The Favored Heiress
Chapter 476: Heir to the Bo Family of the Imperial Capital

Chapter 476: Chapter 476: Heir to the Bo Family of the Imperial Capital

"Indeed, since you two aren’t married or registered, your attendance at the homecoming banquet does seem a bit improper," Zong Zhan said with a laugh. "So what do you two plan to..."

Before he could finish, Zong Zhan’s phone rang.

He glanced at it and answered with a frown, "What’s the matter?"

The call was from the head butler of the Imperial Capital’s Zong Family.

Whatever the person on the other end said, Zong Zhan responded with a skeptical lift of his eyebrows, "The Bo Family?"

"..."

After a moment, Zong Zhan ended the call and tossed his phone onto the table, his resolute face still showing a hint of confusion.

Leaning against the bar, Shang Yu looked at him sideways, "What’s up?"

Zong Zhan furrowed his brows and shook his head, his fingers tapping on the marble tabletop as he squinted thoughtfully, "The butler just told me that the Bo Family from Imperial Capital sent a reply—they will send someone to attend Zong Yue’s homecoming banquet."

The Bo Family of Imperial Capital.

Shang Yu withdrew his gaze from his face and looked down at his glass, speaking in a low voice, "Surprised?"

Zong Zhan, still immersed in his thoughts, tapped the tabletop even more rapidly, "Of course. Old Master Bo retired many years ago and has lived a reclusive life since. The Bo Family hasn’t made a public appearance in ages.

The invitation from the Zong Family this time was merely a formality, as the two families hardly interact.

Now that the Bo Family has suddenly accepted the invitation, everyone in the Capital circle is wondering if it means the heir of the Bo Family has returned."

"Bo Tingxiao." Shang Yu’s voice was deep as he spoke the name, his eyes slightly lowered, shielding the dark glint within.

Zong Zhan looked at him in surprise, "You know him?"

"Heard of him."

With that, Zong Zhan eyed the man’s indifferent and stern profile and drew his lips into a half-smile. "Bo Tingxiao had a falling out with Old Master Bo over a family-arranged marriage and hasn’t returned to Imperial Capital for years since. Moreover, his brother, Bo Tingsu, left with him. At the time, Bo Tingxiao was the most favored heir of the Bo Family.

Since the departure of the two brothers, the Bo Family has lacked a suitable successor.

Some say unless Bo Tingxiao returns, the Bo Family will sooner or later be washed away by the upper circles of Imperial Capital.

I suspect that the Bo Family’s sudden acceptance of the invitation is very likely because... Bo Tingxiao has come back."

If Bo Tingxiao were to return to Imperial Capital, then the existing balance within the Capital’s social hierarchy would be completely disrupted.

Then, Zong Zhan heard the man’s stern reminder, "Remember what I said."

What did he say?

Oh, protect Li Qiao well, keep other men away from her.

Zong Zhan glanced at Shang Yu, feeling that he changed the subject too quickly.

He was discussing Bo Tingxiao, and yet this man was entirely focused on his own woman.

...

The next day happened to be the weekend, and Li Qiao returned to the Li Family around noon.

Now, with the grand wedding between the Zong and Li families approaching, the major families of the South Sea had all received invitations.

As Li Qiao entered her family home and parked her car, a shadow caught her eye, and Li San’s stern and austere face appeared outside the car window.

"When did you get back?" Li Qiao opened the car door and looked up at him, raising an eyebrow.

Li San, with his hands in his pockets, squinted his eyes slightly, "Got here this morning. Mom mentioned you’re engaged to Shang Shaoyan?"

"Mm," Li Qiao replied nonchalantly and followed Li San out of the parking area, only to hear his dissatisfied retort, "Have you really thought this through? Aren’t you afraid you’ll regret it?"

Li Qiao looked up at him, "Is there a need to think?"

Li San, full of frustration, "..."

In the living room, Duan Shuyuan and Li Guangming were sorting out the guest list.

Li Qiao and Li San took their seats side by side. After a while, Duan Shuyuan raised her head and asked, "Qiaoqiao, have you not given me your guest list yet?"

Leaning on the armrest, Li Qiao propped her forehead with her fingertips, pondered for a few seconds, "Just reserve one table for me at the wedding."

"Okay, ten people per table. If it’s not enough, tell Mom again."

Li Qiao nodded unhurriedly, "Alright."

At this moment, Li San lit a cigarette, his cold eyes scanning the surroundings, "Has the second brother not come back yet?"

Without even lifting her head, Duan Shuyuan responded, "He said he’d be back tonight, who knows where he’s gone off to sell his paintings this time."

Li Qiao curled her lips into a smile, then looked at Li San, "What about Nan Xin?"

As Nan Xin was mentioned, his cigarette-holding hand paused at his lips, and his gaze grew heavy, "I don’t know."

"Hmm?" Li Qiao caught a fleeting hint of coldness in Li San’s eyes, "Isn’t she with you?"

Li San’s Adam’s apple moved as he took a harsh drag of his cigarette, "No, she came back by herself yesterday."

Li Qiao diverted her gaze, mischief in her eyes, "Did you two have a fight?"

"What could I possibly fight with her about?" Li San was annoyed but didn’t want to show it.

Having his mood affected by a woman, and moreover his own subordinate; he felt ashamed just thinking about admitting it.

...

After lunch, Li Qiao bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Li and left the house.

In the parking lot, she walked unhurriedly towards the Mercedes-Benz. Before she could open the door, she heard Li San’s low and displeased voice from a sports car not far away, "Nan Xin, who the hell have you been with?"

Still in denial about fighting, huh?

Li Qiao shook her head to herself, got into her car, and started the engine, driving out of the villa.

At half past two in the afternoon, she went to the sales office of King’s Bay Villa.

King’s Bay Villa, located in the South Sea Development Zone, offered charming scenery and was far from the noise and chaos of the city center—quite a suitable place to live.

After spending about twenty minutes there, Li Qiao walked out of the sales office.

She scanned the time on her wristwatch while leaning on the car door, seemingly calculating something.

It wasn’t until her phone vibrated that she gathered her thoughts and answered, "Senior Brother Lian?"

Lian Zhen rarely contacted her on weekends unless it was something important.

On the other end of the phone, Lian Zhen sounded a bit anxious yet couldn’t hide a streak of excitement, "Xiao Li, the research institute just issued a notice. The Medical Alliance committee will arrive this Monday, the day after tomorrow."

"Oh." Li Qiao replied without much emotion.

Lian Zhen didn’t mind and added, "The teacher said to come in for overtime work tomorrow, Sunday, to prepare in advance. Don’t forget."

Li Qiao leaned back in her seat, responding lazily, "Mm, got it..."

After hanging up the call, she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat, thought for a moment, then started the car and sped off to the South Sea Mansion.

...

In the mansion’s living room, Li Qiao sauntered in casually and immediately caught sight of Shang Yu stepping out, with Liuyun, Luoyu, and others following behind.

The man raised his thick brows, his deep and magnetic voice inquiring, "I thought you said you weren’t coming today?"

Li Qiao looked up, sighing, "There’s a last-minute thing at the research institute tomorrow."

They had agreed to meet tomorrow, but her plans were disrupted by the overtime work.

A flicker of amusement passed through Shang Yu’s deep eyes as he reached out to touch her cheek, "Then let’s go, we’ll make a trip together."

"Where to?" Li Qiao asked, curious as he led her out the door.

The man glanced at her and said with a slight tilt of his lips, "Your third brother and Qiu Huan are at the Eastern Suburb Bowling Alley, and they’ve gotten into a fight."