The Favored Heiress
Chapter 566: Secret Hall Examination

Chapter 566: Chapter 566: Secret Hall Examination

Li Qiao didn’t know how to describe her feelings at the moment, maybe the deep night always made people melancholic and sentimental.

She remained silent, wrapped her arms around Shang Yu’s waist, and pressed her body close to his embrace, responding to his thoughtfulness with her actions.

...

The next day, at ten-thirty in the morning, Li Qiao was woken up by the vibration of her cell phone.

It was a call from Song Liao.

Li Qiao propped herself up, bleary-eyed, leaning against the headboard, and asked lazily, "What’s up?"

Song Liao’s robust voice came through the receiver, "I’m at the police station, flying back to Faliang this afternoon."

"Got it, I’ll be there in a bit."

Li Qiao put down her phone and blankly spaced out for a moment, then turned to glance at the spot beside her, where a memory suddenly came to mind.

How exactly was she going to repay Shang Yu?

Li Qiao closed her eyes, sighed, and threw back the covers to get out of bed.

In a blink, she arrived in the living room downstairs, her eyes lazily sweeping over the surroundings. She noticed, to her surprise, two people under the patio umbrella in the distance, one sitting, one standing.

He didn’t go to the company?

Li Qiao glanced at her watch—just eleven o’clock.

She walked over to the French window and looked out carefully, recognizing at a glance the man standing by Shang Yu’s side as Zuo Xuan from Secret Hall.

At this moment, footsteps sounded from behind. Luoyu, holding milk and a sandwich, bent down to place them on the coffee table and said, "Miss Li, the boss asked you to come to see him after you’ve eaten."

Li Qiao turned and thanked her, then sat down on the sofa, took a small sip of milk, and asked, "When did Zuo Xuan arrive?"

He usually stayed in Secret Hall and rarely appeared in the Mansion unless there was something important.

Luoyu thought for a moment and answered honestly, "He’s been here since nine in the morning, discussing matters with the boss the whole time."

Li Qiao understood, ate her sandwich unhurriedly, and then rose to head for the patio.

September had arrived, bringing sunny and refreshing weather.

Under the umbrella, Shang Yu sat with his legs crossed, his black shirt’s collar fluttering gently in the breeze, and that deep, lingering gaze had been locked on Li Qiao ever since she appeared.

Zuo Xuan was still reporting in a low voice. When his words ended without a response from the man, a flicker in the corner of his eye caught Li Qiao’s approaching figure.

He stepped aside with a respectful posture, "Miss Li."

Li Qiao nodded to him and walked deliberately to the seat opposite the man, lifting her eyelids slightly, "You wanted to see me?"

Shang Yu pressed his lips together, leaned forward, his elbows on the table’s edge, "Are you interested in taking part in Secret Hall’s assessment?"

"When?" Li Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

The man opened his palms to her, pinching her soft fingers, and smiled enigmatically, "It depends on your schedule."

Li Qiao glanced at Zuo Xuan, pondered for a few seconds, "Is this specially arranged for me?"

Shang Yu had mentioned before that she could visit Secret Hall anytime, but if she wanted to use any of Secret Hall’s forces, she had to pass an assessment.

He certainly wasn’t acting on impulse.

The only logical explanation was that he was ready to grant her the authority to utilize Secret Hall.

At this point, the man gave Zuo Xuan a look, and the latter immediately understood, nodding and saying, "Miss Li is mistaken. It just so happens that the head of Second Hall has returned to South Sea, and Master Qiu is preparing for another assessment. If you would also like to participate, I can arrange it for you."

Oh, so it was Qiu Huan.

Li Qiao’s fingers curled around Shang Yu’s, her chin resting on her hand as she looked at Zuo Xuan, "What’s the content of Second Hall’s assessment?"

Zuo Xuan answered every question, "Information exchange and operation tasks, set by Red Guests."

Just computer technology.

Li Qiao redirected her gaze toward Shang Yu, and as their eyes met, she slightly curled the corner of her mouth, "Alright, then count me in."

"I will arrange the time and then inform Miss Li," Zuo Xuan responded with a nod, before retreating to stand quietly on the side.

Li Qiao looked straight into Shang Yu’s eyes and asked in a soft voice, "Has anyone passed the Secret Hall’s assessment?"

Zuo Xuan had said earlier that Qiu Huan was to retake the assessment for the First Hall, which meant he had not passed it previously.

The man’s thin lips slightly tilted, "Not yet."

Even He Chen had only passed the assessments of three hall masters.

Li Qiao smiled faintly and casually made a comment, "It seems to be quite challenging."

Shang Yu’s lips curved into a barely visible smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Soon after, Li Qiao’s phone in her pocket vibrated. She took it out and said, "I’m stepping out for a bit, I’ll be back later."

The man raised his thick eyebrows without showing much emotion, and his gaze darkened slightly, "Not going to the research institute today?"

Li Qiao shook her head, "Not going for the next two days."

She hadn’t told Shang Yu that she had already begun handing over the research project she was working on.

Scientific experiments do not tolerate distractions, and she couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be emergencies in the future. To be safe, withdrawing halfway was the best choice for the moment.

Li Qiao didn’t delay any further, and after giving a few instructions to the man, she left the Mansion.

After she left, Zuo Xuan came back under the parasol and bowed his head with a deep voice, "Hall Master, Master Qiu doesn’t know about the assessment yet, do you want me to contact him in advance?"

Shang Yu watched the departing Mercedes, then rolled his Adam’s apple, "I’ll talk to him. Arrange the assessment as soon as possible, and after the First Hall is done, inform the Second Hall to come back."

Zuo Xuan showed surprise, pondered for a moment, and then replied that he understood.

It was clear that the Hall Master was very confident in Miss Li, seemingly certain she could smoothly pass the First Hall’s assessment.

The so-called assessment was specifically arranged for Miss Li.

Master Qiu was probably just an excuse and a disposable tool.

...

At noon, Li Qiao parked her car outside South Sea Police Station. Just as she turned off the engine, Song Liao came out of the lobby with Mo Jue.

Li Qiao opened the door and stepped out of the car. Just as she walked past the hood, Mo Jue, wearing a beige shirt and slacks, jumped up and down on the spot, waving his hands energetically, "My ancestor!"

Song Liao turned his head to look at her. Mo Jue had a green fabric bag slung over his shoulder. She tugged on the strap and looked back at him, "What are you looking at me for? Didn’t I return your wallet?"

Indeed, not just the wallet, but also his ID holder was returned.

But Song Lao Liu was still suspicious; Mo Jue didn’t know him and there was no reason for him to steal his wallet and ID.

Instead, he felt it was more likely that Li Yan had put him up to it.

Yet Mo Jue insisted that she was responsible for all of it and that it had nothing to do with her boss. With this, Song Lao Liu couldn’t push further, after all, Li Yan was still the second older brother of their ’Kid’.

He always sided with relatives over reason.

Before long, Li Qiao approached them. Before she could speak, Mo Jue hurriedly latched onto her arm in an overly familiar manner, "Ancestor, did you come to... ouch!"

Before she could finish speaking, Song Lao Liu slapped Mo Jue’s hand away. He pulled Li Qiao to his side and sternly warned her, "Speak properly, don’t be handsy."

This kid was known for sticky fingers, and it would be terribly embarrassing if he were to steal something from ’Kid’ right in front of him.

Mo Jue looked at his reddened wrist, rolled his eyes at Song Liao, then approached Li Qiao again, "Ancestor, are you here to see me off?"