Chapter 806: Chapter 806: That’s Not How Trading Works

“She’s asleep,” Shang Lu said while rubbing his arms, spilling everything he knew, “My sister-in-law asked me to watch over her, but I have no idea what for.”

Shang Zonghai shot him a sideways glance, “Just watch her if you’re told to, and don’t blab about things you shouldn’t.”

“Got it,” Shang Lu pouted, “But how long should I keep this up? I’m worried I can’t keep it a secret for long.”

Shang Zonghai’s eyes narrowed with a profound look, “If you can’t keep it a secret, then find a way.”

“Oh…”

…

Meanwhile, at Charlman Manor.

Madam Xiao’s eyes were bloodshot, her face weary as she stared at the empty seat across the dining table, “Still no contact with him?”

Xiao Yeyan was cutting his steak with his knife and fork, his eyelids drooping to hide the flicker of amusement in his eyes, “Steward Yin contacted Yin Mo. It seems big brother is at a masquerade ball and won’t be done anytime soon.”

Sitting at the head of the table, Xiao Hongdao pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice low and soothing, “Start eating, no need to worry so much. Even if they’ve taken Ningning, they wouldn’t really harm her.”

Madam Xiao’s breath hitched, looking at Xiao Hongdao with an indescribable disappointment, “Ningning is also your daughter; she could be dead or alive right now, and you still have an appetite?”

“Don’t speak so ugly; we’re not at the point of ‘no body, no crime.’ Getting flustered and losing composure will only give them something to exploit, and it’s totally useless.”

Xiao Hongdao casually advised as if the matter did not concern him, or as if he had a clear read on the situation.

Madam Xiao had always known about Xiao Hongdao’s cold-hearted nature, his lack of principle when dealing with people and affairs, absolutely cold-blooded.

Just like the time he, in his desire to force Xiao Yehui back to British Imperial, colluded with internationally infamous mercenaries and assassins, deliberately causing chaos at the border.

Even when his own son lost an arm, he remained indifferent and forcefully recalled him.

Madam Xiao’s heart suddenly felt chaotic; she stood up dazedly and hurriedly left the dining room.

Watching her retreating back, Xiao Hongdao coolly withdrew his gaze, “Give your big brother another call. It’s his mess; let him clean it up.”

Xiao Yeyan responded with a tinge of melancholy, “This time… big brother really went too far.”

Xiao Hongdao gave him a meaningful glance, lips curling slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

In the dimly lit painting studio of the side hall,

Madam Xiao sat in front of the canvas, her gaze disordered.

She clenched her fists, recalling Xiao Hongdao’s earlier demeanor, her heart growing increasingly uneasy.

Xiao Yening was the daughter of his old age, usually dearly beloved. How could he be calmer and more rational than anyone else now that something had happened?

Madam Xiao did not trust Li Qiao, nor could she trust Shang Zonghai, especially… Shang Shaoyan.

Her thoughts were in turmoil, with various voices pulling at her nerves, causing her immense irritation.

In the end, only Li Qiao’s each word, meticulously chosen, remained.

–You have a serious problem with being biased and gullible.

–What reason would he have to harm your child?

–Whose manipulation have you listened to, that you hate him so persistently to this day?

Whose manipulation?

…

The next day, early in the morning, Li Qiao received a call from Xiao Yehui.

She hadn’t fully woken up yet, and upon seeing the caller ID, she answered and closed her eyes again, “Speak.”

“Xiao Qi, you really surprise me,” said Xiao Yehui’s usually gentle voice, now laced with extraordinary sarcasm.

Li Qiao kicked off the covers with an unfriendly tone, “Did you disturb my sweet dream early this morning just to spout nonsense?”

“Of course not,” Xiao Yehui seemed to have laughed, “Release Ningning, and I will help you cure Yun Lih’s poison.”

Li Qiao lifted her eyelids, lazily sarcastic, “You cure? With what will you cure it?”

Xiao Yehui was silent for two seconds, “Synthetic cannabinoids are not lethal, and withdrawal treatment is enough. As for the other toxins, let Ningning go home, and I will give you the prescription.”

Li Qiao pursed her lips, her brows unfurled, and she spoke in an extremely indifferent tone, “Duke Xiao, that’s not how you do business. Since you can cure the poison from the blue-ringed octopus, why not… try the antidote on your sister first? It would be more credible.”

“What blue-ringed octopus?” Xiao Yehui’s voice suddenly deepened.

Li Qiao noticed the change in his tone, but was too lazy to pursue it, curling her lips slightly, “I’m waiting for your antidote.”

After ending the call, Li Qiao tossed aside her phone, rolled over, and planned to sleep a little longer.

Suddenly, her waist tightened, and the man’s long arm pulled her into his embrace, his voice half-asleep and uniquely hoarse, “Xiao Yehui?”

“Mhm.” Li Qiao, with her back against Shang Yu’s chest and her face buried in the crook of his arm, rubbed her face against it, “Did I wake you?”

The man’s breathing was hot as he kissed her ear, “What did he say?”

“He wants me to return his sister, and in exchange, he’d provide an antidote for Yun Lih.” Li Qiao’s sleepiness gradually faded, and after a few seconds of silence, she added, “The blue-ringed octopus might not be his handiwork.”

Shang Yu’s brow furrowed slightly and, as if to punish her, he nibbled lightly on her earlobe, “Didn’t you say you don’t trust him?”

Feeling the man’s sensually hoarse voice just inches away, Li Qiao turned her head to dodge, teasing with a laugh, “Even if he didn’t administer the poison, that doesn’t prove his innocence. At Charlman Manor, they share collective responsibility–shared glory and shared consequences. It doesn’t matter who did it.”

From the moment Xiao Yehui began using Yun Lih, they had been in an inescapable conflict.

…

Meanwhile, Xia Siyu, who was sleeping in the next mansion, was woken up by the noise.

Both she and Yun Lih were staying in the second-floor guest rooms, and in a daze, she heard a series of urgent coughs, which reflexively made her open her eyes.

Xia Siyu threw off the covers and jumped out of bed, not even bothering with slippers, and hurried to Yun Lih’s door. Without any regard for etiquette, she pushed the door open and rushed in.

In the bathroom, Yun Lih was leaning on the sink with one hand and clutching his chest with the other, coughing nonstop, blood flowing from his nose and staining the white surface red.

Xia Siyu ran over in a panic to support him, took a towel, dampened it, and plugged it to his mouth and nose, patting his back in an attempt to alleviate his pain.

Yun Lih was startled by Xia Siyu and paused for two seconds, then took the towel from her hands and wiped the blood from his nose, “You’re up so early?”

Xia Siyu, still shaken, looked at the bloodstain on the surface and anxiously replied, “Why has it gotten worse? Didn’t they say that the medicine prepared by Shang Lu would provide a lot of relief?”

Shang Lu must be a quack!

Yun Lih’s Adam’s apple moved, he removed the towel from his nose, sighed and said, “It hasn’t…”

“I’ll go ask Shang Lu,” Xia Siyu said and was about to run out, without a hint of her usually ladylike demeanor.

Yun Lih, out of options, stepped forward and pulled her back by her small arm, “Come back.”

Xia Siyu was barefoot, the bathroom floor was a bit slippery, and she lost her footing when suddenly tugged, her legs gave way and she fell.

By instinct, people always try to grab something to stabilize themselves before falling.

Just like Xia Siyu in the midst of chaos, her hand groped for something, but she still couldn’t avoid the misfortune of falling.

She fell to the floor, still clutching something between her fingers.

Xia Siyu yelled out, looking up in shock.

In front of her were two long, straight legs and… black boxers.

She had accidentally pulled down Yun Lih’s pajama pants.