CHAPTER 1280: CHAPTER 1280: SHANG YU COMPROMISES

That night, after taking a shower, Li Qiao returned to the master bedroom. While drying her hair, she caught a glimpse of the Kirin Bestowing a Son figurine on the nightstand, unsurprised by its presence.

It was a birthday gift from her sister-in-law, Zong Yue.

Li Qiao put down the towel, held the figurine, and poked the Kirin on its forehead, "Are you effective at all?"

Before she finished speaking, the door to the master bedroom opened.

Li Qiao turned her head, gently stroking the Kirin with her fingers. "Is he asleep?"

Shang Yu responded, noticing her subtle move, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes, "What are you doing holding that?"

Li Qiao replied straightforwardly, "Making a wish."

The man hesitated, containing his smile as he pretended not to understand, "What wish?"

"Shang Yin needs a sister."

Normally, Shang Yu would probably suggest bringing He Yanmo back as a sister.

But tonight, he first fell silent, then sat down beside Li Qiao and finally called out to her, "Qiaoqiao..."

"He’s over two years old now." Li Qiao held onto the figurine tightly, cutting off Shang Yu’s words. "I’ve recovered well physically, Secret Hall’s assessments can prove that, and the lab has been quite idle this past year."

These words left Shang Yu with no room for refusal.

Silence spread slowly in the master bedroom.

Shang Yu gently caressed the damp strands of Li Qiao’s hair, sighing, "Qiaoqiao, your body isn’t suited for pregnancy..."

The severe morning sickness and difficult labor during childbirth, those scenes remain vividly in his memory no matter how much time passes.

More than anyone, Shang Yu wanted a daughter, a beautiful one like Li Qiao, but he was too scared.

Even without the influence of paranoia, he couldn’t bear the damage Li Qiao would endure to have his child.

At this point, Li Qiao handed the Kirin figurine to the man in front of her, "Let’s try first; if it doesn’t work out, we can terminate it."

Shang Yu pressed his thin lips, "Retreating as a way to advance?"

"No." Li Qiao’s delicate eyebrows arched in a bold curve, "I’m testing the waters myself."

The man’s Adam’s apple rolled, his previously resolute beliefs showing signs of crumbling before Li Qiao, "Qiaoqiao..."

Li Qiao leaned over and placed the figurine on the nightstand, her tone neutral and unreadable of emotion, "No matter how good He Yanmo is, she’s not my biological child. You always say you want to bring her back, is it that you don’t want to have a child with me, or..."

Shang Yu sighed deeply, then wrapped his arm around Li Qiao’s waist and lightly nibbled on her ear, "I’m going to take a shower."

Success!

Li Qiao lowered her gaze, concealing the glint in her eyes. So... provocation works.

The night deepened, and warmth and fragrance filled the master bedroom.

...

In the blink of an eye, September 12th arrived as scheduled.

Li San and Nan Xin’s grand wedding commenced at the Royal Hotel.

At the wedding venue, as the bride, Nan Xin couldn’t help but shed tears on stage while giving her speech.

As for Li San, due to his personality, even if he was moved, it was hard for people to notice.

This made many guests think the groom was either forced into marriage or kidnapped, showing no signs of happiness or excitement.

During the wedding banquet, in the backstage bridal room.

Nan Xin changed into her reception gown but couldn’t stop stealing glances at Li Qiao behind her, "Sweetie, I noticed... have you gained weight?"

Li Qiao, who was eating Plum Slices, "Really?"

"You have, and not only that," Nan Xin turned around towards her, using her fingers to draw a circle around Li Qiao’s brow and eyes, "but you also look very well-rested, been doing a lot of night exercises?"

Li Qiao acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing to eat her Plum Slices.

She too felt like she looked healthier, which probably had to do with her night workouts.

Shang Yu had compromised; though he didn’t say it outright, his efforts in trying for a baby were clear.

To be exact, it had been every day lately, without fail.

Nan Xin teased Li Qiao a little more, and soon enough, a little figure ran in, "Mama..."

Shang Yin ran straight to Li Qiao, panicked and urgent, "Mama, the sister is gone."

Li Qiao’s eyes narrowed, "What happened? Speak slowly."

The little guy was on the verge of tears, hugging her leg, struggling to articulate, "I was with her behind the garden, getting cake, now she’s missing, Mama..."

Upon learning He Yanmo went missing in the back garden, not just Shang Yin, but within minutes many people were alerted.

He Chen arrived at the back garden, his aura filled with urgency, and saw Shang Yin secretly wiping his tears. He bent down to pat his head, "Son, don’t worry. Tell Godfather, where did she go missing?"

Shang Yin sniffled, pointing towards a flower bush, "Uh..."

The little guy rarely cried.

But having lost his sister, he was both sad and helpless, pursing his lips and incessantly sobbing, "Godfather, sister... I..."

He Chen closed his eyes, using his dry palm to wipe his face, "Don’t cry, it’s not your fault."

If someone really meant ill for He Yanmo, not just Xiao Shang Yin, even they adults would sometimes struggle to prevent it.

Soon, Shang Yu arrived as well.

As soon as the little cub saw his dad, he rushed over to hug his leg, "Daddy, the sister is gone... Waaa..."

Shang Yu lifted him into his arms, walking over to He Chen, "Any recent enemies?"

"There are always many." He Chen glared sharply at the back garden, "But anyone who dares to lay a finger on my daughter is dead."

The man patted Shang Yin’s back, then instructed Wang Yue, "Lock down the hotel."

Wang Yue and Liuyun quickly went to make arrangements, simultaneous with Li Qiao and Yin Mo checking records in the hotel’s monitoring room.

In broad daylight, snatching He Yanmo wouldn’t be easy.

Even if it was He Chen’s nemesis, causing trouble on Li San’s wedding day would be a tall order.

But given that she was just over a year old, if she wandered off on her own, the consequences could be dire.

Until—

"Boss, what’s going on?"

"Brother—"

Two voices sounded from the hotel’s side entrance. Everyone turned to look, seeing Zhui Feng walking over, confused, holding He Yanmo in his arms.

The little girl still clutched two ice creams in her hand, seeing Shang Yin in Shang Yu’s arms, she raised her hand and called out, "Brother, for you to eat."

The little guy, upon hearing He Yanmo’s voice, big tears began to fall. This little man who never cried sobbed loudly on Shang Yu’s shoulder.

He Chen glared at Zhui Feng with a gloomy expression, pulling his daughter from his arms, teeth clenched, "Are you bloody stupid?"

Zhui Feng pointed at himself, "Brother Chen? What did I do?"

He Yanmo, being snatched into He Chen’s arms, her little hands shook, spilling her ice cream.

But she didn’t cry; instead, she patted He Chen’s handsome face with her sticky little hands, "Daddy, don’t be fierce."

He Chen took a deep breath, closing his eyes while holding He Yanmo’s little body tighter, "I’m not being fierce, sweetie, tell Daddy, why did you wander off?"

With naivety, He Yanmo answered in her soft baby voice, "Brother was hot, so I got ice cream to make him not hot."

He Chen’s heart was filled with indescribable feelings.

Meanwhile, Shang Yu stroked Shang Yin’s back, gently teaching, "From now on, never leave your sister alone, alright?"