Chapter 24: Kiss Her

Everyone at the scene was stunned, including Song Qingyu.

She had said she wanted it, but she never expected the final price of this necklace to skyrocket to such an outrageous amount!

What should she do?

Even if Li Huaidong was willing to spend two hundred million on it, she didn’t dare accept it.

Song Qingyu glanced toward the front row, where Li Huaidong sat calmly, looking completely indifferent, as if this had nothing to do with him.

She immediately sent him a message: “This necklace is way too expensive! Stop bidding—it’s not worth it!”

Li Huaidong replied almost instantly, “If you want it, even another two hundred million would be worth it.”

Song Qingyu was completely speechless.

Another person who was just as speechless was Lu Yanchuan. He genuinely didn’t dare to bid any higher—if he did and the other party stopped, he’d be the fool stuck with the final bid. More importantly, he couldn’t afford anything beyond two hundred million.

“Wan’ning, I’m sorry. Two hundred million is just too much. The ‘Zhaoyi Star’ isn’t worth that price. I’m not bidding anymore.”

Xie Wan’ning wanted to act coy again, but when she looked up and saw Li Xianglan glaring at her, she hesitated. She feared that pushing too hard might backfire—not only would she end up empty-handed, but it could also jeopardize her chances of marrying into the Lu family. Swallowing her words, she instead responded gently and obediently, “That’s fine; we don’t have to bid. Yanchuan, it’s enough that you had the intention.”

Lu Yanchuan pulled her into his arms. “Wan’ning, you’re always the most understanding.”

Xie Wan’ning silently curled her lips in disdain. The “Zhaoyi Star” had almost been hers—who was the wretched bastard who had to fight her for it? She was absolutely furious!

**

In the end, the “Zhaoyi Star” was won by the man in the black suit. No one knew who he was, nor did anyone know on whose behalf he had spent two hundred million to secure the necklace.

Only Song Qingyu knew—it was Li Huaidong’s man.

With the “Zhaoyi Star” auctioned off, the banquet also came to an end.

Quan Xinya had disappeared at some point and never showed up again, even as the event concluded.

Unable to hold back any longer, Song Qingyu picked up her phone and gave her a call.

The call went unanswered for a long time.

Feeling uneasy, Song Qingyu dialed again—twice. Finally, on the third attempt, Quan Xinya picked up.

“Qingqing, sorry, I got caught up in some personal matters and couldn’t get away. I’ll send a driver to pick you up later.” Quan Xinya’s voice sounded off, as if she had just been crying.

“Sister Quan, are you okay? You disappeared so suddenly—I was worried something happened to you!”

“I’m fine. Let’s talk when we meet another day.”

“Alright.”

With that, Song Qingyu stepped out of the banquet hall.

At the entrance of the banquet hall, one luxury car after another pulled away from the venue.

Song Qingyu was waiting for the driver Quan Xinya had arranged when Li Huaidong’s car stopped in front of her.

“Get in.”

“My manager’s driver is almost here.”

“Call him. Tell him you’re leaving with me.”

Several business-class vehicles were lined up in the parking lot, waiting to pull forward and pick up their passengers. Worried that Li Huaidong’s car would block traffic and attract attention, Song Qingyu quickly got in.

After getting into the car, she immediately called the driver and told him he could clock out early.

Li Huaidong’s car slowly pulled away from the hotel.

The “Zhaoyi Star” was placed inside a luxurious Fiore jewelry box. Li Huaidong opened it, took out the necklace, and reached over to fasten it around Song Qingyu’s neck.

Instinctively, she flinched away.

“What’s wrong?” Li Huaidong looked at her. “Didn’t you want it? It’s yours now.”

“It’s just… it’s too expensive. I… I don’t dare to wear it.”

Li Huaidong chuckled. “So timid.”

Leaning in, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and personally fastened the necklace around Song Qingyu’s neck.

At that moment, the car happened to pass by the lawn where Lu Yanchuan’s proposal was taking place. Though he had failed to win the “Zhaoyi Star,” the proposal ceremony proceeded as planned—after all, he had gone to great lengths to create such a lavish setup.

A crowd had gathered on the lawn, made up of friends specially invited by Lu Yanchuan and Xie Wan’ning.

“Stop the car,” Li Huaidong instructed the driver.

The car came to a stop on the asphalt road.

Song Qingyu looked at Li Huaidong, puzzled as to why he had stopped there.

“Go on.” Li Huaidong placed a firm hand on her lower back and gave her a gentle push. “Didn’t Xie Wan’ning invite you to witness her proposal? Since she asked, you should at least show her some courtesy. Go, I’ll wait for you here.”

So he had heard everything Xie Wan’ning had said to her at the banquet hall earlier. The reason he had spent such an exorbitant amount on the “Zhaoyi Star” was to back her up.

Song Qingyu’s eyes grew hot with emotion.

This man always had a way of giving her warmth when she least expected it. It was as if he could read her mind—he always seemed to know exactly what she wanted to do.

Alright then! Since the necklace had already been bought, those two hundred million needed to be well spent!

Song Qingyu took out a mirror from her bag, checked her makeup, and confidently pushed open the car door.

As her high heels touched the ground, she lifted the hem of her dress and strode toward Lu Yanchuan and Xie Wan’ning’s proposal scene…

**

The proposal site was surrounded by a dense crowd, layer upon layer of onlookers.

Song Qingyu pushed through the crowd and walked to the front, standing as close to the stage as possible.

Around her, some of Lu Yanchuan’s friends recognized her, their surprise spreading in hushed whispers.

After all, an ex-wife appearing at her ex-husband’s proposal to his mistress—no matter how you looked at it, it was bizarre.

People murmured among themselves, but Song Qingyu didn’t care. Her gaze remained fixed on Lu Yanchuan and Xie Wan’ning.

Though this was Lu Yanchuan’s second marriage, it was his first time proposing.

Song Qingyu could tell he was nervous on stage.

She couldn’t help but think back to their wedding. Back then, there had been no proposal—he hadn’t even picked out the wedding rings himself; his assistant had handled everything.

She had been so foolish. She had thought that by not fussing over these details, she could build a peaceful and lasting marriage. But in the end, she realized that self-sacrificing love and blind devotion only moved her—it never made a man cherish her.

“Wan’ning, you know that all these years, my heart has only belonged to you. I’m so grateful that you’ve come back to me. From now on, for the rest of our lives, through every meal and every season, I want you by my side.”

Lu Yanchuan knelt on one knee, gazing at Xie Wan’ning with deep affection.

Xie Wan’ning was so moved that she was on the verge of tears—until a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

“Wonderful! Just wonderful!”

Startled, she and Lu Yanchuan turned toward the source of the voice.

There, standing below the stage, was Song Qingyu. She clapped her hands enthusiastically, cheering for them with an expression of pure delight.

Tonight, she wore a sleek black off-shoulder gown that accentuated her graceful figure. Her crimson lips shimmered under the lights, exuding an irresistible allure—like a vengeful goddess descending upon the scene.

But the most eye-catching thing about her wasn’t her beauty.

It was the “Zhaoyi Star” around her neck.

The deep purple gemstone glowed against her fair, swan-like neck, making her look even more elegant and ethereal.

In an instant, Song Qingyu became the center of attention.

“Wow! That’s the ‘Zhaoyi Star’!”

“It’s absolutely stunning!”

“Are you talking about the necklace or Song Qingyu?”

“They’re both stunning!”

Xie Wan’ning stared at Song Qingyu, unable to believe her eyes. How could the “Zhaoyi Star”—a necklace worth two hundred million—be hanging around Song Qingyu’s neck?

That was supposed to be her gift from Lu Yanchuan!

This moment, bathed in admiration and envy, was supposed to belong to her!

Jealousy burned through Xie Wan’ning like wildfire.

Why? Why does Song Qingyu always get what I can only dream of?

Tears welled up in her eyes as she clung to Lu Yanchuan’s wrist, her voice pitiful.

“Yanchuan…” She tugged at him, silently urging him to drive Song Qingyu away.

Lu Yanchuan stormed down from the stage, his face twisted with anger as he marched toward Song Qingyu.

“Song Qingyu, what the hell are you doing here?”

Xie Wan’ning’s face twisted as if she had swallowed a fly.

Song Qingyu’s words were like a sharp blade, slicing through her carefully crafted moment of happiness.

But Song Qingyu didn’t linger. Flashing one last dazzling smile, she turned and walked away.

The onlookers murmured among themselves, watching her retreating figure with mixed emotions.

On stage, Xie Wan’ning was shaking with fury.

Her perfect proposal had already been tainted by the absence of the “Zhaoyi Star”—and now, Song Qingyu had completely ruined it.

Her “happiest moment” had been turned into her darkest humiliation.

She hated Song Qingyu to death!

Song Qingyu walked away from the proposal scene, every step light and unrestrained.

She had never felt so exhilarated in her entire life!

Li Huaidong’s car was still waiting in the same spot. As she pulled open the door and got in, her excitement made her a little careless—her high heel twisted, and she stumbled straight into Li Huaidong’s arms.

“How did you end up falling in? Was it a crushing defeat?”

She lifted her chin with regal confidence and met his gaze. “Of course not. It was a triumphant return!”

“Then congratulations.” He steadied her and helped her sit properly.

“It’s all thanks to you today. The resentment that’s been bottled up inside me for so long is finally gone. Thank you.” She looked at him, her eyes brimming with laughter.

Song Qingyu rarely smiled—especially not like this, a smile so genuine and heartfelt.

And when she did, it was almost unfair how breathtaking she looked.

Li Huaidong’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he spoke in a deep voice, “Thank me at home.”

Just three simple words, yet they instantly shifted the atmosphere in the car into something undeniably charged.

A shiver ran down Song Qingyu’s spine as an inexplicable thought crossed her mind. Sure enough, nothing in this world came without a price.

The car soon arrived at Taoyuan.

As they got out, Li Huaidong walked ahead while Song Qingyu lifted her gown and followed behind him.

Just as they reached the second floor, Li Huaidong suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Song Qingyu instinctively took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest as she blurted out at lightning speed, “Shower first.”

Li Huaidong chuckled. “Why are you so nervous? I stopped because I need to handle a few urgent emails.”

His composed and upright demeanor only made her feel like she was the one with her mind in the gutter.

Flushing red, Song Qingyu hurried into the bedroom without another word.

She took a shower first. Afterward, she lay on the bed, staring at the Zhaoyi Star necklace. She noticed that the purple gemstone shimmered differently depending on the angle, casting an ever-changing brilliance. The more she looked at it, the more captivating it became.

Li Huaidong walked into the bedroom, and the first thing he saw was Song Qingyu lying on the bed in a white nightgown. Her long, slender legs were raised slightly, and her fair little feet swayed back and forth, an unconscious motion that stirred something deep inside him.

“Still staring at it?”

“Because it’s beautiful,” she replied.

What she didn’t realize was that, in Li Huaidong’s eyes, she was far more dazzling than any gemstone.

“I’m taking a shower,” he said, his voice low and steady.

“Mm.”

Li Huaidong entered the bathroom for a shower. By the time he came out, Song Qingyu had already placed the Zhaoyi Star back into its jewelry box.

“Here, I’m giving it back to you.” She handed the box to him.

“What? Since when does a gift get returned?”

“A necklace worth two hundred million… I don’t even have a safe place to store it. You should keep it.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll have Uncle Kang take you to set up the villa’s safe. You’re the lady of the house—you should know the code.”

Song Qingyu was stunned for a moment—she hadn’t meant to indirectly ask for the villa’s safe code.

“No need. I don’t need to know the password.” She pushed the jewelry box directly into Li Huaidong’s arms. “Just give it to Uncle Kang.”

Li Huaidong took the box, opened it, and once again retrieved the Zhaoyi Star.

“Come here.”

“What for?”

“Wear it.”

“We’re about to sleep—why would I wear it now?”

Li Huaidong didn’t answer. His deep, penetrating gaze locked onto her as if his silence itself was an answer.

Realization dawned on Song Qingyu—was he implying she should wear it while?

We…?

Well… that wasn’t exactly an unreasonable preference.

She hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer and tilted her neck toward him.

Li Huaidong leaned down and carefully fastened the Zhaoyi Star around her neck once more.

The ethereal purple hue of the gemstone made her skin appear even more luminous, as fair as freshly fallen snow. Her delicate collarbones seemed like the perfect pedestal for such a rare jewel.

His strong fingers traced along her shoulder, starting from the gemstone at her throat, before he pulled her into his embrace and began to kiss her.

…

The Zhaoyi Star shimmered against her skin, its violet glow shifting subtly with every movement.

Until tonight, she had never dared to imagine that a man so lofty and unattainable would one day bow to her in the intimacy of their bed.

That night, she lost count of how many times it happened.

In hindsight, Song Qingyu finally realized—compared to tonight, that one night half a month ago wasn’t him indulging her whims at all. If anything, he had been holding back, knowing he had an early flight the next morning.

“I’m sleepy,” she murmured at last, curling up in his arms.

Her voice was soft, almost like a gentle plea.

“Sleep,” Li Huaidong said, pulling her closer.