The Favored Heiress
Chapter 378: She loves to drink beer, didn’t you know?

Chapter 378: Chapter 378: She loves to drink beer, didn’t you know?

Li Qiao and Li Jun chatted for about ten minutes, confirming some details before she stood up and prepared to leave.

Big brother wasn’t exactly languishing in prison, but there was little practical difference.

Although it was called assisting with the investigation, it was essentially a form of custody.

Li Qiao pulled open the door, glanced back at the upright figure of Li Jun, and pondered, "If I said that I laid hands on Ye Yun, what would big brother do?"

Li Jun stood with his hands behind his back, and apart from a flicker of astonishment that passed through his eyes, there was no sentimental attachment that Li Qiao found distasteful, "Whatever you want to do is fine, big brother has no objections."

Li Qiao raised the corners of her lips in satisfaction, seeing that she hadn’t yet been blinded by love for women, she waved her hand and stepped out, "I’m off then."

Li Jun cautioned her with a few words from behind, as he couldn’t leave the room, so he could only watch his sister leave with concern during the brief moment the door was open.

However, it was during this brief instance of opening and closing the door that he unexpectedly saw the dark figure leaning against the window in the corridor.

Shang Shaoyan!

Li Jun was surprised, and even with years of high-rank composure, he couldn’t hide the shock at the bottom of his heart.

No wonder Qiaoqiao was able to find this place, it made sense if it was Shang Shaoyan who intervened...

But how did she persuade Shang Shaoyan?

Li Jun stood silently on the spot for a long time before turning back and walking to the window, continuing to gaze out at the ink-dark night, lost in thought.

Once young, his longing for love seemed an innate obsession.

The Ye Yun he remembered was gentle and petite, her tender demeanor most likely to arouse a man’s protective instinct.

Yet, after more than two years of dating, they still went their separate ways.

Someone once said that for a man, the deepest memories of love often come from their first love.

As a man, he was no exception.

Five or six years of emptiness, she had returned from abroad, only to deliver him a fatal blow.

Li Jun did not consider himself a soft-hearted man. Being in a high position, how could he not wield some means to maintain power?

Then... given any chance to get out, he indeed intended to settle the score with Ye Yun and those few adversaries in the political arena.

...

Before long, Li Qiao and Shang Yu headed back home.

The staff member courteously escorted them out, until he saw their car disappear into the disordered street, then sighed as he returned to the hostel office.

In the car, Li Qiao sat by the window, looking out at the broken demolition area, with shadows weighing heavily in her eyes.

Suddenly, her finger warmed, and she collected her thoughts to look, seeing that the man had already taken her hand into his broad, warm palm. His deep voice flowed slowly in the quiet carriage, "Worried about your big brother?"

Li Qiao sighed lightly and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and spoke softly, "Not particularly worried."

It was just a seemingly well-planned trap that was full of loopholes, after all.

Hearing Li Qiao’s answer, Shang Yu glanced at her, then lifted his arm over her head and circled her into his embrace.

As the distance between the two closed, the faint scent of alcohol also sprayed out from the girl’s breath, "How many drinks did you have tonight?"

Leaning against him languidly, Li Qiao flicked her fingers, "Two or three cans."

—"She loves beer the most, didn’t you know?"

The words Yun Lih had said unexpectedly echoed in his ear.

Shang Yu’s gaze deepened, and he pulled Li Qiao’s shoulders closer into his embrace, as if realizing that his knowledge of her preferences was indeed not specific enough.

After a moment of silence, his chin rested against the top of her hair as he spoke, with his chest vibrating with each word, "Didn’t have any food?"

"Hmm, forgot, I was busy all afternoon, then I went to the Entertainment City."

Li Qiao responded lightly, but the man lowered his head to glance at her, and although he didn’t say anything, his expression already showed displeasure.

He tightened his arm around her once more and instructed Liuyun, who was driving, "Head to Crystal Garden."

"Yes, boss."

Liuyun instantly turned the car around, forcefully merging into the left lane instead of taking the right turn they were supposed to.

At a little past nine in the evening, the group arrived at Crystal Garden.

Shang Yu ordered some easily digestible foods and specifically requested the waitstaff not to include any side dishes.

Li Qiao was indeed a bit hungry, having been busy all day, it was only now that she felt her stomach growling.

She sat at the table, sipping her tea in small gulps, occasionally glancing over the rim of her cup at the man smoking a cigarette across from her.

After a while, she lifted the corners of her mouth to break the silence, "Master Yan, did you exercise your connections outside the South Sea tonight?"

With her eldest brother taken away, and with neither secretaries nor mayors having the right to intervene, let alone her ability to directly visit her brother in that special area.

This was not something that could be done with ordinary privileges.

"What did you call me?" The man’s movement of lifting his cigarette to his lips paused as he lazily lifted his eyelids to look at her.

Li Qiao’s voice choked up a bit, as uncontrollable images flashed before her eyes.

During those two late nights, every time they were together, he would always whisper in her ear, over and over, making her call out his name.

It was both deliberate and stubborn, like an unresolvable fixation.

Li Qiao stroked her teacup, a smile in her eyes, but she didn’t change the way she addressed him, just looked at him lightly.

Their gazes met, and the man took a puff of his cigarette, "Hmm, want to get to know me?"

Li Qiao curled her lips, shaking her head, "No need, just asking."

In fact, even without his help, she could have seen her brother, but once she alarmed those powers... it would be more troublesome.

At that moment, Shang Yu listened to her casual tone, lowered his arm to tap off some ash, "What are you planning to do about your brother’s situation?"

"First, find evidence to get him out," she said as she covered her eyelids, her smile also fading considerably, "then help him secure the Secretary-General position."

Whether the opposition was targeting the Li Family, her, or Li Jun, didn’t matter.

If they wanted to bring her elder brother down, then she was determined to make sure he sat even firmer in his position.

Upon hearing this, Shang Yu lifted the corners of his thin lips into a shallow curve, a stream of pale smoke escaping his lips, accompanied by a low and serious instruction, "No matter what you do, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me."

Li Qiao looked at the man, her eyes trembling as if a string had been plucked, "Alright."

In the past, he would always ask her if she needed help.

Now, after moving a step further in their relationship, it seemed he had completely taken her under his wing.

Helping her meet Li San at the border, mourning Huizai with her, arranging for her to meet her elder brother, and so on.

This man never said much, but silently did everything for her.

Li Qiao lowered her head to sip her tea lightly, but the smile at the corner of her lips unconsciously grew wider.

After the meal, it was already past ten at night.

Once in the car, Li Qiao, exhausted, leaned against Shang Yu, rubbing her forehead and murmured, "Take me back to the dormitory."

The man turned his face to nuzzle her hair, "Hmm, take a nap if you’re tired, I’ll wake you up when we arrive."

Li Qiao nodded lazily, didn’t say anything else, and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Shang Yu lowered his gaze to the faint tiredness in her eyes, pursed lips tight, frowning without a word as he pulled her into his embrace.