The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 73. Ring (Part 2) (Fourth update, PK for subscriptions)

Chapter 73: 73. Ring (Part 2) (Fourth update, PK for subscriptions)

Shen Xitong looked at Shen Qinglan with a face full of curiosity, as if she had just casually asked a question, and Chu Yunrong also turned her gaze towards Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan spoke indifferently, "I have already given my gift to Brother, and he will give it to Dad together." The original gift she had given to Shen Junyu, aside from a painting by Leng Qingqiu that was set to be auctioned, included another piece, one she had specially commissioned for Shen Qian—a landscape painting with Shen Qian’s name embedded within it, truly one-of-a-kind and crafted with ingenuity.

At that time, Shen Junyu was surprised for quite a while when he saw the painting. Shen Qinglan’s excuse was that she had paid a high price to have Leng Qingqiu paint it.

Because Shen Qinglan had mentioned that she knew a friend who was on good terms with Leng Qingqiu’s agent, Daniel, Shen Junyu had not been suspicious.

"Sister, what gift did you prepare for Daddy? Can you tell us first? We promise not to tell Daddy," Shen Xitong clearly did not want to let Shen Qinglan get away with a casual answer, but her feigned innocent curiosity made Shen Qinglan feel subtly nauseated.

Her eyebrows lightly furrowed, a chill flashed in her eyes, but it disappeared in an instant, "Just a painting by Leng Qingqiu."

The words "just a painting" made Shen Xitong’s face stiffen slightly. She had prepared a men’s watch, though valuable, could not compare to the rarity of Leng Qingqiu’s paintings. Moreover, it was well-known that Shen Qian liked Leng Qingqiu’s artworks, not only Shen Qian but also Chu Yunrong was fond of them, and the family had collected two pieces.

Chu Yunrong’s eyes lit up, "Qinglan, did you manage to buy a painting by Leng Qingqiu?"

Shen Qinglan nodded.

"Which one is it? A while ago, Leng Qingqiu’s ’Autumn’ was supposed to be auctioned off, but somehow they suddenly said it wasn’t for sale anymore. It’s not that one, is it?"

"No, it’s another new work. I have a friend who knows Leng Qingqiu’s agent, Daniel, and I asked him to buy it for me," Shen Qinglan replied, her tone cool and detached.

"Where is that painting now?" Chu Yunrong asked eagerly.

"Brother has put it away. If Mom likes it, I can ask someone to buy another piece for Mom’s birthday," Shen Qinglan said lightly, but her words sounded very harsh to Shen Xitong’s ears.

"Sister, it seems you have a good relationship with that agent. Others beg for something they can’t get, but you managed to buy it just by asking."

Shen Xitong spoke with a smile, everyone knew how difficult it was to acquire a painting by Leng Qingqiu—many sought connections to request paintings and were rejected. She herself had not refrained from trying before, in the end, to no avail; she had not even met Daniel, let alone Leng Qingqiu. She did not believe Shen Qinglan could so easily purchase a painting by Leng Qingqiu, her current claim was likely just an attempt to slap Shen Qinglan in the face.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan slightly curved her lips, "It’s decent enough, knowing that I wanted to buy it to show respect for the elders, and it wasn’t for any commercial purpose, they naturally agreed."

Chu Yunrong was also surprised by Shen Qinglan’s connections, but even happier. The more outstanding people her daughter knew, the happier she, as a mother, would be. All these years, Shen Qinglan had been reluctant to appear in public, and Chu Yunrong did have some opinions about it, but the family elders had said to let Shen Qinglan live according to her wishes, so she did not insist.

Shen Xitong’s eyes darkened, and when she raised her head again, her expression had returned to calm, "I also really like Leng Qingqiu’s work. I don’t know if sister could help me buy one too?"

Shen Qinglan glanced at her, her eyes cold. Shen Xitong stiffened under her gaze but met Shen Qinglan’s eyes head-on, "Sister, are you unwilling?"

"Favors are a thing that the more you use, the less you have. Qinglan knows Daniel, but after all, she is not familiar with Leng Qingqiu, and it is not suitable to keep troubling people, is that right, Mom?" Fu Hengyi, who had not spoken until then, spoke out before Shen Qinglan could, addressing Chu Yunrong.

Seeing Fu Hengyi stepping in to side with Shen Qinglan from the beginning, Shen Xitong felt an unpleasant feeling in her heart.

Chu Yunrong, after all, was a lady of a wealthy family, quite adept at social interactions, and she understood the logic clearly. She said with a smile, "Hengyi is right, we’ve just inconvenienced them, it’s not good to keep imposing like this."

Hearing this, Shen Xitong didn’t speak, her fingers white-knuckled around her chopsticks.

After dinner, Old Sir Shen still hadn’t returned. Shen Qinglan didn’t want to stay under the same roof as Shen Xitong, so she said goodbye to Chu Yunrong and went back to Jiangxin Garden with Fu Hengyi.

"I’m leaving in three days, and I probably won’t be able to return for a short period. I’m sorry I can’t take more time to spend with you. Is there anything in particular you’d like to do together?" Before sleep, Fu Hengyi, cradling his little wife in his arms, asked gently.

Shen Qinglan had already fallen asleep and hadn’t heard Fu Hengyi’s question. After waiting for a while with no response, Fu Hengyi looked down at Shen Qinglan and, seeing her peaceful sleeping face, couldn’t help but laugh softly.

He bent his head, planted a kiss on Shen Qinglan’s forehead, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, after having breakfast with Fu Hengyi, Shen Qinglan was pulled out by him. When she asked where they were going, he didn’t say, and Shen Qinglan didn’t ask further, trusting he wouldn’t sell her off.

When the car stopped, Shen Qinglan looked at the place. It was a jewelry store. Recalling last night’s matter of the ring, her beautiful eyes flickered with understanding.

Fu Hengyi led her inside, straight to the counter.

"What would you like to look at today?" the sales associate asked cordially, having regained her composure after her initial shock at seeing the couple’s appearance.

"My last name is Fu, I’ve come to collect a ring I had customized here," Fu Hengyi said calmly.

The sales associate immediately understood, "Mr. Fu, please wait a moment, your item is in the safe. I’ll get it for you now." She looked at Fu Hengyi, waiting for his nod before leaving.

In a short while, the sales associate came back holding a small box, which she carefully placed on the counter and gestured for them to see.

Fu Hengyi opened the box and presented it to Shen Qinglan, "Do you like it?"

Shen Qinglan’s gaze fell on the ring in front of her. The style was simple and elegant, with a thin band, but at the top was a perfectly cut pink diamond, not large, yet surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds, encircling the pink gem like stars around the moon.

Shen Qinglan picked up the ring for a closer look, "It’s beautiful."

Feeling irregularities on the inside of the ring, she looked closer and saw a row of small English letters, a combination of their names.

Fu Hengyi took the ring from her hand, but instead of placing it on Shen Qinglan’s finger, he pointed to the counter, chose a platinum chain, threaded the ring onto it, and then put the necklace around Shen Qinglan’s neck.

Shen Qinglan looked at him quizzically, having thought he would put it on her finger.

"Knowing you don’t want others to know you’re married yet, wearing it around your neck keeps it hidden from view."

Shen Qinglan smiled warmly, her eyes tender. He was a very attentive man.