The Favored Heiress
Chapter 340: They’re Up to No Good

Chapter 340: Chapter 340: They’re Up to No Good

This sentence happened to be overheard by Li Qiao as she walked downstairs.

Standing near the staircase, she looked at the three people close to the sofa, pondered for a moment, and then sauntered over.

"When are you going back to the Sixth Bureau?"

Shen Qingye puffed out his chest from the sofa, "Tomorrow morning, I guess. It’s not often I get to see Brother Lih, we’ll have to have a good drink tonight. I’ve made arrangements over there, the materials are still in place, don’t worry, there’s time."

Upon hearing this, Yun Lih narrowed his eyes and tapped the coffee table in front of him, "Fifty percent off, and I’ll drink with you!"

Shen Qingye inhaled sharply, staring incredulously at Yun Lih, "Fifty percent off?"

Why don’t you just rob me?!

Yun Lih, looking indifferent with one leg crossed over the other, nodded seriously, "Yes, otherwise forget about having drinks with me."

Meanwhile, Li Qiao, calculating the time, figured that Tang Yiting should be nearly finished with her bath, so she turned and walked back toward the kitchen, "You guys talk."

Yun Lih, leaning against the armrest, watched Li Qiao, dropped his eyelids slightly, and his lips pursed together.

Could this little guy possibly know about the association leader’s situation?

...

The next morning, Li Qiao slowly woke up before seven o’clock.

The light in the room was dim, carrying a sense of quiet serenity.

Tang Yiting was still deep in sleep, clutching the quilt tightly in her arms, a behavior indicating a severe lack of security.

Li Qiao dressed herself, washed up, and tiptoed out of the bedroom.

She hadn’t slept well, with bloodshot eyes, including slightly reddened eyelids.

Over the years, she had grown accustomed to sleeping alone, and having someone suddenly beside her was very uncomfortable.

At this moment, the groggy Li Qiao might have forgotten that the night she had brought Li San back from the border, in the laboratory dormitory, Shang Yu had shared a bed with her, and she had actually slept soundly.

Li Qiao lazily drifted downstairs, stood in front of the living room window looking at the faint dawn over the manor, and soon curled up into a single-seat sofa, her eyelids drooping as she began to doze off.

The living room was very quiet, a few strands of sunlight pouring in from outside the window, falling on her shoulders, giving a warm and sleepy feeling.

Amidst drowsiness, it seemed someone was touching her cheek.

Li Qiao lifted a corner of her eye, and the first thing she saw was a black double-buckle belt.

Looking up, a row of shiny mother-of-pearl buttons and a sharp Adam’s apple came into view.

Murmuring as if in a dream, Li Qiao’s body softened, and she buried her head into Shang Yu’s chest.

She rubbed against him, temples throbbing, not wanting to speak, her whole being listless.

Shang Yu, bending slightly at the waist, embraced her shoulders and asked with a deep voice, "Haven’t woken up yet?"

Li Qiao mumbled a drowsy response, "Mhm, a bit unaccustomed..."

Shang Yu looked down at her sleepy appearance, his heart softening, his arm wrapping around her and lifting her forcefully off the sofa, "Sleep some more, I’ll stay with you."

Li Qiao, being horizontally carried by the man, didn’t struggle; instead she leaned her head against his shoulder and blinked her sore eyes, "Don’t we have to attend the Clan Assembly today?"

"There’s no rush," Shang Yu murmured against her forehead as he took steady steps up the stairs, heading straight for his own bedroom.

...

At 9:30 in the morning, Yun Lih and Shen Qingye, among others, arrived one after another in the living room.

Tang Yiting sat alone on the sofa, and upon seeing their figures, she awkwardly waved her hand in greeting.

The two men nodded towards her and took their seats. Yun Lih then muttered, "Shang Shaoyan hasn’t come down yet?"

Shen Qingye glanced out the window and kept quiet.

It wasn’t just Shang Shaoyan who hadn’t come down; Xiao Qi Zai wasn’t there either.

He suspected they were up to no good in broad daylight.

Shen Qingye felt a bit depressed, with a heavy feeling in his chest that he couldn’t breathe through.

Some things shouldn’t be thought about, thinking about them only makes it harder.

Tang Yiting sneaked glances at Yun Lih and Shen Qingye, not daring to ask more, and sat in the corner, pretending to be obedient.

Soon after, the sound of footsteps descending the stairs could be heard.

Yun Lih and Shen Qingye simultaneously lifted their brows to look, and indeed they saw Li Qiao and Shang Yu hand in hand as they came downstairs.

Moreover, both of them had looks of clear, refreshed vitality on their faces.

Yun Lih solemnly regarded Li Qiao, pursed his lips, and said nothing.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingye stood up, his hand in his pocket, "If you hadn’t come down soon, I would have left without saying goodbye."

The helicopter had been waiting for twenty minutes; his father had ordered him to return to the Sixth Bureau today, and he could not delay any longer.

Li Qiao stood in the center of the living room, locking eyes with Shen Qingye, "Leaving so soon?"

"Yes, if it’s any later, they won’t be able to hold off anymore."

He was determined to help Xiao Qi Zai investigate the Female Stock God’s matter, parental objections be damned.

A few minutes later, the group escorted Shen Qingye onto the helicopter.

Seated in the cabin and watching the figures below shrink, he sighed in frustration.

He could only hope that the next reunion wouldn’t be too far off.

...

No sooner had Shen Qingye left than two cars drove into the estate.

Li Qiao and the others had just walked near the fountain when they turned towards the sound and saw the Lu brothers and Huo Mang stepping out of their vehicles.

At this time, Tang Yiting was closely following behind Li Qiao. Catching sight of a familiar, long-haired handsome man, she hesitated momentarily before running over with a pout, "Cousin!"

Lu Xiheng was leading the way, the breeze fluttering the ponytail of long hair tied at the back of his head.

Watching Tang Yiting’s approaching figure, he caught her in his arms, resignedly asking, "How did you get kidnapped? Are you alright?"

Lu Xiheng had a close relationship with the Tang family and got along best with the similarly aged Tang Yiting.

When he had received news that the pampered young heiress of his family had suddenly been kidnapped to Parma, he too was taken aback.

At that moment, Tang Yiting flung herself into Lu Xiheng’s arms, clinging to his shirt while she tearfully pouted.

She didn’t cry out loud, seemingly trying to suppress her emotions, "No, it’s okay, Qiaoqiao saved me."

Lu Xiheng was aware of Li Qiao, the ex-fiancée whom Shang Lu had broken off the engagement with.

And on the way here, he unexpectedly learned that Li Qiao now seemed to be with his elder brother.

Truly a wonder of the world.

Lu Xiheng patted Tang Yiting’s shoulder to comfort her, then approached Shang Yu and nodded slightly, "Big brother."

Huo Mang and Lu Xirui also came from behind. Shang Yu nodded to the group and then took Li Qiao’s hand to go toward the mansion’s porch, "Let’s talk inside."

Yun Lih, with his hands in his pockets, walked beside the two, disregarding the assessing looks from Huo Mang and the others, and leisurely followed them into the living room.

Everyone took their seats.

Huo Mang subtly glanced around, "Where’s Young Director Shen?"

"He’s gone," Shang Yu and Li Qiao sat side by side, playing with her fingers, and he gave a brief reply.

At this time, Lu Xiheng’s narrow eyes settled on Li Qiao.

He had long known that Shang Lu had a betrothed childhood friend and that she was his cousin’s best friend, but he had never met her.

How should he put it!

Seeing his elder brother tenderly holding and kneading her hand, the sight was still shockingly impactful.

Lu Xiheng composed himself and politely said to Li Qiao, "Miss Li, thank you for saving Tangtang."

"No need to thank me, it’s what I should do," Li Qiao replied, lifting her eyelids to look at Lu Xiheng. He indeed was a handsome man, especially with his long hair tied at the back, not effeminate but instead, having the air of an artist, exuding a sense of mystery.

Suddenly, Li Qiao felt her fingers pinched, and as her gaze shifted towards Shang Yu, she curled her lips inward and withdrew her gaze.