Li San's breath subtly tightened, and he let out a faint sneer. "Let's put it this way—I've got no personal grudge against him, but that doesn't mean others don't want him dead."
His words were loaded with meaning.
Li Qiao straightened her posture, her delicate features unusually serious. "He has a lot of enemies?"
"So many that the moment he lets his guard down, he could be riddled with bullets," Li San said in a half-joking tone. But there wasn't the slightest trace of amusement in his deep-set eyes. "You think he's ruled Nanyang this long just because of his business smarts?
Qiaoqiao, don't underestimate Shang Shaoyan. What you've seen is just the tip of the iceberg—he's never been a good man."
Hearing not a good man from Li San again left Li Qiao silent.
What defines a good or bad person?
Is it just hearsay?
After a pause, Li San gently ruffled her hair and spoke seriously, "Anyway, remember what Third Brother says: stay away from Shang Shaoyan. It'll only do you good."
"Alright…" Li Qiao agreed without hesitation, but her mind was already calculating.
She never said she liked good men!
Besides, thinking back to those days at the border, she didn't think she was all that good herself.
…
Once inside, Li Qiao went straight to the third-floor bedroom.
Just as she placed her phone on the desk, Li San showed up uninvited again.
He had taken off his coat and was wearing only a thin shirt. With the tip of his foot nudging the door, he leaned lazily against the frame and asked, "Your school situation—Big Brother didn't let me get involved. He said he'd take care of it. Any update?"
Li Qiao spun once in her computer chair, seemingly indifferent. "Didn't ask."
Li San clicked his tongue and pointed at her from across the room with a wag of his finger. "You're going to drive me to an early grave, I swear."
"There'll be an outcome eventually. What's the rush?" Li Qiao shot him a glance, her tone casual. "When are you going back to the border?"
Li San raised a brow and said frankly, "Didn't they say Shang Lu's father is coming? Once the engagement's dealt with, I'll head back." Then, pursing his lips, he took a step forward and asked tentatively, "And you? After your graduation defense… wanna come back with me for a visit?"
Li Qiao's lazy expression suddenly stiffened. She lowered her gaze, hiding her expression, but her voice was restrained. "No."
"Qiaoqiao, it's been three years… about Hui—"
Before he could finish, Li Qiao suddenly stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. "Don't say it."
At that moment, Li San looked at her slender and stubborn figure standing on the balcony, silhouetted against the overcast sky.
Ever since Hui had gotten into trouble at the border three years ago, she hadn't been back.
Li San let out a long, heavy sigh. He wanted to comfort her, but knew it wouldn't help.
With a clouded expression, he shook his head and reminded her not to overthink, then turned and left the room.
Hearing the door shut behind her, Li Qiao gripped the marble balcony rail tightly.
Even though it had been three years, no matter how much she rebuilt herself, she still couldn't bear to think about it—couldn't forget.
What right did she have to go back and face everyone? San-ge didn't blame her, Nan Xin didn't blame her, but she couldn't stop blaming herself!
She couldn't deny that Li San's blunt words had dragged her back into the mire of memory, until even breathing felt bitter.
With a heavy heart, she gazed into the darkening sky, then returned to her room and picked up her phone.
At the very bottom of her contacts list, there was a name marked with a special symbol: [卍].
She hesitated for a while, then dialed.
Soon, the call connected. A slightly aged, teasing voice came through. "Little girl, you still remember this old teacher of yours?"
Hearing that familiar, weathered voice, some of the weight in her chest inexplicably lifted. "You enlightened me with knowledge and guidance—how could a student ever dare forget her teacher?"