The Favored Heiress
Chapter 443: Does he know about your business at the border?

Chapter 443: Chapter 443: Does he know about your business at the border?

Shang Yu ultimately did not tell Qiu Huan why he had publicly revealed his relationship with Li Qiao.

In another part of the banquet hall, at the coffee shop on the second floor, Li Qiao, dressed in an evening gown, sat in a high-backed chair, looking at Mr. and Mrs. Li across from her, stirring the coffee in front of her, "Mom and Dad, can’t you tone it down a bit?"

After all, you are a reputable and prominent couple, do you need to smile like two Maitreya Buddhas?

Compared to them, her older brother was much more composed, even a bit serious.

At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Li suppressed their smiles, but joy still filled their eyes, "Honey, when do you two plan to get married?"

Li Qiao stopped stirring her coffee, looked up in surprise, "Isn’t it a bit too soon to talk about marriage, and besides... you agree with me being with him?"

When she first mentioned she had a boyfriend, her parents’ reaction was nothing like the encouraging attitude they showed today.

Just because the man in question is Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant?

Mr. and Mrs. Li exchanged glances, and before they could speak, Li Jun, with furrowed brows, shook his head, "I disagree."

Everyone turned towards him at the sound of his voice, and Li Qiao couldn’t help but smile as she took a sip of her coffee, "What’s the reason for my brother’s disagreement?"

Li Jun sat upright on the sofa, his demeanor serious and stern, "Qiaoqiao, I won’t deny Shang Shaoyan’s status in the South Sea, but can you truly be happy with him?"

As a man, he saw things differently from women.

The reason why no one dared to provoke Shang Shaoyan, aside from the forces behind him, lay in his unpredictability.

Up to now, no one knew the extent of Shang Shaoyan’s backing, but this didn’t stop the almost demonic rumors about him.

When you can’t fully understand and control a man, that is an unknown risk for a woman.

Li Qiao’s fingers gently caressed the coffee cup as she glanced at Li Jun and said indifferently, "So, do you think Zong Yue can be happy with you?"

In any case, she believed her happiness index was much higher than Zong Yue’s.

At least her relationship with Shang Yu was mutual, but Zong Yue? She was utterly infatuated.

Li Jun was left speechless by her remark, opening and closing his mouth, only to realize he had nothing to say.

At this point, Li Guangming looked at Li Jun with a profound gaze, unceremoniously calling him out, "Your sister’s man even declared his love in public, what have you given to your Zong Yue?"

Li Jun suddenly felt like he was superfluous.

Duan Shuyuan also gave Li Jun a stern look before turning to Li Qiao, her tone particularly gentle, "Qiaoqiao, don’t listen to your brother’s nonsense.

Love is between two people, as long as you like each other, we as parents will definitely support you."

Li Qiao looked unwaveringly at Mr. and Mrs. Li, raising her eyebrows slightly, "So... Mom and Dad agree with me being with him?"

The couple nodded in unison, "Agreed."

Li Qiao looked up at the chandelier above her head, feeling rather eerie.

"Qiaoqiao, is Old Mr. Shang really coming to propose?" Li Guangming stared at Li Qiao’s expression as he asked this question, even with a nervousness he hadn’t noticed himself.

Li Qiao pursed her lips and shook her head, "I don’t know, he didn’t tell me beforehand."

"No worries, some other day... I’ll give Old Mr. Shang a call and ask."

...

Half an hour later, Li Qiao returned from the coffee shop to the banquet scene.

At the stairway, she ran into He Chen and Tu Anliang, who were discussing something. From the side, you could clearly see Tu Anliang’s chest heaving violently, his anger unmistakable.

Li Qiao, holding up the hem of her dress, descended the spiral staircase, intending to pass them by directly. As soon as Tu Anliang saw her, his eyes reddened, "Brother Chen, just say it, is Boss Shang taking over my South City territory for her?"

Today was just the opening banquet of the South Sea Conference; the following three days were when the various underground powers would come together for crucial discussions.

The news had already spread tonight, saying that Shang Shaoyan was going to withdraw his control over South City.

Tu Anliang simply couldn’t accept it.

Over the years, they had each ruled over their own territory and kept each other in check.

Wasn’t Shang Shaoyan afraid he would act out of desperation?

At this moment, He Chen leaned lazily against the railing, glanced at Li Qiao as she passed by, and then, looking at Tu Anliang’s nearly distorted face, spoke coolly, "Do you really need me to remind you of what you’ve been up to in South City all these years?

Besides, the South Sea Conference has just started, and you’re already restless at the slightest rumor?

Paparazzi have to dig three feet into the ground to find news, while you take hearsay as the truth?"

Tu Anliang seemed caught off guard by He Chen’s words and was momentarily stunned.

He squinted at Li Qiao’s retreating figure, his clenched fist gradually relaxing, "Brother Chen, if you say so, then I’ll trust you for now.

I also think Boss Shang wouldn’t dare to disturb the balance of power in the South Sea just for the sake of a woman.

After all, that part of South City isn’t so easy to swallow up."

Li Qiao had reached the bottom of the last step when she heard this.

She looked back somberly, just in time to see He Chen kick at Tu Anliang, "If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you. Muttering about someone’s woman behind their back, how many lives do you have to compensate with?"

Possibly, Tu Anliang never imagined that after the South Sea Conference, there would no longer be a Tu Anliang in South City, but instead... South City Qiu Huan.

...

In the banquet hall, as soon as Li Qiao entered the lobby, she instinctively glanced toward the rest area.

Shang Yu and Qiu Huan were still sitting together, chatting leisurely, accompanied by two other men—one from East City, Qiao Ziyang, and the other from North City, Gu Jin.

The men were discussing business, and Li Qiao had no intention of interrupting them.

She walked unhurriedly to the buffet table, just as she picked up a slice of fruit, a figure approached her, "Miss Li."

Li Qiao didn’t turn around; she didn’t even glance at the person, responding indifferently while holding her plate, "The second young master Jing."

"Does he know about your matter at the border?"

Jing Ruian’s handsome face showed an abnormal flush of vinous red.

Since Shang Shaoyan went public with his romantic relationship with Li Qiao, Jing Ruian had been drinking countless glasses of champagne, unable to stay calm.

Li Qiao turned her head toward him, "What are you trying to say?"

Jing Ruian pursed his lips, his breathing quickened, "Does he know you’ve killed people at the border?"

He had witnessed it himself, but he didn’t think Shang Shaoyan necessarily knew.

Li Qiao’s dark eyes watched Jing Ruian intently without blinking, their gazes interlocking—one blazing like fire, the other cold and indifferent.

This scene caught the attention of Shang Yu, who was not far away, and to him, it didn’t seem quite normal.

Jing Ruian had made advances on Li Qiao once before, during the meeting of the Five Giants.

The man’s deep, cold eyes gradually narrowed, a dangerous undercurrent emerging in his gaze.

Qiu Huan, noticing the subtle change in his aura, followed Shang Yu’s gaze and after a few seconds, chuckled teasingly, "Maybe they are just having a casual conversation. You’ve already announced your status; who would dare to move in on your territory?"

At that moment, Gu Jin from North City took a few looks and couldn’t help frowning, "Isn’t that the second young master Jing? He looks a bit off. Did something upset him again?"

Again?