The Favored Heiress
Chapter 355: Li Qiao is the Biological Daughter-in-law

Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Li Qiao is the Biological Daughter-in-law

Shang Yu looked at Shang Zonghai with a seriousness, his right leg bent and resting on his left knee, "Speaking of status, what was the deal with the marriage contract between her and Shang Lu?"

Shang Zonghai, standing with his hands behind his back, rolled the black Buddha Beads on his wrist and glanced at Shang Yu, "Why do you ask?"

"Don’t tell me the marriage contract was signed with Li Guangming." Shang Yu said, half smiling yet bluntly straightforward.

Anyone could see from the scene of the engagement being called off that Li Guangming’s attitude towards Shang Zonghai was excessively humble and restrained.

That wasn’t the demeanor expected of potential in-laws.

At this, Shang Zonghai fell silent for a while before turning to look at the stream beneath the arch bridge, "The marriage contract was naturally signed with her father."

Shang Yu looked down and curved the corners of his lips, taking out a cigarette case from his pocket and fiddling with it in his hand, "No matter who you signed with, the name on that marriage contract should be changed to mine now."

"Have you thought this through?" Shang Zonghai asked him surprisingly, his eyes filled with a gloomy light.

Shang Yu took out a cigarette from the case, flipping it between his fingers, his voice deep and steady, "No need to think, she can only be mine."

With such a resolute tone, Shang Zonghai was stunned for a moment, then nodded his head in relief and smiled.

"Good, you have the courage. That’s all that matters," he said as he stepped onto the arch bridge, "Come with me to the study, and we’ll make plans to formally propose to the Li Family again."

...

It was lunchtime when Li Qiao and Shang Yu arrived late.

At that moment, in the quiet and quaint dining hall, Shang Lu sat alone at the table, with two heavy dark circles under his eyes, suggesting he had not slept well.

Hearing the noise, he turned his head toward the sound and suddenly saw his older brother walking in with Li Qiao, feeling as if he was going to split apart.

Shit...

Was his former fiancée really becoming his sister-in-law?

The night before, Shang Lu had asked Wei Ang for quite a bit of information.

It wasn’t for anything else; he just wanted to know when his brother had started their secret dealings with Li Qiao.

Shang Yu’s dark gaze fell upon Shang Lu, noting him staring unblinkingly at Li Qiao, his thick eyebrows subtly knitted together without a word, "Won’t you greet her?"

Shang Lu let out an ’ah’ and obediently called out, "Big brother."

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, hinting at danger, and he pursed his lips in silence, sending shivers down Shang Lu’s spine.

He was most afraid when his brother looked at him with those eyes.

Shang Lu felt like crying, glancing at Li Qiao across from him, he straightened his chest and stuttered with difficulty, "B-big sister-in-law."

Fuck.

The woman he had jilted was now his sister-in-law.

He even remembered the scene at the Royal Hotel when he had been insolent towards Li Qiao.

Shang Lu shrank his neck a bit, awkwardly sipping water from his teacup, feeling flustered.

Wei Ang told him quite a lot about Li Qiao’s deeds in Parma.

While drinking his tea, Shang Lu worried whether this woman would take the opportunity to retaliate for his pettiness.

Before long, Shang Zonghai entered the dining hall.

After he sat down and wiped his hands, he glanced at the others and then looked directly at Shang Lu, "Shaoheng, this is Li Qiao. You still recognize her, right?"

Shang Lu choked, nodding eagerly, "Yes, I recognize her."

"I won’t say any more than necessary, but you should apologize to the girl first," he said.

Shang Lu opened his eyes wide in disbelief, dramatically clearing his ears, "What, dad, what did you say? I didn’t hear you clearly!"

"What’s the matter? You don’t feel like apologizing? Don’t think I don’t know about the nonsense you spouted in the South Sea.

It’s magnanimous of the girl and her parents not to pursue the matter, but as a man, are there some things you can simply blabber about?"

Shang Zonghai sternly scolded, and Shang Lu was stunned.

The Li Family didn’t pursue the matter?

Back then, he was nearly killed by a group of maids at the Li Family residence. Moreover, one night Third Young Master of the Li Family had people barge into his underground garage and smash his two new Sirbey cars. Was that not pursuing the matter?

Shang Lu was holding in a breath of anger, unable to release it or swallow it.

Were it not for the constant troubles caused by the three brothers of the Li Family, would he have had to hide away in Parma?

At this moment, Li Qiao glanced at Shang Lu, who wore an unwilling face, and politely declined Shang Zonghai’s kindness, "Uncle, there’s no need for him to apologize, it’s all in the past."

Shang Yu also timely caressed his teacup, looking at Shang Lu with eyes as deep as the sea, "Indeed, there’s no need, his sister-in-law isn’t that petty."

Shang Lu: "..."

Right, it became clear. He was the adopted brother, and Li Qiao was the real daughter-in-law.

Not only was she protected by his big brother, the old man of the house also blindly sided with her, without regard for right or wrong.

Throughout the meal, Shang Lu ate without lifting his head or opening his eyes. He couldn’t stay in this house any longer. After the meal, he would run away from home.

...

In the afternoon, Li Qiao and Shang Yu and their party set off to return to Paibo Manor.

Before parting, Shang Zonghai stood at the entrance of the old house. He looked at the brocade box in Li Qiao’s hand and hesitated for a few seconds, but still gently placed his hand on her shoulder, "Girl, come back to visit when you have the time."

Li Qiao read a sense of reluctance in Shang Zonghai’s eyes. She smiled lightly, nodding in agreement, "I will, uncle."

"Good, go now, and when you arrive at South Sea, send my regards to your parents. I’ll visit you when I am less busy after a while."

After a little while, Li Qiao and Shang Yu got into the car.

As Shang Zonghai watched the car drive away, he let out a deep sigh, "Old Xiao, secretly arrange to add Li Qiao’s name to the main genealogy of the Shang’s. Be careful, and remember to avoid the eyes and ears of the Elders’ Hall."

Housekeeper Xiao was surprised. He looked in the direction down the street, then glanced at Shang Zonghai, "Sir, is Miss Li... worth it?"

The Shang’s heir choosing a wife had to pass the joint test of the clan and the Elders’ Hall.

Now that sir is secretly adding Miss Li’s name to the family register, he is knowingly breaking the rules.

"Just go and do it."

Seeing Shang Zonghai’s insistence, Housekeeper Xiao didn’t say more. After agreeing to his request, he began to make arrangements.

Hopefully, Miss Li will not disappoint sir’s expectations.

...

Forty minutes later, at Paibo Manor.

In the back seat, Li Qiao leaned on Shang Yu’s shoulder and fell asleep.

Her brow and eyes revealed weariness, and despite dozing, her frown would still occasionally tighten with the jolting of the car, as if in discomfort.

Shang Yu gently caressed her forehead with his chin. He had indeed overindulged the previous night and forgot to consider her feelings.

The car came to a stop, and the man gently carried her inside.

Several figures were chatting in the living room, and upon hearing footsteps, they turned to look toward the entrance.

Huo Mang was the first to stand up, his thin lips moved, but before he could speak, he was silenced by a look from Shang Yu.

The He family siblings and Lu Xirui watched intently as he cradled Li Qiao and strode upstairs, momentarily forgetting to speak.

By the bedside in the master bedroom, Shang Yu set Li Qiao down, leaned on the bed with one hand, and teasingly bent down, "Awake?"

Li Qiao tugged at the corner of her mouth and opened her eyes, her eyes bloodshot and weary, "Yes, why are they here?"

She had already been sleeping fitfully, and had been half-awake ever since she was carried out of the car.

However, the moment she entered the living room, she felt the presence of many strangers, and at the same time, felt an unfriendly gaze falling on her.