Chapter 18: Mine From Now On

“Ah, young people are so good.”

The aunt looked back as she walked, and Lin Yuan also waved goodbye to her.

Sheng Xiao turned her head back to face him, then took her hand and opened a box, placing it in her palm.

Lin Yuan opened it, confused. Inside, a ring sparkled brightly.

“Did you buy this?”

Although Lin Yuan hadn’t bought any luxury goods, her best friend, Mi Yaoyao, was a loyal lover of luxury goods, with many big brands in her home. The ring Sheng Xiao gave her had a large pink diamond set in it, and it was clearly expensive.

“Sheng Xiao, did you do something bad? This ring…”

“Fake!”

Sheng Xiao took it out and put it on her finger. “The diamond is fake.”

Only then did Lin Yuan feel comfortable wearing it. She had thought that Sheng Xiao had given her his salary card, so where would he have the money to buy such an expensive ring?

Besides, even if he had money, he might not be able to afford a real one.

She couldn’t stop admiring it, looking at it from left to right. Sheng Xiao took her hand. “Don’t you think it’s embarrassing to wear?”

Lin Yuan held his big hand back. “A ring is just a symbol of status. I want to buy a ring to tell others that I’m married, not to show off. What’s the difference if it’s real or fake?”

Her nonchalant attitude warmed Sheng Xiao’s heart, but he also heard something else in her words. “What, someone at the company has their eyes on you?”

His tone was gloomy, and Lin Yuan’s face lit up with a mischievous smile. “Yeah, what about it, are you feeling threatened?”

Sheng Xiao was just teasing her. He could tell she was being playful, but he did feel threatened. “Hmm, I want to lock you up at home.”

Lin Yuan saw that he was seriously trying to scare her, and she felt a little smug. She put her arm around Sheng Xiao’s. “I can’t be the only one wearing it. You have to wear one too, come on, let’s go buy you a ring.”

Sheng Xiao was too outstanding. She knew how many girls secretly “coveted” her man when they were out.

She had to put a “married man” label on him.

Let everyone know he was taken.

Sheng Xiao let her pull him towards the mall. They picked out rings in the mall, and the saleswoman’s eyes lit up when she saw the ring on Lin Yuan’s finger.

Lin Yuan naturally noticed her gaze and smiled. “It’s fake.”

The saleswoman smiled apologetically. They were professionals, and she could tell the difference between real and fake. This young lady was clearly a low-key and reserved person, not showing off her wealth.

“Anything looks good on a lady with your temperament.”

Lin Yuan smiled awkwardly and picked out a plain white gold band for Sheng Xiao. She put it on him and left quickly. The saleswomen in the mall were too enthusiastic. Sheng Xiao was fine, but Lin Yuan couldn’t handle their enthusiasm.

“Sheng Xiao, your taste is pretty good. Those saleswomen all thought my ring was real.” She raised her hand and looked at her ring under the light, admiring it more and more.

Sheng Xiao held her hand, their ring fingers touching, their hearts getting closer with each passing moment.

“Sheng Xiao, you’re wearing my ring, you’re mine from now on.”

Sheng Xiao: “Hmm, you’re mine.”

They stood by the window, leaning against each other. The summer evening breeze was still hot, like their hearts.

Burning.

Scorching.

The next day at work, the department head informed everyone that they were having a department dinner to welcome the new employees, and everyone had to attend.

Lin Yuan didn’t like attending these gatherings. They were boring and awkward, but as a new employee, she couldn’t refuse.

She took the opportunity to go to the restroom and call Sheng Xiao.

[You have to eat properly tonight, don’t just make do, okay? If you really can’t, just order some delicious takeout.]

Sheng Xiao patiently responded to everything she said.

Their interactions were mostly like this.

Sheng Xiao didn’t talk much. Most of the time, Lin Yuan would be chattering away, and he would listen and respond appropriately.

[I’ll pick you up tonight.]

Lin Yuan knew he worked hard and didn’t want him to go out of his way. [No need, I’ll just call a ride-sharing service. You get some rest.]

They chatted for a while longer before Lin Yuan hung up.

She was increasingly enjoying the little sweet moments and happiness she felt when she was with Sheng Xiao.

She was slowly starting to enjoy the fun of being in love.

That night at the dinner, there were people from other departments besides the design department.

Even someone Lin Yuan didn’t want to see.

Meng Tian.

She was beaming, and most of the people at the table were flattering her. Lin Yuan only then learned that Meng Tian’s uncle was the director.

No wonder, someone who scored in the single digits on her exams could get into Ary.

She had pulled some strings!

Meng Tian used the welcome party as an excuse to force Lin Yuan to drink a lot.

Of course, she wasn’t just making Lin Yuan drink, she was making all the new employees who joined at the same time as Lin Yuan drink.

Lin Yuan knew she was targeting her, and she felt sorry for the other newcomers.

After a few drinks, her stomach started to churn. She got up and ran to the restroom.

She ran too fast and bumped into someone coming the other way. Lin Yuan lowered her head and apologized quickly.

“Lin Yuan?”

She looked up and saw a slightly familiar face in front of her. “Brother Jiang?”

The person she bumped into was none other than her college senior, Jiang Mingyou.

Jiang Mingyou saw that she didn’t look well and reached out to support her arm. “You’ve been drinking too much.”

Lin Yuan pulled away a little. “Sorry, Brother Jiang, I’m going to the restroom.”

She was afraid that if she didn’t leave, she would throw up all over Jiang Mingyou.

She staggered forward, and Jiang Mingyou followed behind her, raising his arm to shield her, afraid she might bump her head.

An Jinghao, who was outside the private room smoking, saw everything clearly. He smiled mockingly, his eyes filled with an unclear emotion.

When Jiang Mingyou returned to the private room, An Jinghao asked casually, “Where did Mr. Jiang go for so long?”

Jiang Mingyou smiled lightly. “Sorry, I ran into an acquaintance and it took a while.”

They had been introduced through a friend and had gotten together for this gathering. They were all people with some capital, and they could help each other out in business dealings in the future.

An Jinghao lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair, laughing lightly. “An acquaintance, a woman, right?”

He never hid his dissolute nature, and Jiang Mingyou naturally knew from the middleman that he would ask this, so he wasn’t surprised. “It’s a junior from my college days.”

“Oh, a junior.” He slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, his face filled with a knowing smile.