Chapter 44: I Didn’t Prepare a Gift

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For someone of Rong Nianqing’s status, her birthday banquet was not particularly grand. The guests invited were all familiar luminaries from various fields. Thus, Rong Nianqing and the woman by her side warmly greeted the arriving guests outside, exchanging cordial pleasantries.

Soon, it was Jian Xiaojie’s turn. She took the gift from Lv Yao and called out affectionately, “Aunt Meng~ I’ve missed you so much~”

Aunt Meng looked at the approaching Jian Xiaojie with a smile in her eyes. “Why can’t you ever be serious? Is everything at home well?”

Jian Xiaojie replied cheerfully, “All good~” as she presented the gift. “This is for Nianqing—a set of Ru porcelain cups by the master potter from Linru. I know both you and Nianqing enjoy a little drink, so I specially went to Linru to have these custom-made.”

Aunt Meng accepted the gift with a pleased nod. “How thoughtful~ Nianqing will come find you later.”

“Great~”

After exchanging greetings, Zhu Junyan came over holding a replica of the Four Rams Square Zun vessel. Though Aunt Meng wasn’t very familiar with Zhu Junyan, she had researched his family background when the invitations were sent out. So they enjoyed a pleasant conversation.

Lv Yao accompanied Jian Xiaojie into the banquet hall. Amid the clusters of guests, he immediately spotted Gan Xiaoxi surrounded by a few men and women.

Unlike Rong Nianqing, who wore an all-black ensemble adorned only with a ruby brooch at her chest, Gan Xiaoxi’s style leaned toward gentle elegance. She wore a plush textured top with a wide collar and ribbed cuffs narrowing at the wrists. Her skirt was an understated A-line in soft coffee tones, simple yet refined.

Her outfit did not flaunt wealth, but exuded a serene, slightly aloof grace, creating a captivating aura. A valuable diamond hairpiece at the nape of her neck subtly elevated the ensemble’s noble air.

Undeniably, Rong Nianqing and Gan Xiaoxi were almost polar opposites in appearance, personality, and style. When standing together, they resembled a perfect pair.

Gan Xiaoxi excused herself from the group as she saw Jian Xiaojie approaching and greeted her warmly, “Sister Jian, over here.”

Jian Xiaojie smiled back, “You look especially gentle today. Who are you planning to charm?”

Gan Xiaoxi stepped back and appraised Jian Xiaojie and Lv Yao. “You two aren’t bad either. Anyone unaware might think you’re the main attractions.”

Turning to Lv Yao, she extended her hand. “Handsome, nice to see you again.”

Lv Yao shook her hand briefly and released it. “Hello.”

His restraint and reserve made Gan Xiaoxi quite fond of him. This wasn’t a forced avoidance but a genuine reluctance to engage too deeply, emanating naturally from within.

Gan Xiaoxi appreciated this measured coolness and offered Jian Xiaojie and Lv Yao two glasses of champagne before initiating more conversation. Lv Yao answered every question politely and with courtesy.

Yet, when chatting with Jian Xiaojie, his deft humor and easy banter revealed he was far from taciturn. This showed self-awareness; he deliberately limited contact, unwilling to invest emotional energy unnecessarily.

Such careful navigation of social boundaries was rather endearing.

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Therefore, Gan Xiaoxi was happy to chat more with Lv Yao. He neither flaunted himself nor flattered others. With Lv Yao and Jian Xiaojie as her shields, those with ulterior motives around her knew to keep their distance. A win-win situation.

Heh! Gan Xiaoxi silently congratulated herself for her cleverness.

Soon, after finishing her reception duties, Rong Nianqing left the greeting area and found Gan Xiaoxi. Meanwhile, Aunt Meng, who seemed to be Gan Xiaoxi’s mother, mingled with other important guests.

Such birthday banquets were more akin to a social gathering for fostering connections—business often outweighing personal matters.

Rong Nianqing sighed as she joined Gan Xiaoxi’s table, confessing, “So tiring! Every year it’s the same hassle on my birthday!”

Her attire suggested she preferred quiet solitude.

Gan Xiaoxi immediately nestled close to soothe her. “Not tiring, not tiring. I’ll give you a massage later~”

Hm?

Lv Yao raised an eyebrow—had he guessed right earlier?

But Rong Nianqing quickly pulled away. “Behave yourself! There are so many guests tonight.”

“Tch.”

Gan Xiaoxi pouted but then shifted her gaze to Lv Yao. “By the way, what gifts did you both bring for Sister Qing?”

Jian Xiaojie answered, “A pair of Ru porcelain cups.”

Zhu Junyan said, “A replica of the Four Rams Square Zun.”

Gan Xiaoxi then looked expectantly at Lv Yao.

Lv Yao frowned. “What are you looking at me for?”

Gan Xiaoxi froze briefly. “Your gift?”

Lv Yao smiled. As a man living off his partner, essentially just an accessory, what gift could he possibly have brought?

Gan Xiaoxi was interesting indeed.

Jian Xiaojie quickly intervened to smooth things over. “Our gift was a joint one~”

Gan Xiaoxi teased, “Liar,” then put on an exaggeratedly fake sad face, “I thought we were friends.”

They hadn’t interacted much before at the mall in Haolong.

Unexpectedly, the gentle-looking Gan Xiaoxi was quite mischievous.

Jian Xiaojie rolled her eyes.

Rong Nianqing was speechless.

Apologizing to Lv Yao, Rong Nianqing said, “Don’t mind her. Sometimes she’s just a little scatterbrained.”

Lv Yao chuckled, “No, she’s quite adorable.”

He then rifled through Jian Xiaojie’s bag and pulled out a small transparent cup. “Since I didn’t bring a gift, how about I perform a little magic trick instead?”

How novel!

Rong Nianqing smiled, “Alright, show me.”

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Gan Xiaoxi eagerly claimed credit to Rong Nianqing, “See? I told you a crying child gets the milk.”

Lv Yao: “...” That phrase has since been ruined on the internet—one must not use it carelessly.

He raised his hand and showed everyone the transparent bottle. “Inside is a single die.”

Then, with a sharp shake, he made the die inside the bottle scatter into a pile of tiny dice with a tinkling sound.

The crowd was speechless.

Rong Nianqing barely held back a laugh but forced out an awkward smile. “Th-thank you... a very impressive trick.”

Gan Xiaoxi’s toes curled in embarrassment. “That was so clumsy! There must be a mechanism inside!”

Lv Yao opened the bottle and revealed the die’s outer shell magnetically attached inside. “Exactly, you’re very clever.”

Humph.

Gan Xiaoxi felt a bit smug.

Lv Yao reset the trick and handed the bottle to Rong Nianqing. “You try.”

Rong Nianqing laughed—a sure sign of speechless amusement.

Still, she took the bottle and shook it vigorously.

With a clear clinking sound, this time what fell out was not the pile of dice but a golden bracelet.

Huh?

Gan Xiaoxi was stunned.

Rong Nianqing was equally taken aback.

Lv Yao smiled as he took the bottle back and pulled out the bracelet. “Please give me your hand.”

Rong Nianqing complied instinctively.

Across the table, Lv Yao gently fastened the slender golden bracelet around her fair, delicate wrist.

“Happy birthday, Miss Rong.”

Gan Xiaoxi’s eyes nearly popped out — damn! Is this guy too smooth?

Zhu Junyan, the wealthy playboy known only for throwing money around, suddenly wanted to kneel before Lv Yao and ask if he’d take him as a disciple.

Jian Xiaojie stared at Lv Yao in disbelief, biting her lip.

Ahhh, this is infuriating!! Sister Shu is way too fortunate!!