SFL Chapter 28

“Let’s make the decision now. What if you find something else later?” Gu Zhenzhen hesitated.

She really liked this ruby, but she might find something else later. What should they do then?

“Do we need to keep shopping even after buying everything?” There was a hint of confusion in Nan Jinchen’s eyes.

He quickly proposed a solution, “Just buy it when the time comes. No need to overthink.”

“No, engagement rings carry significant meaning. We can only choose one.” Gu Zhenzhen insisted.

Nan Jinchen, somewhat troubled, asked, “What do you think we should do?”

“Let’s take another look,” Gu Zhenzhen suggested eagerly.

“Excuse me, customers. This ruby is exclusive to our store. Other stores focus on sapphires and emeralds. If you like this ruby, you don’t need to check elsewhere,” the jewelry store clerk interrupted.

Nan Jinchen unconsciously sighed in relief, saying, “I think this ruby is perfect. Don’t you feel it naturally belongs to you?”

“It was never meant for me. It’s all thanks to your wealth,” Gu Zhenzhen remarked.

Fate means nothing without money.

However, Gu Zhenzhen also sensed Nan Jinchen’s intention to make her stay. Does he also favor this ruby?

“Yes, I brought enough money today. You and the ring are destined for each other,” Nan Jinchen smiled, seating Gu Zhenzhen and quickly sketching a beautiful design on paper.

“Is this the ring design?” The store clerk looked surprised.

Unlike traditional rings, the drawn design unfolded like a flower, complemented by the ruby, resembling a blooming red rose. Imagining a beautiful bride wearing it, the scene captivated the store staff and Gu Zhenzhen.

Her wavering heart immediately solidified, and she decided, “This one.” What made her even happier was Nan Jinchen’s sincere gesture.

Nan Jinchen couldn’t help but show a relieved smile, quickly masking it, and asked the clerk, “Can you make it?”

The clerk said, “Please wait, let me check with our jewelry designer.”

Soon, the clerk gave Nan Jinchen a precise answer, “It can be made. If you’re in a hurry, we can expedite it for you. With the craftsmanship fee, it will total exactly 10.1 million.”

10.1 million, symbolizing one heart and one commitment.

After Nan Jinchen paid the deposit, the jewelry store staff began measuring the ring size for Gu Zhenzhen. Once the size was determined, the processing of the ruby could commence.

With the main task done, Nan Jinchen started browsing wedding rings in the store.

The styles of wedding rings in pairs were simpler, mainly designed for everyday wear after marriage. After circling the counter, Nan Jinchen chose a pair of simple yet elegant rings with colored gemstones.

The rings featured a blue sapphire on one and a ruby on the other, with the option to engrave on the ring band.

However, the in-stock rings that matched the sizes of both Nan Jinchen and Gu Zhenzhen were not available and needed to be customized.

The price was quite fitting for the romantic occasion: 334,400 yuan.

“Let’s engrave our initials,” Gu Zhenzhen suggested.

GZ&NJ.

After finalizing the details, Nan Jinchen swiped his card and paid the deposit, thinking the matter was settled. However, as they exited the jewelry store, Gu Zhenzhen pulled him to another one.

“What else do we need to buy?” Nan Jinchen wondered.

“We’ve already made purchases. This time, we’re just looking,” Gu Zhenzhen happily explained.

Just looking, not buying… these words echoed in Nan Jinchen’s mind repeatedly.

“They’re coming out,” said Shen Baiyi’s roommate.

Shen Baiyi, now lacking the initial confidence, couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss knowing that Nan Jinchen and his girlfriend had progressed to choosing wedding rings. After all, her admiration for him was limited to imagining a romantic relationship; marriage seemed too distant.

In a moment, Shen Baiyi saw the clear distinction between their two worlds. It wasn’t about financial differences but about their life stages. She was still navigating the uncertainties of university life and future careers, while Nan Jinchen was ready to step into marriage and take on the responsibilities of a family.

Like the gap between a child and an adult, there was a significant difference that she couldn’t bridge just by thinking about it or striving to catch up.

Strangely, she didn’t feel overly disappointed; perhaps deep down, she never expected anything more between them.

“Thank you for accompanying me today. To repay your kindness, I’ll treat you tonight,” Shen Baiyi said with a smile to her roommate.

Her roommate cheered and pounced on Shen Baiyi, saying, “Great, I’ll definitely treat you to a feast.”

The two girls walked hand in hand towards happiness.

In another jewelry store, Nan Jinchen’s face remained calm, but his mind lacked the pride he had in the first store.

It was like feeling lost after achieving a goal.

Although Gu Zhenzhen was looking at jewelry, she didn’t forget about Nan Jinchen and keenly sensed his silence.

“What’s wrong? Don’t like shopping?” Gu Zhenzhen asked, feeling a bit awkward.

“No, I just don’t understand the fun of shopping. It feels like a waste of time,” Nan Jinchen honestly replied.

Gu Zhenzhen chuckled, “Shopping is meant to pass the time. Roaming around, admiring beautiful things, buying a few items, and the day passes by.”

“Our mind can be quite tense during work. Coming out to shop during breaks and not thinking about anything, can help relax and relieve stress.”

“But you’re different from me, with not much leisure time. Next time, let’s choose a quiet place for our date,” Gu Zhenzhen suggested considerately.

However, a hint of invisible confusion flashed in Nan Jinchen’s eyes. What if his way of relaxing was through work?

To be precise, having a clear goal, striving for it, and achieving a sense of accomplishment relaxed him more than anything else.

Gu Zhenzhen didn’t know what her fiancé was thinking, and she wasn’t aware that he was essentially a workaholic.

Seeing Nan Jinchen uncomfortable with shopping, Gu Zhenzhen took him to a tea house and asked about his interests.

Nan Jinchen answered, “Work.”

“What about besides work?”

“Well, charity work.” Charity could translate into merit, making it one of the best ways to accumulate merits.

Gu Zhenzhen didn’t know the true purpose behind Nan Jinchen’s charity work. Following his words, she thought, “I heard there will be a charity auction in our city soon. Would you participate? If you go, I’ll join too.”

“A charity auction,” Nan Jinchen lightly smiled, saying, “I don’t plan to donate money to the auction because I don’t know if that money will truly reach its intended destination. They provide a clear facade, but the depths inside are murky.”

Charity, if it doesn’t truly help those in need, no matter how much money is donated or how good the reputation sounds, it doesn’t mean much.

“You can’t get any merits, and you might even lose some.” Nan Jinchen continued.

“But if we don’t donate money to charity organizations, how can we contribute to charity?” Gu Zhenzhen asked with some confusion.

“Have you forgotten our country? That’s the largest charity organization. Giving money to the country is much better than handing it over to those privately-run charity organizations with unclear details,” Nan Jinchen explained.

“But, if we give it to the country, how much money do we need to donate?” Compared to the country, a small charity auction is like a tiny stone.

Donating millions at a charity auction would be widely reported and praised, but the funds needed for an entire country are undoubtedly massive. If the amount of money from a charity auction is too little, it wouldn’t even cause a ripple in the vastness of the country. If it’s too small, it might not even trouble the country, this gigantic entity.

And since Nan Jinchen mentioned it, it implies he intends to donate a substantial amount.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let the quality of our post-marriage life decline,” Nan Jinchen assured Gu Zhenzhen.

After all, despite the merits, he wouldn’t compromise his wife’s well-being.

Gu Zhenzhen blushed slightly, “Who’s worried about that.”

She never lacked money since birth, and this issue didn’t cross her mind earlier.

“Since you’ve decided, I’ll definitely support you,” Gu Zhenzhen whispered, her face becoming increasingly red.

This statement was like a confession, and Nan Jinchen smiled, “I won’t let you down.”

Gu Zhenzhen blushed even more, as if she were on fire.

After finishing tea, Nan Jinchen escorted Gu Zhenzhen home. After bidding her farewell at the doorstep, seeing it was still early, he went back to the office.

On his desk, Lin Mi had already organized the documents. Apart from some scheming, Lin Mi’s capabilities were indeed solid.

However, Nan Jinchen couldn’t understand why, despite being capable on her own, Lin Mi always tried to take shortcuts.

“Mr. Nan, why are you back?” Lin Mi asked in surprise.

“How was your date with your fiancée?” Lin Mi subtly inquired about the news.

“Of course, it went very well,” Nan Jinchen replied.

Now Lin Mi was puzzled. Since the date went well, shouldn’t Mr. Nan take advantage of the good atmosphere and follow up with something romantic, like a candlelit dinner?

After the dinner, they could naturally proceed to a more intimate encounter. The last thing she expected was to find him in the office. What’s going on? He surely isn’t suggesting an office play, right?

Nan Jinchen had no idea his secretary’s mind was running wild with thoughts of romance. He asked Lin Mi to bring more documents, giving off an appearance of working overtime.

Compared to most CEO’s who merely earned a fixed salary working for companies, Nan Jinchen was a true CEO. His father, a director of the Nan family conglomerate, held numerous shares, and Nan Jinchen, as his son, also had a considerable stake. Therefore, Nan Jinchen was essentially working for himself.

Earning money for himself made Nan Jinchen naturally enthusiastic, especially considering his desires for merits, taking care of his wife, and planning for future children.

Just as Nan Jinchen immersed himself in various data, his phone suddenly rang. It was a call from home.

“Jinchen, I heard you and Zhenzhen went to choose rings together today. How did it go? Have you made a decision?” Nan’s mother asked with concern.

“We’ve made our choice, and it’s currently in the process of being made. It won’t be long before it’s delivered,” Nan Jinchen replied.

“Where are you now?”

“I’m at the office,” Nan Jincheng said.

“You’re at the office?! Why are you at the office?” Nan’s mother exclaimed in shock.

“Mom, if I’m not at the office, where else would I be?” Nan Jinchen found it strange.

“You didn’t even invite Zhenzhen for a meal. Such a great opportunity to deepen your relationship,” Nan’s mother commented.

“We had lunch together, and then we discussed our future plans, gaining a better understanding of each other,” Nan Jinchen expressed satisfaction with today’s date.

However, Nan’s mother sensed a lack of enthusiasm and said, “Let your dad talk to you.”

The voice on the other end changed, and Nan Jinchen listened quietly. Then he heard Nan’s father say, “Your mom’s point is, when can we have a grandchild?”

Nan Jinchen: !!!