Li Heilong didn't look surprised. What else would this man be after? Moreover, Qiao Shan had already tried once in poaching the questionable existence. It seemed like everyone was after the power of the child. Perhaps, if Li Heilong was not used to using his own methods and his own intellect to catapult himself to supremacy, even he would have designs. However… being someone who had met the child…
He then hummed. "Yes, indeed, Xiaodan had tamed the child, but didn't it occur to you that the child will not be tame anymore if you do something to his father?"
"Don't worry about me. This old master had studied and dealt with his kind for a very long time. There's nothing that I do not know about them, especially manipulating one that had been reduced to a rather naive and innocent child." Qiao Muwei chuckled before finally landing his gaze at Wu Qianqian. "Mr. Wu didn't lie when he said that his daughter is both stunning and easy on the eyes."
"I won't let Xiaodan be used by people like you..." Wu Qianqian only whispered, but shamans with excellent hearing like most of their group didn't have troubles hearing her. She might not be bold and intimidating, but even the gentlest hen would kill a snake to protect her chicks. Moreover, there was this strange and repulsive look in her eyes that shone through her shy and weak exterior.
Qiao Muwei only stared and received the disguised glare. Others might, but he didn't forget that this Wu Qianqian was not only Wu Zhong's daughter. Most importantly, this was Mian Lengleng's little girl. The mother was nothing but the incarnate of loathing and resentment. She herself had the power to elevate the abilities of the entities possessing her—no, it's more like entities augmenting her body.
That walking nightmare was the basis and first subject of Project Hades. Qiao Muwei didn't expect less from her daughter… and the grandson that he would soon meet. However, Qiao Muwei was still confident. His Qiao family was able to subdue Mian Lengleng; what was a Liu Xiaodan compared to her?
"We will see." Qiao Muwei left with an obligatory bow to the older Mian Tianni before leaving. He strode away after declaring war against Li Heilong through a sharp look as he passed by.
Liu Li couldn't help but feel small in this circle of people, but he wouldn't think twice about punching that man if he had the chance. How dare that Qiao Muwei assumed that their son was just an object that could be played with… along with that child that scared even Mian Tianni. However, he knew too little of their enemies. He could only hold onto Wu Qianqian, but he caught his wife—for the first time—glaring in someone's direction.
Crisp sounds of cl.i.c.k.i.n.g heels came from another direction, and Mian Bingbing was quick to spot the maiden walking towards them. Her lush hair moved as she strutted her model-like body and an amazing sense of fashion with that blue dress across the hall. Her eyes met with Mian Bingbingg's gaze, and she smiled at her almost-mother-in-law. "Madam Li, can you spare us a moment?"
Ren Shanyue had arrived with another woman. She was rather very groomed that Mian Bingbing almost didn't recognize her. However, Li Heilong took the initiative to introduce her since he was the only one who could tell who this woman was. He reached out to shake hands, fully knowing that it was them who needed something from her. "Miss Jiang, we're glad you can make it."
"P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e's all mine." Jiang Yanyu actually had no idea why this big shot wanted to see her. As much as she remembered, she had declined him and Ren Shanyue in their first attempt to use her to get inside Cherry Medical. Thinking up to this point, she realized that she might have indeed an idea as to why she was dragged into this charity ball.
"If you will, let's go somewhere less populous." Mian Tianyu invited everyone to the side hall of the banquet hall so they could talk about the specifics. It was Kang Jun's cue to prepare the room for them and lead them like he was a servant of the house rather than just a secretary of the grandfather.
In the side hall, the group had sat around the lounge-like place. Tianni sat on one of the single couches while Mian Tianyu sat down on the other. Wu Qianqian was seated in between Mian Bingbing and Liu Li, Li Heilong and Ren Shanyue trapping Jiang Yanyu on the other long couch as if warning her should she run away. They had given Jiang Yanyu face in public, but it was time to treat her as a prisoner now.
Of course, Jiang Yanyu was used to this. She was a reporter before becoming one of the founding members of Breakthrough. This kind of finger pressure was nothing. She even drank the complimentary iced tea. "Let me guess, you're all thinking that I have your little prince."
"Hm? That is exactly what he said." Mian Tianyu was confused. This start… didn't feel right.
"I'm sorry. I don't know where he is. He might have come to me if Mr. Li and Miss Ren's request went through, but I can't really help you with anything." Jiang Yanyu chuckled apologetically but with a hinge of ridicule. How could these families believe a simple lie concocted by the little prince—
"Not really. I do know that you're doing everything you can to monitor Nayi." Ren Shanyue hummed as she took a sip from her own drink. That was why she wasn't letting Jiang Yanyu see her around Chuan Nayi. She needed to make sure that Jiang Yanyu would be pressured to keep checking since no big shot was behind the daughter.
Jiang Yanyu's hand trembled before she brought down her drink. The mother then frowned at the nonchalant maiden as if Ren Shanyue was spouting nonsense. Jiang Yanyu then laughed dryly. "Is this your plan? Make use of me to get eyes on your little prince? I'm sorry, I can't get the clearance to watch every step—"
A smile curled Ren Shanyue's lips, but it was vicious even if she knew the other people in this lounge would kill her for it. "Oh, I'm the one sorry… because you see, I didn't even hide their information when I gave their files to Qiao Shan and Sergeant Song. Getting in through their channel was much faster than making one after all.
"I'm pretty sure that whoever's running the projects knew very well that they're pretty much connected to Liu Xiaodan. Don't you think the great Mr. Wu wouldn't take notice of the beautiful girlfriend that is your daughter, Chuan Nayi?" The smile dropped. "So if I were you, I would get my a.s.s working and find out what the hell is happening and if everyone is still alive."