dhibooks Chapter 162 The Crown Prince Saw His Cousin's Painting
Chapter 162 The Crown Prince Saw His Cousin's Painting
As soon as he finished speaking, their eyes lit up.
Jiang Wan blushed and explained.
"The main problem is that I can't think of anything to give as a gift."
"Shang Shixu is a person who values rituals a lot, so I thought with my budget, I might as well buy a pair of wedding rings."
"He'll probably like it."
Gu Manning teased, "It's not 'should,' it's 'definitely like it.'"
Tao Mengshu patted Jiang Wan on the shoulder.
"I think giving them matching rings would be a good idea."
"You two currently only have a couple's bracelet."
"I bet even if you don't buy a ring, Shang Shixu will still be tempted to buy one for you himself."
Jiang Wan smiled.
Actually, that's what she thought too.
So you have to buy it before he does.
Having set a goal, Gu Manning quickly came up with a shop.
"I know a place that has a lot of styles and reasonable prices. It's on the third floor here. Do you want to go check it out?"
"OK."
The three of them took the elevator and quickly arrived at the store.
The store is decorated with a high-quality feel, and the soft lighting in the counter illuminates each piece of jewelry.
They all look very eye-catching.
The shop assistant came up to them and, after hearing their purpose, led them to the display case of wedding rings.
Jiang Wan bent down, her gaze sweeping over the rows of rings.
Gu Manning and Tao Mengshu stood on either side of her, their hands resting on the counter, recommending products to her.
Jiang Wan looked at several options but felt they were all lacking.
Just as I was about to give up on this place and go to another one, I caught a glimpse of one of the couples.
She pointed and spoke to the shop assistant.
"Excuse me, could you please take these out for me?"
The shop assistant quickly took it out and placed it on the glass display case.
Jiang Wan picked up the men's ring, admired it on her fingertip, and then picked up the women's ring to admire it.
I like them both.
She glanced at the price tag: 68,000.
It was also within her budget.
"That's it."
Jiang Wan then reported the number of rings on the men's ring.
Gu Manning asked curiously, "Are you so sure?"
Jiang Wan smiled, "Of course, I secretly measured it a few days ago while he was taking a nap."
Tao Mengshu patted Jiang Wan's head. "Smart."
Both men's and women's rings need to be sourced, and delivery can be expedited to within two days.
Jiang Wan paid by card and carefully put the invoice into a compartment in her bag.
As the three walked out of the shop, Jiang Wan suddenly thought of something.
"Oh, right, Sister Xiaomeng, I also want to give him a birthday surprise."
"Please tell Di Wenjun and Pei Heyun for me to cooperate when the time comes."
Tao Mengshu: "No problem."
"What kind of format do you want? A few of us can help you with that."
Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment, "It's still being planned. I'll tell you when I've thought it through tomorrow."
Gu Manning added from the side.
"Wanwan, if you need any venue or anything, just ask me."
"Okay~"
Jiang Wan felt a warmth spread through her heart.
Holding one in each hand.
"Come on, come on, I'll treat you two to lunch!"
*
the next day.
Jiang Wan secretly played on her phone while attending class, sending her thoughts to a small group of five people.
This is a group chat that Tao Mengshu created yesterday during dinner.
Everything except the Shang time sequence is inside.
After some discussion, the group secretly finalized the birthday plan behind his back.
As the chief planner, Jiang Wan was eagerly anticipating September 6th.
......
Time quickly came to February 5th.
Before midnight, Jiang Wan stood on the balcony and dialed Shang Shixu's number to send her a timely blessing.
Happy birthday, brother!
"Oh, you haven't mentioned it at all these past few days. I thought you'd forgotten about it."
Jiang Wan smiled, "I remember, I remember, that's why I was waiting to send my blessings right on time tonight."
Shang Shixu was in a good mood.
"Celebrate my birthday with me today."
Jiang Wan began acting as planned, lowering her voice and hesitating slightly.
"Hmm... I'm afraid it won't work today."
Why?
She offered a guilty explanation.
"I need to finish my manuscript today; my employer wants me to submit the first 150,000 words of the biography by tomorrow morning."
"I'm still 20,000 words short, I guess I'll have to write all night."
"Brother, I'm sorry... I only received the news this afternoon."
In the past, this reason would have definitely made Shang Shixu furious.
However, since Jiang Wan took the initiative to reflect on her actions last time, Shang Shixu has also begun to reflect on himself.
He consulted his father and received a single sentence—
Possession is predicated on respect; love is about lifting up, not shackles.
These two concepts are actually a topic of discussion regarding the timing of business transactions.
Currently, he is still working hard to understand and practice it.
"All right."
"But you have to make it up to me handsomely afterwards."
Although the man's tone was cold, he wasn't angry, which surprised Jiang Wan.
"Brother, I thought you would be angry."
Shang Shixu gave a soft hum.
"Didn't you say we needed to get to know each other better?"
"I want to show you that I'm changing too."
As soon as she finished speaking, a pleasant breeze blew into the quiet balcony, and a smile appeared on Jiang Wan's face.
For the first time, she experienced the joy of "mutual attraction".
Even if there are conflicts, it's not a "she vs. him" situation, but rather the two of them versus the problem.
Jiang Wantian said, "Okay, I promise I'll make it up to you!"
*
9 month 6 number.
In the morning, Shang Shixu was busy at the company.
Messages kept popping up in the WeChat group for friends.
Pei Heyun: [Brother Xu, it's your birthday today, let's get together tonight]
Di Wenjun immediately chimed in: 【How could he possibly have time to get together with us?】
[This kid is definitely locking himself in and making Jiang Wan keep him company.]
Pei Heyun immediately replied: 【What a guy who values women over friends!】
Let's each spit on him, I'll go first.
Pei Heyun: [Hey!]
Di Wenjun: [Pah!!]
The two started performing a crosstalk routine in the group chat.
Knowing full well what was going on, they deliberately took this opportunity to gain some verbal advantage over Shang Shixu.
Pei Heyun: [Haha, Brother Xu is too scared to come out because of our powerful attack!]
Di Wenjun: [I guess Jiang Wan had something to do and couldn't keep him company, so he just stayed there and shut himself off.]
Business sequence: [Two 2b]
His words made the two of them so angry they wanted to smash their phones.
Shang Shixu: [Your dad has agreed to your request for a gathering.]
Pei Heyun and Di Wenjun: We're withdrawing our birthday surprise!!!
*
evening.
Shang Shixu had just gotten into the car, ready to go to the appointment.
My phone rang, it was a call from my grandfather.
The old man answered the call, his voice filled with anxiety.
"Shixu, your second uncle just called me, saying he couldn't get in touch with your cousin all day."
"He's out of town; we just sent someone to knock on his door, but no one answered."
"I'm sending you your cousin's address now, go check it out!"
Shang Shixu said in a deep voice, "No need, I know where it is."
"Okay, then call me back when you get there."
After hanging up the phone, Shang Shixu rushed to Jiang Yubai's residence.
at the same time.
Inside the villa, Jiang Yubai carried a framed painting from the second-floor studio to the first-floor living room.
He placed the painting on the table and fixed his gaze on it.
The two people in the picture look very compatible.
The man leaned forward, and the woman reached out her hand.
Their necks were intertwined, a very intimate gesture.
But this view from that angle is merely a figment of his imagination.
In reality, they are not close, and they can't even be considered friends.
She straightened his collar only out of gratitude.
Jiang Yubai gave a self-deprecating laugh.
After waiting for half a month, there was still no news of their breakup.
His plan to sow discord completely failed.
Jiang Yubai exhaled a deep breath of stale air.
Forget it, waiting any longer will only bring me humiliation.
He took the painting out of the frame and got up to find a lighter.
*
Just a wall away, the shopkeepers parked their cars and turned off their engines.
He walked to the door and knocked.
No one answered.
He knocked again, harder, but still no one answered.
I just took out my phone to call the police—
The door opened.
Jiang Yubai stood inside the door, wearing a wrinkled shirt, with messy hair and dark circles under his eyes.
The moment Jiang Yubai saw Shang Shixu, a barely perceptible tension flashed in his eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
"Let's see if you're dead yet."
Shang Shixu put his phone back in his pocket.
Jiang Yubai's lips twitched, his tone neither warm nor cold.
"Still alive."
"Since you're alive, why didn't you answer the door when your father sent someone to knock?"
"I didn't hear you."
Shang Shixu frowned, disbelieving this explanation.
"Didn't you hear me, or do you just not want to turn it on?"
"I don't want to be disturbed."
Shang Shixu coldly scoffed.
"If you don't want to be disturbed, move to the deep mountains and forests and live a primitive life."
"Don't let Grandpa and your dad, two middle-aged and elderly people, worry about things unnecessarily."
Jiang Yubai: "..."
Seeing his terrible condition, Shang Shixu, deciding that since he was already there, decided to go in and take a look.
Make sure he isn't taking any medication or doing anything else.
However, as soon as he lifted his foot, the other person quickly put his hand on the door frame and blocked his way with his whole body.
The panic in his eyes flashed by in an instant.
Shang Shixu's thin lips curled up.
We absolutely have to go in and take a look.
He pushed him aside and forcefully barged in.
"you--"
Jiang Yubai's voice caught in his throat, and he could only watch helplessly as he walked in.
Shang Shixu looked around the living room, trying to find something amiss, but after searching, everything seemed normal.
Jiang Yubai strode over and dismissed him.
"We've seen it all, if there's nothing else, let's go out."
Just as Shang Shixu was about to leave, a gust of wind blew in from the window.
"Whoosh—"
The drawing paper on the table was blown to the ground.
Shang Shixu looked in the direction of the sound, and his pupils contracted!
His cold, fierce gaze fixed on Jiang Yubai.
The latter felt a chill run down his spine and froze on the spot.
"...I can explain..."