Though he was reluctant to admit it, the evidence was undeniable. Shen Hanshan nodded with a bitter smile. "I still can't quite believe that my life and health are somehow tied to a wall."

  "Uncle, not everything is mere superstition. As the saying goes, 'All things have their spirit.' Everything in this world follows its own laws, and we humans are merely subject to the natural order of things."

  Lin Yu smiled without further explanation. He hadn’t believed in such things before either, but after dying once, he understood that there were indeed realms beyond human comprehension.

  Zhou Chen, standing nearby, shook his head with a wry smile, his gaze toward Lin Yu now tinged with apology. He had initially thought Lin Yu was just putting on a mystical act, but it turned out he was the one with narrow vision.

  The acupuncturist was also full of admiration, inwardly marveling at having encountered a true master. He eagerly asked for Lin Yu’s contact information before leaving, satisfied.

  Though Shen Hanshan remained skeptical about feng shui, he couldn’t deny that his back pain had truly vanished, the months of dizziness were gone, and he now felt full of energy.

  His attitude toward Lin Yu completely shifted. He promptly invited Lin Yu inside and apologized for his earlier rudeness.

  Upon learning that Lin Yu was already married, Shen Hanshan immediately went to his study and returned with a blue velvet box. He pushed it toward Lin Yu.

  "This is the best piece from our latest collection—it hasn’t even hit the stores yet. Consider it a token of gratitude for your help. I hope you won’t find it beneath you."

  The box was exquisitely crafted, adorned with a golden phoenix and the words "Phoenix Fate Jewelry"—the brand name of Shen Yuxuan’s family’s jewelry empire, one of the top three in the country.

  "Thank you, Uncle."

  Lin Yu didn’t decline. He knew men like Shen Hanshan disliked owing favors. Refusing might offend him, and for a family like theirs, this was merely a drop in the bucket.

  However, when Lin Yu opened the box out of courtesy, he was still stunned. Inside was a platinum diamond ring.

  The diamond had to be at least three carats, with top-tier color, clarity, and cut—undoubtedly worth a fortune, easily over two million on the market. With the Phoenix Fate brand attached, the price could be even higher.

  Would Jiang Yan like it?

  Lin Yu couldn’t help but wonder. Given He Jiarong’s incompetence, he surely hadn’t given her a proper ring when they married. He had never seen her wear one. This could be his way of compensating her on He Jiarong’s behalf.

  After leaving the Shen residence, Lin Yu retrieved his pass and took Shen Yuxuan and Zhou Chen to the Qinghai Museum to admire the *Mingqie Manuscript*.

  Zhou Chen must have muttered "unbelievable" at least ten times that afternoon. Even after leaving the museum, he seemed reluctant to go.

  They parted ways after lunch. Before leaving, Zhou Chen specifically invited Lin Yu to bring Jiang Yan and Jiang Jingren to his family’s antique and raw gemstone auction at the New Century Hotel over the weekend.

  Lin Yu agreed without hesitation.

  He then headed straight to the clinic, only to find Jiang Yan wasn’t there. The receptionist told him she had taken the afternoon off for personal reasons but didn’t know where she’d gone.

  Feeling disappointed, Lin Yu was eager to give her the ring as an apology for his drunken words the other night. He called her.

  "Where are you?"

  "I’m out helping my best friend try on wedding dresses. She’s getting married next month. Why?" Jiang Yan’s tone was icy, devoid of emotion.

  They hadn’t spoken in days.

  "Oh, well, I have something for you. Are you free? I can come find you."

  "Fine. We’re going to look at rings soon. Meet us at the jewelry store." After a pause, Jiang Yan agreed. Refusing would make her seem guilty.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Though her heart belonged to another, she had never betrayed He Jiarong during their marriage.

  For over twenty years, her body had remained untouched by any man. If He Jiarong wanted her, she was ready to give herself at any time.

  But her heart? That she could not give.

  "Yan, your husband’s coming?" Fan Ruting, Jiang Yan’s best friend, curled her lip.

  "Yeah." Jiang Yan responded softly, her expression complicated.

  "How shameless can he be? He knows we’re picking rings and still shows up. He didn’t even give you a ring when you got married. What a pathetic excuse for a man. Honestly, you should just divorce him. Even if you were single, with your looks, you’d have rich guys lining up for you."

  Fan Ruting was indignant on Jiang Yan’s behalf. She couldn’t understand why a stunning swan like Jiang Yan would settle for a toad like He Jiarong.

  "If it were me, forget marrying him—I’d be slapping him silly!"

  Jiang Yan remained silent. The truth was, He Jiarong *had* given her a ring—a three-hundred-yuan silver band.

  When Jiang Yan and Fan Ruting arrived at the jewelry store, Fan Ruting’s fiancé, Chen Baogang, was already waiting.

  He greeted Jiang Yan warmly, though his eyes lingered on her neckline and hips before he swallowed hard.

  His fiancée was attractive, but compared to Jiang Yan, she paled in comparison.

  He couldn’t fathom how a loser like He Jiarong had landed such a beauty. If he could just grope Jiang Yan once while she was drunk, he’d die happy.

  The trio had barely browsed for a few minutes when Lin Yu arrived.

  Seeing the "Phoenix Fate Jewelry" sign above the door, Lin Yu smiled. He and the Shen family truly were fated.

  "Hey, Jiarong!"

  Chen Baogang immediately hugged Lin Yu, who looked momentarily confused.

  "What, did that fall really scramble your brains? Don’t you recognize me?"

  "Of course, of course." Lin Yu chuckled, guessing this must be Fan Ruting’s fiancé.

  As for Fan Ruting, Jiang Yan had mentioned her before, but this was his first time meeting her.

  "Oh, He Jiarong, are you here to buy Yan a diamond ring?" Fan Ruting shot Lin Yu a disdainful look.

  "Ting, don’t be rude!"

  Before Lin Yu could respond, Chen Baogang cut in, then turned to Lin Yu with a grin.

  "Jiarong, found a job yet?"

  "Not yet." Lin Yu scratched his head sheepishly. He had meant to look for work, but recent events had kept him too busy.

  "Tsk tsk, that won’t do. A grown man with no job, living off his wife—what kind of life is that?" Chen Baogang’s words sounded like concern but were laced with mockery.

  As he spoke, he stole glances at Jiang Yan, relishing her discomfort. *So much for your pride—you still ended up with a loser.*

  "If I were a man and this useless, I’d have killed myself long ago." Fan Ruting scoffed before ignoring Lin Yu entirely, turning to examine a ring in the display case.

  Lin Yu could only shake his head with a wry smile. He was used to this. Wherever He Jiarong went, he was met with disdain.

  "Miss, you have excellent taste. This ring is one of our most popular designs, called 'My Heart Is Eternal.' Many brides as beautiful and elegant as you have already placed orders."

  The saleswoman’s flattery made Fan Ruting beam.

  "How much is it?" Fan Ruting asked eagerly.

  "The price is quite auspicious—199,999 yuan. It symbolizes undivided love and everlasting commitment. Only a ring of this caliber could complement your grace." The saleswoman smiled. "Would you like to try it on?"

  She carefully removed the ring and slid it onto Fan Ruting’s finger.

  Fan Ruting’s entire face lit up with excitement, her eyes glued to the sparkling diamond.

  There was a saying: No woman in the world could resist the allure of diamonds. And if one could, the diamond simply wasn’t big enough.

  "Darling, do you like it?" Fan Ruting asked Chen Baogang eagerly.

  "Of course! If you love it, we’ll take it. It’s only twenty grand." Chen Baogang said grandly, shooting Lin Yu a smug look.

  "Sir, it’s 199,999 yuan—one hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine." The saleswoman corrected him gently. Clearly, he’d missed a digit.

  "*How much?!*"

  Chen Baogang’s face instantly paled. His family was well-off, but a 200,000-yuan ring wasn’t something he could just splurge on.

  "Oh, darling, it’s only two hundred grand. Are you really hesitating over buying me something nice?" Fan Ruting pouted and swayed coquettishly.

  Chen Baogang broke out in a cold sweat. This tiny ring cost as much as a decent car.

  "Isn’t that a bit steep? Are your prices higher than other stores?" he asked weakly.

  "Sir, the diamond alone is over two carats. The color, clarity, and cut are all top-tier—it’s worth every penny. Plus, Phoenix Fate is a nationally renowned brand. It’s a symbol of prestige."

  "Ting, it really is too expensive. Maybe pick something cheaper?" Jiang Yan couldn’t help but interject. A 200,000-yuan ring was undeniably extravagant.

  "No! I want it! We’re buying it!"

  At this, Chen Baogang gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

  No matter how much it pained him, he couldn’t lose face in front of Jiang Yan. He wanted her to see how much better he was than her useless husband.

  "Darling, you’re the best!" Fan Ruting squealed, planting a kiss on Chen Baogang’s cheek.

  Chen Baogang smirked and pretended to console Lin Yu. "Jiarong, don’t lose heart. Work hard, and maybe one day you’ll afford a ring like this for Jiang Yan."

  "Him? Maybe in the next life." Fan Ruting snorted, admiring her ring with smug superiority.

  For the first time, she felt she had surpassed Jiang Yan.

  Though they were best friends, female friendships were complicated. The closer they were, the more they compared themselves to each other.

  Since childhood, Jiang Yan had been prettier, more sensible, more accomplished. Fan Ruting had lived in her shadow for too long. Today, with her two-carat diamond, she finally had her moment of triumph.

  Jiang Yan pressed her lips together, her expression strained. She didn’t care about material things, but such a stark disparity still stung.

  Her best friend got a 200,000-yuan ring, while hers had cost three hundred. That was why she never wore it.

  No matter how little she cared for vanity, she still had her pride.

  "Actually, I came today to give you something."

  Unfazed by the mockery, Lin Yu calmly pulled out the blue box Shen Hanshan had given him.