The Favored Heiress
Chapter 513: How Did We Get Involved with the Charlman Family?

Chapter 513: Chapter 513: How Did We Get Involved with the Charlman Family?

That evening at 7:30, the business van made its way to Imperial Capital International Airport.

Just before the plane took off, Li Qiao sent a farewell message to Bo Tingxiao and expressed that she couldn’t stay in Imperial Capital for long.

In the Bo Family’s mansion, Bo Tingxiao sat in the tea pavilion in the backyard, staring at the message on his phone for quite some time.

He looked up at the twilight above, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if it were barely there.

"Eldest Young Master, Mr. Li is here."

At that moment, a servant walked over from the front courtyard’s veranda, followed by the tall, intimidating figure of Li Cheng.

Bo Tingxiao waved his hand dismissively, picked up a cigarette from the table, and as Li Cheng took a seat, he offered one, "Why didn’t you go back to the South Sea with them?"

Li San leaned back in the wicker chair, legs crossed, pinching a cigarette in his fingers and biting it in his mouth, "Making the trip seemed unnecessary, I arranged a plane to come here."

The two chatted casually, their postures relaxed.

Although Li San’s relationship with Bo Tingxiao wasn’t as casual as Li Qiao’s, they had joined forces at the border to deal with troublesome affairs and could certainly be called friends.

"Has Nan Xin gone back first?" Bo Tingxiao asked, pursing his lips around a cigarette, gazing thoughtfully down the front courtyard path.

Li San nodded, licked his cheek, and with a lift of his brows through the wisps of smoke, inquired, "Brother Xiao, did you specifically ask me to come here because there’s something you want to discuss?"

People like them, who long dwelled in the tumultuous border areas.

Rarely would they communicate too much over the phone unless they were in an absolutely safe place.

Especially under the overdeveloped domestic network environment, where the likelihood of communications being monitored was extremely high.

Bo Tingxiao pursed his lips and stretched an arm out to tap the cigarette ash into the ashtray, "You had me look into Xiao Yeyan’s affairs before, remember?"

"I do." Li San narrowed his eyes, his facial features sharpening, "Has he come back again?"

Originally, when Li Jun was framed and Ye Yun died accidentally in the police station, Xiao Yeyan was undoubtedly involved.

But for lack of evidence, the prison guard who poisoned Ye Yun was hastily sentenced for manslaughter and jailed.

The issue didn’t escalate, reportedly being suppressed quietly. Even Fei Zhihong from the South Sea Police Station wasn’t implicated, which was a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune.

Now, Bo Tingxiao slowly crossed his legs, his expression becoming more enigmatic, "He hasn’t returned yet.

But today I called you over to inform you that I’ve received intel from the British Imperial, apparently the Chairman Family’s second son hasn’t recovered from his severe injuries, and the duke is very dissatisfied with this.

Although I’m not clear on the specifics of your entanglement with Xiao Yeyan, the fact that he was injured is true. Given the Chairman Family’s prominent status in the British Imperial, be cautious of their potential retaliation."

Li San slowed his smoking, a tumult rising in his gaze, his voice low and harsh, "I understand."

Hearing this, Bo Tingxiao turned his head with an inscrutable look and asked, "How did you get involved with the people from the Chairman Family?"

Li San briefly explained the cause and effect.

As his words ended, a heavy silence gradually enveloped the quiet tea pavilion.

Bo Tingxiao’s fingers tightened, his eyes clouding with a dense haze, "Was Li Qiao also involved?"

Li San took a deep drag of his cigarette, his eyes sharp, "When elder brother was in trouble, it was Qiaoqiao who dealt with it. As for Xiao Yeyan’s injury, it’s unlikely to have been her doing.

Later, I spoke with elder brother on the phone, he didn’t share many details, but he mentioned that Xiao Yeyan was intentionally getting close to Qiaoqiao."

Bo Tingxiao said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he looked ahead.

After a moment, Li San put out his cigarette, pulled out his phone to check the time, stood up and said, "Brother Xiao, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading off."

Bo Tingxiao relaxed his furrowed brow and also rose to his feet, stretching his legs before saying, "Yes, that’s fine, you can go then."

As for the Chairman Family’s affairs, I will send someone to keep an eye on the movements over at the British Imperial side.

"Unless absolutely necessary, it’s better not to get into a direct conflict with them right now."

Li San furrowed his brows as he accepted the suggestion, then promptly strode away from the Bo Family estate.

After he left, Bo Tingxiao sat down again and methodically took out his mobile phone to make a call, speaking in Burmese, "Yan, it’s me."

...

The next day, which happened to be a Monday, Li Qiao woke up early in the morning, had her breakfast at the Mansion, and then went to register at the research institute.

She spent the whole morning at the experiment table, efficiently completing the experimental work that had piled up from the previous week.

As lunchtime approached, she removed her mask and pushed the microscope aside, rubbing her neck, when her mobile phone, tucked in the pocket of her white lab coat, rang just in time.

It was a call from Zong Yue.

Li Qiao answered the phone and walked towards the door, "Sister-in-law?"

She uttered the term "sister-in-law" with particular ease.

However, this caught Zong Yue off guard for a moment; she then responded with a light laugh, "Qiaoqiao, are you still busy?"

Li Qiao glanced at her watch and moved to the corridor, leaning against the wall, "Just finished. What’s up?"

"I was thinking of having lunch with you. Your big brother will also be coming. Are you free?"

Li Qiao pondered for a moment, looking at the somewhat gloomy sky outside the window, "I’m free, where to?"

Zong Yue’s voice noticeably brightened, "There is a barbecue restaurant near your research institute. Knowing you’re busy, let’s not go too far."

Hearing her words, Li Qiao couldn’t help but curl her lips in a smile, "Okay."

Zong Yue smiled and pursed her lips, turning her head inside the car to look at the entrance of the research institute, "I’m already downstairs, are you coming down now?"

Li Qiao hung up the phone and returned to her experiment table, exiting the building a few minutes later.

On the sidewalk by the side street, Zong Yue stood by the car wearing a flowing long dress and looking at her phone, exuding an extraordinarily gentle and tranquil air.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and greeted Li Qiao with a smile, waving, "Qiaoqiao."

Li Qiao approached with a shallow smile, glancing at the sports car Zong Yue had driven, "What made you suddenly think of inviting me to lunch?"

Zong Yue smiled mysteriously as she took her hand and opened the passenger car door for her, "Get in the car first, I’ll tell you about it in here."

The drive from the research institute to the barbecue restaurant took only five minutes, and during the ride, Zong Yue said it was to thank Li Qiao, so she invited her for a meal.

Barbecue restaurant’s private dining room.

When Li Qiao and Zong Yue entered, they found that Li Jun had already arrived ahead of time.

He was perusing the menu and motioned towards the seats when he saw them, "Sit down, I’ve ordered two cups of the special herbal tea, which you should like."

A table for four, with Li Jun sitting on the inside seat.

Zong Yue glanced around and took a seat next to Li Qiao without hesitation, clearly to make things easier for her.

After they ordered the food, Li Jun took a sip of tea and looked directly at Li Qiao, "Qiaoqiao, those two houses at King’s Bay Villa, were they from you?"

Two houses?

Li Qiao leaned against the wall that was beside her seat and lifted her eyelids, not answering but counter-asking, "What about them?"

Li Jun and Zong Yue exchanged glances. Then Li Jun pulled out a briefcase from behind and took out two kraft paper bags, "Xiao Yue and I are doing quite well in my apartment, we won’t be needing these villas for the time being, you should..."