The Favored Heiress
Chapter 306: Surprises Every Time

Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Surprises Every Time

Four hours later, local time 11 p.m., the Yan Emperor’s special plane arrived at Parma International Airport.

Li Qiao was seated next to the cabin’s window, looking down at the dimly lit, hazy night below, the light in her eyes flickering.

The cabin door opened, and a line of people stepped out.

Parma, located in the marine territory of the Pacific Peninsula, surrounded by the sea on three sides, enjoys a year-round pleasant scenery, belonging to a standard temperate maritime climate.

The moment she stepped out of the cabin, the warm and humid air hit her face.

Not far away, three Ou Lu cars had been waiting for some time.

Standing directly below the airstairs was a man of about thirty.

The man was dressed in a sharp gray suit and looked up solemnly. Seeing Shang Yu and another person exit the cabin, he respectfully nodded his head and called out, "Eldest Young Master, Miss Li."

This person, named Wei Ang, was one of Shang Zonghai’s closest confidants and someone Li Qiao had previously met at the South Sea Mansion.

Once they were in the car, Wei Ang turned from the front passenger seat and asked, "Eldest Young Master, shall we go back to the old house first or..."

"To the separate residence," Shang Yu instructed in a deep voice. Wei Ang blinked, said nothing more, signaled the driver, and the three cars drove away from the apron.

Soon, the cars reached the airport exit where a VIP special customs checkpoint booth came into view.

The routine inspection personnel, seeing the little flags fluttering in the wind on either side of the car’s hood, hurried to the passenger side position, bending at the waist towards the car window. Without further inspection procedure, he waved his arm, indicating the gate to let them pass.

This was probably symbolic of the status of the Shang’s in Parma, completely exempt from all rules.

...

On the way back, Li Qiao idly enjoyed the night view of Parma.

Large swathes of streetside vegetation flashed by, and the high-rise buildings on both sides were adorned with dazzling neon lights.

The streets were spotless and seemed particularly serene and peaceful at night.

Around half-past midnight, the three cars entered a separate residence near Paibo Mountain.

A whole series of European palace-style buildings spread endlessly at the foot of the mountain, with the main style of the luxurious estate not visible at first glance.

At this time, Li Qiao looked through the car window at a similar building on the other side, where she could vaguely see the spire of a church.

Wei Ang, just happened to catch this glance and explained, "Miss Li, that’s the Tribal Chief’s Mansion."

Li Qiao’s gaze was slightly surprised, and she responded with an ’Oh’.

So, in Parma, Shang Yu and the tribal chief are neighbors?

Once inside the separate residence, at the brightly lit European-style castle fountain at the entrance, Wei Ang respectfully got out and opened the rear car door.

He looked up at Shang Yu and nodded, "Eldest Young Master, what time shall I come to pick you up tomorrow morning?"

The man, while walking, took Li Qiao’s hand and said in a deep voice, "Ten o’clock."

"Understood," Wei Ang bowed, full of reverence.

Even though he had been with the family head for many years, each time he encountered the Eldest Young Master, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Watching the two of them walk into the castle, he pondered and sighed.

Now that the Eldest Young Master has brought a woman back, it seems the skies of Parma are about to change completely.

Soon after, Wei Ang led the motorcade away, and the estate’s wrought iron gates closed tightly once more.

That night, the vicinity of the separate residence silently saw many more guards on high alert.

...

On the other side, nestled in a luxurious and grand living room, Li Qiao was curled up on a genuine leather sofa, her gaze roaming the surroundings.

The chandelier sparkled brilliantly, and the room was decorated in a dark red, antique European style, everywhere exuding opulence and grandeur.

Suddenly, she spotted a mural on the opposite wall and after staring at it for a moment, couldn’t help but click her tongue.

A genuine Renaissance painting, just hanging there as a decoration in the living room, would have the major auction houses and museums scrambling to get past this threshold if they knew about it.

"Like that painting?" At that moment, Shang Yu walked in from outside the living room with a cup of water, following Li Qiao’s gaze, he couldn’t help but raise his thick eyebrows and asked.

Li Qiao took the cup, had a sip, and said with a lazy, teasing voice, "Not that I like it, just feel you’re a bit wasteful."

Shang Yu sat down beside her, his deep eyes holding an indulgent, faint smile, "There are many more upstairs, feel free to choose if you like."

Li Qiao leaned against the back of the chair and stretched out her long legs, her gaze briefly sweeping over every part of the living room, shaking her head with a chuckle.

Thank goodness Li Er didn’t come, otherwise, he would surely sweep all the paintings in this place clean.

Not long after, Luoyu took Li Qiao to the bedroom on the third floor.

The room’s decor was nearly identical to the downstairs area. After a quick wash, Li Qiao turned off the lights and lay in bed, but she felt no sleepiness at all.

Just a few hours ago, she had traveled from the South Sea to Parma, still feeling somewhat unreal.

She couldn’t help but ponder, wondering if she would hear the truth about "The Autobiography of the Stock God" from Shang Zonghai tomorrow.

...

The next day, at half-past eight, Li Qiao took a bath and then went downstairs.

As she rounded the corner of the staircase, she looked up to see two men sitting in the living room. Other than Shang Yu, there was another unfamiliar face.

The stranger appeared to be in his early thirties, with very pronounced features suggesting a mixed heritage, his expression was stern and commanding without anger, and he wore a simple white shirt and black trousers, sitting across from Shang Yu with his legs crossed, smoking.

At that moment, he sat in a single sofa, sunlight filtering through classic palace-style latticed windows falling right on his shoulder, catching sight of Li Qiao’s figure and he called out in a deep voice, "Awake?"

Li Qiao descended the staircase unhurriedly, and the stranger immediately turned his head to take her in.

A flash of amazement swiftly crossed his eyes.

Against the dark wooden floor of the staircase, the girl was dressed in a simple white tee and jeans, the front hem casually tucked into her waistband, her figure tall, with straight and slender legs.

What made her especially striking was that face, Parma never lacked for beauties, but few were as bold and radiant as hers.

In an instant, Li Qiao sat down on the sofa opposite Shang Yu, and the stranger put down his crossed legs and leaned forward to extinguish his cigarette in the ashtray.

Shang Yu watched him extinguish his cigarette while sizing up Li Qiao with a slight smile, his thin lips pursed, his tone lazy, "Huo Mang."

Li Qiao glanced at the man, then nodded towards the opposite side, "Hello, I am Li Qiao."

This person, the Eldest Young Master of the Parma Huo Family, thirty-one-year-old Huo Mang.

At this moment, Huo Mang nodded towards Li Qiao, his voice a pure baritone, "Pleased to meet you, I’m Huo Mang."

Then, he sidelong glanced at Shang Yu and asked in an inscrutable tone, "Decided yet?"

The man lowered his gaze, leaning on the armrest of the sofa, his posture exuding wildness, "Of course."

"You never cease to surprise me," Huo Mang’s deep-set eyes looked at Shang Yu, his smile seeming to contain mockery as he lamented.

Li Qiao sat quietly on one side, looking down at her nails, when the sound of Huo Mang taking his leave reached her ears, "Since you have to return to the Tribal Chief’s Mansion shortly, I’ll take my leave now."

"Hmm," Shang Yu stood up to see him off. Huo Mang’s gaze swept over Li Qiao; after bidding her farewell, he turned to walk towards the entrance of the living room.

At the mansion’s doorway, Huo Mang slowed his steps, turned his head slightly toward the living room, and muttered in a lower voice, "How old is she?"

Shang Yu straightened his shirt cuffs and glanced at him from the corner of his eye, "Why do you ask?"