The Favored Heiress -
Chapter 364: Waiting to Have Dinner with Girlfriend
Chapter 364: Chapter 364: Waiting to Have Dinner with Girlfriend
In the evening, the rain lightened.
Li Qiao gazed sleepily at the ceiling, feeling too lazy to move.
Outside the window, a misty rain blurred the world, wrapping the city in a fog that seemed to slow down time.
After lying for a few minutes, Li Qiao fished out her phone from under the pillow. There were two WeChat messages on the screen.
They were from Shang Yu and Tang Yiting.
Li Qiao’s gaze became distant as she looked at the man’s name.
Back in Parma, they had been inseparable every day. Her chat history with him still stopped on her graduation day.
Now, back in South Sea, it all felt somewhat unreal.
His message had been sent at three in the afternoon, asking what she was doing.
Li Qiao rubbed her temples, propped herself up against the headboard, and replied to Shang Yu without much hurry.
After responding, she opened Tang Yiting’s WeChat.
Tang Family’s Xiaoting didn’t bother with any small talk and had sent her an emoticon: [crack].
Li Qiao slowly typed out a question mark and clicked send.
Just as the message was sent, Shang Yu’s call came through.
Li Qiao smiled as she looked at the screen and answered, "Hello~"
She had just woken up, her voice still soft and hoarse.
On the other end, Shang Yu’s deep and magnetic voice asked, "Just woke up?"
Li Qiao cleared her throat and turned to look at the hazy rain outside the window, "Mhm, I was planning on lying down for a bit but ended up falling asleep."
"Are you hungry?" The man blew a breath outside the receiver, seemingly smoking.
Li Qiao shook her head, "Not hungry. What are you doing?"
Shang Yu was leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed and flicked some ashes out the window, his voice lazy, "Waiting for my girlfriend to wake up so we can have dinner together."
Li Qiao’s smile grew, a twinkle in her eyes, "Where shall we eat? I’ll come over now."
"Come downstairs."
After hanging up, Li Qiao changed into a T-shirt and casual pants and stepped out the door, phone in hand.
At the dormitory building entrance, Shang Yu stood beneath the steps, one hand casually tucked into his pants pocket, holding a black silk umbrella under the drizzle.
Li Qiao advanced slowly, her gaze fixed on the stark silhouette, an eyebrow raised inquisitively, "When did you get here?"
The man didn’t answer. He took a step up onto the stair, holding out his palm to her.
Li Qiao reached out her hand, and before she got an answer, her fingers were clasped tightly, and he pulled her close.
An umbrella sheltered two figures.
Shang Yu squeezed her fingers gently. Under the dim light of the umbrella, the man’s features were even more pronounced, "Just got here, what would you like to eat?"
Li Qiao looked up, her eyes flickering, "Hot pot?"
On a rainy day, nothing suited better than hot pot.
...
Half an hour later, at the Royal Hotel Hot Pot City.
In the private room, Qiu Huan leaned on the table edge, shaking his leg while watching Li Qiao adjust the hot pot dipping sauce with an indescribable look on his face.
He had never seen someone so picky.
Picking out even the scallions and garlic from the hot pot dipping sauce was just too much.
Unable to bear watching any longer, Qiu Huan shook his head and turned to Shang Yu, "You’re not leaving anytime soon now that you’re back, right?"
"Mhm, I’m staying," Shang Yu poured a cup of fruit tea, placed it naturally by Li Qiao’s side, then looked up at Qiu Huan, "Something up?"
Qiu Huan toyed with his soup spoon and glanced at Li Qiao before saying, "The South Sea Conference is in half a month."
Li Qiao sipped her tea, her expression remaining indifferent and unresponsive.
The South Sea Conference, she had heard about it once from Luoyu.
She had also looked up some information; the so-called South Sea Conference was a day when various forces gathered.
At the sound, Shang Yu looked at Qiu Huan with a profound expression, "What? Thinking of attending together?"
Qiu Huan tossed his spoon on the plate, his fingers interlocked behind his head, "The land in South City is not bad. The buildings in the old city district are outdated, and recently I have been thinking of doing good deeds by renovating the buildings to benefit the common people. What do you think?"
His words sounded especially grandiose.
Li Qiao sipped her tea, her gaze through the rim of the cup falling on Qiu Huan, clearly reading four words on his face: putting on airs.
South City, that was Tu Anliang’s territory.
Shang Yu’s thick eyebrows twitched, his eyes deep as the ocean, "Is the Qiu Family planning to enter real estate?"
Qiu Huan’s leg shaking halted abruptly, and he smiled, tapping the table with his knuckles, "Indeed, I’ve been entertaining the thought, so count me in for this year’s South Sea Conference.
I’ve heard that in recent years, Tu Anliang’s reputation in the old city has been terrible. Opening nightclubs in residential areas has resulted in many complaints from the locals.
Such scum is of no use being around; it might as well be me who gives it a shot. Maybe by that time, my reputation will improve and I might even run for a seat on the council to boost your face."
Shang Yu neither affirmed nor denied Qiu Huan’s statement.
It was quiet in the private room for a while before the man pressed his lips together and finally spoke, "Tu Anliang has been entrenched in South City for many years; to pull him down from his horse, you need to be well-prepared."
Qiu Huan chuckled nonchalantly, lifting his chin proudly, "Don’t worry, the Qiu Family has set its sights on South City for a long time."
Shortly after, the waiter brought fresh meat slices and vegetables. The fragrant spicy hot pot bubbled, and Qiu Huan spent most of the dinner enthusiastically discussing his plans.
Li Qiao had barely spoken all evening, but she was silently pondering in her mind whether Tu Anliang would become desperate if he really lost control of South City?
...
After dinner, it was not yet seven o’clock, and Qiu Huan proposed sitting in the bar for a while.
Considering his determination to take ownership of South City, he might want to continue discussing details with Shang Yu, and Li Qiao had no interest in eavesdropping.
Thus, she declined the invitation, planning to return to the lab.
Qiu Huan looked around the parking lot and then casually tossed his car keys to Luoyu, "Then you send the lady back, I’m going to Nineveh for a couple of drinks with Shaoyan."
Luoyu caught the keys and nodded in response.
Shang Yu stood still, ruffled Li Qiao’s hair, and gestured towards Qiu Huan’s flashy sports car, "Go back, call me if you need anything."
Li Qiao smiled at him, bid farewell to Qiu Huan, then turned and got into the car with Luoyu.
Qiu Huan watched his sports car merge into traffic, withdrew his gaze, and clicked his tongue, "Shaoyan, don’t you feel that the little miss has changed?"
Shang Yu lifted his eyelids, waiting for him to continue.
Qiu Huan pursed his lips thoughtfully, then said, "She has become more attractive, that pure yet enchanting kind."
After he spoke, receiving no response, he turned and saw Shang Yu’s inscrutable expression looking at him.
Qiu Huan inhaled sharply and pointed towards the business car, "Let’s go, to the bar."
Without thinking, it was clear that the change in Li Qiao’s condition was definitely related to Shaoyan.
Big shot, awesome, you move fast.
...
Before seven-thirty, Li Qiao returned to the lab.
Luoyu watched her enter the laboratory building before driving away.
Li Qiao headed straight to the third floor, where Lian Zhen and other researchers were discussing the details of the exchange meeting.
Hearing the door open behind them, everyone turned and greeted Li Qiao with a surprised and happy, "Xiao Li is back."
Li Qiao nodded in response to each of them, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then naturally joined the discussion.
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