The Favored Heiress
Chapter 755: They are the Marquis and Marchioness Lawrence

Chapter 755: Chapter 755: They are the Marquis and Marchioness Lawrence

Ten minutes later, a group of seven or eight people arrived at the hotel’s business hall reception room.

The carved double doors opened, and the sight inside took Xia Siyu and the others by surprise, causing them to forget themselves.

Who had brought the fashion week here?

The business hall, big enough to accommodate a meeting of fifty people, was filled with various types of gorgeous attire.

There were mermaid dresses, evening gowns, and countless men’s tailcoats and suits.

Xi Luo leaned against the door, eyes sweeping over Song Liao and the others. "After all, it’s a noble dinner, you kids can’t dress too... understated."

For a European dinner, one must dress to the nines – it’s an unwritten rule of etiquette.

Xi Luo smiled slightly, adding, "If you want to wear the clothes you brought, that’s fine, but I guess you didn’t bring a styling team. Everything is prepared inside, so don’t be shy, kids."

How should one put it? Xi Luo’s charm and savvy instantly maxed out her likability.

Xia Siyu and the others looked at Li Qiao, and after seeing her nod in agreement, they walked in to start selecting clothes.

At that moment, Xi Luo gestured with her mouth towards the outside of the business hall and nudged Li Qiao with her shoulder. "You, come with me."

Gu Chenn subconsciously tried to follow but was dissuaded by a single look from Xi Luo.

The adjacent small hall, around fifty square meters, featured a conference table with a black gift box tied with a bow.

Xi Luo patted the gift box. "This is from Master Yan for you."

Li Qiao raised an eyebrow. "Where is he?"

"How should I know," Xi Luo answered defiantly. "He’s not my man."

Li Qiao approached and untied the bow. She turned her eyes softly, not speaking, and fixed Xi Luo with her beautifully shaped doe-eyes.

After three seconds, Xi Luo raised her hand in defeat. "He had to go out for something and asked me to give this to you."

"You two know each other well?"

Li Qiao was not jealous, just surprised by Xi Luo’s attitude.

She was a bit too... obedient.

The Xi Luo who had dared to throw Li Qiao under the bus at the police station was not someone who just went along with anything.

Seeing this, Xi Luo leaned against the table, nonchalant and calm, and made things up, "We’re fairly acquainted. Master Yan said he’d introduce a boyfriend to me, so we help each other out."

Complete nonsense.

Li Qiao didn’t bother to argue and opened the box. Inside was a black velvet thin-strap gown sprinkled with stars.

She lifted the dress by the straps, the velvet material was light, sewn with a row of rare olive green diamonds.

Before Li Qiao could speak, her phone in her pocket rang.

Upon seeing the caller, her lips curved into a smile as she answered, "You’re not at the hotel?"

The man’s deep, magnetic voice resonated in her ear, "Hmm, I’m out doing something with Feng Yi. Do you see the dress?"

Without asking more questions, Li Qiao touched the velvet fabric and smiled lightly, "I see it."

Shang Yu seemed to chuckle, "Remember to pick a shawl in the business hall."

Li Qiao paused, "..."

Oh, so the grand and beautiful attire in the business hall was prepared by him.

There was still time, Li Qiao decided to change into her gown later.

She pulled over a chair to sit down, while Xi Luo half-leaned against the table corner, leaning in to ask, "What were you scheming in the nanny car earlier?"

"Chatting."

Xi Luo smiled, "You need to send Luoyu away to chat? She may be naive, but do you think I am too?"

Li Qiao turned a deaf ear, bowing her head occasionally to tap on the screen, apparently sending a message.

Xi Luo stroked the top of her head and gently persuaded, "Come on, tell sister, what do you want to do after entering the manor? If you don’t say, I’ll go ask your Master Yan."

Li Qiao lifted her head, her lips curving into a smile, "Knowing too much can get you silenced."

...

It was past three o’clock, everything was ready.

In front of Platinum Luster Hotel, several black guest-receiving cars sent by the Ducal Residence were parked.

Couples from the aristocracy walked out of the lobby in their finery, among them government officials and members of the Royal Family.

Xia Siyu and the others followed their father onto the guest-receiving cars while Song Liao, Xi Luo, and Gu Chen rode together.

Before getting into the car, Gu Chen eyed Xi Luo, clad in a holy white mermaid dress, and squinted curiously, "Don’t you need to accompany your family?"

Many noble sons and daughters arrived with their parents, and it was said that Xi Luo also came from a noble family, but she was alone from beginning to end.

Even Xi Ze didn’t come.

Xi Luo, gathering the long hair at her shoulders, glanced sideways at Gu Chen, "Do I need to?"

Gu Chen was at a loss for words.

It wasn’t until they entered the Ducal Residence that Gu Chen realized Xi Luo indeed didn’t need to travel with her family, as she was invited in her capacity as a lay member of the House of Lords.

She was a damn parliamentary representative, ranking above many aristocrats.

...

Elsewhere, when Li Qiao and Shang Yu arrived at the Ducal Residence, even after having seen the hand-drawn map beforehand, the manor nearly occupying half the city was truly astonishing.

Li Qiao looked at the endless lawns, the magnificent fountain lake, and the vintage row buildings immersed in the beauty of dusk, and amidst her amazement, she became somewhat displeased.

Lawrence Manor was too small, it was unfair to Shang Yu.

"Stay with me tonight, don’t wander off, okay?"

At that moment, a layer of warm and dry tenderness covered Li Qiao’s slightly cool back of her hand, and a deep, mellow voice slowly reached her ears.

She came to her senses and locked eyes with Shang Yu, her tone casually inquiring, "Can Lawrence Manor still expand its territory?"

The man didn’t expect such a question from her, his deep gaze flickered with a smile, and his stern features softened, "What are you planning to do?"

"Buy land," Li Qiao threw out calmly.

In the front row, Liuyun thought, "...." He really believed his wife wasn’t joking.

No limit in spoiling her husband!

A thin smile overflowed from Shang Yu’s throat, as he straightened the black chiffon shawl that draped over her shoulders, "Unless you plan to live in Lawrence Manor in the future, there’s no need."

Li Qiao responded noncommittally with a ’hmm,’ not really listening.

In a blink of an eye, the guest-receiving car approached the fountain lake, where a red carpet stretched nearly a hundred meters to the grand entrance of the majestic castle.

Liuyun, in his formal black suit, opened the car door, and Shang Yu exited the car, hand in hand with Li Qiao.

Top-tier evening banquets in high society never lacked for handsome men and beautiful women.

Gentlemen from noble lineages, elegant ladies from prominent families, their exquisite attire embellished by the sunset’s afterglow, appeared alluring and colorful.

However, with the arrival of Li Qiao and Shang Yu, numerous young nobles of pure Western lineage stopped in their tracks to gaze upon them.

The tall man wore a well-tailored black suit with an olive-green Windsor knot at the collar, his austere and distinguished face did not fall short of the Western man’s profound features, and both his demeanor and posture were truly first-rate.

The girl beside him had pale skin, her eyes and brows like a painting, her slender, tall figure draped in a velvet dress. Her shoulders were veiled in a thin black shawl, faintly reflecting the glint of olive-green rhinestones that added to her cool, ethereal aura.

Someone said, "They are the Marquis and Marchioness Lawrence, the successors."

Others questioned, "Old Marquis Lawrence had no sons or daughters and squandered all his assets; how could there be heirs? Could they be impostors?"

Two sets of footsteps approached from behind, and Xi Luo, lifting her skirts with one hand, appeared with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, "Having no sons or daughters does not mean there are no nephews and nieces; Marquis Lawrence’s title is legitimately inherited. If it were false, would the House of Nobles not find out?"

The noble youths who were discussing turned at the sound and greeted the newcomer with composed respect, "Member of Parliament Miranda."