The Favored Heiress
Chapter 385: You Are the Most Beautiful

Chapter 385: Chapter 385: You Are the Most Beautiful

Li Qiao’s faint smile caught the man’s attention, and he dangerously narrowed his eyes. His previously relaxed arms once again forcibly pulled the girl close to his chest, biting her earlobe as he hoarsely said, "Did I not tell you to stay away from him?"

"You did, but you didn’t tell me why. Is it because he is handsome, or because he is dangerous?" Li Qiao shrank her neck, hooking one hand around the man’s shoulder, teasing while trying to dodge him.

Then, the man’s warm palm slid under her clothes from behind, his fingers pressing into her waist as he drew out his words, "He is handsome?"

Li Qiao stiffened: "..."

Shang Yu’s rough fingertips caressed the skin at her back as he leaned in, his crisp breath cascading over Li Qiao’s ear, "Hmm?"

Li Qiao arched back and grabbed his wrist, saying earnestly, "No, you are the most handsome."

The timely flattery seemed to smooth things over pleasantly.

The man withdrew his hand from behind her waist and gently stroked the back of her head.

After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly asked, "Do you still remember the night you fought back on the Riverside Road?"

Riverside Road...

Li Qiao thought for a moment, then raised her eyebrows, "I remember."

That night she had been celebrating her grandfather’s birthday when Luoyu was forced to stop her SUV on Riverside Road and was attacked, revealing her skills in front of Luoyu for the first time.

Shang Yu’s lips thinned, "The man you injured that night was one of Xiao Yeyan’s men."

Li Qiao’s eyelids twitched, and she suddenly looked up, "Then Qingyu..."

The man’s lips curved into a cold and indifferent arc, "Yes, he is involved."

To be exact, it had to do with the family behind him.

Hearing this, Li Qiao’s fingers curled slightly as she recalled the circumstances of Qingyu’s death, her perception of Xiao Yeyan dropping even further.

"So, he is your enemy?"

She had heard a few details from Liuyun about how Qingyu was killed by the Yan Emperor’s rival family.

But... was Xiao Yeyan qualified to be Shang Yu’s opponent?

Besides being a bit clever and meticulous, he didn’t seem to be on par with Shang Yu.

At least Li Qiao didn’t consider him a threat.

At this moment, a hint of amusement flickered in Shang Yu’s stern eyes, "He hardly counts."

A mere Xiao Yeyan couldn’t be considered an opponent.

"Then what is the background of his family?" Li Qiao had never been able to find specific information about Xiao Yeyan.

His mystery had only deepened her interest in him.

Now that the subject had been brought up, Shang Yu did not hold back anymore. He pinched Li Qiao’s cheek and spoke bluntly, "The second son of the Chairman Family, his ancestral name is Xiao’s."

Li Qiao looked at Shang Yu, a trace of understanding flashing through her eyes.

No wonder she couldn’t find out Xiao Yeyan’s identity; he was from the Chairman Family.

The family had been ennobled as dukes in the last century, with a peerage that had now lasted a hundred years.

She had only instructed the Sixth Bureau to investigate Xiao Yeyan as a person, or perhaps a Duke surnamed Xiao, but had overlooked their titled name given after ennoblement.

"The name Xiao Yeyan is probably just what he uses in public. Even if it’s similar to Huizai, it doesn’t prove a connection," he said, his deep and ominous eyes narrowing imperceptibly as he added in a deep voice, "Don’t be curious about him."

Li Qiao brushed the hair away from her face, blinking as she heard his final reminder and nodded almost laughingly, "Okay, got it."

In truth, even if she were curious about Xiao Yeyan, it was only to understand the motives behind his actions; her investigation was more about probing and had nothing to do with the man himself.

As for his knowledge of Huizai’s grave in the Western Hills, it only suggested that he had taken the time to investigate her or... possibly followed her.

After all, her visits to the Western Hills had never been secretive.

...

Shortly thereafter, the two of them strolled back from the rooftop to the lounge they had been in before.

As they entered, Li Jun’s call came as expected.

Li Qiao looked at the screen and let go of the man’s fingers, "I’m going to let my brother know, I’ll be back in a bit."

Shang Yu had mentioned that a friend from Parma had come to South Sea, who he happened to meet, and he planned to introduce her as well.

The man said nothing, his eyelids drooping lazily, and as she picked up the call, he bent down and instructed in a low voice, "Go and come back quickly."

It just so happened that Li Jun heard that.

His suspicious voice came through the handset, "What do you mean go and come back quick? Qiaoqiao, where are you going?"

Li Qiao glanced at Shang Yu indifferently, only to see the man already walking into the lounge with one hand in his pocket, his posture tall and straight.

She felt he did it on purpose.

Li Qiao pursed her lips and sighed, then said to Li Jun, "Big brother, come out for a moment."

...

Before long, Li Jun, looking slightly tipsy, stood outside the private room and saw Li Qiao coming. He went up to meet her, "Qiaoqiao, why were you out for so long? Did you run into trouble?"

It was no wonder he was so cautious, for at the dinner earlier, as soon as Li Qiao left, Xiao Yeyan had followed her out immediately afterward.

Given the situation and his status, Li Jun couldn’t openly intervene.

And just a few minutes ago Xiao Yeyan had returned to the room, but there was still no sign of Qiaoqiao, prompting Li Jun to make a worried call to check in.

At that moment, Li Qiao shook her head lightly and looked directly at Li Jun, who was reeking of alcohol. After weighing her words, she said softly, "Big brother, Ye Yun is dead."

"What..."?

Li Jun’s words stuck in his throat, and he sobered up significantly, "Dead, dead?"

Li Qiao affirmed, observing Li Jun’s dazed expression and recounted what their godfather had said, "That’s roughly what happened. Godfather wanted me to give you a heads up, after all, you’ve known each other for a while."

Li Jun didn’t speak, but his Adam’s apple moved continuously, betraying a wave of genuine emotional turmoil.

He had loved her, hated her, but never thought of her dying.

Li Jun let out a long sigh, quickly repressing the shock in his heart. It wasn’t sorrow he felt, just a sense of irony.

Seeing that his expression gradually returned to normal, Li Qiao changed the subject and asked, "When will your dinner end? Maybe I should take you home first? I’ve run into a few friends, and I might go and sit with them for a while."

Li Jun’s expression eased, and with a clearer gaze, he shook his head slightly, "Since you’ve got friends, you go ahead. I’ll have Old Liu send me home later.

Don’t drink tonight, you didn’t eat much at the dinner table. Have something at your friend’s place and try to get home early once you’re done."

The siblings chatted briefly, and then Li Qiao turned around and headed back to the lounge.

Only Li Jun stood there in the corridor, staring into the night, lost in his thoughts.

...

Li Qiao returned to the lounge, and upon opening the door, she heard Qiu Huan’s teasing voice, "Seriously, when the waiter pushed open the door, I took a quick glance and really thought the girl was hugging Xiao Yeyan."

"??"Are you blind?

Li Qiao looked at Qiu Huan expressionlessly, her hand that was pushing the door relaxed, and the door closed automatically with a soft click.

Qiu Huan was sitting confidently with his legs crossed, a cigarette in hand puffing away, when he glanced over at the sound and choked on his smoke, failing to exhale it.

At this time, three people were sitting in the lounge.

Qiu Huan and Shang Yu, and another man Li Qiao hadn’t met before but felt somewhat familiar.

The stranger appeared to be of mixed heritage, with very pronounced facial features, standing as tall as Shang Yu. Even in his shirt, the tense musculature of his body was evident.