As she said this, Duan Shuyuan paused, put on a stern face deliberately, and muttered, "But your dad really went too far. I didn’t even know about the marriage document. When he wakes up, I’ll definitely have a good talk with him."
While Duan Shuyuan’s explanation seemed logical, it couldn’t help but appear as if she was trying to gloss over something more serious.
At that moment, resolute footsteps approached from the entrance, growing louder. Accompanied by the butler’s call, Li San had returned.
Li Cheng entered the living room, striding in with his black overcoat, looking as if he were a meteor rushing across the sky.
His frame was wet with the evening dew; he looked around, then his gaze rested on Li Qiao, and he went straight to the point, "It’s over?"
He had only recently received a call from the butler, informing him that Elder Shang had personally come to call off the engagement, but he was tied up and couldn’t leave right away, thus his late return.
Li Qiao lazily shifted her gaze and lowered her head, in a gesture that served as her response.
Duan Shuyuan caught sight of Li Cheng’s figure and instantly glared at him, "So you know to come back? How many days have you not been home?"
"Busy," Li San replied succinctly with one word. He smoothed the hair at his forehead, then, with a defiant posture, sat on the armrest of the couch, looking down again at Li Qiao, "Truly over?"
Hearing this, Duan Shuyuan couldn’t hide her displeasure. She reached across Li Qiao and gave Li Cheng a firm pat on his thigh, saying sternly, "Stop bothering your sister. You think once wasn’t enough, how many times do you need to ask?"
Li Cheng looked helplessly at Duan Shuyuan. The old saying was right, women and villains are difficult to raise, even if the woman in question was his own mother.
Faced with their nagging and unreasonable behavior, it was truly hard to argue.
Shortly after, Li Qiao put the diamond card back into her pocket, then stood up at a leisurely pace, and said to Duan Shuyuan, "Mom, I’m going out for a walk with Third Brother."
She was in a bad mood and needed a release.
Duan Shuyuan examined Li Qiao’s concurrently cold and somber expression, then soothed her shoulder a few times, "Okay, go. Listen to me, don’t overthink; just trying to have some fun when you go out. Li San, take good care of Qiaoqiao for me."
Li San gestured with his hand at his temple, then quickly grabbed Li Qiao’s wrist and they left the house.
At four o’clock in the afternoon, Li San drove Li Qiao to South Sea Entertainment City.
Seventh floor, Moor Wine Tasting Pavilion.
The custom wine club was tastefully upscale, elegant in style, with dim, mystical lighting.
In the luxurious VIP room, Li Qiao, with one leg on the stool, elbow propping up the tabletop, glanced at the two bottles of Supreme Louis XIII on the table and tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Now that the engagement’s been called off, when will you return to the border?"
Li San, sitting beside her with a cigarette between his lips, narrowed his eyes and opened a bottle of Louis XIII. With a cigarette blurting his words, he said, "Day after tomorrow, maybe. Since when did you start liking brandy?"
Right when they entered the tasting pavilion, Li Qiao had directly ordered two bottles of Louis XIII brandy—usually, she was more for cocktails.
"Hmm, recently," Li Qiao replied, her gaze fixed on the rich brandy pouring into the glass, the chilling look in her eyes softening just a bit.
Li San pushed the crystal glass in front of her and tossed in a couple of ice cubes. Pinching the cigarette between two fingers, he tapped off the ash, "Now that you’ve broken off the engagement, why do you still look ? Was the breakup not smooth?"
With that, Li San continued to scrutinize Li Qiao intently.
Usually, her emotions were not easily discerned; most of the time she kept a carefree, languid facade.
But today, Li Qiao was unusually downhearted, which was quite unsettling.
Then, Li Qiao picked up the crystal glass and sipped a little. The rich aroma of the Cognac brandy unfolded on her taste buds.
After a few more sips, she swirled the glass, pondered for a while, and then revealed to Li San what Shang Zonghai had said to her.