu Wen¡¯s unpleasant complexion, and with a savagely cold smile asked, ¡°Are we still fighting?¡± ¡°I¡­ you¡­¡± Lu Wen was speechless, especially when faced with Li Qiao¡¯s dark, doe-like eyes, she felt as if she was being choked. In her furious state, she had completely overlooked the frightening aura emanating from Li Qiao. Only now did she realize, with careful scrutiny, how could this soon-to-be graduate have such a deathly threatening look in her eyes? Inside classroom 307, the atmosphere became stagnant. Perhaps because the turnaround came too fast, including Lu Wen, no one was able to digest all of the information for a moment. ¡°Knock, knock¨C¡± A knocking sound broke the frozen silence as the director of academic affairs pushed the door and entered. Standing at the entrance, the Director Duan Yuanhui, well into his forties, with bushy eyebrows over narrow eyes radiating displeasure, looked around the room and said sternly, ¡°Li Qiao, Jiang Yi, and this madam, come with me to the office. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only The rest of you, continue the defense.¡± At the same time, in the bustling corridor, a familiar voice suddenly cursed, ¡°Jiang Yi, WCNM!¡± After cursing, the speaker ducked their head and hid behind the noisy crowd, leaving only a small head with sunglasses perched on top visible. Soon after, Li Qiao and the others left the comprehensive building with Director Duan. The defense site finally returned to its usual order. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 ¨C 45 45 The Withering Rose Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Withering Rose Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Withering Rose But, due to the drama at the defense venue, a new wave of discussion erupted on the forums within the South Sea Medical University campus. Indeed, Jiang Yi¡¯s carefully maintained goddess persona, that she had upheld for four years, completely crumbled on that day. In the academic affairs office, Duan Yuanhui led three others into the office as the teaching staff present clearly understood the situation and filed out. The spacious office was bright and tidy, with a wall hanging that read ¡°To be a teacher by virtue of knowledge, to be an example by virtue of morality.¡± Li Qiao, with her hands in her jean pockets, followed Duan Yuanhui nonchalantly, exuding an indifferent attitude as if the matter didn¡¯t concern her. Once the office door was firmly closed, she strode to a single-seat sofa with her slender legs and sat down directly. Duan Yuanhui, looking somewhat helplessly at her, then said to the panicked Jiang Yi and the continuously befuddled Lu Wen, ¡°Please, have a seat as well.¡± At that moment, Jiang Yi, wary, glanced at Lu Wen before quickly making her way to another single-seat sofa and sitting down. Lu Wen took a moment to compose herself, and then sat down on the long sofa near the door. She ran her hand through her hair, looking at Duan Yuanhui, ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± With one hand in his pocket, Duan Yunhui leaned against the corner of the desk behind him, ¡°I am the head of the Academic Affairs Office at the Medical University. I¡¯ve heard a bit about today¡¯s incident. Regarding your disruption of the student defense, we might need to give an explanation to the affected students. As for the tragedy in your family, we are deeply saddened and sympathetic, but please keep calm until the matter is thoroughly investigated.¡± Facing the firmly spoken and serious Duan Yunhui, Lu Wen, after all only a woman not yet thirty, instinctively toned down her arrogance, ¡°Director, I also need an explanation regarding the matter of your school¡¯s excellent student seducing my husband.¡± Duan Yuanhui nodded slightly, his attitude neither warm nor cold, ¡°Naturally. If a student¡¯s moral behavior is lacking during their time at school, the institution will not shirk its responsibility.¡± ¡°Then tell me, how do we resolve this?¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Wen straightened her back and fixed her fierce gaze on Jiang Yi. If it weren¡¯t for her, she wouldn¡¯t have had to face the humiliation of acting like a complete fool in front of the entire faculty and student body. Duan Yuanhui turned slightly to pick up the thermos from the table and caressed it in hand, ¡°No rush, your husband should be arriving soon.¡± Lu Wen was shocked, ¡°You notified my husband?¡± Duan Yuanhui didn¡¯t say a word but glanced at Li Qiao with a look of helplessness once again passing through his eyes. Indeed, someone had informed Lu Wen¡¯s husband, but¡­ it wasn¡¯t the school. At this very moment, what was Li Qiao doing? The little tyrant was casually crossing her long legs, her head bowed as she texted Shang Yu on WeChat. Ever since she added Shang Yu on WeChat last week, they hadn¡¯t contacted each other again. The chat box still displayed the smiley emoji that Li Qiao had sent after adding him as a friend. At that time, Li Qiao simply typed a few words: Not happy¡­ Before hitting the send button, she felt it was a bit pretentious, almost as if she was pouting for attention. Frowning, Li Qiao rapidly deleted the text and instead typed: What is Master Yan up to? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only This, too, seemed inappropriate, giving off the impression of prying into someone¡¯s privacy. In the end, after three minutes of deleting and editing, Li Qiao wrote nothing but sent a [wilted rose] emoji directly. After sending the message, Li Qiao propped her forehead with one hand, staring unblinkingly at her phone. About ten seconds later, the phone vibrated and the chat screen was no longer a monologue from her end. Shang Yu: What¡¯s up? Chapter 46 Chapter 46 ¨C 46 46 Who to Fight Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Who to Fight? Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Who to Fight? Li Qiao looked at those three characters and Shang Yu¡¯s distinctive pure black profile picture, ripples of emotion arose in her doe eyes, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile. She pondered for a few seconds, still chose not to type anything, and sent two more [withered roses]. This time, the chat messages came to a halt. A full five minutes passed without a reply from Shang Yu. With an expressionless face, Li Qiao locked her phone screen and flung it onto the tea table beside her. Had she overdone the flirting, or was he too busy with official matters to reply? Complex emotions fermented at the bottom of her heart, and Li Qiao¡¯s pretty face grew colder and increasingly tense. Just then, the phone she had tossed on the table suddenly vibrated. The others in the office also cast sidelong glances. Li Qiao grabbed the phone. The screen displayed just one word: ¡°Yan.¡± This was her unique note for Shang Yu. As Li Qiao¡¯s tense expression gradually eased, her voice was a bit husky when she answered, ¡°Hello~¡± She got up to leave while taking the call. As she reached the door, Lu Wen craned her neck and called out to her, ¡°Hey, the issue isn¡¯t resolved yet, don¡¯t go¨C¡± Li Qiao pulled the phone away from her ear, squinted her eyes, and said in a low, cool voice, ¡°Looking for a fight?¡± Lu Wen shut her mouth with a twinkle in her eyes, thinking she probably couldn¡¯t win against Li Qiao, especially since her wrist was already swollen from when Li Qiao hit her with the thesis materials earlier. At this moment, Duan Yuanhui took a sip of water from his thermos and, rubbing his temples, said to Li Qiao, ¡°Stop talking nonsense. Make it a quick call and come right back.¡± Li Qiao glanced at Duan Yuanhui, tugged at the corner of her lips, then pushed open the door and strode away. Lu Wen: ¡°??¡± Why did she detect a tone of helplessness and¡­ indulgence in Duan Yuanhui¡¯s voice? What kind of teacher-student relationship is this, so harmonious? ¡­ Outside in the corridor, Li Qiao came to a secluded spot by the window. She glanced at the phone still in a call and brought it back to her ear, calling out unhurriedly, ¡°Is Master Yan still there?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The man answered gravely, his tone betraying neither pleasure nor anger, ¡°Who are you planning to fight?¡± Clearly, he had heard Li Qiao¡¯s earlier remark. Li Qiao cleared her throat, her fingers drifting lightly over the window, ¡°Nobody important, just an outsider. Are you busy?¡± There was a few seconds of silence on the phone, softly rustling, before Shang Yu¡¯s sultry voice came through, ¡°Not busy. Did someone bully you at school?¡± Li Qiao pursed her lips, thinking of the man likely lounging back in his office chair, chatting with her on the phone, her throat began to itch again. Gathering her thoughts, Li Qiao gazed out at the misty sky, her smile deepening, she teased boastfully, ¡°I can¡¯t be bullied, after all, I¡¯m the player who was able to beat Master Yan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The conversation seemed to stall there. After a moment of thought, Li Qiao said resignedly, ¡°Well, you must be busy, so I won¡¯t disturb Master Yan¡¯s work.¡± ¡°Is it your thesis defense today?¡± The man suddenly asked. Li Qiao raised her eyebrows, her fingertips starting to trace circles, or rather heart shapes, on the window, ¡°Yes, how did you know, Master Yan?¡± Shang Yu didn¡¯t answer, he asked another question instead, ¡°What time does it end?¡± ¡°Not certain yet.¡± The man pondered for a moment, ¡°Mm, let¡¯s leave it at that then, good luck with your defense.¡± Ending the call, Li Qiao slowly put down her phone. Her eyes looked as though they were filled with the bright light of spring. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Then, as she turned around, she saw Duan Yuanhui standing a few steps away, hands behind his back, watching her. Li Qiao¡¯s casual smile had yet to fade when Duan Yuanhui glanced at the messy circle marks on the corridor window and sighed, ¡°Who was that on the phone? Do you have a boyfriend?¡± Li Qiao put the phone into her pocket and nonchalantly replied, ¡°Uncle, do you know the secret to grandfather staying young at heart?¡± Duan Yuanhui couldn¡¯t help but laugh, walking over to pat Li Qiao affectionately on the head, ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m being nosy?!¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 ¨C 47 47 No Next Time Chapter 47: Chapter 47: No Next Time Chapter 47: Chapter 47: No Next Time Li Qiao glanced at him lazily, ¡°No, uncle is too busy managing affairs, he definitely won¡¯t meddle in trivial matters!¡± Duan Yuanhui shook his head with a wry smile as he let his hand fall, eyeing Li Qiao, ¡°Tell uncle the truth, was the forum post your doing?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Li Qiao answered earnestly: ¡°It was Li Shaoquan¡¯s work.¡± Duan Yuanhui: ¡°¡­¡± He shook his head with a light sigh and reminded her, ¡°Last week I was out of town at a teaching research conference and could only ask a colleague from the academic affairs office to lock the post remotely. Next time something like this happens, don¡¯t deal with it yourself, remember to tell me immediately.¡± Li Qiao looked down at her own toes, her expression very indifferent, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡± ¡°Alright then, you go in first. Her husband has arrived at the door, I¡¯m going to meet him.¡± ¡­ About five minutes later, Duan Yuanhui returned to the academic affairs office with a tall man in tow. The man was over thirty, not particularly handsome, but he had fair skin with dreamy, watery eyes that exuded flirtation. ¡°Husband, you, why are you here?¡± Upon seeing him, Lu Wen immediately stood up, looking somewhat nervous. The man, named Chen Lizhou, had a grim expression on his face. He gritted his teeth and asked with disdain, ¡°Look at the mess you¡¯ve made. Do you think you can carry on any way you like at school?¡± Lu Wen¡¯s face turned ashen, her previous boldness gone as she stammered, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it because you cheated first!¡± ¡°Get the situation straight first. You live off me, so what right does a parasite like you have to meddle in my affairs?¡± Chen Lizhou did not mince words as he cursed her out, seeing Lu Wen, who depended on the Chen family for her livelihood, as no more than a leech wearing the title of wife. At that moment, Jiang Yi, sitting to the side, could barely contain her glee, as if she foresaw her imminent triumphant replacement. Chen Lizhou pointed at Lu Wen¡¯s nose and cursed her for a couple more sentences. Then he took a breath and turned his gaze toward Jiang Yi. ¡°Did you engineer all this?¡± Jiang Yi¡¯s face froze in shock, and she put on a pretentious denial, shaking her head, ¡°Not me, what are you talking about, I don¡¯t understan¡­ mmm!¡± No one expected Chen Lizhou to lay a hand on Jiang Yi. He stepped forward swiftly and backhanded her across the face, cursing with utmost disgust, ¡°You really are cheap. What did you promise me when I was keeping you? It hasn¡¯t even been a year, and you dare go behind my back and pull stunts, Jiang Yi, have I given you too much face?¡± Chen Lizhou bluntly revealed the kept and keeper relationship between the two of them. Jiang Yi, covering her face, collapsed onto the armrest of the sofa, panic-stricken and at a loss. How could this be? When she had done these things back then, Chen Lizhou was in on it. He himself had said he was tired of Lu Wen, which is why they schemed this plot together. Firstly, she could splash the dirty water of being the third party onto Li Qiao so she couldn¡¯t graduate smoothly, which would in turn pass the guaranteed spot for the research institute to her, Jiang Yi. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Secondly, it would also cause Lu Wen, acting impulsively without considering the consequences, to lose her title as the young mistress of the Chen family, and then it would be Jiang Yi¡¯s turn to step in ¨C killing two birds with one stone, wasn¡¯t it?! But why had Chen Lizhou suddenly turned against her, insisting it was her fault? Jiang Yi started to cry helplessly, her mind a whirl of confusion, while Lu Wen, although feeling vindicated, dared not speak out rashly again. At this point, Duan Yunhui looked at Chen Lizhou with dissatisfaction; hitting a woman was a serious loss of decorum. But before he could speak up to warn him, Chen Lizhou calmed down for a few seconds, then turned his steps toward Li Qiao. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 ¨C 48 48 Apologizing Most Respectfully Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Apologizing Most Respectfully Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Apologizing Most Respectfully Jiang Yi¡¯s tearful eyes caught this scene, and with an uneasy sob, she choked out, ¡°Lizhou, she¡¯s the one behind all this. She framed me. Why hit me?¡± Chen Lizhou angrily turned his head and glared fiercely at Jiang Yi. ¡°Shut up. I¡¯ll settle the score with you later.¡± The next second, with an angry look on his face, Chen Lizhou suddenly bent over in front of Li Qiao and apologized with remorse, ¡°Miss Li, I am very sorry for today¡¯s incident. It was wrong of me to have disrupted your defense, my apologies.¡± Lu Wen¡¯s face was filled with astonishment, and Jiang Yi¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. How could his apology sound so respectful and servile? Had Chen Lizhou lost his mind? In contrast to their suspicion and surprise, Duan Yuanhui leaned casually against the corner of the desk, occasionally sipping his green tea. At that moment, Li Qiao was tapping on her phone screen with a detached expression, looking down at Chen Lizhou and speaking indifferently, ¡°I accept your apology, but I hope¡­ there won¡¯t be a next time!¡± Chen Lizhou lowered his eyelids to hide his guilt, nodding earnestly, ¡°Rest assured, Miss Li. I promise such an incident will never happen again!¡± Li Qiao gave him a few glances and then slowly stood up. She took a few steps, then paused and looked back, ¡°Oh, and you might need to go explain personally to the Secretary-General about helping Jiang Yi hack my computer and shatter my thesis in the girls¡¯ dormitory.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Lizhou¡¯s face instantly turned ashen¨Cshe knew? After Li Qiao finished speaking, she cast a fleeting glance at Jiang Yi and gestured to Duan Yuanhui, ¡°I¡¯m off now, no need to wait.¡± Duan Yuanhui put down his thermos and called out to her, ¡°Wait, do you want the defense to be rescheduled, or would you like to continue now?¡± Li Qiao opened the door and threw over her shoulder without turning back, ¡°Reschedule it. I¡¯m not in the mood today.¡± After she left, an eerie silence spread through the academic affairs office. After a while, Lu Wen, leveraging her status as the legitimate wife, approached Chen Lizhou and tugged at his sleeve, asking cautiously, ¡°Husband, who is the Secretary-General?¡± She had been observing closely, and the moment Li Qiao mentioned the Secretary-General, Chen Lizhou visibly shuddered. Chen Lizhou shook off her hand and looked toward Duan Yuanhui with an obscure look in his eyes, ¡°Director Duan, what do you think would be the best way to handle this?¡± Duan Yuanhui pretended to ponder before saying, ¡°Well, since it¡¯s a family matter, it¡¯s not appropriate for the school to intervene too much. However, to control the impact of your wife¡¯s disturbance at the school, we may require an apology letter from you. As for Jiang Yi, she is still a student here, and the school will announce the punishment for her actions on the campus forum after discussion. Mr. Chen, do you have any objections?¡± ¡°No, none at all. We will follow whatever arrangements the school makes.¡± ¡­ Elsewhere, after leaving the academic affairs office, Li Qiao headed straight to the corridor corner to call her elder brother, Li Jun. ¡°Qiaoqiao, is everything resolved?¡± Li Qiao leaned against the wall, with one knee bent up, ¡°Did you tell Chen Lizhou about my identity?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only In fact, while investigating Jiang Yi, she had accidentally found out that Chen Lizhou was an employee of the South Sea Secretariat. Unfortunately for him, his direct supervisor happened to be Secretary-General Li Jun. Earlier in Classroom 307, the moment Lu Wen appeared, she had Nan Xin contact Chen Lizhou. However¡­ she hadn¡¯t expected Nan Xin to report the school¡¯s situation to Li San, who, after understanding the ins and outs, went directly to her elder brother, Li Jun. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 ¨C 49 49 The Luxury Car Convoy in Front of the Academic Affairs Building Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Luxury Car Convoy in Front of the Academic Affairs Building Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Luxury Car Convoy in Front of the Academic Affairs Building To Li Qiao, it seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill! At this moment, Li Jun¡¯s cold voice came through the phone, ¡°I don¡¯t have to mention your identity, he knows what to do. The third one has already told me everything about your school, don¡¯t be afraid, your big brother will take care of it for you.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you Big Brother Xie.¡± After hanging up the phone, Li Qiao curved her lips into a smile and then leisurely walked out of the building. She had no intention of harming others, but that didn¡¯t mean she was an easy target. As for the fate of Chen Lizhou and Jiang Yi, they would probably get their just desserts. ¡­ At this time, it was past eleven-thirty, and many students were also leaving the academic building, looking for food. The architectural layout of the Medical University was inherently triangular. The academic building and the administration building were situated in the east, while the cafeteria and sports facilities were located on the south side. Thus, the administration building was the unavoidable path to the cafeteria. When Li Qiao walked out from the lobby, without even lifting her head, she could faintly hear a hubbub near the entrance of the building. Although there were many students at the Medical University, it was rare to encounter such a scene unless there was an event on campus. Li Qiao, with her hands in her pockets, walked down the steps with a lack of enthusiasm and glanced at the crowded area, stopping abruptly. Along the tree-lined path in front of the administration building, a row of captivating, same-colored luxury cars stood conspicuously at the roadside. The emblem of the Yan Emperor Group was highly visible on the car body, and each car was accompanied by a black-clothed bodyguard. Many students stopped in groups under the trees, gazing with curiosity and longing in their eyes. This was a symbol of power, wealth, and status. The bodyguard at the forefront of the motorcade was a familiar face. Li Qiao tilted her head and blinked her doe eyes, then lowered her head and continued down the steps. Why had Shang Yu come? After descending a dozen or so steps, the moment Li Qiao lifted her gaze, Liuyun also timely arrived before her, ¡°Miss Li, are you alright?¡± Such an inquiry made Li Qiao involuntarily raise an eyebrow, ¡°What could possibly be wrong with me?¡± Liuyun pressed his lips together and glanced towards a certain car behind him, ¡°Master already knows about today¡¯s defense incident. We¡¯ve contacted the president of the Medical University, so you don¡¯t have to worry; the president will personally intervene to resolve all your issues.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s breath hitched, and she fell silent, ¡°¡­¡± Did she have anything to worry about? Wasn¡¯t this like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? A minor tempest had alarmed the Overlord of the South Sea¨Cwhat an honor! Li Qiao touched her forehead and sighed silently, ¡°Is he in the car?¡± ¡°Yes, please follow me.¡± Li Qiao casually followed Liuyun towards the middle of the motorcade, and at the same time, Chen Lizhou and Lu Wen appeared side by side at the entrance of the administration building. The emblem of the Yan Emperor Group was known to all in the South Sea. Upon seeing the magnificent motorcade, Chen Lizhou suddenly felt as if he was drowning, having difficulty breathing. If it was the Yan Emperor¡¯s fleet, then the person inside the car could only be Shang Shaoyan. And Li Qiao, she not only had a profound connection with the Secretary-General but even knew Shang Shaoyan? He was probably done for. At the moment, Lu Wen wasn¡¯t paying attention to these details. He obediently followed Chen Lizhou, and after standing at the door for a while, they quickly left the scene through the side door of the administration building. As for Jiang Yi, who emerged looking like a lost soul with unsteady steps and a swollen face, what he saw was this scene. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Beside the eye-catching and domineering line of cars, Li Qiao walked gracefully to the one in the center. The bodyguard beside her respectfully opened the door for her and even carefully held his hand atop the car¡¯s roof for support. As the door opened, through the fleeting gap, Jiang Yi caught a glimpse of the imposing and dignified black-clad man inside the car. Even just the blurry profile was enough to make Jiang Yi¡¯s heart skip a beat. Because there are some people, a single glance is all it takes to make you understand what is meant by ¡®out of one¡¯s league¡¯. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 ¨C 50 50 Dinner Invitation Rejected Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Dinner Invitation Rejected Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Dinner Invitation Rejected Charm Shadow Car, Li Qiao leaned into the seat, a faint smell of tobacco mixed with the man¡¯s lingering scent rushed to her nose. As usual, he was sitting in the car with his legs crossed, looking at documents, his well-proportioned fingers hooked around a diamond pen, signing his name fluidly. Li Qiao slumped against the leather seat, her elbow resting on the top of the chair back, her lips curling slowly, ¡°Did Master Yan come especially for me?¡± The driver in the front row quickly glanced at the rearview mirror, noting that this young lady seemed even bolder after a few days¡¯ absence. Her tone when speaking to their young master was as if they were old acquaintances. She probably hadn¡¯t seen the master¡¯s hands bloodied, his temper wild and unbridled. At that moment, Shang Yu stopped writing, placed the documents on the small table, and pinched the bridge of his nose, ¡°Have you been fighting with others?¡± His tone was like that of a parent asking routinely. Li Qiao straightened up, crossed her legs, and shook her head calmly, ¡°Of course not, I am an exemplary student with both good grades and conduct.¡± At the sound, Shang Yu slowly glanced at her, the girl dressed in a layered collar knit short-sleeve and slim-fit blue jeans. Her posture with crossed legs was not exactly elegant, but it also revealed an innate recklessness. He pursed his lips, moved the small table away from him, and took out a bottle of mineral water from the car fridge for Li Qiao, ¡°No defense today?¡± The mineral water was cool to the touch, Li Qiao held it and her fingertips flinched, she nodded and said, ¡°The school will reschedule the defense for me.¡± ¡°Mmm, if there¡¯s anything you need, just tell your principal,¡± the man spoke with an air of nonchalance, which made Li Qiao chuckle, ¡°This little matter shouldn¡¯t require the principal to step in, right?¡± Shang Yu looked at Li Qiao, then leaned back in his seat, his brows relaxing as he closed his eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s not a bother. Just a simple favor.¡± ¡­ Less than five minutes later, Li Qiao pushed the door open and got out of the car. Her expression was plain, a hint of disappointment etched between her brows. Because she had just asked Shang Yu to have lunch together, only to be unceremoniously rejected. So¡­ he hadn¡¯t come especially for her? Li Qiao stood outside the door, glanced at Shang Yu through the car window, waved to him, and then turned to leave. The taste of unrequited affection was somewhat sour. Just then, Liuyun, who was waiting outside the car, called after her. Li Qiao paused, turned to look at him without a word, her expression particularly icy. Liuyun looked at the expressionless face of Li Qiao, slightly confused, but still did his duty as a messenger, ¡°Miss Li, the boss has arranged lunch for you at Crystal Garden. You can head over now; the timing is just right.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s lips edged coldly as she looked at the broad back inside the car, asking casually, ¡°Oh, when was it arranged?¡± What did this mean? He didn¡¯t want to have lunch with her? ¡°It was arranged on the way here,¡± Liuyun replied with a goofy smile, then helpfully added, ¡°The boss now has to rush to Lin City for an economic forum meeting; he¡¯s quite pressed for time and can¡¯t delay any longer.¡± The subtext being, the boss has important matters to attend to, hence he can¡¯t accompany you for lunch. Li Qiao understood, and the chill in her eyes and brows gradually melted away, ¡°I see. Well, please thank Master Yan for me.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Miss Li.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only As Liuyun greeted the bodyguards and got into the car, and as the convoy drove past her, Li Qiao caught sight of the half-lowered car window, her gaze meeting the man¡¯s across the distance. Her eyes curved, waving goodbye to him. A breeze passed by, seemingly carrying a sweet scent of flowers in the air. ¡­ Soon, Li Qiao arrived at the parking lot and saw Tang Yiting and Wen Shi waiting for her not far away. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 ¨C 51 51 All the side dishes she didn¡¯t like were gone Chapter 51: Chapter 51: All the side dishes she didn¡¯t like were gone Chapter 51: Chapter 51: All the side dishes she didn¡¯t like were gone From a distance of several meters, Tang Yiting was hopping up and down with a face full of gossip, waving her hands, ¡°Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re finally here! Hurry, hurry, tell me all about the face-slapping details at the academic affairs office.¡± Li Qiao strolled leisurely to the parking spot, nodded to Wen Shi as a greeting, and then directly took out her car keys, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Crystal Garden.¡± Tang Yiting¡¯s burning gossip soul was doused with a bucket of cold water. Shouldn¡¯t she share the joy of triumphing over the scum first? Li Qiao got into her car on her own and then started the engine, leaving the parking lot first. And after being reminded by Wen Shi, Tang Yiting reluctantly climbed into her car and hurried to catch up with the Mercedes G-Class. ¡­ Half an hour later, at Crystal Garden. Li Qiao, accompanied by Tang Yiting and Wen Shi, entered the lobby. The lavishness of the Royal Villa made Tang Yiting unconsciously cling to Li Qiao¡¯s arm, ¡°Boss, you actually have a pass to Crystal Garden?¡± Li Qiao ignored her and had only taken a few steps when an employee dressed in courtly attire approached them with enthusiasm, ¡°Miss Li, welcome back, please follow me.¡± The three of them were led by the server to the Yiwan Residence private room. While waiting for tea to be served, Tang Yiting squirmed in her seat and leaned towards Li Qiao, asking sneakily, ¡°Ancestor, clue me in, when did you get the pass for this place?¡± As far as she knew, even as one of the Five Giants of the South Sea, only her own father from the Tang family qualified to dine in Crystal Garden, and despite her age, she had only heard of it without ever seeing it. Today, she actually walked in alive. Tang Yiting silently took out her phone, ready to show off on her Moments, Weibo, Oasis, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Meanwhile, Wen Shi, who had been silent all the way, now looked at Li Qiao with probing eyes. In response, Li Qiao lazily lifted her eyelids, giving a cryptic answer, ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡± ¡°Then you¡­ I¡­¡± Tang Yiting¡¯s face was full of shock as she pointed to her nose, ¡°Could I be kicked out?¡± Li Qiao glanced at her indifferently, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be.¡± With that said, Tang Yiting didn¡¯t bother to question anymore and raised her phone to start snapping photos all around the room. Wen Shi sat opposite Li Qiao, looked at the lavish decor of Yiwan Residence, and after a hesitant glance around, his gaze fell on Li Qiao, ¡°Do you come here often?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been here once.¡± At this moment, the server returned to the room with a blue and white porcelain teapot and after pouring the tea for them, he politely said to Li Qiao, ¡°Miss Li, shall we start serving the dishes now?¡± Li Qiao nodded, and the server respectfully smiled and left the room. After all the dishes were served, six entrees and three soups, each prepared to the standards of royal court cuisine. Tang Yiting, who rarely saw such extravagance, didn¡¯t stop taking photos with her phone, while Wen Shi slightly restrained tea. Only Li Qiao seemed to have a complex and peculiar look in her eyes as she gazed at the dishes and soups. Because she noticed that all the hot dishes and the soups were missing the usual side ingredients. Green onion, ginger, garlic, seaweed, red cabbage¡­ and so on. All the sides she didn¡¯t eat were gone. A conjecture slowly formed in Li Qiao¡¯s heart, and as she lowered her eyelashes, a smile flickered in her eyes. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only She opened her phone, went to the WeChat page, and without hesitation sent a message to Shang Yu. Li Qiao: Master Yan, I really like the dishes you ordered, thank you. The message page received a one-word reply from the man after a minute: Hmm. Li Qiao, with her head down and her doe eyes twinkling, typed another sentence: I¡¯m heading to Lin City now, what will you have for lunch? Shang Yu: No matter, I¡¯ll eat when I arrive. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 ¨C 52 52 Departure for Lin City Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Departure for Lin City Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Departure for Lin City Li Qiao ate distractedly during the meal. Even though the food at Crystal Garden was delicious, she still felt that something was missing. Twenty minutes later, she set down her chopsticks with a cold expression, wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin, caught a glimpse of the cellphone by the table from the corner of her eye, picked it up, stood up, and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Tang Yiting was chewing on a meatball, her mouth corners still adorned with two strands of crystal noodles. She hastily chewed a couple more times and watched the retreating figure at the doorway, muttering to herself, ¡°Why do I feel like she¡¯s about to abandon me again?¡± Tang Yiting was quite accustomed to this routine abandonment. Wen Shi put down his bowl and chopsticks as well and glanced at the private room¡¯s door, seemingly off-handedly murmuring, ¡°Is she and Shang Shaoyan close?¡± Tang Yiting slurped a mouthful of vermicelli and vaguely shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Wen Shi slowly wiped his fingers with a hot towel, the corners of his lips curving up gently, ¡°I just saw the bill; the expenditure was charged to Yan Emperor Group¡¯s account. I thought she was quite close to Shang Shaoyan.¡± Tang Yiting uttered an ¡°oh,¡± and casually began picking up food, her peripheral vision quickly flitting toward Wen Shi, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice, you¡¯re quite observant.¡± As the words fell, Tang Yiting continued stuffing her face, looking exactly like a foodie who can¡¯t speak while facing delicacies. Tang Yiting, a member of the Tang family who had grown up amidst the calculating and deceitful family politics, could not fail to detect Wen Shi¡¯s subtle probing. ¡­ On the other side, Li Qiao walked out of Yiwan Residence, reached an antique sundial next to the courtyard along the corridor adorned with carved beams and painted rafters. She fixated on the sundial, where the gnomon¡¯s shadow on the time plate had already moved past midday. At this time, Shang Yu was probably still on his way to Lin City. If he hadn¡¯t stopped at the medical university, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have delayed his trip. After all, he had changed his route spontaneously for her. Li Qiao checked her phone emotionlessly. This summit was the most important economic summit forum meeting in the past six months. Without wasting any time, she easily found relevant news reports on the internet. At one o¡¯clock this afternoon, the summit forum¡¯s opening ceremony was to be held at Yancheng City Lin City¡¯s National Conference Center, and three parallel thematic meetings were to be convened simultaneously. That meant¡­ he really had no time for a meal. Traveling from South Sea to Lin City would take at least two hours at the fastest. Li Qiao lifted her head, her gaze settling on the sundial once more, a certain idea taking shape in her mind. She heard that the horticulture expo had started recently in Yancheng City; she suddenly wanted to check it out. A few minutes later, in the parking lot of Crystal Garden, a domineering Mercedes-Benz G-Class drove out of the gate. En route, she called Tang Yiting to notify her, then pressed the accelerator and sped towards the G3 expressway. ¡­ Evening, Yancheng City Lin City. With the summit forum being held in Yancheng City for the first time, promotional boards for the event could be seen on all the main roads of the city. As dusk approached, lights began illuminating the city, and a line of cars slowly emerged from the underground parking lot of the National Conference Center. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Liuyun sat in the passenger seat, flipping through the summit schedule, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a cultural evening gala at the State Guesthouse up next.¡± The man rested his forearm on his forehead, his eyes closed, his expression revealing a touch of weariness, ¡°Cancel it.¡± Liuyun glanced back at him and nodded agreeably, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have the hotel prepare dinner.¡± Just then, a buzzing sound filled the quiet car. Liuyun took out two phones from his pocket, checked the screens, and then handed Shang Yu¡¯s phone to him from the backseat, ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve got a WeChat message.¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 ¨C 53 53 Want to Make It Up to Me Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Want to Make It Up to Me? Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Want to Make It Up to Me? It¡¯s hard to say exactly when it started, but seemingly out of nowhere, their eldest¡¯s WeChat was reactivated. It seemed to be after getting to know Miss Li. At this moment, Shang Yu lazily took his phone, not the least bit surprised that the WeChat message was from Li Qiao. It was just a few words, ¡°Master Yan, where are we eating dinner tonight?¡± The young lady seemed particularly concerned about his dining plans today. Shang Yu massaged his temples and lightly tapped the screen with his thumb, sending back two words, ¡°Hotel.¡± The conversation in the chat box ended abruptly there. Shang Yu exited the chat, about to lock his screen, but unexpectedly noticed a glaring red dot below the WeChat ¡®Discover¡¯ icon. As if possessed, he clicked on it, and the top post in the Moments feed was a recent one from Li Qiao. There were no words, just an image of a field of tulips. But what made Shang Yu pause was the location tagged beneath the photo: Yancheng City, World Horticultural Expo. His gaze narrowed slightly as he watched the lights fleeting by outside the window, casting his profound features in an intermittent play of light and shadow. If Liuyun were to look back at that moment, he would catch a glimpse of a faint smile tugging at the corners of Shang Yu¡¯s thin lips stained a shade of rouge. This time, he closed WeChat entirely and dialed Baby Girl¡¯s number on his call screen. ¡°In Yancheng City?¡± The moment the call connected, Li Qiao heard the man¡¯s husky, magnetic voice and slowly responded with a smile, ¡°Mhm, I heard the World Horticultural Expo has started, thought I¡¯d come over to relax a bit.¡± She felt that reason deserved full marks! Shang Yu, phone in hand, looked out at the streets passing by outside the window, thinking back to the message Li Qiao had sent him, and his eyes revealed his understanding, ¡°Haven¡¯t had dinner yet?¡± Li Qiao glanced at the two-person Western dining table in front of her, eyes sparkling with excitement, ¡°Not yet, just ordered, waiting for the meal now. Does Master Yan have the time to join?¡± ¡°Location.¡± Li Qiao replied, ¡°Western restaurant, Royal Hotel, Yancheng City.¡± ¡­ About twenty minutes later, the motorcade returned to the Royal Hotel in Yancheng City, where Shang Yu was staying. The moment Liuyun opened the car door for the man, he whispered beside him, ¡°Boss, Miss Li is at table 01 in the Western restaurant.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shang Yu undid his tie and casually handed his jacket to Liuyun, striding into the hotel lobby in a dark shirt and trousers. Liuyun stood still, holding the jacket, and began to question life. How did Miss Li manage to pinpoint the exact hotel where the boss was staying? The high-level forum attendees were all staying at the State Guesthouse. Only their family¡¯s big shot opted for privacy and heightened security in their own hotel. How did Miss Li find out?! What kind of wild channels did she have? In the Western restaurant of the hotel, the decor was elegantly styled, with the soothing sound of a piano melody permeating the air. Li Qiao was sitting at table 01, her cheek propped up by her hand, watching Shang Yu approach under the crystal chandeliers, his build tall and distinguished. Even though his shirt sleeves were creased, his elegance and grace remained untouched. Tonight, they were the only patrons in the restaurant. Li Qiao wore a champagne-colored cocktail dress, her face lightly made-up, radiant and charming, a noticeable change from her usual cold and lazy demeanour, adding a soft enchantment instead. She smiled, ¡°Thank you, Master Yan, for taking time out of your busy schedule to dine with me.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only She was teasing him for rejecting lunch together earlier that day. Shang Yu slightly shifted to pull out a chair and sit down, resting his arm on the table and tapping with his fingertips, his voice slow and tinged with laziness, ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°Just arrived this afternoon,¡± Li Qiao straightened her skirt and placed a glass of lemon water in front of him, ¡°I guess¡­ you didn¡¯t eat lunch.¡± Shang Yu¡¯s eyebrows shaded over his weary eyes as he lifted his gaze to Li Qiao, his eyes deep, carrying a misty glint, ¡°Trying to compensate for me?¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 ¨C 54 54 It¡¯s unsafe for girls to drive long distances Chapter 54: Chapter 54: It¡¯s unsafe for girls to drive long distances Chapter 54: Chapter 54: It¡¯s unsafe for girls to drive long distances Li Qiao held her crystal glass and took a sip, her gaze, however, peered over the rim to survey the hint of a faint smile at the corner of Shang Yu¡¯s mouth. Soon, she looked away, scanning around the Western restaurant before resetting her gaze on Shang Yu, she countered, ¡°Indeed you want to make amends, but would Master Yan give you that chance?¡± The young girl¡¯s manner of speaking was spirited and assertive, a far cry from her usual languor and weariness. Shang Yu¡¯s thick brows slightly raised, he leaned back into the chair comfortably, lifting his arm to pick up a glass of lemon water and gestured to Li Qiao, ¡°Here, you want it, you got it!¡± Li Qiao smiled lightly, hearing these words from Shang Yu gave her an inexplicable feeling of being favored. At the right moment, she snapped her fingers at the waiter to order the dishes. Two portions of top-grade luxury steaks paired with various Michelin three-star soups were served, whetting one¡¯s appetite. During the meal, Shang Yu elegantly cut his steak, the medium-rare beef still showing its light raw hue, he looked at Li Qiao opposite him with deep and meaningful eyes, ¡°Did you look into my preferences?¡± Li Qiao paused the cutting of her steak, looking back with forthright eyes, ¡°Of course, I finally have the chance to treat Master Yan to a meal, I have to cater to what you like, right?¡± The man¡¯s lips curved into an ambiguous smile, a playful light flickered in his eyes. ¡­ After the main course, the waiter brought out the dessert, the lethal brownie. Li Qiao poked at the cake with a fork, the dark and sweet brownie, like the man sitting across from her, seemed quite deadly. ¡°Planning to stay in Yancheng City for a few days?¡± At that moment, Shang Yu broke the silence, his deep black eyes reflecting the warm light from the lamps, losing some of their usual coldness. Li Qiao shook her head thoughtfully, ¡°There isn¡¯t much to enjoy here, I might go back the day after tomorrow.¡± Shang Yu took the opportunity to pull out a cigarette case, then extracted a slim brown cigar, ¡°When is your next thesis defense scheduled?¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t notified me yet.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s eyes fell on his proportioned and slender fingers, before adding, ¡°Probably this week.¡± Shang Yu put the slim cigar to his lips, and as he lit it with a lighter, releasing a wisp of smoke, he said, ¡°Then join me back to the South Sea tomorrow afternoon, it¡¯s not safe for a girl to drive long distances alone.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s brows lifted in slight surprise, ¡°Are you going back too? Not staying for the rest of the forum conference?¡± ¡°Just need to show up at the closing ceremony next week.¡± After dinner, Li Qiao and Shang Yu walked out of the Western restaurant side by side. Outside the door, Liuyun dutifully waited, and upon seeing the two of them, he quickly stepped forward to whisper a few words into Shang Yu¡¯s ear. Li Qiao did not catch what Liuyun said, but she distinctly felt an abrupt change in the air about Shang Yu; his aura became sharp and fierce, even his gaze turned sinister and detached. The next second, his brows relaxed, and looking at Li Qiao a few steps away, he said, ¡°Go back to your room and rest early.¡± Li Qiao didn¡¯t ask further, lazily waving her hand, ¡°Goodnight!¡± ¡­ The next morning, Li Qiao sluggishly woke up before eight o¡¯clock. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Strands of light forced through the gaps in the curtains and danced before her, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before reaching under the pillow to find her phone. The screen was blank. Last night at half-past eleven, she had sent Shang Yu a WeChat message, but to this moment, there was still no reply. Li Qiao propped herself up against the headboard, squinting her bleary eyes, and noticed the shopping bags on the floor; without hesitation, she quickly changed into casual clothes and left the room after freshening up. Outside in the corridor, Li Qiao stepped out to see, a few meters away, outside the door of the adjacent room, two formidable-looking bodyguards standing guard. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 ¨C 55 55 This Should Be an Ancestor Chapter 55: Chapter 55: This Should Be an Ancestor Chapter 55: Chapter 55: This Should Be an Ancestor The two bodyguards were taken aback upon seeing Miss Li, stammering as they called out, ¡°Miss Li¡­¡± Damn it! How could Miss Li be staying next to the boss¡¯s room? ¡°Is Master Yan here?¡± Li Qiao walked over with measured steps and glanced at the door of VIP999. One of the bodyguards flashed a look of surprise, suppressed his shock, and nodded, ¡°He is.¡± Li Qiao pursed her lips, and as she was contemplating how to begin, unexpectedly noticed a clear, bright, and not-yet-dry drop of blood on the milky blue carpet at the entrance. He¡¯s injured?! Li Qiao¡¯s heart tightened, and with an expressionless face, she tilted her chin towards the door, ¡°May I come in?¡± The bodyguards looked at each other and, after a long second of internal struggle, naturally turned and opened the door handle, ¡°Miss Li, please.¡± The bodyguard team was well aware of their boss¡¯s leniency towards Miss Li. They speculated that she must be an untouchable VIP¨Cprobably not someone to mess with! As the door opened, a whiff of faint tobacco smoke drifted out from the luxurious suite. Li Qiao bypassed the entryway, casually glanced at the abstract painting on the wall, and walked lightly across the thick carpet into the living room. The smell of blood was getting stronger. In the living room, several blood-stained gauze pads were scattered on the coffee table. Liuyun sat bare-armed on the sofa, allowing a stranger to wipe his bloody wound on the left arm. At this moment, Shang Yu was seated on a single-person sofa, appearing to have just showered. His new black shirt was only buttoned at the bottom few buttons, and his damp hair was a bit messy across his forehead, with the moisture still lingering on his chest and collarbones. His trouser-clad legs were crossed in front of him, a lit cigarette between his fingertips. Upon hearing footsteps, he glanced sideways, ¡°Awake?¡± Li Qiao responded with a ¡®hmm¡¯, and following his indicative look, she walked over to take a seat. Her gaze uncontrollably scrutinized Liuyun¡¯s injury. A knife wound, seven centimeters, an inch and a half deep into the flesh. Then, Shang Yu eyed Li Qiao¡¯s profile with interest, his eyes slightly upturned, ¡°Not scared?¡± Li Qiao shifted her gaze away from Liuyun¡¯s injury and said indifferently, ¡°Scared of what?¡± She had seen scenes far more gruesome than this knife wound. Perhaps it was Li Qiao¡¯s calmness and composure that even Liuyun and the man tending the wound couldn¡¯t help but cast sideways glances at her. Miss Li was too calm. A girl her age, able to face such a bloody scene so unfazed? Just then, as the man was piercing Liuyun¡¯s muscle with a suture needle and was about to continue, Li Qiao suddenly spoke languidly, ¡°The edges of his wound aren¡¯t aligned. Your method of suturing will cause his muscle tissue to separate under the skin.¡± The stranger stopped immediately, staring at Li Qiao in shock, ¡°Miss Li knows how to suture?¡± Li Qiao slowly lowered her head, ¡°I know a bit.¡± The man considered for a moment, then turned to look at Shang Yu, tentatively asking, ¡°Boss, maybe¡­ we could let Miss Li help?¡± This man was one of the four main assistants, Wang Yue. However, Wang Yue wasn¡¯t a doctor, and his tending to Liuyun¡¯s wound was just out of emergency necessity. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only At this point, Shang Yu leaned forward to tap off some ash from his cigarette, looking at Li Qiao¡¯s serene face with an enigmatic tone, ¡°Handled a knife wound before?¡± Li Qiao had already stood up and was walking towards Liuyun, smiling slightly, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve handled them.¡± And many of them, at that. The last part, she did not explicitly say out loud. Liuyun looked up at the composed Li Qiao and nodded respectfully, ¡°Miss Li, thank you for your trouble.¡± ¡°No trouble at all!¡± Li Qiao deftly put on gloves, performed a simple disinfection, then took the suture needle and surgical scissors from Wang Yue¡¯s hands, and began to sew up Liuyun¡¯s wound. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 ¨C 56 56 What on Earth Has She Experienced Chapter 56: Chapter 56: What on Earth Has She Experienced? Chapter 56: Chapter 56: What on Earth Has She Experienced? In less than ten minutes, Li Qiao had finished suturing Liuyun¡¯s wound on his left arm. She removed her gloves and tossed them into the trash bin, ¡°All done.¡± Before turning away, Li Qiao paused and looked back, ¡°You know what to pay attention to for your recovery, right?¡± Liuyun nodded hastily, ¡°I know, Miss Li, thank you for your concern.¡± Wang Yue watched Li Qiao intently, feeling that her bold and unrestrained air was very much like the boss¡¯s reckless demeanor in his youth. Maybe it was Wang Yue¡¯s focused gaze that caused him to miss the increasingly gloomy expression on his own boss¡¯s face. Even though he was injured, Liuyun¡¯s ability to read situations had not been affected. He picked up his shirt with his right hand, casually draped it over his shoulder, and nodded to Shang Yu, ¡°Boss, we¡¯ll head out first.¡± Shang Yu stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. His features, deep and intimidating, commanded with a low and rich voice, ¡°You return to the South Sea first. Rejoin the team after you¡¯ve healed. Let Wang Yue handle the day-to-day affairs in your place.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Immediately after, the two left the room, and it wasn¡¯t until they stepped through the entrance way that Wang Yue snapped back to reality. Standing in the hallway, he yanked the shirt off Liuyun¡¯s shoulder and scrutinized the stitched wound carefully. ¡°Is Miss Li trained in medicine?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it before; it seems to be something like cellular engineering.¡± After saying this, Liuyun looked at Wang Yue, saw him still staring at his wound, and kicked him suspiciously, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Wang Yue raised his head, repositioned the shirt on his shoulder, tapped a few times on his cell phone, then pointed the screen at Liuyun, a serious look in his eyes, ¡°Take a good look, this field doesn¡¯t require surgical stitching; it¡¯s cell engineering that mainly focuses on biological genetics. And furthermore¡­ Look at your wound, it¡¯s not sewn with the common stitch-by-stitch method. I remember you said she hasn¡¯t graduated yet, but her wound-treating skills are too practiced. Don¡¯t you and the boss find that strange?¡± At this moment, Wang Yue expressed the doubts he had harbored deep inside. As the Yan Emperor¡¯s chief information officer, he could see through anything that defied logic. What had a 22-year-old girl, who was the Li Family¡¯s most treasured daughter, experienced to face the grisly sight of blood and gaping wounds so calmly? Prompted by Wang Yue¡¯s reminder, Liuyun began to reassess the injury on his left arm. After a while, he squinted thoughtfully and spoke, ¡°Do you think that the boss wouldn¡¯t notice something you¡¯ve picked up on?¡± Wang Yue fell silent, but the doubt in his heart about Li Qiao only grew. This seemingly harmless girl invariably behaved in ways that were not ordinary. At that moment, Liuyun gestured toward the front with his mouth and said while walking, ¡°Don¡¯t think about it for now, as far as I¡¯m concerned, Miss Li doesn¡¯t have any ill intentions.¡± Wang Yue stood still, watching Liuyun¡¯s retreating figure, sighed quietly, and followed his pace, ¡°It¡¯s not about ill intentions, I¡¯m worried about the possibility of her harboring any harm toward the boss¡­¡± As the two walked further away, their conversation faded away around the corner of the hallway. ¡­ Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Meanwhile, after Liuyun and the other left, in the spacious and luxurious living room, Li Qiao sat opposite Shang Yu and started with a faint expression, ¡°Is Master Yan¡¯s business finished?¡± Shang Yu leaned back lazily against the chair, his Adam¡¯s apple moving sharply. He half-closed his eyes to look at Li Qiao, seemingly in good spirits as he countered, ¡°Why, worried about delaying your trip back this afternoon?¡± Li Qiao, legs crossed, leaned forward to pick up a bottle of mineral water from the table in a somewhat languid tone, ¡°You all seem to be quite busy. If you¡¯re not finished, I can go back by myself.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 ¨C 57 57 Overestimating Oneself Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Overestimating Oneself Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Overestimating Oneself Shang Yu looked at Li Qiao, who was still drinking water. The young girl¡¯s expression was indifferent, her eyes drooping at the corners, inadvertently revealing a hint of defiance. His thin lips curved slightly, and he lowered his head to straighten the cuffs of his shirt, ¡°Not at all, since I promised you, no matter how busy I am, I¡¯ll keep my word.¡± Li Qiao suddenly met his gaze, the deer-like eyes brimming with shimmering light. Soon, Shang Yu asked again, ¡°Have you learned to suture wounds before?¡± Li Qiao pinched the mineral water bottle in her hand and gave a reserved smile, ¡°Hmm, sort of.¡± Clearly, she was holding something back. Shang Yu gave her a meaningful look for a while and made a candid assessment, ¡°Not bad technique.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s eyes flickered, and she suddenly remembered hearing that Parma¡¯s Shang family was a long-standing traditional Chinese medicine family. Shang Lu was a famous doctor, so that would mean Shang Yu¡­ Before Li Qiao could ask more, Shang Yu uncrossed his long legs and stood up slowly, ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to eat.¡± ¡­ At two in the afternoon, Li Qiao and Shang Yu were driven back to the South Sea, while her Mercedes was driven back by the Bodyguard Team. Halfway through the journey, a fine drizzle began to fall outside the window. The speed of the convoy consequently slowed down noticeably. The increasingly dense rain lashed against the car window, waking Li Qiao up. She opened her bleary eyes, shrugged her shoulders, and looked at the rain-washed window, furrowing her brows slightly. Something felt off. Li Qiao sat up straight, and as she turned her head, her gaze collided with Shang Yu¡¯s. The man grinned, his usual lazy posture exuding a laid-back and comfortable vibe, ¡°Awake?¡± Li Qiao pressed her lips together, squinting her eyes, her voice husky, ¡°What¡¯s going on outside?¡± At that moment, Wang Yue in the front seat turned to look outside the window, snorted coldly, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s the same guys from last night, damn it, they really have no fear of death!¡± The car continued at a steady pace, and although the rain-covered window was blurry, it was still possible to make out several heavy off-road vehicles closing in from both sides, seemingly trying to bring the convoy to a halt. Shang Yu pinched his brow, speaking lightly, ¡°Take care of it.¡± Wang Yue gave a cold smile and immediately started issuing orders to the vehicles behind them using the car¡¯s intercom. Li Qiao¡¯s calm gaze moved between the inside and outside of the window, and suddenly she asked, ¡°Who are those guys?¡± Wang Yue turned around from the front seat, eyeing Li Qiao¡¯s nonchalant demeanor, and decided to intentionally scare her, speaking maliciously, ¡°A bunch of desperados. Scared?¡± Li Qiao uttered an ¡®Oh¡¯, her face expressionless as she nodded, ¡°Quite scared.¡± ¡°???¡± Why didn¡¯t he feel her fear at all? Li Qiao no longer paid attention to Wang Yue, glanced outside the window, and turned to ask Shang Yu, ¡°Are they coming for Master Yan?¡± The man smirked at the corner of his mouth, leisurely pulling a cigarette from his pocket and placing it between his lips while his eyes stayed fixed on Li Qiao, his tone playful, ¡°Hmm, they probably want to take me out.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Qiao laughed understandingly and bluntly threw out five words, ¡°Quite overestimating themselves.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Shang Yu raised his eyebrows lightly, a hint of amusement lurking in his deep eyes. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only In the face of such a perilous situation, the man still chatted with Li Qiao in the back seat casually, as if the four heavy off-road vehicles outside the window didn¡¯t exist. Li Qiao cleared her throat, then, leaning against the center console, tilted her chin towards the window, ¡°Modified off-road vehicles might look tough, but apart from having speed, their body structure is quite fragile. One collision and they shatter.¡± After speaking, she turned her eyes to Shang Yu and said with a sly smile, ¡°Those who drive such cars don¡¯t have what it takes to take you out.¡± The young girl wasn¡¯t old, but she sure had an audacious way of talking! Chapter 58 Chapter 58 ¨C 58 58 Do You Have a Grudge Against Shang Shaoyan Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Do You Have a Grudge Against Shang Shaoyan? Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Do You Have a Grudge Against Shang Shaoyan? After a while, a deep laughter erupted in the quiet carriage. Shang Yu laughed because of her words, the smile lines around his thin lips exuding a mature charm, and the joy, rarely seen, settled in his dark, ink-jade eyes. Li Qiao¡¯s heart fluttered slightly. She averted her gaze from his face, her voice muffled, ¡°Is telling the truth really that funny?¡± At that moment, Wang Yue almost wanted to applaud Li Qiao but, considering he had just spitefully scared her, he could only sullenly touch his nose and kept quiet. This girl¡¯s personality, quite spirited! Suddenly, the rain began to lessen. The speed of the three cars ahead started to pick up gradually. Following Wang Yue¡¯s instructions, the four cars behind swiftly overtook and positioned themselves on either side of the lead car. On the wet and slippery highway, the bodyguard team expertly maneuvered several heavy off-road vehicles, forcibly blocking them out. The opposition clearly didn¡¯t dare to make rash moves, and the three cars ahead took advantage of the moment to speed away, leaving the off-road vehicles behind. Li Qiao observed this scene through the rearview mirror, her lips twitching indifferently. Such driving skills and they want to be desperados?! At this point, Shang Yu pressed his lighter, lit a cigarette, and lowered the window a few centimeters. The humid air mixed with the breeze blew into the car, along with a few drops of rain spattering on his ink-black shoulders. Li Qiao maintained a lazy posture, her peripheral vision catching Shang Yu¡¯s smoking gesture; what caught her eye was his adam¡¯s apple moving up and down as he exhaled smoke, provocatively sensual. She twiddled her fingers, suddenly wanting to touch it. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s taken care of,¡± Wang Yue glanced at his cellphone and abruptly turned to speak. A certain subtle atmosphere was instantly shattered. Shang Yu and Li Qiao both gave him a sidelong glance, one indifferent, the other expressionless. Wang Yue: I feel so rejected¡­ ¡­ An hour later, the fleet safely entered the main road of South Sea. Approaching five o¡¯clock, Li Qiao got out of the car in front of her house. The rain had stopped, leaving the roads muddy. After bidding farewell, Li Qiao took her car keys from the bodyguard and watched as the fleet slowly drove away. After encountering a small incident on the highway with a lineup of seven luxury cars, Li Qiao seemed to understand the purpose of such an arrangement. Li Qiao stood there pondering for a moment, about to get into her car, when a silver-grey Hummer sped down the tree-lined path ahead. The car stopped, and the half-lowered window revealed Li San¡¯s iron-blooded figure. ¡°Where were you last night?¡± he asked, his arm resting on the window sill, showing off half of his muscular forearm, his tone quite dissatisfied. Li Qiao tugged at the corners of her mouth and shook her car keys, ¡°Yancheng City.¡± Li San narrowed his eyes, smiling but not quite, ¡°With Shang Shaoyan? Don¡¯t try to fool me, I just saw his fleet.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Li Qiao slowly opened the door of her Mercedes-Benz, ¡°Not with him.¡± Li San¡¯s expression had just relaxed when he heard his sister add, ¡°Just came back with him.¡± Damn, is there a difference? The two cars entered the Li Family Courtyard one after the other; in the garage, Li San slammed his car door shut and strode over to Li Qiao. Using his height advantage, he placed one hand on his hip and the other on the window of the Mercedes-Benz, ¡°How many times have I told you to keep your distance from him, but you just won¡¯t listen, will you?¡± Li Qiao glanced at her older brother¡¯s posture and tapped his arm, ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only ¡°What is it? Tell me,¡± Li San¡¯s train of thought was instantly derailed. Li Qiao lazily shrugged her shoulders and leaned on his arm that was propping up the car door, raising her eyebrows slightly, ¡°Do you have a grudge against Shang Shaoyan?¡± ¡°No grudge!¡± Li San answered crisply, ¡°Why would you ask that?¡± Li Qiao¡¯s eyes flickered and she threw out another question, ¡°If you have no grudge, why won¡¯t you let me interact with him?¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 ¨C 59 59 Past Events of Those Years Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Past Events of Those Years Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Past Events of Those Years Li San¡¯s breath hitched slightly as he smirked, ¡°Let¡¯s just say I don¡¯t have a vendetta against him, but that doesn¡¯t mean others don¡¯t want him dead!¡± His words carried profound implications. Li Qiao stood up straight, her delicate brows and eyes containing a seriousness rarely seen, ¡°Does he have many enemies?¡± ¡°So many that the moment he lets down his guard, he could be riddled with bullets like a hornet¡¯s nest,¡± Li San said in a half-joking tone, yet there was not a trace of laughter in his deep-set eyes. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s dominated the South Sea for so long just with his business acumen? Qiaoqiao, don¡¯t underestimate Shang Shaoyan. What you¡¯ve seen is just the tip of the iceberg¨Che¡¯s never been a good person.¡± The phrase ¡®not a good person¡¯ coming from Li San once again silenced Li Qiao. What defines a good person from a bad one? Is it merely what others say? After a long moment, Li San ruffled her hair, earnestly cautioning, ¡°Anyway, remember what your third brother says, stay away from Shang Shaoyan. It can¡¯t do you any harm.¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± Li Qiao agreed readily, but her heart had its own calculations. She never said she liked good people! Besides, recalling those days at the border, she didn¡¯t feel like she was particularly good either. ¡­ Upon entering, Li Qiao went straight back to the bedroom on the third floor. Just as she placed her phone on the table, Li San came in uninvited. Now, he had taken off his coat and was only wearing a thin shirt. He propped the door open with the tip of his foot and leaned against the doorframe, asking, ¡°The school matter¨Cbig brother told me not to intervene, saying he would handle it for you. Is there a result?¡± Li Qiao gave her computer chair a spin, indifferent, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask.¡± Li San clicked his tongue and pointed at her from across the room with his index finger, ¡°You¡¯re going to be the death of me one day.¡± ¡°There will always be a result, so why the rush?¡± Li Qiao looked at him with a casual tone, ¡°When are you going back to the border?¡± Li San raised his eyebrows, speaking frankly, ¡°Isn¡¯t Shang Lu¡¯s father supposed to come over? Once I¡¯ve dealt with your annulment, I¡¯ll head back.¡± After finishing his words, he pursed his thin lips, took a step forward, and tentatively asked, ¡°What about you? After your graduation presentation, do you want to go back and visit with me?¡± Li Qiao¡¯s lazy gaze suddenly froze, and she cast her eyes down, her voice tinged with repression, ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s been three years since Huizai¡¯s incident¡­¡± Li San started. Before he could finish, Li Qiao rose abruptly, as if some unspeakable trauma had been touched, and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, ¡°Stop talking.¡± Li San looked at Li Qiao¡¯s silhouette on the balcony against the darkening sky, appearing frail yet defiant. Ever since Huizai¡¯s incident at the border three years ago, she had never gone back. Li San let out a heavy sigh, wanting to offer comfort but knowing it would be futile. His expression became obscure as he shook his head, telling Li Qiao not to overthink and left the room. Hearing the sound of the door closing behind her, Li Qiao clasped the marble railing of the balcony, her fingertips tightening slightly. Even after three years, no matter how much she reinvented herself, she still didn¡¯t dare to think, nor could she forget. How could she face anyone after going back to the border? Li San didn¡¯t blame her, Nan Xin didn¡¯t blame her, but she couldn¡¯t stop blaming herself! Indeed, Li San¡¯s blunt honesty had plunged Li Qiao back into the mire of memories, making even her breath taste bitter. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Deep in thought, she gazed at the heavy twilight and then returned to her room to pick up her phone. At the very bottom of her contacts, there was a special symbol [Wan ] as a note. Li Qiao hesitated for a while, but still made the call. The call connected quickly, and a voice tinged with age and mockery came through, ¡°Little miss, do you still remember you have this old teacher?¡± Li Qiao listened to the voice imbued with the vicissitudes of time, and a heavy feeling in her heart dissipated somewhat, ¡°How dare I forget when my teacher has imparted wisdom and resolved my confusions?¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 ¨C 60 60 She is the only female student of Uncle Zhong the Ninth Chapter 60: Chapter 60: She is the only female student of Uncle Zhong the Ninth Chapter 60: Chapter 60: She is the only female student of Uncle Zhong the Ninth The elder on the phone harrumphed with feigned anger, ¡°You little girl, don¡¯t just say nice things, although I am old, I am not confused! Some people say they need a month to prepare their thesis defense, but what happened? She hasn¡¯t shown up for two whole months!¡± Hearing this, Li Qiao curled her lips and said calmly, ¡°Then, do you have time tomorrow, Teacher? Your student will come to apologize.¡± ¡°You do have a conscience!¡± The old man pondered for a few seconds, ¡°Tomorrow morning I have to make a trip to the Association, just come straight over there, your senior brother will also be there.¡± After hanging up the phone, Li Qiao stood in the drizzle, staring at the symbols on the phone¡¯s screen, her previously restive emotions and repressed concerns had been slightly alleviated. Every time, it seemed that only in front of her teacher, could her bad moods fully settle down. ¡­ The next day, at half-past eight in the morning, after taking a bath, Li Qiao purposely changed into an all-black hoodie and jeans, her half-dried hair tied back in a ponytail, exuding a cool and outstanding temperament as she stepped out. Li Qiao drove directly to the South Sea Funeral Culture Association located in the old town. After a twenty-minute drive, the Mercedes stopped by the curb in front of a row of old three-story Western buildings. The houses and streets of the old town all carried the sense of passage of time, with narrow and long alleys, old-era office sites, and residential buildings with peeling walls, each breath imbued with the authentic essence of life. Li Qiao got out of the car, her hand tucked into her pocket as she crossed the sidewalk and entered the Association¡¯s main gate, without glancing sideways. The receptionist in the lobby on the first floor saw her and promptly pointed to the corridor on the left, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived, Jiugong is in reception room number one.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Li Qiao replied with a flat voice, expertly made her way around the lobby, and headed straight for the reception room. At this moment, some new staff members exchanged glances and quickly approached, curiously asking, ¡°Brother Liu, who¡¯s that beautiful girl?¡± Brother Liu at the reception looked at them with surprise, ¡°You don¡¯t know her?¡± As everyone shook their heads in bewilderment, Brother Liu immediately lowered his voice, sharing with an air of an old hand, ¡°Let me tell you, she is Uncle Zhong the Ninth¡¯s only female student of many years, and is also our Association¡¯s annual financial sponsor.¡± Hsss¨C Uncle Zhong the Ninth¡¯s student? Uncle Zhong the Ninth, surnamed Zhong, was in his fifties, nobody knew his full name, and it was said that he was the ninth child in his family, which is why everyone respectfully called him ¡®Uncle Zhong the Ninth¡¯. In the entire funeral culture circle, Uncle Zhong the Ninth was known to everyone. Because he was the most esteemed gold medal mortician in the South Sea of the present day. ¡­ In reception room number one, Li Qiao sat beside Uncle Zhong the Ninth, her head lowered, hands stuffed into her hoodie pocket, her slender legs extended flatly under the table, her whole demeanor lifeless. At that moment, Uncle Zhong the Ninth, with his white-haired and kindly face, took a sip from his old-style teacup and glanced at her with indifference, ¡°The young people these days, they claim they want to come and apologize to me, but once they¡¯re through the door, they¡¯re mute.¡± Li Qiao: ¡°¡­¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only She lifted her eyes to glance at Uncle Zhong the Ninth and then placed a check on the table, ¡°The Association¡¯s funds for the second half of the year.¡± Uncle Zhong the Ninth took another sip of his tea, looked at the amount on the check, and nodded with satisfaction, ¡°Mmm, this apology is good, very good; you are considerate.¡± Li Qiao leaned back in her chair, her gaze settled as she asked, ¡°Teacher, is there any work lately?¡± Uncle Zhong the Ninth put down his teacup and scrutinized Li Qiao, ¡°Thinking about him again? You girl, every time you want to take on a job, you get into this state.¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 ¨C 61 61 She¡¯s Not the Same as You Chapter 61: Chapter 61: She¡¯s Not the Same as You Chapter 61: Chapter 61: She¡¯s Not the Same as You Li Qiao looked at the discolored ceiling above her head, her eyes slightly reddened, her voice very low, ¡°I dreamt of him last night¡­¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Uncle Zhong the Ninth sighed lightly, not saying anything unnecessary, but took out a notepad from his pocket, checked the recent schedule, ¡°There¡¯s an encoffining ceremony this Saturday at the South Sea Mountain Funeral Home, you should come too.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s voice was hoarse and dull. A sudden build-up of emotions made her desperately need an outlet for release. And the encoffining ceremony was the redemption she sought for herself. Because it was the final dignity for those who had passed away, and the dignity that Huizai had been denied because of her. ¡­ Sometime later, the conference room door was knocked on, and a young man with striking features pushed the door open and entered. Upon seeing Li Qiao, his face immediately lit up with joy, ¡°Xiao Li, you came!¡± Li Qiao lifted her head from the chair back, nodding faintly as a greeting, ¡°Senior brother.¡± ¡°Mo Qi, for the ceremony at South Sea Mountain on Saturday, Xiao Li will be joining us. Remember to prepare three sets of everything.¡± Hearing this, Mo Qi looked stunned, and with a hint of surprise in his eyes when he looked at Li Qiao, ¡°Xiao Li is going too? Then¡­¡± ¡°I have nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± As soon as Li Qiao finished speaking, she stood up, bid Uncle Zhong the Ninth goodbye, and left the reception room. Mo Qi stood still, watching her leave, and with a tone full of concern remarked, ¡°Master, are you really planning to let Xiao Li come with us? Didn¡¯t you say before¡­¡± At this point, Uncle Zhong the Ninth raised his hand to cut Mo Qi off, his gaze distant, ¡°She¡¯s different from you. You¡¯re learning funeral management to become an encoffinment master for a high salary, while she does it merely to release her emotions. This time¡­ let her be.¡± Mo Qi pursed his lips in silence. His expression, however, was no longer as indifferent as before. ¡­ In the old city streets, Li Qiao stepped out of the association, not in a hurry to leave. She slowly strolled along the sidewalk beside a wall of gray tiles, her expression remote. Suddenly someone called out to her from behind, ¡°Xiao Li¨C¡± Li Qiao stopped, her cheeks brushing against the hood of her sweatshirt as she turned to look, her face expressionless. The caller was Mo Qi. He hurried over along the wall and when he came to a stop in front of Li Qiao, he caught his breath and said, ¡°I forgot to give this to you just now.¡± Li Qiao looked down to see a small Brocade Bag, bright red like fire, with the words ¡®peace¡¯ embroidered on it in golden thread. She didn¡¯t take it, but instead asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Mo Qi scratched his head, his gentle eyes clearly nervous, ¡°I went to a temple with the Master a while ago and casually got two peace charms, one for you and one for the Master.¡± Li Qiao looked up at him, still without taking it, her tone neutral, ¡°I don¡¯t need it, keep it for yourself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I specifically asked for them for you and the Master. If I keep it, it won¡¯t work.¡± Mo Qi said, extended it forward again, as if worried about being rejected once more, he then suggested, ¡°If you feel embarrassed, why not¡­ you can buy me a milk tea, as a return gesture. Look, there¡¯s a milk tea shop across the street.¡± With the conversation having reached this point, Li Qiao couldn¡¯t very well refuse any more. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only She took the small Brocade Bag and casually stuffed it into her pocket, and they walked shoulder to shoulder across the street. Meanwhile, just a few meters away from the milk tea shop by the roadside, the heavy window of a black business vehicle slowly lowered halfway. The window glass was very thick, and upon a closer look, one could see that the entire vehicle was a specially customized bulletproof business car. ¡°Master, it¡¯s Miss Li!¡± The driver, who had driven Li Qiao several times, recognized her at a glance. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 ¨C 62 62 Master Yan, I¡¯m Single Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Master Yan, I¡¯m Single Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Master Yan, I¡¯m Single The newly opened milk tea shop wasn¡¯t crowded, and the small shop was still filled with the sweet aroma of milk tea. Mo Qi sat opposite Li Qiao, cradling a cup of milk tea in one hand, hesitant to speak. At that moment, Li Qiao gazed at the succulent plants on the windowsill, her slightly tilted head outlining the perfect curve of her neck. Mo Qi stared at her, his fingertips curled, his gaze somewhat infatuated. ¡°Do you have something you want to say to me?¡± As she spoke, Li Qiao looked towards Mo Qi with an attitude that was neither cold nor warm. Caught off guard by her direct gaze, Mo Qi turned away in a panic and took a sip of milk tea, trying to cover up his embarrassment at being caught off guard. The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds before Mo Qi gathered his emotions and looked up again, ¡°Xiao Li, why do you insist on becoming an embalmer?¡± Li Qiao looked at Mo Qi, her nails lightly scratching the table, and she answered concisely, ¡°Interest.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Mo Qi hesitated for a moment before carefully adding, ¡°after all, you¡¯re a girl. Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± In his eyes, Li Qiao was rich and beautiful, the perfect winner in life according to the most popular sayings of the times. Yet even today, the work of an embalmer is still viewed through tinted lenses by many. She had absolutely no need to endure those strange looks and comments. At this, Li Qiao¡¯s brows relaxed, and as she looked out the window again, she spoke casually, ¡°Senior Brother, sometimes the living are scarier.¡± Mo Qi was left speechless in an instant. ¡­ Less than five minutes later, Li Qiao left the milk tea shop first. Mo Qi sat at the table, looking at the untouched cup of milk tea, his eyes filled with desolation. He always forgot when he was nervous that Junior Sister Li seemed to never drink milk tea. Outside the shop, a breeze passed through the old walls, tossing Li Qiao¡¯s hair. She slowed her steps, looking up at the swaying pale green tree tops, brimming with life, as if reminding her that summer was nearly here. And in just over a month, it would be the third anniversary of Huizai¡¯s passing. At that moment, from the access road behind her, a muffled car engine sound grew closer. Li Qiao stood under a camphor tree, her peripheral vision fluttering, and she saw a low-key black business car slowly pull up beside her. The car window was only lowered about ten centimeters, and a pair of eyes, cold to the extreme, fixed on her through the gap. Li Qiao lifted her eyebrows slightly and took a step forward, while at the same time, the automatic door of the back seat opened on cue. Inside the spacious car, Shang Yu in black clothes sat lazily cross-legged in the single seat, his crimson lips curved in a suggestive smile, though his eyes were extremely cold. Li Qiao¡¯s eyes met his, unable to fathom what his sharp, cold demeanor implied. Even his handsome, chiseled face seemed covered with frost, radiating a strong sense of aggression and distance. Yet he was clearly smiling. Li Qiao composed herself and stepped forward, concealing her suspicions, and spoke in a calm voice, ¡°Master Yan, are you here in the old town on business?¡± Shang Yu leaned back in his seat, his arms resting on the armrests, fingertips lightly turning as his deep-set eyes glanced past Li Qiao towards the milk tea shop behind her, his voice both deep and cold, ¡°Boyfriend?¡± A young man and a beautiful woman of similar ages, meeting in an old town milk tea shop¨Cit certainly looked like the kind of romantic scene a girl her age would have. Just now, she left and he followed; then they exchanged smiles, including Li Qiao¡¯s unhesitant acceptance of the gift the young man offered. To Shang Yu, every frame was particularly glaring. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Was this the reason she was eager to break off her engagement with Shang Lu? At this moment, Li Qiao, puzzled, turned around, following Shang Yu¡¯s gaze to the half-open window behind her, where Mo Qi¡¯s face could still be vaguely seen peering through. Li Qiao casually withdrew her gaze, her lips curving lazily, understanding the situation. Her expression softened again as she turned back to Shang Yu, her eyes sparkling as if they were stars clearing the mist, ¡°Not a boyfriend. Master Yan, I¡¯m single.¡± Chapter 63 Chapter 63 ¨C 63 63 Drive Safely Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Drive Safely Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Drive Safely Shang Yu¡¯s sparse cold smile faded, but Mo Liang¡¯s gaze silently landed on the left pocket of Li Qiao¡¯s hoodie. At that moment, Li Qiao¡¯s hand was still in the pocket. Catching the man¡¯s gaze, she intuitively stretched out her hand, revealing a wrinkled little brocade bag lying in her palm, ¡°Someone just gave me a peace charm. It¡¯s said to ensure safety wherever one goes. If Master Yan likes it, I¡¯m re-gifting it to you by proxy.¡± The man¡¯s somber expression softened, and he stopped the motion of fiddling with his fingers. Under Li Qiao¡¯s surprised gaze, he reached out of the car door and very proudly, slowly took the little brocade bag, ¡°Hmm, accepted.¡± The moment he took it, his rough fingertips brushed against Li Qiao¡¯s palm, tickling and tingling, like an electric current seeping into her skin, restlessly stirring her soul. Li Qiao couldn¡¯t help but lower her head and curl the corners of her mouth, her mood, shrouded in gloom for so long, suddenly brightened. Somewhat cute! The Overlord of the South Sea, he actually gets jealous over such trifles? Is it jealousy? ¡°What brings you to the old town?¡± Shang Yu played with the warm brocade bag in one hand, which seemed to still carry the girl¡¯s body heat. Li Qiao brushed the hair from her face and shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°Just taking care of some errands. How about you, Master Yan?¡± Shang Yu squinted at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable, ¡°Same here.¡± ¡°Well¡­ you continue your work, Master Yan. I¡¯m going home.¡± Li Qiao gave two thumbs up towards the curb. Shang Yu glanced down at the little brocade bag in his hand, his thin lips slightly curving as he softly said, ¡°Go on, drive safely.¡± The last two words ¡®drive safely¡¯ seemed to be uttered with an emphasized tone. Li Qiao had a vague feeling that the real culprit was that peace charm. With a silent sigh, after saying goodbye to Shang Yu, she headed towards her Mercedes not far away. Meanwhile, behind her, as the business car¡¯s automatic door closed again, the red little brocade bag landed perfectly in a street-side trash can. ¡­ That afternoon, Li Qiao received a call from her uncle, Duan Yuanhui, informing her to attend a thesis defense at the school the next day. Over the phone, Li Qiao asked lazily, ¡°Has the decision on Jiang Yi¡¯s case been made?¡± Duan Yuanhui answered as he casually flipped open a report on his desk, ¡°Her behavior has been improper during her time in school, and she has been spreading rumors and causing trouble, turning the school into a mess. The school has decided to expel her as a deterrent measure.¡± The outcome was quite serious. A student on the verge of graduation, yet because of a scandal, has lost the diploma that was within grasp, a total loss. Li Qiao responded with a cold and unsympathetic ¡®oh¡¯. Then, Duan Yuanhui took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and brought up another matter, ¡°Do you know that your thesis was plagiarized?¡± Li Qiao paused her action to hang up the phone, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°If it were just the issues mentioned above, I might not have imposed such a severe punishment on her. Yesterday afternoon, the school¡¯s committee, while reviewing the submitted thesis outlines, unexpectedly discovered that Jiang Yi¡¯s and your thesis had fifty percent similarity. Especially the literature sources from the Biological Research Institute and the process of your experimental recordings are almost identical. You know, plagiarism in Bioengineering theses is considered far more serious than the scandal she caused. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only So, even without the expulsion, she wouldn¡¯t be able to graduate on time.¡± Hearing her uncle¡¯s reminder, Li Qiao¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest as she raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°How did they determine that she plagiarized from me?¡± Duan Yuanhui asked with a smirk, ¡°Did you think I didn¡¯t know that among all the students in the school, you¡¯re the only one with access to the literature from the Biological Research Institute?¡± ¡°Oh, Uncle, you¡¯re amazing,¡± Li Qiao praised him particularly insincerely. Duan Yuanhui cursed her playfully and hung up the phone directly. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 ¨C 64 64 Do You Still Want the Internship Opportunity Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Do You Still Want the Internship Opportunity? Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Do You Still Want the Internship Opportunity? Early the next morning, Li Qiao went to the university to attend her thesis defense. Due to the scandal that had shocked the campus during the previous defense, the university had specially arranged for Li Qiao to have a solo defense this time. Perhaps out of concern that someone might target Li Qiao again, two teachers from the Academic Affairs Office were assigned to guard the door of the classroom vigilantly. The defense went very smoothly, and in less than half an hour, Li Qiao¡¯s defense was over, and the thesis committee gave an immediate pass. The most promising student in the Bioengineering Department in recent years, who had been reserved in advance by the research institute, might well become the live advertisement for the recruitment of South Sea Medical University¡¯s Bioengineering Department. The teachers on the thesis committee kindly reminded Li Qiao with an amiable expression that she shouldn¡¯t forget the school¡¯s devoted cultivation if she became a researcher in the future, and other such courtesies. With the conclusion of the thesis defense, Li Qiao¡¯s university career also came to an end. Once she received her diploma and left campus, she would be as free as the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. Life itself was opening up many more infinite possibilities. ¡­ Li Qiao walked out of the comprehensive building, her gaze lightly swept over the surrounding playground and buildings, and finally a touch of melancholy stirred within her indifferent eyes. What should she do in the future? ¡°Li Qiao, I¡¯ve been expelled. Are you satisfied now?¡± Jiang Yi appeared behind her at some point, and in just two or three days, she looked both haggard and disheveled. Wearing a duckbill cap, a black mask still hanging from her chin, and the once pretty and luxurious dress was now wrinkled, stripped of the glory and ease once admired on campus. That post still stuck at the top of the forum¡¯s homepage indeed prophesied Jiang Yi¡¯s downfall. Now, she truly tasted the bitterness of social death. Hearing this, Li Qiao covered her eyes, and when she leisurely turned around, her tone was cool. ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied. What about you?¡± Jiang Yi¡¯s breathing hitched, and hatred and unwillingness crept into her brows and eyes. Her hands, rigid at her sides, clenched into fists. Despite the hatred in her heart, she still had to bow to reality. ¡°Li Qiao, considering we shared a dorm for four years, could you please¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Li Qiao interrupted indifferently, her brows and eyes expressing a casual disdain. Jiang Yi trembled all over, her breathing becoming ragged. ¡°I beg you¡­¡± Li Qiao glanced at her coldly, and as she turned away, she dropped a chilling remark, ¡°Another word, and I¡¯ll have you thrown out of South Sea.¡± That sentence effectively halted Jiang Yi¡¯s steps. If it had been three days ago, she would never believe that Li Qiao had the power to do so. But when she heard firsthand that Chen Lizhou had been fired from his position, and that the Chen family¡¯s business, which had seen some success, was destroyed overnight, she was completely bewildered. Who exactly was backing this classmate she had targeted for four years? ¡­ Elsewhere, Li Qiao returned to her car with an expressionless face. She didn¡¯t start the engine but turned around to open the glove box and took out the Golden Desert Eagle. The gun¡¯s icy color shimmered in her palm, the chill of the metal soothing the restlessness in her heart. Did she feel sorry for Jiang Yi? She did not! All was merely the wheel of karma. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only In fact, she could have made Jiang Yi¡¯s life even more miserable, but she was too lazy to waste any more energy on her. After a while, Li Qiao put the Desert Eagle back into the glove box, and as she started the car, her phone in her pocket rang. She took it out and saw it was an unfamiliar number, ¡°Who is this?¡± The person on the other end of the phone whistled playfully, ¡°Sweetheart, I gave you my business card, and you still haven¡¯t contacted me? Don¡¯t you want that internship opportunity anymore?¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 ¨C 65 65 To Yan Emperor Group Headquarters Chapter 65: Chapter 65: To Yan Emperor Group Headquarters Chapter 65: Chapter 65: To Yan Emperor Group Headquarters Oh, it¡¯s that idiot Zhui Feng. After meeting him at the art exhibition in the Royal Hotel last time, she indeed forgot to contact Zhui Feng, after all¡­ Li Er had shredded and scattered his business card. Li Qiao remained silent for a few seconds, then lazily replied, ¡°Of course I want to.¡± Zhui Feng laughed triumphantly and looked at his wristwatch, ¡°It¡¯s just past ten in the morning now, if you¡¯re free, come to Yan Emperor and find me. I¡¯ll show you around the company environment first, and if you¡¯re not in a hurry, you might even stay here for a cafeteria meal.¡± ¡°Okay, see you in a bit,¡± Li Qiao agreed cheerfully. ¡­ Yan Emperor Group, located in the South Sea Technology Business District, covers an area of three hundred thousand square meters. More than half of the industries in the park belong to Yan Emperor. At half past ten, Li Qiao arrived by car. What met her eyes were several hundred-story skyscrapers soaring into the clouds, crisscrossing streets, and a bustling market unique to the CBD. Li Qiao parked her car on the roadside parking space and stepped onto the carpet emblazoned with the logo in front of the building, entering Yan Emperor Group for the first time. She walked neither hastily nor slowly, and the grand lobby beyond the revolving door was bustling with people. This was Shang Yu¡¯s territory, the business empire he ruled over, and the well-known Yan Emperor International Group to every South Sea person. Li Qiao walked and looked around, quickly arriving at the reception desk. Two strikingly attractive receptionists stood up at the same time, politely asking the reason for her visit. Li Qiao gave Zhui Feng¡¯s name, and the receptionists visibly showed surprise, ¡°Do you have an appointment with President Fong?¡± This girl looked quite young, with a delicately beautiful face that was strikingly aggressive. Could she be another of President Fong¡¯s romantic debts? At that moment, Li Qiao shook her head, calling Zhui Feng¡¯s number impatiently, ¡°I¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Babe, look to your left!¡± At this time, in front of the elevators to the left of the lobby, Zhui Feng was leaning against the wall in a flamboyantly pink suit, with one leg bent at the side. When he saw Li Qiao¡¯s gaze turn towards him, he immediately waved at her while holding his phone. What can I say, seriously flashy. Lucky for Zhui Feng, he had a face as enchanting as a woman¡¯s and a natural rebellious flair; otherwise, that visually striking pink suit might have been a major fashion disaster. Li Qiao walked over with her phone in hand, and the receptionists, also seeing Zhui Feng, hurriedly left the reception desk to open the turnstile gate for her. In a moment, Li Qiao arrived in front of Zhui Feng and greeted him perfunctorily, ¡°President Fong, sorry to keep you waiting.¡± ¡°A beauty¡¯s visit is worth any wait,¡± he replied. Li Qiao was silent, expressionless: ¡°¡­¡± Zhui Feng, thinking he was being suave, flicked his greasy hair back and pressed the elevator button, ¡°Is this your first visit to Yan Emperor Group?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Li Qiao nodded, looking at the lift designated for VIP use: ¡°First time.¡± While waiting for the elevator, Zhui Feng, as if boneless, kept leaning on the wall, unabashedly ogling Li Qiao. Damn, she was good-looking, he thought, wanting to hold her tight and cherish her! His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed ceaselessly as his gaze nearly glued onto Li Qiao. With a ¡°ding,¡± the elevator arrived. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhui Feng immediately straightened up and started walking, looking back, ¡°Babe, come here, today bro will take you for a ride in the president¡¯s exclusive elevator.¡± The next second, as Zhui Feng glanced back, he suddenly noticed three figures in the elevator, which gave him a start, ¡°Boss? What brings you here today?¡± At this point, Li Qiao was still a few steps away from the elevator, while Wang Yue stood behind Shang Yu. Craning his neck to peer out, he asked teasingly, ¡°You little flirt, which girl are you bringing to ride the president¡¯s exclusive elevator this time?¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 ¨C 66 66 Where Should This Person Be Buried Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Where Should This Person Be Buried? Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Where Should This Person Be Buried? ¡°Stop talking nonsense, what do you mean ¡®again¡¯?¡± Hearing the voice, Zhui Feng glared at Wang Yue from the elevator entrance, then turned toward Shang Yu and took a step back with an apologetic smile, ¡°Boss, then you guys go on up, I¡¯ll wait for the next one.¡± In front of Shang Yu, Zhui Feng didn¡¯t dare to be reckless. However, at this moment, Li Qiao¡¯s figure quietly appeared near the elevator doors. Wang Yue originally had a face full of schadenfreude, but as his eyes flitted around casually, he was immediately stunned. Was this Li Qiao, wearing a one-shoulder tight-fitting short sleeve top and low-rise wide-leg pants, the ¡®chick¡¯ Zhui Feng was talking about? Does he have a death wish? Just then, Li Qiao slowly stood behind Zhui Feng, her gaze passing over his shoulder and looking toward the elevator cabin. Shang Yu, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, stood at the center, his physique tall and imposing, with the top two buttons of his shirt undone, serious yet not lacking in casualness. And his handsome and profound facial features, lit by the light above, appeared even more sharp-edged and imposing, like a graceful nobleman who had stepped out of a classic European painting. Really attractive, that¡¯s for sure! At the same time, the man¡¯s deep black eyes were also interestingly studying Li Qiao. The one-shoulder top revealed her snowy shoulders. The low-rise wide-leg pants in water blue revealed her delicate waist. Zhui Feng¡¯s chick? Very good! In a flash, the elegant nobleman spoke with a playful tone, ¡°Come in.¡± Zhui Feng turned around with a shocked expression and hesitated: ¡°Boss, is this¡­ appropriate?¡± The boss usually never allowed outsiders to ride his private elevator, why was he suddenly so charitable today? Could it be¡­ he wanted to help him chase the girl? At that moment, Wang Yue looked at Zhui Feng with pity, but urged, ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming in fast enough, stop wasting words!¡± Zhui Feng blinked, feeling that something wasn¡¯t quite right, yet he couldn¡¯t pinpoint the reason. But, for fear of waiting for the elevator too long, he had no choice but to turn back to Li Qiao and instruct her, ¡°Come on, follow me, don¡¯t talk, don¡¯t look around.¡± Brother? Wang Yue glanced at Zhui Feng¡¯s saucy pink figure and couldn¡¯t help but ponder, where should he bury him? In a blink, Li Qiao and Zhui Feng stepped into the elevator, one after the other. The originally spacious area suddenly felt narrow and cramped. Li Qiao stood on the left with her hands behind her back, calmly looking at Shang Yu through the reflective mirror. The latter, likewise. Their gazes met for no more than three seconds, when an abrupt figure shifted from the right side, stepping in front of Li Qiao and whispering, ¡°Forgot what Brother told you? Don¡¯t look around.¡± Was their family¡¯s master someone to be looked at casually? This girl really isn¡¯t afraid of death! At that moment, Liuyun and Wang Yue, standing behind Shang Yu, solemnly looked at each other as if they were attending Zhui Feng¡¯s funeral. The four assistants might become ¡®three minus one¡¯ soon. ¡­ The elevator ascended quickly, and in a moment, it reached the top floor of One Zero One. As the doors opened, a fresh breeze blew in, and Zhui Feng stretched out his hand to hold the elevator door, ¡°Boss, after you.¡± Shang Yu looked straight ahead and stepped out, accompanied by the sound of his footsteps, Zhui Feng heard two words, ¡°Come here.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only He shielded Li Qiao behind him, presumptuously signaling to Wang Yue and Liuyun, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you guys walking, didn¡¯t you hear the boss calling you?¡± Such a fool, holding up his chance to flirt. Wang Yue and Liuyun looked at him expressionlessly, standing still like statues, neither of them moved. Then, Zhui Feng felt a tap on his arm, turned back puzzled, and saw Li Qiao tugging at the corner of her mouth, ¡°President Fong, excuse me but could you move aside?¡± Zhui Feng: ¡°??¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 ¨C 67 67 Master Yan, Did I Offend You Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Master Yan, Did I Offend You? Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Master Yan, Did I Offend You? Next, without waiting for Zhui Feng to ask any questions, Liuyun and Wang Yue walked up, grabbed the person one on the left and one on the right, and walked out of the elevator. Wang Yue even said with grave seriousness, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a geomantic treasure spot at the foot of South Sea Mountain. Burying you there wouldn¡¯t be too bad, right?¡± As Zhui Feng struggled and cursed away, his voice growing fainter, Li Qiao curved her lips and arched her eyebrows before casually walking out of the elevator. ¡­ On the top floor of One Zero One, nearly two thousand square meters in size, large floor-to-ceiling glass walls neatly divided the space into different areas. This was the power center of Yan Emperor International Group. At this moment, Li Qiao followed Shang Yu to his office. A nearly four-hundred-square-meter room, spacious and stylish, was dominantly decorated in black and gold. The panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows on either side offered a sprawling view of the entirety of South Sea City. This tallest skyscraper in the city was a landmark and also a symbol of South Sea. In front of the black executive desk, Shang Yu undid the buttons of his suit jacket and gestured toward the sofa on his right, ¡°Sit.¡± Li Qiao walked over with her hands behind her back and sat down, crossing her legs, ¡°Master Yan, you¡¯re dressed so formally today. Is there an event?¡± Shang Yu glanced at her with his dark eyes, his gaze lingering on her snow-white slender shoulders, and spoke indifferently, ¡°One should dress appropriately for the office.¡± Li Qiao: ¡°??¡± For some reason, when Shang Yu said that, it seemed like there was a fire hidden in his eyes. Li Qiao subconsciously tugged the off-shoulder neckline of her short sleeve up towards her shoulder, but the top got covered, and yet her waistline was exposed even more. Suddenly a bit annoyed, why was this outfit so small? At this time, Shang Yu leaned back in his chair, resting his right leg casually on his left, flipped open the document on his desk, and said sternly, ¡°You¡¯re quite familiar with Zhui Feng?¡± Li Qiao, sitting on the sofa, fiddled with her collar and tugged at the hem of her short top, distractedly replied, ¡°Not familiar.¡± ¡°Not familiar?¡± the man repeated, and he watched Li Qiao intently as he unscrewed his fountain pen. At the sound, Li Qiao blinked her doe eyes and said without any psychological burden, ¡°Ah, indeed, not familiar. Today is only our second meeting. President Fong knows I excel both in conduct and learning, so he wanted to poach me to be his assistant.¡± Zhui Feng, who was being reprimanded in the stairwell, suddenly sneezed violently. Who the hell was talking about him behind his back? Shang Yu¡¯s deep gaze fell on Li Qiao¡¯s face, his lips slightly parted, ¡°You¡¯re short of a job?¡± Li Qiao¡¯s eyes sparkled, and she leaned on the sofa¡¯s armrest with one hand propping her chin, a sly smile playing at her lips, ¡°I¡¯m not short of a job, but I¡¯m short of intern experience. Master Yan, do you¡­ hire interns?¡± Her plan to intern at Yan Emperor International was premeditated ever since she met Shang Yu. From beginning to end, it was all because of him. Just when Li Qiao thought her victory was in sight, she heard the man¡¯s merciless rejection, ¡°No hiring.¡± The smile on Li Qiao¡¯s lips stiffened: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She responded, sat up straight again, and turned her face away expressionlessly to look at the glass wall directly ahead. How awkward! How embarrassing! This man was clearly not a noble; would a noble gentleman reject someone like this? As Li Qiao¡¯s cheeks grew increasingly gloomy, a meaningful smile appeared on Shang Yu¡¯s lips, ¡°The board currently doesn¡¯t need interns, however¡­¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Qiao gave him a sideways look, arching her eyebrow, ¡°However what?¡± At the sound, the man leaned back comfortably in the executive chair, his eyes deep and mysterious, with a hidden glint, ¡°The reception desk at the lobby downstairs of Yan Emperor headquarters can offer you an intern position.¡± Li Qiao didn¡¯t speak. Her doe eyes fixed intently into the man¡¯s somber eyes, and after weighing for a moment, she straightforwardly asked, ¡°Master Yan, have I somehow offended you?¡± Her interning at the reception desk, wasn¡¯t that just like chasing stars from a distance? Chapter 68 Chapter 68 ¨C 68 68 I Come for the Yan Emperor Chapter 68: Chapter 68: I Come for the Yan Emperor Chapter 68: Chapter 68: I Come for the Yan Emperor Just as Li Qiao¡¯s voice fell, she clearly saw a sharp coldness flash across the depths of Shang Yu¡¯s eyes. Although it was fleeting, it confirmed Li Qiao¡¯s guess. She really did offend the Overlord of the South Sea. Shang Yu held a pen and signed the document. The taut lines of his jaw revealed his displeasure, and his tone was no longer as gentle as before, ¡°What do you think?¡± Not until this moment did Li Qiao realize that she truly did not understand Shang Yu. In fact, his every word and deed seemed gentle and polite, lazy and sexy, but most likely, it was his domineering and wild nature that was his true core. Li Qiao slowly retracted her gaze, touching her chin, pondering for three minutes before exhaling annoyedly, ¡°Master Yan, can you give me a hint?¡± Shang Yu did not look at her but maintained his position for signing. However, his eyes were dark and unfathomable, and the restraint of certain emotions made him exert too much force, causing the pen¡¯s nib to crisply split on the document. The subtle noise attracted Li Qiao¡¯s attention. She looked intently and saw that the man had already twisted the cap on his pen and carelessly tossed it onto the table. The next second, Shang Yu stood up. His movements were neither hurried nor slow as he removed his suit jacket, then strode toward Li Qiao. His face was frosty, his lips tightly closed, and those deep, dark eyes swirled with a restless undercurrent. Li Qiao instinctively straightened her back, taking a defensive stance, her gaze fixed tightly on Shang Yu, filled with confusion. Soon, he was near the sofa. The high-quality cold fragrance of the suit wafted as Shang Yu opened it and laid it over her body, also covering the glaringly white expanse of her shoulders. Li Qiao¡¯s face showed astonishment. Before she could speak, her chin was suddenly clamped by his broad palm. The man¡¯s slightly rough fingertips caressed her cheek; his thumb pressed a bit tighter on her jaw as he leaned in, narrowed his eyes, and spoke with a voice as cool as ice, ¡°Did you come to the Yan Empire for an internship because of Zhui Feng?¡± Because of Shang Yu¡¯s action, Li Qiao was forced to look up. The force in his grip was not too strong, but the veins on his arm bulged as if he was exerting fierce control. Eye to eye, she saw for the first time the unknown side of Shang Yu, sharp and lethal in his expression. Li Qiao let out a soft sigh, her dense eyelashes trembling as she provocatively arched an eyebrow, ¡°Is Zhui Feng the only option?¡± The girl¡¯s fearless defiance caught Shang Yu¡¯s eye. The strength in his hand did not lessen as he leaned in with his towering body, propping one hand on the back of the sofa beside her in a dominant posture, ¡°Who else would you think of apart from him?¡± Their distance drew closer, so close that if Li Qiao moved forward just a millimeter, her nose would touch his lips. Their breaths intertwined, their gazes met¨Cone was cold, the other wild. Li Qiao moved her neck slightly, staring straight into the depths of Shang Yu¡¯s eyes, and faintly smiled, ¡°I thought Master Yan knew!¡± This scene would certainly shock people like Wang Yue to their core if they were to see it. Because Li Qiao was the first person who could remain at ease under the fully unleashed aura of the formidable Shang Yu. At this time, Shang Yu¡¯s imposing aura gradually subsided, his palm relaxed, and his thumb casually caressed Li Qiao¡¯s skin. After a moment of silence, his voice recovered its magnetic resonance, ¡°Sure?¡± Some things need not be said aloud. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only A look, a gesture, and both sides understand without speaking. Li Qiao clearly felt his hand loosen, her fine brows slightly lifting as she nestled her jaw into Shang Yu¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Naturally, I came to the Yan Empire for the Yan Emperor himself.¡± The repetition of ¡°Yan Emperor¡± carried a different depth of meaning. She believed he would understand. At this moment, a faint smile emerged at the edge of Shang Yu¡¯s thin lips, the coldness in his eyes dissipating as he lifted his wrist, cradling her cheek, ¡°When working at the Yan Empire, one must wear professional attire.¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69 ¨C 69 69 You and Him Will Not Have Work Contacts Chapter 69: Chapter 69: You and Him Will Not Have Work Contacts Chapter 69: Chapter 69: You and Him Will Not Have Work Contacts Li Qiao curved her lips slightly, ¡°I have many sets of professional attire at home, just never had the chance to wear them.¡± ¡°How long do you want to intern for?¡± The man¡¯s crisp fragrance lingered around Li Qiao, and her fair cheeks became even more delicate and petite in his palm. Li Qiao gathered her thoughts and gave an answer, ¡°Three months, I need to report to the research institute in September.¡± Shang Yu gazed deeply at Li Qiao, then his palm turned over, gently pinching her cheek, ¡°Alright, then as you wish.¡± It was those same four words again, ¡®as you wish¡¯. Li Qiao¡¯s heartbeat finally lost its rhythm. When she wanted to call off the engagement, he said as you wish. Now she wanted to come to Yan Emperor, and he still said as you wish. Some obscure emotions began fermenting; it seemed it wasn¡¯t a one-person show after all. ¡­ After a brief interlude, Shang Yu returned to his desk and sat down. Li Qiao, covered with his suit jacket, nestled on the couch with a calm expression, feeling the fluster of the little deer crashing around in her heart. The two were alone in the room, quietly experiencing their own thoughts. The warmth and scent of the suit jacket carried his unique crisp fragrance and the smell of tobacco. Li Qiao gently pulled up the collar, covering half of her face, leaving only her beautifully arched doe eyes visible as she sneakily peeked at the man busying himself with work. Seconds later, mustering some bravery, Li Qiao toyed with the jacket¡¯s cufflinks and teased lightly, ¡°Master Yan, is the pen broken?¡± She had good hearing, and her vision was also sharp. The crisp snap from before was definitely the sound of a pen nib breaking. At that moment, Shang Yu did not reply, but raised his well-proportioned fingers to press the intercom button and commanded coldly, ¡°The Parma AI collaboration project, have Zhui Feng go there immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Master Yan.¡± The voice from the intercom sounded familiar, it seemed to be Liuyun. Hearing Shang Yu arrange this, Li Qiao¡¯s hidden upward curve of her lips continued to rise, ¡°Master Yan, doesn¡¯t this count as Zhui Feng being shot while lying down?¡± At the sound, the man raised his hand to adjust his shirt cuffs, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye like a warning and a joke, ¡°If you don¡¯t want him to be ¡®shot¡¯ again, stay away from him in the future.¡± Clutching his suit, Li Qiao sniffed lightly and continued to probe, ¡°What about work interactions?¡± Then, Shang Yu smirked with a wicked and crazed charm, ¡°You and him, won¡¯t have any work interactions.¡± Approaching noon, Liuyun knocked on the door and delivered two work meals. In the bright and quiet office, the man sat at his large desk working, while the girl nestled on the sofa playing with her phone. Liuyun, without looking elsewhere, set the work meals on the coffee table, was about to leave, then heard a low inquiry, ¡°Has he left?¡± ¡°Yes, boss, he¡¯s already at the airport.¡± Liuyun nodded, silently lighting a row of candles in his heart for Zhui Feng. And so, without knowing why, Zhui Feng was sent directly to Parma for three months. An hour later, the baffled Zhui Feng sat in Yan Emperor¡¯s business jet, unable to comprehend what the hell was happening?! The AI collaboration project was originally said to be handled by Luoyu, so why was it suddenly given to him? Wang Yue and Liuyun hadn¡¯t told him the reason, just cursed him out abruptly followed by mysterious sympathy. On the plane, Zhui Feng stroked his chin, contemplating life, when he suddenly remembered something Wang Yue had said: Are you digging your own grave, or do you want to die? He just couldn¡¯t figure out what ground he had tread on. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Zhui Feng, legs crossed, shook his foot, took a swig of beer¨Cprobably the alcohol kicking in, he had a flash of insight, recalling a scene in the elevator. Could it be that the boss intended that chick to go, not Wang Yue and Liuyun? Couldn¡¯t be¡­ That chick belongs to the boss? Damn, he¡¯s screwed! Chapter 70 Chapter 70 ¨C 70 70 That is His Private Mausoleum Chapter 70: Chapter 70: That is His Private Mausoleum Chapter 70: Chapter 70: That is His Private Mausoleum Two days later, Saturday. At five in the morning, in the dimly lit bedroom, the alarm clock sounded urgently. Li Qiao reached out her slender, fair arm to turn off the alarm and immediately opened her reddened eyes. Outside the window, the sound of rain rustled, with the foggy sky shrouding the city in dampness. At five twenty, Li Qiao, dressed neatly, took advantage of the fact that her family had not yet risen, and stepped into the rain with her umbrella. At that moment, on Huanan Road at the second red traffic light, an old Santana had been waiting at the muddy street corner. Less than ten minutes later, Li Qiao¡¯s figure appeared in the rearview mirror. She approached in her austere black attire, holding an umbrella, opened the passenger door, folded her umbrella, bent down to get into the car, and nodded towards Mo Qi. In the back seat, Uncle Zhong the Ninth was half-closing his eyes; hearing the noise, he lifted his eyelids to look and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, head straight there.¡± Today, there was a special encoffining ceremony at the South Sea Mountain Funeral Home. It takes about an hour¡¯s drive from the affluent area of Huanan Road to South Sea Mountain. The roads were wet and slippery due to the rain, so Mo Qi drove steadily, neither fast nor slow. By the passenger seat, Li Qiao leaned her elbow on the door frame, her fingertip resting on her lip, her brows and eyes revealing a silence and chillness that did not match her age. Mo Qi occasionally glanced at her stealthily, feeling very uneasy at heart. Every time before the work of encoffining, Junior Sister Li always suppressed her emotions in such a way, yet refused to speak of them. ¡­ About an hour and a half later, the Santana sedan arrived near South Sea Mountain. Located on the outer ring of the city, South Sea Mountain, bathed in the rain, appeared even more lush and serene, with a winding path in the forest that turned left midway to the South Sea Mountain Funeral Management Center. Upon stopping the car, Li Qiao and the others, as usual, put on black face masks. The three alighted from the vehicle and were greeted by the staff of the management center. The sky was overcast as Li Qiao and Mo Qi followed behind Uncle Zhong the Ninth, entering the reception room. At that moment, a staff member, not lacking in respect, handed a record book to Uncle Zhong the Ninth and said, ¡°Jiugong, this is the deceased¡¯s information, twenty-three years old, it was¡­ an accidental death.¡± ¡°What about the family? Any special requests?¡± Uncle Zhong the Ninth flipped through the record book, his gaze calm and composed. Upon hearing this, the staff member chuckled awkwardly, made a secretive glance towards the firmly closed reception door, and instinctively lowered his voice, ¡°I heard there¡¯s no family, he was beaten to death.¡± Uncle Zhong the Ninth frowned, showing little surprise about the cause of death; instead, he tapped his fingertips on the table and asked, ¡°If there¡¯s no family, who will sign the necessary documents? You all¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush, Jiugong, although there¡¯s no family, this person has a significant background. The one arranging the funeral is ¡®that¡¯ gentleman, and after the ceremony, he is to be buried in the South Sea Mountain Cemetery,¡± replied the staff member with a meaningful tone, and when mentioning ¡®that¡¯ gentleman, he even put up his thumb and gestured towards the direction of South Sea Mountain twice. Uncle Zhong the Ninth immediately understood. At that moment, perhaps unable to resist his curiosity, Mo Qi leaned towards Uncle Zhong the Ninth and whispered, ¡°Teacher, where is the South Sea Mountain Cemetery? I¡¯ve never heard of it before.¡± Uncle Zhong the Ninth glanced at him, ¡°You know who lives in South Sea Mansion, right? It¡¯s his private cemetery.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Mo Qi was stunned for three seconds, and in a daze, he gasped for air, ¡°Shang, Shang¡­¡± He stuttered for quite a while, but still did not dare to utter the name that hovered on the tip of his tongue. No wonder the South Sea Funeral Management Center seemed quieter than usual today; it looked like this young deceased truly had a notable background. At this moment, Li Qiao, hearing their conversation, couldn¡¯t help but show surprise in her eyes, visible beyond the mask. The young man who had died accidentally was Shang Yu¡¯s person? Chapter 71 Chapter 71 ¨C 71 71 Shang Yu Arrives in the Rain Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Shang Yu Arrives in the Rain Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Shang Yu Arrives in the Rain The work of a funeral worker, though it may sound simple, involves many necessary processes when put into practice. From preparing the deceased¡¯s facial appearance to the moment they are placed in the coffin, a mortician is needed to handle the entire procedure. In the preparation room, Li Qiao and Mo Qi stood near a small cart filled with tools, getting ready for the task ahead. Once everything was prepared, the three, dressed in white lab coats, stood together and bowed respectfully towards the person on the table to express their honour. In the time that followed, they methodically carried out each step at the table. However, as Mo Qi was about to begin cosmetic work on the deceased, the sight before him made him exclaim involuntarily, ¡°This¡­ is such a horrific way to die.¡± The young man, who had passed away in an accident, had numerous crisscrossed and fearsome scars on his body, which, due to coagulated blood, looked exceptionally ferocious and were all from cuts. His death could be described as tragic. Mo Qi suddenly remembered something Li Qiao had once said: ¡°Sometimes, the living are more frightening.¡± At that moment, Li Qiao and Uncle Zhong the Ninth were sewing the wounds with gloves on carefully. Hearing Mo Qi¡¯s cry, they both looked up and cautioned in unison, ¡°Quiet!¡± ¡­ About two hours later, the process of preparing the facial appearance was complete. Uncle Zhong the Ninth, who was over fifty, looked tired as he watched the now peaceful-faced young man who looked as though he was sleeping, and after exhaling a breath of turbid air, he instructed Mo Qi, ¡°Alright, tell them to take him to the mourning hall for the last farewell.¡± By then, it was nearly nine in the morning, and the rain hadn¡¯t let up. After washing up, Li Qiao and Uncle Zhong the Ninth, along with other staff, arrived at the mourning hall, where they saw this scene before even entering. Inside the solemn black and white mourning hall, there stood a dense crowd of nearly fifty people. All were dressed in uniform black suits, with white mourning flowers on their chests, orderly and uniform, their expressions solemn. Through the faint gaps, at the very front of the queue, stood a conspicuous and tall figure. Uncle Zhong the Ninth, accompanied by Mo Qi and Li Qiao, walked in from the side. The awe-inspiring queue of mourners added a sense of oppression to the place. As they drew near, Li Qiao could clearly see the figure standing alone in front of the crystal coffin, it was Shang Yu. Today, his attire was more formal and solemn than ever before, with the shirt collar buttoned up to the top most fastidiously. Li Qiao stood in a corner, staring unwaveringly at the man¡¯s serene and solemn face. So it turned out that the young man truly belonged to him. The viewing of the body took a long time because of the large turnout. By close to ten o¡¯clock, the coffin was closed and placed into the hearse. Before departing for South Sea Mountain Cemetery, it seemed even the heavens could sense the intense grief, as the rainfall became heavier. In the torrential rain, countless black cars, adorned with white silk, followed behind the hearse, slowly making their way toward South Sea Mountain. ¡­ At the burial, led by Shang Yu, everyone stood in the rain, watching as the workers lowered the coffin and sealed the tomb. The tragically deceased young man was finally laid to rest forever in the cemetery behind the South Sea Mansion. In the rain, Li Qiao stood at the very back of the crowd wearing a mask, a mix of emotions in her heart as she observed the scene. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Everyone always said that Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant, was cold-blooded and ruthless, wild in his actions; likely they had never seen him in such a moment heavy with emotion as today. Because he was Shang Shaoyan, he didn¡¯t have to do this. Suddenly, the crowd at the front orderly parted to each side. Down the pathway sheltered by black silk umbrellas, Shang Yu approached through the rain, his handsome and clear-cut features beneath the umbrella still proud and aloof. He came to Uncle Zhong the Ninth and nodded deeply with eyes dark as ink, ¡°Jiugong, you have my thanks.¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 ¨C 72 72 Going Downstairs Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Going Downstairs Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Going Downstairs At that moment, Uncle Zhong the Ninth took off the black mask covering his face, relaxed his furrowed eyebrows and sighed, ¡°Master Yan is too polite. It¡¯s truly a pity for such a young life to end abruptly. However, having a great elder like you taking care of his funeral affairs, his walk in the world of the living was not in vain.¡± Shang Yu¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and after sharing a glance with Uncle Zhong the Ninth, he turned and instructed Liuyun, who stood behind him, ¡°Take Jiugong to the villa to rest. When the rain stops, escort them down the mountain.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡­ Minutes later, at the South Sea Mountain Villa, three black sedans pulled up at the entrance. Liuyun arranged for the villa¡¯s servants to take good care of everything and then rushed back to the South Sea Mansion two kilometers away. Upon entering the mansion, Li Qiao finally took off her mask and followed a servant to the living room to rest for a while. At that moment, Mo Qi looked around the luxurious and grand living room with astonishment; the phrase ¡®resplendent with gold and jade¡¯ wouldn¡¯t be an overstatement, and this was merely a temporary resting villa. He secretly marveled, unable to help but marvel at the allure of power and wealth, ¡°Teacher, are you very familiar with that gentleman?¡± As his words fell, Li Qiao, sitting in a single-seat sofa, also slowly lifted her head. Earlier at the cemetery, they had all been wearing masks, and Li Qiao had not spoken to Shang Yu from beginning to end, so it was unclear whether he had recognized her. But judging from the conversation between Jiugong and Shang Yu, they seemed to be old acquaintances. Just then, Uncle Zhong the Ninth, holding a cup of tea served by a servant, blew on the hot steam and said with a calm tone, ¡°I¡¯ve helped with the encoffining of a few of his deceased subordinates before, so you could say I am familiar.¡± ¡°Then do you have to personally attend the funerals at the cemetery every time?¡± Mo Qi asked another question, considering that the undertaker¡¯s manual did not include attending funerals. Today, under Jiugong¡¯s lead, they had gone there together. At the question, Uncle Zhong the Ninth took a sip of his hot tea, his wrinkled cheeks showing signs of weariness, and gave Mo Qi an annoyed look, ¡°Why do you have so many questions?¡± Clearly, Jiugong didn¡¯t want to answer. Touching his nose, Mo Qi glanced at Li Qiao and mumbled to himself, ¡°I¡¯m just curious!¡± ¡°Ask what should be asked, but don¡¯t be curious about what shouldn¡¯t be.¡± Just then, the servants had finished preparing the guest rooms and came to invite them to rest. All the while, Li Qiao had remained silent, following the servant to the upstairs guest room. Once inside, she sat in the armchair by the window, staring out at the heavy rain, lost in thought. The farewell ceremony that day gave her new insight into Shang Yu. In rumors, he was the South Sea¡¯s obsessive and arrogant mysterious Overlord. But in her eyes, the Shang Yu of today clearly seemed like a leader of the Yan Emperor¡¯s rank, deeply valuing loyalty and righteousness. Even his devoted subordinates likely surrendered to him for this very reason. At this moment, the cellphone in her pocket suddenly vibrated. Li Qiao picked it up lazily and glanced at it, her heart skipping a beat. It was a WeChat message from Shang Yu. It contained just two simple words: ¡°Come downstairs.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s heartbeat accelerated, and then she got up and walked toward the door. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only At this time, the living room was empty. Li Qiao walked down the stairs, passed through the foyer, and when she pushed open the brown door of the villa, the handsome man standing in the rain with a black silk umbrella came into view. He was still in that solemn black suit, standing amidst the wind and rain, so striking that everything around him seemed blurred and indistinct. Li Qiao pursed her lips, with a hint of tiredness in her eyes, and stepped towards him. Under the umbrella where the light was dim, she looked up at Shang Yu¡¯s deep eyes and smiled, ¡°Master Yan, when did you recognize me?¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 ¨C 73 73 South Sea Mansion Chapter 73: Chapter 73: South Sea Mansion Chapter 73: Chapter 73: South Sea Mansion Shang Yu lifted his finger and gently wiped away the rainwater that had splashed onto the corner of her eye from the edge of the umbrella, his voice raspy as he began to speak, ¡°At the mourning hall.¡± So¡­ he had recognized her that early on, even though she had been wearing a mask at the time. Li Qiao lowered her eyes, her lips curved in a light smile, her gaze landing precisely on the fingers holding the umbrella, and teasingly whispered, ¡°I see, I thought you hadn¡¯t seen me.¡± ¡°Tired?¡± At this moment, Shang Yu rubbed her hair, looking at Li Qiao¡¯s trembling eyelashes and weary cheeks, a thought crossed his mind, and his palm smoothly slid to the back of her neck, squeezing gently a couple of times. Li Qiao stiffened at his action, the warm, dry palm massaging the back of her neck, concentrating all her senses in one place, and a strong throb began spreading from her heart throughout her body. She furrowed her brows, suppressing her racing heartbeat, and nodded truthfully, ¡°Mhm, a little tired.¡± Shang Yu¡¯s lips curled slightly, his broad palm naturally came to rest on her shoulder, enveloping her lightly as he tilted the umbrella, ¡°Come, I¡¯ll take you to rest.¡± ¡­ Ten minutes later, as Li Qiao looked at the South Sea Mansion getting closer outside the car, her gaze, slightly burning, fell upon Shang Yu, ¡°Does Master Yan usually live here?¡± The man¡¯s thin lips turned slightly, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s peaceful.¡± In fact, she had heard others discuss the South Sea Mansion quite early on, it was rumored that the Mansion and its ten miles surrounding area were off-limits to outsiders, yet she hadn¡¯t expected Shang Yu to bring her here today. Before long, the two entered through the Mansion¡¯s underground garage elevator. Li Qiao casually surveyed the layout inside the Mansion, the cold, abstinent style of gray and black, uniquely decorated yet exquisitely crafted. He seemed to have a special fondness for black. In the living room, Li Qiao nestled into the sofa while Shang Yu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, lighting a cigarette, then turned around and asked, ¡°When did you start being a mortician?¡± Li Qiao casually grabbed a leather cushion, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Strictly speaking, I¡¯m not yet a mortician, at most, I¡¯m my teacher¡¯s student and assistant.¡± Shang Yu, with a cigarette between his fingers, strolled nearby the sofa, bent down to flick off the ash, and glanced at her sideways, ¡°Did you learn the wound suturing techniques from Jiugong?¡± Hearing this, Li Qiao¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement, ¡°You could say that, indeed my teacher has credit.¡± As it happened, just as the words fell, Liuyun¡¯s figure appeared in the living room and heard Li Qiao¡¯s words clearly. So, the wound on his arm was stitched up by Miss Li, who claimed to be a mortician¡¯s assistant? Liuyun, quietly holding his left arm, ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, hearing footsteps, Li Qiao and Shang Yu both turned their eyes. An eerie silence flowed through the living room, then Liuyun cleared his throat and nodded, ¡°Boss, the room is ready.¡± Shang Yu casually sat down, with cigarette in hand brought to his lips, looking at Li Qiao, ¡°Go take a bath first, come down for dinner later.¡± Li Qiao responded and got up to follow Liuyun out of the living room. Along the way, she walked at an unhurried pace, pondering for a moment, and asked, ¡°Liuyun, the young man who was buried, how did he die?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Liuyun paused mid-step, looking at Li Qiao with puzzlement, ¡°Didn¡¯t the boss tell Miss Li?¡± Li Qiao shook her head nonchalantly, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask him, you tell me.¡± At this, Liuyun thought for a moment, choosing not to hide anything, he bluntly asked, ¡°Do you remember the man you saw before in the Green Garden?¡± Reminded by Liuyun, Li Qiao recalled the first time she had seen Shang Yu, her eyes narrowing slightly, ¡°The one who was kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy?¡± ¡°Yes, it was he who killed Qingyu!¡± At the mention of this person, Liuyun¡¯s voice tightened, filled with loathing. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 ¨C 74 74 I Don¡¯t Have Women¡¯s Clothing Here Chapter 74: Chapter 74: I Don¡¯t Have Women¡¯s Clothing Here Chapter 74: Chapter 74: I Don¡¯t Have Women¡¯s Clothing Here After Liuyun¡¯s explanation, Li Qiao had a general understanding of the whole story. The young man who passed away was named Qingyu, an engineer. He won the national gold award in the university artificial intelligence competition before he reached twenty. Latterly, he joined the Yan Emperor Group¡¯s intelligence team, serving as the leader of the AI engineering unit. The gaunt man in Green Garden unexpectedly became addicted to drugs, and he betrayed Qingyu to Yan Emperor¡¯s rival because they could provide him with high-purity drugs to alleviate his addiction. In the end, Qingyu, at twenty-three, refused to divulge the core technology of the intelligence team, leading the rival to wrath and torture him to death. At this moment, after listening to Liuyun¡¯s account, Li Qiao unintentionally thought of Huizai. They were both young, both brilliant. Li Qiao¡¯s eyes darkened and her tone deepened, ¡°It sounds like the man from Green Garden deserves to die even more.¡± Then, with a trace of deadly intent in his eyes, Liuyun sneered, ¡°Even if he wants to die, it won¡¯t be that easy.¡± ¡°Is it because he was sent to Secret Hall?¡± The day they first met, she had heard about this place from Shang Yu¡¯s own mouth, which gave rise to her question. As she finished speaking, Liuyun¡¯s expression subtly changed, he walked a few more steps and then, with a spread of his hands towards a door not far away, said, ¡°Miss Li, here¡¯s your room.¡± Li Qiao didn¡¯t make a sound, glanced at Liuyun, and walked forward to push open the door. So, what exactly is Secret Hall? Enough to make Liuyun change color upon hearing it, it must be quite mysterious. ¡­ Half an hour later, Li Qiao walked out of the guest room shower, wrapped in a bath towel. She wiped her hair as she picked up her phone, which had two missed calls, both from her senior brother Mo Qi. Li Qiao tossed the towel onto the sofa and called Mo Qi back. ¡°Xiao Li, where did you go? The servants at the annex said you left early, and it¡¯s raining, too. Is there something urgent?¡± Mo Qi¡¯s voice came through the receiver, slightly anxious. Li Qiao wiped the water droplets from her jaw with the back of her hand and replied indifferently, ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s something I have to take care of. Can you tell the teacher I¡¯ll visit another day?¡± Mo Qi was silent for a few seconds and then sheepishly nodded, ¡°Alright, just take care of yourself. Also, the teacher asked me to tell you to take things easy, nothing is the end of the world, and living well is better than anything else.¡± ¡°Mhm, okay, hanging up now.¡± Li Qiao put down the phone, her gaze landing on the pale grey wall opposite her. She pulled at the corner of her mouth and continued to dry her hair. Once her hair was half-dry, Li Qiao changed into her clothes and came downstairs. In the living room, Shang Yu was dressed in simple and comfortable grey casual wear, sitting cross-legged on the couch on a phone call. Hearing the soft footsteps, he glanced out of the corner of his eye, uttered a ¡°hold on for a bit,¡± and put down his phone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you change clothes?¡± Shang Yu looked at Li Qiao, still clad in her black shirt and trousers, and asked. Li Qiao¡¯s expression was serenely neutral as she sat opposite him. Settling into her seat, she casually crossed her legs and spoke unhurriedly, ¡°My clothes are at the management center, I didn¡¯t bring them up the mountain.¡± Upon hearing this, Shang Yu twisted his fingertip and leaned over to pick up his phone, also grabbing a cigarette box nearby, his gaze fixed on her, ¡°What brand do you usually wear? Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only I¡¯ll have someone send it over.¡± Li Qiao¡¯s eyes flashed, about to say it was too much trouble, but then she saw the man light a slim cigar in his hand and, through a thin layer of smoke, he added, ¡°Usually, there aren¡¯t many people here, no women¡¯s clothing. If it¡¯s not too much of a bother, you can have Liuyun accompany you back to the management center to get it.¡± The words ¡°no women¡¯s clothing¡± reached Li Qiao¡¯s ears. She lowered her lashes, concealing the turbulence in her eyes, and smiled faintly, ¡°No need, I¡¯m not that delicate.¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 ¨C 75 75 Delaying My Romance Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Delaying My Romance Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Delaying My Romance At this moment, Shang Yu¡¯s profound gaze rested on her faintly smiling cheeks, thin lips releasing a wisp of smoke, curling lazily around him in an indifferent, languid posture. After finishing a cigarette, the man rose and took Li Qiao down to the restaurant on the level below. In the elegant and comfortable restaurant, they sat opposite each other at a large marble table with dark veining. Li Qiao looked at the food already laid out on the table, glancing around, ¡°Who made all this?¡± Ever since she had entered, she had not seen a single servant. As a result, his Mansion, despite its modern vibe, still seemed empty and lacking the warmth of domestic life. Shang Yu took a sip from the wine glass in his hand, ¡°The servants, their quarters are on the third level underground.¡± Li Qiao nodded in understanding, didn¡¯t inquire further, and the two began to dine in silence. ¡­ After the meal, Li Qiao leaned languorously against the back of her chair, eyeing the handsome and distinguished man opposite her, and asked, ¡°Master Yan, when will your father come to South Sea?¡± ¡°In the next few days,¡± Shang Yu replied, lifting his eyes with a faint smile at the corner of his lips, ¡°Anxious?¡± Li Qiao tilted her chin, slightly irritable, ¡°Yeah, anxious. I don¡¯t feel at peace with this marriage arrangement not yet called off.¡± Shang Yu¡¯s deep eyes narrowed slightly, the smile on his lips becoming subtle, ¡°Is it because you don¡¯t like Shang Lu, or is it just the marriage arrangement that you dislike?¡± ¡°I dislike both.¡± Li Qiao made no effort to hide her aversion to the marriage, and muttered coldly and annoyingly in a quiet voice, ¡°It¡¯s interfering with my dating life!¡± Her last words were spoken softly, and she wasn¡¯t certain if Shang Yu had heard them, but the conversation ended there. At two in the afternoon, after the rain had stopped, Shang Yu arranged for Liuyun to drive Li Qiao down the mountain. The air on South Sea Mountain was fresh and brisk after the rain, carrying with it a refreshing moisture that was uplifting to the spirit. Li Qiao got into the car at the Mansion¡¯s entrance; as the vehicle drove away, the renowned pearl of the mountains, South Sea Mansion, shrank in the distance. ¡­ Back at the Li Family home, Li Qiao entered to find Li Guangming pacing the living room back and forth. Duan Shuyuan was also sitting to the side, sighing heavily; overall, the expressions on both their faces were not too pleasant. Li Qiao, hands in her pants pockets, stood at the entrance to the living room, casually leaning against the wall, ¡°Mom, Dad, what happened?¡± Li Guangming, startled, his eyebrows smoothing out his worry, looked up at Li Qiao with a smile, ¡°My girl¡¯s back. Where have you been roaming on this rainy day, and without driving your car too?¡± ¡°Just out for a casual stroll.¡± With that, Li Qiao looked towards Duan Shuyuan, clicked her tongue, and walked over to sit next to her, ¡°Mom, why the constant sighing?¡± Duan Shuyuan shook her head and instinctively wrapped her arm around Li Qiao¡¯s shoulder, patting it, ¡°My darling, your mom is just worried about you!¡± ¡°What have I done to make you worried?¡± Li Qiao asked surprisedly, keenly sensing that something was off with them today. At that moment, Li Guangming stood behind the sofa, his hands bracing the back of the chair, his voice somber, ¡°We just received notice that Old Mr. Shang will be coming to South Sea in three days.¡± ¡°To call off the engagement?¡± Li Qiao narrowed her eyes, responded calmly, ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. Better to get this marriage arrangement called off quickly, so as not to hold up Shang Lu from finding someone else.¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Hearing this, Li Guangming and Duan Shuyuan exchanged looks, pondering very seriously on one question: with Shang Lu¡¯s shocking underlying health issue, did he even have the right to look for someone else? After a quiet moment, Li Qiao went straight upstairs. Out of her parents¡¯ view, she quietly lifted the corners of her mouth, a pleased expression on her face. She had only just asked Shang Yu about it, and she hadn¡¯t expected that soon after returning home, the date for Old Mr. Shang¡¯s visit to South Sea would be set. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 ¨C 76 76 Tang Yiting¡¯s Stand-Up Comedy Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Tang Yiting¡¯s Stand-Up Comedy Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Tang Yiting¡¯s Stand-Up Comedy After Li Qiao went upstairs, Li Guangming watched her retreating figure, shaking his head with a sigh, ¡°It seems that this is the only way.¡± At these words, Duan Shuyuan glanced at him, straightened her back, and fully embodied the posture of a mother of the family, ¡°Or what do you want to do? Qiaoqiao made herself very clear, and if you force her to marry Shang Lu again, I¡¯ll divorce you!¡± ¡°My wife, what are you talking about?¡± Li Guangming, who was henpecked, quickly walked over to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and coaxing her softly: ¡°I just feel it¡¯s a shame that the marriage arrangement fell through. Beyond that, I definitely won¡¯t force our daughter anymore. Besides, don¡¯t you also think it¡¯s a pity? Otherwise, why have you been sighing all the time?¡± Duan Shuyuan gave him a cold glance and shrugged off Li Guangming¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about how to complain to Elder Shang. His son bullied my daughter; I need to think carefully about how to get justice for Qiaoqiao.¡± Li Guangming chuckled awkwardly, leaned over the table, poured a cup of fruit tea, and handed it to Duan Shuyuan, ¡°Complaining might not be necessary, right? The three rascals at home scared Shang Lu so much he ran back to Parma, and I guess he won¡¯t dare to come back for a while.¡± ¡°I have my own plans about this matter; don¡¯t interfere,¡± Duan Shuyuan glared at him, didn¡¯t drink the fruit tea, and simply got up in a bad mood to call the driver and left. The best way for a woman to soothe her emotions, of course, is to spend money! Duan Shuyuan decided to get a beauty treatment and then head to the mall to see if there were any new arrivals, planning to buy some clothes for her precious daughter. ¡­ The next day, Sunday. Early in the morning, not yet nine o¡¯clock, Li Qiao was awakened by her phone. She had gone to sleep at two in the morning, and her phone beside the pillow buzzed incessantly. Unable to suppress her drowsy irritation, she flung the phone onto the carpet. The world became quiet. At half-past ten, Li Qiao leisurely woke up, leaning against the headboard with sleepy eyes, feeling listless. She absently stared for a long while before remembering that there seemed to be a phone call early in the morning. Li Qiao looked indifferently toward the floor, got out of bed, picked up her phone, and saw three missed calls. All were from the class leader. She rubbed her forehead, didn¡¯t call back, but went into WeChat first and checked the class group set to ¡°Do Not Disturb¡± mode, only to find 156 unread messages. Li Qiao skimmed through a few messages and understood. Tonight, at the Royal Hotel, there was to be a college graduation farewell banquet for her major. Li Qiao fell silent. She had never liked attending such gatherings with classmates and was about to call the class leader to decline when Tang Yiting¡¯s call came in. ¡°Qiaoqiao, I heard that your major is also holding a farewell banquet tonight?¡± Li Qiao turned over and lay back on the bed, responding in a muffled voice, ¡°Hmm, Royal Hotel.¡± Tang Yiting immediately suggested excitedly, ¡°Then let¡¯s go together! Our major is also at the Royal Hotel. Are there any special requirements for your banquet? Let me tell you, our class leader just said¡­¡± For the following time, Tang Yiting talked non-stop on the phone, like a monologue. Li Qiao couldn¡¯t get a word in edgewise. She and Tang Yiting were in different majors at the same school, and it turned out the farewell banquets were both scheduled for the same day. Li Qiao listened for a while, then hit the speakerphone button, got up to open the curtains, and went to freshen up. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Only after she finished washing her face and came back did Tang Yiting pause, ¡°Hello, hello, Qiaoqiao, are you listening?¡± ¡°Hmm, so you all are wearing formal dresses?¡± Li Qiao asked in a cool voice, to which Tang Yiting immediately nodded, ¡°Yes, are you free this afternoon? Accompany me to the stylist, momma¡¯s gonna wear the priciest dress to dazzle everyone tonight. Finally, I¡¯ve made it through this college life.¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 ¨C 77 77 Have you ever seen a kidnapping that asked for a household registration book Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Have you ever seen a kidnapping that asked for a household registration book? Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Have you ever seen a kidnapping that asked for a household registration book? Li Qiao and Tang Yiting agreed on a time, and then they hung up the phone. Afterward, Li Qiao pondered for a moment and replied with an [OK] hand gesture in the WeChat group. At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the sky was gloomy as Tang Yiting drove up to the Li Family¡¯s home in a pink sports car. Half a minute later, Li Qiao walked out unhurriedly, glanced at the tender color of the car body, and silently sighed. Tang Yiting was a classic example of a masculine girl at heart. Sitting in the passenger seat, Tang Yiting leaned in excitedly, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the theme of your professional farewell party?¡± Li Qiao fastened her seatbelt and glanced at her, ¡°Don¡¯t know, didn¡¯t look.¡± It seemed there had been a message in the WeChat group about the requirements for the farewell party, but she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it. Tang Yiting felt stifled as she started the engine, muttering, ¡°You¡¯ve kept a low profile for so many years, and you don¡¯t plan to make a big splash at your farewell party?¡± ¡°Not planning to.¡± Tang Yiting steered the car, looking at Li Qiao with a lingering hope, ¡°Really no ideas? I was thinking about us joining forces tonight!¡± Li Qiao closed her eyes, her face indifferent. ¡­ At the Shuiyun High-End Styling Studio, Li Qiao and Tang Yiting walked in side by side. Tang Yiting was a regular here; she would come to pick out gowns and get styled whenever her family held various banquets. Upon entering, Li Qiao confidently headed for the rest area and took a seat. Tang Yiting had her own stylist; after discussing the requirements for the party, the two headed to the haute couture area on the second floor. At the staircase, Tang Yiting didn¡¯t forget to look back and call out to Li Qiao, ¡°Qiaoqiao, come on over.¡± At this moment, Li Qiao, looking at a message that suddenly popped up on her phone, waved at Tang Yiting and continued to gaze at her screen. Seeing this, Tang Yiting didn¡¯t ask any further and quickly vanished at the stairway entrance. The message on the phone was from Li Shaoquan, a pitiful four words: Daddy, save me. Based on what Li Qiao knew about him, this kind of message usually meant he needed money. Li Qiao opened her mobile banking app ready to make a transfer, just as Li Shaoquan¡¯s call came through. She frowned slightly, answered, and got straight to the point, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Huh? Who¡¯s this woman? What¡¯s your relation to him?¡± A strange and arrogant voice came through the receiver. No sooner had the voice asked than Li Shaoquan shouted from the other end, ¡°Save me, they¡¯ve kidnapped¡­¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± the strange man bellowed, followed by the sound of a fist hitting flesh that transmitted clearly through the receiver into Li Qiao¡¯s ears. Li Shaoquan had been kidnapped? Her eyes narrowed sharply with a chill across her face, ¡°Spit it out, what do you want?¡± There was a long silence on the line, interspersed with whispers of a private conversation. As Li Qiao grew impatient, the other end finally spoke, ¡°I want his household registration book. I don¡¯t care who you are, deliver it to me now, or else I¡¯ll tear up the ticket!¡± The next second, the call was cut off, and Li Qiao slowly lowered her hand, staring at her phone screen, deep in thought. Have you ever seen a kidnapper ask for a household registration book? Li Qiao pondered for a moment, then quickly opened a tracking app on her phone, checking Li Shaoquan¡¯s phone location. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only River View Grand Court. So, the kidnapper was at Li Shaoquan¡¯s house? The situation was too strange; she couldn¡¯t fathom who Li Shaoquan could have possibly offended. He was a homebody, a crazy tech wiz, who could he have angered? Li Qiao didn¡¯t delay for long; she sent a WeChat message to Tang Yiting and hurriedly left the Shuiyun Styling Studio. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 ¨C 78 78 Three Months of Online Dating Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Three Months of Online Dating Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Three Months of Online Dating River View Grand Court. Li Qiao took a taxi to the foot of Li Shaoquan¡¯s building, standing near the apartment, first she looked around cautiously. Pedestrians came and went; the apartment security guard dozed off in the guardhouse. The lackluster weekend afternoon seemed unchanged, displaying none of the tension and confrontation expected at the scene of a kidnapping. After a short while, Li Qiao walked into the apartment building at a leisurely pace, took the elevator up to Li Shaoquan¡¯s apartment, and directly pressed her fingerprint to unlock the door. A strong and pungent smell of smoke assaulted her senses, obviously more suffocating than usual. Li Qiao bypassed the entrance and as she appeared in the living room of the duplex apartment, the place fell instantly silent. ¡°Mmmph!¡± At that moment, Li Shaoquan was the first to react. He lay on the floor, tied up tightly with his mouth sealed with clear tape; at the sight of Li Qiao, he started wriggling and grunting on the ground. With an expressionless face, Li Qiao looked at the smoke-filled living room. Aside from Li Shaoquan, there were four others, three men and one woman. Leading them was a tall and strong young man, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing faded camo attire, taking a drag from a cigarette in his hand in an arrogant and domineering manner, he asked, ¡°Did you bring the household registration book?¡± Li Qiao gave him a silent glance, casually walked over to Li Shaoquan, crouched down, and ¡®ripped¡¯ the tape from his mouth with a swift motion, especially heartlessly. ¡°Ow¡­¡± Li Shaoquan felt as if his lips were being torn off, crying out in pain, his voice still whining, ¡°Be gentle, would you!¡± The young man and his companions were stunned. Was this beautiful girl here to deliver the household registration book or to tear up the ¡®ticket¡¯? How could her actions¡­ be even more ruthless than theirs? Without untying Li Shaoquan, Li Qiao then leisurely sat on the armrest of the sofa, crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and demanded, ¡°Talk, what¡¯s going on here!¡± Li Shaoquan shifty-eyed with guilt, didn¡¯t dare to look at Li Qiao, and mumbled with his face buried, ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ just as you see, they kidnapped¡­¡± The siblings exchanged words as if no one else was present, acting as though the others didn¡¯t exist. The young man felt his identity as a ¡®kidnapper¡¯ insulted, threw his cigarette to the ground, and strode forward, picking Li Shaoquan up off the floor, menacingly, he threatened, ¡°You dare talk back? I¡¯m just asking you, do you want to marry my sister or not? If not, I¡¯m sending you to meet the King of Hell right now.¡± Li Shaoquan was scared out of his wits. Being still tied up, he could only glance at Li Qiao repeatedly with pleading eyes, ¡°Daddy¡­ save me!¡± Li Qiao paid him no heed but instead turned her gaze towards another girl in the living room. Since entering the door, this girl had been sitting in the corner with her head down, dressed plainly, even a bit worn, with a plump figure and slightly dark skin, appearing timid. Li Qiao caught the hint from the young man¡¯s words, frowned impatiently, and boldly countered, ¡°Planning a forced marriage?¡± The young man glared fiercely at Li Qiao, pointing carelessly at Li Shaoquan¡¯s nose, ¡°So what if it¡¯s a forced marriage? Either way, he has to marry my sister!¡± This guy, seemed not too bright. Li Qiao touched her forehead and sighed lightly, ¡°The reason?¡± The man grabbed hold of Li Shaoquan¡¯s collar, as if still not satisfied, and shook him violently, ¡°This scumbag engaged in an online romance with my sister for three months, and now he wants to break up after seeing her in person. There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch; he¡¯s my sister¡¯s first love!¡± Li Qiao gazed at Li Shaoquan somberly, it took her a while to process this piece of news. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only She coolly raised an eyebrow, ¡°You? Engaged in an online romance?¡± No wonder he spent all day at home as a tech nerd, so it turns out he used all his frivolous affections on online romance? Li Shaoquan turned away, stubbornly muttering, ¡°Can you blame me? It was clearly his sister who deceived my feelings with a photo retouched to level 100 beauty.¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 ¨C 79 79 A Day at the Police Station Chapter 79: Chapter 79: A Day at the Police Station Chapter 79: Chapter 79: A Day at the Police Station ¡°You¡¯re full of shit. My sister is clearly so beautiful, are you blind?!¡± The man raised his hand and punched Li Shaoquan in the back of the head, his tone fierce, sounding like a protective brother. Li Qiao sighed helplessly and reassessed the situation before her. Apart from this man and his sister, the other two people had been standing by the coffee table the whole time, clearly not daring to look Li Qiao in the eye, their gazes uncertain. With this lineup, they still wanted to kidnap and force a marriage? Li Qiao frowned irritably, crossed her arms, and looked down at her own toes, ¡°Aside from getting married, are there any other conditions?¡± The young man let go of Li Shaoquan and scrutinized Li Qiao unblinkingly, ¡°Who are you to him? Can you make decisions for him?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my ancestor, she can!¡± Li Shaoquan preempted with a shout, declaring Li Qiao¡¯s identity. Hearing this, the young man said righteously, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll just say it. We don¡¯t want anything else, just to have him marry my sister.¡± Great, a vicious cycle. Li Qiao fell silent for a moment, while Li Shaoquan completely panicked, ¡°Don¡¯t dream, have you seen your sister¡¯s face? I¡¯d rather become a monk than marry her!¡± That was a harsh thing to hear. The girl sitting in the corner looked at Li Shaoquan with eyes full of hurt, her fingers curling up on her knees. In that instant, Li Qiao finally got a clear look at the girl¡¯s face. Not ugly, but really quite plump, with chubby cheeks and slightly crowded features. But, she was redeemed by a pair of clean, clear eyes that were distinctly black and white. Li Qiao frowned and gave Li Shaoquan a sideways glance. At that moment, his face was full of disdain, even disgust. The young man, upon hearing his sister being humiliated, visibly exploded with rage. He cursed and then quickly raised his hand, his fist cutting through the air, aiming for Li Shaoquan¡¯s face. The punch was strong and fast. If that fist had truly connected with Li Shaoquan, his cheekbone would surely have shattered. In the blink of an eye, Li Shaoquan backed away with terror on his face, the girl stood up with a cry of alarm, shouting not to, and that¡¯s when Li Qiao made her move. She stepped forward swiftly, pushing Li Shaoquan out of the way, and intercepted the man¡¯s punch out of the air. At the same time, Li Qiao grabbed the man¡¯s upper arm with her other hand, expertly deflecting his momentum, pivoting on her foot, and using her shoulder to tilt sideways, effectively flipping him over her back with a shoulder throw. With a ¡®bang¡¯, everything came to a standstill. The man¡¯s strong figure lay awkwardly on the ground, his face filled with confusion as he struggled to come back to reality. Li Shaoquan hopped on his feet and shouted in admiration, and if his hands hadn¡¯t been behind his back, he would have clapped and cheered. In the living room, after a deathly silence, suddenly, messy footsteps came from the entrance of the apartment. ¡°Nobody move, police!¡± Li Qiao: ¡°¡­¡± The young man on the ground also snapped back to reality, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes. Damn, which son of a bitch called the cops? And that was how Li Qiao, not even ten minutes after she walked in, was brought out. A line of people was put into a police car, and they were off on a day-long police station tour. Inside the police van, Li Qiao looked at Li Shaoquan with icy indifference, ¡°Did you call the cops?¡± Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Li Shaoquan scratched his head, shaking it vigorously, ¡°No, man, I¡¯m too embarrassed to call the cops¡­¡± Then, the plump girl beside him timidly raised her head, her face filled with anxious fear, ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m the one who called the cops. I was afraid my brother would hurt you¡­¡± Hearing this, her brother hit the back of his head against the car window in a fit of despair. Damn it, what kind of brother is this, more like a damn online boyfriend! Chapter 80 Chapter 80 ¨C 80 80 This case is not simple! Chapter 80: Chapter 80: This case is not simple! Chapter 80: Chapter 80: This case is not simple! South Sea Police Station. A group of six handed over their personal belongings and were led into the interrogation room for multiple suspects. <> Meanwhile, two figures walked side by side down the opposite corridor. The man in the police uniform was pot-bellied and thinning on top, but his shrewd eyes flanked by brows told of a canny nature. He ingratiatingly said to the person beside him, ¡°Master Qiu, rest assured about this matter. We¡¯ll definitely urge the criminal investigation department to capture the main culprits as soon as possible.¡± The day before yesterday, a factory belonging to South Sea Machinery Holdings was burglarized, losing a batch of precision machinery parts. The whole of the South Sea Police Station was shocked by the incident. As a company representing the pinnacle of South Sea¡¯s mechanical manufacturing industry, the loss of precision parts was no small issue. Not only that, but the incident also alarmed the South Sea Secretariat, which put constant pressure on the police over the past two days to solve the case quickly. At that moment, Qiu Huan looked straight ahead, ignoring the deputy director¡¯s spiel, and peered at the interrogation room¡¯s door with interest, nudging his lips, ¡°What did those people do?¡± The deputy director looked where he pointed, feeling somewhat perplexed. Just then, the door of the interrogation room opened, and an interrogator walked out. The deputy director immediately beckoned, ¡°Xiao Wang, what case are you working on right now?¡± Xiao Wang, holding a notebook, hurried over upon hearing the call, greeted the deputy director, and explained, ¡°Someone sent an emergency text to the alarm center claiming to have been kidnapped. We¡¯ve just arrested the kidnapping gang, men and women alike, and are about to start the interrogation.¡± The deputy director listened to Xiao Wang¡¯s explanation without much thought, then turned to Qiu Huan and tentatively asked, ¡°Master Qiu, is there any issue with this case?¡± Qiu Huan looked at the deputy director with a smile that was more a smirk, enigmatic. That girl he had just seen, she was Li Qiao, right? From Elder Shang¡¯s entourage? A kidnapping gang? Interesting! Before long, Qiu Huan left the police station, while the deputy director stood at the entrance reflecting on his expression. With years of experience in reading people while solving cases, he felt¡­ there was something complex about this kidnapping case! So, slapping his thigh, the deputy director instructed Xiao Wang, who was trailing behind him, ¡°Go, interrogate the kidnapping gang separately, question each one individually, and interrogate the person who reported the emergency too. If anyone fails to cooperate, lock them up for three days first! And yes, have the information department pull up all their records immediately. I want to see them first!¡± ¡­ In the interrogation room, Li Qiao and Li Shaoquan along with the other four stood against the wall, facing four police officers sitting opposite them. At that moment, the experienced interrogator, looking puzzled, gazed at the emergency report in his hand and tapped on the desk, ¡°Who reported the emergency?¡± He had handled numerous cases, but had never come across such a baffling kidnapping case. The girl timidly raised her head, her voice trembling slightly, ¡°It was, it was me.¡± The officer glanced at her, ¡°What is your relationship with the kidnapped person?¡± ¡°He is my boyfriend.¡± ¡°I have no relation to her.¡± Two voices spoke simultaneously, with Li Qiao and Li Shaoquan each claiming differently. The officer pointed at Li Shaoquan, cautioning, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Don¡¯t talk.¡± After a moment of silence, the lead interrogator, flustered, asked, ¡°Are you siblings with the kidnapper?¡± For the love of all, what a bizarre kidnapping case this was¨Ca sister reporting her own kidnapping, only for the so-called kidnapper to be her brother, and the purported victim another man entirely. Especially when the police, fully armed, had arrived at the apartment to find not only an open door but also the so-called kidnapper lying at the feet of a beautiful girl, the scene was a complete mess. An onlooker unaware of the situation might even think they were shooting a TV drama about family betrayal.