The Favored Heiress
Chapter 647: Never Falling Apart in This Life, Please Advise Me for the Rest of My Days

Chapter 647: Chapter 647: Never Falling Apart in This Life, Please Advise Me for the Rest of My Days

Li Qiao looked at Xi Luo’s teasing expression and tugged at the corner of her mouth, "When did you get back?"

"Yesterday morning." Xi Luo, dressed in a neat women’s suit, pulled out a chair and sat down, "I’ve completed the tasks you assigned. The acquisition should be finished within about half a month."

Li Qiao nodded in her usual calm manner, "Do you need to see me about something?"

Xi Luo’s smile remained undiminished as she rapped her knuckles on the table, "It’s nothing major, we can talk later. Right now, I’m more curious as to why you’d have someone go after Yin Mo. What outrageous thing has she done?"

Li Qiao leaned against the armrest, watching Xi Luo with the face of a gossip-hungry onlooker, but said nothing, just calmly observed her.

Three seconds later, Xi Luo raised her hands in surrender, "Fine, pretend I didn’t ask, but... if you need any help, don’t be shy to tell me."

As a member of the Flame Alliance, Xi Luo rarely questioned right or wrong and often acted on impulse.

With an unhurried ’hmm,’ Li Qiao smoothly changed the subject, "Everything going smooth in Myanmar?"

"Smooth enough, there were some minor hiccups, but they didn’t affect the big picture."

Since Xi Luo described it that way, Li Qiao did not inquire further.

Being a classic powerful woman, if she called it a ’minor hiccup,’ the issue was probably not a big deal indeed.

...

Time flew by, and three days passed.

Li Qiao spent her days at the fund company and, with time to spare in the evenings, she’d head to the Mansion’s laboratory to make progress.

Although busy and fulfilled, one matter nagged at her thoughts.

Had Shang Yu filled out that marriage registration form?

That afternoon, Li Qiao, holding a mug, stood at the conference room window overlooking the Yan Emperor Headquarters Building across the street, contemplating whether to go over and see him.

To register or not, at least give me an answer.

A touch of irritation appeared on Li Qiao’s face, difficult to articulate.

At that moment, her phone on the desk buzzed.

Li Qiao picked it up and was surprised to see it was Luoyu.

Normally, the four assistants rarely called her, and lately, each of them seemed very busy, often elusive, including Shang Yu, who was always absent.

Li Qiao answered the call without uttering a word, only to hear Luoyu’s exceptionally deep voice, "Miss Li, can you come back to the Mansion now?"

"Now?" Li Qiao took a sip of water, her gaze shifting subtly, "What’s happened?"

Luoyu seemed to be having trouble deciding how to respond and, after several hesitations, repeated the same line, "If you’re free, you should come back and see for yourself."

Li Qiao didn’t bother with further questions; something must have happened to make Luoyu act this way.

She said she’d be right there and ended the call, leaving her office promptly.

On her way to the exit, she passed by the reception where two employees were gossiping during their lunch break.

Li Qiao hurried past, overhearing their whispered conversation: "Zong Yue didn’t come in today. I heard something happened at home. Everyone’s guessing it’s marital trouble since she’s never talked about her husband and she’s never worn a wedding ring."

"Maybe there really is something going on at home."

"Come on, I’ve already looked into it. Zong Yue is from Imperial Capital; she has no relatives here in South Sea, just her and her husband at home. Other than marital issues or a quarrel, what else could it be?"

Hearing this, Li Qiao firmed her face and furrowed her brows. Workplace rumors were always varied and, even if she clarified matters now, more would arise later.

She cast a brooding glance at the two female colleagues at the reception and her eyes landed on their name badges. She narrowed her eyes slightly, said nothing, and quickened her pace towards the elevator area.

...

Li Qiao managed to rush back to the Mansion in half an hour.

Whether it was psychological or not, today, every corner of South Sea Mountain seemed unusually quiet and empty.

As she drove onto the platform in front of the Mansion, she paused before getting out of the car, glanced at the glove compartment, and pulled out the Desert Eagle, tucking it into the back of her waist.

Li Qiao didn’t think the mansion would encounter any danger, but it was always good to be prepared just in case.

She walked leisurely toward the porch, and in front of the stairs, a plain black modern sedan was parked.

Li Qiao’s gaze swept vigilantly around, not even her usual bodyguards were in sight.

The last time this had happened was the night Madam Xiao had visited.

Li Qiao walked past the business sedan, glanced over the car, which was empty.

The mansion was filled with eeriness today, including the living room curtains that were drawn tightly shut.

Li Qiao became more certain of her guess and stepped up the stairs, ready to enter.

Just at that moment, Luoyu, who had appeared from nowhere, called out softly from behind her, "Miss Li."

Li Qiao, standing on the stairs, turned back, her tense expression relaxing slightly, "What on earth is going..."

Before she could finish, Luoyu, standing alone on the spot, stretched out her hand to point at the sky.

Li Qiao followed the direction of her fingertip and looked up, only then did she see a small drone hovering in mid-air.

A look of confusion appeared in her eyes, and just as she was about to withdraw her gaze and ask Luoyu, the drone suddenly shook and dropped a sky-blue banner.

Li Qiao watched as the banner slowly unfurled, her gaze moving from surprise to realization, and then her lips curled into a smile, her heart brimming with warmth.

Actually, even before the banner had unfurled, Li Qiao had a hunch.

Considering the secretive actions of the four assistants in recent days, she thought the banner might read a common phrase:

——Will You Marry Me?

But in reality, the banner bore a different message: "Mrs. Shang, in this life there will be no betrayal, please guide me for the rest of our days."

Those striking three words made Li Qiao’s face flush uncomfortably red.

She had always felt a bit like she was pressuring Shang Yu about getting the marriage certificate.

Although he had never given any promises, she had taken his choice for granted.

It was purely out of the certainty she felt for their relationship.

Most importantly, whether they got the certificate or not didn’t seem to change anything for her.

Not until the words ’Mrs. Shang’ caught her eye did Li Qiao realize the real change that would come with getting the certificate.

She didn’t move, staring steadily at the banner.

Then, Li Qiao heard through the walkie-talkie on Luoyu’s belt, Wang Yue’s complaint, "Zhui Feng, you big moron, drone number one has the wrong banner. Luoyu, hurry and get Miss Li inside..."

Li Qiao looked at the banner and sighed softly to herself.

A mix-up?

It made sense, without the certificate, her claim as Mrs. Shang was dubious at best.

But the message was quite fitting for the occasion.

——In this life there will be no betrayal, please guide me for the rest of our days.

Was it written by Shang Yu?

Li Qiao cast a helpless glance at Luoyu, then turned and ascended the steps, heading straight for the living room.

From the scene outside, Li Qiao had already guessed Shang Yu’s intentions.

She figured he must have finished the registration form, and she should be able to go to the head of the civil registry to get their marriage booklet that afternoon.

Therefore, Li Qiao walked briskly into the living room, and without much thought, looked up, completely stunned.

Four people were sitting on the sofa, wearing matching uniforms, with briefcases at their feet, each expressing solemnity yet restraint.

On the coffee table were stacked thick files, an embossing machine, the marriage booklet, a camera, and a backdrop...