26. Snow in a silver bowl
I don't want our young lady to be envious when others have surprises.
After Li Xiran finished speaking, Chen Ti started the car.
The young lady, who was speechless, didn't react until the license plate ending with her surname disappeared around the corner. In the midst of the raging wind, she finally erupted in a fit of rage, yelling in what she considered to be the most vicious tone of her life: "Li Xiran, are you crazy?!"
So when they walked back to Feng Ruochu's sports car, the little girl was so frightened that she finally said in a soft voice, "Shang Xinuan, our two families don't go that way. I went out of my way to take you there."
Looking into her innocent yet naive eyes, the young lady felt her anger, which had just been about to explode from Li Xiran's words, soothed her. "I'm so touched. Next time we meet, I'll definitely give you a gift."
Feng Ruochu was finally satisfied and followed the young lady into the car, but she didn't forget to make an outrageous demand: "I want that jade necklace you had at the auction."
Shang Xin paused for a moment; the necklace was a gift from Li Xiran.
-
weekend.
Shang Zun's 75th birthday banquet.
As a leading figure in Shanghai's business community, almost every celebrity from all walks of life came to Shang Mansion to celebrate his birthday.
Shangxin Nuanyue's stylist arrived early in the morning, and she also rarely went to bed early and got up early.
Holding a cup of black coffee, I sat in the dressing room scrolling through short videos to pass the time.
"Good morning, Nuannuan!" The makeup artist dragged her makeup case into the room.
"Good morning, Sister Shanshan." The young lady pointed to the three Starbucks cups on the table, indicating that they should be given to the makeup artist, stylist, and dress stylist respectively.
Because it was a birthday banquet, all the dresses sent were in warm colors.
While applying her makeup, she chose a pink puff-sleeved magnolia-embroidered dress through the mirror.
A pink tulle dress is sweet and lovely, the kind that elders will like.
"Then we'll style it with a retro high bun, and add a crown as an accessory."
The young lady nodded in satisfaction, "Then wouldn't I become a little princess?"
“You were born a princess.” Even those in Shanghai who had never met her had heard of Miss Shang’s deeds. It was no exaggeration to describe her as a princess. “I even found you an antique magnolia-shaped crown.”
The young lady's beautiful amber eyes widened in surprise. "Let me see."
The stylist took out the crown, which was covered in diamonds, from the jewelry box. "It's quite heavy. Your neck will have a hard time today."
Shang Xinuan carefully accepted the crown, which was adorned with exquisitely cut diamonds and a pink gemstone at its center, perfectly complementing the color of her chosen dress. "Is this taken?"
"I knew you'd like it, so I specially gave it to you."
"Shanshan, have you struck it rich?"
Amidst laughter and playfulness, Shang Xinuan's makeup and hairstyle were already complete.
Then she changed into a formal dress, the timing was perfect.
In the full-wall mirrors of the dressing room, Shang Xinuan looked exceptionally charming in her pink dress.
Because she had tied up her long hair and wore a crown as an accessory, her every move exuded the aloof and noble air unique to a young lady from a wealthy family.
“The skirt is a bit long, it would look better with a pair of high heels.” After the stylist finished speaking, he remembered that she had been injured recently. “But it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, so flat shoes are fine too. We can just wash the skirt when we get home.”
Shang Xinuan always has extremely high standards for her banquet makeup and styling, always striving to be the most dazzling presence in the entire banquet hall.
"No need, I feel I've almost recovered." The implication was that she needed to wear high heels with the dress.
After trying them on, it was found that the high heels did indeed lengthen her waistline, making her figure appear more slender.
Are you sure you won't hurt yourself?
"I'm sure!" The young lady could actually feel a slight pain coming from her bones, but strong Chinese women can endure anything for beauty.
When she stepped out of the bedroom and into the garden, the initial adjustment period in high heels was like the Little Mermaid's first time stepping ashore.
Fortunately, this is her own little garden, where she can take a few steps with a fierce expression.
When they went to the front yard, the young lady appeared in the mansion's reception room with the scroll in her arms. Despite the astonished gazes of everyone, she still forgot the pain all over her body.
"Grandpa, happy birthday!" Shang Xi smiled sweetly and first threw herself into Shang Zun's arms and acted coquettishly.
"Our little princess has arrived." Shang Zun's eyes were full of affection as he stroked the crown on her head as if touching a priceless treasure. "Is this a gift for Grandpa?"
"right!"
Immediately, someone stepped forward to help the young lady unfurl the scroll. The three lifelike peaches seemed to have accumulated countless blessings over the years.
"May my grandfather enjoy boundless happiness and prosperity."
Shang Zun grinned from ear to ear, patting Shang Xi's shoulder and saying, "Seeing our Nuannuan so happy every day makes Grandpa think he can live another fifty years."
At this moment, Qiao Xi entered, following behind her father Qiao Shaojing and mother Li Zhihui.
As if they had planned it together, the two sisters, Qiao Xi, also wore her hair up in a bun and a short pink dress. Her cheeks were flushed with shyness, and she looked more demure and timid than usual.
"Xi Xi." Shang Xinuan quickly smiled and waved to her.
Then Li Xiran appeared behind the three of them, and the young lady's smile froze as she spoke in the blink of an eye.
One second they were warmly greeting each other, the next their fleeting gazes were filled with indifference.
This was the first time Li Xiran had entered the Shang family home since Miss Shang was injured.
Shang Zun, Shang Chenxi, and Chu Ling were only concerned about Qiao Xi's family; as the saying goes, in-laws meeting is always very warm and friendly.
Even Shang Dan, who was usually closer to Li Xiran, didn't say a word to him. Instead, he put his arm around Qiao Xi and introduced her to the relatives of the various branches of the Shang family.
At this in-laws' gathering, the eldest daughter still clung to Shang Zun, never leaving his side.
Anyone with eyes could see that she was avoiding Li Xiran. They also knew that Li Xiran, who had been blind all along, suddenly regained his sight overnight, and now only Miss Shang remained in his heart and mind.
Therefore, wherever Shang Xi Nuan was, Li Xi Ran would sit there.
"We kept the two children a secret from us, and we didn't even realize it," Shang Chenxi, the groom's father, said apologetically. "Otherwise, given the relationship between our two families, we should have paid a visit long ago."
“It’s not Shang Dan’s fault, Qiao Xi also kept it a complete secret from us.” Li Zhihui said, while glancing sideways at Li Xiran. “Our kids are all like gourds with their mouths sawed off. Don’t expect to hear a single truth until the very last moment.”
"Why are you being so stubborn? We just wanted to wait until our relationship was more stable before talking about it." Shang Dan led Qiao Xi around for a while, and when they returned, they happened to hear Li Zhihui's scolding, "Otherwise, it will be so awkward when the two families meet in the future."
Li Zhihui said in a tone that was half indulgent and half reproachful, "You're so sensible, you know how to care for your parents."
"This was my oversight. Xixi was only focused on her studies at the time. I should have visited her aunt and uncle beforehand." Shang Dan was very protective of her, and wouldn't even let Li Zhihui jokingly nag Qiao Xi a couple of times.
"No matter what, Lao Qiao and I watched Shang Dan grow up. Our two families know each other well, and we just hope they can support each other in the future." Li Zhihui used to think that Shang Dan was steady and reliable, a carbon copy of Li Xiran. But after meeting her son-in-law, she realized that Shang Dan was more gentle and caring than Li Xiran.
“Xixi. Your uncle and I are very happy to know that you and Shang Dan are dating.” Chu Ling said, picking up a mahogany brocade box on the table. “This is a family heirloom jade bracelet of our Shang family. It was given to me by Grandma Shang Dan when I got engaged. Now it is given to you.”
Qiao Xi accepted it with a mixture of shyness and timidity, and Shang Dan put it on her.
Looking at Miss Shang, her pretty face was filled with a mixture of happiness and envy for them.
“However, this is not a formal meeting yet,” Chu Ling said. “According to the proper etiquette in Shanghai, a separate day should be chosen for a grand visit.”
In Shanghai's wedding customs, the groom must first choose an auspicious day to meet the bride's family and inform them of his affections. The bride's family then reciprocates with gifts, signifying their acceptance of the marriage.
The groom chooses a second auspicious day to send betrothal gifts. The bride then reciprocates with gifts, and they can then discuss engagement arrangements.
The process of meeting the parents and getting engaged can take several months.
If it really comes to marriage, given the power and influence of the Shang and Qiao families, they should start preparing at least a year in advance.
As a grandfather, Shang Zun was not involved.
Holding Shang Xinuan's hand, he whispered, "Grandpa's only wish now is for our Nuannuan to marry someone she can entrust her life to as soon as possible."
For Shang Xinuan, it would be a lie to say she wasn't envious.
Just over a month ago, she was full of anticipation for being crowned someone's fiancée.
"Grandpa, I'm not someone you can marry easily." The young lady hid a slight bitterness in her heart and said in an absolutely spoiled tone, "You have to prepare a dowry for me that is more than the collection in our family museum."
Shang Zun chuckled and patted her palms repeatedly, "Our little princess has dowry from three museums."
The young lady smiled at her grandfather, but a stinging sensation was about to well up in her eyes. She quickly stood up and avoided his gaze. "Grandpa, it seems my friends have arrived. I'll go and greet them."
"Go."
Seeing the young lady leave, the person who was sitting in the most inconspicuous position immediately stood up and disappeared.
As soon as Shang Xinuan stepped out of the front hall corridor, a sharp pain shot through her feet.
She leaned against a pillar and bent down to take off her shoes.
Before she could recover from the pain, she was picked up and carried by someone behind her.
The young lady, completely unprepared, covered her mouth to keep from screaming.
"Li Xiran, what's wrong with you again?" Feeling his steps forward, the young lady still hugged his neck to prevent herself from falling again.
"Knowing full well that you shouldn't wear high heels, you still insisted on it." Li Xiran frowned slightly, his gentle eyes becoming more serious.
"Mind your own business!" The young lady tilted her head back, her tone spoiled and arrogant. "You should worry about yourself first."
Shang Zun will definitely teach him a lesson today, for the sake of the Shang family and for the sake of the young lady.
"Nuan Nuan, I never worry about myself, I'm only afraid that you'll be unhappy." When he said this, his expression was full of sincerity, and his eyes were overflowing with love.
The young lady scoffed, and was then carried back to the bedroom by him.
Li Xiran had been to her bedroom more than once, so he was quite familiar with its layout.
He first placed Shang Xinuan on the sofa in the dressing room, and then took off her pointed stilettos.
Which pair would you like to exchange for?
With someone serving her, the young lady simply raised her hand and pointed to the top shelf of the shoe cabinet, saying, "That pair."
The floor-to-ceiling shoe cabinet is nearly two or three meters high.
It's obvious they're trying to make things difficult for him.
Li Xiran chuckled softly, "Miss, did you do this on purpose?"
"I love those pairs!"
He said he liked it, yet it was shelved. His true intentions are self-evident.
Li Xiran nodded, "Okay, the most important thing is that Miss likes it."
As he spoke, he looked around, then raised his hand and pressed the electronic touch panel on the wall, and the floor-to-ceiling shoe cabinet began to slowly rotate.
How did you know where the switch was?
The young lady's bedroom is a suite.
It has a separate living room, study, bathroom, dressing room, and even a courtyard garden and a gym/yoga room.
There is one master bedroom and two secondary bedrooms, both equipped with smart home technology throughout.
The walk-in closet also serves as a wardrobe, jewelry cabinet, and shoe and bag cabinet.
Every quarter, sales associates from high-end luxury brands personally deliver the goods to your door, and out-of-season clothes are cleared out without exception.
"Young Miss, it's not hard to guess, is it?"
She had originally planned to make things difficult for Li Xiran, but now it's her turn to be frustrated and unable to back down.
"Okay, don't be angry." Li Xiran took the shoes she pointed to and walked to the sofa.
That man, so elegant and refined, knelt directly before her on one knee. He held her feet on his knees with both hands, a gesture of absolute submission.
"Li Xiran!"
Her feet were initially cold, but when they sank into that man's leg bone, they were instantly enveloped by the warmth that the thin fabric of his trousers couldn't keep out.
"Your feet are so cold, and you're still wearing high heels." He tilted his head back, like a devotee surrendering to a goddess. "Miss, can't you take better care of yourself?"
"Making you an assistant isn't to deliberately go against you. Aunt Hui told me that you're suffering from severe insomnia and staying up late, so working in an office will definitely help you adjust your sleep schedule."
He held her feet, first gently rubbing them until they were warm, then helped her put on flat shoes.
Even his tone was gentle and low, like a whisper. It was as if he was lecturing her, or blaming himself for not protecting the young lady properly.
"Knowing that you're going to study in the UK in October, how can I... how can your grandfather be at ease if you go like this?"
Shang Xin's feet gradually warmed up, and even the pain that had just pierced her bones lessened.
“Li Xiran, I know all this even if you don’t say it.”
Her childhood in Paris also left her with considerable psychological trauma.
"Then you can be angry with me, torment me, hit me or scold me, whatever you want. But please don't hurt your own body anymore, okay?"
The young lady had already changed her shoes, but her feet were still being held by him, resting on his knees.
Despite her kicking and thrashing in a fit of pique, Li Xiran endured it all without uttering a sound.
After a while, the young lady seemed to finally get tired, and leaned back on the sofa with her arms crossed.
She didn't take her foot off, so Li Xiran continued to kneel like that, as if in a silent stalemate.
But Li Xiran was not satisfied with this, and pulled a brooch out of his suit pocket as if by magic.
The young lady glanced at it out of the corner of her eye; it was the magnolia shape she liked again.
"Li Xiran, this is very pointless of you."
"If the young lady likes it, then it's interesting."
Shang Xinuan bit her lip. "Today is Grandpa's birthday. You don't need to give me a gift. Besides, I'm not someone who can be appeased with a few gifts."
Li Xiran nodded, but still presented the brooch to her, saying, "Only gifts received on special occasions count as gifts. This kind of unexpected gift is a surprise."
"I don't want our young lady to be envious when others have surprises."
A note from the author:
Qiao Xi: I understand, I am that other person.
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