Chapter 423: Chapter 423: Qiaoqiao, Do You Want to Go Faster?
Li Yehan called, and Nan Qiao told him she was having dinner with Rong Yan and Rong Miao.
Li Yehan said, “Give me an address, I’ll come and pick you up.”
“We’re planning to go sing karaoke after dinner.”
“Qiaoqiao, we haven’t seen each other all day. Don’t you miss me?”
A helpless voice came through the phone. The surroundings were so quiet that even Rong Yan and Rong Miao heard it.
Nan Qiao stood up awkwardly and said, “I’ll take this call outside.”
She walked away with her phone, finding a quiet place before speaking.
“Li Yehan, what you just said… I think they overheard it.”
“Qiaoqiao, it doesn’t matter if they heard it. What about you? Did you hear it?”
Nan Qiao: “…”
“I heard it.”
“Want me to come pick you up?”
Nan Qiao wanted to tell Li Yehan about the events of the day to warn him to stay alert and be careful.
“Alright, I’ll send you the address. Come here.”
Nan Qiao hung up the phone and sent her location to Li Yehan.
Returning to the private room, she found Rong Miao and Rong Yan waiting for her by the door.
Rong Miao grinned and said, “Sister Qiaoqiao, my brother said that since you took a call from your boyfriend, you probably won’t be going to karaoke with us.”
Rong Yan’s guess was spot on, leaving Nan Qiao a little embarrassed.
“I’m sorry; I really can’t join you today. Next time, I’ll treat you both.”
“Sister Qiaoqiao, if you’ve got something to do, go ahead. Don’t worry about it. We’ll arrange something next time.”
“Then I’ll head off first.”
Rong Yan and Rong Miao walked her to the door, and soon, Li Yehan arrived in his car.
Nan Qiao got in the car and left with Li Yehan.
Rong Miao said with a tinge of envy, “Brother, Sister Qiaoqiao is amazing, and her boyfriend seems pretty great too. When will you find me a sister-in-law? You’ve got to step up!”
“You’re still a kid, and now you’re trying to rush me into marriage? My career is just getting started; I need to focus on that first. Marriage… it’s not really for me right now.”
Rong Miao: “…”
…
Li Yehan grew worried after hearing about the day’s events from Nan Qiao.
“Li Yehan, you must also stay cautious. These people must be desperate to resort to picking us off one by one.”
“Qiaoqiao, you be careful as well. Always take bodyguards with you when you go out, okay?”
“I’ve got bodyguards with me; don’t worry. I value my life highly.”
Nan Qiao glanced at the night outside. “Where are you taking me?”
“To my place. The chef has prepared some new dishes. I want you to try them and give me your thoughts.”
Nan Qiao: “…”
“Can I say no?”
Li Yehan chuckled lightly. “Of course not.”
Nan Qiao: “…”
Li Yehan brought Nan Qiao back to his estate.
Handing the car keys to the bodyguard, he took Nan Qiao’s hand and led her onto a bridge.
The lights on the bridge lit up, and Nan Qiao walked forward with Li Yehan.
“Li Yehan, didn’t you say you hadn’t eaten? Why didn’t you get food first?”
“You’ve already eaten. I’m taking you for a walk to digest. Afterwards, you can try some with me.”
Nan Qiao: “…”
…
Li Xia was still busy in the lab, working under the guidance of Old Mrs. Yang.
“Xiaxia, you need to stay calm. If you can’t stay composed, how will the experiment succeed?”
Li Xia was agitated, and the experiment’s success wasn’t guaranteed.
“Master, let me rest a bit and then attempt the experiment again.”
“Resting a bit? Li Xia, since when did you get so lazy? While you rest, Nan Qiao could have done two experiments by now. Do you want to lose to Nan Qiao?”
Hearing this, Li Xia perked up instantly, as if re-energized, and threw herself back into her work.
Old Mrs. Yang observed her with satisfaction.
Jiang Linyu walked in, offering politely, “Master Yang, you must be tired too. Why not take a seat and rest for a while? The chef has prepared pan-fried foie gras, abalone and sea cucumber porridge, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Dongpo pork, and some of your favorite vegetarian dishes.”
Old Mrs. Yang said, “Xiaxia, let’s take a break and eat. After dinner, come back to the lab. There’s something I need to tell you that might help in tomorrow’s competition.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Old Mrs. Yang gave a slight nod, and the group headed out for dinner.
…
Nan Qiao had dinner with Li Yehan. Once they were full, Li Yehan took her hand, leading her for a stroll around the estate.
They stopped at the bridge, and Li Yehan paused.
He extended his hand and pointed at a section of the night sky. “Qiaoqiao, look.”
Nan Qiao followed his pointing finger. The pitch-black night suddenly lit up. Fireworks launched into the sky, exploding into dazzling patterns.
“Wow! How beautiful!” Nan Qiao exclaimed instinctively.
What an incredible surprise!
Nan Qiao hadn’t expected to see such stunning fireworks here. They were breathtakingly beautiful!
Another firework exploded, spelling out two characters: Qiaoqiao.
Nan Qiao turned to Li Yehan in astonishment, but his gaze wasn’t on the fireworks. He had been watching her the entire time.
When Nan Qiao looked at Li Yehan, their gazes locked.
“Qiaoqiao, do you like it?”
“I love it. I really love it.”
The radiant fireworks—who could possibly resist?
Li Yehan took her hand and continued walking. The path ahead was brightly illuminated, and Nan Qiao noticed a cleared patch of land up ahead.
“Wasn’t this a garden? Where did all the flowers go?”
Li Yehan said, “I cleared this area. I’m planning to build a playground here. When we have kids in the future, they can play at home. Over there, the lawn is being nurtured—it’ll be the venue for our wedding.”
Nan Qiao: “…”
“Why are you preparing for something so far into the future? I haven’t even said I’d marry you.”
Wrapping her in his arms, Li Yehan said dominantly yet seriously, “Qiaoqiao, you can only marry me.”
Nan Qiao said, “Li Yehan, you’re so overbearing.”
“I’m not overbearing; I’m just scared you’ll run away.”
Nan Qiao couldn’t help but laugh. She looked up, her sparkling eyes taking in Li Yehan’s earnest expression.
The two exchanged a gaze, seeing the best versions of themselves reflected in each other’s eyes.
“Achoo!” Nan Qiao suddenly sneezed.
Li Yehan scooped her up in his arms and started walking. “It’s too chilly out here. Let’s head to the room so you can get cleaned up and rest.”
Nestled in a princess carry, Nan Qiao protested, “Put me down, Li Yehan! I sneezed; I’m not incapacitated!”
Nan Qiao chuckled in disbelief at how overprotective he was.
Seeing her struggle, Li Yehan eventually let her down to walk on her own.
“Qiaoqiao, wouldn’t it be better if I carried you? Walking is tiring.”
“I ate too much today. I need to walk it off.”
The couple walked side by side, but the estate was so expansive that Nan Qiao soon grew tired.
Li Yehan noticed her pale face.
“Qiaoqiao, let me carry you.”
“No, I can handle it.”
Nan Qiao kept walking, but suddenly, Li Yehan lifted her up again, this time onto his shoulders, holding her legs firmly.
From this vantage point, her view was exceptionally wide.
The night breeze brushed past, lifting Nan Qiao’s hair into a graceful arc.
“Li Yehan, you’re running too fast!”
“Qiaoqiao, do you want to go even faster?”
In the darkness, the two of them rushed toward the light, moving swiftly forward together.