The rings

Feeling the warmth in his arms, Fu Xiuyuan's deep eyes darkened where Gu Nian'an could not see.

He held him tightly, only speaking after a long while. "Let's buy the rings tomorrow."

The young man in his arms obediently agreed.

Early the next morning, the two of them headed downtown.

Looking at the little old-fashioned building before him, Gu Nian'an asked hesitantly, "Is this the place?"

Shouldn't we be going to a jewelry store to buy rings? This doesn't look like one at all. Still, it's surprising that there's a residence like this downtown.

"This is the home of a designer I know," Fu Xiuyuan explained. "I asked him to design a pair of rings for us." With that, he took the hand of the young man beside him and slowly led him upstairs.

Gu Nian'an froze briefly. For some reason, he suddenly felt a little shy and stammered, "Um, there's no need to go to all this trouble, is there? We..." But he simply could not bring himself to say, We only have a contractual arrangement.

Fu Xiuyuan glanced at the young man's slightly flushed face and chuckled without saying anything, simply leading him inside by the hand.

When they pushed open the door, the first thing they saw was a long corridor covered in all kinds of design sketches. Classical-style recessed compartments were filled with jewelry, and an elaborate crystal chandelier gave off a cold, brilliant light. Upon entering the living room, they saw a man sitting on the sofa, working on a wood carving.

"Song Yuan," Fu Xiuyuan said in a low voice.

Hearing his voice, the man stopped what he was doing and slowly raised his head.

Gu Nian'an looked up as well. The man before him had shoulder-length curly hair and wore gold-rimmed glasses. His looks were ordinary, but he exuded a peculiar air that kept arousing one's curiosity.

Hearing that familiar name, he suddenly remembered who this was. He was someone Gu Nian'an had read about while browsing the internet after coming to this world.

Song Yuan had designed many famous pieces of jewelry while studying abroad.

He had even been invited to become a designer for the renowned jewelry brand Mist Crow, but had turned them down on the grounds that he had no time.

After returning to the country, Song Yuan had established a studio on his own, specializing in custom designs. People came to him in an endless stream every year, but he accepted only seventeen clients annually.

The design fee for a single client alone often reached a million, and money alone was hardly enough to secure one of those seventeen slots.

At that thought, Gu Nian'an could not help looking at Fu Xiuyuan. What else could you expect from the novel's invincible protagonist? Before, he had simply thought the man was quite rich, but now he suddenly had a deeper understanding of the male lead's power.

"You're here. I've finished designing the rings. I was just waiting for you." As he spoke, he turned and walked into a room, bringing out two sets of boxes.

Song Yuan adjusted his glasses and said softly, "I designed two sets in total. You can choose whichever you like."

Fu Xiuyuan turned his gaze to the person beside him and said gently, "You choose."

Gu Nian'an was slightly taken aback. He opened his mouth to say something, but after a long moment, he lowered his head to look at the boxes on the table.

One ring suddenly caught his attention. Its band was platinum-colored, with an icy-blue diamond set in the center, partially concealed by its surroundings so that only a little showed. He looked at that slightly hidden blue diamond.

For some reason, it suddenly reminded him of Fu Xiuyuan, who, like this blue diamond, buried all his pain and feelings deep inside without showing them, letting outsiders catch only an inadvertent glimpse.

He could not help losing himself in the sight.

Seeing Gu Nian'an staring blankly at the ring, Song Yuan took it out and introduced it. "The stone on this ring is the Sea Blue Star sapphire. The design was inspired by the iris's meaning in the language of flowers: secret admiration."

He took out the other ring, which had a purple gemstone set amid tiny diamonds, as though entwined by flowering stems.

"The design of this pair was inspired by the shape of the iris. The iris takes its name from Iris, the rainbow goddess of ancient Greek mythology. Its meaning in the language of flowers is pure love."

Fu Xiuyuan lowered his eyes to the somewhat distracted young man and asked gently, "Do you like this pair?"

Gu Nian'an looked up at the tenderness in the man's eyes and felt a strange emotion well up inside him. He nodded slightly.

"We'll take this pair. Please package them for us," Fu Xiuyuan told Song Yuan, who was holding the rings, once the young man had made his choice.

Song Yuan quickly packaged the rings and handed them over, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them.

His eyes held a smile, and his tone carried a touch of blessing. "May your hearts be united forever, and may you grow old together."

"We will. Thank you." Fu Xiuyuan smiled warmly and interlaced his fingers with Gu Nian'an's.

Gu Nian'an froze briefly. A moment later, he too smiled and offered his thanks.

The two of them had another meal out, and it was already dusk when they returned home.

Holding the kitten, Gu Nian'an lay on a chair in the courtyard with his eyes slightly narrowed. As he recalled the day's events, his heart felt as though it was beating very fast, for some reason.

He gazed at the sun gradually sinking on the horizon, a little lost in thought.

Just then, the man suddenly approached from behind.

Hearing the movement, Gu Nian'an glanced sideways and saw that it was Fu Xiuyuan. He smiled gently and said, "Have you come to watch the sunset too, sir?"

The man did not answer. He simply took his hand with complete naturalness, his broad, warm palm enclosing the young man's hand.

Gu Nian'an froze and lowered his eyes slightly, feeling his heartbeat inexplicably quicken. He watched the man take out the box and slowly slide the ring onto his ring finger.

His movements seemed to hold a trace of affection and solemnity.

Gu Nian'an heard his own heartbeat growing faster and faster, that inexplicable emotion churning ceaselessly inside him.

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, the man took out the other ring and placed it in his hand. He said nothing, merely watching him quietly.

Gu Nian'an's throat tightened. After a moment of silence, he slowly took the man's hand and slipped the ring onto his ring finger. His face visibly reddened, a faint pink spreading over his fair cheeks.

Their eyes abruptly met. Looking into the depths of the man's eyes, Gu Nian'an quickly averted his gaze, his mind going blank for an instant.

Calm down, now. You can't fall for him. Your relationship is only contractual, only contractual.

As though seeing through his thoughts, Fu Xiuyuan slowly sat down beside the young man and said softly, "I just thought we should go through this step. You don't need to think anything of it."

Gu Nian'an's gaze kept flickering, and he merely nodded obediently.

Looking at the gentle, obedient young man beside him and the ring on his hand, Fu Xiuyuan suddenly felt rather despicable. There had, in fact, been no need for these matching rings at all.

The Fu Group was already under his control, and the will's conditions had been lenient to begin with. Even if he let Gu Nian'an leave now, the shares he had obtained would no longer change.

Yet for some reason, he had developed other intentions, coaxing him into choosing this ring, wanting to stake his claim in front of others.

He also wanted to keep him by his side forever.

A trace of self-mockery flashed through his eyes. He had always been like this, so vile and disgusting. Just as Fu Shirui had said, he was a rat in a filthy gutter, unfit to be seen, always harboring vile, shameful thoughts.

He glanced at Gu Nian'an, who kept stroking the cat beside him, and a shadow passed through his deep eyes.

As long as he never finds out.

He would maintain this image in front of him.

And Gu Nian'an would never be allowed to leave him.