Chapter 64: Neighbors’ Gossip (Part 1)

The afternoon sun shines through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting lazy spots of light on the polished teak floor.

Yu Ling curled up on the living room's slouchy, almost slump-worthy sofa, a fashion magazine spread across her lap. Her fingertips unconsciously lingered on a single page: a necklace inlaid with countless fine blue diamonds, centered with a massive, deep sapphire. A cool, yet expensive, shimmered around the model's neck. The caption beside the image was striking: [Heart of the Ocean Reappears! Sets Charity Auction Record!]

This piece of news, like a tiny thorn, pierced her heart, and was quickly covered by a greater sense of absurdity.

The boxes of frozen pork belly in the refrigerator with the "Market Special" label on them, which formed a tragic contrast with the top-grade A5 Wagyu beef, and Zhao Chen's calm words, "Pinxixi, heirloom, 9.9 yuan with free shipping"... these images kept jumping around in her mind, making her temples throb.

She took a deep breath, closed the magazine, and decided to go out for some fresh air. If she stayed in this mansion filled with the atmosphere of "Pinxixi antiques" and "APP master chefs," she was afraid she would be unable to resist pressing Zhao Chen's sincere and innocent face into the bowl of divine braised pork and questioning how many other "small goals" he had hidden!

After changing into a simple T-shirt and jeans, Yu Ling grabbed her cell phone and keys and prepared to go to the high-end boutique supermarket in the community to buy some fruit - mainly to see if there was a "9.9 yuan free shipping" area there to enrich Zhao Chen's prop library.

The elevator descended smoothly. The interior of the car was brightly lit, reflecting Yu Ling's slightly worried face. When the number reached "15," there was a soft "ding" and the door slowly opened.

A fragrant breeze, a mixture of high-end perfumes and skincare products, rushed in. Two women, dressed exquisitely, with "I'm expensive" written all over their bodies, walked in.

One was in his early fifties, well-maintained, wearing a classic Chanel tweed suit and a string of lustrous pearls around his neck; the other was younger, around thirty, wearing a neatly tailored Max Mara cashmere coat and carrying an Hermès Birkin.

The two were obviously acquaintances, chatting quietly. Seeing Yu Ling in the elevator, they nodded and smiled politely. Yu Ling smiled back and made way to the corner of the elevator.

The elevator door closed and continued to descend.

"Mrs. Wang, have you heard?" the younger woman said to the older woman in a low voice, a bit excited to share a secret. "In our building, the entire fresh air system was quietly replaced a few days ago! They say it's the latest model imported from Europe, it filters PM0.1 and releases negative ions to regulate humidity. It's equivalent to a small apartment for an average person!"

The elderly woman known as Mrs. Wang elegantly raised an eyebrow, her face displaying just the right amount of surprise and understanding. "Oh? The property management mentioned this to my husband. They said there's a Mr. Zhao in our building who wishes to remain anonymous. He made a generous donation! He said it was to give back to the neighborhood and improve everyone's living environment."

She paused, her eyes seemingly casually glancing at Yu Ling in the corner, a smile full of meaning in her eyes, "What a low-key and kind-hearted person!"

Fresh air system? A small apartment? Mr. Zhao? Donation?

Those key words hit Yu Ling's nerves with precision! She clenched the strap of the canvas bag tightly, her fingertips turning pale. Her heart beat uncontrollably in her chest. It was him again! Besides her "ordinary employee" husband, who else in this building could pull off such a "great act of kindness"?

She felt her cheeks flush. She tried to maintain a calm expression, feigning concentration as she watched the ticking numbers on the elevator. Inside, she was screaming, "Zhao Chen! Can you donate the fresh air system under a different name?! Even "Mr. Zhao, the caring citizen" is better than that!"

Mrs. Wang seemed to feel that the heat was not enough, so she turned to Yu Ling with a warm smile, but her tone was full of temptation that could not be ignored: "Mrs. Zhao, your husband is really enthusiastic about public welfare and cares about the neighbors. After changing the fresh air system, my chronic rhinitis feels much better. I really want to thank him very much."

Here they come! Calling out the names directly!

Yu Ling felt that the smile on her face was about to fade. The corners of her mouth twitched stiffly, her throat was dry, and she could only bite the bullet and respond vaguely: "Ah... yes, yes, he... is more enthusiastic, it's as he should, it's as he should..." Her voice was dry and unconvincing.

The young woman didn't seem to notice Yu Ling's embarrassment, or perhaps she was more eager to share another, more explosive "secret." She leaned closer to Mrs. Wang, her voice lowered, but still clearly penetrated Yu Ling's forced ears:

"Mrs. Wang, you mentioned that the finale item of last week's 'Starlight Charity Night,' the 'Heart of the Ocean' necklace, was sold to a mysterious buyer for eight figures. Was that our 'enthusiastic' Mr. Zhao?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Yu Ling, her eyes burning with gossip. "I heard that the mysterious rich man who photographed the necklace that night did it just to make his beloved smile! It was a wedding anniversary gift for his wife! Wow, how romantic!"

boom--!

Yu Ling felt as if her head had been struck by a sledgehammer! The image of the priceless blue diamond necklace in Global Capital magazine instantly zoomed before her eyes! Eight figures! An anniversary gift? For her?!

She subconsciously raised her hand and touched her empty neck. There was only smooth skin and a faint pulse. Not to mention the priceless blue diamond necklace, there wasn't even a silver chain!

A feeling of absurdity instantly washed over her! She looked at the twinkling eyes of the two noble ladies, a mixture of envy and inquiry, and then looked at her own simple T-shirt and jeans. She felt like a clown who had strayed into the world of fame and fortune!

"Heart of the...Ocean?" Yu Ling's voice drifted uncontrollably, with a bewilderment that even she found amusing. "What necklace? I...I don't know."

She truly had no idea! Aside from the "Deep Space Gaze" she'd painstakingly bought, Zhao Chen had never given her a single decent piece of jewelry! An anniversary gift? He'd mentioned celebrating with something "normal," and she'd assumed it would just be a nice meal!

Her reaction clearly caught the two ladies by surprise. Mrs. Wang and the young woman exchanged a subtle glance—one that held surprise, confusion, and a subtle hint of sympathy. It was as if she were saying: You bought this priceless necklace and didn't even tell your wife? This Mr. Zhao... is quite the game!

The air in the elevator instantly grew thick and awkward. Yu Ling felt as if she were being roasted on a fire, her cheeks burning. She wished the elevator would crash immediately, or that she would vanish from the spot.

At this moment, there was a soft "ding" sound, like the sound of nature!

We’ve reached the first floor!

The elevator door slowly opened.

Yu Lingru felt as if she had been pardoned, and she almost ran away with her head down!

"Lingling?"

A deep male voice that was so familiar that it was engraved into her bones, with a hint of lazy smile, was like a spell that instantly nailed Yu Ling to the spot!

She raised her head stiffly, bit by bit.

Outside the elevator door, Zhao Chen stood tall and graceful.

He had been waiting here for who knows when, dressed in a simple white linen shirt and khaki slacks, his sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sleek arms. The afternoon sun cast a soft, golden hue around him. His handsome features were captivated by a gentle smile, and his amber eyes, like melted honey, were fixed precisely on his wife, whose cheeks were flushed and her eyes were flustered, in the elevator.

He seemed completely unaware of the strange atmosphere in the elevator and the two ladies' eyes that suddenly became respectful and gossipy. He took a step forward very naturally, stretched out his long arms, and wrapped Yu Ling's stiff body in his warm arms.

"Why are you running so fast? Didn't we agree to go to the supermarket together?" He lowered his head and nuzzled Yu Ling's hair affectionately. His voice was low and gentle, full of doting, and every word fell clearly in the quiet elevator. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

His warm breath brushed against Ling's sensitive earlobe, bringing a slight shiver. That solid, warm embrace, like the safest harbor, instantly pulled Yu Ling out of the suffocating embarrassment and absurdity she had just felt.

Yu Ling's stiff body slowly relaxed in his arms, but the turmoil in her heart did not subside at all.

She leaned against his chest and could clearly smell his refreshing and pleasant scent, mixed with the scent of sunshine. But her mind was filled with explosive words like "fresh air system", "heart of the ocean", "eight figures", and "anniversary gift" that were swiping across the screen like crazy!

She struggled slightly, wanting to look up at him and question him, but Zhao Chen silently tightened his arms, pressing her tighter in his arms, his chin gently resting on the top of her head, forming an absolute posture of protection and possession.

He seemed to have just noticed the other two ladies in the elevator. He looked up, his impeccable, gentle, and distant social smile plastered on his face. He nodded slightly to Mrs. Wang and the young lady and said, "Mrs. Wang, Miss Li."

"Mr. Zhao!" Mrs. Wang immediately put on a more enthusiastic and appropriate smile, "I was just talking about you with Mrs. Zhao! Thank you so much for the fresh air system! And last week's charity night..." She paused meaningfully, her eyes sweeping across Yu Ling's empty neck.