Yin Mo was furious to the extreme, and she knelt down, intending to strike him with a lethal blow.
Unfortunately, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of He Chen.
Perhaps it was Yin Mo’s constant struggles and lack of cooperation that caused him to lose his patience. He Chen pressed his knee against her leg, his palm squeezing her cheek, forcing her to look up at him, "Although I don’t hit women, you’d best not set this precedent, understand?"
At six in the evening at the Sofitel Wine Manor, the castle-like architecture gained an extra touch of nobility under the setting sun.
The manor’s butler, dressed in a tailcoat, warmly welcomed them, "Master Yan, Miss Li."
Li Qiao stood beside Shang Yu, discreetly scanning her surroundings.
He had not mentioned whom they were meeting tonight, and the manor didn’t seem to be a private estate, though the manor’s butler seemed to recognize her.
Li Qiao had a vague guess in her heart. Following the butler into the grand lobby, and then through a garden bridge, a detached townhouse came into view.
"Master Yan, this way, please."
They walked in calmly, while Liuyun and Luoyu guarded the door outside.
In the townhouse’s main hall, a resonant voice immediately rang out, "Shaoyan, it’s been a long time."
Li Qiao lifted her eyelids, and with the sound of firm footsteps, a middle-aged man in casual attire slowly emerged, followed by Bai Luhui.
Shen Xiangtang, the father of Shen Qingye, the power holder of the Sixth Bureau, Director Shen.
He bore a slight resemblance to Shen Qingye, his eyes bright and piercing, his demeanor experienced and composed. He walked up to Shang Yu, raised his hand, and patted his arm as if they were well-acquainted.
Shang Yu nodded slightly, a faint smile on his thin lips: "Uncle Shen."
"Good lad, it’s rare for you to visit Aida State. You must have a few drinks with me tonight."
Shen Xiangtang said this while turning his gaze towards Li Qiao. Although he was still smiling, his eyes subtly changed, "Young lady, are you... Li Qiao?"
Li Qiao nodded, "Hello, uncle."
Shen Xiangtang studied her intently for a few seconds before shifting his gaze and inviting them into the living room.
No sooner had they all sat down than Shang Yu’s phone in his pocket rang. He took it out and frowned slightly.
It was a message from He Chen, saying he would be late.
The man put away his phone and began to catch up and exchange pleasantries with Shen Xiangtang.
Li Qiao sat quietly on the side throughout, her eyes occasionally observing Shen Xiangtang’s expressions.
Shen Qingye had recently been confined by his father because of Xiao Yehui, and since Shen Xiangtang had his origins in MI6, perhaps he had ties with the Charlman Family.
At that moment, Shang Yu held his teacup, blew on the steam, and asked in a low voice, "How come I haven’t seen Young Director Shen?"
Shen Xiangtang, holding a cigar in his hand and crossing his legs, laughed and said, "I see. You came to drink with me today as a pretext, but really, you’re here to plead for him, aren’t you?"
The man took a sip of tea, leaned forward to set down his cup, his voice tinged with amusement, "Mainly, it’s to accompany you for a drink, Uncle Shen."
Shen Xiangtang laughed heartily, pointing at Shang Yu and shaking his head, "That sounds nice. You’re like your father, always coming prepared."
Upon hearing this, Li Qiao’s eyebrows lifted slightly, somewhat surprised.
Shen Xiangtang happened to catch her action and leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee, his gaze very gentle, "Young lady, you seem quite surprised to hear that I know the Old Fox?"
Shang Zonghai certainly lived up to that title.
Li Qiao, facing Shen Xiangtang’s sparkling eyes, smiled and said there was nothing.
Seeing this, Shen Xiangtang’s smile faded slightly as he scrutinized her face, "I’m aware of your relationship with Qingye. You don’t need to be so restrained in front of me. Those who can enter this manor’s backyard are all insiders."
Li Qiao curved her lips, and the man by her side turned his handsome face to meet her gaze, lowered his eyelids, corroborating Shen Xiangtang’s words.
"Xiao Bai, give that stinky kid a call and tell him to come over," Shen Xiangtang instructed. After Bai Luhui left in response, he turned to Li Qiao and said earnestly, "Don’t blame your uncle for being too harsh on him; that kid doesn’t know his limits. I do this to protect him."
Li Qiao fell silent for a moment and then asked lightly, "So his phone being tapped..."
Shen Xiangtang narrowed his eyes, his expression growing more profound, "That was also me. He blatantly placed orders on the Sixth Bureau’s black market, which is bound to attract the Ducal Residence’s attention. He wanted justice for himself, but unfortunately, he was too rash, not advisable."
Li Qiao nodded in agreement, and her trust in Shen Xiangtang grew somewhat.
Before long, the group moved to the dining room. After Shen Xiangtang took his seat, he inquired, "Wasn’t it said that Chenzi is also in Aida State? Why didn’t he come with you?"
Shang Yu unfolded a napkin and passed it to Li Qiao, "He’s tied up with something and will arrive later."
Shen Xiangtang didn’t probe further and commanded the servants to serve exquisite appetizers, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Li Qiao, seemingly in deep thought.
Throughout the dinner, Li Qiao barely spoke.
Apart from the sound of cutlery clinking, most of the time, it was Shen Xiangtang and Shang Yu casually discussing the recent state of affairs in Aida State.
About half an hour later, Bai Luhui came in to report that Shen Qingye had arrived.
Shen Xiangtang’s demeanor turned stern, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "Have him wait outside."
This was his own father.
Halfway through the meal, Li Qiao set down her cutlery, and after taking a small sip of red wine, she heard Shen Xiangtang ask with an ambiguous chuckle, "Young lady, the investigation of Jing Yilan by Qingye at the Sixth Bureau some time ago, that was your idea, right?"
Li Qiao, without changing her expression, put down her wine glass and nodded slightly apologetically, "Indeed, it was me."
Shen Xiangtang glanced at Shang Yu, who continued eating, his gaze darkening a bit, "The archives on Jing Yilan within the Sixth Bureau have been destroyed."
He paused for a second, then added with playful amusement, "However... since Shaoyan asked, I can’t let you come here for nothing. If you drink with me to my satisfaction tonight, I can give you a copy of the Jing Family’s information. As for the rest, you can ask the Old Fox for it."
It was then that Li Qiao realized why Shang Yu had brought her to meet Shen Xiangtang.
Pleading for Shen Qingye was just a pretext; his real intention was to help her obtain information on Jing Yilan.
Li Qiao lowered her eyelids, her heart beginning to pound.
Soon after, Li Qiao excused herself from the table first. Noticing that Shen Xiangtang and Shang Yu seemed to have something to discuss, she found a pretext to go to the living room to find Shen Qingye.
Watching her leave, Shen Xiangtang sighed deeply, "Does she already know about the incident at the Parma Mu Family?"
Shang Yu, with his arm resting on the table’s edge, gently swirled the base of his crystal glass, "She only knows the outline, nothing specific."
"What does she plan to do?" Shen Xiangtang asked, looking at the man, a hint of melancholy in his voice.
Shang Yu, with his lips pursed, his sculpted face calm, revealing no clue, said, "Nothing for the time being."
Hearing this, Shen Xiangtang’s brow relaxed as he genuinely suggested, "It’s probably for the best if she doesn’t. Even if she’s a capable young woman, she shouldn’t have to bear such heavy vengeance.
She and Qingye have known each other at the border for years. The current intelligence database of the Sixth Bureau still contains many records of their past endeavors.
Young and carefree, living life to the fullest, why should the only survivor they’ve all protected go back and seek trouble for herself."