Chapter 995: Chapter 995: There Isn’t Only One Choice

Shang Yu came from the side, and under the parasol, Qin Si stubbed out his cigarette, got up on his knees, and said, “Long time no see.”

“Sit.” Shang Yu’s features were sharp, and he sat under the umbrella with a cold demeanor, casually grabbing a pack of cigarettes and lighting one, “You could have sent someone to deliver it, why go through the trouble yourself?”

Qin Si glanced at Shang Yu’s unusually indifferent profile, smiled faintly, and said, “I haven’t been busy recently, so I had some free time.”

The man sipped on his cigarette, the faint smoke blurring his sharp features, “From Li City?”

“Yes.” Qin Si examined him indirectly for a moment, turned his face away, and chuckled lightly, “This island is indeed hard to find, not even registered on radar. Are you planning…to stay here permanently?”

Shang Yu looked down, dusting off his trousers, shadows flickering in his eyes, “Have you been in contact with Shang Lu recently?”

Qin Si’s smile deepened, “If I had been in contact, I wouldn’t have come alone today.”

The commotion in Myanmar had long shocked the world, and for days, international news had been continuously reporting the results of the British Imperial Chairman Family’s investigation.

Even though they moved in different circles, Qin Si had heard a little about it. This couple disappeared suddenly, and many people were still actively searching for them.

At this moment, Shang Yu turned his head quietly, “You should head back. I’ll reach out if I need anything.”

Qin Si supported himself on his knees and rose. Before leaving, he locked eyes with the man’s dark gaze and said intriguingly, “Many things don’t have just one option.”

This sentence seemed to have multiple meanings, as if it was reminding him of something.

Shang Yu smoked slowly, shifting his gaze to the distant horizon, “To me, it makes no difference.”

Qin Si chuckled, shook his head, and said goodbye, then walked away.

…

As the evening came, the sea was dyed with the glow of the setting sun, incredibly beautiful.

After dinner, Li Qiao went to the study to find a book to pass the time.

She grew increasingly silent, showing little interest in anything.

Before eight, the man appeared in the study.

He stood there by the door, watching Li Qiao, lost in her book, without blinking.

A minute passed, and she remained unmoving as a statue, not even noticing Shang Yu’s presence.

The man felt a suffocating pressure in his chest, his deep eyes turbulent, and with an almost urgent and pathological emotion, he walked up to her, turned her face toward him, and asked in a slightly stiff tone, “What are you thinking about?”

Li Qiao’s gaze gradually focused, she blinked and answered evasively, “Reading.”

Shang Yu’s fingers gripped her jaw involuntarily, his gaze becoming increasingly intense and deep, “Unhappy?”

Li Qiao put down the book in her hand, curved her lips, and shook her head, “No, just a bit bored.”

The current days couldn’t be described as happy or unhappy.

She had never experienced such a peaceful life, so peaceful there was no ripple at all.

In this vast world, residing in a corner feels rather rare.

The man’s deep eyes slightly narrowed, carefully examining her eyes, and then he bent over and forcefully picked her up, “Let me take you for a walk.”

Li Qiao compliantly hooked his shoulder and nodded, “Sure.”

A walk was nothing more than a stroll around the island, with the sunset hanging low, the sea breeze swirling, making one feel quite refreshed.

Probably no one could imagine that, under the influence of his morbid and obsessive mentality, Shang Yu selfishly and domineeringly hid Li Qiao away.

He had cut off all external influences that could affect Li Qiao, excluding everyone from her life completely.

…

Three more days passed, and Li Qiao’s somnolence worsened.

She felt there was nothing wrong with her because after Shang Yu’s friend came by, the villa was filled with various monitoring devices.

He had been checking her body with nothing else to do, even performing several ultrasounds and colourful ultrasound scans.

The baby in her belly was steady, and perhaps because she was far along, it no longer bothered her, with nearly no symptom of morning sickness occurring in the past half-month.

She and Shang Yu existed solely in a space for the two of them, the bodyguards never disrupting near the villa, and the cook would disappear after making meals.

Besides sleeping, Li Qiao spent most of her time daydreaming.

She didn’t even know what she was thinking about, with her thoughts clear but unable to produce any conclusions.

On the twentieth day of isolation from the world, Li Qiao received a note on the beach.

It was secretly delivered by a bodyguard who never spoke to her.

Li Qiao opened it and glanced at it, then folded the note, tore it up, and threw it into the sea.

She made no display of emotion, as if she had never received it.

The bodyguard hiding in the shadows saw this scene, their expression suddenly becoming much more serious.

At the same time, at the South Sea Mansion.

He Chen lay back on the sofa, the phone pressed to his ear, and after a few seconds, he hung up, his jawline gradually tightening.

Across from him sat the frowning Jin Rong, “How did it go?”

He Chen pursed his cheek, his eyes cold, “Not well. She tore up the note.”

“What does tearing it up mean?” Jin Rong straightened his back, “Didn’t she have anyone send you a message?”

“Send what fucking message?” He Chen irritably lit a cigarette, taking a few puffs to suppress his anger, “If I guessed right, something’s definitely wrong with Li Qiao’s mental state.”

Jin Rong pursed his lips, his face turning pale, “What problem? He Xiaosi, don’t talk nonsense, haven’t Xiao Wu protected her well?”

He Chen blew out a puff of thick smoke, closed his eyes worriedly, “Stop the bullshit, let’s go there directly.”

“Are you sure?” Jin Rong frowned tightly, “Didn’t Uncle Shang say we should try contacting Qi Qi first?”

He Chen leaned over and stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, “She doesn’t even have the thought of leaving now, and with Shaoyan’s condition worsening, if this drags on, Li Qiao will be in trouble before him.”

Jin Rong shook his head violently, “I don’t believe it. Qi Qi is strong-hearted, not that fragile.”

He Chen looked at him speechlessly, then, unable to contain it, kicked Jin Rong, “If her heart weren’t strong, she would’ve caused a scene long ago.”

How many women can endure such heavy emotions?

Everything Shaoyan does is driven by his obsession, but his extreme heart will beautify all of this in the name of love.

He Chen believes Shaoyan wouldn’t harm Li Qiao, but he indeed clipped her wings.

That solitary island is the best proof.

There’s no right or wrong between them; the root is Shaoyan’s illness.

Li Qiao can’t ignore the life and death of a Li family member, and Shaoyan can’t allow her to act on her own accord.

Perhaps the onset of Shaoyan’s illness was triggered right from the yacht explosion, but he hid it so deeply that no one could detect it.

All because it was too significant, so weighty it suffocates.

…

There’s only a week until Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Yet, on the Solitary Island in the Southern Hemisphere, there’s not the slightest festive cheer for the Spring Festival.

At four in the morning, Li Qiao hugged her knees, sitting by the sea to wait for the sunrise; she had slept too much during the day and awoke by three.

All around was empty and silent, only the sound of the waves and wind rustling through the trees.

The waiting was somewhat dull, and after sitting for a while, Li Qiao lay back on the beach. As dawn broke, a ray of morning light fell on her face, her gaze serene, yet her chin bore a wound.