The Favored Heiress
Chapter 323: Shang Zonghai’s Test

Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Shang Zonghai’s Test

Twenty minutes later, Li Qiao and Shang Yu were sitting in the VIP lounge at the center of the vacation resort.

Liuyun, Wang Yue, and Luoyu stood shoulder to shoulder not far away.

The resort’s exclusive butler respectfully brought them tea snacks and juice, and after placing the items on the tray, he bowed to Shang Yu, "Master Yan, the surroundings of the scenic area have been arranged according to your instructions. If there is anything else you need, please feel free to command me."

Shang Yu lowered his gaze and waved his hand, "Mhm, you may leave."

The exclusive butler complied and left, his demeanor full of reverence.

Li Qiao leaned back against the sofa’s cushion, lifted the glass of juice on the table to take a sip, and her gaze unintentionally turned to the opposite side.

She put down the juice glass, pinched the mint leaf on the rim of the glass, and twirled it, "Did Master Yan bring people from the Secret Hall to Parma this time?"

At the sound, the man—his arms resting on the armrest, fingers crossed in front of him—lazily crossed his legs, his eyes warm, "When did you notice?"

Li Qiao suppressed a smile at the corner of her mouth, looking at the mint leaf in her hand, she smiled faintly, "Yesterday. I didn’t notice at first, but those bodyguards who appeared on the Earl Hotel’s viewing terrace looked somewhat familiar, then I recalled, I had seen them before on South Sea Mountain."

Those men, despite being dressed in formal black suits, exuded an imposing aura, much like the men in black who had been there on the night of the incident on South Sea Mountain.

Shang Yu’s crossed fingers rested against his shirt in front of him, his thin lips curved in a hidden smile, "Indeed, it was them."

Li Qiao raised her brows slightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Bringing people from the Secret Hall to Parma on such short notice seemed like he had made thorough preparations.

The car accident from yesterday was still fresh in memory, but what was odd was... at the moment of the accident, the Secret Hall seemed to have not made a move.

Before long, Shen Qingye and Bai Luhui approached from the direction of the helipad.

The expressions on their faces didn’t look much different, but Shen Qingye’s eyes were somewhat heavy, and his face carried the haze of deep thoughts.

Shen Qingye sat down in the lounge, while Bai Luhui walked over to Liuyun’s side, joining them in what appeared to be ’punishment standing’.

A cup of warm tea was pushed by Li Qiao across the table toward Shen Qingye, "Is there something wrong?"

Shen Qingye uttered an ’ah,’ looking puzzled, "Is there something wrong?"

"Oh, it’s nothing." Li Qiao replied indifferently, glancing at Shen Qingye’s complexion, she always felt he was a bit odd.

Perhaps realizing that his emotions had been showing, Shen Qingye steadied his mood by taking advantage of his tea-sipping.

In a moment, he had regained his carefree demeanor, set down his teacup, and looked around, "Such a large scenic area, don’t tell me you’ve booked the entire place."

He then looked towards Shang Yu, his expression also bearing a sense of disbelief.

Without outsiders, could it still be called a resort? What’s the difference between that and strolling through one’s own backyard garden.

Shang Yu lazily leaned his head back, his eyelids half-lowered as he glanced at Shen Qingye, "Is there a problem?"

Shen Qingye’s voice hitched, as he licked his back teeth, "A problem? Maybe... shall we talk over there?"

Intending to communicate privately with Shang Yu, he gestured towards the smoking area not far away under the pretext of needing to smoke.

Shang Yu’s sharp gaze remained fixed on Shen Qingye, his thin lips slightly pursed as he stood up smoothly.

Li Qiao sat in her chair, watching their secretive exchange with a smile, choosing not to say a word.

Ever since her arrival in Parma, it seemed that many things had become more enigmatic.

Intuitively, something must have happened on the way here to leave Shen Qingye in such a distracted state of mind.

Even though he hid it well, it didn’t escape Li Qiao’s keen observation.

This was getting interesting.

In the smoking area, Shen Qingye took out a cigarette and offered one to Shang Yu. As the cigarette was lit, a thin haze surrounded them.

Shen Qingye turned his head to exhale the smoke, his tone serious as he asked, "Do you know what clues the Sixth Bureau has found about yesterday’s car accident?"

At this moment, Shang Yu held the cigarette in one hand, while his other hand casually slipped into his trouser pocket.

He turned to look in the direction of the coastline, his voice low and slow, "The main family is responsible."

Shen Qingye’s expression was one of utter shock, his fingers trembled, and his cigarette dropped, "You know?"

Shang Yu slowly took a puff of his cigarette, narrowed his dark eyes, and turned his head to meet Shen Qingye’s gaze, "Mm, when did the Sixth Bureau find out?"

Shen Qingye collected himself, picked up the cigarette butt from the ground, and directly tossed it into the ash column.

He lit another cigarette and coughed lightly, "Not long ago. So, you know everything and still choose to sit back and do nothing?"

On the helicopter, Shen Qingye and Bai Luhui came to a clear understanding about one thing.

The car accident yesterday was orchestrated by the Shang’s main family.

But as to exactly who it was, he had his suspicions.

There were not many people in this line of the main family, just two sons, and Shang Zonghai.

If not Shang Yu, not Shang Zonghai, then... that only leaves Shang Lu.

And the information from the Sixth Bureau showed that Li Qiao and Shang Lu had once been engaged.

But now Li Qiao was with Shang Yu, maybe Shang Lu held a grudge in his heart, which led to such a vengeful act.

Shen Qingye had reason to suspect that Shang Shaoyan might want to protect Shang Lu.

At this moment, Shang Yu’s gaze was deeply fixed on Shen Qingye, and after a few seconds, he tapped off the ash from his cigarette, his handsome facial outline illuminated clearly by the sunlight of the island.

He said, "Because the person who made the move is not the one you’re thinking of."

Shen Qingye didn’t catch on at once, "If not your brother, who else could it..."

Before he could finish, his gaze froze, and he fell silent.

Damn it.

Could it be Shang Zonghai?!

Shen Qingye, coming from the Sixth Bureau, had seen all sorts of strange and peculiar incidents.

But he had never seen something as bizarre as the head of the main family, Shang Zonghai, orchestrating a street accident.

Shen Qingye frowned tightly, glancing at Li Qiao still sitting in the resting area out of the corner of his eye, "He did this because..." he didn’t like Li Qiao?

"A test."

Before Shen Qingye could finish speaking, Shang Yu pinched the cigarette between his fingers and tossed out two words.

Shen Qingye pursed his lips, holding the cigarette tightly, "A test? Such a big gesture just for a test, isn’t he afraid you guys might really get hurt?"

Shang Yu met Shen Qingye’s gaze calmly, speaking with serene and assured gravity, "Not really, the scene at the time was filled with his trusted followers. Moreover, I wouldn’t let anything happen to her."

A simple sentence, even the tone unwavering.

And yet, it carried the weight of an unbreakable promise that left no room for dispute.

Shen Qingye’s breath hitched; he wanted to argue but could find no flaws.

Indeed, with Li Qiao by his side, for now, it seemed the most dangerous place was also the safest.

Just how extensive Shang Shaoyan’s background and power were, even the most elite intelligence group of the Sixth Bureau had yet to find out.

He always felt that Shang Shaoyan was the very definition of a ’cunning rabbit with three burrows.’

Great power, great authority, yet elusive and impenetrable.

This man’s strategical prowess was indeed among the best of his peers.

It was only unexpected that before the collateral branch made a move, Shang Zonghai from the main family had already started probing.

He thought that Shang Shaoyan was also kept in the dark, but it turned out he knew everything like the back of his hand.