The Favored Heiress
Chapter 399: Do Not Test Human Nature

Chapter 399: Chapter 399: Do Not Test Human Nature

Just as Li Qiao had mentioned, for the following four to five days, she was busy in the lab preparing for the academic conference.

Although it was called a conference, with the support of research institutions and the medical council, the selected labs were all straining to compete for rankings.

Academic exchanges, medical discussions, and comparisons of financial resources and achievements were made, not limited to a single field.

That day, Li Qiao left the laboratory building at eleven at night, her body exhausted.

Lian Zhen walked beside her, shoulder to shoulder. The two of them didn’t speak. Only occasionally did he glance at his mobile phone, seemingly preoccupied.

Li Qiao, not one to talk much, looked even more worn out with her brows and eyes cast downward.

"Xiao Li, take a look at this," Lian Zhen said as he handed his phone over to her.

Li Qiao raised an eyebrow and glanced at it. Her gaze paused, and after a moment of silence, she asked, "Did you take this?"

On the screen was a photo of a black Mercedes parked at the mouth of an alley, with a plump figure getting out of the passenger side.

The image was frozen on that moment; the person getting out was Guan Mingyu.

Even though her movements were somewhat clumsy and her facial expression with lips tightly pressed together seemed a bit aggrieved, Li Qiao recognized the car.

It was Shang Qiongying’s Mercedes sedan.

Lian Zhen stared steadily at Li Qiao, trying to discern something from her expression. "A few days ago, I went to the old district to meet a classmate. I hadn’t noticed her at first, but that car kept driving and stopping along the roadside, which made me take a closer look.

Later, I saw Guan Mingyu by chance. I was quite surprised, so I took a photo.

Xiao Li, I remember you once said that her family was poor and she depended on her brother Guan Mingchen for support. Now, how come she would..."

The rest of Lian Zhen’s words died on his lips, believing Xiao Li would understand.

At this moment, the deep night sky was like ink spilled across it, devoid of stars.

Li Qiao looked intently at the photo, a sarcastic curve forming on her lips, "This is probably human nature."

Lian Zhen hesitated with a complex expression for a few seconds, "Xiao Li, should we ask her?"

From their interactions over this period, Guan Mingyu seemed to be very naïve.

Even though she underwent the exhausting process of testing drugs every day, she never complained and her gratitude toward Li Qiao was more than obvious.

Could such a girl really be duplicitous?

Li Qiao smiled indifferently, "No need to ask. If she wanted to tell us, she would have done so long ago."

So-called human nature is the least resistant to testing.

Watching Li Qiao’s detached demeanor, Lian Zhen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, "Are we just going to let her ’deceive’ us like this?"

"Not necessarily. There will always be an outcome."

Compared to Lian Zhen’s concerns, Li Qiao remained unflustered throughout.

It wasn’t a matter of disappointment, for she had never had any expectations of Guan Mingyu in the first place.

The reason she had brought her to the lab was simply because her condition was useful for their studies.

Without expectations, there could be no talk of deception.

Upon entering the dormitory building, Li Qiao and Lian Zhen wished each other good night and headed to their respective rooms.

Li Qiao, tired to the bone, swiftly showered and went to bed.

...

The next morning, two days before the conference, Li Qiao was still in the lab preparing various academic materials. Around noon, she received a call from Duan Shuyuan.

"Qiaoqiao, are you busy?"

Li Qiao moved to the corridor with her phone and rubbed her temple, replying in a faint voice, "Not too bad, Mom. Do you need something?"

Duan Shuyuan glanced at her wristwatch and said with a smile, "If you’re not too busy at noon, how about joining us for a meal at Entertainment City?"

Li Qiao thought of the internal symposium she had planned for the afternoon, paused for a few seconds, and Duan Shuyuan timely added another sentence, "Today at noon, your elder brother’s potential marriage partner will also be there. If you’re free, why not meet her?"

A marriage alliance partner?

Li Qiao was somewhat surprised, "It’s settled so quickly?"

She had previously obtained a list of domestic powerhouses, but had been held up by laboratory work and had yet to start screening.

Besides, political marriages should be approached with caution. It had only been a week, and it was decided just like that?

Duan Shuyuan chuckled awkwardly, "Don’t mention it, your dad and I were still looking for potential partners a few days ago, but your elder brother returned last night and said he’d found someone himself.

We don’t know the specifics, but it seems like she’s from the third generation of the Red Gate..."

...

Entertainment City’s Sishu Residence.

Li Qiao drove to the restaurant, arriving precisely at noon.

Sishu Residence specialized in spicy Hunan dishes. Food from the South Sea region was typically mild, and only her elder brother, Li Jun, had a strong preference for spicy flavors.

The private room was located on a relatively secluded second floor, guarded by two imposing bodyguards at the entrance.

Though called bodyguards, their dignified aura and standard military posture made their real identities obvious.

Li Qiao walked up at an unhurried pace, just as the door of the private room swung open at her approach.

Her second brother, Li Yan, came out with a cell phone, talking as if no one else was around, "That painting must be left for me, anyone who competes with me for it will regret it!"

Li Qiao curled her lips and approached, the bodyguard smoothly opening the door for her.

The elegantly styled private room had four people seated at the table.

Mr. and Mrs. Li, Li Junhe, and a woman she didn’t recognize.

This was Li Qiao’s first encounter with Zong Yue.

She appeared to be about twenty-five, with neat shoulder-length hair, clear and bright eyes, and skin that wasn’t very fair but had a healthy wheatish tone. In terms of upbringing and temperament, she was even more pleasant than Ye Yun’s contrived demeanor.

"Our daughter has arrived," Li Guangming, sitting at the head of the table, greeted Li Qiao warmly.

Li Qiao took her seat beside Duan Shuyuan and nodded slightly to Zong Yue, who then greeted her with a warm smile, "Hello, I’m Zong Yue."

"Hello, I’m Li Qiao."

Throughout the meal, Zong Yue sat quietly beside Li Jun, eating without being rash or showy, devoid of the arrogance or entitlement often seen in daughters of prestigious families.

In response to the questions and conversation from Mr. and Mrs. Li, she demonstrated very good manners and deportment.

Li Qiao silently observed for a while. Though Li Jun and Zong Yue seemed to get along on the surface, there was an underlying awkwardness between them. These two must have been paired together out of necessity.

Before the meal had even ended, Li Qiao had already gathered information about Zong Yue.

She was the granddaughter of the Old General Zong from Imperial Capital’s Red Gate Family, having just retired from the army and currently unemployed.

This status was indeed considered among the top echelons of the nation’s elite, perhaps even surpassing the Li Family in terms of social standing.

"Ah Jun, your arrangement with Miss Zong..."

At this moment, Li Guangming wiped his hands with a napkin, his gaze lingering on Zong Yue and Li Jun.

Li Jun was pouring tea for Zong Yue and said calmly, "Mom and Dad, we have decided to be together. I’ll take her back to Imperial Capital in a few days, and we plan to get our marriage certificate next month."

So soon!

Upon hearing this news, Li Qiao couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows slightly, and Li Yan beside her took a small breath of surprise.

Li Guangming and Duan Shuyuan exchanged subtle glances. As seasoned observers, they could tell there was no real emotional foundation between Li Jun and Zong Yue.

Especially with Zong Yue’s status, would the Imperial Capital’s Zong Family really agree to this?