The Favored Heiress
Chapter 474: No Wonder You Treasure Her So Much

Chapter 474: Chapter 474: No Wonder You Treasure Her So Much

In places where He Chen is, there will never be a dull moment.

He and Zong Zhan exchanged a few verbal jests, and before long, waiters streamed in and the table was filled with all kinds of exquisite food.

After taking a few bites, He Chen put down his chopsticks and looked at Zong Zhan across from him, "The Zong Family hasn’t had any joyous events for so many years. This time you’re having a wedding, how many people are you planning to invite?"

Zong Zhan, who wasn’t eating, simply sipped from his glass. "Not many, the maternal family’s banquet is just a formality. The old man wants to keep things simple."

Li Qiao looked over at Zong Yue without showing any reaction and sure enough, saw her eating her meal with her head down, but her fingers were tightly gripping the chopsticks.

It seemed Zong Zhan had come to the South Sea because of her wedding.

And this indirectly confirmed that the Zong Family was clearly not pleased with Zong Yue’s marriage.

At that moment, Zong Zhan sharply noticed Li Qiao’s gaze. He put down his glass, and explained in an indifferent tone, "Sister-in-law need not overthink. Our family head is old and doesn’t like ostentation, but the maternal family banquet will not lose the necessary etiquette of the Zong Family."

Li Qiao met his gaze, nodded, and smiled.

She hadn’t really given it much thought, it was just that Zong Yue’s obstinate actions made her hope that all would go well.

After the meal, Li Qiao and Zong Yue sat at the table chatting while the men went to the adjacent rest area to smoke.

He Chen leaned lazily against the sofa behind him, looking up at the ceiling, "Does the Zong Family look down on the Li Family, or do they look down on Li Jun?

Old man loves Zong Yue the most, yet he insists on keeping the maternal banquet simple, I saw her earlier, she was almost crying."

Zong Zhan sat powerfully on the sofa and glanced at Zong Yue not far away, pursing his lips and sighing, "They have no problem with the Li Family or Li Jun. It’s the child that the old man is angry with, she insists on getting married, and there’s no stopping her."

After saying this, he turned his head to look at Shang Yu with great interest, "Speaking of which, did you bring your sister-in-law over today just for me to meet her?"

The man rested his arms on the back of the sofa, radiating grace yet with a hint of languor, "During the maternal family’s banquet in the Imperial Capital, look after her for me."

Zong Zhan raised his eyebrows in surprise, his tone intriguing, "This young lady of your family managed to avoid all your watchful eyes to break into the hospital ward, and even managed to have the Military Department call the Chong City Police Station. Does she need my protection?"

He Chen followed with a chuckle, "Her abilities are not limited to just this."

"Oh? What else is there?" Zong Zhan asked with curiosity. Although he hadn’t had much interaction with Li Qiao, based on his understanding of Shaoyan, the woman who had caught his eye was certainly out of the ordinary.

He had only seen her for a moment in the hospital that night, but the aura she exuded and her rare extreme patience had left a very deep impression on Zong Zhan.

She was timely and perceptive, did not pry, didn’t make a fuss, and on top of that, she was extremely capable. Girls like that were too few nowadays.

He Chen smacked his lips, recited a few events, and then with a deep smile said, "Before Tu Anliang left, he met with me one last time in the casino.

Do you know why he was willing to abandon South City and leave his homeland?"

Shang Yu half-closed his eyes, not saying a word, but his thin lips curved into a comfortable arc.

Zong Zhan, his brows furrowed in thought, asked, "He’s already gone?"

Having established his influence for many years, it seemed unlikely for anyone to simply give up after being stripped of it.

Looking around, He Chen’s gaze landed on Li Qiao, and he spoke with a playful tone, "Tu Anliang told me that someone offered him three billion and the management rights of a city, and... promised him the position of the underground boss.

To him, all that was worth more than ten South Cities; he had no reason not to leave."

Zong Zhan’s action of lighting a cigarette paused mid-air, and it took him a while to process this information.

He pressed down on the lighter, eyeing Shang Yu with a teasing tone, "No wonder you’re so protective of her, it seems you’ve really found a treasure."

He Chen also turned around, nudging Shang Yu’s shoe heel with the tip of his foot, "With your woman’s capability, does she still need Li San’s protection?"

The man, who had been silent for a long time, slowly lifted his eyelids, his deep eyes dark as ink, his voice sensual and low, "Look after my woman well, don’t let other men get close to her."

Zong Zhan: "..."

He Chen: "..."

...

At eight in the evening, the dinner party ended.

Li Qiao handed the car keys to Luoyu, and she got into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce with Shang Yu.

The streetlights outside the window cast a dim yellow on the ground as they passed by.

Li Qiao leaned lazily against the man’s shoulder, half-closing her eyes as if a little fatigued.

"Go to the Imperial Capital, and if there’s any trouble, ask Zong Zhan for help."

The man’s deep voice flowed around the car, and Li Qiao opened her eyelids, shifted toward the side of the backrest, and stared at him intently, "Is the Zong family not happy with this marriage?"

Shang Yu lifted the hair by her ear and twirled it around his finger, his Adam’s apple moving as he spoke in a low voice, "Whether they are satisfied or not, the arrow is already on the bowstring."

Li Qiao’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly; indeed, less than half a month was left until the Double Seven Festival wedding of Zong Yue and her elder brother.

She had just gotten to understand Zong Yue better and learned that this wedding was something she had requested from the Zong family patriarch.

The distinguished Red Gate family of the Imperial Capital and the richest, the Li Family of the South Sea; in terms of class, the Li Family truly was a step below.

Li Qiao rubbed the corner of her forehead and then leaned back onto the man’s shoulder again, "The introduction to Zong Zhan today, was it to pave the way for my trip to the Imperial Capital?"

The Li Family would necessarily all have to go together to attend the family banquet at her maternal home.

"Not paving the way," Shang Yu said, thinking she was getting a headache again, so he supported her shoulder and let her lie down on his legs. His warm fingers gently massaged her temples as he leaned in and said, "Just as a precaution, don’t be polite if something comes up, talk to him anytime."

Li Qiao looked up at the man’s handsome face, her fingers involuntarily crawling up to his cheek, and she whispered in a thin voice, "Okay."

Even though she might not need it, this was his intention, and she was glad to accept it.

...

At the same time, at the Border Factory.

Li San sat at the desk, frowning heavily at the message on his phone, his face full of displeasure.

So much so that when Nan Xin walked in, she immediately noticed his expression. She pursed her lips and said nothing, walking to the filing cabinet, opening it, and began rummaging for something.

Li San’s attention was drawn to the noise she made, and he watched the graceful figure of the woman, "What are you looking for?"

Nan Xin stopped her actions, turned to face him, and tossed out two words with a cold look, "Red envelope."

"What red envelope?" Li San stood up, pocketing his phone, and strode over to Nan Xin’s side. He looked down at her, "What do you need a red envelope for?"

Nan Xin stepped back slightly, her brows furrowed as she retorted, "Isn’t it right that I give a red envelope for my elder brother’s wedding?"

Li San, one hand in his pocket, squinted at her feet, unable to explain the feeling. Her posture as she stepped back was irksome.

It was as though she couldn’t wait to get away from him.

Li San’s expression gradually darkened, staring at Nan Xin’s presumptuous demeanor, his voice icy, "Did I say that I’m taking you to the wedding?"

Nan Xin’s breath hitched, the embarrassment of self-assumed intimacy overwhelmed her instantly.

But quickly, she sneered, pulling out an invitation from her pocket and smacked it on Li San’s chest, "Look carefully, this is the invitation Qiaoqiao gave me."

Li San looked down to see the woman’s soft palm pressing against his chest. His Adam’s apple bobbed, entertaining improper thoughts while also feeling quite displeased that Qiaoqiao had given out invitations without going through him.

Seeing him with a stony face and not speaking, Nan Xin felt both sad and found it tasteless.

She didn’t understand what was happening. Ever since they returned to the border, Li San seemed to have changed.