The Favored Heiress
Chapter 713: Jealous

Chapter 713: Chapter 713: Jealous

Ning Yuanhang’s statement hit the ground with weight, drawing the media and audience’s attention squarely onto Shang Yu.

Ho Zijue’s gaze shifted darkly, staring in the direction of Shang Yu and Li Qiao, taking a long time to come back to reality.

Security Bureau personnel couldn’t help but inhale sharply in disbelief, as Shang Shaoyan’s identity turned out to be a secret of the Military Department, which sufficiently proved his significance to Parma.

Is there really a need for his subsidiary to evade taxes, when the annual expense on weapons and equipment was already astronomical?

Ten billion was simply laughable.

At this moment, Li Qiao leaned slightly toward Shang Yu and asked in a low voice, "Did you prepare the materials that just arrived?"

The man sat back casually, eyes downcast and lips curling, "No."

Li Qiao lifted her eyes to look into his deep ones, raised her eyebrows slightly, signaling for him to continue.

Shang Yu pursed his lips towards the phone and said with a laugh wrapped in his voice, "He Chen."

Li Qiao understood and, while surprised, felt it was only to be expected.

He Chen was of the He Family and could move in and out of Parma with ease.

Their trust and friendship among the group of brothers were inevitably stronger than any of Parma’s so-called friends.

It was impossible for them to stand by idly while Shang Yu was being maligned.

Li Qiao smiled, turned on her mobile phone, and logged onto the social media platform to check the trends in public opinion online.

Three seconds later, Li Qiao felt a surge of irritation.

The top trending keyword was: Shang Shaoyan’s Looks.

The second trending: Honorary Major General

The third trending: Shang Shaoyan’s Girlfriend.

Li Qiao’s screen was currently paused on the trending page for #ShangShaoyan’sGirlfriend#.

The discussion was incredibly active, with the entire screen filled with messages calling him husband/boyfriend.

What’s more, some even photoshopped their own pictures together with Shang Yu’s, and as one appeared, more and more netizens joined the ranks of ’girlfriend fans.’

Li Qiao held her phone tightly, casting a profound gaze towards Shang Yu’s unparalleled profile.

Realizing her gaze, the man raised his eyebrows and looked over, "What’s up?"

Li Qiao didn’t speak and slid her finger to close the social media app.

Then, under Shang Yu’s watchful gaze, a series of swift and smooth operations took place, hacking into Parma’s main social media platform’s servers, completely shutting them down.

Five minutes later, Li Qiao re-entered the social media platform, confirming it was down, then put her phone down with a clear conscience and continued to watch the hearing.

Parma Netizens: "???"

Is social media even functioning? Why can’t I log in? Are you programmers slacking off?

The hearing ended ten minutes later, and a series of evidence was sufficient to prove Shang Yu’s innocence.

Netizens, unable to post on social media, could only switch to video streaming websites to furiously assert their presence.

Following the end of the hearing, Ho Zijue was the first to lead his team out of the Independent Building.

The onsite security personnel urged the audience to leave in an orderly manner; officials from the Security Bureau and the Customs General Administration also looked sheepish, nodding to Shang Yu from a short distance before quickly leaving the premises.

At the same time, the Tribal Chief’s Council issued its first joint statement to the public, vindicating Shang Yu.

This hearing made Shang Yu the first Parma Citizen in history to receive personal protection from the Tribal Chief’s Council.

...

Outside the hall, Li Qiao and Shang Yu stepped down the stairs, hand in hand.

The midday sunlight poured over them, the man’s figure tall and distinguished, the woman’s eyes and brows delicate, her demeanor indifferent.

Countless reporters rushed to interview them, but were blocked by the many bodyguards impeding their way.

Shang Yu led Li Qiao into a black business vehicle, and as the car drove off into the distance, the bodyguards also withdrew.

The media journalists stood in place, sighing in admiration, while on the steps of the independent building, Ning Yuanyang and Qin Song watched the scene with complex expressions on their faces.

Qin Song watched as the convoy of business vehicles disappeared around the corner, glancing sideways with a tone of unmistakable grudge, "Second Uncle, why didn’t you tell me about Shaoyan’s and Wei Lang’s identities earlier?"

Ning Yuanyang tapped the documents in his hand and stepped down the stairs, leaving behind a remark, "Go ask your Big Cousin."

Qin Song: "..."

Oh, the Big Cousin is Chief Ning Yuanhang.

"What are you standing around for?" Ning Yuanyang walked down a few steps, turned back, and raised his eyebrows discontentedly, "Aren’t you going to hurry back to the police station and release the major general?"

Qin Song looked up at the sky, cursing Wei Lang in his heart once again.

...

Half an hour later, Paibo Manor was unsealed, and as Li Qiao got out of the car, she saw He Chen leaning casually against the fountain’s edge, watching their approach.

He Chen tongued his cheek and let his narrow eyes wander over the two of them, teasingly saying, "You returned quite quickly."

Shang Yu wrapped his arm around Li Qiao’s waist as they approached He Chen, his lips curving into a slight smile, "Decided to come back?"

He Chen touched his handsome face, "As if I have nothing better to do, revisiting old haunts."

The group entered the living room, and he shed his coat onto the armrest, sinking into a chair. His right ankle rested on his knee as he swung his shoe, a mischievous look in his eyes, "Little sister-in-law, what’s with the Parma social networks?"

Li Qiao cast him a glance, saying nonchalantly, "Hacked."

He Chen pointed at her from across the room, laughing uncontrollably, "Jealous, were you?"

Not long after, Shang Yu picked up a bottle of mineral water from the table, twisted it open, and handed it to Li Qiao, glancing up at He Chen, "When are you returning to the South Sea?"

He Chen stretched his arms over the chair’s back, tilted his head back, and murmured meaningfully, "Are you afraid I might run into the He Family?"

Li Qiao scrutinised him without showing any reaction. Though his face was expressionless and his tone was his usual flippant self, He Chen’s behaviour since arriving in Parma had been notably more restrained and somber than usual.

She pursed her lips, excused herself to take a walk, and left the living room to the brothers.

The enmity between He Chen and the He Family, perhaps, was not something he wished too many people to know.

After Li Qiao left, He Chen slowly opened his eyes, pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips, lighting it and taking a deep drag, "How are you planning to deal with the Elders’ Hall?"

The man reached for the cigarette pack thrown his way, his eyes veiled with severity, "Expulsion."

"Not too bad, at least my trip wasn’t wasted," He Chen puffed at his cigarette heavily, his handsome features blurred by the smoke, "I didn’t come to Parma for you, so don’t get all emotional."

Shang Yu crossed his legs elegantly, bringing a cigarette to his lips with a faint smile, murmuring, "You’re overthinking it."

He Chen scoffed lightly, his eyes filled with unresolved gloom, "I hear the He Family was affected by this incident, did that waste He Qing hold you back?"

"Not exactly, he’s got his own difficulties."

At this, He Chen spat out smoke with scorn, "Who doesn’t have difficulties? Why is he the only one making a fuss?"

Shang Yu didn’t continue the topic, leaning forward to flick the ash, and gazed deeply at He Chen, "Can’t let go?"

He Chen’s gaze paused, turning to look out the window, lifting his lips enigmatically, "To the bitter end."

The man narrowed his eyes, his voice deep, "As you wish, just say what you need."

"Don’t worry, I alone am enough to deal with the He Family," He Chen said with a slow sneer, a rare murderous intent surfacing in his dark, narrow eyes.