The Favored Heiress
Chapter 619: Does He Really Want to Marry You?

Chapter 619: Chapter 619: Does He Really Want to Marry You?

In the book room, Shang Yu was on the phone.

Li Qiao knocked on the slightly ajar door, the man responded, and she stepped inside.

"Arrange it like this for now, wait for my call for the rest."

Shang Yu instructed through the receiver, then set down his phone and looked up, "Did you see the gift?"

Li Qiao leaned against the corner of the desk, holding a small black bag and shaking it slightly, "This diamond... is it from the underground market at the border?"

They had stopped at the Diamond Hall in the underground market before, and these diamonds, with their quality and size, were just like those on display there.

She hadn’t counted exactly how many there were, the palm-sized small cloth bag wasn’t very heavy, but there were definitely no fewer than fifty.

Shang Yu pulled her wrist, his eyes softly lit, "Mhm."

Li Qiao pursed her lips and met his gaze, lifting her delicate eyebrows slightly, "Did you send Jin Rong to buy them?"

At that time, he had asked her if she liked them.

And Jin Rong happened to go to the border; such a conjecture was plausible.

Shang Yu took the small bag from her hand, fiddled with the diamonds inside, his thin lips held a faint smile, "He heard you were bullied, so he retrieved a bit of interest for you; the quality is not bad. If you like them, keep them."

Li Qiao glanced at the diamonds, understanding in her heart.

Even if Jin Rong had heard of the commotion at the underground market, it wasn’t possible that he would know she had looked at the diamonds.

Therefore, who was behind this was self-evident.

Li Qiao couldn’t help but chuckle, lazily ’hmming’ in response, and seeing documents still laid out on the boss’s desk, she took a step back, "Then you keep busy, I’ll head to the lab."

As she turned to leave, the man was still holding her wrist and hadn’t let go. Li Qiao looked back, her gaze slightly surprised, "What’s wrong?"

At this moment, Shang Yu sat in his boss chair, the black shirt complementing his handsome, captivating face, sleeves rolled up above his forearms, exuding a sense of casualness and laziness.

He tugged at Li Qiao, tilting his head up slightly, his deep eyes gazing at her, "Have the experiments been numerous lately?"

"Not many." Li Qiao thought for a moment, then added, "I previously promised Lian Zhen I would follow the research institute’s project through to the end, and my trip to the border delayed the progress, so I’m catching up these days."

Shang Yu’s Adam’s apple shifted slightly, his thin lips tightened then relaxed, after a long hesitation, he finally said in a deep voice, "Take your time with the progress, alright?"

Li Qiao immediately understood.

Lately, every night when she returned to the Mansion, she mostly stayed in the lab.

It wasn’t that the research institute’s project needed to be rushed, but rather, due to the time difference, she was video-calling with Reid from the Medical Alliance every night.

Li Qiao was now urgently trying to find a way to suppress Shang Yu’s episodes.

She wanted to try everything possible, apart from medication.

Unless absolutely necessary, she really didn’t want to use medication on Shang Yu.

And she didn’t want him to know she was researching him behind his back.

Li Qiao’s thoughts were heavy, she turned her face away, then with a sidelong glance at Shang Yu, she agreed, "Okay, as you wish, I won’t go tonight."

The man’s somber face brightened.

Her every action always had the power to influence Shang Yu’s mood.

Li Qiao leaned in for a kiss on his lips and gestured towards the desk, "Get busy, I’ll keep you company."

After speaking, she took the diamonds and turned towards the couch nearby.

That night, Shang Yu, who rarely worked at the Mansion, seemed rather busy; as the night grew denser, he occasionally looked up, able to see the figure of Li Qiao, within arm’s reach.

He was busy, and she was studying diamonds.

...

The next morning, Li Qiao returned to the Li Family.

It had been a long time since her last visit, and Duan Shuyuan was visibly startled to see her. She took a sip of tea and straightened her sitting posture, "You’ve finally decided to come back."

Li Qiao scratched her ear and leisurely walked over to sit beside her, "Mom, I’ve been a bit busy lately."

Duan Shuyuan gave her a side glance with an arrogantly coy expression, "Oh, have you?"

Holding her teacup, she turned her face away and huffed lightly, "You’ve been so busy that you haven’t come back for over half a month. No wonder people say daughters will not stay once grown."

Li Qiao felt somewhat guilty and thus lowered her head, remaining silent.

At that moment, Li Guangming finished his breakfast and walked out of the dining room. Glancing up, he saw Li Qiao with her head hung low as if being scolded.

His eyes widened with surprise, and he walked over with a cheerful smile, hands clasped behind his back, "My girl has come back!"

Li Qiao called out to her dad, and Duan Shuyuan glanced at him, "You go stay to the side."

Li Guangming looked around, then sat down at the head of the table, "What’s going on? Qiaoqiao has finally come home, why are you still putting on such a face?"

"You be quiet," Duan Shuyuan glared at him, "Didn’t I talk to you about it the other day? Have you forgotten again?"

Li Guangming pursed his lips thoughtfully, looking at Li Qiao’s silent demeanor, and couldn’t help but speak up sympathetically, "The matters between those two young ones... Our girl surely knows what she’s doing. Don’t be so stern; you’re scaring the child."

Upon hearing this, Duan Shuyuan subconsciously touched her own cheek, softened her expression, and turned her head with a forced smile, "Baby, did Mom scare you?"

Li Qiao slowly looked up, meeting her mother’s gentle gaze, and shook her head, "No."

Duan Shuyuan sighed, hesitated for a few seconds, "Qiaoqiao, don’t be mad at Mom for being angry. You haven’t come back for so long. No matter how busy you are with work, you need to find a balance between work and rest, right?"

"Yeah, Mom is right."

Li Guangming’s smile deepened, pointing at Li Qiao, he commented, "Look how understanding our girl is."

The mother attempting to play the strict parent: "..."

She shook her head helplessly, then taking Li Qiao’s hand, she got straight to the point, "Baby, it’s good you’re here today. I have something I want to talk about with you."

"Go ahead," Li Qiao looked at her with a calm expression.

Duan Shuyuan chose her words carefully, leaning in close, she asked in a hushed tone, "Where have you been living recently?"

Oh, I understand.

She must want to talk about her and Shang Yu’s situation.

Li Qiao didn’t hide the truth. She chose to be honest, "I’ve been living at South Sea Mansion."

Duan Shuyuan slapped her hand with an ’I knew it’ expression and looked toward Li Guangming.

The couple exchanged meaningful glances, and without waiting for another word, Li Qiao pre-empted them, "Mom, are you asking about our marriage?"

"Yes," Duan Shuyuan nodded seriously with a grave expression, "Qiaoqiao, I’m not making a big deal out of nothing. Look, you two are living together now; isn’t it time to find a moment to get married? Although you are engaged, after all, there’s still a need for a proper reason. Tell me the truth, does he... really want to marry you?"

They were wary of Shang Zonghai, so they couldn’t directly discuss marriage with Shang Yu.

But their treasure was living with Shang Shaoyan so ambiguously without any official status, which was naturally unsettling for them as parents.

Fiancée only sounds nice; after all, it still bears the word ’unwed’.

Then, Li Qiao raised her eyes to look at Duan Shuyuan and Li Guangming. She clearly understood the intent behind their undisguised concern, and the corners of her mouth curved up, "We will get married; Dad and Mom don’t have to worry."