Chapter 8

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Li Qiao nodded slightly and put down the glass in her hand. She pointed her chin in the direction of the exit and said, “Lead the way.”

“Please!” the bodyguard replied.

…

At 1 a.m. in the morning, the parking lot of the Nanyang Entertainment Center was still packed with luxurious cars.

Men and women looking for fun were all over the place. This city that didn’t sleep was heaven for people who wanted to indulge in sensual pleasure.

Li Qiao followed the bodyguard to the outside of the Emperor Yan Corporation. Under the starry sky, a motorcade with the logo of the Emperor Yan Corporation was parked in front of the stairs outside of the lobby.

The bodyguard led Li Qiao to a Rolls-Royce Black Badge in the middle and opened the rear door. He gestured her to get into the backseat and said, “Miss Li, please get in.”

Li Qiao glanced at the car and saw Shang Yu inside. The yellow light inside illuminated him in a golden glow.

There was a file on top of his crossed legs, and he was reading and editing it under Li Qiao’s gaze.

He paused for a second when he turned to page three and said in a low and slightly hoarse voice, “Did you come here alone?”

“Yes, I’m alone,” Li Qiao answered steadily.

She completely ignored Tang Yiting, who was playing pool in the private pool room.

“Get in the car. I’ll take you home.”

Li Qiao thrust one hand into her pocket and fiddled with the necklace resting against her chest with the other hand. She said with a shallow smile, “But I drove here!”

Shang Yu didn’t answer. He slowly turned his head to gaze at the girl standing outside of the car.

His eyes were very dark, like a bottomless chasm, and didn’t reveal a hint of emotion.

Yet somehow he looked tired. Li Qiao could tell that he was exhausted tonight despite his cold expression.

It touched a soft spot in her heart.

Li Qiao clicked her tongue and, no longer hesitating, leaned forward to get into the car. Under the man’s stare, she closed the car door and raised her eyebrows. “Then I’ll trouble Master Yan this time. Almost forgot I had a drink before.”

The man gave her an inscrutable look before taking his eyes off her. He ordered quietly, “Let’s go.”

…

For the first half of the drive from the Nanyang Entertainment Center to the Li Family home, it was very quiet inside of the car except for the rustling sound of Shang Yu writing on paper.

Li Qiao was side by side with Shang Yu, wearing the same color and sitting in the same posture. She looked him up and down, then leaned against the car door and started a conversation. “Master Yan, can I ask a question?”

The man paused, then said, “Yes.”

How aloof!

Li Qiao wasn’t bothered by his aloof attitude. She pursed her lips and fixed her eyes on him. “I want to know where the marriage arrangement between Shang Lu and me came from,” she said.

Shang Yu cast her a sidelong glance and replied calmly, “Your father didn’t tell you?”

“Em, he never said much. I only know that marriage was arranged before I was born. But Shang Lu is three years older than me. Doesn’t that seem weird to you?”

A crafty look appeared in Li Qiao’s eyes. Her smile seemed more or less mischievous too.

Shang Yu didn’t look at her. Instead, he casually dismissed her. “Why do you care how it came about if you’re fine with breaking it off?”

“Yes, you have a point!” Li Qiao nodded dramatically. Then, she glanced at the man’s indifferent face out of the corner of her eye and said slowly, as if she were intrigued, “So why wasn’t I engaged to you?”

The driver almost had a heart attack when he heard her question.

The young girl was quite fearless and dared to ask Master Yan such an impertinent question!

The car swerved a little, as the driver wasn’t holding the steering wheel tight enough.

Shang Yu glared at the rearview mirror and gave him a warning. “Watch the road!”

“I’m sorry, Master. It won’t happen again!”

Li Qiao sneaked a peek at Shang Yu’s stern expression and the driver’s frightened face. Had she asked some forbidden question? Why was the driver so surprised and terrified?