Zhan Yan Chen and the elderly gentleman entered the store, and the shop instantly fell silent.
A moment later, the Yuerong store manager looked at the elderly gentleman and exclaimed, “Am I seeing things?”
A customer: “You’re not seeing things—it’s the fashion godfather of the Italian jewelry world!!”
A staff member: “The godfather has come to our Yuerong!!”
Su Qianqian stared in shock at the fashion godfather, Lin Hao. When she had gone to Italy to study jewelry design, she had wanted to become his apprentice, but Lin Hao had coldly rejected her without even giving her a chance to speak.
Lin Hao appearing here now—could it be that he had recognized her talent?
Su Qianqian suddenly snapped back to reality and walked over with a proper smile. “Godfather…”
She had only taken two steps when a bodyguard stepped forward, blocking her path with a fierce expression.
Yan Qing and Zhan Yunduan couldn’t help but laugh unkindly.
Su Qianqian stomped her foot angrily, only to see Yan Qing walk past her as the bodyguard respectfully stepped aside.
Yan Qing walked up to Lin Hao and Zhan Yan Chen, frowning as she looked at the two of them. “Why did you two come together?”
Zhan Yan Chen explained, “Qingqing, I ran into Mr. Lin at the entrance of the mall.”
“Yes!” Lin Hao looked at Yan Qing with a smile, as if gazing at his own child. “At the entrance, I saw that he looked like my little treasure’s flash-marriage husband, so we came together.”
Yan Qing’s doubts vanished. Looking at Lin Hao, her eyes suddenly reddened, and she hugged the godfather tightly. “Master, you’ve finally returned to the country.”
Su Qianqian: “…”
Lin Hao patted her back affectionately. “How could your master not come to congratulate his precious apprentice on the opening of her new store?”
Su Qianqian: “…”
Yan Qing was actually the mysterious apprentice Lin Hao had taken in seven years ago? The mysterious genius designer hailed as the little princess of the jewelry world?
How was that possible!!
Lin Hao raised his hand slightly, and the bodyguard beside him immediately presented two jewelry boxes to Yan Qing.
“A wedding gift and an opening gift for my little treasure.”
While Yan Qing and Lin Hao were talking, Su Qianqian seized the opportunity to approach Zhan Yan Chen. “Yan Chen, I…”
“Throw out anyone irrelevant!” Zhan Yunduan spoke up promptly.
Without another word, the bodyguards protecting Lin Hao dragged Su Qianqian and Xu Ting out of Yuerong.
The customers in the store snapped back to reality and hurried over. “Godfather, I’m your fan—could you give me an autograph?”
“Godfather, could we take a photo together?”
The bodyguards held back the fans. After saying a word to Zhan Yunduan, Yan Qing and Zhan Yan Chen accompanied Lin Hao to the revolving restaurant on the top floor for lunch.
Western Restaurant.
As soon as Yan Qing sat down, she began complaining, “Master, why didn’t you let me know when you returned to the country? I could have picked you up.”
“If I had told you, how could I have surprised my little treasure?” Lin Hao looked at Yan Qing affectionately. A few seconds later, he glanced at the quiet Zhan Yan Chen and smiled meaningfully. “Xiao Qing, how did you meet Zhan Yan Chen?”
Yan Qing coughed lightly. “My best friend… introduced us.”
She had expected her master to press for details, but instead, he said, “When you two hold your wedding, your best friend should sit at the main table.”
Yan Qing said, “Duanduan must sit at the main table!”
Zhan Yan Chen smiled slightly as he poured lemon water for the master and apprentice.
Lin Hao drank half a glass of water, set down the cup, and looked at the well-matched pair. “Xiao Qing, Yan Chen, now that you’re married, you must share warmth and cold, joy and sorrow in the future. Cherish each other well.”
The two said in unison, “We will.”
Yan Qing swirled her water glass and asked, “Master, besides congratulating me, is there something else that brought you back to the country this time?”
Lin Hao nodded but smiled without speaking.
Yan Qing sighed softly. Her master had achieved fame and global recognition, yet his love life was a complete mess…
Since he didn’t want to talk about it, she couldn’t help.
Two hours later, the two of them walked Lin Hao out of the mall. By the roadside, bodyguards waited beside the car.
Yan Qing couldn’t bear to part so soon. “Master, I want to go with you to Haicheng.”
“Xiao Qing, I’m going to Haicheng to visit an old friend. Focus on your own work and don’t follow me.” After saying this, Lin Hao looked at Zhan Yan Chen and warned, “Treat my little treasure well. If you ever wrong her, you’ll have all of Italy as your enemy.”
Zhan Yan Chen gave a slight nod. “With Elder Lin as my witness, I swear for life: Zhan Yan Chen will love only Qingqing in this lifetime. I would sooner hurt myself than harm Qingqing.”
These words gently struck the softest part of Yan Qing’s heart. As she gazed at the solemn Zhan Yan Chen, she couldn’t tell whether he was comforting her master or speaking from genuine emotion.
After seeing Lin Hao off and returning to the shop, Yan Qing pulled Zhan Yan Chen into the office.
Closing the door, Yan Qing asked him, “Little brother, did you buy the advertisements in the four global prime locations?”
Zhan Yan Chen nodded, his smiling face handsome yet sharp. “A gift for your grand opening.”
Yan Qing’s heart trembled with emotion, but she kept a stern expression. “Tell me honestly, how much did the ads cost?”
Zhan Yan Chen gave a number. “Fifty thousand.”
Fifty thousand!!
Did he even earn that much from his project?
“You used your own hard-earned money to buy ads for me?” Yan Qing raised her hand but couldn’t bring herself to swat him. “Zhan Yan Chen, are you foolish?”
Zhan Yan Chen grew uncharacteristically nervous. “Wife, don’t you like the gift I gave you?”
“I like it very much, and I’m very happy, but…” Yan Qing paused before continuing, “I didn’t know before, but now that I do, I have to tell you: you’re still a student. You shouldn’t spend money recklessly.”
Zhan Yan Chen took her hand, his gaze gentle. “Wife, I don’t have a habit of spending recklessly. Your new store is opening in the mall—this is what I wanted to give you.”
Yan Qing was taken aback. After a moment, she asked a question. “Zhan Yan Chen, do you like me?”
Zhan Yan Chen lowered his noble head, looking utterly aggrieved. “You only just realized I like you?”
His affection couldn’t have been more obvious. Even if Yan Qing was clueless about love, she could sense how much Zhan Yan Chen liked her—she had just been avoiding it.
“We’ve only known each other for a month. What do you like about me? Do you like me as a person, or is it just novelty?” Yan Qing said calmly. “You might just be acting on a whim. Once the novelty wears off, it’ll fade.”
Zhan Yan Chen’s expression turned serious, as solemn as when he made his promise to the godfather. “Yan Qing, I married you with the intention of spending a lifetime together. Please hold the same intention as you live with me.”
His domineering words struck Yan Qing’s heart instantly, and she fell silent.
Though they had only been together for a short month, Zhan Yan Chen and she shared a tacit understanding.
Yan Qing slowly lifted her gaze, looking at Zhan Yan Chen, who was solemn yet anxious. In that moment, she clearly heard the sound of her heart skipping a beat.
For the first time, she felt the desire to spend her life with him.
Zhan Yan Chen moved closer to her, gently resting his forehead against hers. “Qing Qing, do you like me a little now?”
Having confirmed her feelings, Yan Qing nodded with a smile. “Yes, I do.”
Zhan Yan Chen suddenly tightened his grip on her waist, his voice growing tense. “Do you like my face, or me as a person?”