C16 16] Necklace

In that moment, her dignity, self-respect, and arrogance were utterly shattered.

Her cheeks were burning with humiliation as she knelt before the very person she had once scorned.

If given another chance, she would never cross Chen Yang again. But the world doesn't offer a cure for regret.

"Good, that's how you should address me," Chen Yang said with a smile. "Remember to call me that whenever you see me, got it?"

"I got it!" Lee Mi nodded vigorously.

"And keep this to yourself once you leave. I don't want Su Miao finding out about my identity," Chen Yang instructed, looking down at her. "You got that?"

"I've got it," Lee Mi affirmed, meeting Chen Yang's gaze. "You can count on me to keep it under wraps."

Pleased, Chen Yang gave a nod of approval, signaling that they were free to leave.

Once the room had emptied, Zhao Heqiu approached Chen Yang with a bow, his face etched with remorse. "Elder Young Master, I take full responsibility. I failed to keep them in line."

"This isn't on you," Chen Yang dismissed with a wave of his hand.

Watching this, Zhou Youming, Liu Guobang, Zhang Liren, and Shi Lei followed suit, bowing deeply to Chen Yang in respect.

Stepping forward, Zhang Liren said, "Without your help, we wouldn't be where we are today. To show our gratitude, we've put together a special gift just for you."

She presented a box as she spoke.

Five years had flown by, and Zhang Liren had transformed from a girl handing out flyers on the street to the CEO of a cosmetics company. Now, Beauty's products were renowned.

Chen Yang vividly recalled how their paths had crossed. She had found his wallet and waited an entire afternoon just to return it to him.

There was a considerable sum of money in Chen Yang's wallet at the time, a significant amount for someone in her position. Yet, she didn't keep a single cent, insisting on returning it to him.

He could still picture her, swaying slightly as she stood in the relentless sun.

Chen Yang believed that good people deserved rewards, and to encourage her, he had given her a check for half a million yuan to kickstart her business.

Time flies; it's been five years already.

Zhang Liren opened the box to reveal a pair of rings and two bracelets nestled inside.

These were the finest Blood Jade!

Despite Chen Yang's vast experience with jade, he couldn't hide his surprise.

Liu Guobang caught the look on Chen Yang's face and, with a smile, said, "We missed your wedding. These rings and bracelets are our gift to you, Elder Young Master. One set is for you, and the other for the young lady. Both are crafted from the finest Blood Jade. We hope you like them!"

After Liu Guobang finished, Shi Lei stepped forward with another box in hand. "Elder Young Master, your birthday is in just three days. We've prepared this as your birthday gift."

Chen Yang opened the box to find a scroll painting.

If the Blood Jade had mildly surprised him, the painting truly astonished him.

Was this Tang Bohu's Chunshan's Partner Scroll Painting?

But wasn't that painting supposed to be in a museum? How did it end up here?

"Knowing your fondness for Tang Bohu's work, we chose this Chunshan's Partner Scroll Painting as your birthday gift," Liu Guobang said with a sincere smile, his honest face beaming with warmth.

The Chunshan's Partner Scroll Painting also went by another name—The Spring Tree and Autumn Fragrance Diagram.

Chen Yang gave them a heartfelt look and said, "Your thoughtfulness means a lot. I truly appreciate this painting."

He had recently taken the reins at Huanyu and was so busy he barely had time to think, even forgetting his own birthday.

By a twist of fate, Old Madame Su's grand birthday celebration was also in three days.

His own birthday had slipped everyone's mind, and even if they remembered, it wouldn't be a priority.

People were too busy currying favor with Old Madame Su, hoping to secure a larger share of the inheritance when the time came.

It was heartwarming for Chen Yang to realize that, after all these years, there were still those who remembered his special day.

Meanwhile, in a cozy coffee shop in Xichuan City, Wei Mingdong and Su Miao were seated across from each other.

His bankruptcy was not widely known, and Su Miao was still in the dark about Wei Mingdong's financial collapse.

"Miao, I've made up my mind," Wei Mingdong said tenderly, locking eyes with Su Miao. "On grandma's birthday, three days from now, I'm going to propose to you in front of the entire Su family."

"This isn't right," Su Miao said with a furrowed brow. "I'm still not divorced, after all."

Chen Yang might not have been the most capable, but he had taken great care of her over the past two years and had a wonderful personality. Having spent so much time together, she had grown fond of him.

Furthermore, it was Chen Yang who had defended her recently, sparing her from ridicule. He had also managed to secure eight million to save the company from crisis. If it weren't for Chen Yang using his savings at the Dynasty Hotel, she wouldn't have been able to face the Su family with any dignity.

"Miao, you're just too compassionate, and that's why you're so concerned," Wei Mingdong said, gazing at her with tenderness. "He's nothing but a loser, incapable of giving you the life you desire or helping with the company. But don't worry. On Grandma's birthday, I'll present a grand gift. I'm confident she'll be thrilled with what I've prepared, and then I'll ask her to promise you to me."

The Su family's rules were strict, and Old Madame Su, as the matriarch, held the highest authority. If she took a liking to Wei Mingdong, she might very well pressure Su Miao into a divorce. But Su Miao didn't want that; she wasn't heartless. After two years of marriage, she did have feelings for Chen Yang.

"By the way, there's something I've been meaning to ask you," Su Miao interjected.

"What's that?"

"The Blue Life and Death necklace from Sky City—was it really not from you?" Su Miao asked, pausing to sip her coffee.

"Miao, I was fine until you brought it up. Now it just makes me mad," Wei Mingdong said, clearly annoyed. "The necklace I gave you, even though it was a replica, cost me 500,000 in labor and materials. And then Chen Yang had the nerve to throw it on the ground. By the time I got home, it was already broken."

Listening to Wei Mingdong's grievances, Su Miao bit her lip and pressed on, "I'm asking about the authentic piece. Are you sure you didn't give it to me?"

What?

Wei Mingdong was momentarily taken aback, his eyes locking onto the pristine white expanse of Su Miao's neck.

It was then that he noticed the necklace she was wearing—it was the Sky City Blue Life and Death necklace, an exact replica of the one he had commissioned.

Could it be a fake?

Upon closer inspection, Wei Mingdong's jaw dropped.

No, this was no imitation; it was unquestionably authentic.

Su Miao was already breathtaking, but adorned with the Blue Life and Death, her beauty was even more captivating. Wei Mingdong found himself involuntarily swallowing hard at the sight of her.

She was simply too stunning!

Yet, Su Miao's audacity was astonishing. That necklace was worth 20 million USD, equivalent to over a hundred million in RMB.

She was out and about with it on—wasn't she afraid of being robbed?

"Didn't you give me this necklace?" Su Miao inquired once more.

She couldn't fathom anyone other than Wei Mingdong presenting her with such a valuable gift.

She knew well that despite the numerous suitors vying for her attention, those men—mostly heirs to fortunes—though wealthy, would never dream of spending a hundred million on a necklace.

Wei Mingdong saw the truth.

If his hunch was correct, someone else had gifted her the necklace, but she was clueless as to who it could be.

How peculiar.

Wei Mingdong mused, 'The person who gave her this gift didn't even reveal their name. How foolish.'

If you won't come forward and claim it, then I will!

A wave of elation swept through Wei Mingdong. He hadn't anticipated such a fortuitous turn of events.

He scratched his head and feigned a bashful demeanor, confessing, "Miao, there's no point in keeping secrets now. This necklace was indeed my gift to you!"