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"Be with me."
This jewelry store is considered a relatively high-end brand in the country, and many wealthy people come here to shop.
However, people of Xie Zhiyan's stature don't just casually pick out their wedding rings in stores; they usually have them custom-made.
If the shop assistant knew Xie Zhiyan's true identity, they would probably think twice before making a sale and use a different sales pitch.
Ning Yuxuan was fiddling with the bracelet on her left wrist.
Of the two she just bought, she had the shop assistant wrap one of them up for her, and she put the other one directly on her wrist.
She didn't wear any jewelry when she came to visit the set, but this malachite bracelet perfectly matched the dress she was wearing today.
Xie Zhiyan gently grasped Ning Yuxuan's right hand: "Take a look around first, okay? Whichever one you like, I'll pay for it."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
His words really gave her the urge to buy him out of house and home.
Unfortunately, upon further reflection, given the Xie family's wealth, even if she told the shop assistant to "wrap up all the jewelry in the store," it would at most cause him to frown.
She doesn't run a jewelry store at home, so she shouldn't cause trouble for herself.
Ning Yuxuan didn't say anything, and strolled towards the ring area.
The shop assistant's face lit up with joy, and he quickly began to introduce the products.
"Ms. Ning, would you prefer the gold or silver version? Your skin is fair, so you can try either color if you like it."
Ning Yuxuan's gaze swept around the counter; none of the items were unattractive, but none caught her eye at first glance.
The purpose of this trip was not to buy wedding rings. If there are no rings I particularly like, I naturally have no urge to shop.
Xie Zhiyan saw the meaning in her eyes: "No one you like?"
Ning Yuxuan told the truth: "They're all just average."
Xie Zhiyan: "If I don't like it, I won't buy it. I can look at other stores."
Ning Yuxuan hummed in agreement, then realized that he had gotten himself involved.
I wasn't originally planning to buy a ring, but what's the point of looking at other brands?
Ning Yuxuan glanced at Xie Zhiyan silently and found that the man's expression was normal, as if it was just a casual remark.
The shop assistant overheard their conversation and guessed that they probably wouldn't be able to sell any wedding rings today.
However, the wedding rings are mostly set with small diamonds, so they are not expensive. Most of them are not even as expensive as the two gemstone bracelets that Ning Yuxuan had picked out before.
The sales clerk, always tactful, wasn't discouraged by the situation and said with a smile, "If you don't find anything you like, there are diamond rings over there. Let me take you over and see if there's anything you fancy, Miss Ning?"
Ning Yuxuan followed the shop assistant over.
This time, her eyes were brighter than before as she scanned the rings in the display case with great interest.
As expected, she still prefers big diamonds; the small diamonds set in their previous wedding rings weren't as dazzling as these.
The shop assistant was very good at reading people's expressions. Seeing Ning Yuxuan's expression, he took out the item that Ning Yuxuan's eyes lingered on the longest without saying a word.
"Many of our jewelry pieces look better when worn than when displayed in the shop," the sales assistant said. "Many customers who come here think that some rings just look okay at first glance, but once they put them on, they love them. Here, let me help you?"
Ning Yuxuan reached out her hand, and the shop assistant pushed the ring onto her ring finger; it was a little too big.
The salesperson quickly said, "Don't worry, the size of this ring can be adjusted. Let me put it on your middle finger first to see how it looks."
People's middle fingers are usually thicker than their ring fingers. The shop assistant took off the ring and put it back on Ning Yuxuan's middle finger, and it fit perfectly.
Ning Yuxuan raised her hand to admire the diamond ring on her finger. Under the lighting of the jewelry store, the diamond looked especially dazzling and beautiful.
The shop assistant could tell at a glance that Ning Yuxuan was quite satisfied, so she launched into a string of compliments.
Ning Yuxuan glanced at Xie Zhiyan, deliberately not asking for his opinion.
She bought the diamond ring for herself; he was just someone who paid for it.
Xie Zhiyan, perhaps guessing her meaning, cooperated by not saying anything.
Ning Yuxuan looked at the other rings in the display case and asked the clerk to bring her a few more to try on.
The color of the diamonds themselves is not significantly different to the naked eye; she can only tell the difference in size and the style of the ring setting.
After trying several, I still think the first one is the best.
Ning Yuxuan asked the shop assistant to put the first diamond ring on her finger again, and this time she finally showed it off in front of Xie Zhiyan: "What do you think?"
Xie Zhiyan smiled and said, "It suits you very well."
Ning Yuxuan was very satisfied with herself.
The sales clerk realized the sale was about to go through and quickly asked a colleague to bring out the diamond's certificate: "This diamond is one of the best we have here. Look, the clarity, color, and cut are all excellent."
Ning Yuxuan nodded: "This one will do."
She's not the type to spend a long time choosing what to buy; if she likes something, she'll buy it, since it's not like it's a once-in-a-lifetime purchase.
Finally, she went to the necklace section for a look.
Tao You is about to hold her engagement banquet, and Ning Yuxuan has already chosen an engagement gift for her.
However, Ning Yuxuan remembered that Tao You liked to wear necklaces, and since she had time this time, it wouldn't hurt to add one more to the engagement gift.
Ning Yuxuan took a picture of the necklaces in the glass case and sent it to Tao You: [Do you think any of them are pretty?]
Tao You quickly replied: 【Wow! They're all so pretty! Xuanxuan, do you want to buy them?】
Ning Yuxuan: [I just happened to be shopping and came across a jewelry store. I was thinking of getting you another engagement gift.]
Tao You: [Oh, no need, no need, that's too much trouble for you! I've heard of this shop before, it's not cheap.]
Tao You: [The sentiment is enough. It's just an engagement, Xuanxuan, you don't need to spend so much money.]
Ning Yuxuan knew that Tao You genuinely didn't want her to spend too much money, and wasn't just being polite.
Tao You has always been very sensible in this regard. The two have been friends for many years, and Tao You has always known that her family is well-off, but when they go out together, they usually split the bill.
Ning Yuxuan: [Don't worry about the money on my behalf, someone else paid for it today.]
Tao You: [Who? Your domineering CEO boyfriend?]
Ning Yuxuan's lips curved into a smile: "Well, so consider this a gift from both of us. It's not expensive, it's nothing. Besides, you only get engaged once in your life, so giving a nice gift is only right."
Since she'd said that, Tao You stopped being coy: "Then I won't stand on ceremony!"
Ning Yuxuan: [Yeah, just tell me which one you like, or you can check their official website to see if there's anything you like.]
Tao You probably felt embarrassed to choose something too expensive.
Ning Yuxuan wandered around the store again, and a few minutes later she received a picture from Tao You.
It's a necklace priced in the low four figures, which is considered relatively inexpensive for this brand.
Ning Yuxuan asked the shop assistant to bring out the one Tao You had chosen, and then wrapped it up after confirming that there were no flaws.
Xie Zhiyan asked, "Is it a gift for a friend?"
Ning Yuxuan glanced at him: "How did you know?"
She didn't show him the message she sent.
Xie Zhiyan: "This necklace doesn't seem to be your style."
Ning Yuxuan and Tao You have slightly different tastes in jewelry, but she thought Xie Zhiyan wouldn't be so perceptive in this regard.
“Yes,” Ning Yuxuan admitted. “Tao You’s engagement party is coming up soon, so I’ll buy her an engagement gift.”
After thinking for a moment, Ning Yuxuan said, "You don't need to pay for this necklace."
I said those things to Tao You just now to comfort her, so that she wouldn't feel embarrassed to make a choice.
In reality, Xie Zhiyan certainly didn't lack those few thousand yuan, but Ning Yuxuan still preferred to pay for the gift for her friend herself.
Xie Zhiyan didn't say anything.
The shop assistant carefully packaged the bracelet, diamond ring, and necklace that Ning Yuxuan had chosen.
The two paid for everything, except for the necklace for Tao You, which was paid for by Xie Zhiyan's card.
When the shop assistant saw the black card in Xie Zhiyan's hand, she thought to herself, "I knew I hadn't misjudged the customers' wealth."
As the shop assistant saw the two out, his gaze lingered on their retreating figures for a long time.
Miss Ning and Mr. Xie are a perfect match.
The next time she talks about variety shows with someone, she can say that she has met Ms. Ning and her boyfriend in person.
After leaving the jewelry store, Ning Yuxuan held up the diamond ring on her middle finger and looked at it again.
She had owned quite a few pieces of jewelry before, but this was the first time she had ever worn a diamond ring.
If she had known it was this beautiful, she wouldn't have waited to buy it with Xie Zhiyan; she could have bought one for herself to wear and play with first.
However, because the ring was a little too big, it ended up on her middle finger.
The shop assistant said they could help me apply for a change of ring size, but it would take anywhere from a few days to a week to receive it.
Ning Yuxuan wanted to take it with her immediately after buying it, so she didn't ask the shop assistant to take it to be altered.
Xie Zhiyan saw her actions: "If you want to alter the size after you get back, I'll have my assistant contact you."
Ning Yuxuan twirled the ring on her finger: "No need, I think wearing it on my middle finger is fine too."
After saying that, she glanced at Xie Zhiyan and said meaningfully, "Anyway, I don't wear diamond rings for any special meaning, it's just for looks."
Xie Zhiyan's tone was calm: "Yes, this time it was a bit rushed. For things with special significance, we can find someone to customize them together when we have time."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
That's not what she meant.
Forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with him.
Xie Zhiyan glanced at his watch: "Is there anything else you'd like to see? It's still early, no need to rush to the airport."
He paused for a moment, then added, "I'll pay for everything you like."
Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but say, "It's as if I asked you to go shopping with me just to make you a sucker."
Xie Zhiyan remained unfazed: "I did it voluntarily."
Ning Yuxuan laughed out loud.
The man said this in a flat tone, which gave it a strangely dry sense of humor.
“Okay,” Ning Yuxuan said, “Let’s look around some more then.”
Compared to regular flights, boarding a private jet is much faster, saving the time spent waiting at the airport in advance.
The flight was scheduled to take off at 2 PM, so Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan spent several more hours shopping in the mall.
However, I didn't buy any more jewelry, only a hat, which was a small gift for my mother.
The two of them ate local specialties together at noon. The prices were not expensive, but the taste was very good.
At 1:30, the driver took the two to the dedicated business jet terminal.
Assistant Liu was already waiting for the two at the airport. After resting for a few hours at the hotel in the morning, they were full of energy again.
This was Ning Yuxuan's first time flying on a private jet.
When Ning Fei first came to Beicheng, she had to carefully budget even for rent. The Ning family's situation only improved over the last ten years, and they gradually achieved financial freedom.
However, financial freedom is relative to the average person. The Ning family has not yet reached the point where they can afford a private jet. Besides, Ning Fei herself has spent most of her time in Beicheng in recent years and has no need to buy a business jet.
For a visit to the set like this, a first-class ticket would be enough.
It was Ning Yuxuan's first time flying on a private jet, and she was quite excited.
Unfortunately, the flight from Jiangcheng to Beicheng was only two hours long, enough for Ning Yuxuan to take a quick look around the cabin, examine the decor, and experience the in-flight bar.
I didn't have a chance to sleep on a soft bed, nor did I get to experience taking a bath in the bathroom.
When she got off the plane, Ning Yuxuan was a little reluctant to leave.
Xie Zhiyan saw through her thoughts: "Next time I go on a business trip, will you come with me?"
Ning Yuxuan replied without hesitation, "No way."
Even though she was quite interested in the plane, she didn't want to go on a business trip with him just for it.
Xie Zhiyan hummed in agreement: "Then we'll wait until our honeymoon."
Ning Yuxuan: "...When did I ever say we were going on a honeymoon?"
Xie Zhiyan said calmly, "Isn't this the process of getting married? Registering the marriage, having the wedding, and going on the honeymoon."
Seeing how matter-of-fact the man's tone was, Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but blurt out, "There are so many other procedures involved in getting married, why don't you do them all?"
Xie Zhiyan raised an eyebrow: "For example?"
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
For example, many people start preparing for pregnancy and having children after getting married. Does that mean they also want to have children?
Ning Yuxuan held back from saying those words.
The more time she spent with Xie Zhiyan, the more she felt that Xie Zhiyan was completely different from the person she remembered.
Just like she never imagined before, one day Xie Zhiyan would repeatedly tell her on the phone that he missed her, and even prepare some surprise in the trunk for her.
Ning Yuxuan wasn't sure. If she actually said the words "have a child," the man might really take advantage of the situation and say he wanted a child.
She doesn't reject having children. Perhaps influenced by her mother, Ning Yuxuan sometimes thinks that it would be nice to have a daughter of her own someday.
A daughter who understands her heart and grows up with her.
There may be conflicts and times when they don't understand each other, but ultimately, the bond of blood will make them inseparable.
Just like her and her mother.
However, Xie Zhiyan's relationship with her is far from being at the point where this can be considered.
Moreover, in Ning Yuxuan's mind, marriage and having children are things that will happen a long time from now.
So far, she still feels like a "mama's girl" who always wants to be with her mother, and she can't imagine what it would be like to be a mother.
Ning Yuxuan looked at Xie Zhiyan: "Anyway, there are so many procedures for getting married, we don't need to do them all."
Xie Zhiyan said methodically, "A honeymoon is just another way of saying travel. Once you're not so busy with work, don't you want to go out and relax?"
Ning Yuxuan remained silent for two seconds.
Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since she's traveled.
It seems like the last time I traveled abroad was five years ago.
Ning Yuxuan agreed: "Once the four newly opened stores of Huayuan have stabilized, we can go out for a week or two."
After agreeing, she felt something was off.
Upon closer reflection, she realized that her "contract marriage" with Xie Zhiyan was originally intended to be simple, but it turned out to be anything but simple.
They announced their relationship, met each other's parents, and planned to buy a house for their marriage.
Xie Zhiyan said he was going to have a wedding, and now he's even talking about a honeymoon. People who get married normally don't necessarily do things like this.
In other words, they got their marriage certificate too quickly, skipping the steps of proposal and engagement.
They took the elevator from the terminal to the underground parking garage and got into Xie Zhiyan's car.
Assistant Liu did not travel with the two of them; he rode in another car, which carried Xie Zhiyan's luggage directly back to the apartment.
There were only Xie Zhiyan and his driver in Ning Yuxuan's car.
Ning Fei arrived home a few hours ago and called Ning Yuxuan to let her know she was safe, telling her not to rush home.
Ning Yuxuan sent messages to Ning Fei and Ning Shiyue, saying that she had landed safely in Beicheng.
Xie Zhiyan sat in the back row with Ning Yuxuan: "Are you tired?"
Ning Yuxuan replied truthfully, "I'm not tired, what's wrong?"
Private jets are indeed much more comfortable than regular flights. You don't have to arrive at the airport several hours in advance to queue, and the space on the plane is also much larger. No wonder big shots prefer to travel on their own private jets.
From Jiangcheng to Beicheng, Ning Yuxuan felt no fatigue from the journey, as if she had just gone out for half a day on the weekend.
Xie Zhiyan: "If you're not tired, I've booked a restaurant for tonight. After we eat, I'll have the driver take you home."
Ning Yuxuan blinked.
"Xie Zhiyan," she said, "it feels like you've been taking me out to eat all day."
Starting with breakfast this morning, the two of them have been eating from morning till night.
A hint of a smile appeared in Xie Zhiyan's eyes: "Perhaps it's because I wanted to cater to his preferences?"
Ning Yuxuan pondered the sentence for a moment.
Although she didn't feel offended, she still pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "What do you mean? Are you saying I eat too much?"
Xie Zhiyan: "It means I agree with your spirit of enjoying food."
Ning Yuxuan: "Okay, what do you want to eat tonight? I'll listen to your suggestions first before deciding whether to agree."
Xie Zhiyan made a reservation at a Michelin-starred restaurant in the North City CBD.
Since they met, they had never actually eaten at a high-class restaurant like the one Ning Yuxuan knew Xie Zhiyan would frequent.
We ate at quite a few restaurants together where the average cost per person was less than 200 yuan.
The restaurant is located on the top floor of the North City CBD Financial Building. Sitting by the window, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the most prosperous night view in North City.
There was a pianist playing in the corner, and the service staff were all dressed in formal attire.
The portions of the dishes are not large, but the presentation is always incredibly exquisite. Each dish is served with an introduction from the waiter.
Ning Yuxuan felt that coming to this kind of restaurant often would be pointless. At this rate of service, by the time she finished the last dish, the first one would be almost digested.
But it's nice to have this once in a while to change things up.
The waiter brought over two glasses of champagne.
Ning Yuxuan picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and rested her chin on her hand to admire the city night view outside the window.
She unconsciously raised her hand and looked at the diamond ring on her hand again.
He said the ring had no special meaning and was just an ornament.
However, perhaps because the marketing of "diamonds" as a symbol of love has become so deeply ingrained in people's minds, Ning Yuxuan still couldn't completely escape its influence.
Sitting opposite Xie Zhiyan in the most luxurious restaurant in Beicheng, admiring the diamond ring on her finger, she still felt a little emotional.
She really did get married.
The marriage certificate in the drawer at home clearly states that her spouse is Xie Zhiyan.
It has only been less than two months since she realized that she had awakened the plot, but her mindset and circumstances have already changed completely.
Times have changed.
Ning Yuxuan sighed inwardly, then casually took off the diamond ring and played with it in her hand.
She didn't know how much time had passed when Xie Zhiyan's deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Xuanxuan," Xie Zhiyan said, "what are you thinking about?"
Ning Yuxuan snapped out of her daze, glanced at the ring she was fiddling with in her hand, and looked up to meet Xie Zhiyan's gaze.
In that instant, she suddenly no longer wanted to hide her thoughts.
“I’m thinking,” Ning Yuxuan said slowly, “It’s unbelievable that I actually married you.”
Xie Zhiyan: "..."
The man's brow twitched slightly. Ning Yuxuan couldn't guess what he was thinking, nor did she want to at the moment.
She felt that her current state was probably what people call being overly sentimental after a day of excitement.
She rarely allowed herself to be overwhelmed by these emotions.
Ning Yuxuan felt that Xie Zhiyan must find her very unreasonable.
He rushed back to China to surprise her and even took her out for a day, but now she's inexplicably showing these kinds of emotions.
But she didn't want to pretend.
Perhaps it's just that sometimes I want to clear my mind and let my emotions run wild.
Xie Zhiyan and Ning Yuxuan looked at each other, their eyes holding something she couldn't understand.
After a long pause, he suddenly spoke up, "Shall I help you put the ring on?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Ning Yuxuan's eyes.
She thought he would ask her something like, "Aren't you happy to be married to him?"
After all, in the eyes of outsiders, being able to marry Xie Zhiyan is simply a stroke of good luck for her, and there's no reason for her to be complaining here.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhiyan noticed the ring she had taken off.
She had just casually taken off the diamond ring to play with it and hadn't put it back on yet.
Ning Yuxuan was silent for a few seconds before handing over the ring.
Xie Zhiyan took the diamond ring from her palm, his fingertips briefly touching her hand, making her feel a little itchy.
The man's voice was deep and gentle: "Same as before, wear it on your left hand?"
Ning Yuxuan silently stretched out her left hand.
Classical music was playing in the restaurant, and just as one piece ended, it seemed to mark a brief period.
Before the next song began, in the quiet, Xie Zhiyan put the diamond ring back on her middle finger.
His hand was steady, without the slightest tremor, as he slowly pushed the ring to the base of her finger.
After putting it on, Xie Zhiyan gently rubbed the ring with his fingertip, and her finger trembled slightly as she felt his movement.
Xie Zhiyan's eyes softened: "Alright."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
Although she didn't say anything unnecessary, Ning Yuxuan's heart began to pound uncontrollably.
The piano in the corner of the restaurant was silent for about ten seconds before it finally started playing again.
The melody seemed somewhat familiar.
Ning Yuxuan suddenly realized that it was the only piece of music she could still play: "A Memorial of Love".
She was bad at everything from elementary school, including singing and dancing. In high school, she begged her mother to let her learn piano, but she gave up after less than a year and basically forgot everything she had learned.
However, this piece, "A Memorial of Love," is very simple to play. She still remembers it to this day, and whenever she sees a piano and wants to touch it, she plays this piece.
Ning Yuxuan didn't know if this was a coincidence.
Because she remembered that when she visited the Xie family's old house, she seemed to have played this piece on the piano in the living room.
He was there at the time.
Ning Yuxuan looked up at Xie Zhiyan.
After putting the ring on her finger, he kept his hand under her palm, which was warm.
Xie Zhiyan spoke up: "Xuanxuan, will you stay with me?"
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