Back in his office, Shen Chi Yan left Song Qi Nian with a racing heart. Miao Ziai, misreading her colleague's distress, gave her a gentle pat on the back.
"Don't worry too much. Since President Shen didn't scold you directly, he won't hold it against you later."
Song Qi Nian managed a weak smile, her mind elsewhere.
Oblivious to her friend's true mood, Miao Ziai continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "Who would've thought? Our stern, disciplined President Shen actually... God, I wonder if he's as controlled in bed as he is in the office, or if he just lets go completely?"
Before Song Qi Nian could stop her, Miao Ziai propped her chin on her hand, lost in speculation. "I bet he's like those ancient emperors—burning incense, taking ritual baths, moving with calculated precision... Oh, I'm blushing just thinking about it!"
Song Qi Nian held her tongue, but her thoughts screamed: If only you knew. The moment Shen Chi Yan crossed the bedroom threshold, he transformed into pure instinct. Words like 'restraint' and 'slow' vanished from his vocabulary.
"Niannian," Miao Ziai pressed, "since President Shen asked you to prepare those items, who's he using them with? Lin Qiu Tong?"
Song Qi Nian wrestled with her response. She couldn't lie to her friend, but there was no way she could admit that she was the one Shen Chi Yan shared those intimate moments with.
"It's obvious, isn't it? Besides Secretary Li and you, Lin Qiu Tong is the only woman in President Shen's orbit. He wouldn't touch either of you, so it must be his perfect Lin Qiu Tong."
Song Qi Nian offered a noncommittal smile.
"Oh! That reminds me," Miao Ziai switched topics, "I'm in love with the 'Dreamlike' necklace from the Kui Xi collection, but it's way out of my reach."
Song Qi Nian recognized the collection—Lin Qiu Tong's latest endorsement. With time to spare before work, she asked, [What's the damage?]
"Twenty-eight thousand."
[That's... steep,] Song Qi Nian breathed.
"That's nothing! You should see the 'Wishful' necklace in the same collection. Pure natural pink pearls. Price tag? Twelve million."
Song Qi Nian, still learning about fine jewelry, felt her head spin at the figure.
"Though it hardly matters now," Miao Ziai added. "Someone snapped it up before it even hit the stores."
Song Qi Nian frowned. [How can something sell before it's even released?]
"Well, you know how it goes—inside connections. Probably one of President Shen's wealthy friends. Must be nice having that kind of money!"
Song Qi Nian thought about Shen Chi Yan's social circle. They really did live in a different world.
As the workday officially began, Miao Ziai hurried off to her duties.
Song Qi Nian had barely finished organizing her desk when a WeChat message from Shen Ke Qin lit up her screen.
"Sis-in-law, congratulations!"
Song Qi Nian replied with a simple "?"
"Didn't my brother give you the new 'Wishful' necklace from Kui Xi? You know what this means, right? He's finally noticing you!"
What?
When had Shen Chi Yan...
The memory hit her suddenly—the night of the old lady's birthday celebration.
Shen Chi Yan had fastened a necklace around her neck that evening—a pink one.
This couldn't be...
Hadn't Miao Ziai just said that necklace cost twelve million?
Would Shen Chi Yan really give her something that valuable?
She remembered now: after the banquet, she'd rushed home, taken off the necklace, and put it away without a second glance. She'd been too caught up in thoughts of Shen Chi Yan and Lin Qiu Tong to pay attention to what he'd given her.
If it really was the 'Wishful' necklace... what was she supposed to do with that information?
The thought sent her bolting from her chair. She rushed to Li Nanxun's desk.
[Secretary Li, I need an hour. If President Shen asks, please tell him I'll be right back.]
Seeing her distress, Li Nanxun simply nodded, no questions asked.
"Alright."
Song Qi Nian rushed out, caught a taxi, and headed straight home.
Her hands trembled as she pulled the jewelry box from her drawer. Inside lay the pink necklace. She grabbed her phone, searched for authentication methods, and compared it with online photos of 'Wishful'.
There was no doubt—it was the real thing.
Song Qi Nian's chest tightened. The necklace in her hands suddenly felt impossibly heavy.
Twelve million. She was holding twelve million in her hands. She'd never seen that kind of money in her life, let alone held it.
When Shen Chi Yan first gave it to her, it was his first gift. She'd treasured it so much she couldn't bring herself to give it back.
He never asked for it either, so she'd kept it safe, tucked away.
But now, knowing what it really was, the necklace felt like it was burning her fingers. She couldn't keep this. She had to return it to Shen Chi Yan.
That night, seeing her bare neck, he must have just lent it to her out of necessity. Later, when she didn't return it, he was probably too polite to ask.
If it had been worth a few hundred or even a few thousand, Song Qi Nian might have let herself keep it.
But this... This was twelve million!
She rushed back to the office, the necklace secure in its box.
Taking a deep breath outside his door, she walked straight into the president's office.
Shen Chi Yan was buried in work—the annual business summit was coming up. When he saw Song Qi Nian enter, he paused, giving her a cool look.
"Something wrong?"
Song Qi Nian stepped forward and placed a delicate box on Shen Chi Yan's desk, her movements hesitant.
Shen Chi Yan's eyes flicked to the box, his brows drawing together.
"What's this about?"
Song Qi Nian pressed her lips together before signing carefully, [Thank you for lending me the necklace before. I'm returning it now.]
Shen Chi Yan caught the reluctance in her expression.
His lips curled into a slight sneer. "Now you remember to return it? What about all this time before?"
[Sorry, I forgot earlier. I only just remembered.]
"Is that so? Sure you don't want to keep it?"
Song Qi Nian paused, then nodded. The necklace was too expensive—she couldn't possibly accept it.
Without another word, Shen Chi Yan picked up the box and dropped it straight into the trash.
Song Qi Nian's face fell. She rushed over and fished the box out.
The trash only contained paper, thankfully, but she still wiped the box clean with shaking hands, her chest tight.
Shen Chi Yan watched her with cold eyes. "I thought you didn't want it. Why fish it out?"
[It's not that I don't want it... It's just too expensive.]
Shen Chi Yan had expected this.
Of course she wanted his gift—she'd fallen hard for him.
She hadn't said a word about returning it before today. She must have just discovered it was "Wishful."
Hmph.
Wasn't she usually so concerned about money?
"I don't take back gifts," he said, voice ice-cold. "If you don't want it, throw it away yourself. Don't waste my time."
Song Qi Nian's hands rose to sign something, but Shen Chi Yan had already turned back to his computer.
"Get out."
She knew he was furious. She clutched the box and hurried from his office.
Back at her desk, Song Qi Nian spent an hour staring at "Wishful," turning things over in her mind.
In the end, she realized—whether it cost twelve million or twelve dollars, a gift from Shen Chi Yan was beyond price to her.
That settled it. She would cherish it properly.
—
When Lin Qiu Tong saw "Wishful" in a photo, she recognized it immediately as the necklace Song Qi Nian had worn.
She never thought Shen Chi Yan would give QUESEE's flagship piece to Song Qi Nian so soon.
Because of this, she'd had to model wearing something less valuable than "Wishful" for the brand.
But that was a minor concern.
What truly worried her was...
Would Shen Chi Yan fall in love with Song Qi Nian again?
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