The Favored Heiress
Chapter 446: Xiao Li, What Have You Decided?

Chapter 446: Chapter 446: Xiao Li, What Have You Decided?

The next day, Li Qiao was still dragged by Duan Shuyuan to the largest bridal shop in South Sea.

As Li Qiao and Duan Shuyuan sat in the VIP section of the three-story haute couture bridal center, Zong Yue had already gone inside to try on wedding dresses.

Duan Shuyuan flipped through the bridal concept album and said cheerfully, "Your sister-in-law’s wedding dress is a custom-made VW gown. I had suggested that she pick one abroad, but she found it troublesome, so in the end, we just had the dress delivered here.

Qiaoqiao, take a look casually to see if there is any style you like. Shall we... try them on?"

Li Qiao, leaning her elbow against the armrest and supporting her forehead, scanned over the dazzling array of wedding dresses in the display cabinet and shook her head with little interest, "No."

"How about this one from the concept design book? I think it’s nice, pure white, with diamonds..." Duan Shuyuan was still enthusiastically describing when Li Qiao looked down, speaking in a languorous tone, "Mom, your sister-in-law is calling you."

Duan Shuyuan didn’t suspect anything amiss and put down the concept album to head toward the fitting room.

Watching her figure retreating, Li Qiao pursed her lips, a barely discernible ripple emerging in her eyes.

Putting aside whether she and Shang Yu would enter the marriage hall smoothly, even if Shang Zonghai came to propose, it didn’t mean they had to marry immediately.

Counting up, they had known each other for just over two months and had only been together for a little over a month.

Getting married? She hadn’t thought about it—it was too soon.

...

At noon, Li Qiao had lunch with Duan Shuyuan and Zong Yue, and by two o’clock she excused herself to return to the lab.

Now, Mr. and Mrs. Li were almost obsessed with her and Shang Yu’s relationship, wishing they could get married on the spot with that kind of urgency.

Back in the dorm, Li Qiao sat alone by the window, her gaze calm and vacant. Although her mind should have been free of troubles, she felt a heavy emotional burden weighing on her heart.

She rarely felt like this; the last time was... on the border.

Li Qiao rubbed at her brow, caught in an unknown emotion for a long time without snapping out of it.

It wasn’t until a phone call that she was brought back to reality.

Li Qiao looked at the incoming call number, her tone light, "Senior Brother Lian?"

"Xiao Li, are you in the dorm or outside?"

Lian Zhen’s warm voice carried a hint of fatigue. Li Qiao glanced out the window, "At the dorm. What’s the matter?"

"Then come to the office. The professor just returned from the Research Institute, and he’s looking for you."

Li Qiao hung up in response and was at the laboratory building in less than five minutes.

At this moment, Academician Jiang was sitting in front of his desk, fanning himself with a folder, chatting with Lian Zhen. Upon seeing Li Qiao enter, he called out, "Qiaoqiao, come in and sit."

Li Qiao glanced at Lian Zhen, composed her emotions, and sat opposite him, "Did you want to see me, teacher?"

Academician Jiang put down the folder with a friendly smile, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes growing more pronounced, "Qiaoqiao, I went to the Research Institute this morning. The head there told me that they would like you to report as soon as possible. What do you think?"

Li Qiao’s brow furrowed slightly, "Wasn’t it agreed that I would report in September?"

Academician Jiang said as he took out a document from the drawer and pushed it toward her, "Take a look at this first."

As Li Qiao received it, he began to explain: "The Research Institute was fully involved in the previous medical conference. Although Renhe didn’t place, they were very interested in the project on genetic mutations.

You also know that if I hadn’t brought you to the lab, you would have already been reported by now.

So, they want to invite both of you to join the Research Institute as Junior Researchers to continue this study.

If there is indeed a breakthrough in the end, they will also consider promoting both of you to Intermediate Researchers.

You two should know, it took me eight years to be promoted from Junior to Intermediate Researcher.

Still, these are things for later. If you can start working there, it’s definitely going to be more promising than at Renhe."

...

In the evening, Li Qiao and Lian Zhen sat in the meeting room, silent for a moment until Lian Zhen broke the silence, "Xiao Li, what are you thinking?"

Leaning back in her chair, Li Qiao looked down, her face showing little emotion, "Let’s go."

Lian Zhen pursed his lips, his tone hesitant, "I’ve been to the Research Institute with the professor before. I can’t say I’m familiar with it, but I have some sense of how things work there.

They have countless Senior Researchers and many academicians like our professor above us.

If we go, although it sounds good, we wouldn’t really have much say..."

Clearly, Lian Zhen was apprehensive.

Li Qiao’s arm rested on the chair’s armrest as she lifted her eyelids to look at him, "If we don’t go, are you willing to hand over this research?"

"What do you mean?" Lian Zhen’s gaze froze, and he looked puzzled.

Li Qiao curved her lips into a smile and turned her chair to face the window, "The Research Institute is interested in the project, whether we go or not, they will find a way to take it."

After all, the lab was affiliated under the name of the Research Institute. Although there was no actual management power, the name of the experiment was indeed under the pretense of the Research Institute.

In the end, what they wanted was not her and Lian Zhen, but the research project.

At that moment, Lian Zhen’s expression turned somewhat ugly, his lips pressed tight, it took a long while before he muttered gravely, "So we have to go..."

"It seems so at the moment, unless you want to give up on the project."

Lian Zhen sighed without a word.

Compared to his hesitation and entanglement, Li Qiao seemed much more indifferent.

She watched the setting sun dipping obliquely, her lips lifting into a smile that was not quite a smile.

If the Research Institute valued the research so highly, then all the more it shouldn’t be handed over.