The Favored Heiress
Chapter 247: He Saw Her at the Border

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: He Saw Her at the Border

On the other side, several young talents were also sizing up Li Qiao.

At that moment, someone bumped into Jing Ruian, who was getting champagne from the buffet, and whispered, "Ruian, quickly look at the beauty."

Approximately twenty-five years old, Jing Ruian had a refined and scholarly appearance with a pair of slender, phoenix-shaped eyes that shimmered with astuteness and detachment.

He didn’t seem to show much interest in the word "beauty."

With his back turned to Li Qiao, he held his champagne and took a sip, saying in a soft voice teasingly, "How beautiful is she?"

The man beside him was the young master of the Quan Family. Hearing Jing Ruian’s question, he chuckled, "Definitely more beautiful than your goddess."

Upon hearing this, several of the other young masters cast mocking glances his way.

A few friends who were familiar with Jing Ruian all knew he had a goddess he constantly thought about.

But over the years, no one had ever seen her.

Yet, Jing Ruian insisted on describing her as if she were unparalleled in heaven and earth, so much so that it made everyone itch with curiosity, yet they couldn’t meet her in person.

Over time, people began to speculate that Jing Ruian might be delusional.

"Ruian, stop thinking about your goddess. I think this one today is a catch. After all, she’s from the Li Family. If you could win her over, the future would be very promising," one of them teased.

As they bantered and made fun of him, Jing Ruian sipped his champagne and turned his head, glancing indifferently in the direction Li Qiao was coming from; he was instantly stunned.

How shocked was he?

He forgot to close his mouth, and the champagne flowed down his chin, spilling over his chest.

Seeing this, the other young men laughed with ill intentions. "Ruian, what do you think? Is she prettier than your goddess?"

The Five Giants’ families were never short of beauties.

The rich and powerful had passed down excellent genes over generations, endowing the younger members with attractive features and figures.

But Li Qiao was different. Without the adornment of glamorous clothes, dressed simply in black casual wear, she stood out among the brightly dressed daughters of wealth.

At this moment, Jing Ruian’s reaction left his friends sighing in awe.

Once the Li Family’s heiress made her appearance, it indeed caused a sensation, even making the iron tree of the second young master of the Jing Family bloom.

Then, Jing Ruian completely forgot to react, staring blankly at Li Qiao until his shirt front was soaked with champagne. Only then did he gather his senses.

The next second, he dreamily set his champagne glass on the table and hurried towards Li Qiao.

It was her!

After more than three years, he had finally found her.

Meanwhile, Tang Yiting was pulling Li Qiao along at the buffet to choose food when she caught a glimpse of a blue figure drawing near from the corner of her eye.

She turned around suspiciously and, seeing Jing Ruian, smiled, "Little Anzi, come here, let me introduce you to..."

Tang Yiting didn’t finish her sentence when she saw Jing Ruian walk up to Li Qiao, with his chest stained with embarrassing champagne spills, breathing hurriedly and nervously, he started, "You, hello."

Li Qiao, holding her plate, glanced at him nonchalantly and nodded without expression, "Hello."

After speaking, she withdrew her gaze, but Jing Ruian stood with his hands stiff at his sides, his Adam’s apple moving restlessly, "I, you... may I..."

"Little Anzi, what are you doing?" Tang Yiting, seeing Jing Ruian acting like a flustered boy, rolled her eyes at him and stepped forward to block Li Qiao.

Tang Yiting had never seen him lose his composure like this.

Due to Jing Ruian’s impulsive behavior, many around them also started whispering and watching the excitement.

They weren’t interested in Jing Ruian making a fool of himself but wanted to see Li Qiao’s reaction.

Before the meeting, there were rumors about The Five Great Families intending to arrange marriages, but no one knew that the Li Family’s heiress would attend.

Li Qiao’s presence made almost everyone understand that the arranged meeting was probably because of her.

Now, with Li Qiao shielded behind Tang Yiting, Jing Ruian could only see her cheeks, brimming with indifference, from over her shoulder.

It was exactly like in my memory.

Still so lofty, cold, and nonchalant, yet intimidating and unapproachable.

Jing Ruian broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead—he could never forget that year on the border when she had rescued him from the bandit insurgents.

There were seven of them, both men and women, strutting about arrogantly, the most carefree group on that barren borderland.

Regrettably, he didn’t know her name, only that the people from Poor People’s Kiln worshipped her madly.

The team of seven followed her lead.

It seemed she was the master there, haughtily carefree and defiant in the face of the world.

He had traveled back and forth between the borderlands and the South Sea countless times, but never again did he find that free and unrestrained figure.

Therefore, Jing Ruian never dreamt that someone who had once been active on the borderlands would appear at a family gathering of the Five Giants.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the open-air dining area, the Patriarchs of the Five Giants strolled in.

Five middle-aged men, each accompanied by the matriarch of their family.

Li Guangming and Duan Shuyuan walked in the centermost position, flanked by Tang Nanli of the Tang family and the Patriarch of the Jing family on either side, and further out were the Quan Family and the Ji Family.

From the seating arrangement, the Li Family clearly took the coveted central spot of the foremost magnate.

After the appearance of the Five Giants, nearly a dozen younger members all came forward, bowing and greeting with uniformity.

Under the pleasant breeze and bright sunshine, Li Qiao stood lazily at the back of the crowd, seemingly without much presence.

Jing Ruian wanted to talk to her, but due to the presence of the elders, he had to hold back for the time being.

After Li Guangming exchanged a few pleasantries, the younger ones stepped aside, allowing the Five Giants and their wives to take their seats, officially starting the meal.

The long dining table was nearly full.

Li Guangming lifted his wine glass, his gaze sweeping gently over everyone present, and said warmly, "Another year has come for our gathering, please don’t be restrained.

Most of you kids have grown up before our eyes, and we’re all one big family, inside and out.

Also, today we’ve brought our cherished daughter Li Qiao from the Li Family; everyone’s met and recognized her, right?"

The crowd nodded their heads in unison, their eyes naturally converging on Li Qiao, who remained composed.

At that moment, Li Guangming unexpectedly noticed that his second son, Li Yan, was not present. He gestured for everyone to raise their glasses and turned to ask Duan Shuyuan, "Where’s the second one?"

Duan Shuyuan looked forward gracefully, yet her voice was full of scorn, "He’s cozying up to the manor’s steward, eyeing the painting in the second-floor corridor."

Li Guangming: "..." That damn middleman.

Every year Li Yan attended the gathering, he would manage to take home several paintings.

Because of him, the wall paintings in the manor had to be replaced every other year as the old ones were all taken by him to sell.

After the meal started, the atmosphere at the table was very harmonious.

The dining etiquette of the members of each family was impeccable, following the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping.

Soon, when the meal was halfway through, Tang Nanli from across Li Guangming put down his knife and fork and wiped the corner of his mouth, "This year, that person won’t be coming again, will he?"

The seats of the Five Giants were closely adjacent. Hearing Tang Nanli’s inquiry, Jing Hengsheng, Patriarch of the Jing family, chuckled, "How many years has it been? Invitations are sent every year, but when has that person ever come? After all, it’s a matter of looking down on the status of us Five Giants in the South Sea."

This talk was somewhat displeasing to the ear.

Li Guangming furrowed his brows and was just about to speak when the manor’s steward came running from the front courtyard, his face filled with panic, "Patriarchs, please stop dining, why didn’t you say that the Yan Emperor would also attend today?"

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