With the departure of Mu Qingxue, Chen Xiaoyan, and Chong Chong, the gathering continued as usual. Over a thousand people kept eating, drinking, and having fun as they should.
As for Qiu Xue, she was busy with a group of police officers maintaining order at the venue and checking the safety of the greenhouse equipment.
It was the middle of summer, and even the slightest safety hazard—just a spark—could set off a wildfire, putting the lives of over a thousand people at risk.
Such a huge responsibility was not something the Mu family could bear.
That’s why Qiu Xue was fully alert. Except for March not being present, she and Qian Renxue led the staff, patrolling the greenhouse from front to back.
On the stage, the singing and dance troupe hired at great expense was performing with all their heart.
To fit the mood, all their dances were traditional ones.
“Ling, the Young Miss is back,” a staff member ran over and whispered into Qiu Xue’s ear.
Qiu Xue nodded. “Alright, I know. Go tell the Host that the program can start soon, tell them to get ready.”
“Okay, Ling.”
“And also, remove the Young Miss’s name from the program.”
“Understood.”
Having learned from past experience, Qiu Xue dared not let Mu Qingxue appear in public view again.
Blue Love slowly came to a halt outside the greenhouse passage.
Qiu Xue had already received the news and sent a few female staff to wait here.
When they saw the car stop, they quickly ran up with sun umbrellas and opened all four doors.
As soon as Chong Chong got out of the car, she dashed over to Chen Xiaoyan’s side.
But she didn’t grab her left arm.
She knew that Chen Xiaoyan was a bit resistant to physical contact now.
“Xiaoyan-jie, let’s go over there, okay?” After saying that, Chong Chong snatched the sun umbrella from the staff, not wanting them to follow.
“Alright,” Chen Xiaoyan nodded.
Earlier, because this girl had knocked someone over and caused a delay, she was also curious to see what the million-yuan gift was.
“Qingxue, you go in first. I’ll be right there with Chong Chong.”
“Okay.” This time, Mu Qingxue didn’t object and nodded before entering the greenhouse.
As soon as Mu Qingxue left, Chong Chong was overjoyed.
She quickly dragged Chen Xiaoyan over to a big tree.
“What’s so secretive that you won’t show it unless we’re alone?” Chen Xiaoyan asked with a smile.
“You’ll know in a bit. Wait here, don’t move, okay?”
Chong Chong earnestly reminded her.
“Don’t worry, I promise I won’t move. But where are you going?”
“The dressing room.”
“What for?”
At that, Chong Chong spread her arms and spun in front of her. “Look, do I have anywhere to put things on me?”
“Uh… fine, hurry up and come back.”
“Mm, I’ll be quick!” Chong Chong spun the umbrella around and ran toward the greenhouse.
The temporary dressing rooms were divided into male and female sections, right by the entrance to the greenhouse. Players’ personal belongings and clothes were all stored inside.
And there were people on duty to watch over them.
“ID, sect.” Two female security guards stopped her at the entrance of the women’s dressing room.
“Chong Chong, Tianxiang.”
The guards flipped through the registration book and confirmed her details.
Then one of them led her into the dressing room.
Inside, there were rows of stainless steel lockers, each marked with a code.
The guard led Chong Chong to locker 896, took out the master key, and opened it.
“All your things are here.”
“Thank you, big sister!”
Chong Chong didn’t take out her clothes. She just took her phone and a package box.
She glanced at her phone, put it back, and only took the package box with her.
It was close to noon.
The terrifying heat made the world around them shimmer and twist.
Even standing under the shade of a tree, Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t stop sweating.
“Xiaoyan-jie, I’m back!”
Hearing the voice, she looked up to see a girl running towards her, holding a package box.
“You ran so fast. Aren’t you hot?”
Panting, Chong Chong stopped in front of Chen Xiaoyan, patting her chest and taking a few deep breaths.
“It’s hot, but I’m in a hurry to give this to you.” As she spoke, she handed over the box.
“For you.”
“So mysterious,” Chen Xiaoyan teased, taking the package.
The box was about palm-sized and looked ordinary on the outside. She carefully opened it.
Inside was a more delicate box, embossed with four gilded characters: Xinran’s Home.
Opening that package at last, Chen Xiaoyan finally saw what was inside.
A pink peach blossom gemstone necklace.
“This…” Chen Xiaoyan looked at Chong Chong in surprise, not quite understanding why this girl was giving her a necklace.
“Well? Do you like it? I picked peach blossom and pink on purpose. Isn’t it a perfect match for our Tianxiang?”
Chong Chong wasn’t wrong.
It did go perfectly with the Tianxiang breast wrap dress.
But this was clearly a women’s necklace, and I don’t really need it.
Not even when crossdressing.
Wearing gold and silver on me always makes me nervous, especially a gemstone necklace worth a million. What if some thug jumps out to rob me?
Even in this law-abiding society, it’s best to keep valuables hidden.
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, cutie, but you should really return the necklace.”
Chen Xiaoyan repacked the box and handed it back.
Chong Chong didn’t take it. Frowning, she asked, “Why? Don’t you like it?”
“It’s beautiful, but I’m not in the habit of wearing necklaces.”
“Well, you have a reason to now.”
“………”
Seeing that Chen Xiaoyan had nothing to say, Chong Chong quickly seized the moment, placing the box firmly in her hands.
“Xiaoyan-jie, please just take it. If you think it’s too expensive, just make it up to me in the game.”
Make it up in the game?
That simple?
Chen Xiaoyan hesitated.
She wasn’t really into gemstone necklaces, but she couldn’t deny the price was tempting.
Plus, she was curious—what did it feel like to wear a million RMB necklace?
Emmm
“Hmph, Xiaoyan-jie, if you don’t take it, I’ll get angry,” Chong Chong said, hands on hips, pretending to be upset.
“Chong Chong, what made you think of giving me a necklace?”
“Hui Ling Necklace,” she replied simply.
Hui Ling Necklace—the gear Chong Chong dropped from the Abyss Dungeon.
At the time, she’d given it to me, but unfortunately, Shen Qingqing returned it.
Hearing those four words, Chen Xiaoyan seemed to understand.
So this girl wanted to make up for that lost Hui Ling Necklace in real life.
What an adorable girl.
Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t help but smile softly.
“Don’t do this again, okay?”
Chong Chong immediately stood up straight, two fingers touching her brow in a salute, then waved: “Message received!”
“Hehe, Xiaoyan-jie, want me to help you put it on?”
Chen Xiaoyan didn’t refuse.
This breast wrap dress had no pockets, and the gathering wasn’t over—she couldn’t just carry a box around.
“Alright.”
Chong Chong took the necklace and stepped behind Chen Xiaoyan.
The latter gathered her hair up, revealing her fair neck.
“Xiaoyan-jie, I’m putting it on now.”
“Mm.”
“I’m really putting it on?”
“Just do it.”
“So I’m really doing it?”
“Are you putting it on or not?”
“Fine, I was just checking. You said to, I’m not forcing you.”
Sensing something fishy, Chen Xiaoyan was about to turn around and ask.
But Chong Chong didn’t give her a chance, and firmly put the necklace around her neck.
As she withdrew her hands, she couldn’t help but brush her fingers across Chen Xiaoyan’s collarbone.
That soft skin—the feel was simply incredible.