The Favored Heiress
Chapter 475: Just kidding, you took it seriously?

Chapter 475: Chapter 475: Just kidding, you took it seriously?

At this moment, Li San squinted at Nan Xin’s expression, which was a mix of tolerance and grievance, feeling an unprecedented heaviness in his chest, his frustration crashing around inside him.

With his height advantage, he could even clearly see the corners of her pursed lips and the redness of her eyes.

Subconsciously, Li San placed his hand on his chest, gently rubbing it unconsciously, and his tone softened a bit, "Just teasing you, did you take it seriously?"

Nan Xin shook off his hand, disregarding the fallen invitation on the floor and turning to walk out, "Not funny at all."

Li San’s Adam’s apple moved, and in a few steps, he caught up and seized her wrist, pulling her back with a jerk.

Taken by surprise, Nan Xin stumbled backwards several steps, crashing into his embrace.

The man’s intense scent hit her face, as familiar and refreshing as she remembered.

Nan Xin steadied herself and struggled to push him away, "What are you doing, let go."

She really didn’t want to have any more close contact with Li San.

This cold-hearted man had no idea how his occasional warmth was such torture to her.

"Behave," Li San’s voice was hoarse, as he held her wrist, forgetting to control his strength, "I didn’t say you couldn’t go, get ready, and come back to the South Sea with me in a few days."

Nan Xin turned her face away, noticing the invitation on the ground, and shook her head, "I’m not going, the factory needs someone to look after it, you..."

"No is not an option!" Li San interrupted her abruptly, offering no room for refusal.

Nan Xin faced him with a stern look, raising her head to realize they were mere inches apart, and that by tiptoeing slightly, she could kiss his jawline.

Under the hazy lighting, the sternly handsome man and the charming woman together formed a dangerously intimate setting.

However, Nan Xin held her breath, and as she saw Li San’s gaze becoming deep and fiery, she took advantage of his distraction to break free from his hold.

She smoothed her tousled hair, looked away, and scoffed, "Fine, I’ll go, since you’re the boss, whatever you say goes."

The word "boss" was like a bucket of cold water poured over him.

Li San’s burning gaze cleared, watching Nan Xin’s graceful figure, his throat tightened, shit, he was aroused.

...

Time flew by, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Lately, the research institute’s project had steadily entered the research phase, with each team member showing off their skills in preparation for the upcoming inspection by the Medical Alliance.

All but Li Qiao.

Even though the Medical Alliance was due to arrive in the South Sea soon, she showed no sense of urgency.

This evening, after a busy day of research, the time had passed seven o’clock.

Li Qiao was listlessly looking at her phone when she heard Lian Zhen’s suggestion, "Xiao Li, do you have time? Why don’t we meet Guan Mingyu tonight?

This afternoon I got the impression from the teacher that we might need her to provide some more blood and hair samples for testing."

Li Qiao rubbed her forehead slowly and responded, "Sure, should we go now?"

Lian Zhen glanced at the research desk, closed the file in his hand, "Okay."

The two quickly agreed and left, with Li Qiao driving them to Renhe Laboratory.

Currently, the Guan family siblings were still living in the dormitory of the laboratory. Although the project had been transferred to the science research institute for study, Guan Mingyu’s volunteer agreement was still being fulfilled.

Before eight o’clock, Li Qiao and Lian Zhen arrived at Renhe’s conference room.

The Guan Family Siblings stood up to greet them as they appeared.

Especially Guan Mingyu, her eyes brimming with nervousness, her fingers tightly twisted around the hem of her trousers.

Lian Zhen routinely inquired about Guan Mingyu’s recent symptoms before taking her to the laboratory for sampling.

At this time, Guan Mingchen rubbed his hands and looked at Li Qiao with a naive smile. "Miss Li, I have passed the mental arithmetic training assessment twice recently."

Li Qiao leant against the back of her chair and lazily opened her eyelids, "Not bad, keep it up."

"I will, I will." Guan Mingchen nodded eagerly, leaning forward, "About the last conference..."

Before he could finish, Li Qiao lifted her arm, "It’s all in the past, just follow the procedure."

Guan Mingchen pursed his lips and glanced at Li Qiao as he cautiously explained, "As long as you don’t blame us, it’s fine. Mingyu... she hasn’t done anything to wrong you.

She has always respected you and has also chosen South Sea Medical University for her college entrance examination aspirations, in order to learn from you."

Li Qiao looked at Guan Mingchen’s somewhat stiff demeanor and curled her lips slightly, "That’s not necessary. I’ve never blamed you and there’s no need to learn anything from me. The matter is over, and you don’t have to think too much about it."

Guan Mingchen pressed his lips together and nodded, his reverence for Li Qiao was written all over his face.

In less than twenty minutes, Lian Zhen and Guan Mingyu returned.

Lian Zhen, organizing the documents in his hand, turned to ask Li Qiao, "I’m almost done here, is there anything else you want to instruct?"

Li Qiao slowly shook her head, "No."

Seeing this, Lian Zhen gave the Guan Family Siblings a gentle look, "Then you should also go back and rest. I’ll contact you if needed."

Guan Mingyu cast a timid glance at Li Qiao, her lips moving as if to speak, but then she held back.

Soon, Guan Mingchen took her and left the conference room. Lian Zhen took the opportunity to sit down, pinching the bridge of his nose, and began in an even tone, "Xiao Guan’s condition has improved."

After speaking, he pushed the documents he held across to Li Qiao, "Take a look at this comparison chart."

Li Qiao flipped through it casually, and before she could speak, Lian Zhen leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

After a moment, he spoke with a hint of melancholy, "If the research institute hadn’t forcibly taken this research project away, perhaps we could have tackled the issue of genetic mutation ourselves.

The project has now also drawn the attention of the Medical Alliance, letting them pick up an advantage so easily, think about it... it’s quite frustrating."

This was probably the first time Lian Zhen shared his thoughts with Li Qiao.

Even without expressing it, the actions of the research institute had deeply disappointed him.

Li Qiao pushed the report back toward him and shrugged her shoulders, her voice just as flat, "You needn’t feel frustrated, our advantage isn’t so easily exploited."

Lian Zhen’s gaze sharpened, and then he shook his head with a smile, "Hopefully."

...

Meanwhile, at the South Sea Mansion.

Zong Zhan and Shang Yu sat in the half-floor bar area, sipping their drinks and occasionally making idle conversation.

"I’m returning to Imperial Capital tomorrow, is there anything you want to instruct?" Zong Zhan balanced his leg on the bar stool, swirling his drink as he looked toward the man beside him.

Shang Yu brought his glass to his lips for a light sip, "Nothing."

Zong Zhan glanced at his taut jawline, "At the very least, that’s your future brother-in-law, aren’t you planning to go to Imperial Capital to join in the festivity?"

The man curled his lips slightly, his expression inscrutable as he glanced sidelong at Zong Zhan, "As you said, that’s the future brother-in-law."