◎ Pink Diamond ◎

“Ladies, please raise your fans again to cover your faces, and do not speak until I finish interviewing the two gentlemen.”

Without giving the guests time to react, Zhou Shanshan asked directly, “So far, it seems the qipao was chosen by Xiao Peng, and President Lu picked the purple tasseled dress. This means only one wife chose the correct dress. Gentlemen, who do you think that is? This time, let’s have President Lu answer first.”

“Ren Lu.” He was still firm and decisive.

“Could you tell us why?” As a professional host, Zhou Shanshan kept pressing.

“When it comes to things about me, she never makes mistakes.”

The words were short and forceful, instantly making the comment section explode with “I’m shipping them!” Even Zhou Shanshan froze for a moment. No one had expected someone like Lu Sinian to give such an unequivocal statement. It was practically the most straightforward compliment.

“This is even more powerful than a love confession. Your relationship must be really good,” Zhou Shanshan said sincerely.

“Xiao Peng, what about you?” She turned to him.

“Of course it’s my wife. Shiqing never makes mistakes! She loves jade accessories the most. She was interested in this bracelet before the auction. Even though she didn’t tell me, I can’t let her preferences be overlooked. That’s a promise I made when we got married!” He was equally confident.

As Peng Hongyu spoke, he stared intently ahead. Though the fan covered her face, his focused gaze made it seem as if he were looking straight into Xu Shiqing’s eyes.

Earlier, Xu Shiqing had walked the runway with radiant confidence. Even with her face hidden, her inner poise was unmistakable.

But now that she knew she had guessed wrong, her face turned red, and her chin could no longer be held high.

Yet she couldn’t say anything to warn him. Listening to Peng Hongyu’s confident words, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into—it was mortifying.

— Damn, Ren Lu actually guessed right!

— The stubborn one was me all along!

— I suddenly get why Ren Lu could rise from secretary to wife. Even when everyone said the bracelet was hers, and the trending searches confirmed it, she still stood firm.

— Ren Lu really is something!

— More than just something, she’s incredible. What’s scary isn’t that she bet right, but that President Lu was so unwavering about her. He never doubted her once. Choosing and trusting each other. Now, that’s worth shipping.

— Tsk, tsk. I came here to ship HongQing CP, but another pair has stolen the show.

— Enough! Somebody make Peng Hongyu stop talking. Everything he says now is just slapping himself in the face.

Seeing how excited Xiao Peng was, even bringing up his wedding vows, Zhou Shanshan quickly stepped in to avoid further embarrassment.

“Well said, Xiao Peng. Now let’s reveal the answer.”

She smiled at the two men, not prolonging the suspense. Normally, a variety show would build up the tension here, heightening the conflict before revealing the result for maximum drama.

But doing so would just make the one who guessed wrong lose even more face, leading to arguments.

“Both ladies chose the purple tasseled dress. Congratulations to Ren Lu for getting it right.” She announced it directly.

The excited Peng Hongyu was struck like he’d taken a heavy blow. His eyes instantly lost their light, his face frozen in stunned emotion.

He could hardly believe Xu Shiqing had guessed wrong.

Lu Sinian showed neither joy nor sorrow. This result was no surprise to him.

“When the clothes were laid out, aside from Ren Lu, all of us thought the qipao was President Lu’s choice. Mainly because the jade bracelet paired with it was said to have been bought by President Lu at an auction, and it’s still trending online. It was just too misleading,” Zhou Shanshan explained gently, clearly trying to ease the awkwardness.

But the effect was minimal; both men’s expressions were still sour.

The director kept frantically holding up cue cards. Seeing what was written, Zhou Shanshan rolled her eyes inwardly.

They had been urging her to hype up the tension earlier, and now they wanted her to diffuse it.

“Lulu, Shiqing, please go change your clothes,” she said, doing her job as host and changing the subject.

At this moment, Lu Sinian spoke. “Contact Vicky.”

Ren Lu smiled and nodded. “I know.”

After saying that, she turned and left the runway.

The couple briefly and naturally exchanged a sentence. Although it was only a few short words, it was obviously to convey a relatively important matter.

Not only the guests, but the viewers were left puzzled.

——Wait a minute, did that couple just talk?

——Who is Vicky? You just say a name, and you already know?

——Know what? Tell us too.

——Seriously, why is someone in the livestream playing riddles?

——Production team, I want to report—someone is openly treating the audience like fools.

Perhaps sensing the resentment from the audience, Lu Sinian took the initiative to explain: “Vicky is her personal assistant.”

Being able to have his wife contact her assistant during a livestream definitely wasn’t something he casually mentioned.

It was just that now was not the right time to press further, so Zhou Shanshan continued the interview: “President Lu, did you attend that auction?”

Lu Sinian nodded.

“The trending topics say you really liked one of the jade bangles there and were determined to get it. Is that true?”

“No, I don’t like jade accessories that aren’t part of a set. From the start, I never considered buying that bangle. As for why it ended up on the trending list, you’d have to ask the original source of the news.”

This time, he answered in great detail, though to others his response sounded very pretentious.

——Tsk tsk, he’s really going for the domineering-CEO vibe. That jade bangle was worth as much as a whole apartment, and he’s talking about wanting a set?

——What a pretentious thing to say, especially considering the dress you picked for Ren Lu had no jewelry at all.

——Hiss, that’s such an unconvincing statement. Doesn’t President Lu think he’s being a bit too smug?

Clearly, he wasn’t the only one thinking that. Feeling embarrassed, Peng Hongyu snapped out of his shock, and the moment he heard that statement, he immediately became upset. He was convinced Lu Sinian was subtly mocking him.

“President Lu, Shiqing chose the wrong dress, but aside from the trending topic’s misdirection, I think there’s another reason. Why didn’t you pick jewelry for Mrs. Lu? Doesn’t it look too plain, which doesn’t match the image of a wealthy lady from a prestigious family?” He stated it outright, and even though he used a joking tone, the forced nature of it was obvious.

Lu Sinian glanced at him but didn’t answer.

The silence in the room was suffocating, and even Zhou Shanshan, standing to the side, felt her scalp tingle.

It was clear that Lu Sinian was deliberately leaving him hanging, unwilling to answer the question.

Just as Zhou Shanshan was about to speak to ease the atmosphere, stirring music started playing again, and the guests all quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, they didn’t have to think of a way to smooth things over anymore.

——Damn, President Lu’s aura is intense.

——Did you see that look he gave just now? With just one glance, I felt like I’d done something stupid.

——Seriously? Was that even a difficult question? Couldn’t he just answer it? It’s not like anyone here isn’t from a wealthy family. They’re all second-generation rich—why look down on Peng Hongyu?

——Tsk, Peng Hongyu’s fans are bragging again. Yes, they’re both second-generation rich, but one is a real entrepreneur who expanded the family business and made profitable projects flourish everywhere, a true heir who brought revival. The other’s biggest achievement is being a couple blogger with his wife, posting sweet moments for fans. Don’t compare them.

——And why insult fans? Saying Peng Hongyu’s fans are bad? As if you’re any better. You’re only here because Lu Sinian is rich. A rude, pretentious man—what’s so great about him? It’s not like he’s giving you money. Yet you spectators are all thrilled.

The barrage of comments was chaotic, but it didn’t affect the guests’ mood at all. They couldn’t see them anyway.

The first to walk out was Xu Shiqing. She wore a qipao, her hair styled in a half-up bun, and on her wrist was the emerald-green bangle, matching the green bamboo pattern on her dress from afar, giving her a refined elegance.

She walked over to Peng Hongyu, lowering her head slightly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile, her cheeks flushed—perfectly embodying “the softest grace is in a lowered gaze.”

Since the moment she appeared, Peng Hongyu had been staring in a daze, mouth slightly open, completely stunned by her beauty.

It wasn’t until she approached that he came back to his senses and immediately held her hand.

“Wife, you’re so beautiful. This bangle really suits you.”

Standing together, they were a picture-perfect couple—talented man, beautiful woman, radiating a sweet, pure love.

Unfortunately, the audience wasn’t buying it. Perhaps because the qipao had been spoiled by an earlier reveal, the anticipation and mystery were gone. When she appeared, there wasn’t that sense of surprise.

She did look beautiful, but it lacked the stunning impact it should have had.

Even their sweet couple interaction lost much of its charm.

The last to walk out was Ren Lu, but instead of the purple fringed dress, she wore a silver, mid-length, hip-hugging dress, also adorned with long tassels, the entire gown shimmering brilliantly.

When she moved, it was as if she were a beautiful mermaid, the dazzling tassels swaying and curling around her calves, making one’s heart itch.

Everyone quickly noticed the enormous pink diamond ring on her ring finger. Even the sparkling fringe couldn’t overshadow the brilliance of that diamond.

——Damn, that’s a huge diamond ring!

——How many carats is that? My eyes are blinded!

——Such a beautiful pink diamond, the clarity must be incredibly high—it’s like a strawberry milkshake.

Lu Sinian stood at the end of the runway waiting. When she walked over, he nodded slightly at her and raised his arm.

Ren Lu smiled softly, gently looping her arm through his, and the two of them walked toward the dining table together.

Without a single word exchanged, the scene was harmonious and eye-catching.

This instantly made Peng Hongyu and his wife, still at the other end of the stage, look much dimmer in comparison, prompting them to hurry toward the table as well.

Ren Lu glanced at their slightly messy steps, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. She picked up a glass of red wine from the table and gestured toward Lu Sinian.

Although the man didn’t understand her sudden mood, he still raised his glass to clink with hers.