Chapter 929: Chapter 929: Walking on Thin Ice
Li San glanced at him and then raised his head toward the cabin door, “Let’s get off the plane first.”
In the end, Yin Mo, wearing a wig and sunglasses, plainly remarked, “Qi Zai’s lips are swollen.”
Everyone gradually turned their attention, each with a look of realization.
It seemed it wasn’t really a quarrel, possibly just a ‘verbal spat’.
As soon as Li Qiao stepped off the gangway, she received a call from Su Moshi, “Are you sure you don’t need me to pick you up?”
“No need.” Li Qiao looked at the convoy straight ahead and replied calmly, “Someone’s here to pick us up.”
Su Moshi exhaled a long breath, “Alright then, I’ll come over once you’re settled.”
After hanging up, Wei Ang, who was waiting beside the convoy, also came over, “Eldest Young Master, Young Madam. The family head is at the other residence; shall we head there now?”
Shang Yu responded, his eyes calm and unfazed.
Wei Ang was momentarily stunned, shivering from the man’s aloof demeanor.
The Eldest Young Master is so indifferent.
Not long after, everyone got in the car, and the checkpoint procedure was skipped when leaving customs.
The few in the back car assumed it was because of Tan Sri’s influence.
However, Li Qiao knew well that the seamless access was due to Shang Zonghai.
Myanmar, a place Li Qiao had also been away from for three years.
Upon returning, her state of mind hadn’t changed at all.
The street scenes and customs looked the same as three years ago.
The only difference was the people beside her, no longer Myanmar’s companions.
It took exactly forty minutes to get from Naypyitaw Airport to the other residence.
Li Qiao realized after getting out of the car that the other vehicles in the convoy hadn’t followed, and even Liuyun and Luoyu were nowhere to be seen.
Wei Ang explained in a low voice as he held the rear car door, “Sir booked a hotel for everyone; it’s not suitable for too many people to know the location of the other residence.”
Li Qiao nodded in understanding, without further comment.
When the car drove into the main gate just now, there was a door lintel above, intricately carved with patterns.
She had seen such patterns before; they’re like the badges of British Imperial titles, used to distinguish the rank of titles conferred.
This other residence belongs to a certain Prince Guo.
The highest honor rank in Myanmar, followed by Tan Sri.
Uncle Wu’s title is Prince Guo, Wu Lv.
At this moment, Li Qiao and Shang Yu were walking side by side behind Wei Ang, facing a grey wall with an arched gate at the front of the other residence.
Inside the gate, there was also a screen wall, completely different in architectural style from Myanmar, even carrying a heavy sense of ancient charm.
Passing through the screen wall led to a two-story main house, with a bamboo grove on the left and a pavilion on the right.
“Was the journey smooth?”
A gentle inquiry came from the left, making Li Qiao and Shang Yu pause and see Shang Zonghai walking out leisurely from the bamboo grove in a light gray casual Tang suit.
“Dad.” Li Qiao and Shang Yu called out in unison, and she added that it went smoothly.
Shang Zonghai held a handful of weeds, his eyes through the glasses falling on them; after a few seconds, he tossed the weeds into a garbage bin, took the towel Wei Ang handed him, wiped his hands while smiling, “It seems it wasn’t that smooth.”
Li Qiao pressed her lips, saying nothing, while Shang Yu led her by the hand straight toward the pavilion, “You saw wrong.”
Shang Zonghai unrushedly wiped the grass flakes from his hands, glancing inconspicuously at Wei Ang, who confusedly shook his head like a monk who didn’t understand.
Since he didn’t know what the family head wanted to ask, shaking his head shouldn’t be wrong.
Shang Zonghai tossed the towel onto him, then stepped toward the pavilion opposite.
The three sat down, with the breeze blowing into the pavilion, accompanied by the rustling sounds from the bamboo grove.
Shang Zonghai picked up a cup of cold tea on the table, turned over the upside-down cup, poured the tea, and pushed it in front of Shang Yu, “Special cold tea from Myanmar, to reduce anger and restlessness, have a taste.”
The man lifted his eyelids, gazing directly at Shang Zonghai’s smiling face, not speaking or drinking the tea.
Soon, Wei Ang walked over with a tray, offering fruits and herbal tea.
Shang Zonghai nodded toward Li Qiao, “Girl, have some fruit.”
Li Qiao lowered her eyes to express thanks, not yet reaching out when Shang Yu had already forked a piece of guava and brought it to her mouth.
Shang Zonghai watched calmly, his sharp gaze revealing a hint of profundity.
In just a few minutes, Shang Zonghai drank half a cup of tea, and when his phone chimed with a message, he opened it and looked, “Wei Ang, deliver Shaoyan to Old Wu’s.”
Li Qiao immediately thought of Uncle Wu.
The revered Prince Guo, Wu Lv, in Shang Zonghai’s words, became Old Wu?
Wei Ang acknowledged the order, while Shang Yu furrowed his thick brows, “What for?”
“To fetch something.” Shang Zonghai replied to the message, then looked up, “He has a good opinion of you, since you’re here, you might as well go see him; he is, after all, your elder.”
Shang Yu gave Shang Zonghai a deep look, patting Li Qiao’s head as he got up, “Wait for me to come back.”
Li Qiao smiled gently and nodded, watching as his figure, full of authority, walked away, her eyes subtly rippling.
At this moment, Shang Zonghai turned his gaze slightly towards her, his demeanor increasingly embodying an elder’s warmth and tolerance, “Girl, tell me, what’s going on between you and Shaoyan?”
Li Qiao tilted her head, meeting Shang Zonghai’s gaze briefly, lowering her eyes with a soft sigh, “Indeed, nothing can be hidden from you.”
In front of Shang Zonghai, the slight distance that existed between her and Shang Yu was nearly transparent.
Shang Zonghai chuckled briefly, sipping tea, and remarked with a meaningful smile, “You’re being too cautious.”
Li Qiao pressed her lips, her previous smile replaced by a hint of forlornness.
“Or rather…” Shang Zonghai set down the teacup, turning the Buddha Beads one by one, “walking on thin ice.”
This phrase struck at the apprehension in Li Qiao’s heart.
She dropped her eyes, silent for a while, before quietly and faintly asking, “Dad… I don’t know what to do.”
A slightly choked murmur unveiled Li Qiao’s helplessness and powerlessness.
Shang Zonghai ceased his smile, observing Li Qiao with clear eyes.
Having met this girl, he’d never seen her so weary.
Even the past events of the Mu Family hadn’t stirred much resonance in her emotions.
Watching Li Qiao’s gradually reddening eyes, Shang Zonghai raised his hand to pat her shoulder, “Girl, come in with Dad.”
Li Qiao’s throat was tight, yet she rose, keeping her head low, following in his footsteps.
The main residence’s study exuded the fragrance of ink.
In the quiet, serene environment and before a trusted elder, it’s easy for people to lower their guard.
As Shang Zonghai ground the ink, he spoke, “Is it because of Shaoyan’s illness?”
Li Qiao lifted her head, forcing a smile, “You know?”
“You ah.” Shang Zonghai shook his head with a laugh, “Besides Shaoyan’s illness, I can’t think of anything else that would leave you at a loss. No one else is here, feel free to speak your mind.”
Li Qiao could easily see the care and warmth in Shang Zonghai’s eyes, sharing things she couldn’t express outwardly, it naturally came out.
In five minutes, Shang Zonghai listened attentively without interruption, his gaze as warm as always.
After she finished, Li Qiao’s eyes showed a hint of struggle, curling her fingertips, she hoarsely asked, “Dad, what do you say… should I do?”