Ming Dailan casually closed the door, walked to the tea counter and sat down, gracefully picking up the tea tongs to select the tea leaves.
Xiao Hongdao looked at her calmly, "Today’s news, you didn’t seem surprised at all."
Ming Dailan continued her actions, raising her eyes to meet his, "Surprised by what? They always keep things hidden, not clarifying would have been strange."
"Oh?" Xiao Hongdao subtly raised an eyebrow, picking up a medical book, and teased casually, "I thought you would seize the moment, maybe teach your eldest son a lesson."
Ming Dailan lowered her eyelids in the guise of selecting tea leaves, hiding the fleeting shock in her eyes.
She picked a few tea leaves and tossed them into the teapot, her gaze gentle, "I’ve told you before, I have my own ways to teach him. This time you exposed our family scandal, should I reveal the gruesome details of our child’s death?"
Xiao Hongdao’s fingers paused, he glanced slightly at Ming Dailan, seeing traces of resentment and sadness on her still graceful face.
He pressed his lips together, stood up and walked to her side, comforting her warmly, "You’re overthinking it, that’s not what I meant."
Ming Dailan shrugged, giving him a glance, "You can deal with them however you want, but why use something from eleven years ago to humiliate me? And also, who is Landis? I don’t recall anyone by that name in the Knight Squad."
Xiao Hongdao lowered his eyes, a faint smile forming deep within, "I can deal with them any way I want?"
"What do you mean by that?" Ming Dailan pressed the button on the kettle, her side profile appearing cold, "When have I not sided with you? I traveled all the way to Dian City to help you win over Andrew. Are you implying I might take their side now?"
"No." Xiao Hongdao’s expression softened, he squeezed her shoulder slightly, "I understand your intentions."
Ming Dailan chuckled softly, "Forget it, ever since I returned from Dian City, you’ve been paranoid. I had originally arranged for Yin Mo to investigate Shang Shaoyan’s advisors in the House of Lords, but you sent her away. Nevertheless, it’s fine, those politicians openly issued condemnation statements today, it’s plain and clear now."
Evidently, Xiao Hongdao raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise, "You’ve been investigating the House of Lords?"
"Otherwise, what’s the point of keeping Yin Mo around?" Ming Dailan seemed a bit angry, dropping the tea tongs and standing up, "You read your book, I’m going to paint."
Xiao Hongdao didn’t stop her, instead, he gazed at Ming Dailan’s retreating figure, lost in thought.
Outside in the corridor, at the moment Ming Dailan closed the door, her genteel expression instantly vanished.
She quickly walked back to the studio, her palms sweaty.
Shortly after, Mother Yin brought in some refreshments.
Ming Dailan stared at the canvas, lost in thought, waved her hand to send her away.
Mother Yin didn’t leave, she cautiously stepped forward, rubbed her hands, hesitating to speak, "Madame..."
Ming Dailan snapped back to reality, "Anything else?"
Mother Yin’s eyes reddened, yet she forced a smile, "Madame, I... I just wanted to ask, will Mohmoh face any danger in her current task?"
"I’m not quite sure." Ming Dailan sighed, "Presumably Old Xiao assigned her a task, did she encounter danger?"
Remembering Yin Zhihong’s words, Mother Yin’s eyes filled with confusion, "I haven’t been able to contact Mohmoh for several days. Madame, could you ask the master to check on her..."
Aunt Yin." Ming Dailan, already agitated, upon hearing Mother Yin’s words, pressed her lips and shook her head, "Since she’s on a mission, she might be staying undercover; not being reachable for a day or two doesn’t necessarily mean she’s in danger, just wait a bit longer."
Ming Dailan waved her hand, "Alright, if you really want to know, you should ask yourself, please leave."
Meanwhile, South Sea Time, 3:30 PM.
Li Qiao, who was taking a nap, was awakened by the vibration of her phone.
She reached for her phone, squinting her eyes, sighed and answered, "Third Brother."
"Sleeping?" Li San was surprised as he looked at his watch, "What country’s schedule are you following?"
Li Qiao covered her face with one hand, "Is this about something?"
Li San exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice slightly hoarse, "I just received Su Lao Si’s wedding invitation."
"Yeah." Li Qiao blinked, propped herself up against the headboard lazily, "If there’s time, go; if not..."
Li San chuckled briefly, "There will be time for sure. Are you going with Shang Yan?"
"Maybe." Li Qiao gave an ambiguous response.
Li San sighed, "Let’s discuss when I return to the South Sea."
Li Qiao raised her eyebrow, "Isn’t going from the border closer?"
Over the receiver, Li San remained silent for a few seconds, "I’m heading back to the South Sea to handle some things, may even spend Christmas at home."
The siblings didn’t talk for long, after hanging up, Li Qiao contemplated going to Myanmar for the wedding.
This wedding is akin to a state dinner, with politicians from home and abroad gathering; according to Su Lao Si’s words, Xiao Hongdao would be attending as well.
Li Qiao squinted slightly, a faint bitter smile appeared on her lips.
Before long, Li Qiao arrived in the living room.
The recent days, her lab remained sealed, supposedly for equipment maintenance, effectively stalling Li Qiao’s desire to keep busy.
The living room was unoccupied, hauntingly quiet.
Li Qiao hugged a pillow, listlessly leaning against the armrest, outside the window, the sunlight slanted in, filling the room with dim brightness.
Soon, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Wang Yue entered eagerly, upon seeing Li Qiao, he promptly offered the car keys with both hands, "Madame, the Honda car and license plate are all set."
"Thanks." Li Qiao accepted the keys, touching them, languidly tugging her lips, "Brother Chen?"
Wang Yue looked puzzled, shaking his head, "I’m not sure, haven’t seen him the past two days."
Li Qiao said as she stood up, leisurely walked towards the stairs, "Call him, have him come over."
Wang Yue complied accordingly.
Upstairs guest room, Yin Mo leaned against the headboard, lost in thought staring into the distance.
A laptop rested on her lap, but its screen was black, having entered sleep mode.
The knocking pulled her back to reality, Yin Mo pressed enter to wake the computer, speaking softly, "Come in."
Li Qiao sauntered in, casting her gaze around, "Just you?"
Yin Mo nodded, instinctively said, "He Chen didn’t come."
Li Qiao, seemingly amused, sat at the foot of the bed, teasing, "Did I say I was looking for him?"
Yin Mo pretended to type a few keystrokes, momentarily tongue-tied, unsure what to say.
In fact, He Chen hadn’t come for two days.
Since he called Zhui Feng away two days ago, he hadn’t been back.
Yin Mo enjoyed the peace, yet there’s a persistent sense of something missing.
At this moment, Li Qiao glanced at her ankle injury, spoke softly, "Second Sister, prepare yourself, I’m taking you out tomorrow."