Chapter 142 Pretending to be nonchalant
He didn't rush to open it, but solemnly placed it in her outstretched palm.
"Open."
Song Zhiwei opened the box and was immediately stunned.
What catches the eye is a dazzling bracelet.
As light and shadow shift, the entire bracelet seems to possess its own spirit, shining brightly.
What truly stunned her was not its magnificence, but its familiar style...
She had seen the bracelet before; it was on Chen Yun's wrist last time.
Although the styles are different, their unique designs are all the same.
She remembered it from that one glance.
But this one has a completely different design.
More refined, more spirited.
Each petal of the Star Lotus has a subtle variation in curvature.
When illuminated, it produces a flowing light and shadow effect.
In comparison, Chen Yun's dress, though beautiful, lacked this unique charm.
But you can tell at a glance that the style is the same and it's the work of the same person.
She closed her eyes, trying to suppress the surging emotions in her heart.
She bit her lip, but still asked the question.
"Do you... really like giving bracelets as gifts?"
Sheng Tingzhou's expression froze: "What do you mean?"
He didn't answer immediately, but instead carefully observed her expression.
She put down the bracelet, hesitated for a long time, and then spoke in a muffled voice.
“This one… I’ve seen something similar in Chen Yun’s hands.”
She gently closed the box and placed it on the table, not daring to look at it a second time.
After she finished speaking, she lowered her eyes, and her fingers unconsciously curled up.
His brows furrowed instantly.
"Chen Yun? Impossible. This is a drawing I made myself, and I had it custom-made."
Sheng Tingzhou's voice suddenly rose.
His eyes were bright as he stared directly at her.
“I have no reason to lie to you. I spent three nights drawing this design, and even the jewelry craftsmen said they had never seen such a complex structure.”
This candor left Song Zhiwei speechless for a moment, and her doubts began to waver.
Song Zhiwei took a deep breath and said softly, "Yes, I know you made this yourself. But that one for Chen Yun, you made that too, didn't you?"
"Because they're all made by you, even if the details are different, you can tell at a glance that they're in the same style. I really... don't like that."
She stared at the teacup in front of her.
The rising steam blurred her vision.
That familiar yet suffocating feeling.
It was something he had designed with the utmost care, yet it appeared in her world under someone else's name.
So, she finally said it.
She had always hesitated and dared not really get close to him.
After all, he's the boss, and she's the employee.
The difference in their social status stood like an invisible wall between them.
I'm afraid that if I say too much, it will be awkward when we meet again.
But now that I've decided to walk this path with him, there's nothing left to hide.
She wants to be open and honest about this relationship.
Regardless of the outcome.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Tingzhou's eyes narrowed, and he immediately grasped the key point.
"You mean Chen Yun also has it?"
Those once calm eyes narrowed slightly, and her brows furrowed unconsciously.
Song Zhiwei was taken aback, then nodded: "You really don't remember the thing you gave me?"
She remembered how certain Chen Yun was, saying it was a birthday gift that Sheng Tingzhou had personally given her.
They even claimed it was a limited edition, with only three available worldwide.
If that's the case, then why doesn't he have any recollection of it?
He glanced at her sideways, his tone a bit sharp.
"Who told you I gave her a gift?"
She was stunned for a moment, her eyes darted away, and her voice became softer.
"Ah...isn't that right?"
Chen Yun told her that herself.
She wouldn't lie to herself, would she?
But the man's reaction didn't seem like he was acting.
She was momentarily confused, her mind replaying the expression on Chen Yun's face when she said those words.
Sheng Tingzhou clenched his teeth, and his tone suddenly turned cold.
"Song Zhiwei, do you think I'm just bored and give gifts to everyone I meet?"
He asked the question almost angrily.
"Who thinks they're entitled to receive gifts from me? You really overestimate me."
"My family must have been accumulating wealth since the beginning of time for me to be able to squander it like this."
After he finished speaking, a sarcastic smile appeared on his lips.
In this world, there are very few things that he can personally select and carefully design.
Each one carries a special meaning.
How could I just give it away to someone else?
Song Zhiwei: "..."
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
"I didn't say you were giving gifts to everyone..."
"I just... didn't expect... her to lie to me."
"I really didn't expect Chen Yun to lie to me when she said that."
She always considered Chen Yun a friend.
At least on the surface, they are colleagues who can be trusted.
But now, a casual lie from the other party almost shook the trust between her and Sheng Tingzhou.
This made her feel both ridiculous and sad.
Upon hearing the name, Sheng Tingzhou's eyes darkened.
"Don't worry, I will definitely find out the truth about this."
His tone became somber, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Chen Yun... she actually used his name to fabricate lies?
His gaze fell on the bracelet on her wrist, and he reached out his hand.
"Give me this one first, and I'll give you a new one in a few days."
It was an extremely thin silver chain, with a small star-shaped pendant.
"No need, this one will do."
"Since you never intended to give it to her, then it is unique to me."
I was feeling quite upset.
But now that we've talked it out, it doesn't feel so bad anymore.
She no longer dwelled on whether he had given it to someone else, but knew clearly that it was from him who gave it to her.
This sentiment, even if there were millions of identical bracelets in the world, could not replace the meaning of this one.
Sheng Tingzhou pursed his lips and asked in a low voice, "Don't you feel...wronged?"
He clearly entrusted this task to the person he trusted most.
However, things still went wrong.
He should have noticed it immediately.
This special quality that belongs to her should have been protected.
In his eyes, such an oversight should never have happened.
Song Zhiwei shook her head: "This is your kind gesture, and I'm very happy to accept it."
Wronged?
Perhaps there were times, but now they have been diluted by honesty and understanding.
She never cared about the gift itself.
It's not about whether the person behind it is sincere.
And now, Sheng Tingzhou is showing her through his attitude.
She was never ignored, nor was she ever confused.
—
Back at the hotel, she turned on the living room light.
With a "snap," warm yellow light filled the room.
The air was so quiet you could hear each other breathing.
She stood at the door, her fingers still resting on the light switch, suddenly feeling a little lost.
The two sat side by side on the sofa, and she suddenly felt a little flustered.
It wasn't fear, nor regret.
It was an indescribable tension.
The conversation we just had was too in-depth, revealing too many emotions hidden beneath the surface.
Now that she was quiet and facing this man, she didn't know what to say or do.
My heart was racing involuntarily, and my fingers were curled up at the hem of my skirt.
She stole a glance at him, only to find that he was also staring at the coffee table, silent.
The atmosphere subtly shifted into a delicate state.
Will he... sleep with her tonight?
This question kept swirling in Song Zhiwei's mind.
She tried to act as if nothing was wrong.
But my fingertips trembled slightly involuntarily.
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