The lock on the door to the collection room is a fingerprint lock, and since the day it was built, it has only recorded the fingerprints of Xie Linchuan and Shen Xingcan.
Xie Linchuan: "Yes."
Shen Xingcan was satisfied. "That's more like it."
Satisfied, Shen Xingcan wasn't in a hurry to go in. Instead, she asked Xie Linchuan, "Aren't you curious what I would do if you said no?"
"Not curious."
Shen Xingcan: "... You're curious, and you even have to guess what I'll do."
Xie Linchuan looked up helplessly, but still went along with Shen Xingcan's words. "Fine, I'm curious. You'll probably have someone smash down the door and break in to see what I've put inside, and what's there that Your Majesty Xingcan can't see."
Shen Xingcan, whose true feelings had been completely exposed. "..."
After a brief moment of guilt, Shen Xingcan quickly regained her composure and declared, "Exactly! What is it that I can't see!"
Smash it! Smash it!
Xie Linchuan: "..."
Shen Xingcan placed her hand on the door lock, and with a soft beep, the heavy door opened.
Shen Xingcan walked in. Rather than a collection room, it was more like a fairly large exhibition hall.
Various antique jewelry items were neatly categorized and displayed there.
As Shen Xingcan looked around, she said, "I don't think this vase was here before, and this one isn't here either. There are so many more now."
He meticulously compared the contents of the collection room before him with his memory.
Over the years, the collection room has grown considerably.
But that's normal, since these things aren't just for aesthetics; they're also used for social interactions in business.
Since Xie Linchuan hadn't joined the company before, the items in the collection room were mostly left to him by Old Master Xie.
As she wandered around, Shen Xingcan ended up at the far end of the collection room.
This is the place in the entire collection room that has changed the most. It used to be empty, but now it's packed full.
Moreover, compared to the priceless treasures found elsewhere, the collections here are noticeably too eccentric.
Here you can see cufflinks worth millions, as well as star-shaped stones worthless; there are messy sketches and meticulously drawn doodles...
Shen Xingcan stared blankly at the stone, which he had picked up on the beach when he was thirteen years old.
He slipped the stone into Xie Linchuan's pocket and told Xie Linchuan that the star-shaped stone was his birthday present for him this year.
Of course, he later gave other things, and after that day he didn't find it with Xie Linchuan. He thought Xie Linchuan had thrown the stone away, but Xie Linchuan had just hidden it.
Here, there are gifts from Shen Xingcan to Xie Linchuan, as well as things that Xie Linchuan collected himself.
Shen Xingcan looked at each item one by one, and for each item, he could recall many things. Those things were vivid and bright, as if they had just happened yesterday.
When his gaze fell on a certain spot, he suddenly froze. There, neatly arranged, were four beautifully wrapped gift boxes.
Each gift came with a letter.
The envelopes were addressed to Little Star: Happy 19th Birthday, Happy Little Star Birthday, Happy Little Star Birthday, Happy Little Star Birthday.
Four birthday gifts, and he and Xie Linchuan had been separated for four whole years.
He used to receive a birthday gift from Xie Linchuan every year, regardless of whether Xie Linchuan was by his side or not, he would receive it on his birthday without fail.
Unfortunately, Shen Xingcan has never received any gifts from Xie Linchuan in the past four years, so Shen Xingcan has been unhappy and sad every year on her birthday.
For four years, Shen Xingcan waited... waiting for Xie Linchuan's gift.
And what about Xie Linchuan? Xie Linchuan were his feelings when he prepared the gift?
Knowing full well that he would never see these gifts, she still prepared them every year.
Shen Xingcan stared blankly at the four gifts.
Until someone hugged him from behind.
When are you planning to give me the gift?
Xie Linchuan: "When it's your birthday this year."
But I want it now.
"I'll give it to you now."
Shen Xingcan wasn't particularly happy even after receiving a positive answer.
His tone was harsh. "You were the one who distanced yourself from me first, so why do you think I don't want to see you? You prepared a gift but didn't give it to me. Are you trying to breed these gifts?"
In the end, Shen Xingcan couldn't control her feelings of grievance anymore, and even felt like she was about to shed tears.
But as a mature adult, Shen Xingcan felt he shouldn't cry indiscriminately, so he struggled to hold back his tears.
Xie Linchuan: "I thought you found out I liked you and found me disgusting, which is why you said those things about me."
"You're talking nonsense! I only yelled at you because you wanted to distance yourself from me. I thought you knew I liked you... Xie Linchuan, you're so annoying."
In the end, Shen Xingcan could no longer control her emotions.
Xie Linchuan turned her around and kissed away the tears on Shen Xingcan's cheek. "It's okay, don't cry, it's all my fault."
Shen Xingcan's tears seemed to have warmth, carrying the heat that scorched Xie Linchuan's heart.
Shen Xingcan snapped while crying, "It's all your fault! I can cry if I want, it's none of your business!"
Xie Linchuan gently stroked the back of the person in his arms and comforted them in a soft voice, "But if you cry too much, your eyes will swell up, and then you won't be able to see the gifts."
Shen Xingcan continued to cry, "Who cares about your lousy gift?"
Xie Linchuan coaxed Shen Xingcan, "Okay, I don't care about my lousy gift. The air in the collection room isn't circulating, so how about I take Little Star outside?"
Shen Xingcan reached out and pushed Xie Linchuan away. His pretty little face, streaked with tears, was cold. "I don't need you to carry me. I can walk by myself."
However, his strength was no match for Xie Linchuan's, and in the end, Xie Linchuan picked him up in his arms.
Xie Linchuan took a few steps, and Shen Xingcan spoke again, "I want to see what kind of junk you've prepared for me."
"Um."
So Xie Linchuan took the person in his arms and went to get the gift.
Shen Xingcan placed the four gift boxes along with the four letters into her bosom.
Xie Linchuan carried Shen Xingcan out of the collection room. After reaching the sofa, he didn't put her down on the sofa, but instead sat down on it while still holding Shen Xingcan.
Shen Xingcan didn't open the letter first, afraid that he would cry again after reading it. He planned to read it secretly when Xie Linchuan wasn't around.
The gift for her nineteenth birthday was the first to be opened. Inside was a diamond necklace shaped like a feather. The diamonds were dazzling, and the feathers were flowing, making it both elegant and fashionable.
Shen Xingcan took a liking to it at first sight, even forgetting to continue shedding tears. He even thought about what clothes he should wear to match the beautiful necklace.
He snorted inwardly, swallowed his critical words, carefully placed the diamond necklace back into the box, and turned to unpack a gift.
My 20th birthday gift was a flame brooch featuring a ruby as its centerpiece.
An oval, top-quality pigeon blood ruby is set in the center of the flame, surrounded by tiny rubies that form the flame's tongue, creating a bold and eye-catching design.
Shen Xingcan: "..."
He swallowed back his critical words once again.
He opened the third gift, and this time there were two gifts inside, not one.
Patek Philippe? You gave me two watches?
But Shen Xingcan soon realized that Xie Linchuan hadn't given him two watches.
These two watches are the same style, but the dials are quite different.
One features a black sapphire crystal dial with sapphire crystal hour markers.
The other one features a sapphire gradient dial and diamond hour markers.
Although they are not couple watches in the broad sense, no one would doubt that these two pairs of watches are indeed a couple's watch.
"Couple's watches? You actually smuggled something in my birthday present!"