Chapter 26

Since Jiang Zhe was taking her out, Jiang Yu decided to go along with all his plans, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she asked, “Where are we going to take pictures?”

“Where do you want to go?” he asked.

Jiang Yu said, “Isn’t it up to you to take me? So I’m asking where you’ll take me.”

“Should I just take you directly there?” he suggested.

“Sounds good.”

After about half an hour of driving, Jiang Zhe brought her to an ancient town in the suburbs. Once they parked the car, he led her to a photography studio nearby.

As they entered, Jiang Zhe said, “This is a place recommended by my colleagues. They say it has a good reputation, you can give it a try.”

Jiang Yu imagined him asking his colleagues for advice. He wasn’t one to engage much with unfamiliar people, so it was sweet of him to do some research just for her.

“I’m kind of looking forward to this,” she admitted.

Once inside the studio, since he had made an appointment beforehand, someone quickly brought out a portfolio of their work and asked, “What kind of photos would you like to take?”

Jiang Yu flipped through the portfolio and said, “I’d like to wear a Warring States robe^[1]The “Warring States robe” likely refers to traditional Chinese clothing from the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), a time of significant social and cultural development in ancient … Continue reading.”

“I think both white and red look good. Which one should we choose?” she pondered aloud.

Seeing her indecision, Jiang Zhe suggested, “Why don’t you pick both?”

Jiang Yu chuckled, feeling pleased with his response. “Exactly! Only children make choices, adults want everything.”

Jiang Zhe replied, “That’s not always true. Maybe children will want everything too.”

Jiang Yu pretended to be annoyed. “Are you saying I’m a child?”

“I didn’t say that,” he quickly denied.

Seeing some boys getting ready to take photos too, Jiang Yu asked Jiang Zhe, “Aren’t you going to take photos with me?”

He shook his head. “No, you just take yours.”

Today was mainly about accompanying her, so Jiang Zhe opted not to take any photos. He wanted to be available to help her if needed while she was getting her hair and makeup done.

However, Jiang Zhe really wasn’t a fan of taking pictures, so Jiang Yu didn’t press the matter.

Soon, the makeup artist came in and complimented Jiang Yu, “Your skin is so nice! We love working with skin like yours!”

Jiang Yu beamed at the compliment, her mood lifted, and her eyes sparkled with joy.

While Jiang Yu looked at her reflection, she noticed her face had rounded out quite a bit, but it didn’t look bad. Her skin was still fair and had a healthy glow, with good elasticity.

Makeup took the longest, but because Jiang Yu had such a good base, it was done quickly. Once her makeup was finished, the stylist started on her hair. Since Jiang Yu didn’t shed much hair, she had a thick mane, but the stylist added some hair extensions for volume. Once the hairstyle was done, she wore a white flowered hairpin and some elegant accessories before the photographer took her to the back alley for the shoot.

Behind them was a courtyard covered in blooming flowers. Jiang Yu stood on the steps, holding a white oil paper umbrella adorned with orchids, posing according to the photographer’s suggestions as she took pictures.

After changing to a few different locations, she switched to another white outfit, slightly adjusting her hairstyle. They had been shooting for the whole morning, and by the time they wrapped up, it was almost noon. Jiang Yu glanced at the photos they had taken. They already looked beautiful, but the final edits would take a little longer to deliver.

Jiang Yu didn’t mind waiting, as she found the scenery in the ancient town quite lovely. She took Jiang Zhe’s hand and led him around to explore.

Right now, Jiang Yu is full of energy. Jiang Zhe couldn’t help but imagine how lively she would be after giving birth. Nevertheless, he was happy to accompany her on their outing.

They had lunch in the ancient town and spent the afternoon wandering around. There were many shops selling various traditional accessories, and whenever Jiang Yu found something she liked, she would ask for his opinion. “Should I buy this?”

Jiang Zhe typically responded with, “If you like it, buy it.”

Without hesitation, Jiang Yu would purchase whatever caught her eye, with Jiang Zhe handling the payment.

They stayed in the town until evening. As night fell, the lanterns around the town lit up, creating a beautiful scene. Jiang Yu spotted boats gliding along the river and eagerly pulled Jiang Zhe along to join her for a boat ride. As the boat drifted down the river, they took in the enchanting sights: white walls and gray tiles, steeped in history, all illuminated by the shimmering lanterns.

They enjoyed their time until late before heading back. Jiang Yu felt that if Jiang Zhe stayed over, they would end up sharing a room again, so she suggested, “Why don’t we go home tonight? I haven’t been back in a few days, and I miss it a little.”

Jiang Zhe hadn’t thought much about home before, but now, hearing the word made his heart flutter, especially since she was referring to their shared home.

“Let’s visit your parents’ house tomorrow for your birthday?” he proposed.

“Sure!”

Jiang Yu pulled out her phone to message her parents, “I’ll ask them to make more delicious food tomorrow. Special days deserve special treats!”

Jiang Zhe couldn’t help but laugh at Jiang Yu’s excitement, wondering who their child would resemble.

The ancient town was much closer to their home, and they arrived in under half an hour. After spending a full day out, Jiang Yu collapsed onto the couch, stretching out lazily.

Having been away for several days, she found everything at home unchanged. The lounge chair on the balcony was still there, looking as inviting as ever.

Yet, even with that familiarity, she found herself missing her little nest. At that moment, she began to understand why some people felt that a brief separation could reignite feelings; seeing the same things every day made one accustomed to their presence, but being away could deepen the longing.

After lounging for a while, Jiang Yu asked Jiang Zhe, “Tomorrow’s my birthday! Have you thought about what gift you’ll give me?”

Jiang Zhe replied, “What do you want?”

Jiang Yu’s eyes widened, feigning a fierce expression. “What? You haven’t prepared a gift for me?”

Jiang Zhe, sensing her playful tone, quickly reassured her, “I’ve already bought one, but I’m not sure if you’ll like it. If you don’t, I can get you something else.”

Jiang Yu smiled cheekily. “I’m sure I’ll like whatever you pick.”

Of course, that was a little white lie. If she truly liked everything, she wouldn’t have so much to say about her husband’s questionable taste on Valentine’s Day.

But she thought Jiang Zhe’s taste couldn’t be that bad, right? If it was, she would have to tease him mercilessly.

Seeing her smile, Jiang Zhe felt a bit unsure of himself.

As midnight passed, he presented her with the gift, wishing her, “Happy birthday!”

Since Jiang Yu usually celebrated her birthday at night, this was the first time someone had wished her precisely at midnight, making her feel especially joyful.

“Thank you!”

She looked at the beautifully wrapped pink box, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “What did you get me?”

“Open it and see.”

Jiang Yu quickly unwrapped the box, revealing a stunning emerald necklace adorned with beautiful gemstones and diamonds. The vintage and elegant design made her eyes almost sparkle with excitement. She had only seen such exquisite pieces in television shows or museums, and this was her first time seeing one in person.

Jiang Zhe watched her in silence, feeling a little anxious as she stared at the necklace. “I hope you like it. I originally wanted to buy something else, but I thought this would suit you better. You’ll look beautiful wearing it.”

Jiang Yu felt a bit nervous herself. “It is beautiful, but I’m worried that I won’t look good wearing it.” She had learned from her colleagues that good emeralds started in the tens of thousands, and she could hardly imagine how much this necklace cost.

Glancing at the certification that accompanied it, she confirmed it was definitely not cheap.

Such gemstones were picky; usually, they looked best on older, more sophisticated individuals. Jiang Yu wasn’t sure if she could pull it off.

Seeing her hesitation, Jiang Zhe felt relieved and smiled. “As long as you like it. If you’re worried about how it looks, we can buy something else.”

In truth, Jiang Yu loved the necklace. She said, “Can you help me put it on and try it out?”

Jiang Zhe moved behind her to fasten the necklace. His touch was gentle and warm, his fingers grazing her neck, sending a slight tickling sensation down her spine.

Before long, he had it fastened and stepped back to admire her. “You look beautiful.”

His eyes sparkled with admiration.

Wearing the necklace made Jiang Yu feel like she was worth a million dollars, and her steps felt a little lighter as she walked around.

She walked over to the mirror to look at herself. Jiang Zhe hadn’t lied. The necklace indeed looked stunning on her, giving her a graceful look without appearing old-fashioned.

Glancing at her outfit, she thought it might look even better if she wore a green dress.

Jiang Yu was overjoyed, admiring herself in the mirror, unable to take her eyes off. She said to Jiang Zhe, “I really like it, but wasn’t it expensive?”

Jiang Zhe replied, “It’s from a jewelry store owned by Wei Cheng’s friend, so it wasn’t too expensive.”

Jiang Yu asked, “Does this kind of necklace cost seven figures?”

Jiang Zhe said, “You’re worth it.”

It seemed like the starting price was no less than five figures.

Feeling complicated, Jiang Yu said after a moment, “Thank you.”

Jiang Zhe’s eyes curved in a smile. “You’re welcome. Your happiness is what matters most. We didn’t even buy rings when we got married. We should get some when we have the time.”

Not only rings, but they also hadn’t had a wedding ceremony. Jiang Zhe wanted to make it up to her with a beautiful wedding in the future.

With a necklace and rings, Jiang Yu could feel the depth of his affection. Her heart felt heavy, as if she might not be able to reciprocate his deep love.

She agreed with a simple “Okay.”

Later, she looked up the price of the necklace using the barcode, and it was more expensive than she had imagined.

Jiang Yu just wanted to cherish it, not daring to wear it out.

The next morning, Jiang Yu got ready to go out early.

They hadn’t bought a cake yet, so Jiang Yu pondered, “Where should we buy a cake?”

“What kind do you want?” Jiang Zhe hadn’t bought a cake in advance, thinking it was better to let Jiang Yu choose.

Jiang Yu decided to check with her parents first. “I’ll see if my parents bought one. If they do and we buy another, we won’t be able to finish them.”

Jiang Zhe had no objections. “Okay.”

Jiang Yu called her father.

As expected, Father Jiang said excitedly, “Your mom bought a cake while grocery shopping this morning. I was just about to call you. Come back early.”

The photos from yesterday’s shoot had also arrived. Despite her noticeable belly, they turned out beautifully.

Wouldn’t this count as a birthday gift to herself?

Jiang Yu smiled at the photos and asked Jiang Zhe, “Did you take me for the photoshoot yesterday as a birthday present too?”

Jiang Zhe said, “Since we took them yesterday, I guess not.”

He had always wanted to take photos of her while she was pregnant, and yesterday had been a perfect opportunity, so he took her.

Jiang Yu gave him a light glare before returning to admire her photos. How could she not share such beautiful photos on social media?

Jiang Yu excitedly posted them on her social media, receiving many likes quickly, including from her parents, Jiang Zhe, and some old acquaintances.

Lin Sicheng even liked the post.

Jiang Yu was puzzled: Why did she still have this guy on her friends list?

She immediately deleted him.

But soon after, she received a friend request from him, asking why she deleted him.

Didn’t he remember what she said last time?

Jiang Yu replied, “Ask your uncle if it’s appropriate for us to be friends,” and then blocked him, feeling a bit disdainful. He had looked down on her before, so why was he now wondering why she deleted him?

Lin Sicheng soon realized he had been blocked by Jiang Yu, feeling a bit unsettled.

He felt that Jiang Yu had changed a lot from before. Even her photos looked better, with a vibrant and captivating aura. He wanted to understand why she had changed so much, but now he couldn’t, as he was blocked.

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