The Xu Family organized the gifts to be returned and sent them to the Song Family the next day.
Because the items were so valuable—any loss could amount to millions—Miss Xu Mother specifically had A Li accompany the delivery, insisting she watch until everything was safely delivered to the Song Family.
A Li stayed right by the delivery all the way to the Song Family and insisted on watching them unpack and check every item, just in case there were any issues later.
At home, only Mrs. Song was present.
When she saw the sheer number—far more boxes than she expected—she was stunned for quite a while.
“Did our family send that much over?” she asked the Butler, who managed the family’s collection.
“Isn’t Miss Xu Nanyin only twenty-one this year? There are more than twenty items here.”
The Xu Family hasn’t even been gone from Ning City for twenty years.
The gifts sent from home were, of course, recorded in a booklet.
The Butler checked and compared, “There’s half again as much as we sent out.”
The servants carefully opened the boxes, taking out the meticulously packed jewelry and small items inside.
Seeing the actual items, the Butler felt a flicker of doubt.
Weren’t these sent to the Second Young Master all these years?
Why are there treasures here that the Grandmaster once received?
He only knew because he’d managed the Song Family collection for years and was familiar with many external items.
There was a Pearl Mother-of-Pearl Fan inside, which had been auctioned off years ago.
Few people knew the Grandmaster was the winner.
A Li saw the list and widened her eyes, “You sent these? Then I’ll just take the rest back!”
Mrs. Song frowned, “Who said that? Weren’t you supposed to return them all?”
A Li blurted out, “Aiya, there are too many treasures at home. My Madam must have been in a rush to break off the engagement and got it wrong. None of these are on your list—they’re definitely not yours. You just said so yourself!”
Mrs. Song had never been talked back to by a little girl like this before.
“No manners at all. What kind of upbringing is this?”
A Li didn’t care about any of that.
She had the rest repacked.
The servants looked to Mrs. Song, who waved her hand with a dark face.
The remaining items were also valuable, but most importantly, they were exquisite and thoughtfully chosen.
She did want them, but she wasn’t about to stoop to being a thief and lose face.
The Butler wanted to say something but, thinking about the Grandmaster’s relationship with the family—especially with Mrs. Song—and that he’d never mentioned sending gifts to the Xu Family, figured there was no need to bring it up, so he kept silent.
That afternoon, A Li returned to Port City with bags and boxes in tow.
The day after Miss Xu Nanyin left Ning City, it started pouring rain—a stroke of luck, as far as Xu Father and Miss Xu Mother were concerned.
She left on Mr. Song Huaixu’s Private Jet.
He didn’t seem to care about these things.
Xu Father praised him reluctantly, “Aside from being a bit cold-blooded, he’s actually pretty generous.”
He also reminded his daughter, “Zhuzhu should stay away from people like that. See how he isn’t close to his own family?”
Xu Nanyin lowered her eyes.
Of course he wasn’t close—they always talked business, even with family.
A Li brought the leftover gifts back and placed them in Xu Nanyin’s jewelry room.
The whole family was puzzled—who sends money these days?
“They came along with the Song Family’s gifts,” Miss Xu Mother guessed.
“Could it be someone else from the Song Family? Do you know anyone else?”
Xu Nanyin pictured Song Huaixu in her mind, then shook her head, “I don’t know anyone else in their family.”
She and Song Huaixu barely knew each other before. Why would he send her gifts?
Miss Xu Mother marveled, “So that batch A Li brought was also from them.”
She was happy to see her daughter so well-liked.
“Maybe it’s because you’re engaged, so he didn’t put his name on it, to avoid affecting your reputation.”
Xu Nanyin looked through the list and, to her surprise, found several pieces she used to like.
Compared to Song Tingchuan, this person was definitely more thoughtful.
After returning to Port City, Xu Nanyin resumed her old life.
Every day, she was either out with Miss Lin Zhijun and the others or attending some banquet.
During this time, after she publicly broke off her engagement, many began to pursue her.
The wealthiest among them was Zheng Yuze, a very flashy second-generation heir whose family was in the electronics business.
Every time she and Miss Lin Zhijun went shopping, he’d follow them around in a Red Convertible Sports Car, making a ruckus.
“Zhuzhu, let me take you for a spin,” Zheng Yuze called to her from his car.
“Clear your head.”
Xu Nanyin sighed, “We’re not close enough for nicknames yet. Could you use my full name?”
Zheng Yuze liked her attitude.
“Say a few more words and we’ll be close. You can call me by my nickname too—Aze, I don’t mind.”
She minded.
“Your ex-fiancé really had no taste. Don’t be sad anymore,” Zheng Yuze said.
“Look at me.”
Xu Nanyin thought to herself, When was I ever sad?
Zheng Yuze failed to win her over, and his friends teased him, “Young Master Zheng, your tricks aren’t working. I think Xu Nanyin likes good students. Her grades are about to come out, and I heard Lady Xu already booked a bunch of Grand Screens all over Port City.”
Zheng Yuze was troubled.
“I’m not good at studying, and I can’t go back to school. Help me think of something.”
Everyone looked at each other.
Finally, someone suggested, “Good girls get bored too. Maybe she’ll like something exciting.”
Not long after, Xu Nanyin’s oral exam results were out: high score, PASS.
That day, every Xu Family shop’s advertisement screens displayed her photo—by far the clearest ever taken.
It was shot this summer at home.
She wore a custom Princess White Dress, a huge, irregular bow covering her left shoulder, her hair in a Princess Bun topped with a dazzling Crown, gazing out the window with a gentle smile, like a Barbie Princess in a castle.
It was rare for the Xu Family to be so high-profile.
The Port City media followed suit, reporting widely with headlines like “Barbie of Hong Kong City” and “Little Barbie.”
Thus, Xu Nanyin gained another nickname.
When Miss Lin Zhijun told her about it, Xu Nanyin widened her eyes.
“The media writes nonsense, and everyone just follows along.”
“So cute, Little Barbie!”
Miss Lin Zhijun repeated it several times, teasing her until she got annoyed.
“Come on, let’s go out and take some photos.”
Walking out of the wealthy bay area into the city, every Xu Family watch store displayed Xu Nanyin’s photo, with the words “Congratulations, Baby’s Wish Fulfilled.”
Some people in Port City didn’t know who she was at first, but once they heard she was the daughter of the city’s watch king, they understood—everyone knew how much the family doted on her.
Miss Lin Zhijun insisted on taking a photo of Xu Nanyin with a Grand Screen for her ig.
After the photo, someone in the group chat messaged: [Zhuzhu, you’re really something. You’re everywhere in Port City! I just went to Central and saw your photo at Global—so pretty!]
[I saw it in Causeway Bay too. Stared for ages, still hogging the screen—so over the top.]
[I’m in Mong Kok, same here. Never seen so much Zhuzhu everywhere before.]
[Lady Xu really spent big this time.]
Liang Huimin chimed in: [You used to be so low-key. Now it feels like your family’s picking a son-in-law.]
No one said it out loud, but everyone thought the same.
The topic quickly moved on. Someone else posted a photo: [Zhijun’s big brother is so supportive—he congratulated Zhuzhu too. Now it’s really all over the city. Zhijun is the best.]
The group was full of Port City’s socialites. They might not get along in private, but on the surface, they were all friendly.
As one of those mentioned, Miss Lin Zhijun was just as confused.
“Your mommy can convince my brother?”
Xu Nanyin shook her head.
“I don’t think so. My mommy probably wouldn’t trouble Brother Shitang. Plus, she only mentioned our own shops. But from these photos, it’s everywhere…”
Miss Lin Zhijun said casually, “Maybe Aunt Xu changed her mind last minute.”
On the way back, they took a detour through Central.
In this place called the Oriental Wall Street, they saw what the group had posted.
It was nearly evening, with sunset spilling across the sky.
Sitting in the car, Xu Nanyin looked up through the window at her own photos passing by, her heart filling with joy.
“Zhijun, do you think celebrities feel like this when they see fans put up Grand Screens for them?” she asked.
“If the whole city was filled with just one person, even the coldest heart would be moved,” Miss Lin Zhijun guessed.
Xu Nanyin smiled.
“I think so too. Zhijun, dinner’s on me tonight.”
“Great! I want a feast!”
Miss Lin Zhijun replied.
***
Ning City, pouring rain.
Chen Jun wiped his forehead—no sooner did he wipe away the cold sweat than it beaded up again.
When the door opened, he walked in nervously.
Normally, he’d be bold enough to call out “Cousin” and try to get closer, but today he didn’t dare say a word.
Secretary Jiang Chen, standing nearby, glanced at him. This unlucky kid—having a father like that, more trouble is sure to follow.
Mr. Song Huaixu casually took out a cigarette. A silver lighter sparked. The light from his watch reflected brilliantly on his wrist.
“Anything you want to say?” he asked coolly.
Chen Jun snuck a look, then quickly lowered his head, swallowing hard.
“No.”
“You and your father—he did those things, and you didn’t know?”
“My dad’s always trying to make a comeback. He brought this on himself.”
Chen Jun had wanted to say this for a while.
Waiting at home for dividends would’ve been fine—why try to play tough?
Song Huaixu raised an eyebrow.
“I thought you’d plead for him.”
Chen Jun wasn’t sharp in business, so after making mistakes, he was stuck at home reflecting, with no return to the branch office in sight.
Chen Father, on the other hand, thought himself clever and tried to side with a family elder who opposed Song Huaixu, hoping to turn the tide.
That was basically picking the wrong side.
“Even if I begged, it wouldn’t work…”
Chen Jun muttered.
He wasn’t stupid. If that Song family uncle could outmaneuver Song Huaixu, he’d have done it ten years ago.
His dad just overthought things.
If he couldn’t go back to Song Corporation, so be it.
The family wasn’t short on money anyway.
Offending this cousin, though, would be disastrous.
Song Huaixu stood up.
“I can accept someone being slow, but not someone being stupid—especially not the kind who plays games. You’re a bit smarter than your father.”
The pressure was so intense that even being called slow, Chen Jun nodded.
He really wasn’t smart—he shed a tear for his dad.
“Cousin, you’re wise.”
He quickly flattered.
Of course, flattery needs substance.
He noticed his cousin was wearing a new watch.
So he immediately said, “Cousin, your new watch looks great—really suits your style!”
He didn’t expect any response, but the man gave a slight laugh.
“What’s so great about it?”
Chen Jun was stumped for two seconds, not expecting the man to follow up.
He racked his brain.
“You can tell it’s carefully designed, exquisitely made—low-key but luxurious. The dial is delicate, and the blue background looks like the sea…”
The man glanced at him, “Enough.”
Chen Jun, still nervous, then heard, “You can go back to work next month,” and left barely able to hide his excitement.
Turns out flattery works—even his cold, ruthless cousin wasn’t immune.
Dad, just retire at home. Your son is going back to the company to contribute again.
Once he left, Secretary Jiang Chen asked, “Boss, about Mr. Chen—”
“He’s himself; Chen Jun is Chen Jun.”
The man stood at the floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside, the sky was as deep as the Milky Way.
“Whoever makes a mistake, takes responsibility.”
Jiang Chen’s gaze shifted from his boss’s wrist.
He thought it was half because Chen Jun was smart enough to cut ties, and half because he was lucky enough to compliment the right thing—the watch was a gift from Miss Xu.
Suddenly, a call came in from Port City.
Seeing the name “Lin Shitang,” Jiang Chen quietly left the study.
“So late—what’s up?”
Song Huaixu sounded relaxed.
“You’re really using me and dumping me, huh?”
The man on the other end teased.
“But since you can’t see it, I’ll forgive you.”
“You think too much.”
“Not as much as you, Mr. Song.”
Lin Shitang clicked his tongue.
“You left a whole city behind in Ning City.
Here in Port City, you don’t even have a single billboard.”
Song Huaixu’s eyes darkened.
“Just adding a finishing touch.”
He asked calmly, “You called just to tease me?”
Lin Shitang didn’t mind.
“First, to tell you my little sister said Zhuzhu was smiling sweeter than honey pie today. Second, the Hong Kong Government is planning a Charity Gala soon and will invite you. Come or not, it’s up to you.”
After hanging up, Song Huaixu let out a soft laugh.
Would a girl stung by bees like honey pie?
***
After dinner, Xu Nanyin and Miss Lin Zhijun returned home to find Miss Xu Mother in high spirits, having just finished a winning round of mahjong with other rich ladies.
“Zhuzhu brought me good luck today,” she said happily.
“Mummy, even with your winnings, it’s not enough to pay for all the Grand Screens,” Xu Nanyin teased.
“So extravagant!”
Miss Xu Mother pocketed her winnings.
“The ad spots at our own stores don’t cost anything.”
Xu Nanyin reminded her, “It’s not just that—there are billboards in Central, Mong Kok, and department stores. So many people saw them.”
Miss Xu Mother was surprised.
“Those places know how outstanding you are and gave you ads as a gift?”
Xu Nanyin: ?
She realized something.
“It wasn’t you who arranged it?”
Miss Xu Mother shook her head.
“Our own stores are enough, all over the city. I didn’t want to go overboard.”
Xu Nanyin showed her the photos.
“If it wasn’t you, then who?”
Miss Xu Mother smiled after looking for a while.
“I guess it’s some boy who likes Zhuzhu.”
Last time, Zheng Yuze had confessed to Xu Nanyin on TV, so the whole city knew he was pursuing her, vowing not to give up.
“Doing good without leaving a name?”
“You’ll have to ask the person yourself.”
Miss Xu Mother quickly changed the subject.
“The upcoming Charity Gala is your first formal event since the engagement was called off. You must prepare well.”
Port City loves Charity Galas—there are several every year, each with a different theme, but always for charity.
The guests are all wealthy or famous, with some celebrities invited too.
The Xu Family had received the invitation early on, and even Xu Nanyin had prepared an item for auction—a pair of Pearl Earrings she once wore.
Miss Lin Zhijun teased her, “Zhuzhu, you’re so popular lately. Maybe your earrings will fetch a high price!”
“Some sucker,” Xu Nanyin said, then felt bad.
“If someone overpays, at least it’s for charity.”
“I bet Zheng Yuze won’t let it go,” Miss Lin Zhijun winked.
“He’s been chasing you relentlessly.”
Xu Nanyin picked up an acupuncture needle.
“Mention him again and I’ll stick you.”
Miss Lin Zhijun lay down.
“Go ahead, it feels great.”