Chapter 78 A Wasted Effort

If Jiang Ning knew that Lu Junyan and Chu Qingxue were also present when she invited Yuan Pei to dinner to repay a favor, she definitely wouldn't have agreed.

"Hey Jiangning, you've arrived!"

Yuan Pei waved to Jiang Ning.

Since he was already there, Jiang Ning had no choice but to bite the bullet and sit down.

She sat down opposite Yuan Pei.

Next to him is Lu Junyan.

The two were standing right next to each other, yet there seemed to be an invisible barrier between them.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was strange.

Chu Qingxue spoke first:

"Yuan Pei, really! Jiang Ning's studio is just starting out and not doing well. How could you choose this restaurant? Jiang Ning is spending so much money!"

Jiang Ning glanced coldly at the order form that had already been filled.

"Since you know I'm spending money, you shouldn't have come, especially since you ordered French blue lobster, top-grade belly crab, spider crab, and caviar."

As Jiang Ning spoke, Chu Qingxue's expression grew increasingly grim.

“Those were what I ordered, so blame me, not your sister-in-law!” Yuan Pei spoke up for Chu Qingxue.

However, he didn't actually order those dishes.

This restaurant wasn't actually his first choice; it was recommended to him by Chu Qingxue.

This shop is newly opened, and none of them had been here before. He had only made an appointment with Jiang Ning, but unexpectedly ran into Lu Junyan and Chu Qingxue.

Chu Qingxue suggested eating together, which led to the current scene.

"I'll cover Qingxue's share."

A cold, emotionless voice came from beside Jiang Ning.

"And your share too," Jiang Ning reminded him.

“Okay.” Lu Junyan readily agreed.

Yuan Pei glanced at Jiang Ning, then at Lu Junyan, and felt that the interaction between the two was ridiculously cold.

Has something happened?

Yuan Pei was curious, but too embarrassed to ask.

The food arrived, and every seafood dish was top-quality, fresh, and expensive.

Chu Qingxue poured herself a glass of champagne and raised it.

"Jiang Ning, this glass of wine is my apology to you..."

Jiang Ning was using crab scissors to cut open the crab's legs without looking up.

“I shouldn’t have taken the rough stone you wanted… But… there was only one rough stone. Junyan said that even if you bought it, it would be a waste if you couldn’t make jewelry that suited Chairman Geng’s taste. That’s why I… I’m sorry, it was my fault…”

Jiang Ning knew Chu Qingxue would bring this up, but she didn't care anymore because she had a new idea.

Even without that gem, she would still win.

"However, don't blame Junyan. Junyan also feels guilty, which is why he tried his best to make it up to you. Junyan spent a lot of money on your birthday party that day!"

While speaking, Chu Qingxue secretly observed Jiang Ning's reaction.

Jiang Ning kept his head down, quietly eating the crab, his face expressionless.

Chu Qingxue knew very well that Jiang Ning was putting on a brave face.

The reason she brought this up in public was because she was afraid Jiang Ning wouldn't know that the romantic surprise Lu Junyan had prepared for her was actually just compensation.

However, judging from Jiang Ning's behavior, she must have known about this for a long time.

“That rough stone is rightfully yours; you don’t need to apologize to Jiang Ning,” Lu Junyan said, turning to Chu Qingxue.

Yuan Pei ate his lobster while listening to gossip.

“Jiang Ning, since you left, Lu’s Jewelry’s sales have increased several times over, all thanks to Qing Xue… Good materials for good designers, that’s the way to make the best use of resources and optimize them.”

Lu Junyan spoke eloquently and in a very official manner.

Chu Qingxue took a sip of champagne, her face beaming with smiles.

She didn't believe Jiang Ning couldn't sense the favoritism Lu Junyan showed her between the lines.

This battle over the raw stones further convinced her that Lu Junyan had no feelings for Jiang Ning whatsoever.

Although she had never enjoyed a romantic hot air balloon trip personally prepared by Lu Junyan even on her birthday, Lu Junyan did those things not for Jiang Ning.

Lu Junyan did it for her.

With her rosy lips curving into a sweet smile, Chu Qingxue tried her best not to let anyone see her inner smugness.

All that's missing right now is... that divorce agreement.

Although Jiang Ning took the initiative to propose a divorce, Lu Junyan did not agree.

But what Lu Junyan feared was offending his grandfather, not that he was reluctant to leave Jiang Ning.

That old geezer is such a nuisance...

Chu Qingxue chewed the lobster meat in her mouth until it lost all its flavor.

Yuan Pei was getting a little anxious.

If what he saw that night was correct, all of Lu's best-selling products should have been designed by Jiang Ning.

He wanted to speak, but felt it wasn't his place to say it.

He glanced at Jiang Ning several times, but Jiang Ning remained engrossed in eating crab.

Jiang Ning knew, of course, that Chu Qingxue had stolen her sales performance.

But she didn't want to explain anymore.

Given Lu Junyan's favoritism and trust in Chu Qingxue, she explained that even if Lu Junyan did not believe her, he might not believe her.

Moreover, she was about to divorce Lu Junyan, so the worse Lu Junyan's impression of her was, the better.

Jiang Ning thought this way rationally, but emotionally she was inevitably hurt.

Compared to the designs she left behind at Lu's when she was an employee, she now values ​​winning Geng Li's test more.

She'll be able to finish it when she gets home tonight—finish that piece of jewelry that doesn't have a single gemstone or jewel inlaid.

"Oh right, Jiangning..."

Chu Qingxue's voice made Jiang Ning look up.

"I have already qualified to participate in this year's LD Jewelry Fashion Week."

"What?" Jiang Ning's eyes widened.

"It was Chairman Geng who wrote me a letter of introduction. His wife really liked the necklace I made with that ruby, so she gave me the last spot. I'm telling you this because I'm afraid you don't know and have wasted your time."

As soon as Chu Qingxue finished speaking, Jiang Ning's finger was pricked by a crab shell and bled.

"Oh dear, you're bleeding!" she exclaimed, grabbing Lu Junyan's hand. "Junyan, what should we do? Do you have a band-aid?"

Lu Junyan doesn't have the habit of carrying band-aids with him.

Even if he had it, he couldn't take it out with Chu Qingxue holding his hand.

Just as he was about to call Xiao Zhang to ask him to buy some Band-Aids, Yuan Pei suddenly stood up.

"How could you be so careless? You're so clumsy!"

Yuan Pei immediately went to Jiang Ning's side, first helping Jiang Ning squeeze out the blood, and then called over a waiter to ask if there were any alcohol wipes or iodine.

Yuan Pei's attentiveness puzzled Jiang Ning.

"It's not a deep wound, it's alright."

"Don't you know that seafood can carry bacteria?"

Although Yuan Pei's tone was as unpleasant as ever, Jiang Ning could still tell that Yuan Pei was concerned about her.

Lu Junyan remained silent, his hand holding the crab scissors perhaps stiffening from holding them for too long.

Chu Qingxue blinked her big eyes, which were covered in false eyelashes, and looked at Yuan Pei in surprise.

What's wrong with Yuan Pei tonight?

It would have been fine if they hadn't made sarcastic remarks about Jiang Ning, but instead they've become nervous about him?

Chu Qingxue frowned, unable to hide her displeasure.

Yuan Pei is nominally Lu Junyan's friend, but in reality, she sees him as just Lu Junyan's little follower.

He was also her little follower.

She felt back in high school—

Yuan Pei likes her.