Li Qiao looked at Shang Yu, "Are you going to Aida State?"
No wonder he was particularly emotional today.
He Chen glanced at Li Qiao with a meaningful tease, "Are you that surprised?"
He found that this little girl was suited to be an actress, her acting was convincingly real.
Li Qiao gazed quietly at He Chen and didn’t make a sound.
At this moment, Shang Yu lifted his eyes and looked at Li Qiao with a deep gaze, "Don’t want me to go?"
He Chen raised an eyebrow, a sly grin on his face.
Li Qiao lifted her eyes and shook her head nonchalantly, "No..."
Shang Yu slightly raised his brows, a faint smile played on his lips.
Li Qiao calmly met his gaze.
Meanwhile, He Chen watched coldly, just seeing how this couple playacted back and forth.
One had a face like a still lake, and the other a heart like thunder, truly a damn perfect match.
Before long, Luoyu timely appeared in the living room, announcing that dinner was ready.
Li Qiao gave Shang Yu an obscure look-over, seeing his unchanged expression, she faintly breathed out a sigh of relief.
At eight o’clock the next morning, Shang Yu hugged Li Qiao, whispering flirtations in the master bedroom.
Li Qiao gazed at the handsome face of the man, feelings mixed, "When you get to Aida State, give me a call."
Shang Yu propped a hand behind his head, leaned down and kissed her forehead, his cold eyes deep and distant, "Mm, take care of yourself."
The words felt a bit abrupt, but Li Qiao took it as a daily reminder.
At nine, Shang Yu and He Chen got in the car.
Li Qiao stood in the living room, watching the car lights gradually fade away, pressing her lips in a silent sigh.
He Chen had said they would stay in Aida State for about a week.
The time was sufficient.
Li Qiao’s mind was filled with complex feelings, always feeling like her first joint scheme with He Chen against Shang Yu seemed... too smooth.
Not only that, but he also took away Wang Yue and Liuyun this time.
Li Qiao returned to the sofa, resting her chin in thought.
Had she overlooked any important detail?
He Chen making a move, it shouldn’t have left any traces.
"Madam, are you going out today?"
At that moment, Luoyu, dressed neatly and carrying a briefcase, appeared in the living room.
Li Qiao lifted her eyelids, responding with a question, "Why?"
Luoyu sighed and explained, "If you’re not going out, I’ll head to the company to handle some things; I might have to go over there for the next couple of days."
"Something at the company?" Li Qiao’s eyebrows knitted.
Seeing this, Luoyu’s smile was stretched as he shook his head, "Nothing with the company, it’s Zhui Feng..."
Through Luoyu’s explanation, Li Qiao understood the reason.
In short, Zhui Feng had been hospitalized, the leader had taken Wang Yue and Liuyun away, and Yan Emperor headquarters’ daily affairs needed Luoyu to take over temporarily.
As for Zhui Feng... nothing major happened, just got beaten by Liuyun and Wang Yue; he was indignant and took the opportunity of Shang Yu going away to force himself a sick leave.
Li Qiao understood, lowered her head, and fiddled with her nails, "Then go do your work; Shaoyan won’t be around for the next few days, I’ll stay at the Li Family. You can come pick me up when he returns."
Luoyu, suspecting nothing, drove Li Qiao to the Li Family, then went off to the company.
Just like that, Li Qiao arranged everything that afternoon and initiated the FA312 flight route, heading straight to the border of Scarlet City.
The watch with the tracker was left in the bedroom at the Li Family.
A black jeep appeared outside the three-story home.
The driver was Little White Cow, talking non-stop along the way, making Li Qiao’s temples ache.
About how Second Street had been in disrepair for years, and finally, Xiao Haozi became a person, paving the road with cement.
And how Brother Yan’s fried rice skills had improved over the years, the rice and green onions finally equally stellar.
Once the car stopped, the tall and burly Little White Cow opened the door for Li Qiao, shielding the car roof with his hand, "Sis, we’re here."
At this time, Bai Yan sat grandly on the broken-edged steps in front of the door, a cigarette in his mouth, a faint bruise at his lips.
Li Qiao stood still, eyebrows raised with some surprise, "Beaten up?"
Bai Yan frowned, taking a drag of his cigarette, "A small accident, nothing worth mentioning."
Nothing worth mentioning?
That likely meant whoever did it was no longer around.
Li Qiao didn’t ask further, rubbing her temples as she stepped up the stairs, "What’s happening in Scarlet City today?"
On her way, she sensed a hint of something unusual.
Usually, Scarlet City’s streets were bustling, aside from Bai Yan’s residential area, other areas were relatively lively.
But tonight, even the night market seemed bleak, absent were the usual clamor and noises; not even refugees or vagabonds were in sight.
Plus, Bai Yan had injuries on his face, Li Qiao surmised something must have happened.
Bai Yan stood up, dusting off his pants, "It’s nothing, just ran into an idiot."
Li Qiao glanced sideways, curving her lips, "That’s quite rare."
The two chatted as they walked, soon arriving on the third floor.
In Bai Yan’s place, Li Qiao had an exclusive room; the entire third floor was hers.
The room was simply laid out but clean and untainted.
Li Qiao sat at the desk, eyes downcast, asking, "Where are the things I had sent over?"
"Downstairs." Bai Yan leaned against the window sill, his legs crossed before him, "Arrangements in Dian City are mostly done, when will you go over?"
"On the day of the exhibition." Li Qiao took out her phone and squinted, "Have they arrived?"
Bai Yan touched his injured mouth corner, a wicked smile on his lips, "They arrived this morning, barring any issues, they should head to Dian City the day after tomorrow."
Before he finished, Bai Yan clicked his tongue, "Still alive."
"What do you mean?" Li Qiao’s expression deepened, "Were they discovered?"
Bai Yan pursed his lips, his voice several degrees lower, "A few days ago, someone attempted to attack him but was protected by Xiao Haozi. I asked later, over the years, he’s been in hiding because these pursuits never stopped."
"Can he still talk?" Li Qiao asked while opening the recording folder on her phone, where lay a ten-minute audio file.
It contained the entire conversation she had with Landis that day.
Bai Yan chuckled, kicking Li Qiao’s chair leg, "Are you underestimating Xiao Haozi or me? Of course, he can talk, just has a shoulder injury, his brain is still functioning."
Li Qiao pursed her lips, saying nothing in response.
Bai Yan studied her face intently, speaking with deep implication, "Did you come over alone this time?"
"What else?" Li Qiao retorted.
Bai Yan leisurely walked to the left, opened a cabinet door, took out a box of Plum Slices, and tossed it towards Li Qiao, "Heard you like these, eat as much as you want."
Li Qiao raised her arm and caught the box of Plum Slices mid-air, squinting her eyes at Bai Yan, "Who said that?"
Bai Yan shut the cabinet door, gesturing with two fingers at his own eyes, "I saw you; last time you came for a day and didn’t eat my fried rice, just kept munching on those crappy plums; you think I’m blind?"