At this point, Duan Shuyuan paused, then deliberately put on a stern face and muttered,
"But your dad really went too far this time. I didn't even know there was a marriage contract! When he wakes up, I'm definitely going to have a word with him."
Was that all?
Her explanation sounded reasonable enough, but it still felt like she was skirting around the real issue.
Just then, the sound of steady, purposeful footsteps echoed from the front hallway. A moment later, the housekeeper called out a greeting—Li San was back.
Third Brother, Li Cheng, strode into the living room, a black trench coat draped over his shoulders.
Rain clung to him, his whole figure damp. He scanned the room, locked eyes with Li Qiao, and asked bluntly,
"It's done?"
He had only just received the housekeeper's call, informing him that Old Master Shang had personally come to call off the engagement. But he'd been tied up and couldn't leave right away—hence his late arrival.
Li Qiao lazily turned her head and nodded slightly, taking it as a response.
The moment Duan Shuyuan saw Li Cheng, she shot him a glare, her tone annoyed.
"So you do remember how to come home? How many days has it been?"
"Busy."
Li Cheng replied with a single word, pushing back his wet bangs as he sat down—recklessly—on the armrest of the sofa. He glanced down at Li Qiao again, repeating,
"So it's really over?"
At this, Duan Shuyuan got annoyed. She reached over Li Qiao and smacked Li Cheng on the thigh with a loud thwack, face stern.
"Quit bothering your sister! Once isn't enough? How many times do you need to ask?"
Li Cheng looked at her helplessly.
The old saying was true: never mess with women or villains—even if the woman is your own mother.
Once she got started, there was no winning the argument.
A few moments later, Li Qiao slipped the diamond card back into her pocket, got up unhurriedly, and said to Duan Shuyuan,
"Mom, I'm going out for a walk with Third Brother."
She was in a bad mood and needed an outlet.
Seeing her daughter's cold, distant expression, Duan Shuyuan wrapped an arm around her shoulders, gently comforting her.
"Alright, go ahead. Just remember what I said—don't overthink things. Have fun. And you," she turned to Li Cheng, "take good care of Qiao Qiao."
Li Cheng gave a casual salute with two fingers to his temple, then grabbed Li Qiao by the wrist and headed out the door.
⸻
4:00 p.m.
Li Cheng drove Li Qiao to the Nanyang Entertainment Complex.
Seventh Floor – Mohr Private Tasting Lounge.
An elegant, high-end wine tasting venue. The decor was refined, the lighting dim and ambient.
Inside a luxurious VIP suite, Li Qiao sat with one foot on the chair rail, arm resting on the table. She glanced at the two bottles of Louis XIII on the table and curled her lips.
"Now that the engagement's off… when are you going back to the border?"
Li Cheng sat beside her, a cigarette hanging from his lips. He narrowed his eyes as he opened a bottle of Louis XIII, speaking with the cigarette still between his teeth,
"Tomorrow or the day after. When did you start drinking brandy?"
When they'd entered the lounge earlier, Li Qiao had immediately ordered two bottles of Louis XIII brandy. From what he remembered, she usually preferred cocktails.
"Recently," Li Qiao replied, her eyes following the rich amber liquor as it flowed into the glass. Some of the coldness in her gaze began to fade.
Li Cheng pushed a crystal glass toward her, tossing in two ice cubes. With two fingers, he flicked off the ash from his cigarette.
"Since the engagement's done, why do you still look like this? Didn't go smoothly?"
As he spoke, he closely observed her.
Li Qiao was usually calm and unreadable, often carrying a lazy, indifferent air.
But today, she seemed especially low—something was definitely off.
At that moment, Li Qiao picked up the glass and took a small sip. The fragrant depth of the cognac bloomed across her palate.
She took a few more sips, swirling the glass in her hand. After a long pause, she finally told Li Cheng what Shang Zonghai had said to her earlier.