Then, the other staff members also came in, placing the exquisite brocade boxes in their hands on the coffee table and opening them.
Song Wantang looked at those brocade boxes, so surprised that her mouth almost couldn't close.
"What's going on?"
The staff opened them one by one.
Jade bracelets, pearl necklaces, diamond earrings, cashmere shawls... each piece was an exquisite item of great value.
Some were even limited editions, impossible to buy even with money.
"Mrs. Lu, these were specially selected by President Lu for you. President Lu said that if you don't like these styles, we can exchange them for another batch," the staff member said respectfully.
Song Wantang quickly waved her hand: "No need, no need, I like them all, really."
She looked at the table full of brocade boxes and really didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"This man's way of giving gifts is too exaggerated."
"Mommy! Daddy is so generous! These are all so beautiful! Mommy, put them on quickly and let me see!" Little Dumpling said excitedly.
Song Wantang silently thought: You're just a little tot, what are you looking at?
"I can see!" Little Dumpling said matter-of-factly. "I'm in your belly, whatever you put on I can feel! Put it on, put it on!"
Song Wantang couldn't refuse him, so she had to pick up the pearl necklace and put it on in front of the mirror.
The round pearls were each plump and glossy under the light, making the skin below her collarbone appear even fairer.
"Beautiful!" Little Dumpling cheered. "Mommy looks like a princess!"
Zhang Ma also smiled and praised from the side: "Madam has fair skin, pearls look best on you."
Song Wantang looked at herself in the mirror, a slight smile curling at the corners of her lips.
She had never been one to dress up much since childhood, especially after her mother passed away; the Song family neglected her even more, and she got used to being plain.
Later, when she was with Shen Mozhou, he never gave her anything decent either.
Now, suddenly receiving so many gifts, she instead felt a bit unaccustomed.
"Zhang Ma, please help me put these away," Song Wantang said, taking off the pearl necklace and carefully placing it back into the brocade box.
"Alright," Zhang Ma said with a smile while tidying up. "Madam, Mr. Lu is really good to you. In all my years at the Lu family, this is the first time I've seen Mr. Lu being so thoughtful."
Song Wantang smiled but didn't respond.
She knew that these gifts were probably just Lu Shaodong's way of showing goodwill.
A contract marriage, each taking what they need.
He was being good to her because she was carrying the Lu family's child.
She couldn't overthink it.
She couldn't.
Just as she was spacing out, the phone suddenly rang.
She looked and saw it was Lu Shaodong calling.
She pursed her lips, then carefully answered the phone, "Mr. Lu."
"Mm, did you like the jewelry I sent over?" Lu Shaodong asked.
"I like it, but it's too precious..."
"As long as you like it. There's a charity gala this weekend; you'll attend it with me then," Lu Shaodong said.
"Okay," Song Wantang agreed immediately.
After all, her identity now was Mrs. Lu, and she had the responsibility to attend various banquets with him.
.....
In the evening, at Clubhouse No. 1.
The private room was lively and bustling.
Lu Shaodong had been called over by a close friend to hang out.
"Brother Dong, I heard a joke recently. When I tell you, even you'll find it ridiculous."
The speaker was Zhou Jin, Lu Shaodong's longtime friend, the youngest son of the Zhou family in Jing City, who usually loved to eat, drink, and have fun.
He was usually the one to organize gatherings.
He himself also liked to invest in clubhouses and bars.
The clubhouse where they were gathering today was his property.
"A joke?"
Lu Shaodong leaned back on the sofa, his slender fingers holding a wine glass, gently swirling it; the amber liquid shimmered under the light.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes.
This joke was clearly about him.
"Exactly," Zhou Jin said, crossing his legs with a playful expression. "The social circle is buzzing, saying Brother Dong, you got married, and to the ex-fiancée of that jerk Shen Mozhou. My first reaction was—who the hell made up such a ridiculous story?"
A few friends nearby also laughed along.
"Exactly, if Shaodong got married, how could we not know?"
"Probably someone spreading rumors to gain attention."
"That ex-fiancée of Shen Mozhou? I heard she broke off the engagement on the wedding day and then turned around and married someone else? This plot is more cliché than a TV drama."
Several people chimed in one after another, and the atmosphere in the private room was relaxed.
Only Lu Shaodong wasn't laughing.
He hadn't expected to become the male lead of gossip in everyone's mouths.
These people really had too much idle time.
Lu Shaodong placed his wine glass on the table, making a crisp sound.
It wasn't loud, but the private room instantly fell silent.
Everyone looked at him.
Lu Shaodong raised his eyes, swept a glance around the seated people, and said in a calm tone, "It's not a joke. It's true."
Zhou Jin's smile froze on his face.
He looked as if struck by lightning, utterly incredulous.
"What?"
"I said, I'm married," Lu Shaodong repeated.
The private room was silent for a full five seconds.
Suddenly, Zhou Jin sat bolt upright, his eyes wide open: "Are you serious?"
Lu Shaodong didn't answer. He just picked up his phone, opened the photo album, casually flipped to a photo, and handed it over.
In the photo was a hand wearing a ruby ring, with long, fair fingers, the ring dazzling under the light.
Zhou Jin stared at the photo for a long time, then looked up at Lu Shaodong, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, before finally blurting out a Chinese expletive: "Damn."
The others also leaned in to look, their expressions priceless, as if bewitched.
"No way... Shaodong, are you for real?"
"This ring... is it your family's heirloom one?"
"When did this happen? How come there wasn't even a whisper?"
"It's not April Fool's Day, is it?"
Lu Shaodong took back his phone, his tone indifferent: "We got the certificate the day before yesterday."
Zhou Jin nearly jumped off the sofa. "You got married and only now tell us? We're your close brothers, you know?"
Lu Shaodong picked up his glass and took a sip. "Weren't you already in the know? Why would I need to tell you?"
Zhou Jin: "..."
The other friends: "..."
Good heavens, this move truly left everyone speechless.
Zhou Jin took a good while to recover before leaning back onto the sofa.
He looked at Lu Shaodong with a complicated expression: "Well done, Brother Dong, you're something else—quietly pulling off a big move, first of its kind in Jing City."
Originally, Zhou Jin had thought that among their group of friends, everyone might get married early, except for Lu Shaodong, who was impossible.
He usually didn't even have a single female around him, how could he suddenly get married?
It was truly too surprising.
Wondered if there was some unknown secret behind it.
Zhou Jin lowered his voice: "Brother Dong, do you have some unspeakable difficulty, or did she catch you at a weak point? Is that why you were forced to marry her? After all, the rumors outside are pretty nasty."
Lu Shaodong glanced at him: "What rumors?"
"They say... Song Wantang is a loose woman or something," Zhou Jin chose his words carefully. "Some say she's trying to climb the social ladder, using the child to force you to marry her. These words have spread quite a bit."
The private room fell silent again.
A few friends exchanged glances.
They all admired Zhou Jin's courage—wasn't this like picking lice on a tiger's head?
Looking for death?!
✦✦✦