The Favored Heiress
Chapter 465: Parma’s Number One Noble

Chapter 465: Chapter 465: Parma’s Number One Noble

Li Qiao followed the man to a table, where several brocade boxes of different sizes caught her eye.

Before she could take a closer look, the man’s husky voice already floated to her ears, "Have you ever worn a red dress before?"

Li Qiao probably didn’t know what kind of visual effect the long dress had on her.

Her already slender figure was accentuated, making her look tall and exquisite. The flowing hem of the dress and the wine-red color warmed her otherwise cool demeanor.

Li Qiao looked down, her tone slightly disdainful, "No."

She didn’t quite like such flashy and bright colors.

Then, the man wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "Well, don’t wear it again."

Li Qiao raised her eyebrows in surprise and took another look at herself, "Is it not pretty?"

The long dress was chosen for her by Duan Shuyuan, with a layered collar design reminiscent of a cheongsam and a classic charm. She just didn’t like the color, but she couldn’t deny the dress itself was exquisite and noble.

Li Qiao didn’t see the fervent light in the man’s eyes. She tugged at the smooth fabric of the dress, frowning slightly with a hint of moodiness.

Her thoughts ebbed and flowed, and as the man’s handsome face loomed closer, the crisp scent of ebony wood also lingered around her nose. He rolled his Adam’s apple, whispering, "It’s too pretty."

She lifted her eyelids to meet his deep sea-like eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle, "I see."

Shang Yu eyed her lightly made-up face, his gaze dropping to her wrist, his eyes narrowing dangerously, "Why aren’t you wearing a watch? Don’t you like it?"

"Not that I don’t like it, I just left it in the car. It doesn’t look good with this dress," Li Qiao said with a half-lowered head and a light smile as she casually opened a brocade box.

The man’s brows furrowed slightly, pulling her into his embrace, "Remember to wear it, okay?"

Li Qiao looked up at his handsome profile and, with a suppressed smile, replied with a soft "okay."

The two were very close, the girl flipping through the brocade boxes while the man watched her.

So absorbed were they in each other’s world that they completely failed to notice the three people in the rest area behind them, staring intently at them.

Shang Zonghai sighed softly, turning away his gaze to ask Duan Shuyuan, "The outfit the girl is wearing today, did you arrange it?"

Duan Shuyuan nodded somewhat nervously, "Yes, what do you think?"

Shang Zonghai patted his knee, eyeing Mr. and Mrs. Li’s somewhat restrained demeanor, a wistful melancholy apparent on his face, "So many years have passed, and seeing the girl’s outfit today, I almost thought Yi Lan had appeared again."

At this, Duan Shuyuan let out a small sigh of relief, crossing her legs on her knee, and said with contained emotion, "It’s fortunate we didn’t call off the engagement. I am glad you don’t blame us."

"It’s not that serious," Shang Zonghai said as he removed his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You have raised the girl so well. If my old friend were still around, we would be too busy thanking you to place any blame."

Mr. and Mrs. Li simultaneously bowed respectfully towards Shang Zonghai.

If Li Qiao were to turn around at that moment, she would surely see that the state the three of them presented was not one of the equal standing that normal in-laws should have.

"We’re all family here, no need to be so formal," Shang Zonghai said as he put his glasses back on, returning to his previous profound and worldly demeanor.

Li Guangming patted the back of Duan Shuyuan’s hand resting on her knee, his stern expression relaxing slightly. He looked towards Shang Zonghai, "Did you come here specifically for Qiaoqiao’s wedding?"

"Yes, and there’s something else. But finalizing the engagement is more important.

Back then, I thought she and Shaoheng were of similar age, so I decided on their betrothal.

Now that she likes Shaoyan, we might as well go with the flow. Let’s settle the wedding plans today.

The marriage contract has been revised, and the girl’s name has also been entered into Shang’s family tree. Finally, I can fulfill one of my wishes."

Mr. and Mrs. Li were surprised to hear that Li Qiao’s name had already been included in Shang’s genealogy.

Li Guangming hesitated, then leaned forward, asking with uncertainty, "Elder, by doing this... are you planning to have Qiaoqiao return to Parma eventually?"

Shang Zonghai slowly narrowed his eyes, his peripheral vision falling on Li Qiao, his expression enigmatic, "It’s not yet time for that, it’s up to her. If she wishes to stay in the South Sea, I wouldn’t force her to go back.

But this would mean she has to give up the honor of being Parma’s number one noble, and also manage to be indifferent to the tragedy of her whole clan’s demise...

As long as it’s her own choice, the Shang Family will support her to the end, never to coerce."

Li Guangming’s eyes rippled silently upon hearing Shang Zonghai’s response.

There are countless nobles in Parma, each one wealthier than entire nations.

But few people know that over twenty years ago, that family, known for their blue-blooded nobility, was wiped out overnight.

...

A few minutes later, the banquet began.

Li Qiao and Shang Yu sat to the left of Shang Zonghai, while Mr. and Mrs. Li were seated across from them.

Almost all the dishes on the table were specialties of Parma. Li Qiao ate quietly, but her mind revisited the brocade boxes she had seen earlier.

There were jewels and jewelry, luxury cars and real estate, shares in Shang’s Pharmacy, and... additionally, twenty pages of "The Autobiography of the Stock God" translation draft.

Compared to those material items, Li Qiao was more interested in the translation documents.

Shang Yu had said she could make a request, so...

Just then, Shang Zonghai took a sip from his wineglass and asked Li Qiao, "Girl, did you look at those gifts?"

Li Qiao swallowed her food, wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and nodded, "I did."

"Do you like them?" Shang Zonghai asked, looking directly at her with eyes brimming with a special depth.

Li Qiao met his gaze indifferently, her eyes twinkling with a smile, and she said in a coquettish tone of a younger person to an elder, "I like them very much, thank you, uncle, but... it would be even better if you could give me a few more pages of translation documents."

Li Qiao did not think she was experienced enough to negotiate with Shang Zonghai in a purely business-like manner.

Outsmarting the Head of the Shang Family, who was old and calculating, would certainly not be easy.

On the other hand, sometimes acting spoilt with an elder could have unexpectedly good results.

For example, right now.

Shang Zonghai raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, then laughed heartily, "You girl, you ignore all those pieces of jewelry but care about that little booklet."

Li Qiao was actually a bit worried that she might have been too clever for her own good.

But seeing Shang Zonghai’s reaction, she realized her approach had been the right one.

"Alright, when I return to Parma, I will give you twenty more pages," Shang Zonghai seemed particularly indulgent towards Li Qiao, his smiling face gentle like that of a kind elder, "but I haven’t finished translating the rest, so don’t complain that twenty pages are too few."

Li Qiao stood holding her wine glass, smiling lightly, "Thank you, uncle. Here’s to you."

Across from them, Mr. and Mrs. Li were confused, watching them. What booklet? What translation documents? Are they worth more than the dowry?

As the luncheon neared its end, Shang Zonghai once again set matters straight, "Girl, the marriage between you and Shaoyan is settled then.

As for the wedding date, it’s up to you to discuss whether to hold it soon or wait a bit, it’s all up to you."