Xu Keke had never done anything so smoothly before. It was all thanks to Zhou Xiangnan's good resources. She only took the lead in making the movie, and didn't put much effort into it afterward.
Seeing that she was free, Wang Shujin, who had been busy with church affairs these days, asked her to fetch things for her.
"My eldest daughter-in-law's birthday is coming up in a few days. I ordered a set of jewelry for her. Could you go and pick it up for me?"
Wang Shujin was straightening Chen Le's slightly crooked bow tie. She had recently taken Chen Le to the church choir, and according to her, the quiet Chen Le had a clear, clean voice; listening to him sing felt like listening to angels sing. Xu Keke, however, thought it was likely because the little guy's appearance was misleading. Visual perception might have influenced auditory perception.
"Why can't the driver just pick it up? I can go, but it doesn't seem necessary," Xu Keke asked casually, seemingly unconcerned.
Wang Shujin paused slightly, glanced at Zhou Xiangnan to the side, and then said, "How can a driver do this? Check carefully for any flaws, and also pick out a nicer box for me. The First Madam is picky; don't let her say anything else."
Xu Keke still can't accept it; she feels a man with slicked-back hair is more pleasing to the eye than someone with a long braid. Chen Le looked up and ruffled the little guy's head. Chen Le squinted, shrinking his neck slightly, wanting to avoid it but not daring to.
Xu Keke's hand was slapped down by Wang Shujin. "I just combed my hair, what's wrong with you?"
Xu Keke was stunned, not only by the fact that someone dared to hit her, but also by her own perverse sense of humor. She felt as if she had truly become a sixteen-year-old girl again. In this relaxed family atmosphere, she was the carefree girl protected by her family. It turned out that environment really could change a person.
This feeling left Xu Keke somewhat dazed even after arriving at the jewelry store.
The owner of this jewelry store is a foreigner who designs jewelry. He combines traditional Chinese elements with some whimsical Western ideas, and his jewelry designs retain the classical Chinese flavor while also incorporating Western exquisiteness, making them very popular among the ladies of Shanghai.
Xu Keke arrived in the morning, just when it was less crowded. As soon as she entered the store, she saw Ji Mingkai standing behind a young girl, bending down to help her choose jewelry. Xu Keke inwardly cursed her bad luck.
The girl, dressed in a blue cloth dress, sat in front of the counter. Three trays were placed side by side in front of her. The trays were filled with all kinds of jewelry, giving a dazzling and colorful impression at first glance.
Upon hearing the sound, the two of them, along with the two shop assistants behind the counter, all turned around to look.
"Shaoqiu!"
It seemed the girl knew who she was. With Ji Mingkai's exclamation, Xu Keke saw the girl's previously upturned lips droop. Her large, innocent eyes also became dark and unfathomable.
Xu Keke didn't want to have too much to do with Ji Mingkai, especially since Tang Wan wasn't there. Xu Keke was too lazy to play along with him. She politely replied, "Mr. Ji!" and went straight inside.
Her coldness surprised Ji Mingkai. He began to pay close attention to Xu Keke's every move.
Although Xu Keke had never been here before, Zhou Xiangnan was friends with the store owner, and Zhou Shaoqiu used to accompany her here often; they were regular customers of this jewelry store. A salesperson approached her to greet her and ushered her inside.
Although the interior is connected to the exterior and the two shops are visible to each other, it has a completely different style. It's more like a small showroom, with gorgeous gowns adorned with exquisite jewels; glass cases also display various exquisite jewels in different forms. In the center is a semi-circular sofa, in front of which is a slightly raised white European-style worktable that can be used to place tableware or jewelry.
Xu Keke knew this because she saw in Zhou Shaoqiu's memory that Zhou Shaoqiu had accompanied Zhou Xiangnan here and had afternoon tea with several socialites from Shanghai.
Knowing she was there to pick up custom-made jewelry, the shop assistant asked her to sit down and then went to the back studio.
The back studio was partially obscured by a curtain, and when the staff went in, they could see figures moving around inside through the gap. Xu Keke leaned back on the sofa, leisurely looking at what lay beneath the curtain. At that moment, the view beneath the brown curtain was more interesting to her than the jewelry around her.
The man wore black riding boots, and dark trousers clung tightly to his strong, muscular legs. The trouser legs were tucked into the boots, perfectly showcasing his firm and well-proportioned muscles. The curtain wasn't long, but unfortunately, his legs were rather long, obscuring his waistline.
As the rich aroma of coffee wafted over, Xu Keke guessed it must be a small coffee bar. Before long, and before the jewelry was even brought out, the clerk took the coffee from Mr. Long Legs and served it to Xu Keke.
Since this person didn't want to see her, Xu Keke didn't press the issue. She slowly savored the coffee in her hand; the flavor was to her liking, with a pleasant aftertaste.
Xu Keke's smile held an ambiguous undertone. Ji Mingkai, a womanizer, understood all too well the meaning behind that smile. He recalled Xu Keke's initial rudeness upon entering, and now the special treatment she was receiving in the shop. It seemed she had an unusual relationship with someone inside.
He absolutely refused to admit that he was provoked by Xu Keke's disregard; Ji Mingkai only felt that he had been neglected by the store.
"Why haven't I been served coffee after all this time?" He couldn't bring himself to say that. Ji Mingkai pointed at the jewelry tray, disdainfully.
"Don't you have any other styles? These are too ordinary. You don't think I'm from the countryside, so you're just trying to fob me off with cheap stuff. What's the difference between these things you're showing me and what you sell at the street stalls? You replace jade with gemstones, add a feather to the earrings, and they still look the same old style. Is this your high-end design?"
The shop assistants who served him had encountered such difficult customers before, but it was mostly ladies or young women who would say that when they felt the items were too expensive.
The sales clerk, dressed in a suit vest, smiled politely at Ji Mingkai. "Sir, you're right. These pieces of jewelry are indeed common, everyday items, small accessories that ladies wear to match their outfits when they go out. Have you seen that lady?"
The shop assistant, wearing white gloves, raised her hand slightly, pointed straight at Xu Keke, and said, "That lady had her custom-made item made here. We guarantee that you won't find the same style anywhere else. If you're interested, you can come inside and we'll register you. We'll customize it for you according to your preferences and intended use. All design drawings are free until you're satisfied. However, it may take a while, and of course, the cost will be relatively higher."
The shop assistant's professional explanation made the girl a little flustered. She took Ji Mingkai's hand, looked up at him, and said, "Mingkai, let's go. I don't want anything."
Ji Mingkai gently comforted her, "It's okay. Today is your birthday, and I didn't know that's why I didn't prepare anything. Now that I know, I have to give you something you like."
Their eyes met, gazing at each other tenderly, a beautiful sight too lovely to be interrupted.
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