Chapter 613: 548 It seems that Mr. Zhongli is out of luck
"So, this time, can I take it that you are truly... determined?"
"Of course."
"You won’t change your mind again?"
"No."
Chinian’s face couldn’t hide her joy.
Zhongli Wuzhi looked at her, not knowing why she needed to be this happy.
She was such a clever and perceptive woman, deep in schemes; she surely knew that Lu Xiaoer still occupied his heart.
Even being the second choice, she was willing, she was still delighted.
Chinian...
It turns out, you really are a pitiful person.
That’s what Zhongli Wuzhi thought to himself.
"Having heard you say this today, I am truly relieved. There is something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"In a couple of days, my father and Brother Chiluo will come."
Zhongli Wuzhi narrowed his eyes,
"To... Anlin?"
Chinian nodded, her smile utterly radiant,
"Father and Brother Chiluo are coming specifically for our matter. If today... you had made another choice, then I would return to my country, and they wouldn’t come."
Of course, the person in your heart would disappear with my departure as well.
Chinian’s lips were spread wide, very much like a bride-to-be.
Zhongli Wuzhi looked at her.
"What’s wrong?"
Chinian blinked her innocent eyes, she looked at Zhongli Wuzhi and asked again.
"Nothing, it’s just that the matter is a bit sudden, and I am a bit surprised."
"If you feel it’s too abrupt, then I can speak with my father later and ask him not to come yet, until you feel the timing is right to invite them to Anlin; how does that sound?"
"..."
Her magnanimity, her display of understanding and composure.
If this was truly her genuine nature, if this was truly her heart, how marvelous that would be.
"Let them come then. Our matter, from the beginning till now, has always been filled with ’sudden’, ’hasty’, and ’unexpected’, and ’coincidental’."
"..."
"But you need to tell me in advance what to prepare, so I don’t embarrass myself when your father arrives."
"Sure, if there are any special considerations, I’ll let you know."
Zhongli Wuzhi glanced at the time,
"Would you like to go have a look around, buy you something?"
He asked.
Chinian’s brows slightly raised,
"There’s really nothing I need to buy."
"Maybe buy some... jewelry, clothes, etc., at least, a Diamond Ring is necessary, right?"
"A Diamond Ring?"
"Otherwise, how can I explain when your father arrives?"
Zhongli Wuzhi joked.
Chinian felt like she was in a dream... Even though he still held Lu Xiaoer in his heart, she had forgiven him.
Zhongli Wuzhi was a clever man.
"Yeah, then let’s go order one! I’m really happy! I knew Zhongli... you wouldn’t disappoint me."
"I’ve already let down one person, I cannot disappoint another, otherwise... my sins would be too grave."
Zhongli Wuzhi said softly, smiling.
Chinian’s face was suffused with her happiness, she looked down and typed seriously,
"I don’t blame fate now, not anymore. Although it didn’t let me meet you before Lu Xiaoer, it arranged for you to meet Lu Xiaoer and taste the pain of loss, just to let you meet me and cherish me."
Zhongli Wuzhi curved his lips, he stood up and reached out his hand to Chinian,
"Let’s go."
This was the largest upscale shopping center in Anlin City.
The shopping center’s top floor had a high-end jewelry custom shop, where Zhongli Wuzhi and Chinian made their way.
As soon as Chinian reached the shop, she was attracted by the jewelry displayed in the showcase. She pointed at a ring on the far right, her expression one of delight.
Zhongli Wuzhi glanced at her and asked,
"Do you like this one?"
Chinian shyly nodded her head.
"Sir, miss, are you here to pick a ring?"
"Yes, this ring, she likes it very much, could we take a look at it?"
Zhongli Wuzhi said.
"No problem, sir, miss, please come inside and sit down. I will get the sample ring, or you can also look around some more."
"Thank you, that would be great."
Zhongli Wuzhi said, Chinian held Zhongli Wuzhi’s hand, walking around the counter, looking at the sparkling clear glass display cabinets holding one expensive diamond ring after another.
For Zhongli Wuzhi and Chinian, the value of the diamond rings wasn’t too important, if they wanted, they could buy this entire diamond store, let alone these individual diamonds.
But... a diamond ring is like a dream in every woman’s heart.
Even for the Seventh Princess of Kingdom M, Chinian, it was no different.
Carefully thinking about it, perhaps Zhongli Wuzhi had already planned on buying her a diamond ring when he left the house today.
With those thoughts, Chinian felt as if her heart was filled with honey.
She chuckled lightly, pointing at some uniquely designed rings in the showcase, while Wuzhi also carefully made his selections. One could occasionally see the genuine happiness in Chinian’s eyes...
In his narrow, fox-like eyes there hid a coldness invisible to others.
He wanted Chinian to be happy, happier than she had ever been before, so that her present happiness could turn into future pain!
"Sir, Miss, I have brought the sample rings. Do you plan to wear it on the middle finger or the ring finger?"
The store clerk asked them.
Wuzhi looked at Chinian with a smile, "You decide."
After pondering for a moment, Chinian extended her ring finger.
The store clerk also smiled lightly, slipping the ring onto Chinian’s ring finger.
Chinian spread out her fingers, smilingly looking at Wuzhi, as if asking for his opinion.
Wuzhi nodded his head...
Just then, at a position next to them, at the showcase right across from them, two people arrived...
"Miss Lu?"
A store clerk warmly went up to serve them.
Wuzhi’s back stiffened for a moment. Chinian also heard the clerk’s "Miss Lu," but she felt it couldn’t be such a coincidence.
When Lu Xiaoer and Ah Xuan came in, they didn’t look around aimlessly, Xiaoer had a purpose for being there. The clerk approached to serve her, and she responded with a smile,
"Nice to see you again."
Upon hearing this response, Wuzhi’s back stiffened even more.
It really was... Xiaoer.
How could she be here?
"Miss Lu, what can I help you with today?"
The store clerk asked with a warm smile.
Lu Xiaoer took out a small jewelry box, along with an order and a receipt,
"These are the couple rings I bought from you before."
"Yes, you picked this pair after an entire afternoon, the ’Together Forever’ series has always been a classic in our brand. Miss Lu, did you bring the rings today because there is a problem with them?"
"I want to return them."
Lu Xiaoer smiled.
"..." The store clerk’s expression froze.
Wuzhi turned his back towards Lu Xiaoer...
That night, she and Song Jing were wearing those very couple rings, another point that pricked his nerves.
Wuzhi took a deep breath, feeling his heart pounding chaotically.
"Sir, Miss, do you still like this ring?"
The clerk serving Wuzhi and Chinian saw that just a second ago they had seemed very happy, but now, their expressions had both turned extremely strange.
The man appeared stunned, his expression revealing a hint of agony, while the woman... her attention was no longer on the ring on her ring finger.
She looked at the man...
The clerk asked softly and gently.
Chinian snapped back to reality, smiled, and took off the ring to return it to the clerk, pointing to another ring in the display case.
The clerk understood her meaning, and quickly took out another ring for Chinian to try on.
Chinian was busy making her own choice, no longer asking for Wuzhi’s opinion.
Wuzhi also wanted to pretend as if nothing had happened, to manage his expression, to disguise himself.
But... hearing her voice, he was already tortured inside.
He didn’t turn around, but he could see Lu Xiaoer’s profile reflected in the glass in front of him.
She wore a light yellow T-shirt and jeans, her hair simply tied in a ponytail at the back of her head.
That’s just how she was, wearing whatever was comfortable and simple.
Did she even have any flesh on her...
Wuzhi could see her arms, thin as bamboo poles.
Lu Xiaoer never pursued thinness; she was a doctor and believed health was the most important.
Her figure was naturally a bit bony, but flesh was still there where it should be, arms not this thin. As a volunteer involved in various rescue activities and working in the hospital, strength was necessary.
Now, these arms were too thin...
Wuzhi truly felt a great pain in his heart.
"Miss Lu, why suddenly think to return this couple ring?"
"I just don’t need it anymore,"
Lu Xiaoer said with a smile.
The clerk’s expression turned troubled, "Your ring’s return period seems to have passed beyond one month, so..."
"Oh, I know, I can only get back fifty percent of the payment."
Lu Xiaoer was understanding, with no intention of troubling the clerk.
The clerk looked at Lu Xiaoer, kindly advising,
"Miss Lu, this style of the couple ring has always been our brand’s most classic, its value increasing year by year. Even if you can’t use it now, you might be able to in the future. Fifty percent of the cost is not a small amount."
"Please proceed with the return, the ring has been engraved. It’s useless for the future. Let’s return it; I can get back fifty percent of the money. If it remains with me, it’s worth nothing, how wasteful. Right?"
Lu Xiaoer said jokingly, with Ah Xuan almost dying of discomfort next to her.
The clerk looked at the rings, then at Lu Xiaoer, pursed her lips, sighed,
"If Miss Lu has made her decision, then I will process it for you, well... it seems that Mr. Zhongli is not fortunate enough..."
"Bang!"
Like a bell striking his chest, Wuzhi felt a sudden tightness in his heart, his eyes filled with bewilderment.