“Jiang Tang.”
Jiang Tang snapped back to attention—this was the first time Shen Xiunian had called her by name.
For some reason, the way those two syllables came from his lips carried a hint of lingering tenderness.
She tilted her head and responded with a questioning hum.
Shen Xiunian pushed the gift box toward Jiang Tang.
Jiang Tang froze. “Is this for me?”
Shen Xiunian nodded calmly.
Jiang Tang opened the gift box and found a pink gemstone sugar cube necklace inside.
The pink gemstone was exceptionally beautiful, surrounded by a circle of sparkling diamonds. The sugar cube design was particularly lovely.
She asked in confusion, “What is this?”
“A gift.”
Shen Xiunian answered earnestly, “The little one got a gift, so the big one should get one too.”
Jiang Tang felt a soft warmth in her chest, tinged with a faint, electric sensation.
Shen Xiunian leaned in slightly and fastened the necklace around Jiang Tang’s neck.
Jiang Tang clutched her clothes, her heart racing. Shen Xiunian was so close—his warm breath brushed against her cheek, and his cool fingers occasionally grazed her skin. She was enveloped in his presence. When she lifted her eyes, she could see the focused expression in his gaze.
He looked so serious.
Jiang Tang didn’t even know how to breathe.
This minute felt so long.
Finally, Shen Xiunian finished fastening the necklace and looked at Jiang Tang intently.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. The necklace looked decent on its own, but once it was on Jiang Tang, it seemed to disappear.
Jiang Tang’s beauty could make people overlook the jewelry.
Jiang Tang let out a breath. She sat obediently, letting Shen Xiunian look at her, and asked nervously, “How does it look?”
Shen Xiunian gazed at her face, his expression serious. “Very beautiful.”
A bright, radiant smile spread across Jiang Tang’s face—sweet and stunning, almost overwhelmingly so.
The pink gemstone sugar cube necklace paled completely in comparison.
Jiang Tang opened her phone and used the front camera as a mirror to look at the necklace. It was indeed very beautiful and definitely not cheap.
She asked softly, “Shen Xiunian, this necklace must be really expensive, right?”
Shen Xiunian’s tone was casual. “Not expensive.”
This was his first time giving Jiang Tang a gift. If it were too expensive, it might scare her, so he kept the price modest.
Jiang Tang asked the System in her mind, “Tongtong, how much is this necklace?”
“Tangtang, this necklace costs over three hundred thousand!” The System was thrilled—the Gold-digging Value was finally no longer negative!
Jiang Tang nearly fainted. Over three hundred thousand—she was wearing a down payment for a house around her neck!
She fell silent for a moment, then looked dazedly at Shen Xiunian. “Shen Xiunian, why did you give me this necklace?”
Shen Xiunian repeated, “A gift.”
Jiang Tang blinked, her heart stirring. No one had ever treated her this well before.
Shen Xiunian watched her. Her eyes were moist and soft, her face filled with an indescribable emotion and a hint of bewilderment.
Like a cat that didn’t trust humans.
A cat would test humans with claws bared, but after receiving kindness, its eyes would soften, and it would freeze, unsure of what to do.
What a fool.
He hadn’t even done much.
And yet she was already so moved, so touched?
Shen Xiunian looked into her eyes seriously. “It’s very beautiful and suits you well. Don’t feel pressured.”
Jiang Tang nodded dazedly.
So obedient and beautiful.
Shen Xiunian curled his fingers slightly, resisting the urge to pinch her cheek.
Jiang Tang remained dazed for a while before finally snapping out of it. She glanced at the Gold-digging Value—it had finally broken through the negative numbers and reached the milestone of 1.
【Gold-digging Value: 1】
Jiang Tang cheered herself on—this was a major breakthrough from zero to one!
She asked the System, “Tongtong, does the Gold-digging Value still increase even if Shen Xiunian gives me a gift on his own initiative?”
The System encouraged her loudly, “Tangtang, whether Shen Xiunian gives it to you on his own or not, as long as Shen Xiunian spends money on you, the Gold-digging Value will increase. You’re amazing!”
After saying this, the System added, “Especially when he spends big money!”
Jiang Tang understood.
She turned her face to look at Shen Xiunian.
Shen Xiunian had given her such an expensive gift, and she felt truly embarrassed.
“Shen Xiunian, thank you for the gift. I really like it. Let me treat you to milk tea.”
That was all she could think of.
“Okay.”
Shen Xiunian agreed.
Jiang Tang took Shen Xiunian to buy milk tea.
Jiang Tang ordered a cup for herself with 70% sugar, extra cream, and no ice.
Shen Xiunian asked for a cup with no sugar, no toppings, and no ice.
Jiang Tang couldn’t understand his taste.
Happily taking her milk tea, she first ate the cream, then drank the tea, squinting her eyes contentedly.
So delicious, so delicious.
Shen Xiunian thought that if Jiang Tang had a tail, it would surely be wagging happily right now.
He took a slow, deliberate sip of his own milk tea.
The taste was average.
How could Jiang Tang enjoy it so much?
Leaning against the wall, he watched Jiang Tang. Her eyes were closed, her face was pink and fair, and her lips were a delicate red.
His gaze lingered on her lips—they must be very sweet.
Shen Xiunian’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
Jiang Tang opened her eyes and saw Shen Xiunian looking at her. She tilted her head. “What’s wrong?”
Shen Xiunian casually shifted his gaze away. “Nothing.”
Jiang Tang hummed in response.
The System saw the Gold-digging Value increase by 1 and felt that today had been somewhat fruitful. It wanted to clock out.
“Tangtang, shall we call it a day?”
Both Jiang Tang and Tongtong treated this as a job.
Jiang Tang replied, “Sure~ But how do we say it?”
The System looked at Shen Xiunian drinking his milk tea and had a sudden idea. “Ask Shen Xiunian to drink your milk tea using your straw.”
“Shen Xiunian is a germaphobe. He doesn’t like others touching him, let alone sharing the same straw and drinking from the same cup of milk tea!”
“He definitely won’t agree. Then you can just end the date. Anyway, we’ve met this month’s KPI. Let’s just coast through the year like this!”
The System thought: Who doesn’t want to slack off?
Jiang Tang’s eyes sparkled. Tongtong’s idea made sense—she wanted to clock out too!
Since Shen Xiunian wouldn’t agree anyway, what was there to fear?
Jiang Tang tilted her head, took two steps forward, and hopped in front of Shen Xiunian. Shen Xiunian reached out to steady her.
She held her milk tea up to Shen Xiunian’s lips and called out to him with a smile, “Shen Xiunian, my milk tea is really sweet. Try some of mine.”
Shen Xiunian looked down at her, an unreadable emotion flickering in his eyes.
Jiang Tang whispered, “Couples always share the same cup of milk tea.”
Are you disgusted by me?”
She wanted to say more, but the words suddenly caught in her throat, unable to come out.
Shen Xiunian’s eyes remained fixed on her as he slowly took the straw she had just used into his mouth and drank a sip of milk tea.
He kept watching her, his movements deliberate.
So seductive.
Jiang Tang’s fingers tightened around her milk tea cup.
Her heart began to race again.
Shen Xiunian licked the corner of his lips thoughtfully, then looked at Jiang Tang’s lips and met her eyes. “It really is sweet.”
“Oh, oh.”
She didn’t know what else to say.