At four in the afternoon, Li Qiao returned to the Li family villa.
As soon as she stepped inside, she heard a clear, melodious voice calling out, "Is that my little Qiao back?"
A trace of a smile flickered across Li Qiao's eyes as she responded toward the living room, "Mom, it's me."
At that moment, Duan Shuyuan, dressed in a rose-red two-piece dress with her hair elegantly pinned up, hurried out of the living room.
Though she was already in her fifties, the rich, luxurious lifestyle had preserved her natural beauty.
Her fair and graceful face showed some traces of time, but rather than looking aged, she appeared more like a refined woman in her early forties — elegant and dignified.
Duan Shuyuan quickly approached Li Qiao and pulled her into a hug, rubbing her close, "Baby, I'm sorry for getting home late and making you suffer."
Li Qiao, her messy bun now even messier from the hug: "…"
Standing about the same height as her daughter — nearly 1.7 meters — Duan Shuyuan still had a slender, graceful figure, her maintenance impeccable even in heels.
Struggling free from her mother's arms, Li Qiao nonchalantly fixed her bun. "Mom, since you just got back, why not go upstairs and rest a bit?"
"I'm not tired. Come here, baby — I bought you some outfits during Fashion Week. See if you like them!"
Duan Shuyuan grabbed Li Qiao's hand and led her back to the living room, sitting her down and eagerly showing her photos on her phone.
"Look at this light yellow dress — it would look absolutely unique on you. And this one…"
The next twenty minutes were basically Duan Shuyuan's shopping presentation.
It wasn't until Li Guangming, Li Yan, and Li Jun came downstairs from the study that Duan Shuyuan was still passionately showcasing her impressive "shopping prowess."
Three sets of casual wear, two formal dresses, seven pairs of jeans, eight jackets — including limited-edition hair accessories —
The grand total: 12 million yuan.
All of it, bought for Li Qiao.
After taking a sip of water to moisten her throat, Duan Shuyuan handed her phone to Li Qiao. "Do you like them, sweetheart? The brands will deliver everything soon. I had to rush home early this time and missed the last four or five shows — next time, I'll buy you even more."
Li Qiao held the phone, which still felt warm from all the scrolling, and simply turned off the screen.
"I love it. Thanks, Mom."
This kind of everyday scene was all too familiar.
At this moment, Li Guangming and the others had already taken their seats.
The eldest brother, Li Jun, a high-ranking official in the Nanyang Secretariat, sat with a commanding presence in a crisp suit.
This time, because of Li Qiao's broken engagement, he had canceled an overseas business meeting and rushed home first.
Li Jun carefully studied Li Qiao's expression.
Seeing that she looked calm and carried her usual lazy attitude, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he reached into the inner pocket of his suit and after a brief search, pulled out a small, slender, exquisite box.
With a serious and slightly guilty tone, he said, "Qiaoqiao, big brother has been too busy with work and didn't get you a proper gift. Here's a Montblanc platinum pen — take it as a little present."
Li Qiao accepted the small gift box, twirled the pen once around her finger, and casually said, "Thanks, big brother."
Li Guangming watched the scene with satisfaction.
The very next second, he swung a fist at Li Yan's shoulder and barked, "Look at your big brother!"
Li Yan, utterly confused: "…"
After a moment, Li Jun straightened his suit cuffs, a sharp glint flashing across his hawk-like eyes.
"Mom, Dad, let's get to the main issue," he said coldly. "Shang Lu suddenly proposed to break off the engagement — did he ever mention anything to you before?"
Having been in a high position for years, Li Jun naturally carried an oppressive authority — the kind of dignity and righteous strength that belonged only to those in power.
Before Li Guangming could respond, Duan Shuyuan's face, which had just moments ago been glowing with smiles, turned dark and cold.
The true aura of a matriarch revealed itself.
"He unilaterally decided to call off the engagement," she said, voice steely. "He never discussed it with us.
Had I known this would happen, I never would have let Qiaoqiao meet him alone — absolutely disgraceful behavior!"