The Favored Heiress
Chapter 453: If You Love Him, Don’t Despise Him

Chapter 453: Chapter 453: If You Love Him, Don’t Despise Him

Facing Li Qiao’s soothing words, Shang Yu still gripped her wrist, but his hold was noticeably weaker.

The man wrapped his other arm around her waist, yet the gesture, meant to be tender, appeared incredibly rigid due to the tense muscles.

His Adam’s apple continued to bob up and down, eyes closed as he tried to settle his emotions, but it seemed... to little effect. Symptoms that had not surfaced in a long time now overwhelmed even his restraint.

"Good girl, go back, get some rest early," said Shang Yu, his voice hoarse yet gradually stabilizing, though his taut body still betrayed his self-control.

In such a state, Li Qiao couldn’t bring herself to leave him alone, no matter what.

She kept stroking the man’s back, shaking her head and whispering reassurances: "I’m not in a hurry."

Li Qiao had noticed Shang Yu’s struggle from the start, his paranoia flare-ups resulting in irritability and anger. If he could have released his emotions, perhaps he would not be in such agony.

But he hadn’t, forcibly enduring it all, which was why he suffered so intensely.

Li Qiao also arrived at an important conclusion: she really couldn’t afford to get hurt in front of him anymore.

...

Half an hour later, Shang Yu’s body finally relaxed, his strong willpower and endurance helping him get through all the symptoms of the flare-up.

But it had nearly drained all his strength.

Just past ten at night, the man was lying flat on the bed, breathing evenly, though a frown still marred his forehead in light sleep.

Li Qiao sat by the bed, her fingers tracing his brow, her heart a mix of emotions.

Late,r she wiped his face and arms with a warm towel and unbuttoned his shirt to check the wound on his shoulder. Then, leaning down, she kissed his lips, left a floor lamp on, and exited the suite.

The moment the door closed, in the dim, yellow light, Shang Yu slowly opened his reddened eyes...

Outside, Liuyun and Wang Yue were still standing in the corridor, both wearing expressions tinted with a tense seriousness.

Seeing her come out, Liuyun hurried forward, "Miss Li, are you going back?"

Li Qiao nodded, and as she walked away, she reminded them, "He’s asleep, don’t disturb him."

Downstairs in the lobby, Li Qiao walked out of the elevator with her head half-lowered. Someone blocked her path, and when she looked up, she saw He Chen standing before her.

Gone was his usual flippancy and nonchalance, his face stern and unusually serious.

He Chen pocketed one hand and gestured with his chin towards Liuyun behind Li Qiao, "Go upstairs, I’ll take her back."

Without asking further, Liuyun turned on his heel and reentered the elevator.

He Chen looked down at the small swelling on Li Qiao’s forehead, swallowing, "Talk in the car or in the café?"

Li Qiao glanced at her phone with an exceptionally flat tone, "Does the café serve alcohol?"

"Let’s go," He Chen tugged at the corner of his mouth and then led Li Qiao to the executive lounge on the third floor.

...

At the bar in the lounge, the two took their seats, surrounded by silence except for the bartender pouring drinks.

Two glasses of whiskey were placed before them, Li Qiao added two cubes of ice to hers and took a large sip, "Brother Chen have something to say to me?"

He Chen was unusually quiet that night.

Hearing Li Qiao’s question, he swirled his glass, the sound of ice clinking striking a chord, "How’s Shaoyan doing?"

"He’s asleep," Li Qiao rested her arm on the bar, the wooden chandelier above casting a hazy light that fell on her face, revealing the unrest she could no longer hide.

He Chen tilted his head to look at her for several seconds, retracted his gaze, and pursed his lips. "When did you find out about his illness?"

Li Qiao’s eyes flickered, staring straight ahead at the liquor rack. "I had guessed a little a long time ago. Tonight was the first time I encountered it."

He Chen fell silent again.

The two of them drank in silence, and after a while, he spoke in a low voice, "Li Qiao, no matter what you’re thinking, I hope you’ll consider what I’m about to say very carefully and make a prudent decision."

Li Qiao turned to look at him. "Okay, go ahead."

She hadn’t known He Chen for long, but she rarely heard him speak with such seriousness, even his choice of words was particularly meticulous.

Prudence...

He Chen turned his head, and at the moment their eyes met, he said something astonishing, "Shaoyan has more than just paranoia; he also has a mild form of mania."

Li Qiao’s heart sank in an instant.

Reflecting on Shang Yu’s behavior from before, she suddenly realized why his muscles were so tightly wound—it was an attempt to suppress aggressive behavior.

Mania can be accompanied by aggressive actions.

He Chen watched Li Qiao’s pupils constrict, sighed somberly, and looked off into the distance with a gaze that became long and far-reaching, "The symptoms of his illness are very complex. If it weren’t for the moment I saw him pulling you upstairs when you got out of the car, I would have thought his illness wouldn’t relapse."

How much Shaoyan cherished Li Qiao was something he had clearly understood from their brief period of interaction.

But tonight, returning from Sleepless City, he dragged her to the hotel with a fierce pace, completely disregarding the slightly staggering figure of Li Qiao trailing behind him. At that moment, He Chen guessed that Shaoyan’s illness had reappeared.

At this point, he paused, with a sneer of contempt curling his lips, "Do you know the pattern of his attacks?"

Li Qiao couldn’t interpret what his expression and demeanor meant, especially that sarcastic, cold smile—it didn’t seem to be aimed at her.

She didn’t speak, and He Chen didn’t seem to need her answer, lifting the glass to his lips, "Every time Shaoyan’s illness flares up, it’s related to Madam Xiao.

For many years, whenever Madam Xiao appeared, he would definitely show signs of illness, whether mild or severe.

Don’t doubt the influence that woman has on him because his illness was caused by her."

Li Qiao just watched He Chen, listening intently to every word, while her fingers unconsciously clutched the glass tightly.

He Chen didn’t notice her emotional change. Swirling the ice in his glass, his tone was very low, "I asked you to consider carefully without any other intention.

You’ve seen his condition tonight. As a brother, I shouldn’t be saying these things, but I still want to give you some advice, as a precaution."

Li Qiao nodded without hesitation, "Mhm."

He Chen licked his back teeth, seemingly hesitant for a few seconds before finally saying, "Although it may be hard for you, I still hope you try to accept all of him.

Even if he is ill, his feelings for you are very serious and sincere, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Li Qiao, if you truly love him, don’t disdain him, even if there’s a possibility he might hurt you when his illness strikes. That’s definitely not his true intention..."

...

At twelve o’clock at night, Li Qiao got out of the car in front of the laboratory building.

She held the car door with one hand, turned to look at He Chen in the back seat, nodded and said thanks, and the moment she closed the door, He Chen rubbed his temple, "Sister-in-law, don’t tell Shaoyan about the things I’ve told you."

"Mhm."

Li Qiao nodded in agreement, shut the car door, and under He Chen’s watchful eye, walked away step by step, growing more distant.

Back in the dormitory, she didn’t turn on the light. She took out two cans of beer from the refrigerator, sat in front of the window, and drank alone in the moonlight.