Luxury stores were a world apart for Zeng Yu, something he barely understood.
But today, Zeng Yu walked into a Chanel boutique. He was wearing baggy shorts and a T-shirt of some unknown brand, with a pair of flip-flops on his feet, as he entered the store where Xiao Xiao had often lingered, reluctant to leave.
There was something Zeng Yu hadn’t told Jiang Nan. After reflecting on everything, while Xiao Xiao’s betrayal was unforgivable, he had come to realize that not everyone could endure poverty. The future was uncertain, but Zeng Yu knew he had to work hard and fight for it.
Seeing Zeng Yu enter, a saleswoman approached him. “How can I assist you today?”
Zeng Yu smiled and said, “It’s my girlfriend’s birthday, and I want to get her a small gift. Maybe something like jewelry.”
The saleswoman gestured, “Please, follow me, and let’s take a look over here.”
Zeng Yu stopped in front of a counter displaying several bracelet designs that immediately caught his eye. Jiang Nan had beautiful hands, usually adorned with just a wristwatch, and no other jewelry. Zeng Yu spotted a bracelet he thought would suit Jiang Nan perfectly. He glanced at the price and then checked his phone for the recent bank transfer notification.
Wang Zheng, that guy, hadn’t transferred just 10,000 yuan as Zeng Yu had asked, but 100,000 yuan.
In the end, Zeng Yu gritted his teeth and pointed to a platinum and diamond bracelet. “I’ll take this one.”
Jiang Nan had taken a nap, and when she woke up and didn’t see Zeng Yu, she mumbled to herself, “Did he go back to work again?”
Turning around, she noticed a note on the nightstand, weighed down by a bracelet. Jiang Nan picked it up and read the words: “Happy Birthday, and may you always stay young.”
Jiang Nan wasn’t unfamiliar with this line of bracelets; she knew exactly how much it cost.
Where did Zeng Yu get the money to buy something so expensive? Could he have been hiding some private savings?
Jiang Nan walked out of the bedroom to find Zeng Yu busy at his computer in the living room. She quietly came up behind him and hugged him. “Working again?”
Zeng Yu turned and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Just finishing up so we can enjoy the evening.”
“How much did that bracelet cost?” Jiang Nan asked, already calculating how much he might downplay the cost.
“It wasn’t much, a little over six thousand. As long as you like it, that’s what matters. I hadn’t given you a gift before, so I wanted to fulfill that wish for your birthday.” Zeng Yu lied with a straight face.
Jiang Nan thought to herself, *As if I don’t know.* But she said out loud, “I think I saw this bracelet at a Chanel boutique.”
“It’s a knockoff.” Zeng Yu bluffed without hesitation.
Jiang Nan turned her face away, trying to suppress a smile.
“Knockoffs are getting so sophisticated these days; it looks just like the real thing. Here, put it on me.” Jiang Nan extended her wrist, and Zeng Yu, fumbling a bit, put the bracelet on her.
The happiness on Jiang Nan’s face was impossible to hide. She looked up at Zeng Yu.
“It’s getting late, you still need to go home for dinner, and there’s the event tonight.” Zeng Yu reminded her, unintentionally breaking the mood. Jiang Nan just held him tighter by the neck.
An hour later, Zeng Yu dropped Jiang Nan off at her apartment complex.
“There are clothes in your wardrobe, make sure you change into them before you go. I’ll take a cab and meet you there.” Jiang Nan, now relaxed, completely forgot that they were standing at the entrance to her luxurious, high-end apartment complex.
Zeng Yu watched her walk away with a smile before letting out a gentle sigh.
Things seemed to be getting complicated. Love and marriage were two different things. The phrase “well-matched in social status” might sound cliché, but it was often true. At least, that’s what Zeng Yu believed.
“Qing bu fu wo, wo bi bu fu qing.” Zeng Yu murmured to himself as he gazed at the entrance to the apartment complex.
Jiang Nan, with a face full of happiness, kept looking down at her wrist.
This birthday gift might very well have cost Zeng Yu everything he had. Isn’t it a kind of happiness to have someone who is willing to give you everything?
“Oh, finally back?” Han Jiayi’s tone was less than friendly when she saw Jiang Nan.
Ever since her daughter started dating, her parents’ status in her life had plummeted.
“What? I came home, didn’t I?” Jiang Nan pouted.
“Jiang Ziliu, come out and see what your daughter looks like now.” Han Jiayi said this while scanning around, as if ready to grab a knife to go after the brat who had taken her daughter away.
Jiang Ziliu emerged from the kitchen, wearing an apron, and after glancing at Jiang Nan, he smiled. “Why make such a fuss? She’s fine.” He then returned to the kitchen.
Jiang Nan made a funny face at Han Jiayi. “Dad’s the best.”
“I’ll smack you, you brat!” Han Jiayi jumped up, pretending to chase her.
Jiang Nan quickly held her back. “Careful, don’t hurt your back.”
Han Jiayi sat down again, tapping Jiang Nan on the forehead. “You… never mind. It’s your birthday today, I’ll let it go.”
Jiang Nan giggled as she sat down, but suddenly felt dizzy, swaying a little.
The sway scared Han Jiayi, who quickly held her by the shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Nan shook her head with a smile. “Nothing, just didn’t get enough rest, feeling a bit dizzy.”
But Han Jiayi wasn’t reassured. “No, that’s not right. You’re too young to be getting dizzy. You need to go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow, and I’ll go with you.”
“Mom, I have so much to do right now, where do I have the time to go to the hospital for a check-up?”
Seeing that Jiang Nan didn’t want to go, Han Jiayi raised her voice. “Jiang Ziliu, get out here! Your daughter isn’t listening to me at all.”
Jiang Ziliu had to come out again. He wiped his hands and sat down across from them. “Alright, I’m the judge now. What’s the issue?”
Han Jiayi explained, “This brat felt dizzy just now, and I told her to go for a check-up tomorrow, but she’s refusing.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ziliu’s expression turned serious as he looked at Jiang Nan. “Nan Nan, I’m siding with your mom on this one. Your health comes first, everything else is secondary. Tomorrow, you must go for a check-up. I’ll arrange the doctor.”
Jiang Nan had to relent. “Alright, fine, I’ll go tomorrow afternoon.”
Back at the old house, Zeng Yu opened the wardrobe and found a set of men’s clothes. He took them out and carefully examined the label, then opened his computer to search for it. It didn’t take long for him to find the answer.
After confirming, he felt even heavier inside. Zeng Yu didn’t want to use the word “lie” but he had a feeling that Jiang Nan hadn’t been completely honest with him about many things.
Finally, he murmured to himself, “If that day ever comes, I’ll let go. I won’t make things hard for you.”
After eating some takeout and confirming over the phone that Jiang Nan had left, Zeng Yu changed into the clothes and left as well.
Clothes make the man, and Zeng Yu looked dashing as he stood outside the club.
Jiang Nan hadn’t arrived yet, so Zeng Yu didn’t hurry inside. Not long after, a Porsche pulled up in front of him, and Yuan Lei, wearing sunglasses, whistled. “Wow, what a handsome guy!”
Jiang Nan, sitting in the passenger seat, shouted, “You rogue! You’ve got someone already.”
As Jiang Nan got out of the car, she wore a black headband with white flowers, a white floral dress, and pink pointed heels. It was the first time Zeng Yu had seen her dressed like this.
Seeing Zeng Yu staring at her, Jiang Nan twirled around. “How do I look?”
“Elegant, radiant.” Zeng Yu answered sincerely.
Jiang Nan proudly linked her arm with his. “Let’s go!”
The private room was large and filled with people, including six women Zeng Yu had never met before.
Jiang Nan introduced Zeng Yu to everyone, and he smiled as he shook hands with each of them, but couldn’t remember a single name afterward.
Yuan Lei called out, “Opportunities for us to get together will become fewer and fewer. Tonight, let’s go crazy, no one leaves sober. The red wine is breathing, but let’s start with whiskey.”
Jiang Nan playfully slapped her. “What are you trying to do? If any of you try to get Zeng Yu drunk, you’ll have to deal with me.”
“Everyone heard that, right? She hasn’t even married him yet, and she’s already this protective.” Yuan Lei rallied the others.
Zeng Yu stood by with a smile, not saying a word. It was Jiang Nan’s birthday, and if getting drunk would make everyone happy, then so be it.
“Hey handsome, this way the party won’t be any fun!” The other women chimed in to back Yuan Lei.
“Hey, handsome, what do you think?” One of them directed the attention to Zeng Yu.
Zeng Yu shrugged. “Whatever makes everyone happy. I’ll do my best to keep up.”
Jiang Nan looked back and said, “These women are up to no good.”
Zeng Yu smiled, “It’s alright, even if I get drunk, I have you to take me home.”
Jiang Nan was about to say something more, but Yuan Lei pulled her away, and soon, the women surrounded Zeng Yu.
“Since it’s Jiang Nan’s birthday, you should drink some on her behalf, right?” One woman opened the whiskey, poured a glass, and pushed it toward Zeng Yu.
Zeng Yu didn’t rush to drink. Instead, he smiled and said, “I don’t mind drinking, but I can’t be the only one, can I?”
“Who would’ve thought, this handsome guy knows how to play the game.” she pretended to be surprised and poured herself half a glass. “I’ll drink with you.”
Zeng Yu raised his hand and stopped her. “No rush. Drinking is fine, but if I’m drinking a full glass, so should you. Half a glass doesn’t count.”
“A full glass it is!” The woman filled her glass. “How about now?”
Zeng Yu kept smiling, “You have your rules, and I have mine. We can’t just follow yours, can we?”
Seeing Zeng Yu still smiling, the women’s expressions changed.
“Jiang Nan, where did you find this guy? A seasoned player!”
Before Jiang Nan could reply, Yuan Lei spoke up. “You all have seen him before. He used to work at my bar. Today, he’s just in different clothes, with longer hair, and you didn’t even recognize him. You were trying to trick him—how embarrassing.”
“Oh, it’s him! I didn’t recognize him. The difference between him in these clothes and with this hairstyle is too big!”
Yuan Lei clapped her hands. “Alright, let’s not forget we’re here to celebrate Jiang Nan’s birthday.”
Jiang Nan, sitting close to Zeng Yu, grumbled, “You’re too honest.”
Zeng Yu wrapped an arm around her shoulders and smiled, “It’s a birthday party. It’s supposed to be fun and lively. If everyone just sits around playing on their phones, would you enjoy that?”
After speaking, Zeng Yu stood up. “Today is Jiang Nan’s birthday. I’ll drink a few glasses with everyone on her behalf.” He picked up his glass.
The group quickly filled their glasses, but Zeng Yu smiled and said, “Not all at once. I’ll toast each of you individually, to thank you for being here.”
Zeng Yu looked at Yuan Lei. “President Yuan, back when I was working for you, thank you for looking out for me. So this first glass is for you. I’ll finish it, and you can drink as much as you want.” With that, he downed his glass.
Yuan Lei held her glass and sighed, “As a boss, I couldn’t let my staff get bullied. I’ll finish this glass too.”
Zeng Yu then went on to toast all seven of them, each time with a full glass, showing sincere respect. Finally, he stood in front of Jiang Nan, holding up his glass with a smile. “What should we say?”
Jiang Nan, feeling concerned, took the glass from his hand. “Sit down and catch your breath.”
Zeng Yu’s alcohol tolerance was decent, but after drinking seven glasses in quick succession, his throat and stomach felt like they were on fire, and sweat was dripping from his forehead.
Seeing Jiang Nan’s concern, Zeng Yu sat down as she suggested and took a moment to recover.
The women were pros at creating a lively atmosphere. With no more thoughts of getting Zeng Yu drunk, the party became much more fun.
Some sang, others played dice, some chatted, and time flew by in the lively atmosphere.
Suddenly, the room went dark with a “pop.” Candlelight appeared at the door as a cake, carefully carried by a server, was brought into the room on a cart.
Everyone sang the birthday song, and Jiang Nan, sitting in the center, beamed with joy as she watched the candles flicker.
After blowing out the candles, the lights came back on. Jiang Nan cut the cake and served a slice to everyone. Just as she put the knife down, seven hands simultaneously smeared frosting all over Zeng Yu’s face, covering it completely.
After a round of playful chaos, things finally calmed down.
A group of women went to the restroom to touch up their makeup. Yuan Lei pulled out a room keycard and slipped it into Jiang Nan’s hand. “Don’t say your big sister doesn’t take care of you. This is the presidential suite at the Shangri-La, paid for by all the sisters. Enjoy a good night’s rest.”
“Thank you very much.” Jiang Nan held up the keycard and waved it.
Be my Patron ~ Buy me Ko-Fi
✨Be a part of the story – support my translations✨
✨Buy me some Ko-FI | Paypal to support my effort✨
✨✨Advance chapter at Patreon✨✨
