The Favored Heiress
Chapter 877: Life’s Frustrations

Chapter 877: Chapter 877: Life’s Frustrations

Mansion, as soon as Li Qiao entered, Xi Luo’s call came through, "Kid!"

Li Qiao replied with a hum, walked into the living room, and sat down. During this time, Xi Luo hadn’t spoken, so she glanced at her phone, "What’s going on?"

"What do you think?" Xi Luo said, full of displeasure, "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the border, where are you? I’ll come find you now."

Her recent days could be described as being in deep trouble.

If this keeps up, she might consider getting rid of Zong Zhan.

Over the line, Li Qiao leisurely said, "South Sea."

Xi Luo choked, "You’re already back?"

"Mm, just got back half an hour ago." Li Qiao listened to her disgruntled tone, leaned against the armrest, and curled her lips, "Negotiations not going well?"

Xi Luo lifted her eyelids to glance at Zong Zhan across the table, grinding her back teeth, "Negotiations are going smoothly, life is not."

"Oh." Li Qiao didn’t ask more, "Come back as soon as the negotiations are over."

Xi Luo chuckled cunningly, "How about... you come pick me up?"

"No time." Li Qiao refused without hesitation.

Xi Luo had been thinking that if Li Qiao was at the border too, things would be much easier.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.

Xi Luo didn’t say much more and after some small talk, she hung up the phone.

She felt extremely irritable inside, but didn’t show it, always maintaining a polite smile, her fox-like eyes glancing at Zong Zhan, cursing him internally.

Xi Luo had never seen such a petty man, returning grudges and grievances, taking her passport away—what kind of lowly tactic is that?!

...

In the afternoon, Li Qiao took a few hours to rest, had lunch, and then lay in the master bedroom, basking in the sun.

Shang Yu walked in with a glass of juice, glanced at the figure comfortably enjoying on the lounge chair, put down the glass, and leaned slightly, "Going for a check-up tomorrow, okay?"

Li Qiao tilted her head, half-squinting her eyes, and said slowly, "Now works too."

After all, there’s a prenatal room downstairs, available anytime.

The man’s thin lips tilted slightly, with his arm resting on the back of the chair, he tapped her nose, "We’ll go to the hospital tomorrow."

"Hmm..." Li Qiao touched her belly, moaned for a few seconds, without objecting, "You arrange it."

Shang Yu’s gaze fell on her lazy demeanor, the sunlight encircling her, making her seem even more serene and tranquil.

The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, he tilted Li Qiao’s chin, buried his handsome face, and sucked on her lips gently, "After the check-up, I’ll accompany you to extract the data."

Li Qiao licked the corner of her lip, her eyes slightly bright, "Quartz storage plate?"

Shang Yu softly caressed her head, "Mm, rest well at home this afternoon, I’ll head to the company."

"I’ll see you off." Li Qiao swiftly rolled out of bed.

In no time, she accompanied Shang Yu to the walk-in closet, helping him change into a crisp suit.

The two came to the lobby downstairs, just before leaving, Li Qiao’s waist and abdomen were suddenly grabbed, forcing her to lean back against his chest.

Shang Yu stood behind her, his warm breath scattering over her neck, hot and scalding.

Li Qiao dodged a few times, then smiled and looked back, "What’s up?"

The man stood still, lowering his head to kiss her cheek, "It’s cold, don’t go out too much."

Cold?

Li Qiao looked outside the hall, the temperature was low but the sun was bright, not so cold that she’d have to stay indoors.

A twinkle appeared in her eyes as she agreed with a light smile, "Alright, I don’t have much to do, probably won’t head out."

Li Qiao agreed readily, but Shang Yu hadn’t been gone half an hour before she reverse her word.

...

Twenty minutes later, Li Qiao wore a loose thin cotton jacket and casual pants, driving in the afternoon sunlight to the Li Family.

Luoyu didn’t accompany her, as she was still working at Yan Emperor headquarters in place of Zhui Feng.

Li family villa, as Li Qiao walked in she saw Zong Yue applying an ice pack to Duan Shuyuan’s face.

Her face instantly darkened, "What happened?"

Duan Shuyuan, always dignified, had her hair usually neatly tied at the back.

But now, the disheveled strands by her ears stood in stark contrast to the past, her eyes were red, and her emotions hadn’t calmed yet.

Zong Yue, upon seeing Li Qiao, was first happy, then a complex expression crossed her face before she turned away.

Duan Shuyuan also seemed surprised at Li Qiao’s sudden return, paused for a moment, then managed a slightly forced smile.

Li Qiao glanced at Zong Yue’s deliberately evasive gaze, then turned her attention back to Duan Shuyuan’s face, she raised an eyebrow, "Has Aunt been here?"

The reason she went to the Li Family was that, soon after Shang Yu left, lawyer Qi Nanhuai called her.

The verdict of her grandfather’s inheritance case had been delivered that morning, as expected, her grandfather won.

According to the court’s ruling, the old man had full civil capacity, and the materials submitted by Aunt Duan Shuhua and Uncle Duan Yuanhong lacked sufficient evidence to accuse Li Qiao of using illegal means to manipulate the old man.

Losing was to be expected.

Li Qiao anticipated that Duan Shuhua and the others wouldn’t let it go, so she had arranged bodyguards at her grandfather’s place in advance.

But as for the Li family...

At this moment, Duan Shuyuan tidied her slightly messy hair, took the ice pack from Zong Yue, and pressed it to her face, speaking unclearly, "What face does she have to come here."

Zong Yue pursed her lips without speaking, her eyes notably darting about.

Li Qiao took off her cotton jacket, laid it on the armrest, walked to Duan Shuyuan, separated the hand covering her face, and looked down to see her left cheek red and swollen.

Duan Shuyuan pulled her to sit, swallowing, "Qiaoqiao, do you have any painkillers in your lab? Mom’s tooth aches..."

Li Qiao squinted her eyes, "Toothache?"

She looked at Zong Yue, who nodded slightly, "The painkillers at home weren’t effective, everything was getting better, but then..."

"Xiao Yue." Duan Shuyuan called softly, "Why don’t you bring over some fruit from the kitchen for me?"

Zong Yue nodded, gave Li Qiao a subtle glance, then got up and went to the kitchen.

Li Qiao pulled out her phone to send a message, then looked up at Duan Shuyuan’s slightly red eyes, "Painkillers will be sent soon."

With that, she headed towards the kitchen.

Duan Shuyuan called after her twice, unfortunately, the toothache was too severe, making speaking difficult.

In the kitchen, Zong Yue was lingering by the door glancing out now and then, upon seeing Li Qiao coming, she quickly pulled her in and shut the door, "Qiaoqiao, I have something..." not sure if I should say.

Before finishing, Li Qiao raised an eyebrow, "Sister-in-law, you want to keep something from me too?"

"No." Zong Yue shook her head, looking distressed, hesitating for a few seconds before awkwardly saying, "I might have made a mistake today."

"What mistake?"

Zong Yue, seeing the cold look in Li Qiao’s eyes, immediately sped up her explanation, spilling the facts quickly.

At the end, she cleared her throat lightly, "I really didn’t mean to do it, it’s just that... I threw her over my shoulder."

To put it simply, after Duan Shuhua received the notice of loss, she actually came to the Li Family.

Whether causing trouble or provoking, during her quarrel with Duan Shuyuan, they nearly came to blows.

Zong Yue had just returned from the Imperial Capital last night, initially meant to bring local products to Duan Shuyuan, only to witness the commotion led by Duan Shuhua at the Li Family’s doorstep.