At that moment, Li Cheng took a deep drag on his cigarette, squinting as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Shang Zonghai told you to go back and take a look? I don't remember you ever being to Parma. I mean, I'm not too familiar with the place myself, but even some friends in the underworld say it's not the kind of country you can just walk into."
Li Qiao curled her lips coldly, pulled out the diamond card, and tossed it onto the table.
"Even you can tell something's off, but Mom and Dad still refuse to say anything."
Once a seed of suspicion is planted in the heart, time will only make it grow and take root.
Li Cheng casually picked up the flashy card and gave it a glance.
"What the hell is this?"
"Apparently, it's a pass to Parma."
Li Cheng chuckled, tossed the card back on the table, crossed his legs, and took a swig of brandy.
"Well, if you've got a pass, find a chance to go check it out. But judging by what you said, Mom and Dad's attitude toward Shang Zonghai… it really is a little fishy."
Li Guangming, South Sea's richest man—Li Cheng had never seen his old man bow his head to anyone. Not once.
Li Qiao leaned back in her chair, gaze falling idly on the diamond card, and casually muttered,
"Is it possible that I'm from Parma? Like… adopted or something?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. The thought was ridiculous. What kind of family spoils an adopted child like this?
Sure enough, Li Cheng looked at her like she was hopeless, his expression amused and exasperated.
"Have you been watching too many soap operas?"
He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and gave her a side-eye.
"When you were born, the whole family was at the hospital. Big Brother was the first one to hold you. Wanna know what he said?"
Li Qiao kept her expression blank as she lowered her head to sip her drink, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"…What?"
"'Is this little black monkey really my sister?'"
Li Cheng had no shame at all revealing her embarrassing childhood nickname.
The Black Monkey, Li Qiao: "…"
Li Cheng, some things really didn't need to be said out loud.
⸻
After two glasses of brandy, Li Qiao's pent-up emotions had eased considerably.
The warm overhead lights bathed her in a soft glow, accentuating the clean, elegant lines of her profile. Her skin appeared almost luminous in the dim light.
Li Cheng was a heavy smoker—he'd already gone through four or five cigarettes in the short time they'd been there.
The room wasn't quite choked with smoke, but it was still enough to sting the nose a little.
Li Qiao tilted her head back slightly, staring up at the ceiling. Her arms were relaxed behind her neck, a lazy posture, but her mind drifted toward Shang Yu.
After the lunch banquet, she had gone straight home with her parents.
She wondered what he was doing now?
Suddenly, the table buzzed with a sharp vibration.
Li Cheng glanced at his phone, his brows furrowing as he skimmed the message.
"Shit."
Li Qiao, still resting her hands behind her head, lowered her gaze slightly.
"What is it?"
"Nan Yin's in trouble."
Li Cheng grabbed his trench coat off the chair. "You head home first, I'll—"
Li Qiao was already on her feet, face calm and resolute, walking straight toward the door.
"I'm going with you."
Li Cheng pressed his lips together as he watched her walk ahead. He caught up in a few long strides, his tone patient but firm.
"Qiao, you can come, but don't act rashly. This isn't the border."
He knew her all too well—if someone she cared about got hurt even a little, she could bring down the sky without saying a word.
That's why, even now, three years later, her legend still lived on in the borderlands.
"You nag."
Li Qiao tossed the two words over her shoulder, a bit impatiently.
Li Cheng rubbed his nose. "…"
Nan Yin usually operated in the border region— their turf, where the rules were loose and wild.
But here in the South Sea, in a law-governed society, their actions had to be more restrained.
Li Qiao wasn't worried about Nan Yin's personal safety—what she feared was that Nan Yin might've done something illegal.
⸻
East Suburb Sports Complex.
Li Qiao and Li Cheng got out of the taxi and headed straight for Bowling Hall No. 2.
Wasn't hard to guess—a hardcore bowling fan must've stirred up some trouble in there.