Chapter 1008: She is like a different person

"Heng Lung Plaza, Zhonghui District."

"Cartier."

Li Xiao was accompanying Qiu Keying to try on rings.

"Does it look good?"

Qiu Keying was wearing a pink diamond ring, holding her hand out in front of Li Xiao, asking with a charming smile.

Her hand was fair, tender, and slender, with distinct knuckles, making the color of the pink diamond appear even more pure and saturated. Even the sales assistant standing to the side couldn't help but take a half-step forward, praising her with sincere tone: "Your skin tone really complements pink diamonds. Pink diamonds are the most selective; they look dull on darker skin, but on skin as fair as yours, they look even more radiant. Conversely, your fair skin also makes this pink diamond look even more beautiful."

Qiu Keying was pleased to hear this and shook her finger for Li Xiao to see: "What do you think?"

Li Xiao nodded with a smile in his eyes: "It looks quite good. Do you like it?"

Qiu Keying stared at it for a long while, then hesitated: "This diamond is quite beautiful, but the style of the ring is a bit ordinary."

Hearing this, Li Xiao immediately looked at the sales assistant and asked: "Are there any other styles of pink diamond rings?"

"Yes, sir. Please wait a moment."

As soon as the sales assistant left, Qiu Keying immediately clung to him, wrapping her arms around Li Xiao's arm, resting her head lightly on his shoulder, her voice filled with coquettish softness: "Do you think I'm being too picky? I've tried on so many, yet I haven't found a ring I'm satisfied with."

"How could that be? You only get engaged once in your life; of course, you have to choose the ring you are most satisfied with." Li Xiao coaxed her very gently: "Try on as many as you like. If we don't find one today, we'll come back tomorrow."

Qiu Keying was both happy and shy, her entire heart floating with joy.

Just then, a soft voice came from the counter next to them: "Wendy, go help me get some ribbon; I'm going to wrap this necklace."

Their attention was instantly drawn. Qiu Keying subconsciously looked over and saw a sales assistant carrying a black velvet tray, on which lay a multicolored diamond necklace—the moist glow of pink diamonds, the clarity of blue diamonds, the intensity of red diamonds, and the brilliance of yellow diamonds intertwined, making the entire necklace shimmer with a dazzling, breathtaking light.

"So beautiful..." Qiu Keying whispered in a low voice. Her body acted faster than her brain; she walked over quickly, her tone filled with urgency: "Wait a moment, please. May I take a look at this necklace?"

"Of course you may." The sales assistant smiled and placed the tray gently on the glass counter, her tone polite yet carrying a hint of a reminder: "I'm sorry, miss, you may view it up close, but please do not touch it with your hands. This necklace has already been reserved by a client."

Even just looking at it with the naked eye, the necklace was stunningly beautiful.

"Do you like it?"

Li Xiao walked to the side and asked softly.

Qiu Keying nodded repeatedly: "I like it, I like it so much."

The sales assistant's gaze drifted between Qiu Keying and Li Xiao, a hint of understanding in her eyes, but she said nothing more.

Li Xiao, however, looked at the sales assistant without hesitation and asked: "Does this necklace have a matching one?"

"I am truly sorry, sir." The sales assistant wore an apologetic smile and shook her head slightly, "This necklace is a custom piece for a client. Even the red and blue diamonds inlaid on it were provided by the client herself. There is only this one; there are no others like it."

Hearing this, disappointment washed over Qiu Keying's face.

Li Xiao naturally had no solution either; for custom pieces like this, money didn't necessarily guarantee a purchase.

Just then, the sales assistant's gaze shifted toward the entrance of the store, her face instantly lighting up with a warm, enthusiastic smile, her tone becoming exceptionally intimate: "Miss Lin, you're here!"

Qiu Keying's attention was still on the necklace, but Li Xiao subconsciously turned his head to look.

And when he saw the person who had appeared in his line of sight, his entire body instantly froze in place.

Lin... Biji!

This unexpected encounter disrupted her original plans and rhythm.

But it was only for a split second. Lin Biji quickly wiped away the surprise in her eyes, raised a bright, charming smile, and walked over quickly, her tone intimate and cheerful: "Brother Li Xiao!"

That "Brother Li Xiao" was like a thunderclap, instantly pulling the stunned Li Xiao back to his senses.

Qiu Keying also turned her head at the sound. When she saw this young, beautiful, and outstandingly elegant girl calling Li Xiao with such intimacy, her expression subconsciously darkened. A warning alarm went off in the depths of her heart, and her gaze became filled with scrutiny.

Lin Biji walked slowly up to Li Xiao, her demeanor elegant and proper, without the slightest overstepping. She wore a perfectly arched smile, her eyes clear and harmless, completely devoid of the spoiled, willful manner she used to have whenever she saw Li Xiao and would rush up to hook her arm through his.

Apart from her face, she seemed to have become a different person.

"Long time no see." Li Xiao twitched the corners of his mouth, his voice a bit dry, giving a response purely out of instinct.

His heart was a mess right now, tangled like a ball of yarn—he had never anticipated running into Lin Biji here; he had almost forgotten this person existed.

"Li Xiao, who is this?" Qiu Keying took a step forward, subconsciously hooking her arm through Li Xiao's, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible vigilance as she couldn't help but ask.

Before Li Xiao could respond, Lin Biji took the initiative to greet her politely: "Hello, miss. You must be Brother Li Xiao's girlfriend, right? You are so beautiful."

The opening was a sincere compliment, and there was no hostility in her tone or demeanor, only goodwill. This caused the vigilance in Qiu Keying's heart to loosen, and the expression on her face softened: "Hello."

"Brother Li Xiao and I grew up together. Our families are old friends. He and I are just like brother and sister; we grew up playing together." Lin Biji added with a smile, her tone natural and intimate.

This explanation instantly dispelled all the warning alarms in Qiu Keying's heart—so she was just a little sister from a family friend she had known since childhood. No wonder the address was so intimate. The vigilance on her face completely faded, replaced by a warm smile.

Hearing Lin Biji's words, Li Xiao instantly felt relieved, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and he hurriedly followed her lead: "Yes, Keying, her name is Qiqi. We've known each other since we were kids."

"Nice to meet you, Qiqi. My name is Qiu Keying." Qiu Keying smiled and extended her hand, her tone becoming intimate as well.

Lin Biji smiled and extended her hand, touching her fingertips to hers for a split second before letting go. But her next sentence instantly made Li Xiao, who had just relaxed, break out in a cold sweat, his heart shrinking violently.

"Brother Li Xiao, it really has been a long time. I still remember, the last time we saw each other was..." Lin Biji said, deliberately furrowing her brows, putting on a look of deep recollection.