Chapter 391: A Different Kind of Gift

Fang Jie and Shi Liu returned from buying groceries, and Shi Youxuan went to the kitchen to cook with Fang Jie, but she was shunned.

"You aren't needed here; I can work faster without your help."

Shi Youxuan was pushed out of the kitchen by Fang Jie.

Of course, she knew that helping was actually hindering, only making things more chaotic.

But what could she do?

She didn't know where else to go besides the kitchen.

Shi Youxuan was very happy that Sheng Hanyu had returned this time, but he was overly polite and lacking in warmth toward her!

With this attitude of his, she couldn't exactly throw herself at him, could she?

There was no precedent for such a thing, and Shi Youxuan still couldn't bring herself to do it.

The father and daughter were chatting happily in the living room, and she couldn't get a word in, so she felt a bit awkward just sitting there.

Just then, Sheng Hanyu spoke up on his own: "Chairman Shi, I have a gift for you; I hope you like it."

She liked gifts—no matter what it was, she liked it—but she didn't like this form of address.

It was too professional.

But she couldn't object, so she just felt awkward inside.

The gift Sheng Hanyu gave her was a diamond necklace—it was too ugly.

The diamond wasn't small, but what kind of cut was that?

It looked like a defective product.

"Thank you." Shi Youxuan prepared to put it away.

No matter what, it was a gift from someone, and even if she disliked it, she couldn't show it on the spot.

But Shi Ran didn't give him any face; not only did she point out that the necklace wasn't pretty at all, but she also took out her own gift for comparison—it was the same diamond necklace, but the craftsmanship was exquisite and masterful!

Often, things shouldn't be compared.

Before comparing, she could still maintain some mental balance, but once compared, her own was simply unacceptable.

If it was bad, it was bad; it was obvious at a glance.

But Shi Ran still had to put the two necklaces together for comparison: "Daddy, why is the necklace you gave me so beautiful, and the one you gave Mommy so ugly?"

Sheng Hanyu took them over to look closely: "Is it ugly? I think it's quite pretty, prettier than yours."

Shi Youxuan:...

She complained in her heart: Sheng Hanyu, have you gone blind again?

Which eye of yours sees that it's pretty?

Shi Ran looked at it very seriously and carefully, savoring it, and finally reached a conclusion—it wasn't pretty at all, and Daddy had a problem with his aesthetics.

But she was a thoughtful little girl.

Shi Ran said she was still young and didn't need to wear a necklace; she wanted to swap gifts with Mommy, giving the pretty one to Mommy and taking the ugly one for herself.

"No."

Before Shi Youxuan could even express an opinion, Sheng Hanyu had already strongly opposed it.

He used all sorts of reasons to refuse to let Shi Ran and Shi Youxuan swap gifts, and he looked nervous, which made Shi Youxuan feel even more uncomfortable.

It was just a diamond necklace; was there any need for him to be so nervous?

It was as if she would take advantage of her daughter.

If she wanted a diamond necklace, what kind couldn't Shi Youxuan afford to buy?

She snatched both necklaces away in a huff and shoved them into Sheng Hanyu's arms: "Stop arguing, I'm giving them both back to you. I don't want either of them; look how nervous you are."

Sheng Hanyu:...

Shi Youxuan went to the Study and sat there sulking.

"Knock, knock."

"No one's here," she said crossly.

"No one" Sheng Hanyu entered anyway.

He was still holding that ridiculously ugly necklace in his hand, quite persistent.

Sheng Hanyu pulled over a chair, sat opposite her, and fiddled with the necklace; he was fidgety and hesitant, but he still said: "I made this necklace myself, it's not pretty, is it..."

Shi Youxuan:...

Her pent-up anger and grievances vanished in an instant.

Her large eyes sparkled with brilliance: "What did you say? Say it again."

So Sheng Hanyu said it again: "I made this necklace myself, using the best diamonds from this batch, but I didn't cut it well."

"Let me see."

Shi Youxuan took the necklace from his hand and looked at it carefully: "It's cut quite well; irregular and asymmetrical shapes are popular internationally right now."

"Is that so?" A sparkle also flashed in Sheng Hanyu's eyes.

"Yes, it is. If you don't believe me, I'll put it on and show you."

She put the necklace around her neck and then let Sheng Hanyu look: "Is it pretty?"

"Pretty." This guy only glanced at the necklace with the corner of his eye, and then his gaze remained fixed on Shi Youxuan's face, unable to move away, staring at her the whole time.

She blushed.

Shi Youxuan felt embarrassed and turned her head to look at the wall, but she could still feel that burning gaze fixed on her face!

If it were before, she would have glared back and added: "What are you looking at? Keep looking and I'll dig your eyeballs out!"

But now she didn't; she couldn't bring herself to be fierce.

"It's wearing a bit crooked, let me straighten it for you."

Sheng Hanyu walked around the desk to stand in front of her, his hand reaching around her neck to the position of her necklace...

The two were so close that they could even feel each other's breath!

Shi Youxuan dared not look at him; she felt her face growing even redder, so hot that her breathing became a little hurried.

Yet this man asked a question he already knew the answer to: "Why is your face red?"

"It's, it's the heating! It's hot," she replied.

"Oh, so it's hot? No wonder your forehead is damp." Sheng Hanyu braced one hand against the wall, and with his other large hand, he gently touched Shi Youxuan's forehead; without using a tissue, he simply used his fingers to gently wipe the sweat from her brow!

The two were pressed so closely together that the posture was somewhat ambiguous.

Moreover, he kept looking at her, his gaze growing increasingly intense!

The distance between the two was also closing; they were about to kiss, and Shi Youxuan tilted her head back and closed her eyes...

"Bang!"

The Study door was pushed open, and the little girl walked in: "What are you two doing?"

The two separated like lightning.

They explained at the same time.

Sheng Hanyu: "I'm helping your mother put on her necklace."

Shi Youxuan: "He's helping me blow dust out of my eye!"

The little girl tilted her head, blinked her big eyes, and asked: "So, what are you actually doing?"

Adults always think children don't understand anything; they always like to wishfully believe that they can fool a child with a casual lie, and yet they don't allow children to lie!

Sheng Hanyu: "Blowing dust out of her eye."

Shi Youxuan: "Putting on a necklace."

Then the two looked at each other, and both felt a bit awkward looking at their daughter.

Shi Youxuan had experience; whenever this happened, she would put on a stern face and change the subject, just like now: "Shi Ran, how many times have I told you? Children must be polite and well-mannered. Good manners are cultivated in the little things of daily life..."

She wanted to make an issue of her daughter entering the Study without knocking, but a few words from Shi Ran left Shi Youxuan speechless: "Children shouldn't lie, and adults shouldn't either."

Shi Youxuan:...

Although she was in the wrong, she could use her status as a parent to be unreasonable.

Shi Youxuan walked over and tugged at her daughter's pigtail: "Alright, you're not even fully grown yet and you're ready to go against me, aren't you? I think you have too little homework and are bored with nothing to do. How about this: memorize all the Chinese language texts for elementary school..."

She was blatantly picking a fight.

Shi Ran could only submit.

The little girl made a bitter face, reluctantly apologized and admitted her mistake, and then the matter was considered over.

Fang Jie prepared a table full of delicious dishes to welcome Sheng Hanyu home.

Seafood was a must; ever since Sheng Hanyu became desensitized to seafood, he had loved it and wanted to eat it at almost every meal.

But he picked up a large shrimp, peeled it in a few quick motions, and placed it in Shi Youxuan's bowl; the second one went to Shi Ran.

For the first time ever, Shi Youxuan also peeled a shrimp for Sheng Hanyu and put it in his bowl: "You eat too, don't just look after us."

"Okay."

The hand Sheng Hanyu used to hold his chopsticks trembled slightly; he was moved.