Si Yuan shook her head calmly, her tone even.
There was absolutely no need for this.
Yet a warmth still bloomed in her heart.
For those she cared about, even if she thought she no longer did, the slightest kindness could make her forget past hurts.
So he hadn’t completely disregarded her feelings after all—he’d actually intended to buy her a new one.
“No need, brother. I was just joking with you all yesterday,” she said.
A sly thought flickered through her mind—since Lin Shuangyu hadn’t ended up keeping that necklace anyway, there was no point dwelling on it.
But Song Yan wasn’t ready to drop the subject. He shifted gears: “It’s fine. I haven’t decided on an engagement ring yet. Come with me to look at some options and help me choose.”
The word “engagement ring” pierced Si Yuan’s heart like a fine needle.
Her gaze froze momentarily, the fragile warmth in her eyes shattering into pieces. It took her a long moment to recover.
Not wanting to go, she murmured an excuse: “I have work today, I might not have time…”
“Don’t worry about work,” Song Yan cut her off, his tone brooking no argument. “I’ve met your company’s chairman before. I’ll put in a word for you.”
Si Yuan’s heart tightened. She had already taken leave from her supervisor. If Song Yan actually called, her lie would be exposed immediately.
He was her brother, merely wanting his sister to accompany him to choose an engagement ring—it sounded perfectly reasonable.
But if she lied about it, she’d become the one with suspicious motives.
Unable to refuse further, she softly murmured “Mm” in agreement.
When they got in the car, Song Yan closed the door with unusual gentleness.
As he fastened his seatbelt, his hands paused. He glanced at Si Yuan and asked hesitantly, “You seem easily startled lately.”
What he really wanted to ask was whether she had suffered any hardships during her years living alone abroad.
Si Yuan’s fingers twitched slightly. Instead of responding, she deliberately changed the subject: “Brother, what kind of ring are you thinking of getting?”
At this question, Song Yan’s eyes immediately brightened, his earlier concern for Si Yuan forgotten.
A smile touched his lips as he admitted, “I just want to give Shuangyu a surprise, so it has to be stunning enough.”
Given Song Yan’s status, his jewelry shopping experience naturally differed from ordinary customers.
VIP Room.
Warm light refracted through crystal chandeliers as the jeweler gently placed velvet-lined trays on the tea table, displaying an dazzling array of high-end jewelry.
Song Yan rested his fingertips on the sofa arm and looked at Si Yuan. “See if there’s anything you like first.”
Si Yuan brushed the edge of the tray with her fingers, her gaze sweeping over the glittering pieces.
Finding little interest, she randomly pointed to a freshwater pearl necklace. “This one’s fine. Simple.”
Song Yan didn’t press further.
Instead, he pushed the ring tray toward her and added, “Then help me look at these.”
They were diamond rings.
Perfectly cut diamonds of various styles sparkled brilliantly.
Song Yan said, “If Shuangyu knows you helped me choose the ring, she’ll be very happy. Otherwise she always thinks you’re still holding grudges from childhood.”
Si Yuan’s expression remained neutral. She didn’t speak, merely nodding in response.
As she looked down, her long hair kept falling into her line of sight.
Finding it bothersome, she casually gathered the ends and swept them back.
Song Yan had originally been sitting beside her selecting jewelry together when he inadvertently glanced sideways at her. His gaze froze.
Over these five years, she had truly blossomed.
Shedding the timidity of her childhood, her features had gained an elegant beauty, and even her demeanor carried more confidence.
The corners of his lips curved slightly as he prepared to withdraw his gaze, but his smile abruptly stiffened, his expression gradually turning cold.
Under the lighting, on the left side of Si Yuan’s fair neck, there was an extremely faint, pale pink mark.
Its shape was indistinct yet unmistakably a hickey.
Song Yan’s fingers suddenly clenched the armrest of the sofa, his knuckles turning white.
He stared at that mark as if seeing something glaring, his tone instantly icy: “What’s that on your neck?”
Si Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively raised her hand to cover her neck.
She had forgotten—last night… Jiang Wang had bitten her.
The lighting had been too dim then, and no one had noticed, but now the VIP room was brightly lit, making every mark particularly conspicuous.
The jeweler sensed the tense atmosphere, tightening her grip on the tray as she tactfully took half a step back, quietly minimizing her presence.
Seeing her remain silent, Song Yan’s expression darkened further. Completely forgetting her fear of being startled, his voice carried suppressed anger: “Who were you with last night?”
He recalled how Si Yuan had preferred to leave early rather than return to the Song Family last night, remembered her unusual blush this morning, and now seeing this hickey—the doubts in his heart instantly twisted into a knot.
Si Yuan’s fingertips turned cold, her eyes lowered, not daring to look at him.
Song Yan had always been refined and proper, but precisely because he usually restrained himself and adhered to propriety, once angered, his fury was overwhelming.
“N-no one… I just accidentally bruised myself.”
“Bruised?” Song Yan let out a cold laugh, leaning forward slightly as he narrowed his eyes coldly. “Do you take your brother for a fool? What Si Yuan, you’re getting bolder—daring to lie to me now?”