The Favored Heiress
Chapter 324: Haven’t You Seen a Big Scene Before?

Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Haven’t You Seen a Big Scene Before?

After noon, Li Qiao and Luoyu took a walk near the scenic area, with its miniature landscapes all symbolizing iconic buildings from various countries.

Shang Yu had been taking calls in the seascape living room, looking quite busy.

"Where’s Shen Qingye?" Li Qiao approached a scaled-down version of an opera house and asked in a calm voice.

Luoyu stepped forward, "Bai Luhui said he went for a nap."

Upon hearing this, Li Qiao nodded in understanding, took a few more steps forward, and Luoyu, with a distracted look, said softly, "Miss Li, why did you ask Young Director Shen to come to Parma?"

Facing Luoyu’s confusion, Li Qiao looked back, "It’s convenient for action."

"Young Director Shen is skilled?" Luoyu, being straightforward, blurted out upon hearing Li Qiao’s response.

Li Qiao raised an eyebrow at Luoyu’s puzzled expression and shook her head slightly, "Being skilled is only one aspect; I need to use his intelligence network more."

As she spoke, her eyes flickered, and she lazily kicked the ground, "Do you think I’m being superfluous?"

"Not at all," said Luoyu hastily nodding, but couldn’t help stealing glances at Li Qiao’s expression.

Seeing this, she smiled, continued to step forward, and teased, "Why not? Clearly, that’s what you think."

Luoyu: "..."

Li Qiao walked with a lazy pace, descending the stone steps, and patiently explained, "Having Shen Qingye here serves two purposes: one is to help me investigate some matters; the second is to gather all intelligence on any unusual activities.

Your own intelligence network is certainly timely, but Shen Qingye’s information is even more detailed.

The collateral branches of Shang’s are all itching to move; I have to prepare for... any possible hindrances."

The last three words, seemingly in jest, were actually a true reflection of Li Qiao’s inner thoughts.

Unfamiliar with Parma, even if Shang Yu could control everything, she couldn’t allow herself to feel at ease doing nothing under his protection.

She wasn’t afraid of taking action.

But this kind of familial strife relied on having the upper hand in intelligence.

Those with the most information would gain the advantage.

For instance, she now had a profound understanding of the entangled relationships within the Shang Family Clan.

Out of eleven collateral branches, aside from the seventh being supportive of Shang Yu’s succession as head of the family, the other ten branches all held opposing views.

Including the most authoritative Clan Elders’ Hall.

Their reason: Violent and arrogant, with cruel methods. As an Ancient Medical Family, such a person lacking humanity should not be the successor.

The situation could be described as being caught in a pincer movement, beset on all sides.

And if she asked Shang Yu, he would likely gloss over it, certainly not providing information as complete and detailed as Shen Qingye’s.

An overbearing and proud man, expecting him to lay bare the perils he was in, was almost impossible.

Because he had never considered those people important.

By this time, after Li Qiao had quietly explained, Luoyu’s changing expressions finally settled back to calm.

Looking at Li Qiao’s unperturbed face, Luoyu deliberated for a long while and then lowered her voice, "Miss Li, no matter what, you should still be more cautious. After we return, the collateral branches have been quite active lately, and I’m afraid they might make a move against you."

At the sound of that, Li Qiao nonchalantly lifted her eyebrows, "When soldiers come, a general arises, when water rises, a dam is formed."

She wasn’t afraid of their actions; what she feared was their inactivity. After all, only by luring the enemy out could she countermove accordingly.

And Luoyu didn’t expect that her words of caution would soon become prescient.

As the two walked on, Li Qiao suddenly remembered something, "Why haven’t I seen Zhui Feng lately?"

He had previously been assigned to stay in Parma, yet this time, he had yet to make an appearance.

Luoyu sighed lightly, "He’s in the hospital, had a car accident recently and fractured his lower leg."

...

An hour later, Shen Qingye’s nap ended, and he walked out of the seaside room feeling refreshed.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, stretched lazily, and a glint in his eyes spotted two people holding hands and strolling near the coastline.

The island’s sunlight was intense, a gentle breeze rippled the sea surface, the glittering waves dazzling to the point of blinding.

Shen Qingye leaned against the window of the seascape, his gaze lingering on the two figures on the beach, and a wave of emotion stirred in his eyes.

Just then, Bai Luhui approached with a cup of tea in hand and said in a low voice as he handed it to Shen Qingye, "Young Director Shen, the master was looking for you just now."

Shen Qingye frowned, "What’s the matter?"

His father, the busy man, usually wouldn’t contact him once in ten days or half a month.

Bai Luhui looked at Shen Qingye and nodded, "He asked why you rejected the intelligence trade worth fifty million yesterday."

Shen Qingye: "..."

Did the old man find out so quickly? That was a post sent by Li Qiao.

He thought for a moment and spread his hands to Bai Luhui, "Give me the phone."

Shen Qingye bent down to set down the teacup, took the phone, and dialed his father’s number, "Dad, did you see the trade post?"

On the other end of the phone, it was unknown what the other party said, but Shen Qingye laughed slyly, bending his leg and shaking it, "A character from over twenty years ago, how could I possibly know her. By the sound of it, you know the ’Female Stock God’? Why don’t you tell me about her? I might be able to chase down that trade later."

...

Meanwhile, Li Qiao and Shang Yu were holding hands, walking on the beach.

The resort being closed off temporarily was a great benefit, as it meant they could move around freely without worries of any unexpected incidents.

The whole island had been cleared, providing both peace and comfort.

Li Qiao stepped on the soft sand, her gaze lazily taking in the scenery.

"The Shang Family Clan Assembly is in five days. Want to go check it out?"

Shang Yu, wearing leather shoes, walked by her side, leaving two sets of footprints of varying depths in the sand behind them.

Li Qiao, hooking his fingers, glanced out across the ocean’s surface, her eyes filled with the reflected starlight from the sea, a mischievous light dancing within, "If I say I don’t want to, would you not take me?"

"It’s up to you," Shang Yu said as he paused slightly, caressing Li Qiao’s fingers, "The Clan Assembly is the Shang’s annual family meeting. Both the main family and collateral branches will be there—it’s crowded and complicated. If you’re worried about the hassle, we don’t have to go."

The man’s attitude was clear; he didn’t insist and left it all up to her own will.

Li Qiao slowed her pace accordingly, tilting her head to look at Shang Yu. After a moment of contemplation, she smiled, "It would be a great chance to see something grand, so why not?"

If Lu Xirui from the city heard this, he would probably drop his jaw in amazement.

You haven’t seen a grand scene?

There are several hundred people at the Myanmar Cabinet banquets; are those scenes not grand enough?

Hearing her words, a ripple surfaced in the calm and profound depths of Shang Yu’s eyes.

He bent his index finger, gently brushing Li Qiao’s cheek with a rare tenderness shining on his sun-soaked face, "Are you sure?"

Attending the Clan Assembly would mean that Li Qiao’s identity within the Shang Family Clan could no longer be kept secret.

The trouble she may face in the future would likely not be minor.

Li Qiao glanced at the finger causing mischief on her cheek and grasped it in the palm of her hand.

She looked at Shang Yu teasingly, with a playful arch of her brow, "There’s no need to think about things like this."