The Favored Heiress
Chapter 406: Miss Li, You Are Still Too Young

Chapter 406: Chapter 406: Miss Li, You Are Still Too Young

The guest house, Li Qiao slept until five in the afternoon.

She slept so deeply that when her phone began to vibrate beneath her pillow, she opened her eyes groggily, her gaze foggy as she stared at the unfamiliar room and ceiling.

After a few seconds, Li Qiao fumbled for her phone, glanced at it, and answered, "What’s up?"

Shen Qingye frowned upon hearing the listless voice on the other end, "What’s wrong with you, are you sick?"

Propping herself up against the headboard, Li Qiao cleared her throat before responding, "No, I was sleeping."

"Sleeping?" Shen Qingye glanced at the time, "You’re sleeping at this hour? Aren’t you going to sleep tonight? You found out I was coming to South Sea, planning to entertain me tonight?"

Li Qiao was silent for three seconds before dropping a few cold, ruthless words, "You wish."

Shen Qingye curled his lip, "Cut the crap, hurry up and come get me, I’ve arrived in South Sea."

"I’m in Chong City..."

After a silent pause, Shen Qingye’s teeth-grinding voice came through, "Are you doing this on purpose, you little rascal?"

Li Qiao let out a chuckle, "No, it was arranged a long time ago. Bai Luhui is at Yan Emperor Private Hospital..."

Bai Luhui’s hand condition was neither good nor bad, but with signs of tetanus infection, he was still undergoing treatment.

Fortunately, he was brought to the hospital in time, otherwise, a few days later, the infection could have flared up, and he might have been a goner.

However, Li Qiao didn’t tell Shen Qingye this; firstly, because she trusted the medical skills at Yan Emperor Hospital, and secondly... privately, she didn’t want Shen Qingye to have a falling out with He Chen.

He Chen was a man with deep connections, and it was evident from the exchange that day that he didn’t take the Sixth Bureau seriously.

Grumbling with a hint of bitterness in his voice, Shen Qingye ended the call and resignedly took a taxi to Yan Emperor Hospital.

...

The next morning was the opening ceremony of the medical exchange meeting.

Li Qiao and Academician Jiang, among others, walked to the convention center next door.

Organized by the Medical Research Council and research institutes, the exchange meeting was an academic feast in the medical community, with banners and various slogans around the convention center.

There were a total of thirteen laboratories that came to attend the exchange meeting.

This included representatives from several pharmaceutical companies who were invited to attend.

At that moment, the auditorium, which could seat over a thousand people, had its first ten rows already filled with approximately three hundred attendees.

Renhe Laboratory, where Li Qiao was, had its seats arranged in the third row.

At eight in the morning, the medical exchange meeting officially began.

The media who came to cover the event also set up their cameras in the back.

Following the usher’s guidance, seven or eight staff members from the organizing committee walked onto the stage through a side door.

Li Qiao sat among the crowd and instantly spotted... Shang Qiongying walking in the middle.

The lighting in the conference room was so bright that the moment Shang Qiongying sat on the stage, her gaze collided with Li Qiao’s across the shadows of the crowd.

Shang Qiongying looked at Li Qiao with a meaningful gaze, and after a few seconds, she shifted her attention and, at the host’s invitation, began her opening speech.

At this time, Academician Jiang beside Li Qiao was still looking down at the materials in his hands; when he heard Shang Qiongying mention the application of a certain gene therapy instrument, he murmured, "Qiaoqiao, there’s a medical device exhibition this afternoon. You guys should go take a look, and if you find any medical devices you like, we’ll bring a couple back with us."

Li Qiao nodded in agreement, while Lian Zhen, deep in thought, muttered, "So many representatives from pharmaceutical companies have come to this exchange meeting, are they planning to sit in the entire time?"

Academician Jiang adjusted his glasses and explained, "It’s not just about auditing; the pharmaceutical company representatives also have their own agendas.

Don’t underestimate those representatives—if they take an interest in a laboratory’s research results, they might collaborate with the lab to introduce experimental patents, leading to mass production."

This explanation caused Li Qiao’s brows to imperceptibly raise.

She looked discreetly towards the area where the pharmaceutical representatives were seated, a hint of turmoil flickering in her eyes.

...

The opening ceremony lasted for about an hour and a half.

Apart from the standard opening remarks, Shang Qiongying also announced an exciting piece of news at the meeting.

Laboratories that secure a ranking in this conference will be listed as a priority support target by the Medical Research Council.

At the same time, outstanding researchers may also have the opportunity to be invited as members of the Council.

For researchers, this is a great honor.

The opening ceremony ended before ten in the morning.

During the intermission, Li Qiao sat alone in a corner behind the media room, seemingly engrossed in sending messages.

Two sets of footsteps approached; she slightly lifted her eyelids, spotting a young woman in a black dress suit directly in front of her.

The woman appeared to be in her mid-twenties, with a radiant beauty and peach blossom eyes set into her oval face.

She looked somewhat aloof and difficult to approach, her solitary temperament resembling Li Qiao’s.

Walking in high heels, she came closer, but another figure on her left side appeared before Li Qiao more quickly.

It was Shang Qiongying.

Seeing this, the young woman coolly glanced at Shang Qiongying, pivoted her feet, and changed direction.

From beginning to end, she did not exchange a word with Li Qiao, and there wasn’t even an exchange of glances between them.

Shang Qiongying did not notice this medical representative; she walked over to sit beside Li Qiao, her dark blue lady’s suit exuding dignity and elegance.

Li Qiao maintained her posture, glancing at Shang Qiongying out of the corner of her eye, and continued sending messages.

At that moment, Shang Qiongying touched her pearl earrings, looked straight ahead, and spoke with a gentle laugh, "Miss Li, do you have a moment to talk?"

"What would you like to discuss, Ms. Shang?" Li Qiao’s gaze stayed fixed on her phone screen, responding nonchalantly to her words.

Shang Qiongying slightly tilted her head, scrutinizing Li Qiao’s downcast eyes and lips with a gentle smile, "You seem to have some hostility towards me?"

Li Qiao’s finger paused on the screen, and she slowly crossed her right leg over her left, her tone neutral, "Where do you see that?"

"Regardless of whether it’s there or not, I still hope you can let go of the grudges in your heart. Setting other issues aside, as the Vice-Chair of the Council, I actually value your abilities quite highly," Shang Qiongying continued, implying a business-like demeanor in her speech.

After sending the last message, Li Qiao turned off her screen and rubbed her temples, "Oh, is that so?"

Shang Qiongying sat upright, her legs together, hands resting on her knees. She glanced sideways at Li Qiao, her gaze growing deep, "So, the Council is interested in recruiting new members, and I wonder if you’re interested?"

She wanted to invite her to join the Council?

Li Qiao scoffed lightly, propping her elbow on the armrest and massaging her temple, "And if I say I’m not interested?"

"Miss Li, you’re still too young," Shang Qiongying said with a somewhat sympathetic gaze upon Li Qiao, "To be honest, with your current abilities, it’s not easy to make a name for yourself in the medical field."