At that moment, her three brothers standing up for her stirred something warm in Li Qiao's chest.
A faint glimmer flickered in the girl's bright, beautiful eyes, though she didn't seem overly concerned about the tension in the living room.
For no particular reason, she was confident the engagement would be called off.
After all, not long ago, Shang Yu had personally promised her: as long as she wanted out, it was hers to take.
So, she'd just wait and see.
Li Qiao didn't linger in the foyer for long. She didn't want her father and brothers going to war over her. Just a few seconds later, she stepped elegantly into the room.
The moment she appeared, the charged atmosphere in the living room vanished like smoke.
Li Guangming looked at her with a flicker of surprise, and perhaps a touch of guilt. He instinctively stood up and walked toward her, rubbing his hands together as he went. "My sweet girl is home! Tired from being out? Why didn't you stay out a bit longer and have some fun?"
The sight made eldest brother Li Jun pinch the bridge of his nose with a sigh. Second brother Li Yan sneered and looked away in disdain. As for Li Cheng—the third brother—he took a deep drag of his cigarette and looked utterly disgusted.
This was the so-called richest man in Nanyang—a textbook daughter simp.
Yet when it came to the old arranged marriage, he was bafflingly stubborn.
Such a contradiction.
Li Qiao glanced playfully at her father, then swept her eyes across her three brothers. She said calmly, "Dad, if calling off the engagement really requires Old Master Shang's approval, then let's wait. No need for you all to argue over it."
Li Guangming nodded solemnly, clearly touched. He patted her shoulder with pride. "That's my thoughtful daughter!"
Then he turned to glare at his sons and barked, "You see that? The three of you are grown men, and none of you are as mature as Qiao Qiao!"
The three Li brothers fell silent, each with a complicated expression: "…"
…
After lunch, the brothers all left the house one after another.
Li Qiao sat alone on the third-floor balcony. On the glass coffee table sat a manual coffee grinder and brewing set.
The rich scent of coffee beans drifted lazily in the air, adding a touch of comfort to an otherwise boring afternoon.
Li Qiao gazed at the misty sky, her fingers lightly tapping her knee. A moment later, she picked up the phone on the table and made a call.
"Baby, missing me already?" Nan Xin's voice oozed sweetness through the speaker, syrupy and affectionate.
Li Qiao pressed her lips together, her eyes distant as she stared into the horizon. "I want Shang Shaoyan's phone number."
Nan Xin's breath caught slightly. Her tone turned serious in an instant. "What are you planning to do with it?"
"No?" Li Qiao replied casually. "Then I'll just—"
"I'll give it to you! I'll give it to you!" Nan Xin answered in a rush, terrified this little troublemaker would go digging on her own. "Such a simple thing—no need for you to bother. I'll send it over shortly."
Before hanging up, Li Qiao added flatly, "Don't tell Li Cheng."
At that very moment, Nan Xin was already about to pick up her other phone to do exactly that—tip off Li Cheng: "…"
Less than five minutes later, Li Qiao received Shang Yu's number from Nan Xin. Staring at the string of digits, her mind conjured up his aloof and domineering figure once more.
Of course, she could have found his number herself—but if she had accessed the border intelligence system directly, it would've set off alarm bells for Li Cheng.
Li Cheng had once said his intel network covered every corner of the world—he could even track a grasshopper's movements if needed.
That's exactly why asking Nan Xin for help was the safer option.
Li Qiao stared at the number for a moment, then calmly typed out a text:
"If I want out, I can walk. That still stand?"
The reply came instantly:
"Huh? What?"
Li Qiao frowned slightly. Something didn't feel quite right. Still, she replied patiently:
"Young Master Yan doesn't remember what he said?"
Then came the next message:
"Apologies, I'm Yan's assistant, Liu Yun. This is my number. May I ask who you are? Do you need me to pass on a message?"
Li Qiao stared at the screen, expressionless. A second later, she tossed the phone onto the coffee table with a thud.
That's it?
And here they claimed to have an intel network so vast it could track a grasshopper's every move?
Li Cheng, it's time for you to retire.