Zhang Yang Guessed Right

Cheng Dongxue's second sister, Cheng Lin, was relatively polite to Zhang Yang. Though she was deeply dissatisfied with him, Dongxue liked him, so Cheng Lin kept her contempt to herself.

At their mother Yang Su's birthday banquets in the past, Zhang Yang had always dressed casually. Today, he wore a suit and carried a sandalwood box.

He had put some care into his appearance. He was starting to take their mother's birthday seriously.

The sandalwood box was exquisitely made, so the gift inside was probably valuable too, or at least worthy of its packaging. But Cheng Lin wondered where Zhang Yang had found the money. He had no job and was treated almost like a housekeeper at home. He had probably spent another good chunk of Dongxue's money.

"Second Sister, is something wrong with what I'm wearing today?" Zhang Yang asked when he noticed Cheng Lin studying him.

Cheng Lin smiled, patted his shoulder, and took a step back. "You actually look halfway respectable today!"

"Second Sister!" Cheng Dongxue chided her.

"I'm joking. You're always so quick to defend him." Cheng Lin covered her mouth and giggled.

The three Cheng sisters were together now, each more beautiful than the last. The eldest, Cheng Dongyu, was like a trial run: the workmanship had been a little rough, but she was still breathtakingly beautiful. Unfortunately, her character and generosity of spirit had come from the same mold as Yang Su's.

Then there was the second sister, Cheng Lin. She was beautiful too, but more importantly, her temperament was a hundred times better than Dongyu's, and she was modest.

As for Cheng Dongxue, who had her arm linked through Zhang Yang's, she was the beauty of the Cheng Family. Cheng Lin had once joked that she had no idea how many lifetimes of good deeds Zhang Yang had needed to marry her.

Cheng Lin glanced at Lin Xiaofei. Her outfit today was stunning too, sexy and daring enough to outshine even Dongxue.

What was more, Xiaofei had arrived with her arm linked through Zhang Yang's, while Dongxue held his other arm. Yet Dongxue showed no jealousy or anger. How strange.

If Cheng Lin's own husband had shown up like that, she would have killed him.

"Cheng Lin, since you're here too, what did you buy Mom? Let's see it!" Cheng Dongyu felt she had already outdone Dongxue. If she could outdo Cheng Lin as well, she would come out on top today.

Dongyu's love of money and vanity might even surpass Yang Su's. This family never ceased to amaze Zhang Yang.

"What could I have bought her, Sis? Just some ordinary jewelry. It can't compare with your generous gift," Cheng Lin said. She had no desire to compete. This was a gift for their mother, not a contest.

"Cheng Lin, you can't say that. It's Mom's birthday today. We have to make her happy." Xia Shiying, standing nearby, finally gave in to his own vanity.

Xia Shiying and Cheng Dongyu both knew that, of the three couples, they were Yang Su's favorites. If their gift was the most valuable, she would be delighted and might favor them even more in the future.

"There's no need to look. I'll take it straight to Mom." Cheng Lin looked toward Yang Su, who sat in the center waiting to receive everyone's birthday wishes.

"Come on, let us see!" Xia Shiying persisted.

Cheng Dongyu simply snatched the gift from Cheng Lin and opened it. Inside the gift box was a large ring with a platinum band and a jadeite face.

Everyone gasped, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg.

The jadeite face was not very large, but its quality was exceptional. Its green was so vivid that, at a glance, it could be mistaken for a fake.

Zhang Yang leaned closer for a look and immediately formed an estimate of the ring's value.

"Second Sister, this ring is beautiful. It must be expensive, right?" Cheng Dongxue asked. At the same time, she reassured herself that Zhang Yang had splurged on a White Jade Antique Hairpin worth five hundred thousand yuan. Otherwise, she would have had nothing presentable to offer.

"A gift isn't about its monetary value. It's the thought that counts." Cheng Lin handled business dealings with ease, and her answer was as tactful as ever.

Zhang Yang picked up the ring. Seeing Cheng Dongyu and Xia Shiying grow uneasy, he smiled.

"Second Sister, setting aside the craftsmanship and the platinum itself, this Ring Setting is quite rare. It's Old-Mine Icy Jade. It may not be top-grade jadeite, but it's still worth a great deal."

Zhang Yang began appraising the Jadeite Ring.

"Oh? Since when did you know anything about jewelry, Zhang Yang?" Cheng Lin was merely curious. It was surprising that a man who had once seemed to know nothing could suddenly speak about it with such confidence.

"Tch... There you go showing off again. If you don't know what you're talking about, stop pretending you do." Xia Shiying snatched the ring from Zhang Yang's hand and nearly dropped it.

"Zhang Yang, you don't know jewelry. Don't say things that'll make people laugh at you." Afraid he would embarrass himself, Cheng Dongxue quickly tried to stop him.

"Exactly. Dongxue has some sense. If you don't know, keep quiet instead of running your mouth." Xia Shiying seized on her warning to put Zhang Yang down again.

Zhang Yang shook his head with a cold smile. Xia Shiying and Cheng Dongyu were made for each other. After years together, they had even begun to look alike.

"It really is beautiful. It must cost several hundred thousand, right?" Lin Xiaofei said, captivated by the Jadeite Ring.

Now that Lin Xiaofei had made a guess, Xia Shiying had to argue. "Don't pretend you know jewelry either. The ring may be unusual, but it can't cost more than a hundred thousand. One hundred and twenty or thirty thousand at the absolute most. It's nowhere near my gold-inlaid jade."

After speaking, Xia Shiying lifted his head proudly, ready to accept everyone's admiration.

Cheng Lin let out a laugh but said nothing.

"Second Sister, it can't be that cheap. Even if you bought it through someone you know, it would cost at least three hundred thousand. The jadeite face alone would be over two hundred thousand. Add the platinum and a master craftsman's work, and the total would be around three hundred thousand." Zhang Yang laid out his reasoning and estimated the price.

Cheng Lin froze and stared at him. She remembered every step of the ring's design, material selection, and production. Zhang Yang had played no part in any of it. How could he know?

Did Zhang Yang really understand jewelry?

"Second Sister, did Zhang Yang guess right?" Cheng Dongxue asked, startled by Cheng Lin's expression.

Cheng Lin was lost in thought. What Zhang Yang had said today made him harder than ever to figure out.

"Uh... My husband's company designed this ring, and he oversaw it himself. He asked someone to select the materials and hired a master craftsman to make it. The Ring Setting alone cost nearly two hundred and ten thousand. The platinum wasn't expensive, but the craftsmanship was. Altogether, it came to about three hundred thousand."

Cheng Lin had revealed the price, leaving everyone stunned. Zhang Yang had somehow guessed correctly. Yet none of them believed he had changed and become so knowledgeable. After a thousand years of devoted Cultivation, Zhang Yang had mastered things they could never learn, not even in ten lifetimes.