Chapter 190 A Small Favor

Lu Fuling spoke again, "Very well, I will investigate the matter regarding the Li family. Pay close attention to any movements from the Gao family and make sure they don't find any loopholes to exploit."

Lu Qi'an agreed.

When it came to past events, naturally his father had better ways of digging up information.

As for the Gao family, with Uncle Tongguang assisting him, there shouldn't be any major problems.

The only thing to watch out for was Miaoyuan; he couldn't let Gao Qingqing do anything to her.

Although Qin Miaoyuan had guessed that Gao Qingqing might genuinely want to have a dark-themed wedding, she hadn't expected her to be so persistent, coming every other day to ask about the progress of the design drafts.

Annoyed by her constant urging, Qin Miaoyuan bluntly told her that if she was in such a hurry to rush the work, she should find another place, because they couldn't handle it here.

Gao Qingqing stopped coming by to ask so frequently after that, and Qin Miaoyuan felt a bit more at ease.

It wasn't just Qin Miaoyuan who felt relieved; Xu Xiaoqi and Pei Yixue felt relieved too.

Both of them knew who Gao Qingqing was, so they were quite worried about her mental state, fearing she might pull some stunt at the studio or resort to physical violence.

After all, Gao Qingqing had a criminal record.

"Back in high school, something like that happened. A girl who had crossed her accidentally brushed against her desk, causing a book to fall to the floor. Gao Qingqing almost crippled the girl's hand, and it's hard to say she didn't do it on purpose, especially since the girl played the violin exceptionally well and was planning to pursue a career in art," Pei Yixue said with concern. She was close in age to Gao Qingqing and had some past interactions with her, which was how she knew about these things.

Qin Miaoyuan hadn't expected such a history. Hearing this, she couldn't help thinking she had been quite lucky. It wasn't that she hadn't noticed Gao Qingqing's occasional malicious glares, but she had assumed that being in the studio with so many people around meant nothing would go wrong, so she hadn't taken it to heart.

Thinking that Gao Qingqing wouldn't be coming around often for the time being, Qin Miaoyuan comforted Pei Yixue and the other girl: "Alright, I've already spoken to her today. She shouldn't be visiting this place frequently from now on, and in the future, I'll try my best to contact her online."

Just moments ago, in order to dismiss Gao Qingqing quickly, Qin Miaoyuan had added her on messaging apps at Gao Qingqing's request.

However, Qin Miaoyuan wasn't very willing, so she ended up using her seldom-used secondary account.

Dismissed and sent away, Gao Qingqing didn't actually leave the neighborhood right away. Instead, she walked all the way to a bar pulsating with deafening music, went inside, and found the person she was looking for.

"Wang Minghui..."

Gao Qingqing called out the name several times, but no one responded.

She ordered a glass of drink, sat down, and said with a hint of mockery, "What's this? Having just spent a short while acting as the young master of the Li family, have you already forgotten your true identity?"

Li Qixiao, formerly known as Wang Minghui, had no desire to pay attention to her. He glanced at her sideways and continued drinking.

This was not what Gao Qingqing wanted to see.

"Li Qixiao, do you remember how we met?"

The hand holding the wine glass paused slightly.

Seeing the expression on his face, Gao Qingqing smiled smugly: "Back then, you were working as a bartender, and I happened to run into you when I went out for a drink. Who would have thought that after twists and turns, you've now become a major patron of bars!"

Li Qixiao had very little fondness for reminiscing about those past days and asked directly, "Cut to the chase. Why are you looking for me?"

Gao Qingqing smiled: "I just want you to do me a small favor and, by the way, send some money your way."

Li Qixiao didn't believe her at all: "Last time you said it was a small favor, and I ended up being played back and forth by you and your mother, spending several years running and hiding without a single day of peace. If I agree to help you with this favor today, will I even have a life left to live in the future?"

The smile on Gao Qingqing's face froze: "Wang Minghui, what are you talking about!"

There was no trace of fear on Li Qixiao's face.

Ever since he was brought into the Li family, he had seen a great deal more of the world. He had learned more inside stories about what Gao Qingqing had done back then, and he was well aware that Gao Qingqing was currently on bad terms with President Lu of the Jingcheng Lu family.

"If you're asking me for help, you can forget it. I won't help."

With that, Li Qixiao picked up the glass on the table and resumed drinking.

Gao Qingqing was somewhat infuriated by his words, but seeing how resolute his attitude was, she could not think of any immediate solution.

However, a good idea struck her almost instantly.

"Li Qixiao, I really just need a small favor from you. I promise it's completely different from last time!"

Seeing that he still ignored her, she had no choice but to explain the reason why she needed his help.

"Here is the thing: accompany me to a wedding design studio nearby later. I've placed an order there."

Li Qixiao let out a hoot: "Well, well. Have you finally come to your senses, realizing that a forced melon isn't sweet, and now you're getting married?"

Instead of answering the question directly, Gao Qingqing said, "Li Qixiao, don't forget that when you needed money back then, it was I who helped you without a second thought. You haven't even paid back that favor yet, so asking you to do a small, manageable favor isn't asking too much!"

Li Qixiao put down his wine glass, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Gao Qingqing: "I'll help you this once, and then we're even. After all, I haven't settled accounts with you and your mother yet for making me endure two or three years of hard life! Once I do you this favor today, don't ever bring this matter up again to coerce me. Even if you do, I'm not falling for it anymore!"

It was true that Gao Qingqing had helped him back then; although she had had ulterior motives, it had at least gotten him out of his immediate crisis.

Hearing this, Gao Qingqing immediately smiled: "Rest assured, it's just this once. As long as you cooperate and put on a convincing act of being a loving couple, that's all."

Having made their agreement, the two left the bar and headed straight for the studio.

In the office, Qin Miaoyuan was also utterly speechless. She hadn't expected that no sooner had she said Gao Qingqing wouldn't be visiting often than the woman showed up at the studio once again.

However, the receptionist's next sentence immediately piqued her curiosity: "Miss Qiong says she brought her boyfriend along so that we can be more dedicated in our design work."

She brought her boyfriend?

If she wasn't mistaken, the boyfriend Gao Qingqing had previously talked about was Lu Qi'an, wasn't it? Why was she bringing a different boyfriend now?

She went to the reception room to greet them and discovered that the other person was none other than Li Qixiao!

With an expressionless face, Qin Miaoyuan sat down, looked at Li Qixiao, and asked, "Are you Miss Qiong's boyfriend?"

Li Qixiao nodded without any intention of introducing himself further; he had agreed to come with Gao Qingqing, but he had no plans to chat idly.

Sitting to the side, Gao Qingqing explained, "Manager Qin, my boyfriend isn't much of a talker, please don't mind him."

"Not at all. What is the purpose of Miss Qiong bringing her boyfriend here today?"