Chapter 18 Bracelet

“Last night, my mom called Aunt Tan and asked her to have dinner, but she was away on a business trip.” Lin Yi’an quickly calmed down.

Zhou Mingshi: "Yeah, I didn't see her when I got back."

As the two chatted, the car stopped in front of the hotel. Zhou Mingshi didn't get out of the car immediately, but took a jewelry box from beside the seat and handed it to Lin Yi'an: "A gift for you."

Lin Yi'an was surprised to receive a gift and looked up at him, saying, "I didn't prepare a gift for you."

Looking at her serious face, Zhou Mingshi chuckled: "This isn't a gift exchange game. It's not like I've prepared a gift for you and you have to give me one back to complete the task."

Lin Yi'an looked at him and asked, "Do you need me to help you put it on?"

Lin Yi'an lowered her eyes to look at the jewelry box: "What is it?"

"I'll put the bracelet on you."

Without waiting for her reply, he opened the jewelry box, took her left hand, took out the white jade bracelet from the box, and carefully slipped it onto her wrist.

Assistant Chen sat in the driver's seat, holding his breath and remaining motionless, afraid of making any noise that might alert the two of them, but his eyes were wide open with excitement.

Before Lin Yi'an could react, a bracelet was slipped onto his fair wrist. She glanced at it and was about to speak when she heard him say, "When I saw it at home, I thought it would suit you perfectly. It really does match you very well."

Lin Yi'an also thought it looked good: "Thank you!"

Zhou Mingshi released her hand and said, "We are engaged, so there's no need to be so polite with me."

Lin Yi'an looked at the bracelet on her wrist and said, "I like it very much."

Zhou Mingshi told her, "This is Grandma's collection. During the Chinese New Year, she would give gifts to her grandchildren, put the gifts in a box, and let us draw lots. This is the one I drew."

Lin Yi'an: "But you don't need it."

Zhou Mingshi laughed: "Isn't this where we're going to use it now?"

After saying that, without waiting for her reply, he added, "Let's get off the bus."

Lin Yi'an: "Okay."

After getting out of the car, the two walked side by side toward the hotel.

Zhou Mingyuan and his girlfriend He Xishan went out on a date. Just as they arrived at the hotel entrance, they saw his second brother leading the third young lady of the Lin family into the hotel. He grabbed his girlfriend's hand and quickly hid to the side.

He Xishan was a little annoyed: "What are you doing?"

Zhou Mingyuan: "My second brother."

He Xishan frowned: "Zhou Mingyuan, what do you mean? Why are you hiding from me when your second brother is pulling me? Am I so shameful that I can't even see your second brother?"

Zhou Mingyuan patiently explained to her, "It's my second brother and his fiancée."

He Xishan: "So what?"

Zhou Mingyuan sighed, "Didn't I tell you about my mom's temper? She doesn't approve of me marrying someone from a poor family background..."

He Xishan snorted, "You can break up with me. It's not that I have to be with you. You pursued me, but you can't do it like this. My family isn't well-off, and I'm a respectable girl. I'm not just anyone."

Zhou Mingyuan pulled her into his arms: "When did I say I would listen to my mother? Even if I were to introduce you to my family, shouldn't we find a suitable opportunity?"

He Xishan didn't believe him at all, feeling that he looked down on her and that she was not good enough for him: "Either take me to a hotel for dinner now, or we break up. I want to stand by your side with dignity."

Although Zhou Mingyuan had a headache, he liked her spirit and there was no way he would break up with her: "Okay, okay, you really are my ancestor."

Anyway, my second brother isn't a talkative person; if he happens to see it, he'll just pretend he doesn't.

He Xishan was finally satisfied: "Let's go."

As the two walked toward the hotel, He Xishan, recalling the two figures she had just glimpsed, asked curiously, "Your second brother and his fiancée have a good relationship. They even come to the hotel together for a date after get off work."

Zhou Mingyuan didn't take it seriously: "What kind of feelings could two people have after a marriage alliance?"

He Xishan curled her lips: "You rich families always arrange marriages without considering the children's feelings or asking if they want to."

Zhou Mingyuan said, "That's my second brother. He's a workaholic. He only cares about work and treats himself like a robot. I'm not surprised that he would get married through an arranged marriage. I'm different. If I'm going to get married, I'll find someone I like."

He Xishan's lips curled up slightly: "If you want a marriage alliance, we should break up sooner rather than later. Don't hold me back."

Without a second thought, Zhou Mingyuan replied, "Impossible. Since I was little, whatever I wanted, my parents couldn't change my mind. If I really didn't want to, my parents couldn't force me."

He Xishan: "You know how to talk."

When the two entered the hotel, Zhou Mingshi and Lin Yi'an had already entered the private room.

When the food was served, Zhou Mingshi first ladled out a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Lin Yi'an: "Have a bowl of soup first."

Lin Yi'an: "Mm."

The two ate slowly and quietly, finishing their meal in a leisurely manner. Since it was still early, Zhou Mingshi asked, "Where would you like to go for fun?"

Lin Yi'an thought for a moment and said, "How about we go back and watch a movie? Or come to my house?"

Zhou Mingshi mainly stayed with her, and said, "Okay."

The two got up and walked out. Assistant Chen had already eaten the food he ordered outside and was waiting for them in the hotel lobby. When he saw them come out, he quickly went to pay the bill.

Just then, Zhou Mingyuan and He Xishan came out after finishing their meal and came face to face with them.

Zhou Mingshi glanced at him and casually greeted him, "Come over for dinner?"

Zhou Mingyuan was a little reserved in front of him, and straightened up to say, "Second Brother."

He then looked at Lin Yi'an: "Miss Lin."

Lin Yi-an: "Hello."

Zhou Mingshi didn't say anything, but took Lin Yi'an's hand and walked outside.

He Xishan stared at their retreating figures for a long time, unable to come to her senses, until Zhou Mingyuan nudged her, and she finally snapped out of it: "What's wrong?"

Zhou Mingyuan: "What are you spacing out for?"

He Xishan said, "Your second brother is very imposing. He looks easygoing, but he is actually very arrogant and looks down on people like us."

"And your second brother's fiancée doesn't even look at us."

"Is it because all the rich girls and young masters look down on us ordinary people?"

Zhou Mingyuan hugged her: "It's enough that I like you. Why should they like you? Besides, Miss Lin was lost when she was a child and was only found a few years ago. She was only a rich girl for a few years. Her family situation was even worse than yours before."

He Xishan's eyes widened: "Is that so?"

Zhou Mingyuan: "That's true, so don't overthink it. Maybe some people who seem arrogant to you are actually not as good as you."

He Xishan hummed in agreement.

Lin Yi'an and Zhou Mingshi went to the house next to her Chinese medicine clinic.

This villa is quite large. When Lin Yi'an lived here, Wang Yuehua would arrange for her mother, Wang Ma, to come and take care of her, cook for her, and add some life to the place.

When they arrived home, Wang Ma was tidying up the kitchen; she hadn't stayed there for a few days and needed to clean the house. Ye Lingzhi was watering the flowers. When she saw them return, she quickly served them tea.

She brought over the tea tray and placed it in front of them. Her sharp eyes noticed a jade bracelet on Yi'an's fair and slender wrist. Her eyes lit up, but she didn't say anything and quietly walked away.

Zhou Mingshi glanced around the room and said, "You like the Chinese style?"

The houses in Changping are quaint and antique, as are the villas here.

Lin Yi-an: "I like it, or rather, I have a strong preference for it."

Zhou Mingshi nodded: "Should those two houses also be decorated in a Chinese style?"

Lin Yi'an didn't answer, but asked instead, "What style do you like?"

Zhou Mingshi said in a light voice, "Just like you."

Hearing this, Lin Yi'an was also pleased. The two had the same tastes, so there was no need to worry about the house's decorating style.

She said, "My second sister says I'm old-fashioned, but I think it's just a preference, and it has nothing to do with being old-fashioned or not."

Zhou Mingshi: "That's right."