The Favored Heiress
Chapter 490: Eyesore

Chapter 490: Chapter 490: Eyesore

In a room full of people, the most normal might be Third Brother Li Cheng.

He didn’t say much, instead, he took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Shang Yu.

The two men, with similar auras, sat together puffing smoke, looking as if they were underworld bosses negotiating.

Suddenly, Li Qiao came to Shang Yu’s side and naturally sat on the armrest of his sofa, while the man’s arm naturally wrapped around her waist.

All three brothers looked at his hand in unison: "..."

It was extremely irritating to the eyes.

Li Jun stared at the calm-faced Li Qiao, forcibly suppressing the words on the tip of his tongue.

Li Yan straightened his back, wanting to tell him to remove his hand, but after catching Shang Yu’s gaze, he thought it better not to.

As for Li Cheng, he smoked as if he saw nothing, occasionally glancing out the window, wondering why that damn Nan Xin hadn’t returned yet.

...

About twenty minutes later, the group moved to the dining room for dinner.

Due to Shang Yu’s silent yet powerful presence, the dinner’s solemnity could rival an international conference.

Everyone kept their heads down, silent, as if they were so immersed in the ocean of delicious food that they could not extricate themselves.

In reality, they didn’t know what to say, after all, although the presence of the big shot seemed out of place, his behavior of picking and choosing food for Li Qiao was unexpectedly harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Suddenly, the clinking of bowls and chopsticks drew everyone’s attention.

Following the sound, they saw Li Qiao holding a bowl with one hand, chopsticks resting on the rim, frowning, "Don’t add anymore, I can’t eat anymore."

In her bowl were still three or four pieces of beef and fish, while the man beside her had just picked a piece of boneless fish for her.

This scene made Mr. and Mrs. Li’s hearts skip a beat.

They subconsciously looked at Shang Yu, fearing he might think Li Qiao was spoiled and get upset.

The other three brothers also surreptitiously watched, harboring the same thought.

If he dared to be harsh to Qiaoqiao, they would...

Thinking thus, the three brothers reflexively held out their bowls almost in unison.

The message was clear: they would help eat what their sister couldn’t finish.

Only Zong Yue, who hadn’t noticed the expressions of others, watched enviously as Li Qiao and her Uncle Shaoyan interacted, then looked at her own bowl of plain white rice; not to mention fish, Li Jun had never even picked a green onion for her.

Then, as everyone was trying to help Li Qiao save face, Shang Yu had already put down his chopsticks, turned his head to look at Li Qiao with a low voice intertwined with a faint smile, "Full?"

Li Qiao nodded, and just as she was about to put down her bowl, the man’s slender fingers reached out, "Hmm, give it to me."

He wanted it, so she gave it to him.

Their movements were perfectly in sync, while the three Li brothers silently withdrew their bowls.

Whether it was an act or genuine, at that moment, every Li family member could tell, Shang Yu was especially indulgent and favored Li Qiao.

For a man occupying a high position to casually take another person’s leftovers and eat them was by no means easy.

All the more so when he was Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant.

If this was an act for show, then it was undoubtedly successful.

Even Li Jun, who was about to be married, admitted he couldn’t comfortably eat Zong Yue’s leftovers.

...

After dinner, Li Qiao and Shang Yu walked hand in hand to the backyard for a stroll.

The man had visited the Li family a few times before, but had never gone in deep.

As evening approached, Li Qiao pulled him to the tea pavilion in the backyard to sit down, and she rubbed her belly before glancing sideways and asked, "Why did you come over today?"

"Your uncle called me." The man’s arm rested on the tea table as he turned his head to look at her, his voice slightly deep, "The Li family’s gathering, you didn’t seem to have thought about inviting me?"

It should have been a question, but Shang Yu said it in a declarative tone.

Li Qiao’s hand, which had been rubbing her belly, paused, and she blinked at the man, "I forgot."

To be exact, she indeed forgot.

Or rather, she hadn’t developed that sense of awareness yet.

There was a hint of dangerous depth in the man’s eyes as he narrowed them slightly, "Did you forget, or were you unwilling?"

A gust of wind blew by, covering Li Qiao’s vision with a few strands of hair.

She raised her hand to sweep away the strands and offered an amiable but faint smile, "Next time I’ll invite you."

Shang Yu hooked his thin lips, his long arm reaching over the tea table to pinch Li Qiao’s fingers. The two were quiet for a moment before the man suddenly raised his eyebrows, "Don’t you plan to show me your room?"

Li Qiao took his hand in return and gestured towards the villa behind her, "Now?"

"Hmm, let’s go."

The man stood up, leaning on his knees. His profound profile was clear and distinct. He looked normal, but Li Qiao glanced down at his hand, wondering why he suddenly started gripping her’s so tightly.

Was he... unhappy?

Li Qiao looked askance at Shang Yu’s handsome face, blinking somewhat blankly as she looked ahead.

Upon reaching the third-floor bedroom and pushing the door open, an ivory white décor filled the room.

As they stepped in, Li Qiao casually closed the door. In the moment she looked up, the man pressed her against the door panel.

Shang Yu had one hand in his pocket, and with the other, he lightly pinched her chin, "Such a strong sense of territory?"

Li Qiao, with her back against the door, raised her eyebrows, "Hmm?"

"If I hadn’t mentioned it, when were you planning to bring me into your room?" The man leaned down, his thin lips half a centimeter from the tip of her nose.

The alluring breath that washed over made Li Qiao’s eyelids twitch. It took her several seconds of silence to grasp the implication of his words.

Li Qiao looked down with a suppressed smile, placing one hand in her pocket and wrapping the other around the man’s neck, "You can come anytime, and besides, this is just a place for sleeping. I thought you wouldn’t be interested."

She truly didn’t think her bedroom was off-limits, nor did she expect he’d be interested in her personal space.

Moreover, most of her secrets weren’t kept here.

At this moment, the man narrowed his eyes, pecking at the tip of her nose with his lips before speaking huskily, "Anything related to you interests me."

Li Qiao pursed her lips to smile, pushing at his chest to create distance, "Then I’ll give you a tour."

Shang Yu’s stern profile noticeably softened as he took her hand and walked into the room, his gaze leisurely shifting to every corner.

When they reached the desk, the man was drawn to a set of precision dismantling tools. He fingered the watch tool, casting a deep glance toward Li Qiao.

He didn’t speak, just watched her leaning against the balcony’s floor-to-ceiling window, his thick eyebrows slightly raised as if asking a question.

At that moment, Li Qiao stood with her arms crossed, looking back with utter calmness, "They’re Li San’s."

She had noticed the tools on the desk the moment they entered. After taking apart the watch, she had casually left the tools there.

The Li family’s maid was only responsible for cleaning and wouldn’t touch her stuff without permission.

Li Qiao was already prepared to respond the moment Shang Yu saw the tools.

The man pressed his lips together, turned to lean on the desk with his legs crossed in front of him, and a meaningful curve spread across his lips, "Why are his things in your room?"