Li Yan didn’t ask much, wandered around the research table, poking the equipment here and checking the microscope there, "What do you want those paintings for? Although they’re all works from the medieval European period, they’re not as famous as the ones I gifted you."

Li Qiao raised an eyebrow, casually curling her lips, "Cater to their interests."

Li Yan was puzzled, "Cater to whom?"

Li Qiao didn’t answer, pulled a chair to sit down, and asked a few questions about Mo Jue’s recent situation.

Mentioning Mo Jue was like a stimulant for Li Yan, and he started talking non-stop.

For instance, many boys at the school have abnormal orientations.

And for another instance, the environment of the private school is really misleading the youth.

In short, he was full of complaints, hinting at wanting Mo Jue to switch from living at school to becoming a day student.

Li Yan rambled for twenty minutes, and Li Qiao’s gaze grew increasingly sympathetic.

The entire school knows Mo Jue is a girl, but only his second brother firmly believes she’s a boy.

That’s certainly persistent enough.

After a while, Li Qiao asked with great interest, "Have you ever attended a parent-teacher meeting at the school?"

Li Yan was taken aback, then shook his head belatedly, "No."

Usually, after the school’s mock exams, they hold parent-teacher meetings, but he never heard Mo Jue mention it.

Li Yan was very suspicious, rolled up his sleeve to check the time, and got up to head home.

However, after taking two steps, he turned back to Li Qiao, "You’re not seeing me off?"

"Is it necessary?" Li Qiao had just unlocked her phone’s screen and was surprised to raise her eyebrow at Li Yan’s words.

Li Yan nodded solemnly, "It’s necessary, put on a jacket and see me out, quick."

He swore he’d never come back to the South Sea Mansion again.

Everywhere was filled with black-clad bodyguards, all imposing and strong, he was afraid of breaking any rules and getting shot.

Don’t think he hadn’t seen the lookout tower in the distance, who knows if there’s a sniper up there.

...

At six in the evening, Shang Yu returned.

Strangely, Li Qiao wasn’t busy in the lab but was leisurely sitting in the living room sipping tea.

Jin Rong had been missing these past two days as well, except coming home to sleep at night, he was virtually unseen during the day.

When Shang Yu entered the living room and saw Li Qiao, his eyes lit up with a smile, "Finished work so early?"

Li Qiao: "..."

Felt like a jab.

Li Qiao put down the teacup, flashed a brilliant and flamboyant smile, "Then...should I go back to work?"

The man threw his coat aside with a wave of his hand, walked over to Li Qiao, bent over, one hand on the sofa, the other slowly untied the Windsor knot on his shirt, "Don’t even think about it."

Li Qiao’s slender frame was enveloped in Shang Yu’s intense aura, her gaze followed his movements, watching his slender fingers pull off the Windsor knot and undo the tightly bound collar, like a gentleman tearing off a gentle façade.

Probably due to an important business meeting, so he was dressed very formally, unexpectedly adding a touch of cold and abstinent charm.

Li Qiao was mesmerized; even simple actions could be performed with such captivating allure by him.

Shang Yu noticed Li Qiao’s dazed expression, a bizarre sense of satisfaction fermented within his chest, he lowered his handsome face, and asked in a deep, coaxing voice, "What are you staring at?"

"Pleasant to look at." Li Qiao replied evasively, staring at his clavicles, she quickly reached out and touched them.

How can a man’s clavicles look so good?!

Li Qiao was completely unaware of what she was doing, her fingertips traced upward along the clavicle, brushing against Shang Yu’s Adam’s apple, gently rubbing up and down.

Liuyun, who followed in through the door, suddenly saw the overlapping figures in the living room and briskly turned around and dashed outside.

Whether or not he had to swallow that dog food didn’t matter, mainly because his bonus had already been withheld until next year.

That damned fool Zhui Feng.

At this moment, the living room atmosphere was warming up.

Li Qiao had unwittingly sparked a fire on Shang Yu, realizing it only when she noticed the man in front of her breathing heavily, a dark blaze in his eyes.

She withdrew her hand, leaned back slightly to put some distance between them, glancing at the coffee table, she casually asked, "Want some tea?"

Shang Yu remained in his bent position, leisurely curling his lips, "Not thirsty."

Who asked if you were thirsty or not.

Li Qiao was distracted, feeling that the atmosphere wasn’t quite right.

Perhaps Shang Yu’s gaze was too intense, Li Qiao swallowed, patting the sofa next to her, "Sit down and take a rest."

The man glanced at the sofa and leaned closer to her again.

The room was lit with a moderately bright warm light, he lowered his head to kiss her cheek, then shifted to her ear, nibbling on her delicate earlobe, "No hurry, let’s wait a bit longer."

The atmosphere spiraled completely out of control.

Shang Yu’s breath all enveloped her ear, burning hot.

Li Qiao shrank her neck, turning her head to dodge, "Stop it..."

The man didn’t speak, but responded through his actions.

He clasped her jaw, covering her lips with his, teasingly tracing her lip shape with his tongue.

Li Qiao’s scalp tingled, though she was pregnant, all her senses were intact.

Under Shang Yu’s deliberate teasing, Li Qiao’s breathing also turned irregular.

They hadn’t been together in a long time.

Yet with the pregnancy not reaching three months, Shang Yu remained unusually self-controlled, but at this moment he found it hard to maintain restraint.

Perhaps stepping into the living room and seeing Li Qiao in her fluffy pajamas sitting on the sofa smiling at him glimpsed a tender spot in his heart.

Or perhaps it was...

Later, Shang Yu carried Li Qiao upstairs, even though burning with passion, he was still afraid of hurting her.

The man buried his face beside hers, breathing heavily, yet took no further steps.

Li Qiao knew how difficult it was for him, feeling a soft spot in her heart, she sought out his lips and kissed him.
)

Shang Yu pulled the quilt higher, paused at her ear, and murmured, "I’ll be gentle, okay?"

Indeed, every movement of the man was astonishingly tender, unlike his usual conduct.

Li Qiao simply responded by wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

...

Half an hour later, Li Qiao and Shang Yu came downstairs hand in hand.

He Chen had arrived at some point, lazily playing on his phone while sitting on the sofa with crossed legs. Hearing footsteps, he glanced over indifferently, "Finally willing to come down?"

Li Qiao, wearing a radiant expression, slowly sat down and shot a glance at He Chen, remaining silent.

Luoyu took a couple of focused looks, silently appraising: her face was a vibrant peach blossom.

Indeed, the nourishment of love is the best cosmetic.

Shang Yu, now dressed in casual home attire, glared at He Chen and asked coldly, "When did you arrive?"

He Chen put down his long legs, licked his cheek, "I came in just when you were carrying her upstairs."

Li Qiao remained expressionless: "..."

He was definitely trying to get back at her.

Shang Yu arched his brow slightly, relying back on the sofa, "Haven’t you heard of ’see no evil’?"

He Chen chuckled, giving Li Qiao a meaningful look, then shifted the topic, "Perfect timing, we’re heading to Aida State tomorrow morning, I’ll stay over tonight."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com