The Favored Heiress
Chapter 554: Master Thief

Chapter 554: Chapter 554: Master Thief

The person outside watched the police officers leave; moments later, they pushed the door open and entered.

Li Qiao lifted her head to see a man in a white shirt and blue trousers approaching.

About thirty-five years old, he emanated a mature aura, his every movement exuding a steadiness that comes with the passage of time.

The man walked straight up to Shang Yu, a smile playing on his lips as he greeted him, "Master Yan, it’s been a long time."

The man glanced at Li Qiao and, seeing that she was still intently sizing him up, pursed his thin lips in slight displeasure, "Please, take a seat."

Su Yujing, the current head of the Longhuai Su Family.

The interaction between him and Shang Yu wasn’t particularly close; certainly not as warm as that between friends.

"And this is?" After Su Yujing sat down and rolled up his sleeves, he turned his head to look at Li Qiao with a somewhat surprised expression.

Shang Yu took a sip from his teacup and replied, "My fiancée, Li Qiao."

Surprise flickered in Su Yujing’s eyes, but he quickly returned to calmness and nodded slightly, "Hello, Miss Li, I am Su Yujing."

Li Qiao exchanged pleasantries with him politely and perfunctorily, setting down the Su Embroidery booklet in her hand, only to hear the man begin to speak gravely, "The Su Embroidery Manor lost something?"

Su Yujing leaned back in his chair, his face showing a concerned nod, "Yes, a few days ago at the international embroidery exhibition, a Su Embroidery Thangka Painting worth hundreds of millions was lost. The police suspect it was stolen by an international criminal named Mo Jue, but it’s uncertain if it can be recovered."

Mo Jue, that name was a bit unusual.

Unknowable as a ghost or god?

Without uttering a word, Li Qiao listened to Su Yujing’s explanation and understood the full story after a few minutes.

That Su Embroidery Thangka was a century-old artifact that had been passed down and was one of the exceptionally well-preserved Thangkas still in existence.

It could also be considered a treasured heirloom of the Su Family.

To promote and expand the art of Su Embroidery Thangka, the Su Family had the painting framed and sent to the exhibition this time.

The security measures at the exhibition were supposed to be very tight, with all sorts of infrared surveillance and anti-theft precautions in place.

But no one expected that such a Su Embroidery Thangka would be stolen the night before last.

"He committed theft within the country, so why is there a need for Interpol to be involved in his capture?"

That was a question asked by Li Qiao.

During Su Yujing’s explanation, her curiosity had inevitably been piqued.

Interpol, that was within the domain of Song Lao Liu’s work.

Su Yujing massaged his temple and sighed lightly, "I’m not very clear on the details myself. The police only said that he seldom acts within the country, spending most of his time moving internationally. He is quite notorious, and he operates alone.

He prides himself on being a master thief, once even sneaking into a famous foreign museum and stealing artwork from the Renaissance period, but later he returned them.

I’ve heard Interpol has been after him for a long time, but they just can’t find his hideout."

At this point, Su Yujing’s expression became even more troubled.

The Su Embroidery Thangka was priceless, and most importantly, its artistic value was immeasurable.

If it was returned, that would be for the best, but if it was truly trafficked abroad, then recovering it would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

The Thangka itself is a priceless treasure of Tibetan culture.

At this moment, Shang Yu’s fingertips were caressing the teacup; he turned his head and asked in a subdued voice, "Do you need help?"

Su Yujing furrowed his brows, "Not for now. Interpol has already sent someone to our country. If there’s a chance to make contact, I’ll ask them about their progress first."

"Alright." The man did not insist, and the tea room fell silent for a few seconds before Su Yujing remembered the pressing matter at hand, "Right, the embroideresses have been arranged. We can start taking measurements now."

At this, Shang Yu’s lips curled into a faint smile; he looked at Li Qiao and nodded slightly, "Go ahead."

Li Qiao raised her eyebrows in surprise, "For me?"

The man’s thin lips were pressed together, his smile enigmatic.

...

Su Yujing had someone take Li Qiao to the tailoring room. As soon as she entered, seven embroideresses surrounded her and began to take her measurements. After half an hour had passed, minute by minute, they finally finished.

Meanwhile, in the beauty of the backyard’s rockery and streams, the man sat in a Taishi Chair with a cigarette between his fingers, whispering something to Su Yujing.

"All thirteen hallways of the Longhuai Su Family have been stabilized now. If Fire Hall needs anything, the Su Family hallways are duty-bound to assist," he said.

Shang Yu took a drag of his cigarette, exhaling swirling white smoke, his voice indifferent and low, "Since you’ve already left Fire Hall, you better focus on your Su Family business. Fire Hall has arranged a new hall master who will give it his all."

Upon hearing this, Su Yujing licked his back molar and stared at the man’s cold, indifferent face, "Although I’ve left, whether it’s Fire Hall or Secret Hall, I still..."

Before he could finish, Shang Yu lifted his hand holding the cigarette, cutting him off, "The Su Family need not get involved."

Su Yujing’s heart jolted, and he remained silent for a long time.

He had once been one of the four hall masters of the Secret Hall but had to leave due to succeeding the Su Family business, a decision made out of no choice.

The Su Family line had but one son and one daughter, his sister having left home many years ago, and Father Su was too old and lacking in energy to continue managing the family business.

For Su Yujing, there was no choice but to return home to take over the family legacy.

But deep in his heart, he still harbored the initial reverence and sense of belonging for the hall master and the Secret Hall.

...

Li Qiao followed the old tailor to the backyard’s flower pond just as Shang Yu and Su Yujing ended their conversation.

The man snuffed out his cigarette and stood up, taking Li Qiao’s hand and leaving Su Embroidery Manor.

Su Yujing stood outside the door in deep thought for a long time, silently sighing with mixed emotions.

In his life, the man he admired the most was Shang Shaoyan, the South Sea merchant.

Decisive in killing, fierce and arrogant, yet absolutely honorable and loyal to his own people, valuing personal connections deeply.

Leaving the Secret Hall all those years ago was an act of helplessness. Perhaps, looking back on his life years later, he might regret it.

But there was no choice, life is full of choices at every turn.

Elsewhere, Li Qiao and Shang Yu left Su Embroidery Manor and almost immediately boarded a pleasure boat on the Nanhuai River.

Apparently, it was all prearranged by him.

On the wooden boat that could accommodate seven or eight people, Liuyun clumsily rowed the oars.

Luoyu leaned against a corner of the cabin, arms crossed, mocking him, "I thought you were capable of anything, but it turns out there are things even you can’t do well."

Liuyun, his hands rowing the oars while also needing to maintain the right direction of the boat, spared a cold glance at Luoyu, "You try!"

Luoyu shrugged, "I refuse."

She couldn’t row either, and those things were larger than the paddles, not easy to control.

Liuyun glared at her and continued to row awkwardly.

Why had he volunteered to row the boat under the pretext of safety?

Wouldn’t it have been better to let the boatman come on board?

Now, not only had he failed to exhibit his talent for being capable of anything, but he had also exposed his weakness, and he didn’t know if the boss and Miss Li had heard the sound of the boat hitting the riverbank wall a moment ago.

At that moment, inside the cabin, Li Qiao sat on a low stool, tilting her head to look at Shang Yu across from her, "Why are you making a cheongsam for me?"

Earlier at Su Embroidery Manor, she learned from those embroideresses that he had ordered ten sets of handcrafted Su Embroidery cheongsams for her, of which seven were red, predominantly wine red.