The Favored Heiress
Chapter 544: I Will Only Help You

Chapter 544: Chapter 544: I Will Only Help You

Shang Yu looked at He Chen’s subconscious reaction, pinching his fingers on the glass and giving it a gentle shake, "What do you think she will do?"

He Chen crunched on an ice cube, his teeth chattering slightly. After taking a sip of alcohol, he provocatively arched his eyebrows and said, "She has come back with you, so she must have chosen you.

But whether Charlman will play dirty tricks between you two, that’s hard to say, especially since they have a past where they shared life-and-death experiences.

This is just like asking me to choose between you and Zong Lao San. Love in the left hand, righteousness in the right, it’s an absolute dilemma for anyone."

Although He Chen was a libertine, he was not vague about serious matters.

Problems he could think of, Shaoyan could not possibly be unaware of.

Li Qiao seemed to have chosen him, but who knew about the future?

Feelings have always been unable to withstand unexpected events.

After this conversation, Shang Yu remained silent for a long time.

He held his glass and sipped lightly, finishing the alcohol in no time.

The man poured himself another half glass, lifting his thin lips, his voice deep and hoarse, "As long as she chooses me, nothing is a problem."

Even if Xiao Yehui was likely to employ extreme measures, he would not let Li Qiao fall into a dilemma.

He Chen glanced at him with a faint sneer, "You’re pretty optimistic."

"Otherwise... kill Xiao Yehui?" Shang Yu’s gaze darkly shifted towards the liquor cabinet.

He Chen used the tip of his tongue to push against his cheek, "If that son of a bitch was that easy to kill, he wouldn’t have hidden for so many years.

I heard from the second brother that ever since he revealed his identity, the Chairman Family’s doors have been swarming with visitors.

He’s wooing connections and gathering forces. I think he probably won’t have the time to deal with you in the short term."

...

The next day, Li Qiao didn’t wake until ten in the morning.

The curtains in the master bedroom were tightly drawn, shielding against the bright sun. The September weather was not as stifling as the summer heat; the sunshine was warm and the breeze refreshing.

Li Qiao woke up and stared blankly at the ceiling, still feeling a surreal sense of disbelief. It took her a while to sit up hugging her quilt.

She picked up the remote control and raised the curtains, letting a flood of bright sunlight pour in through the windows.

There was a missed call on her phone from Yun Lih.

Li Qiao stepped out of bed barefoot, stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window looking out over the lush mountains, and dialed him back.

After three rings, Yun Lih’s husky voice came through, "You awake?"

"Mhm." Li Qiao lazily collapsed onto the deckchair by the window, her arm draped over her forehead, licking her lips, "Did you need something?"

Yun Lih fell silent, and with the flick of a lighter, he let out a laugh, "Now that you’re awake, hurry down. I’ve been waiting for you four hours."

Li Qiao didn’t react at first, propping herself up from the deckchair, "You’re at the Mansion?"

Yun Lih didn’t respond but simply hung up the phone.

...

A dozen minutes later, Li Qiao, after taking a shower and casually slipping into a home dress, languidly sauntered out of the master bedroom.

Downstairs in the living room, Yun Lih was still wearing his usual sharp attire: a gray shirt and suit trousers.

He sat cross-legged on the sofa, surrounded by swirling smoke, alone without Shang Yu, lost in clouds and mist.

Hearing footsteps, Yun Lih glanced towards the staircase, "Decided to come downstairs?"

Li Qiao instinctively looked around, not seeing the man’s figure, and walked over to sit opposite him, tugging at her lips, "When did you get here?"

"Six o’clock." Yun Lih pinched off his cigarette and picked up the cool tea from the table for a sip.

As he spoke, he took his suit jacket from the armrest, pulled out a delicate women’s wristwatch, and gave it a few glances, "You’re quite capable, not afraid that I’d lose this thing."

Li Qiao reached out across the coffee table to take the wristwatch and naturally put it on her wrist, "How did you find it?"

That night, by the flower bed at the bottom of Cloud City Hospital, she had secretly slipped the wristwatch into Yun Lih’s suit jacket.

That was also how she managed to deceive Shang Yu and return to British Imperial.

Yun Lih didn’t answer, but instead looked at her right hand wrapped in gauze, his brow furrowed, "What happened to your hand again?"

He had never seen a woman who cared so little for herself.

Getting injured every so often and always playing it down.

"A minor injury." Li Qiao glanced at the slightly damp gauze and leaned back into the couch, "You’ve heard about Huizai’s business, then?"

Yun Lih looked at her still-dripping hair, averted his gaze, and looked out the window, "I’ve heard a bit. Xia Lao Wu and the rest... They’re quite happy."

Li Qiao curved her lips but remained noncommittal.

If not for those prerequisites, she would be happy too.

But now, she only felt irony.

Yun Lih leaned against the couch, lifted his eyelids to survey her, "Have you already seen them?"

Li Qiao nodded indifferently, her tone casual as she briefly explained.

After she finished, Yun Lih sighed lightly, shaking his head, "I knew it wouldn’t be that simple."

Even though Li Qiao didn’t share many details, he could guess that something unfortunate must have happened.

The atmosphere in the living room grew somewhat somber.

Yun Lih clicked his tongue and picked up the cigarette box from the coffee table again, "I originally got to know them through you, so no matter what happens, remember, I will only help you."

Li Qiao’s eyelids twitched, and she looked up to meet Yun Lih’s profound gaze, slowly revealing a smile, "I know."

"Xia Lao Wu is okay, eating and sleeping just fine. If you’re planning to go see him, do you want me to come with you?"

Li Qiao pursed her lips, "No need, I will go, but it might take a few days. Calling you back at that time..."

Yun Lih exhaled a thick plume of smoke, "You don’t need to be so formal with me. The Mercenary Group has Yun Ling holding the fort, nothing will go wrong.

Even Xia Lao Wu thinks she was too careless, you don’t have to take all the responsibility on yourself."

As the conversation reached this point, steady and forceful footsteps could be heard from outside the living room.

Both turned to look, only to see Shang Yu in black clothes entering from the door, carrying a dark green brocade box that surprised Li Qiao.

That was...

Yun Lih stood up when he saw him, not exactly willingly, but he called out with enough respect, "Association leader."

The man waved his hand, passing the brocade box to Li Qiao, then ruffled the top of her head, "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet." Li Qiao took the familiar brocade box, knowing without looking that inside were another twenty pages of translation documents from Shang Zonghai.

At the moment, Shang Yu’s palm was dampened by the moisture from her hair. He rolled his fingertips and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Go dry your hair, then have dinner."

Li Qiao looked up at him and agreed cheerfully.

Yun Lih sat across and watched their nonchalant interaction. That understanding between them, inaccessible to outsiders, always made him feel stifled.

He licked at his back teeth, watching Li Qiao ascend the stairs. Once seated again, he spoke in a low voice, "The incident with Xia Lao Wu, does it involve Xiao Yehui?"

Shang Yu strode over to the single couch and sat down, arching an eyebrow at him, "Did Qiaoqiao tell you that?"