Li Qiao nodded slightly and put down her glass, tilting her chin toward the door, "Lead the way."
Bodyguard: "Please!"
...
At one in the morning, the parking lot of South Sea Entertainment City was still filled with luxury cars.
Men and women seeking pleasure were everywhere; this Sleepless City was a breeding ground for all things ambiguous.
Following the bodyguard to the entrance of Entertainment City, under the night sky, a luxurious motorcade bearing the Yan Emperor Group logo was parked at the foot of the grand entrance steps.
The bodyguard brought her to a Phantom nearby, opened the rear door, and gestured with his hand: "Miss Li, please get in."
Li Qiao looked down at the open car door, where Shang Yu sat inside. The dim overhead light poured around him, making him shine like he was gilded with gold.
He had a document laid across his crossed legs, sometimes flipping through it, sometimes marking it as Li Qiao watched.
Only when he turned to the third page and his pen paused, did his deep voice, tinged with a hint of huskiness, break the silence, "Did you come alone?"
Li Qiao replied calmly, "Yes, alone."
Tang Yiting, playing pool in a private billiard room: "?"
"Get in the car and I'll take you home."
Li Qiao, one hand in her pocket, the other playing with her necklace at her collar, gave a shallow smile: "But I drove here!"
Shang Yu did not speak, instead slowly turning his head to look at the girl standing beside the car.
His pupils were deep, like a bottomless abyss, revealing not a hint of emotion.
Yet the weariness was etched between his brows, and even with his indifferent expression, Li Qiao could feel that he seemed very tired tonight.
Her heart inexplicably softened.
Li Qiao clicked her tongue, no longer hesitating, and leaned into the car. Under the man's deep and dark gaze, she casually shut the door, boldly arching an eyebrow, "Then I'll have to trouble Master Yan. I almost forgot that I had a drink just now."
The man gave her a deep look, then averted his eyes and said lowly, "Let's go."
...
For the first half of the journey from South Sea Entertainment City back to Li Family residence, the only sound in the car was the scratch of Shang Yu's pen against the document.
Li Qiao sat next to him, in a similar posture and attire, scrutinizing him for a while before leaning against the door and starting a conversation: "Master Yan, I have a question?"
His pen paused again, "Ask."
So indifferent!
Li Qiao pursed her lips nonchalantly, her gaze fixed on the man's profile, "I'd like to know how the engagement between me and Shang Lu came about!"
Shang Yu glanced at her sideways, his eyes calm, "Didn't your father tell you?"
"Um, not much. I only know that the arrangement was made when I was still in my mother's womb. But Shang Lu is three years older than me; don't you think that's a bit odd?"
A sly glint passed in Li Qiao's eyes, and her smiling lips carried a hint of casual teasing.
Shang Yu didn't look at her, responding effortlessly, "If it's going to be dissolved, why bother about its origins."
"Indeed, you have a point!" Li Qiao nodded thoughtfully, gazing at his indifferent cheek, and slowly, as if out of curiosity, said: "Then why wasn't it me who was engaged to you?"
The driver in the front nearly peed himself!
The girl sure had a lot of gall to act up in front of Master Yan!
Due to the driver not holding the steering wheel steady, the car shuddered slightly.
Shang Yu's eyes sharpened as he glared into the rearview mirror, his voice carrying a warning, "Watch the road!"
"Sorry, Master, it won't happen again!"
Li Qiao glanced at Shang Yu's slightly displeased expression, then at the driver who was a bundle of nerves. Had she asked some sort of life-threatening question? How could she have frightened the driver so much?