This was a loose diamond.
About half the size of a fingernail, with excellent clarity and cut.
Under the light, every facet reflected a brilliant white shine.
From a professional standpoint, the culet of this diamond was nearly perfect.
As everyone knows, if the culet is too small it gets worn easily, too big and it affects the fire.
As for the price…
A conservative estimate would be seven figures.
Jiang Fuyue held it in her hand, examining it from all angles with interest: “Why give a diamond?”
“Hard and pure, like you.”
It didn’t need to be set in a ring, nor hung on a necklace. Even as a single piece, it could shine brilliantly.
Xie Dingyuan took one look and set his heart on it. After a great deal of trouble, he bought it from a rough-stone dealer in Continent F.
“Was it expensive?” Jiang Fuyue asked.
He smiled: “Compared to you, it’s cheap.”
“Then I’ll reluctantly accept it.”
Xie Dingyuan pinched her fingers: “I’ll buy you even better ones in the future.”
“Tsk, such a spendthrift.”
“Don’t worry,” the man leaned toward her ear, “I can’t spend it all. Supporting you is more than easy.”
Before Jiang Fuyue could speak, suddenly, a dog bark sounded—
“Woof!”
It turned out the Little Mang, after finishing his snacks, had started picking on Xie Dingyuan again.
Especially because he was standing so close to Jiang Fuyue, his mouth nearly touching her ear. How was the dog supposed to tolerate that? “Woof woof——”
Xie Dingyuan wrapped an arm around Jiang Fuyue’s waist and complained pitifully: “It bared its teeth at me.”
Little Mang: “Woof?”
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
“Little Mang, be good, don’t make noise.”
The dog whimpered, ran over with little pattering steps, and lay obediently at Jiang Fuyue’s feet, its rear pointed directly at Xie Dingyuan.
Jiang Fuyue asked him: “How long can you stay this time?”
The man paused: “…Leaving in the morning.”
He arrived this evening, and tomorrow early morning he had to leave. Total time on the ground wouldn’t even exceed twelve hours!
At least during the military training he had stayed a whole day. This time, not even half a day.
Jiang Fuyue wanted to ask if he was crazy, coming back for such a short time but the words reached her lips and still wouldn’t come out.
After a long moment: “…Are you stupid?”
The man laughed lowly, his palm stroking her side waist: “I’m willing.”
“Tell me, does this count as wasting national resources?”
He frowned: “What does this have to do with national resources?”
“Professor Xie’s hands, which should be used for experiments, ended up helping me hold a cake. Isn’t that wasteful?”
“Experiments must be done, cakes must be held. And of course—” his voice suddenly deepened, arms sweeping around her, “waists must also be held.”
Jiang Fuyue: “……” Does anyone else know you’re this kind of Professor Xie?
As if reading her mind, Xie Dingyuan said: “Don’t worry, only you’ve seen it.”
…
In the foyer, seeing off the last guest, Han Shen let out a long breath.
Han Ke sagged his shoulders and loosened his tie: “Finally, they’re all gone…”
Han Heng’s legs were weak as he collapsed onto the sofa like a flower beaten limp by a storm.
Meanwhile, the old man, leaning on his cane, was full of energy.
The smile on his face hadn’t faded all night, and his lips were still curled upward.
“Huh? Where’s my good girl?” Han Qishan looked around.
“She went back to her room, probably?”
Han Heng waved a hand: “I just went up. The room’s empty.”
“Maybe she’s in the garden getting some air.”
At that moment, a dog bark sounded, quite loudly—
“Woof woof! Woof woof woof!”
Han Ke: “Weird, why is Little Mang barking so much tonight?”
Han Heng: “He is? How come I didn’t hear anything?”
Han Ke curled his lip: “Your ears are basically decorative.”
“Tsk… just talk, don’t make it personal.”
Han Shen frowned: “Old Two, have you been hearing it nonstop?”
“Not nonstop. It started after Yueyue came back to cut the cake.”
“Something’s off. Come on, let’s check the back garden—”
“What?” Han Heng shot up. “Wait, I’m coming too!”
…
The four of them headed to the back garden.
The night wind blew through the empty pavilion. Lanterns hanging from the eaves swayed gently, their tassels drifting softly, light and airy.
Little Mang lay on the stone table, front legs folded, chin on his paws, tail circling lazily, looking perfectly well-behaved.
Han Heng scratched his head: “Old Two, you’re sure it was him barking?”
“Who else?! Does our neighborhood have other dogs?”
“Hmm… true…”
Han Ke: Idiot.
While the two bickered, Han Shen had already made a loop around the garden.
“Yueyue was here.”
“Huh?” Han Heng looked around. “How can you tell?”
“She fed Little Mang dog food and snacks. The packaging is still here.”
The old man: “But where’s my good girl?”
“Oh— I know!” Han Heng’s eyes widened and he clapped his hands. “She must have been lured away by those brats!”
His words stunned the other three.
Han Qishan: “What brats?”
Han Ke: “From where?”
Han Shen: “Did you see them with your own eyes?”
Han Heng instantly spilled everything, rattling out the earlier encounter in the garden with Jiang Fuyue and Li Chen’s group.
“…And two of them even gave Yueyue gifts.”
“Good! How dare they set their sights on Yueyue! I’ll beat those little punks to death!” Han Qishan began swinging his cane as he spoke.
“Dad, calm down—”
“Where’s my phone? Call the Li’s, the Liang’s, who were the other two?”
Han Heng whispered: “…Gu and Cheng.”
“Right, call them! Ask where they took my good girl! Tell them to bring her back immediately or don’t blame me for being rude!”
Han Shen, after a moment of thought, actually took out his phone.
Just as he was about to dial—
“Uncle.”
Jiang Fuyue pushed open a window and leaned out from the second floor. “Why are you all in the garden?”
Uh!
Han Ke: “Yueyue, you were in your room?”
“Of course.”
The three men simultaneously turned accusing eyes on Han Heng—
So much for “the room is empty”?
“Uncle, who are you calling?”
Han Shen silently put his phone away. “No need now.”
Then he dragged Han Heng back toward the house.
“Big Brother, let me explain, I really didn’t see—”
Han Ke rushed after them, too eager to watch the show.
Han Qishan looked up, all his earlier anger gone, replaced with warmth: “It’s getting late, good girl, rest early.”
“You too.”
“Eh~”
The commotion dispersed into nothing.
As for Han Heng…
Jiang Fuyue gave a sorry look, then quietly closed the window.
The next second, her slender waist was caught by two big hands, perfectly encircling the sides.
Her waist was so thin that his hands could almost touch.
A delicate grip, easily broken.
Then—
Xie Dingyuan pulled her away from the window, grabbed her waist, and lifted her straight onto the bed.
Among girls, Jiang Fuyue was already tall, 173 before, and in the past year she had grown another two centimeters, now 175. But in Xie Dingyuan’s hands, she was no different from a slightly larger doll.
He could carry her around effortlessly.
Yet he didn’t even look that muscular. Where did all that strength come from?
“They thought you got carried off by some brat.” Xie Dingyuan propped his hands on either side of her, leaning in, dark eyes deep.
“Yeah, carried off by you, this brat.” Jiang Fuyue leaned back, meeting his gaze.
He ignored that, counting calmly: “One surnamed Gu, one Liang, one Li, oh, and one surnamed Cheng.”
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
“They also gave you birthday gifts, a necklace and a bracelet.”
“How did you kno—” Jiang Fuyue stopped halfway, suddenly realizing, “You saw it?”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t answer. “The one named Liang even said he wanted to court you so everyone can rightfully call him brother-in-law. Tsk… Sister Yue really has great charm, huh?”
“I don’t know if I’m that charming, but your smell of jealousy is really strong.”
“Where’s the jealousy? Is there? How come I don’t know?” He still pretended.
Jiang Fuyue reached out her index finger and hooked the man’s collar. The bent knuckle brushed past his prominent Adam’s apple. Xie Dingyuan reacted as if struck by lightning, his whole body going rigid.
“But,” the girl hooked her lips in a smile, “it’s really so sour.”
The man’s gaze flickered, and his mouth instantly went dry.
Just when he was about to lean in and kiss her, Jiang Fuyue suddenly let go and leaned back, not giving him any chance to get close.
“Really thinking about those four wild boys?” He gave a snorting laugh and tugged at his collar in discomfort.
“Wild boys are great,” Jiang Fuyue counted on her fingers. “Young and handsome, innocent and simple, clingy, come whenever you call. When you’re happy they laugh with you, when you’re unhappy they coax you to laugh. They carefully prepare gifts for every anniversary, take you to movies, accompany you for milk tea…”
“Ah! No wonder rich women love little puppies. Maybe I should also try— mm!”
Xie Dingyuan directly blocked that endlessly chattering little mouth. Feeling it wasn’t enough to vent his anger, he even bit her punitively.
“Mm!” Jiang Fuyue’s brows tightened sharply and she pushed at his chest in anger.
The man retreated slightly, but his hands still clasped her waist, refusing to let go.
“Are you a dog?” He actually bit her?!
“Still want to try?” The threat in his tone was unmistakable.
“That’s not the point! Don’t change the subject!”
Xie Dingyuan: “This is the point. Don’t think about changing the subject.”
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
“Say it. Do you still want wild boys?!” After speaking, he felt that wasn’t rigorous enough, so he added, “Or little wolfdogs?”
Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched.
The man’s hands tightened.
“Hiss—”
Xie Dingyuan heard her inhale sharply. Then he saw her brows knit together, her expression suddenly freezing. The next second, as if burned, he jerked his hands away.
“Did I pinch you too hard? I… I didn’t use much strength…” His tone grew unsteady, his expression flustered.
Jiang Fuyue furrowed her brows even deeper, faint tears welling in her eyes.
This scared the man badly: “I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. I didn’t think you…”
“Pft—” Jiang Fuyue held her stomach, her whole body trembling. “Hahahahaha…”
Xie Dingyuan: “?”
Two seconds later, he snapped in frustration: “Oh, great. You tricked me!”
But he was helpless.
After she laughed enough, Jiang Fuyue supported her waist, sat up, and lifted a hand to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
The man didn’t try to tease her now. He sat alone at the edge of the bed, head lowered, silent, like a big dog who’d been wronged and was sulking in secret.
Jiang Fuyue sighed softly. She hugged him from behind, arms looping over his shoulders, lips pressing to his warm neck, her voice soft and coaxing—
“Are you mad? Don’t be so petty. I admit I acted a little, but you really did pinch me, just not as exaggerated as I made it. If you don’t believe me, look…”
As she spoke, she lifted her hem. Halfway up, she suddenly realized she was wearing a dress.
“Anyway, it did hurt…”
The man’s brows softened. He steadied her waist with one hand, his warm palm rubbing gently.
“Sorry, I…”
Jiang Fuyue abruptly raised her hand and took the chance to wrap her arm around his neck. “No need to apologize. Just don’t be mad.”
“Who’s mad? I’m not…”
“And don’t be jealous.”
“Who’s jealous? Where?” He looked up at the ceiling.
Jiang Fuyue spoke each word distinctly, as if making a solemn vow: “No wild boys, no little wolfdogs, only you.”
“Hmph! A woman’s mouth is a lying ghost.”
Jiang Fuyue sighed softly. This man was really hard to coax.
“How could little wolfdogs compare to you? Our Professor Xie is tall and handsome, upright and good-looking, not only rich and talented, but also highly intelligent.”
“Is that so?” He said coolly. “Little wolfdogs are young and handsome.”
“That’s called not fully grown.”
“And innocent and simple.”
“That’s called brainless.”
“And especially clingy, come when you call.”
Jiang Fuyue: “Distance creates beauty. Clinginess leads to breakups sooner or later.”
“And when you’re happy they laugh with you, when you’re unhappy they coax you?”
Jiang Fuyue coughed lightly: “Laughing too much causes wrinkles.”
“Then preparing gifts, watching movies, drinking milk tea?”
“What gift can compare to Professor Xie’s loose diamond? Whoever wants to watch movies can watch them. Whoever wants milk tea can drink it. I don’t like it anyway.”
“Mm.” Jiang Fuyue nodded seriously and repeated, “Don’t like it.”
Only then did Xie Dingyuan smile.
But the upward curve of his lips was quickly pressed down by force. “You mean it?”
“Of course!”
“Then you’re not allowed to wear the necklace and bracelet they gave you.”
Jiang Fuyue nodded promptly: “I never liked wearing those anyway.” Not only did they interfere with lab work, but taking them on and off was troublesome.
But the next second, Xie Dingyuan: “If they’re from me, you won’t wear them either?”
Uh!
“Really won’t wear them?” he pressed.
Jiang Fuyue instantly straightened her expression. “How could that be? Gifts from you aren’t the same as gifts from others.”
“Hmph! That’s more like it.”
Childish Yuanyuan, online and tsundere.
Jiang Fuyue wiped her forehead. Finally coaxed him.
“Are you still leaving tonight?”
“Don’t want to leave.”
After saying it, he cautiously added, “Is that okay?”
Jiang Fuyue couldn’t bear to see him running around so much. “Then go take a shower.”
The man’s eyes lit up: “Where do I sleep?”
“There.” Jiang Fuyue patted the bed. “I’ll give you half.”
…
That night, everything was silent.
The two had already showered, lying flat on the bed, each occupying half, some distance between them.
Fortunately, the bed was big enough so it didn’t feel cramped.
Suddenly—
Xie Dingyuan: “Can I move a little closer?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Why?”
“Want to hold you.”
“Can I refuse?”
“No.” After speaking, he flipped over, pulled her into his arms, and held her.
Pressed against the man’s warm chest, Jiang Fuyue mumbled, “Then why did you ask?”
“I was just being polite. Making a token gesture.”
“…”
Xie Dingyuan: “Sleep.”
“Mm.” Jiang Fuyue found a comfortable position in his arms, closed her eyes. “Goodnight.”
The man lowered his head and placed a soft kiss at the corner of her eye. “Goodnight, Yueyue.”
That night, the two slept in each other’s arms.
She didn’t know if it was because the banquet was too exhausting, or because Xie Dingyuan’s embrace was too steady, but Jiang Fuyue slept exceptionally deeply and sweetly.
When she woke up, the sky was already bright, and the pillow beside her no longer held any warmth.
He was gone.
Last time at the Xiyong training field, at least she had seen the helicopter taking off and could watch him leave. This time, she didn’t even know when he left.
Jiang Fuyue got up and walked to the vanity. The white box sat neatly on top.
Opening it, the diamond reflected dazzling brilliance in the sunlight, silently proving that he had come in the dead of night, traveling thousands of miles back home to celebrate her birthday.
Jiang Fuyue opened a drawer to put it away, only to find the two Cartier boxes originally inside completely gone.
Tsk…
Childish!
She thought she had coaxed him fully yesterday. She didn’t expect him to still be soaking in a vat of jealousy!
…
After washing up, Jiang Fuyue went downstairs for breakfast.
After breakfast, she prepared to return to school.
The old man: “Leaving already? Stay and rest two more days.”
Han Heng nodded: “Exactly. You’re already here.”
He was up unusually early today.
After getting scolded harshly by Han Shen yesterday, he didn’t dare sleep in today.
But Jiang Fuyue still insisted.
The old man had no choice but to agree: “…Then let the family driver take you. Bring the changed bedsheets too. Since you’re lazy about changing them, might as well bring a maid along. The car is big enough.”
Jiang Fuyue refused the maid but accepted the driver.
Han Qishan: “Alright, alright, whatever you want.”
“Eh? Yueyue, what’s wrong with behind your ear?”
Jiang Fuyue raised her hand to touch her ear, confused.
Han Heng: “Not the right side. The left. There’s a red mark. Did lipstick smear on you?”
He pulled a tissue, but it wouldn’t wipe off?
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