Chapter 75 You don't even remember your own birthday?

Jiang Ning visited five gemstone suppliers in one day. There were some that were better than AOD, but none of them had any unique features.

With tomorrow being the last day AOD promised to preserve the raw gemstone for her, she had to make a decision.

Jiang Ning used to think that with tens of millions of assets, he was a truly wealthy person.

But after opening his own studio, he realized that money can really be burned up very easily, especially when it comes to jewelry.

Once she purchased the expensive raw stone, she still couldn't beat Chu Qingxue...

Sitting in the car, Jiang Ning shook his head vigorously.

We can't give up before we've even started.

Just as Jiang Ning was feeling troubled, her phone rang. It was Lu Junyan calling.

Jiang Ning held his phone, hesitating between answering and not answering.

In the end, she answered the phone.

"What are you doing? Why did it take you so long to answer the phone?"

The voice on the other end of the line from Lu Junyan wasn't questioning; his gentle tone sounded more like concern for her.

Jiang Ning was taken aback.

Both Chu Qingxue and Lu Junyan are running personal studios, but with Lu Junyan as her backer, Chu Qingxue doesn't have to worry about funding.

Jiang Ning fell into a long silence, and Lu Junyan's voice rang in her ears again:

"Are you having some kind of trouble?"

Jiang Ning's heart tightened.

"……No……"

Even if she did, she wouldn't ask Lu Junyan for help.

Even if she asks for help, Lu Junyan won't help her.

"Get ready tomorrow, I'll pick you up and take you back to the old house."

"What?"

Jiang Ning was puzzled, but then he heard a soft laugh coming from the receiver.

"You don't even remember your own birthday?"

It wasn't until Lu Junyan pointed it out so bluntly that Jiang Ning realized what was happening.

turn out to be……

Tomorrow is her birthday.

"Grandpa is going to host a banquet at the old house to celebrate for you."

"No need for that..."

"This is a token of my grandfather's affection."

Since Lu Junyan has already said all this, it would be too disrespectful for Lu Lifeng if Jiang Ning refused again.

After marrying into the Lu family, she received gifts every year on her birthday.

One gift was from Lu Lifeng, and the other was from Lu Junyan.

In the past, she would be moved to tears whenever she received a gift from Lu Junyan.

She thought it was something Lu Junyan had carefully prepared for her.

She thought that was a sign of Lu Junyan's love for her.

But now she understands.

The only person who truly remembered her birthday was her grandfather.

Lu Junyan has an assistant named Xiao Zhang, who reminds him and prepares things for him.

"You don't need to pick me up, I'll drive there myself."

"……good."

Jiang Ning sighed after hanging up Lu Junyan's call.

On her birthday, she dressed simply, not too extravagantly, but not casually either.

This is her way of showing respect to Lu Lifeng.

Jiang Ning thought that celebrating her birthday meant that the chefs and servants at the old house would cook a few more dishes that she liked, and she could leave after eating.

However, as Jiang Ning drove onto the Lu family's private land, he spotted a huge hot air balloon in the distance.

The hot air balloon did not take off, but because it was so large, its conspicuous presence could not be concealed even though it was surrounded by trees.

As they drove to the manor, Jiang Ning saw birthday decorations prepared for her everywhere. These decorations were made of colorful balloons with her name and the words "Happy Birthday" on them.

Is this what Grandpa prepared for her?

Jiang Ning knew she shouldn't have any other expectations, but she couldn't help but let her mind wander.

After parking the car, Jiang Ning got out and his attention was drawn to the hot air balloons in front of the old house. Suddenly, thousands of balloons rose into the air all around.

Against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, a rain of macaron-colored balloons resembled a grand daytime meteor shower.

Jiang Ning was still in shock when he smelled a sweet aroma again.

Lu Junyan slowly walked out from behind the hot air balloon, pushing a three-tiered cake, and sang the English version of the birthday song.

This song...

It sounds great.

It sounds better without background music.

In a daze, Jiang Ning was pulled back to when he was 13 years old.

Jiang Ning felt like he was dreaming.

She blinked, incredulous at what was happening before her eyes.

Even during the time when Lu Junyan actively pursued her in college, he had never prepared such a romantic surprise for her.

Lu Junyan approached Jiang Ning with a smile on his face, his affectionate eyes like the shimmering surface of the sea.

Jiang Ning had the illusion that he was being drawn into Lu Junyan's eyes.

She held her breath, unable to control her racing heart.

"Happy birthday."

When Lu Junyan spoke, his voice was like the vibrating strings of a double bass.

Jiang Ning and Lu Junyan faced each other, with a rain of balloons floating overhead.

The Lu family mansion and the giant hot air balloon next to it seemed to serve as the most glamorous backdrop.

Jiang Ning was unable to calm down. She stared at Lu Junyan in surprise and confusion, and saw him take out an exquisite gift box from the pocket of his suit.

"This is for you."

Jiang Ning took the gift box but did not open it on the spot.

Even now, she still feels a sense of unreality.

Were all of these... prepared specifically for her?

To celebrate her birthday?

She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

Even if all of this was prepared for her by Lu Junyan, it must have been at her grandfather's behest.

"Thank you……"

Jiang Ning wanted to bypass Lu Junyan, but Lu Junyan grabbed her arm.

"I'm here, where are you going?"

Lu Junyan's voice was deep, but his tone was gentle.

Jiang Ning felt as if the skin between her palms and Lu Junyan's was burning.

"I...I'm going to see Grandpa..."

There's no one else here, just the two of us.

"Huh?"

Jiang Ning was surprised.

Lu Junyan smiled slightly, seeing through Jiang Ning's thoughts.

"Grandpa wanted to celebrate your birthday, but I told him to leave it to me, so... these are all my arrangements."

"..."

Jiang Ning opened his mouth.

She wanted to ask Lu Junyan why.

Why do these things for her?

He doesn't love her.

Would Lu Junyan really do something that offers no profit?

“Pitt mentioned you’re allergic to pollen, so I didn’t use a single flower for the decorations; I used only balloons.”

Lu Junyan pulled the bewildered Jiang Ning onto the hot air balloon.

The hot air balloon slowly rose into the air, like an ark welcoming happiness.

Jiang Ning and Lu Junyan sat inside, and Lu Junyan took the initiative to cut a piece of cake for her.

At this moment, Jiang Ning is the happiest woman in the world.

If it weren't for that spreadsheet on Lu Junyan's computer, and if it weren't for Chu Qingxue...

However……

There are no "ifs".

The houses and trees below grew smaller and smaller, and the surrounding color changed from sky blue to orange.

As the sun set, the sky was ablaze with red clouds, illuminating half of Lu Junyan's strikingly handsome face.

Jiang Ning did not speak to Lu Junyan.

Lu Junyan didn't say anything to her.

The two remained silent, the cake on their plates finally emptied.

It got dark.

The stars became more and more numerous, and they shone brighter and brighter.

Jiang Ning wanted to say to Lu Junyan: Put me down!

No matter how romantic her birthday is today, it hasn't gone to her head.

She still remembers that today is the last day AOD will reserve the rough stone for her.

She made her decision and bought the rough stone.

So she had to leave.

Bang!

A loud bang exploded in my ears.

Jiang Ning opened his eyes wide, his eyes sparkling with a kaleidoscope of colors.

One after another, dazzling fireworks surrounded their hot air balloons.

Amidst the crackling sounds of fireworks, Lu Junyan's magnetic voice stood out from the crowd.

"Don't go back tonight."