They finally settled on a diamond ring priced just over fifty thousand.
Its simple band was engraved with bamboo leaf patterns and set with tiny diamonds.
It fit their fingers perfectly.
Mingzhu ran her fingertips gently over it. After a moment's hesitation, the salesperson quoted fifty-five thousand. When Shang Chi looked down to ask, she nodded.
Shang Chi followed the salesperson to pay.
Mingzhu mused with a touch of worry: Shangchi was perfect in every way, except when it came to spending money—he seemed far too generous.
She had just emptied her savings to buy a car, yet here he was eyeing diamond rings priced at over a hundred thousand.
With his monthly salary of only five or six thousand, how long would it take him to save up?
As these thoughts swirled, Mingzhu tapped her phone and sighed in relief.
Thankfully, she had money.
Mingzhu wasn't materialistic. She rarely went out and had few expenses.
Over the years, she'd only touched a tenth of her mother's inheritance. After coming of age, she'd joined her teacher Qi Lan on performances, meeting many influential people.
Invitations came from all sides, and part-time gigs followed.
Her appearance fees were never low.
But Mingzhuo's temperament was slow-paced, and her eye condition made long-distance travel inconvenient, so she only took local, convenient jobs.
It seemed she could take on more part-time work in the future.
Her teacher's household relied on her income, while her teacher's husband stayed home as a homemaker.
Mingzhuo took a shallow breath, gathering her courage.
She could support Shang Chi too!
Meanwhile, Shang Chi frowned and clicked his tongue at the bill popping up on his phone.
Less than three hundred thousand.
In all the weddings he'd attended growing up, where had he ever seen such a cheap wedding ring?
If his family and friends found out, they'd immediately ask if he'd gone bankrupt or suspect he'd just been trying to get rid of her.
With regret, Shang Chi tore his gaze away from the dazzling 10-carat diamond ring inside the display case. Clutching the necklace he'd selected, he walked back to Mingzhe.
Lost in thought, her dark lashes lowered, lips pressed together, her snow-white profile bathed in light—she radiated an inexplicable, all-or-nothing resolve.
As if she might dash out the door any second to take on ten jobs.
Amused by his own imagination, Shang Chi curved his lips upward. He deliberately made his footsteps heavier, waiting until Mingzhu lifted her head in his direction before speaking. "We bought the necklace together. Shall I put it on you now?"
Mingzhu nodded obediently.
Remembering her preference for simplicity, Shang Chi had chosen a sleek platinum chain—a slender, elongated strand.
Held between his fingers for a moment, the cool metal warmed to her body heat. He threaded it through the circle of her wedding band, guided it past the dark locks she'd swept to her shoulder, and let it settle gently against the snow-white skin of her neck.
Shang Chi fastened the clasp, yet his gaze lingered, unable to tear away.
For the marriage certificate photoshoot, the professional studio's stylist had chosen a square-neck white dress for Mingzhuo, adorned with scattered jasmine blossoms that added a touch of delicate charm.
One such blossom rested just beside the neckline.
Shang Chi stood tall, while Mingzhu kept her head bowed low. Her delicate shoulders and neck glowed like snow-white jade. His gaze drifted downward, instantly captivated by the soft, supple skin partially veiled by the jasmine petal.
The wedding ring, shimmering with light, hung at her chest, rising and falling with each gentle breath.
Even the jasmine flower trembled ever so slightly.
Timid and delicate.
Like a pool of snow crashing into his eyes.
"...Are you done yet?"
Mingzhuo felt her neck growing stiff from leaning forward. The warm, long fingers resting faintly on the back of her neck hadn't moved for a while, and she couldn't help but whisper the question.
"..." A hurried, low cough. The fingers slid away from her nape. The man's voice was slightly hoarse. "It's done."
Mingzhu didn't notice anything amiss. She tilted her head back again, sweeping her jet-black hair behind her neck.
The jasmine flower pressed against her chest, its delicate petals concealing everything.
Shang Chi took a step back, his Adam's apple rolling slightly as he lifted his gaze to Mingzhuo's face.
"Should we adjust the length?"
Mingzhu raised her hand, brushing the wedding ring resting on her chest before shaking her head. "It's perfect."
Her pink-tinged fingertips pressed against her snow-white skin, the ring reflecting the shop's overly bright lights.
He tried to look away, yet found himself irresistibly drawn back.
Shang Chi lowered his long lashes, paused briefly, then spoke: "That's good."
He turned and walked to the counter, reaching out to take another men's ring.
Perhaps the sound of his footsteps had caused Ming Zhu to misunderstand something.
She stumbled a few steps to catch up, failing to gauge the distance, and nearly collided with the chair in front of the counter.
Shang Chi reacted swiftly, grabbing her arm and pulling the unsteady Ming Zhu into his embrace.
Uncertain whether it was nervousness or concern, her heartbeat quickened sharply, even her speech becoming more hurried.
"There's a chair over there, you..."
The cuff of his suit jacket was gripped by slender white fingers.
Mingzhu tilted her face up, her amber eyes reflecting the overhead lights, clumsy and flustered as she whispered, "Where's your ring?"
Shang Chi froze. "What?"
Ming Zhe fluttered her lashes, her eyes sparkling with scattered light. As she spoke, her pale pink lips parted and closed, occasionally pouting slightly, pressing against that tiny pearl-like lip bump.
What on earth is she babbling about?
Shang Chi narrowed his eyes slightly, watching that soft, plump little lip pearl. An inexplicable, burning thirst rose in his throat.
...Looks so soft. So kissable.
Only when Mingzhe finished speaking did she unconsciously lick her lips. A flash of crimson tongue vanished, leaving only a faint sheen of moisture on her lips.
Shang Chi processed the words he'd just caught, a split second too late.
She said.
"You put my ring on me."
"Then where's your ring?"
"...Shouldn't I put it on you?"
-
Xiao Zhu: Breathing
Shang Chi: She's going for me!