The Favored Heiress
Chapter 229: You’re Lying

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: You’re Lying

Downstairs from the laboratory, Li Qiao watched the approaching figure with an impassive expression, furrowed her brows, and gazed deeply.

Earlier, when she got out of the car, she had noticed someone lurking in the darkness, watching her.

She had thought it was Shang Fu, whom she just had an encounter with, but to her surprise, it was the bartender from Entertainment City, Wen Shi.

Upon reflection, Li Qiao thought that if Shang Fu indeed appeared here, it would be disappointing.

A woman adept at disguising herself wouldn’t reveal her strength so soon.

At this moment, Wen Shi walked towards Li Qiao with a leisurely pace, his gentle brows and eyes becoming even more clear and moist under the streetlight.

He was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, with neatly parted short hair, his features clean, exuding a youthful and handsome charm reminiscent of a campus boy.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" Wen Shi began with an apology and, under Li Qiao’s intense gaze, his expression briefly flickered with annoyance.

Li Qiao looked at him squarely and, after a few seconds, averted her eyes, asking in a distant tone, "Do you need something from me?"

As she recalled, her relationship with Wen Shi wasn’t so familiar that they could casually engage in small talk.

His appearance was somewhat baffling.

At that moment, observing Li Qiao’s indifferent demeanor, Wen Shi lowered his eyes, his gaze filled with a touch of self-mockery, "Sorry, I don’t have your phone number, so I asked Xiao Tang about you.

I didn’t mean anything else, I just... wanted to say goodbye in person. I’ve already resigned from Entertainment City and will be leaving South Sea temporarily in a few days.

You haven’t been to Entertainment City recently, but since we know each other, I came over tonight. I hope you don’t mind."

Wen Shi’s explanation was watertight, even carrying a hint of melancholy in his tone.

Li Qiao watched Wen Shi with a calm gaze, her eyes flashing subtly before she half-turned to look in the direction of the street, her voice faint as she asked, "Oh, what about your graduate studies?"

"I’ve applied for a leave of absence from the school. I’ll go back to deal with some family matters before returning to continue my studies," Wen Shi responded to every question.

Seeing this, Li Qiao showed little emotional fluctuation, merely nodding noncommittally, "Then... perhaps we’ll meet again if fate wills it."

Wen Shi’s brows furrowed imperceptibly, sensing that Li Qiao didn’t wish to continue the conversation, his words lingering unspoken in his throat.

As a gentle night breeze brushed against her face, Li Qiao relaxed her frown and jingled the keys in her hand, "I’ll be going now."

Wen Shi hesitated, then chose silence as his response.

Li Qiao took a deep look at him, said goodbye, and got into the Mercedes unhurriedly.

As the car entered the parking lot behind the laboratory building, Li Qiao looked at Wen Shi, who was still standing there, through the rearview mirror.

A cold smile appeared on her lips, her eyes filled with intriguing depth.

Wen Shi, you’re lying.

Indeed, Tang Yiting knew she had been working on a research project in the laboratory lately, but she didn’t know the exact address or name of it.

Yet, Wen Shi found this unmarked laboratory building with ease.

And so coincidentally waited on her way back.

It meant that Wen Shi was aware of all her movements today.

This unremarkable bartender from Entertainment City seemed... not as simple as he appeared.

Li Qiao parked the car and looked into the dense night, contemplative.

...

The next day, in the afternoon.

The scorching sun was a mild burn, and early summer bloomed.

Li Qiao took advantage of the lunch break to leave the lab, intending to visit her grandfather Duan Jingming in the hospital.

Around ten o’clock in the morning, it had been said that the elderly gentleman was in good condition after his surgery, having been transferred from the ICU to a private room for recovery.

Arriving at the hospital, Li Qiao purchased a fruit basket at the store by the entrance, parked her car, and made her way leisurely to the vicinity of the ward.

Before she even entered, she heard a sob coming from behind the slightly ajar door.

"Dad, don’t be angry, it really was Xuanxuan’s fault. I’ve scolded her too.

We were just saying Qiaoqiao was coming over, so let Xuanxuan apologize to her in person later. Let’s make a big issue small, what do you think?"

The one speaking was her eldest uncle, Duan Yuanhong.

Li Qiao didn’t actually dislike her uncle; he was honest and steady, but he seemed a bit underwhelming due to his henpecked nature.

As for the crying in the room, it was coming from Duan Yixuan.

Li Qiao felt annoyed; her grandfather was not yet recovered from a serious illness, the ward was no place to sort things out, and mainly, she wasn’t so magnanimous as to bury the hatchet with Duan Yixuan.

Li Qiao stood at the door and pondered for a moment, placed the fruit basket on the windowsill at the entrance, and turned to go down to the garden behind the hospital for a walk.

...

About twenty minutes later, the housekeeper called to say that her eldest uncle’s family had left.

At that moment, Li Qiao was lying back on a bench soaking up the sun. Upon receiving the call, she got up with a languid expression and dragged her lazy steps back to the ward.

As soon as Duan Jingming heard the door open, he immediately turned his head and lit up at the sight of Li Qiao, "Qiaoqiao’s here quietly, come quick, come have some fruit, just cut fresh."

With the successful surgery lifting a weight off his mind, the old man was sitting up in bed, full of vigor, inviting Li Qiao to enjoy the fruit.

Li Qiao pulled up a chair to sit, her gaze sweeping over his face, "Grandfather, how are you feeling today?"

"Feeling good," Duan Jingming touched his head, "After the surgery, my mind has cleared up a lot. I used to feel so muddled, it really speaks to how advanced medical science has become."

Seeing her grandfather vibrant again, Li Qiao couldn’t help but give a faint smile, "Grandfather, didn’t you have something you wanted to tell me before the surgery yesterday?"

She vividly remembered the old man’s expression at the time, so serious as if he had something of great importance to entrust to her.

Duan Jingming’s expression seemed to brighten as he said in quick succession, "Right, right, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. Qiaoqiao, come closer, your grandfather has something to tell you..."

Seeing his earnest demeanor, Li Qiao didn’t think much of it. She leaned in close to the head of the bed, listening as her grandfather whispered his instructions in her ear. But quickly, she was caught between laughter and tears.

"Grandfather, no..."

Before Li Qiao could finish speaking, Duan Jingming sternly interrupted, feigning anger, "No, what? You must, this is what your grandfather is giving you. Just accept it, and that will be fine."

Li Qiao lowered her eyes and sighed.

As it turned out, the old man had recently been worried that he wouldn’t survive the surgery, so on the eve of the operation, he had contacted a lawyer in private to legally distribute and notarize all of his assets.

Duan Jingming told Li Qiao that 70% of his total assets were to be given to her without any conditions.

The remaining 30%, divided equally among the other younger family members.

Regardless of whether it was appropriate, Duan Jingming’s partiality towards Li Qiao was fully demonstrated in the distribution of his assets.

Then, Duan Jingming took Li Qiao’s hand, begging earnestly, "Qiaoqiao, keep this to yourself. Although the surgery was successful, everyone has their day to die.

I’ve already given the details of the asset distribution to the lawyer for notarization. Don’t feel awkward about it with your grandfather, this is what you deserve, you know?"

Li Qiao pursed her lips and met her grandfather’s gaze. Looking at his wrinkled cheeks and the earnest look in his eyes, she felt bitter and didn’t know what to say other than to thank him. "Mm, thank you, Grandfather."