Forty minutes later, the car stopped inside a private western restaurant nestled in a secluded alley.
The carved Red Gate and the tortoiseshell sculptures carried a strong sense of European antiquity.
The lobby was adorned with French velvet sofas and exquisite palace lanterns, resembling a hall of art.
In a second-floor private room, a receptionist in butler attire brought them red wine.
He Chen swirled the glass and leaned back on the high-backed sofa, looking at Feng Yi, "Does your father have any inside information about this fireworks festival?"
Feng Yi still sported the gentlemanly manner, took his time unbuttoning his cuffs, and replied with a smile that was not quite a smile, "From what he said, it seems that Charlman may use it as a means to solidify his connections. Who would dare to refuse an invitation from the Ducal Residence?"
He Chen snorted with amusement, "Get me an invitation. It’s about time I see what kind of stuff Charlman is made of."
Li Qiao sipped her lemon water, her thoughts drifting to Charles.
Soon, the exquisite western meal was served.
Li Qiao silently sliced her steak, while Shang Yu and the others chatted casually.
Before long, He Chen suddenly tapped the corner of the table with his knuckles, tilted his head toward Li Qiao, and turned to ask Shang Yu, "Is she abstaining from alcohol?"
Li Qiao put down her water glass, glanced at him indifferently, and remained silent.
Shang Yu slowly lifted his eyelids, his deep, dark eyes impenetrable, "Curious."
He Chen raised his eyebrows teasingly, raised his glass toward Li Qiao in a gesture, "Tsk, little sister-in-law, you’re not quite yourself."
Li Qiao turned her face away, but couldn’t help being surprised at He Chen’s keen observation.
Perhaps it was the number of times they had dined together that had formed certain fixed little habits.
She loved to drink and never refused a glass.
Yet He Chen noticed during the meal that she hadn’t taken a drink.
Li Qiao pursed her lips and stood up, excusing herself to the restroom.
The others watched her leave, and Feng Yi looked at He Chen with suspicion, "What’s off?"
He Chen licked his back teeth and drained his wine glass in one gulp, "She never passes up a drink, see if her glass has been touched."
Shang Yu also cast a look in that direction, his eyes harboring a profound darkness.
Seeing this, Feng Yi rolled his eyes at He Chen and elegantly speared a piece of bread, "What’s so strange? She may just not feel well and doesn’t want to drink."
He Chen looked at Shang Yu with interest, teasing, "Who knows."
In the restroom, Li Qiao leaned against the sink, staring blankly at the calendar dates on her phone.
It had been a week and a half since that night at Tangxi Garden, and perhaps... it was time to test with an early pregnancy test.
Li Qiao rubbed her forehead in irritation, reluctant to say much until she was certain, lest a false pregnancy lead to vain hope.
With that thought, she exited the calendar app and dialed Luoyu, giving a few soft instructions before leaving the restroom.
Just as she reached the door of the private room, Gu Chenn’s call came promptly.
Li Qiao looked at the screen, belatedly realizing that she seemed to have asked Gu Chenn to go to the estate.
Sure enough, Gu Chenn, full of resentment, grunted on the other end, "You called me to the estate just to look at your front door?"
Li Qiao twitched the corner of her mouth, "Something came up, I’ll be back later."
Gu Chenn was silent for a moment, then clicked a cigarette to his lips, "I’ll wait for you, come back soon."
Li Qiao acknowledged, and as she moved the phone away from her ear, Gu Chenn reminded her, "I heard that Flame Alliance H is arriving soon. We’ll pick him up together at five. You can’t refuse. Bai Yan specially arranged for him to come to assist you, it would be improper not to meet."