The Favored Heiress
Chapter 440: Attending the Banquet

Chapter 440: Chapter 440: Attending the Banquet

Before long, a procession of the Yan Emperor’s vehicles arrived at the hotel’s red carpet from the service road.

Liuyun, dressed in a traditional black suit, walked around the front of the car and opened the back door.

A pair of brand-new, gleaming leather shoes hit the ground and the camera view moved up to reveal the long legs sheathed in suit trousers.

Shang Yu wore a black suit with a hint of dark blue from a pocket square peeking out from his chest pocket. He wore no tie, and the top button of his shirt was fastened in an ascetic manner, exuding a subdued yet noble air.

Underneath his short hair was an exceptionally handsome face, and a pair of cold eyes scanned the surroundings. The moment he stood before the crowd, the surrounding bodyguards nodded in unison, "Master Yan."

The man buttoned his coat with one hand and slightly turned his body, extending his palm towards the carriage.

Delicate fingers reached from inside the car into the man’s hand, followed by black high heels stepping out. Li Qiao, wearing a black strapless evening gown, leaned out and exited the vehicle.

The event manager waiting in the distance hurried over, his steps faltering when he saw this scene.

Of course, he recognized Shang Shaoyan, but he did not expect that Shang would bring a female companion to the South Sea Conference.

Especially the girl standing by his side, with her slender figure and curves accentuated by the black strapless evening dress, her skin was as white as snow against the fabric.

Li Qiao had applied light makeup that night, with heightened eyeliner that made her beautifully arched eyes even more vibrant.

After getting out of the car, she instinctively took the man’s arm, looked up at his slightly furrowed brows, and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"The blue evening gown would have looked better," Shang Yu’s displeased gaze fell on her shoulder, and his voice sounded somewhat low.

He had already picked out a dress for her in the styling room, but she had ultimately chosen a black one for herself.

Li Qiao looked down at her gown, giving him a half-smile, "Are you sure?"

That blue evening gown was indeed beautiful, but the problem was... it was a long-sleeved, high-necked, one-piece dress with a train. Not only would it be inappropriate to wear, but it would also be stiflingly hot.

It was the middle of July, after all.

Shang Yu’s deep gaze rested on her, once again scrutinizing the design of her strapless dress. Ignoring the fidgeting event manager beside them, he turned to Luoyu and commanded in a cold voice, "Find a shawl."

It hadn’t seemed a big deal in the car, but in a public setting, the sight of her bare, snowy shoulders made him feel short of breath.

Li Qiao: "..."

She lifted her eyelids to look at the man’s slightly tense face, and eventually gave up resisting.

Her dress really wasn’t that revealing, even with a strapless design, it was a high-style version.

Five minutes later, in the VIP Hall.

Li Qiao looked at the black chiffon shawl Luoyu had brought, shook her head with a smile covering her forehead.

Of course, she didn’t reject it, styling the black chiffon casually around her shoulders.

The man’s previously pursed lips finally relaxed.

He sat in the square VIP chair, legs crossed, and admonished in a deep voice, "There will be a lot of people tonight, don’t wander off."

Li Qiao, while adjusting the black chiffon on her shoulders, nodded without looking up, "Mmm."

On the way there, she had already heard about the guests attending the banquet.

All the big shots from various powers were present, and many top figures from South Sea as well.

Including the Li Family.

At this thought, Li Qiao paused, gazed at the handsome cheek of the man next to her, and ventured, "Besides the Li Family, have the other families of the Five Giants come as well?"

"Mmm."

Li Qiao lowered her eyelids thoughtfully, looking at her high heels, "Has the South Sea Conference always had this many attendees in the past?"

She had thought it was just a gathering of a few underground forces.

Yet this was merely an opening banquet and the scale was already quite impressive.

"This year is rather special, with more people than usual,"

Li Qiao understood and didn’t ask about the specific special circumstances. She changed the subject, "My parents were invited by the Li Family?"

Shang Yu looked down and straightened his cuff, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement, "Not only them, but your elder brother is also coming."

Li Qiao cleared her throat, "I see..."

How coincidental! Her parents and elder brother, the ones who didn’t know about her relationship with Shang Yu, were all arriving tonight.

At that moment, Shang Yu’s lips slightly curved as he gazed at Li Qiao’s sparkling eyes. He leaned forward to lift her chin with his finger, "Worried that they will find out about your relationship with me?"

Li Qiao looked at the man, a smile hooked on her lips, "What’s there to worry about? They’ll find out sooner or later anyway."

The man seemed quite pleased with her response and pressed his handsome face to peck her lips.

...

The banquet was well-attended, but it was essentially different from the ones Li Qiao knew.

Familiar and unfamiliar faces were seen everywhere in the banquet hall.

She strolled into the banquet hall alone, her main goal to find Mr. and Mrs. Li and Li Jun.

Shang Yu and Qiu Huan stayed in the VIP hall discussing matters.

In the banquet hall, there were people from the Qiu Family, the Ou Family, and many other concealed prestigious family representatives mingling in the crowd.

In addition to this, representatives from forces from all four directions of South Sea City also gathered together.

Li Qiao took a glass of champagne from a waiter, found a corner, and leaned against a pillar to observe the situation.

She hadn’t spotted Mr. and Mrs. Li yet, but soon she saw her elder brother Li Jun and Zong Yue.

Their attire for the evening was also very formal. Li Qiao casually put down her champagne and walked straight towards them.

Amongst the throng of people, they were getting closer and closer.

Suddenly, a voice tinged with disdainful mockery rang out, "Who do I think it is? Isn’t this the old man’s favorite disciple?"

Oh, Tu Anliang.

It’s been a long time since they’d met, and his face was still covered with a thick beard, exuding an air of the jianghu, which even a white suit couldn’t conceal.

As he spoke, his hand had already seized Li Qiao’s wrist.

Li Qiao looked down and then glared at Tu Anliang, "Let go."

Upon hearing her voice, he gripped even harder, "Pretty little thing, you’ve made me look for you for so long. How about another training session with the master?"

He would never forget the scene where his fingers were brutally broken by this girl.

It hurt him and his ego.

But maybe it was the inherent vileness in a man that aroused a strong desire to conquer in him towards such a girl.

After being injured, some incidents continuously took place in South City that kept him too busy to deal with her and the old man again.

Unexpectedly, just over two months later, she actually came to the South Sea Conference.

Tu Anliang squinted his eyes at Li Qiao, his beard quivering as he spoke, "To be able to attend the South Sea Conference banquet, it looks like your status isn’t low."

He had not been able to find out more about Li Qiao’s identity, which made him suspicious and even more curious.

Li Qiao’s gaze swept around the room, seeing her elder brother Li Jun speaking with someone else. She furrowed her brows and effortlessly twisted her wrist to free it from Tu Anliang’s clasp, "If you don’t want your hand, just say so."

Tu Anliang’s face changed, and then he leaned in close, his tone wickedly playful, "Pretty little thing, believe it or not, I’ll make sure you can’t leave through these doors tonight."

Li Qiao glanced at him indifferently, stepped forward, and threw two words at him, "Don’t believe."