"Oh? Something from Feng Yuan Xiang?" Chen Baogang was quite surprised when he saw the gold-embossed characters on the blue box.
"Hmph, it couldn't be some cheap gold ring worth a couple thousand, could it?" Fan Ruting rolled her eyes, wondering how this freeloader could afford anything from Feng Yuan Xiang.
"Tingting, how can you say that? Even a small gold ring would be a huge effort for Jiarong. He probably had to scrimp and save for a year or two to afford it," Chen Baogang said with a chuckle, his eyes filled with heavy sarcasm.
Lin Yu ignored them and handed the blue box to Jiang Yan, saying softly, "I'm sorry for having let you down for so long."
Jiang Yan was slightly taken aback, unsure what Lin Yu was up to or where he had gotten the money to buy something from Feng Yuan Xiang. After a moment's hesitation, she took the box.
When she opened it and saw the dazzling diamond ring inside, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Despite her usual calm and aloof demeanor, she was stunned. The diamond in the box was a full size larger than Fan Ruting's.
"Yan Yan, what's inside?"
Seeing Jiang Yan's surprised expression, Chen Baogang and Fan Ruting curiously leaned in, their expressions changing dramatically.
"How is this possible? Such a big diamond—it must be fake!"
A wave of jealousy surged in Fan Ruting's chest. She refused to believe that a loser like He Jiarong could afford such a large diamond ring. It must be a glass imitation he got from somewhere.
"Definitely fake. I've seen these before—they sell for a hundred or two hundred in accessory shops. They look so real!" Chen Baogang quickly added.
He wasn't wrong; there were many similar glass imitation rings in accessory stores, but claiming they looked "so real" was nonsense. Glass and diamonds were worlds apart.
But given Lin Yu's financial situation, it was impossible for him to afford a real one.
Jiang Yan couldn't help but marvel inwardly. If it was a high-quality imitation, it was incredibly well done.
"Sir, may I take a look at this ring? I can help authenticate it for you."
The salesclerk was also surprised when she saw the ring in the box. Based on the light refraction and clarity, it clearly appeared to be a real diamond.
Lin Yu generously handed the ring to the clerk.
The clerk carefully put on gloves, took out a ten-times magnifying glass, and examined the ring in detail.
"No point looking. There's no way a pauper like him could afford such an expensive ring!" Fan Ruting said sourly. As she watched the clerk examine it so seriously, she felt a pang of anxiety.
But as soon as she finished speaking, the clerk exclaimed excitedly, "Sir, your love for your wife is truly as steadfast as gold, unwavering until death!"
"Miss, you are incredibly fortunate to have a husband like this!" The clerk then looked up at Jiang Yan with envy.
"You mean this diamond ring is real?!"
Chen Baogang and Fan Ruting's faces instantly changed.
Jiang Yan also found it hard to believe.
"Are you sure you're seeing it correctly?!" Fan Ruting demanded, her voice turning sharp.
"Yes, miss. The裸钻 of this diamond is at least over three carats, with D color, FL clarity, and 3EX cut—all top-tier specifications in the industry. At Feng Yuan Xiang, it would retail for at least 2.2 million yuan. That's why this gentleman's devotion to his beloved is so unwavering."
The clerk spoke confidently with a smile.
"How much?!"
Chen Baogang's jaw dropped so wide you could fit an apple in it.
Fan Ruting's face instantly turned pale. The diamond ring on her finger wasn't even worth the change from this one.
Jiang Yan was also astonished, giving Lin Yu a strange look. Compared to the diamond's value, she was more surprised by how Lin Yu had gotten his hands on it.
"Only someone with your elegance can do it justice."
Lin Yu deliberately echoed the clerk's earlier compliment to Fan Ruting as he took the ring and placed it on Jiang Yan's fair, slender ring finger. The entire room seemed to brighten in that instant.
Jiang Yan's finger trembled slightly. This was the first time she had ever worn a diamond ring. She had imagined this scene countless times in her youth, but she never thought He Jiarong would be the one to put a ring on her finger.
"Honey, I want one too!" Fan Ruting pouted, pinching Chen Baogang's arm, her eyes filled with envy as she looked at Jiang Yan.
Chen Baogang broke out in a cold sweat. Buying such an expensive ring would bankrupt him.
"Sir, miss, excuse me, may I take a look at this ring?"
A chubby man emerged from the back room, smiling politely at Lin Yu and Jiang Yan. He introduced himself as the store manager.
Jiang Yan snapped out of her emotional daze and handed the ring to him.
The manager hurried behind the counter, examined it carefully with a magnifying glass, and then weighed it on an electronic scale. His face suddenly darkened, and he said coldly to Lin Yu, "Sir, may I ask which Feng Yuan Xiang branch you purchased this ring from?"
"Um, I didn't buy this ring—"
"Just as I thought! I'd guess you stole it!" The chubby manager sneered, immediately locking the ring in the counter.
Everyone's expressions changed at his words.
"What do you mean?" Lin Yu frowned, displeased.
"Hmph! This ring is a new arrival at Feng Yuan Xiang—the most valuable and only 'Supreme Diamond Ring' in the new collection. It hasn't been officially put on sale yet and should currently be in our chairman's safe. So, if you didn't steal it, where did you get it?!"
The manager spoke aggressively, looking quite pleased with himself. If the chairman found out about this great deed, he would surely get a promotion and raise.
"So it was stolen after all. Jiarong, that's not right. This is against the law!" Chen Baogang's face lit up with glee as he seized the opportunity to kick Lin Yu while he was down.
"I knew it! There's no way this loser could afford such a nice ring. Turns out it was stolen. How shameless!" Fan Ruting breathed a sigh of relief and regained her haughty demeanor.
"I didn't steal it. Your chairman, Shen Hanshan, gave it to me."
Lin Yu hadn't wanted to say it, but given the circumstances, he had no choice but to tell the truth.
"What a joke! Our chairman knows you?" The chubby manager couldn't help but laugh. Someone of their chairman's status would never give such an expensive ring to a nobody like Lin Yu.
Moreover, just two days ago, the chairman had informed him that this ring would be assigned to their branch for sale.
Chen Baogang and Fan Ruting also burst out laughing. "Still lying at a time like this? If you know Shen Hanshan, then I know Bill Gates!"
"You can call your chairman and ask," Lin Yu said, clenching his fists in anger.
"Call? Of course I'll call! I want our chairman to see with his own eyes who stole his diamond!" The chubby manager gleefully called Shen Hanshan's assistant, saying it was an emergency and insisting the chairman come over no matter how busy he was.
After hanging up, he pointed at Lin Yu and said, "Don't even think about running away, or the consequences will be even worse. We have surveillance here!"
"Don't worry, I won't let him run away."
Chen Baogang rushed forward and grabbed Lin Yu's arm.
"I'm not running. I'd actually like to see your chairman and ask him what kind of people he's hiring."
As Lin Yu spoke, he shook his arm in disgust.
Chen Baogang felt a tremendous force and landed on his backside.
"What are you doing?!" Fan Ruting glared at Lin Yu and hurried to help Chen Baogang up.
"Call the police! Call the police!" Chen Baogang shouted furiously as he got up.
The chubby manager winked at the clerk and said, "Call the police. Anyway, the chairman will have to call them when he gets here."
"Manager, this gentleman doesn't seem like a thief. What he said might be true. Maybe we should wait," the clerk spoke up in Lin Yu's defense.
"Who's in charge here, you or me?!" the manager shouted angrily.
The clerk had no choice but to dial 110.
"Jiang Yan, I didn't steal anything."
Lin Yu ignored them and turned to explain to Jiang Yan.
"I know."
"You believe me?"
"Yes."
Jiang Yan was one of the people who knew He Jiarong best in this world. She knew that although he was useless and incompetent, he was never the type to steal. Besides, he wouldn't have the courage to steal something so valuable.
Even though Jiang Yan's trust was technically in He Jiarong, Lin Yu felt a warmth in his heart. This was the first time Jiang Yan had affirmed him in such a long time.
"Why the urgent call to my dad? What's going on?"
Suddenly, Shen Yuxuan's voice came from the doorway, sounding quite displeased.
He had been nearby when he received a call from his father saying something had happened at the branch store. He dropped everything and rushed over.
"Young Master, you're here!" The chubby manager immediately went up to him, boasting, "I caught the thief who stole our diamond ring. I've got him detained in the store. He's at your disposal!"