【Tangtang, the engagement ring I custom-ordered for you from Chaumet has arrived at the Haicheng store. Feel free to go take a look whenever you have time.】
Chaumet is a world-renowned diamond ring brand.
She had only agreed to the arranged marriage a few days ago, and the custom ring had already arrived today?
Could it be that this ring was ordered in advance?
Ruan Chutang didn’t ask further, simply replying with a single “Okay.”
Inside the Chaumet store.
The sales assistant enthusiastically brought out the ring.
“Miss Ruan, this is the ring Mr. Jiang custom-ordered for you.”
Ruan Chutang picked up the ring and examined it closely.
A rare five-carat blue diamond was set within an outer circle composed of smaller pink diamonds and colorless diamonds, shimmering brilliantly under the light, dazzlingly beautiful.
“The inside of this ring is also engraved with the initials of you and Mr. Jiang.”
Ruan Chutang picked up the ring for a closer look. Indeed, “JSX RCT” was engraved inside.
This ring was clearly crafted with great care.
Ruan Chutang put on the ring—it fit perfectly.
“It’s truly beautiful,” the sales assistant praised sincerely.
Just as she put on the ring, Gu Zechuan’s voice abruptly sounded from behind.
“Ruan Chutang, what are you doing here?”
Ruan Chutang frowned and turned around.
The moment Ruan Chutang turned, Gu Zechuan released Chen Wan’s hand.
A cold glint flashed in Chen Wan’s eyes, but she quickly returned to normal.
Ruan Chutang wasn’t the least bit surprised that Gu Zechuan had brought Chen Wan before her.
She smiled sweetly and replied, “I came to try on a ring.”
Hearing this, Gu Zechuan strode forward. When he clearly saw the ring on Ruan Chutang’s hand, his expression suddenly darkened.
Ruan Chutang waved the sparkling large diamond ring on her hand, smiling brightly as she asked him, “So, how is it? Beautiful, isn’t it?”
A faint anger rose in Gu Zechuan’s eyes.
“Not beautiful.”
What the ring represented was clear to both of them.
Gu Zechuan had thought Ruan Chutang was obedient and sensible.
He hadn’t expected her to covet things that didn’t belong to her.
Marriage—he couldn’t give it.
And Ruan Chutang wasn’t worthy of it either.
Gu Zechuan remained silent, his face cold.
Beside him, Chen Wan looked at Ruan Chutang with a bright smile. “What a coincidence, Miss Ruan. Zechuan and I also came to look at rings today.”
Ruan Chutang sneered inwardly.
So the call Gu Zechuan had answered earlier was from Chen Wan.
The “something to attend to” he mentioned was accompanying Chen Wan shopping and looking at rings?
Gu Zechuan offered no explanation.
He tacitly confirmed Chen Wan’s words.
Chen Wan’s gaze fell on the ring on Ruan Chutang’s hand.
Tsk, that blue diamond in the center looked to be about five carats.
Surrounded by a circle of rare pink diamonds.
This ring must cost at least seven or eight million. She really dared to try it on—wasn’t she embarrassed if she couldn’t afford it?
In response to Chen Wan’s provocative words, Ruan Chutang merely gave a perfunctory “Oh” and continued admiring the ring on her hand as if nothing had happened.
It had to be said, Jiang Shixu had excellent taste—she was quite satisfied with this ring.
“Miss Ruan, your ring is truly beautiful,” Chen Wan said with a smile.
“Yes, I think so too.”
Gu Zechuan’s expression turned extremely unpleasant. “Ruan Chutang, take off that ring.”
“Why?” Ruan Chutang tilted her head, feigning confusion.
“What are you trying on a ring for? To force a marriage?” Gu Zechuan could no longer hold back, his voice filled with anger. “I will not marry you!”
Beside him, a barely noticeable curve lifted at the corner of Chen Wan’s lips, a secret satisfaction in her heart.
“Miss Ruan, Zechuan and I are here today on Aunt Meng’s instructions to try on rings.”
The “Aunt Meng” she referred to was Gu Zechuan’s mother, Meng Yaqin.
Chen Wan’s meaning was clear: I am the daughter-in-law chosen by Gu Zechuan’s mother, Aunt Meng has already approved of me, so you, Ruan Chutang, shouldn’t dream of marrying into the Gu family.
Ruan Chutang looked at the man and woman before her with amusement.
She was just trying on the engagement ring her fiancé had custom-made—what were these two getting so worked up about?
One narcissistically thought she was forcing a marriage.
The other provocatively flaunted that she had gained Meng Yaqin’s approval.
Honestly, a small family like the Gus of Haicheng wasn’t even on her father’s radar.
“Oh, I see.” Ruan Chutang’s tone betrayed no emotion.
Both Chen Wan and Gu Zechuan were slightly taken aback.
Why didn’t she care at all?
Chen Wan studied Ruan Chutang’s face, observing her expression, trying to detect a trace of jealousy or resentment.
However, Ruan Chutang’s expression was flawless.
Chen Wan couldn’t quite tell now.
Was Ruan Chutang pretending not to care, or did she genuinely not care?
Gu Zechuan’s face had darkened to the extreme.
“Ruan Chutang, is this any way to behave? Did you know Chen Wan and I were coming here today to look at rings and deliberately wait for me?”
“Let me be honest with you—there’s no future for us. Trying to force a marriage today won’t work!”
“Marriage requires matching social status. With your background, how could you possibly marry me?”
Gu Zechuan pressed aggressively, “Look at yourself—what do you even look like right now? I’m embarrassed for you!”
He was truly furious, unleashing a torrent of words all at once.
Yet Ruan Chutang wasn’t the least bit angry.
She smiled good-naturedly, “I’m embarrassing again?”
“As far as I remember, we haven’t broken up yet. So in that case, this Miss Chen would be the other woman, wouldn’t she? And you’d be the cheating scumbag. Who’s really embarrassing here?”
Gu Zechuan was completely enraged by her words, his chest heaving violently as he snapped, “Take it off or not!”
Ruan Chutang replied breezily, “No.”
“Fine! If you like it, keep it on. I’m neither buying you a ring nor marrying you anyway!”
Ruan Chutang: “Mm-hmm.”
Seeing Ruan Chutang’s unyielding attitude, Gu Zechuan was at a loss.
He glared angrily at Ruan Chutang, then turned and stormed off.
Chen Wan hurried after him, “Zechuan, wait for me.”
After the two had left, the shop assistant looked bewildered, “Miss Ruan, who were those two?”
“Unrelated people, don’t mind them.”
Three years into their relationship, Gu Zechuan had never considered marrying her.
Little did he know, he wasn’t even qualified to marry her, and she had never intended to marry him either.
Ruan Chutang took a few photos of herself wearing the ring and sent them to Jiang Shixu.
【Do they look good?】
At that moment, in the CEO’s office of Jiang Corporation in Jiangcheng.
Jiang Shixu looked at the message from the girl saved as “Tangtang” on his phone, a smile curling at his lips.
He set down the document in his hand and typed a reply.
【They look good. Do you like them?】
【I do.】
Jiang Shixu’s smile deepened.
【As long as you like them.】
【Brother Shixu, this ring must be expensive, right?】
【Not expensive. You deserve the best.】
Assistant Lin Hai stood nearby, waiting for Jiang Shixu to sign the documents.
He had already stolen several glances at his boss.
Was he seeing things?
His usually stern-faced CEO was actually smiling?
And smiling so… how should he put it… sweetly?
It felt as if the CEO was surrounded by a sea of pink bubbles.
“Signed. What are you looking at?” When Jiang Shixu glanced at his assistant Lin Hai, his expression returned to its usual icy demeanor.
Lin Hai snapped back to reality and quickly took the document from the CEO’s hand. “Nothing, sir. I’ll head out now.”
Meanwhile, Ruan Chutang collected the ring and turned to walk into the neighboring mall, entering a store specializing in men’s watches. She planned to buy a watch for Jiang Shixu as a meeting gift to give him when she returned to Jiangcheng.
Her father had sent her recent photos of Jiang Shixu.
He had a cool, aloof demeanor, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and handsome features—not much different from how she remembered him.
Ruan Chutang carefully selected a black wristwatch that suited Jiang Shixu perfectly.
Just as she finished paying, an acquaintance walked over to greet her.
“Chu Tang, what are you doing here…”