CHAPTER 994: CHAPTER 994: HER WORLD NOW HAS ONLY SHANG YU

A certain island in the Southern Hemisphere.

Midsummer night, the warm sea breeze rolled the waves to wash over the beach.

Li Qiao had slept the entire day and was now sitting on the bay window of a standalone villa by the coast, staring into space.

She was confined—not exactly imprisoned—but it was no different from being cut off from the world.

This island is located in the Southern Hemisphere, a place Li Qiao has never set foot on, and she even doubts if its precise location could be found on a map.

The island is neither too big nor too small, surrounded by the sea, with a unique landscape that somewhat resembles Wenxi Island.

But, besides her and Shang Yu, there were only bodyguards and a cook on the island.

The four assistants were nowhere in sight; the Zuo siblings hadn’t come along either.

In Li Qiao’s world, only Shang Yu remained.

A sigh escaped from her chapped lips, but her calm and quiet eyes remained unruffled.

Steady footsteps came from outside the bedroom, breaking the silent gloom inside.

The flickering shadows of the trees outside were abruptly shattered by the light, and Li Qiao squinted slightly, looking at the man who turned on the lights.

He wasn’t far away, tall and imposing as always, in his constant black shirt and trousers, handsome yet cold, with eyes more indifferent than ever before.

Of course, as soon as the man focused his gaze on Li Qiao’s face, it softened with warmth. He took long strides toward her, bending down to kiss her on the top of her head, "Why the sigh?"

Li Qiao remained still, her gaze landing on the Adam’s apple above Shang Yu’s collar, "Finished with your work?"

Having spoken little all day, her voice was slightly hoarse.

Shang Yu curved his lips up slightly, and sat on the bay window, pulling Li Qiao onto his lap, gently grasping her foot with his dry palm, "Mm."

Though the bay window was cushioned, her feet were quite cold.

Li Qiao nestled quietly and docilely in his embrace, not creating a fuss and serene.

The man leaned against the wall, capturing every expression on Li Qiao’s face through the glass reflection.

No matter how subtle the change, it could never escape his eyes.

Unfortunately, Li Qiao’s serene face remained unchanged throughout.

Soon, her eyes closed in drowsiness, leaning against the man’s shoulder, she fell into a light sleep.

Shang Yu unconsciously patted her back gently, his deep gaze lingering on her face as if he could never get enough.

This, is good.

Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was already mid-month.

It was as if Shang Yu and Li Qiao had vanished from the face of the earth; all available forces had been mobilized to search for their whereabouts, but all efforts were in vain.

The four assistants continued working as usual at Yan Emperor, while Zuo Xuan and Zuo Tang returned to Secret Hall to continue managing the situation.

On the surface, nothing seemed to have changed, yet there was an insufferable oppression felt.

No one knew where Shang Yu had taken Li Qiao; even Shang Zonghai had yet to find any clues.

That day, from a distance on the solitary island where sky and sea merged, a helicopter gradually approached.

Li Qiao was lying under a beach umbrella napping. Nearly five months pregnant, she seemed sleepier than before.

The sound of the rotors grew nearer, and she lazily opened her eyes to take a glance, then sat up while holding onto a small blanket.

Just waking up, Li Qiao was still a bit groggy. A shadow cast over her eyes, the salty sea breeze dispelled by a fresh scent, "Did it wake you?"

Shang Yu reached out to tuck her loose hair behind her ear, crooking his finger to graze her cheek, "Shall I carry you back to sleep, hm?"

Li Qiao’s slightly dazed eyes glanced at the helicopter, then she placed her hand on the man’s shoulder, "Who’s here?"

"A friend." Shang Yu bent down, seating himself next to the lounge chair, "Do you want to meet them?"

Li Qiao shook her head with lowered eyelids, "You talk to them, I’ll go back to sleep."

Having been on the island for over a week, she spent most of her time sleeping each day.

No matter how pleasant the scenery was, it became tiresome after a while, let alone... being isolated was not just a saying.

The island was wired for electricity but had no wireless signal.

No communication devices, no phone, no computer, nothing at all.

The bodyguards on the island were different from the four assistants.

They maintained an absolute distance from Li Qiao and were exceptionally respectful to her.

Even the sole cook was a mute.

And they all strictly followed Shang Yu’s commands.

Li Qiao drooped her eyes and slowly wandered back into the villa.

Behind her, Shang Yu moved his throat with difficulty, uncontrollably following suit to gather her into his arms, "Qiaoqiao..."

Li Qiao, clutching the small blanket in her arms, turned her head at his call, "Mm? What’s up?"

The man buried his head beside her cheek, closing his eyes as he tightened his embrace, "I’ll carry you inside."

Li Qiao nodded faintly, turned around in his arms, and stood on tiptoe, "Then carry me, the sand is hot."

Shang Yu looked down at her weary eyes, unable to control himself as he picked her up horizontally and brought her into the villa, pressing her onto the couch before leaning over for a deep kiss.

The man tried his best to absorb her taste, prying open her lips and disrupting their breath.

Perhaps because Li Qiao was too calm, or because she had easily accepted all the arrangements, Shang Yu’s sensitive heart felt a near-panic emotion.

She still talked and chatted with him, but lifelessly, without any intention of resistance.

No matter what he did, she was extraordinarily compliant.

Since stepping onto this island, Li Qiao had become meek and obedient, turning into the very image of what Shang Yu desired.

Yet, she seemed no longer to be Li Qiao.

As the intense kiss ended, Li Qiao gently pushed the man’s shoulder, furrowing her brows as she gasped, "Belly..."

Shang Yu, slow to comprehend, quickly got up from her, his pupils sharply contracting, "Did I press on you? Is your belly hurting?"

"No, it just jabbed a bit." Li Qiao caught her breath, her fingers playing with his belt buckle, then she fell silent, lost in thought.

Li Qiao came to her senses, changed to a comfortable position resting on the couch armrest, "Didn’t a friend come over? You go ahead, I’ll sleep a bit longer."

Without desires or waves.

Li Qiao quietly and obediently acquiesced to everything, even when her lips ached densely, her expression remained unchanged.

She closed her eyes and went back to sleep peacefully.

Shang Yu’s profound eyes dimmed yet eerily wished for time to freeze at this moment.

No one else could become her burden, nor could anyone else take away her gaze. In her world, there would only be him from now on.

Before long, the man spread a small blanket over Li Qiao, leaned down to suck on her lips a few more times, satisfied before walking out of the living room.

Li Qiao’s eyelids trembled lightly, and she sighed silently, turning over to continue sleeping.

She had anticipated this day would come, although it wasn’t too unbearable, as even day by day, life was but twenty thousand days.

...

On the island’s west side, under a beach umbrella sat a man.

A man dressed in the same black shirt as Shang Yu, with strikingly handsome features but with a more restrained and gentle demeanor, lacking the coldness of slaughter.

This was the man who had left the Parma Shang’s old house several months ago, Qin Si.