The Favored Heiress
Chapter 454: I am Flame Alliance K

Chapter 454: Chapter 454: I am Flame Alliance K

Last night at the lounge, He Chen told her many things about Shang Yu that were not known to the public.

——"You probably don’t know why Shaoyan made your identities public."

——"Because you are unwilling to hide behind him and be protected, so he gave you an identity, gave you a status, and made it crystal clear to everyone that you are his."

——"Those who want to harm you or hurt you will have to carefully consider whether they can bear the consequences before they make a move."

Li Qiao held a beer can, her heart filled with indescribable complexity.

Having been alone for a very long time, it was only after downing two bottles of beer that she slowly picked up her phone and dialed a number, "I am Flame Alliance K."

She spoke these words in Myanmar.

...

The next day, a sleepless Li Qiao took a shower and, dressed in a black summer casual suit, left her house.

Today she was going to the Biological Research Institute to report for duty. She had arranged to meet Lian Zhen at 7:30 a.m. at the entrance of the dormitory building.

At that moment, a low-profile black Maybach was parked not far away, a new car delivered by the Li Family’s driver.

Li Qiao took the keys and documents, glanced at the car body, and coincidentally, Lian Zhen carrying files, just came out of the dormitory building.

After the driver left, Lian Zhen saw that Li Qiao looked haggard, her eyes very red, and he took the initiative to offer to drive them.

It took a little over an hour from the dormitory building to the Biological Research Institute. Li Qiao got into the car and nestled into the passenger seat to catch up on sleep.

By around nine o’clock, the Maybach arrived at the grand building of the Biological Research Institute located in the development district.

It was said that this building was newly constructed and had been in use for less than a year.

Because it was located in the development district and the surrounding infrastructure was still under construction, the wide roads on both sides were not as bustling as the city center, giving off a somewhat desolate feeling.

Lian Zhen parked the car by the roadside. This wasn’t his first time at the Biological Research Institute, and the same went for Li Qiao.

During her university days, she had followed Academician Jiang here, and many of her graduation thesis references came courtesy of the green channel the Institute had provided for her.

Before long, the two of them walked side by side into the Institute’s building.

Unlike the relatively relaxed atmosphere of the laboratories, researchers in white lab coats could be seen hurrying everywhere.

This place was a gathering ground for the top biological research talents of the South Sea.

Two hours later, Li Qiao and her companion had processed various related procedures at the personnel department, received their lab coats and ID badges, and were taken to their laboratory located underground at 11:30 a.m.

Around the seven or eight experiment tables, each researcher was occupied with their work, the atmosphere solemn and stringent.

Seeing Li Qiao and Lian Zhen at the door, a busy Academician Jiang quickly welcomed them in.

Now, with the experimental project taken by the Institute, Academician Jiang had no choice but to follow suit.

"Old Jiang, don’t lose focus, we still haven’t resolved the issue with this gene chain." Just as Academician Jiang finished speaking, another voice, severe and even reproachful, rose from his side.

Li Qiao and Lian Zhen glanced over, the other person appeared to have passed the age of sixty, the wrinkle lines on his forehead pronounced, evidently faced with a conundrum, his eyes intently watching the computer screen, oblivious to others around him.

Academician Jiang said they would wait a moment, called Li Qiao and Lian Zhen to him, and headed to their designated experiment table.

Ironically, the Institute, which spanned over three buildings, left only one experiment table for the gene mutation project for Li Qiao and Lian Zhen.

It meant that the two of them could only share.

Li Qiao looked around the laboratory with a faint expression, her gaze mingling with a coldness, yet she held back and said nothing.

Academician Jiang pulled the two of them aside and quietly explained with patience: "Don’t think too much about it, the experiment tables are indeed a bit tight recently, I have already applied to the higher-ups, let’s just make do for now."

Li Qiao and Lian Zhen nodded silently, but they both clearly understood this was an overt form of belittlement.

...

As evening arrived, the clouds outside enveloped a faint grey haze, merging with the horizon into a single line.

It looked like it was going to rain.

Inside the conference room, fellow researchers were still listening to Academician Jiang’s explanation of the genetic mutation project.

Meanwhile, Li Qiao sat at the very end of the U-shaped table, her thoughts drifting away with the clouds outside the window.

She wondered how Shang Yu was doing.

A ’knock-knock’ sound, of someone tapping the desktop, brought Li Qiao’s attention back.

She slowly opened her eyelids and looked at the woman in front of her, raising an eyebrow as if to ask a question.

The person was an Intermediate Researcher, named Li Ru, thirty-seven years old, divorced.

At the moment, she eyed Li Qiao with dissatisfaction and lowered her voice to remind her, "You and I are responsible for the genetic dynamics section from now on, if you don’t pay attention now, don’t expect me to teach you later."

As an Intermediate Researcher, facing a Junior Researcher, she carried a natural sense of superiority, which was not unusual.

Everyone knew just how strict the promotion rules at the Biological Research Institute were.

Li Ru had advanced to Intermediate by the age of thirty-seven, already an outstanding figure among her peers.

Therefore, her tone was less polite towards the newcomer, Li Qiao.

Li Qiao calmly met Li Ru’s gaze and nodded faintly, "Sure, no need."

No need for what?

No need for her to teach?

Li Ru was surprised by the response Li Qiao gave and her look became even more disdainful.

As if mocking her for being clueless.

After this unpleasant episode, Li Ru didn’t speak another word to Li Qiao.

The meeting ended, and the time reached half-past six in the evening.

The Biological Research Institute had just recently taken over this genetic mutation project and had not directly started the subsequent plan, but was instead reviewing all the research paths and materials of Renhe Laboratory.

This situation was expected to last at least a week, and the other six researchers of the same group didn’t plan to involve Li Qiao and Lian Zhen in sorting through the materials either.

So, as soon as Li Qiao left the meeting room, she started packing up to leave work.

Lian Zhen also sat in front of the experiment table, his eyes tired after hitting a series of failures, holding his phone and staring blankly.

"Senior Brother Lian, shall we go?" Li Qiao pushed off her seat with her knees and glanced at him to ask.

Lian Zhen raised his head from the screen and glanced at the others out of the corner of his eye, chuckling, "Everyone else is still here, would it be appropriate for just the two of us to leave?"

Li Qiao curled her lips, taking off her lab coat and hanging it on the back of the chair, "It’s not inappropriate, better than you just sitting there daydreaming."

Lian Zhen was still a bit hesitant and gestured towards the door with his lips, "It’s okay, you go ahead, I’ll stay a bit longer, and if there’s anything, I’ll let you know immediately."

Li Qiao pressed her lips together, then turned to look at him, "Don’t push yourself, we don’t have to."

"Okay, I know, don’t worry," Lian Zhen smiled warmly, his eyes on Li Qiao showing an unusual appreciation and gratitude.

Not related to romance, just out of admiration and thankfulness for Li Qiao.

...

After leaving the Biological Research Institute, Li Qiao drove straight to the South Sea Mansion.

Working in the development area currently had only one benefit, it halved the drive to the South Sea Mansion down to twenty minutes.

She drove the Maybach around the plaza roundabout and was about to speed up when her phone rang.

The caller ID on the phone screen strangely showed up as blank.