"Me?" Su Huaiming looked at Fu Jingfan's expression and swallowed back the words "When will I give it to you?"
Fu Jingfan knew how to gauge the situation well. Seeing that Su Huaiming's attitude had softened a bit, he continued, "I remember when you finished filming the commercial, you brought me a late-night snack and put this box on my desk. Wasn't that a gift for me?"
The more natural Fu Jingfan's attitude was, the less Su Huaiming could open his mouth.
If he takes the ring back, wouldn't that be implying to Fu Jingfan that he's just being presumptuous?
Fu Jingfan is extremely shrewd and adept at maintaining a facade in public. Even at home, he always appears impeccably dressed, clearly someone who values appearances. Therefore, I need to be very tactful in my words to avoid hurting Fu Jingfan's pride.
Before Su Huaiming could figure out how to start the conversation, Fu Jingfan leaned back on the sofa with his arms crossed, looking relaxed, and asked leisurely, "My initials are engraved on the inner circle here. Wasn't it a gift for me?"
Su Huaiming: "!!"
How can there be such shameless, no... self-righteous people in the world?
Fu Jingfan had put his words to this point, completely blocking all avenues for Su Huaiming to take. Su Huaiming opened his mouth, stared blankly at Fu Jingfan, and couldn't utter a single word.
Fu Jingfan founded the Fu Group from scratch and has extensive experience in business negotiations. He successfully grasped the rhythm and, before Su Huaiming could react, used his next move.
He stood up, took a beautiful jewelry box from the table, and pushed it in front of Su Huaiming: "Take a look."
Su Huaiming, unsure how to defuse the awkward situation, immediately opened the jewelry box upon hearing Fu Jingfan's words.
The ruby shone brightly in the darkness, as if all the colors of the world had converged there, rich and vibrant.
This was none other than the very same collar button he had chosen for Fu Jingfan that day. He had thought it was too expensive and hadn't bought it then, so how did it end up in front of him now?
The throbbing feeling in his chest returned, Su Huaiming looked at Fu Jingfan with surprise, his emotions clearly revealed in his eyes.
Fu Jingfan slightly curled the corners of his lips, radiating a pleasant aura, but his expression was well-disguised, maintaining just the right distance to avoid arousing Su Huaiming's suspicion. "The butler told me about what happened that day, mentioning this collar button. I was just thinking about what to give you in return, so I took advantage of this opportunity."
A return gift?
Fu Jingfan not only controlled the pace of the game, but also grasped Su Huaiming's psychology. He even anticipated Su Huaiming's next questions.
Fu Jingfan nodded and said, "You gave me a ring, which was a gift you received during your first advertisement shoot. It's very meaningful, and I can't accept it without feeling comfortable doing so, so naturally I have to give you a gift in return."
After speaking, Fu Jingfan looked at Su Huaiming with a smile, seemingly anticipating his answer, "Do you like it?"
These were the collar buttons that Su Huaiming had initially liked, so naturally he liked them. He subconsciously replied, only then realizing something was amiss.
It's not a matter of whether you like it or not!
Before Su Huaiming could figure out how to start the conversation, Fu Jingfan had already offered him a way out, asking with a puzzled look, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Su Huaiming: "..."
It seems that Fu Jingfan only sees this as an ordinary gift. If he acts too coy and takes the ring back, it will seem as if he has other intentions, which will make the situation awkward and leave both of them embarrassed.
Just as Su Huaiming was agonizing over the decision, Fu Jingfan glanced at his phone and said politely, "I have a video conference later, it's quite important."
Su Huaiming understood the implied message to leave, and subconsciously didn't want to stay any longer, so he immediately picked up the tray, told Fu Jingfan, and left the study.
After closing the door, Su Huaiming let out a long sigh of relief, and his steps slowed down.
His muddled mind calmed down, his thoughts gradually cleared, and he realized something.
Su Huaiming suddenly stopped in his tracks, his ferocious expression reflected in the mirror.
Wait a minute, these are couple rings! He's holding one, and Fu Jingfan is holding the other. What's going on here?!
Chapter 81
Su Huaiming was not completely ignorant about this.
Fu Jingfan has been acting like a peacock displaying its feathers lately, and the two have been having much more intimate contact lately, which is quite unusual.
But Su Huaiming feared that he was just being delusional. After all, no matter how rational Fu Jingfan was, he couldn't escape his biological instincts. Perhaps it was just the season, and male animals were releasing hormones and showing off their charm, not just targeting him.
Moreover, he was leaving soon, and staying an extra month was to allow Fu Xiaoxiao to adjust to the situation. He and Fu Jingfan no longer had any relationship.
Thinking about it this way, Su Huaiming realized something was wrong again.
Fu Jingfan doesn't seem to have hinted at this matter with Fu Xiaoxiao. Is he planning to proceed gradually?
But the pace is far too slow.
Su Huaiming was given a second chance and just wanted to enjoy life. He didn't want to worry about things he couldn't solve or understand. This was the first time he had ever felt so conflicted and confused.
Su Huaiming sat on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, unconsciously tugging at the fur of his doll. His brows were furrowed, and he looked troubled, sighing every now and then.
Time passed slowly, and by the time Su Huaiming came to his senses, half an hour had already gone by.
He sat up abruptly, his expression turning serious, his eyes no longer hesitant.
He and Fu Jingfan's rings were a couple's rings. Even if it would make things awkward and leave him embarrassed, he absolutely couldn't leave that ring with Fu Jingfan.
It's also necessary to put getting Fu Xiaoxiao used to his departure on the agenda.
Su Huaiming stood up, intending to go to the study to find Fu Jingfan, when his phone suddenly rang, interrupting his thoughts.
Su Huaiming picked up his phone and saw the caller ID.
Having not seen the old lady for a long time, Su Huaiming missed her. After chatting for a while, the old lady invited Su Huaiming to her studio.
After hanging up the phone, Su Huaiming went outside for a walk but couldn't find Fu Jingfan. He then learned from the housekeeper that Fu Jingfan had gone to the company.
With no other option, he had to put the matter aside for the time being, change his clothes, and take a car to the old lady's studio.
When we met, the old lady was still wearing a cheongsam, the velvet texture making her look even more luxurious. She wore a pearl necklace, and her silver hair was casually piled up behind her head. Her eyes were brighter than those of young people, and the wrinkles on her face were the accumulation of experience. She had returned to simplicity after washing away the glitz and glamour. Every move she made exuded elegance and composure. She was truly a beauty that time could not defeat.
Knowing that Su Huaiming was coming, the old lady waited for him at the door. Even from a distance, Su Huaiming saw the old lady standing gracefully at the door, and his heart calmed down.
Su Huaiming had no relatives in this world, and the old lady was like an elder to him. She was kind and full of love, Su Huaiming couldn't help but feel attached to her, treating her with the respect due to his own elder.
The old lady and Su Huaiming were close friends despite their age difference. Their interactions were like those of friends and family, creating a natural and harmonious atmosphere.
The old lady looked Su Huaiming up and down, her brows furrowing slightly, her tone full of concern. "Why have you lost weight recently? Are you working too hard and not eating or resting properly?"
Upon hearing this, Su Huaiming smiled sheepishly.
After the variety show ended, he hardly did any serious work. The kitchen staff tried their best to make delicious food for him every day, and Fu Jingfan often bought late-night snacks from outside. He didn't lose weight at all; he clearly gained three pounds!
However, Su Huaiming's stomach and digestive system were not very good, so his weight remained within this range.
After exchanging a few casual words, the conversation naturally turned to design.
Upon arriving at the old lady's place, Su Huaiming remembered that he also served as the chief designer of the Fu Jingfan brand.
Despite receiving a high salary, he only designed two outfits in so many days.
When Su Huaiming is full of inspiration, he will sit at his desk and focus intently on designing a work that satisfies him. Even his favorite food cannot distract him. But when he is not in the mood, he doesn't want to move a finger. Even if he is forced, he can only design mediocre works with a large difference in quality.
Thinking of this, Su Huaiming sighed again, a look of worry on his face.
There are too many entanglements between him and Fu Jingfan, so it would probably be difficult for him to simply walk away.
The old lady observed Su Huaiming's expression without changing her smile, and offered him advice from the perspective of someone with more experience, "You can tell me what's bothering you, and perhaps I can help you."
Su Huaiming was completely unprepared for the old lady's presence. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized something and could only swallow his words, looking at the old lady with deep apology.
The old lady didn't mind, but kindly tried to divert Su Huaiming's attention, "Could I see your design drawings?"
Su Huaiming nodded and handed the folder to the old lady.
The old lady was smiling at first, but when she saw Su Huaiming's design drawings, her smile gradually faded, and her eyes became extremely serious as she scanned every inch of the design, not missing a single detail.
The work is full of the creator's ideas. As a senior, the old lady was very experienced, but she did not have any preconceived notions. Instead, she asked Su Huaiming about the source of his inspiration and the deeper meaning of his design, and even took careful notes.
The old lady spent a full hour studying a single design drawing. She was so engrossed in her field of expertise that she forgot about Su Huaiming's presence. She then took the design drawing back to the inner room, seemingly intending to examine it more closely.
Su Huaiming watched the old lady's retreating figure with a wry smile. As a fellow designer, he knew this state of mind was precious, so he didn't disturb her.
Knowing he was coming, the old lady prepared tea and snacks in advance. Su Huaiming sat in the antique courtyard, smelling the bitter aroma of tea, tasting a piece of rice cake, and leisurely looking at the scenery outside, not feeling bored at all.
Another half hour passed before the old lady hurriedly came out of the inner room, looking at Su Huaiming apologetically. "I'm sorry, I was so engrossed in my work that I kept you up for so long."
Su Huaiming smiled and shook his head, then asked, "What do you think of this design?"
The old lady's gaze towards Su Huaiming became complex, her expression exceptionally focused. After a full half minute, she sighed deeply and chuckled, "Before, I thought that although my body had aged, my mind remained young. Now it seems that my mind is slowly becoming rigid. The reason I'm looking at this so intently is because your design broke through my limitations and frameworks, giving me some inspiration."
Sometimes colleagues may be jealous of each other, but at her age, the old lady has experienced too much. She feels more appreciation and cherishes Su Huaiming. She is also gratified that the industry is full of talented people and will not lose its original brilliance because of her aging.
"Could I keep these two design drawings? I'd like to study them further, and we can discuss them again later," the old lady said. "Furthermore, I'd like to turn these into a series to spread our ideas to the public."
As soon as the old lady finished speaking, a man with a scraggly beard and curly hair ran out from the inner room. He looked very old, but his appearance was quite young.
He grabbed Su Huaiming's design drawings, ran up to Su Huaiming, his eyes filled with fervor, pointed at the drawings, and rattled off a string of words. He spoke very quickly but without a single stutter, and in the end, he almost choked on his own saliva in his excitement.
Su Huaiming was completely bewildered, looking utterly helpless. The old lady also seemed rather resigned, saying, "This is my studio's new designer. He's very talented and passionate about design. You've been caught by him today, so I'm afraid you'll have to make do."
When Su Huaiming heard the word "wronged," he didn't realize what he was about to face until he was questioned by this boy for three whole hours. He was so tormented that his brain was spinning, his eyes were lifeless, and his expression showed a sense of despair.
Seeing this, the old lady finally found a reason and managed to rescue Su Huaiming.
After resting for a while, Su Huaiming felt completely revitalized.
The old lady smiled and said, "Don't blame him. You have a special talent and temperament in design, which is very attractive. The young people in my studio are all amazed by your designs and want to chat with you, but they are afraid of bothering you. Besides, some of them are your little fans and have been asking you questions all this time. I'm so tired of hearing it."
Su Huaiming's face flushed slightly from the praise, but he knew that refusing would seem pretentious in the face of the old lady's admiration, so he could only nod vaguely.
He could sense the old lady's pure and persistent pursuit of design, her constant striving for higher levels. Faced with such a dedicated person, Su Huaiming felt ashamed of himself. "However, I only design when I have inspiration, and in all this time, I've only drawn these two design drafts."
The old lady shook her head and gently comforted him, "Inspiration can be worn down. The most important thing is to maintain your own rhythm and stay in a good state."
At this point, the old lady seemed to remember something, and her gaze towards Su Huaiming held a hint of expectation for the younger generation's happiness. "When I discussed this matter with Jing Fan, I mentioned this point, and he promised to respect your pace and not forcibly disturb you. Now it seems he has kept his word."
"Although we have a cooperative relationship and help each other succeed, I'm very fortunate that you met Jing Fan. If it were someone else, I'm afraid your spiritual energy would have been worn away."
Upon hearing this, Su Huaiming couldn't help but feel a strange sensation rising within him again.
He coughed awkwardly and asked casually, "Fu... what did he say back then?"
The old lady's smile deepened, a hint of teasing in her eyes. "He saw your talent and ability, and assured me he would respect you and protect you."
Upon hearing this, Su Huaiming's mind went blank for a few seconds, his blood rushed to his head uncontrollably, and his face flushed again.
Su Huaiming, completely unaware that he had embarrassed himself greatly in front of the old lady and was still trying his best to pretend, nervously pinched his ear and asked with a shifty gaze, "Did he really say that?"
"Of course." Seeing Su Huaiming's expression, the old lady didn't spell it out, but continued to play her hand, "Jing Fan is a businessman, pursuing higher profits, yet he's placing all his bets on you. Do you know why?"
The old lady's tone remained gentle, but her words seemed to flash with a sharp edge, dispelling all the confusion. Su Huaiming blinked, then asked blankly, "Why?"
"Because that person is you." The old lady thought of her and her husband's past, her expression sweet. "Jing Fan admires you and respects you. These are the prerequisites for love. Seeing how good your relationship is, I'm relieved."
Upon hearing this, Su Huaiming suddenly felt a little guilty.