The Favored Heiress
Chapter 663: The Wedding Is Postponed

Chapter 663: Chapter 663: The Wedding Is Postponed

Ming Chengxun shook his head, "It’s a matter of great importance. I came directly from the shopping mall and haven’t mentioned it to anyone."

"Hmm..." Old Master Ming stood with his hands behind his back and sighed, "You keep this to yourself, don’t tell anyone."

Ming Chengxun furrowed his brow and looked at him, "Grandfather, should I have someone inquire about it...?"

Old Master Ming waved his hand dismissively, urging him, "No need, it has nothing to do with you, go back."

Ming Chengxun had no choice but to leave the study, but curiosity uncontrollably took root in his heart.

That girl looked almost identical to the portrait Grandfather treasures so dearly.

Be it her demeanor or her appearance, there must be a profound connection.

Ming Chengxun didn’t know the specifics, but he had heard his father mention that the Ming family’s retreat to Parma had something to do with the woman in that painting.

Shortly afterward, the housekeeper received a call from Old Master Ming and hurried to the study.

Upon entering, he saw Old Master Ming with one hand on his forehead, murmuring in a low voice, "Something has happened... something has happened..."

"This... Elder Ming, what’s wrong?"

Old Master Ming kept sighing and, after a long silence, instructed, "Go to the Parma shopping mall and retrieve the surveillance footage from that antique shop, and remember not to alert anyone."

...

The next day, Li Qiao and Shang Yu returned to the Shang Family Old House.

Perhaps because the house was sparsely populated, Li Qiao always felt the mansion lacked liveliness each time she returned.

Apart from the ubiquitous bodyguards and servants, only Shang Zonghai and his son Shang Lu lived there permanently.

In the main house’s living room, Shang Lu sat alone in the Taishi Chair at the side, his head bowed as he read medical texts.

Hearing footsteps outside the door, he glanced up reflexively and closed the book, standing up, "Big brother."

Shang Lu seemed to have an inherent fear of Shang Yu.

He carefully swept his eyes over Li Qiao and, with a twist of his mouth, kept silent.

Shang Yu, dressed in all black, led Li Qiao against the light as they walked in. Sunlight spilled at their feet, and as they stepped over the threshold, the moment the man spoke, Shang Lu felt the temperature drop abruptly, "Can’t you call for someone?"

He was fed up.

Every time Big Brother was with Li Qiao, he always made sure Shang Lu spoke up.

As if he was afraid Shang Lu would forget that she was his sister-in-law.

Shang Lu rolled up the medical text in his hand, gave Li Qiao a lukewarm look, "Sister-in-law."

Li Qiao nodded at him in response.

She was indifferent to Shang Lu’s aloofness, and Shang Lu was equally dismissive towards her.

Mainly, he was worried about his own illness, and even more so of his brother’s sharp and piercing gaze.

Shang Yu led Li Qiao to sit in the Taishi Chair on the left side. The servants had just brought in two cups of floral tea when Shang Zonghai arrived as promised.

"Girl, you arrived yesterday, didn’t you? Why did you only come over today?"

Shang Zonghai approached with a smile, escorted by Housekeeper Xiao, as he bantered in a loud voice.

Li Qiao politely stood up, and instinctively began, "Uncle..."

"Eh? Why are you still calling me uncle?" Shang Zonghai playfully reached out and tapped her through the air, and Li Qiao, lowering her gaze, smiled slightly, "Dad..."

The title was indeed somewhat difficult to pronounce.

Across from them, Shang Lu looked utterly astonished.

They had only met a few times, and she was already calling him dad?

At that moment, Shang Zonghai’s smile deepened as he turned to Housekeeper Xiao and spread out his hands to take the brocade box. He walked over to Li Qiao, "How long do you plan to stay in Parma this time?"

Li Qiao watched his familiar dark green brocade box in his hand, her lips curved in an ambiguous smile, "I haven’t decided yet. If necessary, I might stay a bit longer."

She had already guessed what was inside that brocade box.

Shang Zonghai’s eyes, brimming with astuteness, riveted on Li Qiao. Pleased with her response, he nodded approvingly, "It’s rare for you to come back. You might as well stay for a few more days."

With that, he offered her the brocade box he held, and fondly patted her shoulder, "Although you haven’t held the wedding yet, that’s no excuse to skip the traditions. This is your ’name changing’ gift; don’t think it’s too little."

"Of course not, thank you, Dad."

Li Qiao accepted the brocade box with gratitude and handed the Bamboo Joint Town Paper box to Housekeeper Xiao.

At this moment, Shang Lu blinked in bewilderment and, seizing the chance while Shang Zonghai and Shang Yu were talking, he inquired softly with his head held high, "Hey, did you and my brother... get a marriage certificate?"

What kind of superhuman speed was this?

Li Qiao set the brocade box on the side table and nodded, her gaze calmly scrutinizing Shang Lu.

He really was well protected – that pair of eyes similar to Shang Yu’s gleamed crystal clear, devoid of impurities.

Living in such a family and still receiving this kind of treatment, he truly was extremely fortunate.

Shang Lu felt uneasy under her gaze and touched his cheek, huffing, "Why are you staring at me?"

Then—

"Shaoheng, that’s your sister-in-law."

"She’s your sister-in-law."

Two deep, displeased voices came respectively from Shang Zonghai and Shang Yu.

Shang Lu shuddered all over and kept his head down, silent.

Shang Zonghai walked to the seat of honor and cast a glance at Shang Lu before instructing Housekeeper Xiao, "Take him to the back courtyard. Until he memorizes that medical book, don’t let him leave the house."

Stunned, Shang Lu blurted, "Wait, Dad..."

"Go now," Shang Zonghai commanded sternly.

Shang Lu pursed his lips, too angry to speak, and turned to leave the room.

In a place where Shang Zonghai and the others couldn’t see, a trace of solemnity flitted across Shang Lu’s eyes.

Shang Lu wasn’t stupid; well-protected as he might have been, he had had quite a few narrow escapes from death throughout his life.

Every time his big brother returned to Parma, his father would confine him at home.

Shang Lu’s mind was as clear as a polished mirror, recognizing this as a form of covert protection.

...

Within half a teacup’s time, Shang Zonghai had been making small talk with Li Qiao, inquiring not only about Mr. and Mrs. Li’s well-being but also about their plans for the wedding.

At this point, Shang Yu held a teacup, blowing on the steam, and without addressing the question directly, he glanced upwards and retorted, "Do you have any plans yourself, Elder?"

Shang Zonghai’s expression turned inscrutable as he patted the armrest, "The wedding is a matter for you two. Even if I had plans, would you listen?"

Li Qiao looked down demurely, indifferent to the proceedings.

She had no expectations for a wedding; besides, considering the current circumstances, it wasn’t an opportune time to have one.

As she thought, Shang Yu sipped his tea and set down the cup, leisurely rolling up his sleeves, "The wedding will be postponed. Regardless of your plans, please put them off for now."

Shang Zonghai did not oppose but instead looked at Li Qiao, "That’s fine, you have no objections, do you, girl?"

Li Qiao gave a faint smile, "No, I don’t."

Seeing this, Shang Zonghai gave a slight nod, "Then we’ll do as you say. The upcoming days are the holy month of fasting here in Parma, Shaoyan you should take the girl out more when it’s convenient. It’d be good for her to gain more experience."

Such experiences didn’t particularly interest Li Qiao.

But the words spoken by Shang Zonghai were definitely pregnant with deeper meaning.

If she indeed had ties with the Mu Family, making a public appearance in Parma City would be bound to draw attention.

For example, Young Master Ming who broke the Auspicious Beast Ornament yesterday.

Li Qiao didn’t believe his agitation was due to being awestruck by her looks; there might be another reason.