Chapter 75 Birthday Necklace (Part 1)
On an autumn afternoon, the sun, with just the right warmth, streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Room 1601, casting bright spots of light on the polished teak floor. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers. Zhao Chen had specially ordered the freshest osmanthus branches picked from the courtyard and placed in a vase in the living room.
The living room was meticulously decorated. No extravagant balloons or streamers, only elegant white roses and lavender hydrangeas dotted the corners. A giant "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" sign glowed softly and warmly. Soothing jazz music filled the air.
Only Yu Ling's closest relatives were invited—her parents, her best friend Su Xiao, Zhao Chen's right-hand man, Lin Feng, and a college roommate with whom Yu Ling was close. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed.
Yu Ling was wearing a champagne-colored lace dress that Zhao Chen had "prepared in advance" and was sitting at the center of the long dining table covered with an off-white tablecloth.
Looking at her parents' pleased smiles, listening to her best friends' chattering blessings, and feeling the sweetness in the air, the intense throbbing brought about by Zhao Chen's earth-shattering "heart-stealing" confession after he was drunk last night seemed to still retain its warmth, making her cheeks slightly hot and her heart feel like there was a restless little rabbit in it.
She knew Zhao Chen would definitely give her a gift. Given his style, it was bound to be quite expensive. She even prepared herself for outrageous excuses like "9.9 antique knives on Pinduoduo" or "discount at a friend's jewelry store." But deep down, she secretly held a hope. She wondered what would happen after he said, "Give him your heart back."
"Lingling, make a wish and blow out the candles!" Su Xiao smiled and pushed the exquisite cake with number candles in front of Yu Ling. The cake was specially made by a Michelin pastry chef hired by Zhao Chen. The shape was simple but exuded a sense of luxury.
Amidst the blessing gazes and birthday songs, Yu Ling closed her eyes. Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyes. She cast aside all distractions, leaving only the simplest yet most solemn wish: that the peace and happiness she felt at this moment were not just a dream. She hoped that the heart of this "liar" beside her had truly been "stolen" by her, as he had drunkenly claimed, and would never leave her.
She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and blew out the flickering candle.
Amidst applause and well wishes, Zhao Chen stood up, champagne glass in hand. He was dressed simply in a white shirt and khaki slacks, his sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms and that deep blue gaze. The warm sun fell on his handsome features, his amber eyes brimming with a tenderness more intoxicating than honey as he gazed intently at Yu Ling.
"Happy birthday to my Lingling." He raised his glass in a low, pleasant voice with a smile. Everyone else smiled and raised their glasses in agreement.
After a glass of champagne was finished, the atmosphere became even more lively.
Just as everyone was preparing to cut the cake, Zhao Chen seemed to suddenly remember something insignificant and slowly took out a palm-sized, dark blue velvet jewelry box from the pocket of his casual pants.
The box doesn't have any brand logos and looks extremely ordinary, even a little cheap? The velvet on the edge seems to have some signs of wear.
The table fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on the small box.
Yu Ling's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably. Here it comes!
Zhao Chen, holding the plain velvet box, walked over to Yu Ling. He wore an embarrassed, even slightly awkward smile, like a boy giving his girlfriend a gift for the first time and worried about being rejected. He scratched his head, handed the box to Yu Ling, and spoke softly, but clearly enough for everyone to hear:
"Lingling, a birthday present." He paused, his tone a bit deliberately relaxed and...guilty? "That...my friend who runs a jewelry store, David, remember? The one who gave me the 'discounted' watch last time."
He winked at Yu Ling, the implication obvious - she was the supplier of the "Pinxixi 9.9" antique knife and "Deep Space Gaze".
"His store is having a clearance sale recently, getting rid of a bunch of 'old stock' that's been sitting in the closet." Zhao Chen said this seriously, his expression sincere. "I think this necklace... well, it looks okay. Although it's made of imitation glass beads, it still sparkles under the light. And the best part is, it's really cheap! Only after the discount..."
He held up two fingers, made a "two" sign, and lowered his voice, with a hint of smug joy at having gotten a great deal, "Two hundred yuan! And free shipping!"
"Puff——" Su Xiao, who was drinking water, almost spit it out. He quickly covered his mouth and his shoulders were shaking from trying to hold back his laughter.
Yu Ling's parents and college roommates looked at each other in disbelief and embarrassment. Two hundred yuan? Free shipping? Glass beads? Giving this to his wife for her birthday? This... this is too perfunctory, isn't it? Even if Zhao Chen was just an "ordinary employee," he wouldn't...
Yu Ling looked at Zhao Chen's sincere and handsome face which was full of words saying "Praise me for my ability to live a good life", and then looked at the velvet box in his hand which looked really "ordinary" and even a little shabby, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help twitching.
Sure enough! It's the same routine again! She took a deep breath, suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, forced a gentle and appropriate smile on her face, and reached out to take the box.
"Thank you, husband," her voice was filled with just the right amount of surprise and emotion, "David is such a good friend of yours. He always finds such good things at such affordable prices." She pronounced the word "affordable" particularly clearly.
Zhao Chen seemed to have completely ignored the teasing in her words. He smiled with satisfaction, his amber eyes sparkling. "Really? I think I've found a treasure too! Come on, open it and see if you like it?"
Everyone's gaze, filled with complex curiosity, focused on the box in Yu Ling's hands. Yu Ling sighed inwardly, bracing herself for a glass necklace worthy of Yiwu Small Commodity Market. With a slight pressure from her fingertips, she gently lifted the velvet lid.
The moment the box is opened——
It was as if an invisible spotlight suddenly shone into the box!
There is no dull reflection like the cheap glass you imagine!
Lying quietly on the black velvet lining inside the box is a piece of art that is enough to freeze time!
The main body of the necklace is an extremely thin platinum chain, gleaming with a cold and noble luster. However, all the light is taken away by the main stone in the center of the chain!
It was a pink diamond whose beauty could not be described in words!
The size of a pigeon egg? No, it was even more stunning! It exhibited an extremely pure, intense pink hue, like the most delicate, plump stamen of a spring rose, frozen in timeless beauty! Under the bright living room light, this pink diamond shone with unparalleled fire, as if containing an entire blazing pink nebula!
Even more breathtaking is its cut! It utilizes the extremely rare, long-lost classic rose cut! Countless tiny facets, like the most precise geometric petals, layer upon layer envelop the pistil-like pink diamond, capturing, refracting, and releasing the light to the utmost! Every angle shimmers with a different, enchanting pink halo!
The pink diamond is not surrounded by any extra diamonds, but only a few extremely tiny, almost invisible platinum claws, carefully securing it. This minimalist design actually makes this rare center stone even more breathtaking, like a lonely burning pink star in the vast universe!
The entire necklace exudes an ancient, mysterious, extremely luxurious and destructive beauty!
"hiss--!"
“Oh my god…”
“This…this is…”
A few suppressed gasps were particularly clear in the silent living room! Lidya Su's eyes widened like bells, and her mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg! The embarrassment on Yu Ling's parents' faces was instantly replaced by extreme shock! Even the usually calm Lin Feng's pupils suddenly contracted!
Yu Ling's hand holding the box froze the moment the box was opened! Her fingertips were cold and trembling slightly!
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