The Favored Heiress
Chapter 373: My Fault, Won’t Happen Again

Chapter 373: Chapter 373: My Fault, Won’t Happen Again

Leaving the South Sea Mansion, Li Qiao listlessly caught up on some sleep in the car.

In contrast to her weary and enervated appearance, Shang Yu’s noble elegance became even more pronounced.

Upon arriving at the laboratory, Li Qiao instantly opened her eyes; bloodshot and showing signs of exhaustion, the young girl looked somewhat haggard.

Shang Yu’s heart ached, and he held her gently, coaxing softly, "If you’re too tired, why don’t you go back to the dorm and take a nap, hmm?"

Li Qiao’s chin rested on his shoulder as she glanced at Liuyun in the driver’s seat through the corner of her eye and asked in a small, indifferent voice close to the man’s ear, "Who do you think is the reason for my exhaustion?"

A deep chuckle flowed from Shang Yu’s thin lips as he stroked the hair at the back of Li Qiao’s head, his smile softening the sharp angles of his face, "My fault. It won’t happen again."

He always said that, but his credibility was gone.

...

Back in the laboratory, Li Qiao was tired, yet the work still proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Only after lunch in the cafeteria, when she couldn’t hold out any longer, did she return to the dorm for some more sleep.

She didn’t know how long she had slept when a buzzing sound came from under her pillow.

Reaching for her phone, she glanced at the caller ID and narrowed her eyes.

It was Tang Yiting’s call.

Li Qiao sat up, rubbed her temples, and answered lazily, "What’s up?"

The other end was noisy, sounding like it was inside a shopping center or similar.

Tang Yiting’s voice was urgent as she blurted out, "Qiaoqiao, have you seen the news?"

"What news?" Li Qiao seldom paid attention to news topics when she was in the laboratory.

Because she wasn’t interested.

Looking up at the LED screen in the shopping mall, Tang Yiting cleared her throat, "You’d better check it out. I was out shopping, and I saw your big brother on the news."

Big brother?!

He was the Executive Secretary-General of the South Sea; appearing on the news was quite normal for him.

With that thought, Tang Yiting’s voice came through again, "The news says that someone reported your big brother... he’s suspected of bribery and even got involved in a sex scandal, and now the Discipline Inspection Commission has taken him away for investigation."

Li Qiao’s languid gaze suddenly darkened, "Okay, I got it."

In the dorm, Li Qiao swung her legs off the bed and sat at the desk to turn on the computer.

She skimmed through the social news and quickly organized her thoughts.

Her big brother had been in politics for many years with a reputation for integrity; it was impossible for someone from the Li Family, with their resources, to accept bribes.

As for the sex scandal, that was even more laughable since her brother had always been a man of integrity and there was a cinnabar mole hidden in his heart for years.

After scanning the online news, Li Qiao washed her face and then walked straight out the door.

It was just past two o’clock in the afternoon when she arrived at the parking lot downstairs. She hadn’t gotten into her car yet when she heard a call from behind, "Miss Li."

It was Guan Mingchen.

Li Qiao pulled open the car door with one hand, turned to look at him with an ostensibly indifferent expression that nonetheless seemed somewhat chilly.

Guan Mingchen didn’t understand and strode forward, lowering his head, "Miss Li, I’ve thought it over."

Li Qiao gathered herself and raised an eyebrow, "Willing to accept the training?"

"Yes, willing," Guan Mingchen nodded earnestly, his eyes full of determination.

Li Qiao smiled knowingly, gestured with her lips towards the direction of the dorms, "Then go back for now. I’ll let you know after I’ve arranged everything."

After she spoke, she got into the car, and in a blink, the Mercedes G-Class disappeared in the direction of the parking lot exit.

Guan Mingchen scratched his head, wondering why Miss Li didn’t seem very happy. Should he act more obsequiously next time?

In the car, Li Qiao made a call to Li Shaoquan.

As soon as the call connected, she cut to the chase, "Help me check the recent personnel movements in the South Sea Secretariat."

"Ah?" Li Shaoquan was a bit stunned, "What’s happened? Are you entering politics now?"

Li Qiao pressed her Bluetooth earpiece, her tone a bit cold, "Must you talk so much?"

Li Shaoquan felt rebuked, he pursed his lips, his fingers began to frantically operate on the computer, "How long do you need? A month?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiao pondered briefly before responding, "Three months."

She absolutely believed her elder brother would not take bribes, let alone engage in any illicit affairs.

The only possibility was that it was a trap set by opponents in the political arena.

Such factional strife was not uncommon in politics.

Given that her elder brother had already been taken away to assist with the investigation, the South Sea Secretariat was likely in chaos.

...

That afternoon at three-thirty, at a private villa in Tangxi Garden in the Eastern Suburbs.

Li Qiao leaned against the sofa, one leg on the coffee table, flipping through the South Sea Secretariat staff directory in her hands.

Before long, a message popped up on her cellphone, Li Shaoquan had sent over the personnel changes for the past three months.

Li Qiao compared them, her gaze cold and deep.

The name Ye Yun made her stare for a long, long time.

This was her elder brother’s first love.

A month ago, she was transferred to the South Sea Secretariat to take up the position of assistant to the Secretary-General.

Hmm, how coincidental, the object of the alleged affair just happened to be her as well.

Li Qiao stroked her chin, recalling Ye Yun who had visited the Li Family years ago to meet the parents, but her impression of her had blurred, remembering only a petite and fragile woman.

The whistleblower’s letter clearly stated that it was through an illicit affair that Ye Yun successfully rose to the position of assistant to the Secretary-General.

Li Qiao snorted softly and dialed a number, "Where is Ye Yun?"

...

Meanwhile, in his office at headquarters, Shang Yu also received a call from Qiu Huan.

"Shaoyan, have you seen the news?"

Shang Yu had his legs crossed, a cigarette pinched between his fingers as he blew smoke rings, swiveling in his chair to look out the window, he replied in a low voice, "Yes."

Qiu Huan clicked his tongue, teasingly said, "Li Jun seems to have been clean all these years, and now he’s suddenly being denounced and has been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission for investigation. Hasn’t your little lady come to ask for your help?"

The man responded with cold indifference, suppressing a smirk, "Did you call just to spout nonsense?"

Qiu Huan laughed unconcernedly, "Judging by your tone, she definitely hasn’t sought you out." As he spoke, he too lit a cigarette and exhaled a cloud of smoke, adding, "In my opinion, you’d better stay out of this matter.

Li Jun’s denunciation is a clear sign someone wants to bring him down. Even if you have a good relationship with the Secretary, but if the Discipline Inspection Commission has already stepped in, the Secretary is powerless, and the allegations are probably true."

Shang Yu fell silent for a few seconds, "I’m aware."

"Hey, Shaoyan!" Qiu Huan shouted into the phone twice, but the person on the other end had already mercilessly hung up.

Qiu Huan, with a cigarette in hand, sighed and looked out at the overcast sky, his face showing conflict.

The South Sea Secretary-General’s denouncement, regardless of the outcome of the investigation, spelled the likely end of Li Jun’s career.

The Qiu Family had connections in the capital city, but this matter was no small affair, and he was still hesitant about whether to help the Li Family.

Although the Li Family were among the wealthiest, they lacked sufficient power. Even if they wanted to mediate for Li Jun, they were willing but lacked the capacity to do so.

...

As evening approached, Li Qiao returned to the Li Family’s home.

Before entering, she already sensed an atmosphere of gloom and doom.

In the living room, Mr. and Mrs. Li were present, and a few men in suits and leather shoes were sitting on the sofa beside them, wearing national emblems on their collars, each with a stern countenance.

Li Qiao recognized them, they were all colleagues of her elder brother from the Secretariat.