Shang Yu's hand paused as he took a drag from his cigarette. His cold eyes fixed on Luo Yu, and for a moment, time itself seemed to freeze—aside from the thin wisp of smoke curling around his fingers.
"Reason."
The word slipped coldly from his lips, his tone indifferent. A faint flicker of displeasure lingered beneath the calm surface of his obsidian-black eyes.
Luo Yu pressed her lips together and met his gaze, firm and resolute.
"Your wife shouldn't just be some rich heiress."
"Oh? Shouldn't?"
A soft laugh escaped Shang Yu's lips, but his eyes only grew darker and colder.
"I gave you an entire afternoon. That's all you managed to dig up?"
Luo Yu lowered her gaze, hands clasped behind her back. She was choosing her words carefully—and it showed.
She had indeed investigated Li Qiao's background. From her initial surprise to a begrudging understanding, Luo Yu admitted that while Li Qiao was smarter than the average socialite, she was still, in her eyes, not worthy of Nanyang's elusive Shang Shao-yan.
After a brief silence, she looked up again, her voice serious and firm:
"Of course not just that. I've looked into everything— including her broken engagement with Second Master Li and how she deliberately approached you afterward."
Shang Yu narrowed his eyes and took another drag of his cigarette. He raised a brow as he turned to look out the window.
"And?"
"Boss, she may be a mortician and a top-performing graduate, but that doesn't prove she's truly capable.
Even if she comes from the richest Li family, her wealth can't compare to yours.
And since I've returned from Parma, the clan has been complaining about your decision to send Zhui Feng over—he's not familiar with the region. I asked around… and the reason for it was her."
Shang Yu turned his eyes back from the window, lashes lowered, masking the hint of amusement in his gaze.
"You're implying I've lost my judgment?"
The office went silent for three seconds.
Then Luo Yu blurted out, "I wouldn't dare. But yes… a little."
She didn't finish the sentence, but the air was already heavy with tension.
Shang Yu slowly lifted his eyes and stared at Luo Yu. Their gazes locked—unyielding.
In less than a minute, Luo Yu faltered. Her eyes dropped in panic, and her voice turned taut.
"I apologize. I overstepped."
"If you think she's incapable," Shang Yu said coldly, "then starting tomorrow, you'll be responsible for her security detail.
There's unrest in Nanyang lately. I want you to make sure she's safe."
Luo Yu's eyes flew open in disbelief.
"Boss?!"
How could this happen?
He was actually assigning her to protect Li Qiao?
Shang Yu stubbed out his cigarette, his chiseled face darkened by a faint, mocking chill.
"Three years ago, you ranked first out of the four in the trial run.
Three years later—let's see how you measure up now.
Dismissed."
Luo Yu wanted to keep arguing, but the man before her had already stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
His tall, straight back radiated an impenetrable coldness.
It was clear—he was angry.
Covered in cold sweat, Luo Yu quietly exited the office, her face pale as paper.
⸻
The Next Day
Li Qiao pulled out of her villa in the morning.
As the ornate iron gate slowly opened, a black SUV brazenly blocked the driveway.
She stepped on the brake and, through her windshield, locked eyes with the driver of the SUV.
Luo Yu?
What was she doing here so early?
Li Qiao tapped her fingers lightly on the steering wheel. She didn't get out.
She just sat there, watching the other woman.
The SUV's window slowly rolled down, revealing Luo Yu's face—rigid and strained.
Without hesitation, she stepped out of the car, walked up to Li Qiao's window, and knocked once.
Her tone was stiff:
"Boss ordered me to be in charge of your personal security from now on."
Her expression was calm enough, but her eyes gave her away—resistance and reluctance.
Li Qiao rolled the window halfway down and gave her a sidelong glance.
Then she looked straight ahead again and casually curved her lips.
"No need.
Move your car. You're blocking the way."