The Favored Heiress
Chapter 383: Ye Yun is Dead

Chapter 383: Chapter 383: Ye Yun is Dead

Xiao Yeyan withdrew his gaze, his strong eyebrows lifted slightly, "Tonight’s dinner was arranged by Commissioner Liu; everyone is at Yuefan private banquet waiting for you.

With such a significant incident having occurred, a reception to wash away the journey’s dust is necessary, and it won’t delay you for too long."

His voice was not as deep as Shang Yu’s, possessing a kind of clear and indifferent quality, and he always spoke in a calm and unhurried tone, graceful in its uniqueness.

With that, Xiao Yeyan glanced sideways behind Li Jun, his eyes harboring a thin layer of a smile, "Miss Li, it’s a pleasure to meet you."

Clearly, Xiao Yeyan was well aware of Li Qiao’s identity.

Li Qiao met his phoenix eyes over Li Jun’s shoulder and responded indifferently, "Vice Secretary-General Xiao, a pleasure indeed."

By addressing him as Vice Secretary-General, she highlighted his status as lower than Li Jun’s in front of him.

Xiao Yeyan’s eyes, still holding that thin smile, gradually deepened, yet his face remained composed and indifferent.

Hearing his words, Li Jun still somewhat reluctantly wanted to refuse.

Just at that moment, the cellphone in his pocket rang; taking a look, it was a colleague from the secretariat, namely Commissioner Liu, who had visited the Li Family after the incident.

The officialdom isn’t as casual as the business world.

One tug on a single thread affects the whole body.

On the phone, Commissioner Liu urged him to come quickly; after all, with the Secretary-General being vindicated, tonight’s dinner, though framed as a welcoming back, was more of an opportunity to show loyalty and a play for benefits.

After Li Jun’s incident, many were quick to disassociate themselves.

Now that he had been reinstated, those who wished to pick sides and seek favor would naturally regroup.

Unable to excuse himself, Li Jun had no choice but to agree to go.

After hanging up the phone, he turned to Li Qiao and said in a stern voice, "Qiaoqiao, you go home first."

"If Miss Li hasn’t had dinner either, why not join us?" Xiao Yeyan, with one hand in his pocket, looked at Li Qiao calmly and indifferently with his proposal.

Li Jun frowned displeasedly, just about to speak, when he heard Li Qiao softly nod in agreement, "Sure."

She really didn’t feel comfortable letting her big brother leave alone in Xiao Yeyan’s car.

Besides, having found a rare opportunity to get close to Xiao Yeyan, she was curious to see what the man with a hereditary dukedom in his family, who had brazenly orchestrated everything, really intended to do.

"Qiaoqiao!" Li Jun called out in a low voice.

Li Qiao walked down the steps, tossing two light words over her shoulder, "Let’s go."

Li Jun: "..."

...

Yuefan 108 private dining venue.

The group entered the most secluded VIP dining room through a special VIP passage.

The security measures here were stringent; the room was filled with high-ranking officials from the South Sea, and even the corridor outside was imbued with a silent solemnity.

Li Jun and Li Qiao walked in front; Xiao Yeyan followed half a step behind them, the curve of his lips hanging with a seemingly gentle but actually cold smile.

Inside the box, seven or eight people were seated.

The three officials who had gone to the Li Family that day were there, along with several unfamiliar colleagues.

As Li Qiao sat down, she took the opportunity to subtly observe the layout of the table while pretending to drink water.

One Secretary-General on each side, also representing two factions of bureaucrats.

Halfway through the meal, Li Qiao’s interest waned.

Besides the flattery of these people, all that was left was a fervent performance filled with righteous indignation, denouncing Liu Chengfeng and Zhang Ke.

Li Qiao had little appetite; as she set down her chopsticks, her phone in her pocket suddenly rang.

She took it out and looked, somewhat surprised.

Li Qiao nodded to Li Jun and discreetly rose to leave the box.

The corridor was very quiet; she found a vacant lounge, pushed the door open, sat down on the high-backed sofa with her leg propped up, arm resting on the armrest, and answered the phone, "Godfather, what’s up?"

The caller was Fei Zhihong.

"Qiaoqiao..." he called her in a low voice, hesitating as if he had more to say but couldn’t find the words for a good while.

Li Qiao narrowed her eyes slightly and tapped her fingers on the armrest, "Godfather?"

On the other end, Fei Zhihong was silent for a few seconds, then spoke with a very tense voice, "Qiaoqiao, Ye Yun is dead."

"What?" Li Qiao suddenly looked up.

Fei Zhihong clenched his teeth and briefly explained, "The forensic pathologist diagnosed food poisoning; he was already gone by the time he was brought to the hospital."

How... coincidental.

Ye Yun was to be transferred to the judicial authorities tomorrow for further investigation and trial, and big brother had just met with Ye Yun. And then... the man died?

Li Qiao’s gaze grew heavy, and her fingers tightened around her phone, "Will this affect you?"

Fei Zhihong took a sip of tea unconcerned, "I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter if it does; I’m going to retire in a few years anyway.

The criminal investigation team has already started their inquiry, and the specific autopsy results have to wait for the forensic pathologist’s diagnosis.

You don’t have to worry about me; after all, she and your big brother were lovers in the past. Take a moment to mention it to Li Jun."

After hanging up the phone, a frosty light covered the depths of Li Qiao’s eyes.

Ye Yun’s death was no loss, but her death at the police station was bound to affect Godfather.

Including her big brother.

Even if the true culprit was found, the police would be blamed for negligence.

Unless...

"Miss Li, why are you sitting here alone in a daze? Is the food not to your liking?"

A lukewarm voice came from behind her. Li Qiao didn’t turn around, reclining relaxedly in her chair and smiling ironically as she cut to the chase, "Vice Secretary-General Xiao, that’s quite the tactic."

During their conversation, Xiao Yeyan casually walked to the single sofa next to Li Qiao and took a seat, his forearm curling elegantly up to his lower arm, his white shirt spotless, embodying the refined presence of a distinguished gentleman.

He turned his head to look at Li Qiao, the corners of his eyes seductively curved, "Don’t you find the title Vice Secretary-General Xiao a mouthful?

If you don’t mind, you can call me by my name. As for you saying I have good tactics, where is that coming from?"

Li Qiao felt his burning gaze on her face, but she continued looking forward, her tone distant and cold with a touch of mockery, "There are no outsiders here, Vice Secretary-General Xiao. Aren’t you tired of putting on airs?"

Ye Yun’s death was most likely his doing.

This man indeed had some cunning depth to him.

After big brother met with Ye Yun, he personally went to the police station to pick someone up, and it just so happened that Ye Yun’s death was announced during the banquet.

Murder was, of course, something he could have someone else do.

But the arrangement of these timing points meant that even if someone suspected him, he could perfectly avoid all accusations.

Because it was after big brother saw Ye Yun that she died in the police station.

"Putting on airs? We’re meeting for the first time today, Miss Li, why would you have such an opinion of me?" Xiao Yeyan slightly tilted his chin, looking at Li Qiao with a puzzled expression at her indifferent demeanor.

In the quiet lounge, Li Qiao watched him unflinchingly, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

Xiao Yeyan was about to say more when a distant sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor outside, seeming to head their way.

Li Qiao heard it too.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she pushed herself up from the armrest, deciding it was better to withdraw since it was only the two of them in the rest area.

As Li Qiao turned to leave, Xiao Yeyan also rose unhurriedly and stepped in front of her. A thin smile on his lips, he leaned forward slightly, startling her with his words, "Don’t you think my name... sounds very familiar?"

Li Qiao’s backward movement suddenly froze, as ripples surged in the depths of her eyes.

Xiao Ye Hui, Xiao Ye Yan...

Just at that instant, a waiter pushed open the door to the lounge, "Master Qiu, you and your guests please wait here for a moment; the private room will be ready shortly."