The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

Winter in Beijing doesn't retain snow.

Just one night later, the snow was melted into muddy black water by the de-icing agent.

Jiang Duo kept the car speed very low, and the tires made a soft rustling sound as they rolled over the wet asphalt.

After leaving Xie Garden, he did not take Shen Ci home directly, but parked the car in the underground parking garage of a high-end shopping mall in the city center.

Shen Ci was full of doubts, but he led her through the corridor and straight into a brightly lit international jewelry counter.

The shop assistant glanced at Jiang Duo's well-tailored dark coat and immediately composed himself, displaying utmost respect.

"Sir, what style would you like to see?"

Jiang Duo turned his head to look at Shen Ci and said, "Couple's rings."

The shop assistants responded immediately, and velvet trays quickly filled the counter.

New arrivals, limited editions, and best-selling items—silver, platinum, and rose gold—dripple with subtle light under the spotlights.

Jiang Duo didn't really know much about these things; he looked at them again and again and found them to be largely the same.

"Youyou, take a look, which ones do you like?" he asked, turning his head to the side.

"Why did you suddenly decide to buy this?"

Having lived in this world for some time, Shen Ci had learned about its customs from the internet and television—when a man and woman enter into a marriage contract, the man will put a diamond ring on the finger of the woman he loves.

But they were just an ordinary couple; they hadn't reached that stage yet.

Jiang Duo noticed her hesitation, and a smile appeared in his deep eyes: "Custom-made items take a long time, and I don't want to wait. I'll contact a jewelry customization company another day to make something even better according to your preferences."

He paused, his gaze falling on a plain band on the tray, his voice low and earnest: "But right now, I want to buy a pair of couple rings for you. That way, when people see the ring on your hand, they'll understand that you're already taken."

Shen Ci remained silent.

Jiang Duo picked out a few and asked the sales assistant to help her try them on.

The spotlights on the counter cast a warm glow, and Shen Ci's fingers, slender and long, gleaming white like jade, were displayed. One ring after another was slipped onto her finger; each one was so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

Jiang Duo stood to the side, his gaze shifting from the ring to her hand, and then slowly to her face.

Only at this moment did he finally understand why his father, no matter how busy he was, would always make time to go to auctions to buy those precious jewels for his mother.

For men who are not good with words and are used to controlling everything with reason—

Material things and actions are often more honest and direct declarations than words.

Jiang Duo paid and asked the sales assistant to pack all the styles Shen Ci had just tried on, along with the matching men's items.

Give me your hand.

A deep voice rang out in the quiet counter, carrying an irresistible gentleness.

His slender fingers held one of the women's rings, lifted Shen Ci's left hand, and with a gentle yet unyielding force, slowly pushed the ring into her left middle finger.

The cool metal pressed against his skin, carrying the warmth of his fingertips, and slid slowly into the base of his fingers, fitting perfectly.

Then, he picked up the matching men's ring and carefully placed it on the middle finger of his right hand.

After doing all this, he naturally flipped his wrist, intertwined his fingers with hers, and held hers tightly.

He turned slightly to the side and placed a kiss on her forehead, his breath brushing against the stray hairs between her brows.

"Youyou," he said in a low, husky, and tender voice that only the two of them could hear.

"In another year, we can get married. Then we can be together every day."

Shen Ci raised her head and looked quietly into his eyes.

Those deep eyes were filled with undisguised expectation and certainty.

He always does what he says he will do.

She was well aware of this.

Shen Ci lowered her eyelashes, looking at the two people's clasped hands, and did not respond.

She doesn't plan to get married that early.

She thought of Aunt Lin—the woman who single-handedly supported herself in life, and the firm and bright light in her eyes when she talked about her career.

Shen Ci knew that she had always wanted that kind of life.

She wanted to be like Aunt Lin, to first settle down in this city, to have her own career, and to have the confidence to stand firm before thinking about other things.

Marriage should not be about dependence, but about two independent individuals standing side by side...

New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye.

Shen Ci followed her father to the Lin family's old house for the New Year. The old courtyard house was covered with red lanterns hanging under the eaves and in front of the corridor. They swayed gracefully in the cold winter air, exuding a strong festive atmosphere.

As soon as she got out of the car, a red figure rushed towards her.

"Sister Youyou!"

Lin Jin grabbed her hand with such force that she staggered forward half a step.

The ten-year-old boy may have gained some weight recently. His face looks rounder than before, and there is an extra layer of soft flesh on his chin, making him wobble when he runs.

He was dressed in a bright red Tang suit with gold trim on the collar and cuffs, and a plump koi fish embroidered on his chest, looking like a New Year's picture doll.

"Sister Youyou, you're finally here!" Lin Jinyi said, pulling Shen Ci into the courtyard. "It's so boring being the only child here. The adults are either drinking tea or playing chess. It's so dull!"

Shen Xiaoming and Lin Ruojin followed behind them. Lin Ruojin was carrying a gift box in her hand. She smiled and shook her head: "Jinyi, slow down, don't fall."

Upon entering the study, Old Master Lin and his two sons stood beside a large mahogany table, on which lay cut pieces of red paper.

Grandpa Lin was holding a wolf-hair brush in his hand, writing the character "福" (fortune) with his wrist suspended. Before he could finish the last stroke, he saw Shen Ci and the others walk in. With a flick of his wrist, the ink splattered onto the red paper, creating a full dot.

"Come and write something," he beckoned, not caring that ink dripped from his brush onto the tablecloth. "It adds to the festive atmosphere."

As he spoke, he glanced at Lin Jinyi, who had just squeezed to the edge of the table, and his mustache twitched: "You little brat, you ran off without writing a single word. What happened to 'Spring Fills the Universe' that I asked you to write?"

Lin Jin shrank back and hid behind Shen Ci, her chubby face rubbing against the sleeve of her down jacket, her voice muffled: "It's...too difficult. Sister Youyou will help me write it in a bit."

Lin Ruojin handed the gift boxes she and Shen Xiaoming were holding to a maid beside her, smiled, and walked forward. She gently pinched Lin Jinyi's chubby cheek and said reproachfully:

"You're always making excuses, and you always like to pester your sister Youyou."

After saying that, she turned to look at Shen Ci and explained softly, "Our family has an old tradition: every New Year, your Grandpa Lin and your uncle like to write a few Spring Festival couplets by hand for good luck."

Shen Ci nodded upon hearing this, took off her coat, and neatly hung it on the hanger next to her.

When she turned around, Lin Ruochen was standing in front of the desk, smiling and beckoning to her, handing her a brush dipped in ink.