The Favored Heiress
Chapter 869: His Obsession Gave to You

Chapter 869: Chapter 869: His Obsession Gave to You

At the same time, Li Qiao was still sitting in Shang Yu’s suite, watching him drink soup.

The two seemed to have a tacit understanding and neither mentioned anything about what happened in Dian City.

Li Qiao looked at Shang Yu’s sharply defined profile, pursing her lips, wanting to speak but hesitating.

The man was very perceptive and turned his eyes at the right moment, "What do you want to say?"

Li Qiao shook her head, "Nothing, I’ll go back to my room first..."

Before she could finish, Shang Yu raised his thick eyebrows and narrowed his cold eyes slightly, "Not staying here?"

Li Qiao propped her chin, leisurely looking at him, "No, I still have things to do."

In the depth of the man’s cold eyes, there was a profound glow, "Are you sure?"

"Of course."

Shang Yu’s thin lips slightly curled as he set down the spoon, took her hand, and said smoothly, "Alright, I’ll walk you back to your room."

So agreeable?

Li Qiao hadn’t reacted before being pulled by the man towards the door.

She reflexively turned her head to look at the balcony, only to find it empty.

Where was He Chen?

Downstairs, at the door, Li Qiao stood on tiptoe and kissed Shang Yu on the face, "You should go to bed early too. Goodnight."

The man patted her head and nodded toward the room door.

Li Qiao smiled, swiped the card to open the door, and then... Shang Yu followed her inside.

"You..."

The man hooked her waist and kissed her deeply.

Li Qiao was forced to tilt her head back, feeling helpless yet unwilling to push him away.

The two lingered for a long time. Shang Yu hoarsely murmured with her earlobe in his mouth, "Continue with your work. I’ll stay with you."

...

The next day, at a corner café.

Li Qiao sat across from He Chen, lightly tapping her fingers on the table, "Were you also scheming?"

He Chen leaned lazily against the back of the chair, chuckling, "Gotta say, it’s a novel way to betray a friend."

Li Qiao remained expressionless, "..."

Fortunately, he didn’t package himself as out of goodwill like Xi Luo.

Li Qiao slightly curled her lips, her tone faint, "So, Brother Chen found it too much?"

Had she overestimated He Chen’s abilities or underestimated Shang Yu’s acuity?

He Chen clicked his tongue against his cheek, sneering, "I never intended to hide it from him from the start."

Seeing Li Qiao’s silence, He Chen raised his cup of coffee and gestured towards her, "Whether it could be hidden or not, do you really think he knows nothing? You still don’t understand your man’s nature."

Li Qiao leaned back, pulling her lips without a word.

He Chen laughed, his handsome face adorned with his usual cynical look, "He knew since you went to meet Tu Anliang."

Li Qiao covered her forehead with one hand and sighed deeply, "Even knowing that, he didn’t need to come personally."

The whole situation, what she feared most was Shang Yu and Ming Dailan confronting each other, which was why she sought He Chen to find a way to distract him.

Yet, Shang Yu still came.

He Chen watched Li Qiao, the playful look in his eyes slightly faded, "He’s not that fragile. Coming to the border was just to protect you in secret.

Madam Xiao is indeed a knot in his heart, but haven’t you noticed, her influence on him isn’t as severe as before?"

Li Qiao nodded without hesitation, "Mm, I felt it during the fireworks festival."

Twice she had seen Shang Yu tense and almost losing control after encountering Madam Xiao.

Once on the phone, once at the mansion.

Later, during the fireworks festival at the manor, he was calm and composed, as if the shackles Madam Xiao had placed on him were unlocked.

However, He Chen’s next words made Li Qiao’s heart warm.

He said, "Because Shaoyan has given all his obsession to you."

Li Qiao raised her eyes, looking at He Chen’s rare serious expression, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

He Chen raised his eyebrows, tapping the table with his curled fingers, "Don’t doubt it, having you is everything to him now."

Or, Li Qiao is Shang Shaoyan’s salvation.

Their union, imperceptibly, healed the damage Madam Xiao caused to Shaoyan.

Therefore, this time Li Qiao secretly plotted against Madam Xiao, Shaoyan knew everything but chose to acquiesce.

He came to the border for only one purpose, to guard Li Qiao.

...

At two in the afternoon, Bai Yan returned to the hotel from the stone gambling field.

He found Li Qiao on the rooftop, lighting a cigarette a few steps away, mumbling, "Ming Dailan called me again, she still wants to buy the painting, it’s really damn surprising."

It seems the appearance of Landis didn’t serve much purpose.

Li Qiao leaned against the rooftop, speaking without surprise or joy, "Not buying would be strange."

"You know her that well?" Bai Yan turned his head to puff out a smoke, "So if she can’t buy the painting, she won’t leave?"

Li Qiao took out a Sour Plum Box from her pocket, slowly placing a piece in her mouth, "She will leave, but will still put on a show."

Bai Yan snorted lightly, "The exhibition ends tomorrow, should I arrange for someone to send your painting back to the South Sea?"

After speaking, he narrowed his eyes, suddenly changing his mind, "Oh, my people are busy, have Shang Shaoyan come get it himself."

Li Qiao glanced at him, "In a few days, let Little White Tiger send it to the British Imperial, to Mrs. Andrew."

"Andrew?"

Li Qiao replied, her lips slightly lifting, "Mm, as a gift, free of charge."

Bai Yan pondered for a moment, then pointed a cigarette at Li Qiao, "Quite ruthless, not only hurting them emotionally but also stealing their leverage?"

"Just convenient."

The Chairman Family wanted to use a painting to bribe Mrs. Andrew, to stabilize the relationship between MP Andrew and the Ducal Residence.

Li Qiao had long investigated that Andrew had a high chance of being elected Speaker. If Ming Dailan succeeded, the Chairman Family would be even more powerful.

This time, she turned the tables, using a painting to cut off the Chairman Family’s chances of expanding their influence, and incidentally... gave a boost to the forces behind the Archbishop.

A win-win situation, why not.

...

Another day passed, Ming Dailan’s mental state visibly declined.

The art and jewelry exhibition had ended, yet she still couldn’t acquire the painting of King of England III.

As night fell, the dishes on the table had gone cold.

Ming Dailan sat wearily to the side, not eating or drinking, looking quite disheartened.

Yin Mo observed her for a while, tentatively asked, "Madam, should I have the kitchen reheat the food?"

Ming Dailan looked blankly at Yin Mo, collected herself, and shook her head, "Take it away."

"You’re not eating?"

Ming Dailan stood by the window, sighing wistfully, "Get ready, we’ll return to the British Imperial tomorrow."

"What about the painting..."

Ming Dailan looked at her reflection in the glass, reaching to tuck the stray hairs by her cheek behind her ear, her expression indifferent yet somber, "If they won’t sell it, what can I do?"

This resigned tone, full of irony, was starkly contrary to her usual unscrupulous nature.

Yin Mo hid the intent in her eyes, turned to call for room service.

At this moment, Ming Dailan suddenly said softly, "Yin Mo, get me a Myanmar SIM card."