The Favored Heiress
Chapter 473: Do You Like It?

Chapter 473: Chapter 473: Do You Like It?

The next day, Li Qiao unsurprisingly woke up late, feeling sore and weak in the waist, which was to be expected.

She always felt that the Shang Yu from last night, although forceful, seemed... particularly tender.

In her drowsy state, he seemed to have asked her several times if she liked it.

Liked what?

After getting dressed, Li Qiao lifted her foot, ready to leave the master bedroom.

But a glimpse at the corner of her eye made her stop and look back, catching sight of a small box placed on the bedside table.

Her gaze lingered for three seconds, then she covered her face with her hand and sighed silently.

Alright then, Okamoto 001.

...

Downstairs, Shang Yu was sitting in the living room on a phone call.

Upon seeing Li Qiao’s figure, a hint of a smile brewed in his deep eyes.

He hung up the phone, got up and walked towards her, his gaze lingering on the corners of her eyes and brows, the corners of his lips slightly curved, "Didn’t wake up fully?"

Li Qiao slowly bumped her forehead against his chest, buried her face, and asked in a muffled voice, "Guess why I didn’t wake up fully?"

The man looked down at the head rubbing against his chest, his laughter growing deeper, his fingers running through her hair and giving it a rub, he replied in a deep and composed voice, "Blame me."

Li Qiao paused in her breathing, glanced up at him, "If you keep this up, I might not want to come and bother you anymore."

"I’ll be careful next time?" The man raised his eyebrows, as if asking yet also teasing.

Li Qiao drooped the corners of her eyes, tugged on her lips and remained silent.

She had heard such words too many times and was already immune to them.

Approaching ten o’clock, Li Qiao finished breakfast and planned to drive to the research institute.

She took a dark green brocade box out of the Maybach and handed it to Shang Yu to keep, which were the translated documents Shang Zonghai gave her.

The last twenty pages and the Jade Pendant were still at the mansion, and she couldn’t be bothered to find another place to store them herself.

Before leaving, Li Qiao switched cars, driving off in that imposing new Mercedes-Benz G-class, slowly leaving South Sea Mansion.

Before half-past ten, the research institute came into view.

She parked on the auxiliary road, and at the moment she opened the door, she glanced back at the glove compartment.

Raising her hand to open it, the Desert Eagle was indeed resting quietly inside the case, alongside a small toolkit imprinted with the Lion and Tiger Mark.

Li Qiao pursed her lips into a smile and then entered the research building of the institute.

On the third floor in the lab, as soon as she walked in, she heard the lively discussion around her.

Unlike the usual strict and solemn atmosphere, the group members seemed especially excited today.

Even Li Ru, seeing that she was late, just rolled her eyes and turned away.

"This really is the Medical Alliance’s largest recruitment ever in its history."

"Do you think we have a chance to join the Medical Alliance?"

"Hard to say, even Academician Jiang and Academician Zhang, such high-level talents, have never received an invitation; the Medical Alliance’s standards seem incredibly high."

"What’s so great about that? It’s an international organization like the Medical Alliance. Of course, they target global talent. Since they’ve come domestically this time, and their first stop is our group, it clearly shows they value us highly."

The last sentence was said by Li Ru.

That uncontainable pride as if the Medical Alliance had come specifically for her.

Li Qiao passed by, as if she hadn’t heard the discussions around her.

Li Ru scoffed lightly, assuming she didn’t understand anything, and with her chin up, returned to her research station to continue reading the charter of the Medical Alliance.

This opportunity was rare, and she had to strive for it no matter what.

As long as she joined the Medical Alliance, she didn’t believe she couldn’t crush Li Qiao.

Having money is one thing; without power, at most you’re just throwing cash to buy privileges.

...

Time flew by, and it was half past four in the afternoon.

Li Qiao held two gene structure charts in her hands, carefully comparing them.

The phone at her side vibrated; she saw the caller and stood to walk outside.

"When will you be free tonight?" a man’s mellow and steady voice came from the earpiece.

Li Qiao stood in the outer corridor, one hand in her pocket, leaning against the wall, "Got plans?"

"Yes, I’m taking you to meet someone."

Hearing Shang Yu’s answer, Li Qiao raised an eyebrow, "Who?"

"Zong Zhan."

Oh, Third Master Zong of the Imperial Capital, Zong Yue’s Uncle.

Li Qiao lifted her wrist to glance at the time, "Where? Give me the address, I can head there after work."

Having hung up, she didn’t return to the lab but stood in the hallway, lost in thought as she gazed at the setting sun.

She had met Zong Zhan before; after turning back from Chong City to South Sea, she had briefly seen him in Shang Yu’s hospital room.

Given the special circumstances at the time, they hadn’t greeted each other.

A while ago, she had heard he had returned to the Imperial Capital; she didn’t expect him to come back so soon.

...

As soon as it was time to leave work, Li Qiao departed the lab promptly.

Nowadays, no one dared gossip behind her back.

After all, even the head of the research institute had personally met with her, and the entire project team’s lab had been moved to the best location because of her. Benefitting from her influence, who would have the face to talk anymore?

Li Qiao drove to the restaurant and parked her car. As she was about to enter, she unexpectedly ran into Zong Yue in the parking lot.

Having not seen her for a few days, it seemed her corneal inflammation had healed. Wearing a short skirt and holding a tote bag, she approached Li Qiao with a smile, "Qiaoqiao, I didn’t expect Uncle Shaoyan to really call you here; I thought you would be too busy to attend."

Zong Yue affectionately linked arms with Li Qiao as they walked and talked.

After the corneal inflammation incident, Zong Yue felt even closer to the cool but warm-hearted Li Qiao.

She wasn’t foolish; Li Jun had rushed back from another province to see her, certainly because Li Qiao had spoken to him.

Initially, Zong Yue didn’t have high hopes for this marriage, but the bit of attention Li Jun showed was enough to make her happy for days.

Before long, the two were led by the waiter to a private room, where several men were sitting at a table, smoking and chatting leisurely.

Zong Yue paused as she looked at them and then called out to each one, "Uncle Three, Uncle Four, Uncle Five."

This was Li Qiao’s first formal meeting with Third Master Zong of the Imperial Capital.

He sat beside Shang Yu, with thick brows and sharp eyes, his facial features strong and perfect. Perhaps it was his military background, his posture was firm, his back straight, emanating the imposing air of a soldier.

Li Qiao approached unhurriedly, and the man naturally took her hand, nudging towards the side with his mouth, "Zong Zhan."

"Mr. Zong, hello, I’m Li Qiao," she greeted.

Zong Zhan tilted his head to assess Li Qiao. After a few seconds, his thin lips curved into a smile, softening his harsh features, "Don’t be a stranger; just call me Third Brother."

Zong Yue, who sat to the side, quietly glanced at Zong Zhan.

This generation gap...

At that moment, He Chen sat with his right ankle resting on his left knee, his posture casual, as his gaze swept around the room. With a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth, he chuckled, "Sister-in-law, why don’t you call me Fourth Uncle too, for a listen?"

Shang Yu and Zong Zhan turned to look at him in unison; He Chen smirked cheekily, "Why are you looking at me? When it comes to seniority, is there a problem?"

Zong Zhan glanced at him sideways, picked up a teacup from the table, and took a sip, "If we really went by seniority, you’d be at the bottom."

He Chen blew out a wisp of smoke, squinting at Zong Zhan, "You looking for a fight?"