C23 I Don't Believe It!

Upon lifting the lid of the box, a pair of exquisitely carved jade ruyi lay on the delicate, softly glowing red velvet.

"This is ice jade!"

"It's more than that. It's nearly glass-type jade. Top-tier within ice jade, and it's bright green. Wow, Xu Shaoning is truly lavish," someone eager for the jade remarked.

"This jade must be worth at least several hundred thousand, right?"

"Several hundred thousand? If you were at the jade market, people would laugh at you for saying that. Considering the size of this jade, along with its seemingly simple yet actually perfect carving, this piece would be worth at least two to three million, and that's a conservative estimate."

Xu Shaoning claimed he wanted to clear up a misunderstanding and apologize to Chen Yaru. Yet, the gift he presented was worth millions. What magnitude of error was he atoning for?

"Xu Shaoning, that's an overstatement, but the gift is indeed too precious. I cannot accept it," Chen Zhaomin declined with grace.

A few million was no small sum. Offering millions in an apology, Chen Zhaomin saw through the gesture—it was likely not just about saying sorry.

Two years prior, Xu Shaoning had pursued his daughter, but the matter fizzled out. Chen Yaru had been deeply affected, becoming distant even from him, her father, and she never revealed the reasons why.

It took nearly a year for Chen Yaru to regain her former cheerfulness. Now, she had taken a liking to Zhang Xiaolong, who, through Lee Donghua, seemed to be a young man with great prospects. Most importantly, he lacked the restlessness of privileged heirs like Wang Changyu, exuding a sense of stability. He was the son-in-law Chen Zhaomin approved of.

Accepting this gift now would imply his approval of Xu Shaoning rekindling a relationship with his daughter—a notion Chen Zhaomin did not favor.

"No, Mr. Chen, you must accept it," Xu Shaoning insisted earnestly. "Regardless of past misunderstandings, accepting this gift would signify Yaru's forgiveness for my previous mistakes, allowing me peace of mind. Moreover, our families might have many opportunities for collaboration in the future. I'm sure you wouldn't want a trivial issue to create a rift between us, would you?"

Chen Zhaomin's face subtly shifted. The words sounded pleasant, but they carried an underlying threat, suggesting that if he didn't accept, a rift would inevitably form between the two families.

"Mr. Zhang Xiaolong?" Xu Shaoning turned with a warm smile. "I was very fond of Yaru, and I still am. If Yaru accepts this gift, it signifies that we can put our past behind us. Then, I hope to compete with you on fair grounds."

"And if we refuse?" Chen Yaru asked, her voice devoid of fear, replaced by a strong aversion.

"Yaru, if you firmly decide not to accept, it only shows that you can't forget our past," Xu Shaoning replied with an elegant smile. "I believe there will be an opportunity once I clear up the misunderstanding."

"That's not true," Chen Yaru interjected, quickly clarifying to Zhang Xiaolong, "I've never been with him; there's no past to speak of."

Xu Shaoning, undeterred by her denial, provocatively addressed Zhang Xiaolong, "I assure you, I won't resort to any underhanded tactics. We'll both rely on our genuine efforts to win Yaru's affection, and ultimately, she'll choose who she wants to be with. So, what do you say? Are you brave enough to take up my challenge?"

Lee Donghua observed the unfolding drama, fully aware of the implications of Xu Shaoning's gift. Yet, he chose not to intervene, recognizing it as a romantic entanglement among three young people.

In his view, Zhang Xiaolong wasn't one to act impulsively without considering the consequences. He was confident that Zhang would handle the situation appropriately, so he remained a silent spectator.

All eyes were now on Zhang Xiaolong, anticipating his response.

"Competition is unnecessary," Zhang Xiaolong stated with composure. "I've never seen Yaru as an object to be auctioned to the highest bidder, not even in matters of the heart. When she loves you, you mean everything to her. But if the day comes when she no longer feels that way, the most honorable thing to do is to gracefully exit her life."

Lee Donghua and Chen Zhaomin gave subtle nods of approval. The man they admired had spoken eloquently, making it clear he had no interest in competing. He subtly suggested that since Yaru's feelings had changed, it was time for Xu Shaoning to respectfully step aside.

Zhang Xiaolong was inwardly celebrating his stroke of luck. "Wow, who knew that reading those romance novels in my spare time would actually come in handy?" he thought. Without them, he wouldn't have been able to articulate his thoughts so smoothly.

"So," Xu Shaoning said, maintaining his composed smile as though everything was unfolding just as he had anticipated, "you've decided not to let Yaru accept this gift? Does Mr. Chen concur with this decision?"

Chen Zhaomin was in the midst of furrowing his brow when Zhang Xiaolong interjected, "No, I believe Yaru isn't so petty. Therefore, I'll accept this gift on her behalf."

Lee Donghua was taken aback, almost thinking he had misheard. But as he watched Zhang Xiaolong take the jade, he inwardly sighed. "Zhang Xiaolong, oh Zhang Xiaolong, you're still too naive, falling right into Xu Shaoning's snare."

Had Chen Yaru flatly refused the gift, it might have created some tension between the Chen and Xu families. But considering the differences in their business ventures, it was unlikely to have serious repercussions.

Yet, Zhang Xiaolong's display of "magnanimity" had unwittingly given Xu Shaoning an opening. With even the slightest chance to draw closer, a man of his caliber would have a myriad of tactics at his disposal to coerce Chen Yaru into reconsidering her choices.

The idea of winning someone over without resorting to manipulation, relying solely on genuine effort and sincerity, was nothing more than sweet talk. Only someone as green as Zhang Xiaolong would fall for that.

"Zhang Xiaolong, you..." Chen Yaru was taken aback as well.

She was quite fond of Zhang Xiaolong, but she had always seen his actions as those of a reliable protector rather than someone with genuine affection for her. Now, his current actions seemed to exceed the duties of a mere protector, leaving her uncertain whether to feel elated or concerned.

"It's merely a piece of craftsmanship. It may not be costly, but it represents Xu Shaoning's thoughtfulness. Yaru, please accept it and consider it closure for Xu Shaoning," Zhang Xiaolong urged.

Closure? That choice of word gnawed at Xu Shaoning internally.

But since the naive young man had accepted the gift, Xu Shaoning was convinced that, in time, Chen Yaru would inevitably become his.

Chen Yaru was caught between laughter and tears, thinking to herself, 'Zhang Xiaolong must have believed this item was worthless, which is why he accepted it so readily, thinking it would save him future trouble and be worthwhile. But the reality is... this item is not just valuable, it's extremely valuable. What should I do now?'

If she were to come clean and insist on returning the gift, wouldn't that be a slight to both Xu Shaoning and Zhang Xiaolong? Offending Xu Shaoning was one thing, but the last thing Chen Yaru wanted was to damage Zhang Xiaolong's pride.

"You're actually calling this a worthless piece of art?" Wang Changyu seized another opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty, puffing himself up with an exaggerated expression. "The value of this item could shock you to death—it's at least three million RMB. And we're talking about real money here, not some underworld currency."

"I maintain that it's an insignificant piece of art," Zhang Xiaolong replied with a serene smile. "If you don't believe me, why don't we place a wager?"