#69 (Ring)

A silent confrontation brewed between them.

Xiao Donghan’s gaze was fierce and cold.

Shen Tang’s look was provocative and bold.

She showed no fear of him whatsoever.

The boxes of ice cream placed in front of Xiao Donghan remained untouched. Having been taken out of the refrigerator and left exposed, the boxes were now covered in a thin layer of condensation.

Shen Tang feigned hospitality, “Have a taste. The flavor will make you forget everything else.”

Xiao Donghan didn’t bother to respond. He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

He usually only drank black coffee, and his stomach felt vaguely uncomfortable after drinking it today.

Shen Tang glanced at her watch. “I’ll give you five more minutes to consider whether you want those companies to send a letter to Jiang Chengyu’s company.”

Xiao Donghan wasn’t afraid of her threat. If he insisted on making things difficult for Jiang Chengyu, with Shen Tang being this crazy, he would ultimately suffer a greater loss.

After careful consideration, he put on his glasses and sent emails to the respective executives.

“Tangtang, let me give you a piece of advice: at any time, money is more reliable than people.”

The way he uttered “Tangtang” was devoid of any warmth.

Shen Tang understood what he was implying: that she shouldn’t casually mortgage her shares.

“Your normal competition with Jiang Chengyu, I won’t interfere. But if you stab him in the back or play dirty tricks, I’ll use the money from pledging my shares to fill the pit you dig for him. Today is the first time, and I’ve given you room to maneuver. Next time, if you do this again, I won’t be so easy to talk to; I’ll just take out the loan and show you.”

She put the boxes of ice cream back into the refrigerator.

Xiao Donghan forwarded the email and turned off his phone screen.

“You won today.” He rarely admitted defeat, especially to a girl much younger than him. “Let me treat you to a meal to celebrate.”

“Thanks, but no need.” Shen Tang put away the items on her desk into the safe. “Jiang Chengyu has already made dinner for me and is waiting for me at home.”

This was new. Xiao Donghan: “Jiang Chengyu can cook late-night meals for you?”

“Why not?” Shen Tang didn’t have much patience for him. She turned off her computer and drew a big smiley face on today’s calendar.

Shen Tang and Xiao Donghan went downstairs together. As they exited the elevator, Xiao Donghan’s car pulled up. There was an extra person in the car; Xiao Dongkai sat in the back seat with the window half-down.

“Why are you here?” Xiao Donghan got into the car from the other side.

“Looking for Shen Tang to have a meal together.”

“She’s busy.”

Xiao Dongkai looked out the window. “Tangtang.”

Shen Tang walked towards her own car. She waved goodbye and didn’t come over.

Xiao Dongkai gave up and closed the car window.

From Xiao Donghan’s expression, it was clear that he had been frustrated by Shen Tang tonight.

“Is everything resolved?”

Xiao Donghan grunted in response, took off his glasses, and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.

For almost a year, he hadn’t had a single day where he could truly rest. At this moment, he was exhausted and didn’t want to say another word.

Xiao Dongkai’s original intention hadn’t changed; he hoped Xiao Donghan and Shen Tang would shake hands and make peace. “If you can be sincere with Shen Tang, then once you take over Xiao Ning, any decisions you make should go smoothly. At that time, Jiang Chengyu and Ning Yiqi won’t make things difficult for you out of respect for Shen Tang. But if you anger Shen Tang someday, she might even team up with other shareholders to remove you.”

Xiao Donghan scoffed.

He offered no further comment.

________________________________________

Shen Tang arrived home around 8 PM. Jiang Chengyu was already back.

The kitchen light was on, and the black, white, and grey kitchen now had warmth.

Jiang Chengyu had an apron tied in front of him and was preparing a late-night snack for Shen Tang.

He had just returned ten minutes ago, dealing with work matters on his way home from the company, calls one after another, and replying to emails.

Shen Tang changed into slippers, put away her bag, and went to find Jiang Chengyu.

It seemed he had just gotten home too, hurried and rushed. His cufflinks were still on, and his watch was still on his wrist. It was as if he had just finished work and immediately plunged into the kitchen.

“Jiang Chengyu, I’m home!” She started calling him before she even reached the kitchen.

Jiang Chengyu untied his apron and placed it on the island counter. By the time he spread his arms, Shen Tang had already sprinted over and leaped into his embrace.

“Dinner isn’t ready yet.”

“No rush, I’m not hungry.”

“I just received the letter from Xiao Donghan’s side; repayment will be made according to the original agreement.” To his surprise, she had also secured half a year of free patent usage rights for their company.

Jiang Chengyu whispered, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

Protecting such a powerful person brought an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Shen Tang hung her hands around Jiang Chengyu’s neck. As she raised her arms high, her short T-shirt rode up to her abdomen, revealing her slender waist.

She seemed to have gotten a bit thinner around the waist from all the work lately; his two hands could almost span it.

Jiang Chengyu put his arm around her waist, shielding her from the cool air in the room.

Shen Tang hooked her arms around his neck, looking up at him, occasionally standing on tiptoe, playfully endearing herself to him in his arms.

He had only seen similar intimate gestures with male leads in her TV shows before. In reality, she had never acted so spoiled with him.

Jiang Chengyu found it hard to resist; his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed.

Shen Tang freed one hand to cover his Adam’s apple. “Don’t move.”

Jiang Chengyu laughed, taking her hand away. “Are we still eating?”

He bent down and swept her into his arms.

This certainly didn’t look like he was going to make her a late-night snack.

“Have you cooked the porridge yet?”

“No, haven’t found the rice yet.”

“...”

“The smashed cucumbers are ready, though.”

He carried her towards the elevator.

Since her period, the two hadn’t been intimate.

Shen Tang was in a good mood, and whether she ate dinner or not didn’t matter.

Jiang Chengyu carried her into the bathroom. “First, I’ll show you your favorite.”

“What?”

“The bathtub.”

Shen Tang smiled, leaning in to kiss his lips.

Jiang Chengyu drew a bath for her, thoughtfully prepared a small glass of red wine, and poured himself a large one.

Shen Tang half-lay in the bathtub, swirling her wine glass.

Jiang Chengyu brought his glass over and clinked it with hers. “I haven’t congratulated you on your company’s relocation yet. From now on, may everything go smoothly.”

“Thank you, President Jiang.” Shen Tang took a small sip, saving the rest to savor.

Jiang Chengyu drank his wine in one gulp.

“Drink slowly!” Shen Tang tried to grab his hand to stop him, but it was too late. “You can’t drink whole glasses like that anymore, it’s bad for your health.”

Jiang Chengyu replied earnestly, “I’ll be more careful in the future and try to drink less.”

Shen Tang held his fingertips, very curious: “What are you like when you’re drunk? I’ve been with you for so long and still haven’t seen it.”

Jiang Chengyu looked at her. “You’ve witnessed it.”

Shen Tang remembered: they had just broken up for over twenty days, at the private appreciation banquet for the M.K. Spring Auction, Xie Yuncheng claimed to be her boyfriend, and he drank a lot that night.

Jiang Chengyu couldn’t remember what exactly he talked about with her that night. “I only recorded one insignificant sentence.”

Shen Tang was puzzled: “?”

Jiang Chengyu asked her, “Did I say anything out of line when I called you that night?”

“You did,” Shen Tang made up. “You said you couldn’t live without me, that you couldn’t survive a minute without me, and you cried and told me you couldn’t live without me.”

Jiang Chengyu patted her forehead. “You’re drunk after just half a glass of wine?”

Shen Tang laughed. “You really said that, asking me why I didn’t want you.”

He probably wouldn’t get the truth from her. Jiang Chengyu: “I didn’t say anything to hurt you, did I?”

“You did.”

“What did I say? If I hurt you, I apologize.”

Jiang Chengyu put down his wine glass, casually pulled a towel from the shelf, intending to carry her back to bed.

“You said I had long legs, cheating on you with two boats, one abroad and one at home.”

Jiang Chengyu: “In that situation, it wasn’t hurtful. The main thing is that you have long legs.”

“...” Shen Tang was about to retort, but he leaned down and kissed her. “Quick, drink that little bit of wine, and I’ll carry you out.”

Shen Tang was struck by his gentle kiss and forgot to reprimand him.

Jiang Chengyu scooped her out of the bathtub and wrapped her in a bath towel.

Shen Tang grabbed his arm, still insistent: “What sentence did you record?”

‘How about I compensate you for three years of lost youth?’

Jiang Chengyu pretended he had forgotten. “It’s been a long time, I don’t remember the specifics.”

After putting Shen Tang on the bed, Jiang Chengyu turned off the lights. The bathroom light was still on, so the room was perfectly lit, dim enough to see each other’s faces clearly.

“Tomorrow’s Saturday,” Jiang Chengyu said, leaning over her, asking if she still had to work overtime.

“I might have to go once more.”

“Get some rest, you’ve lost weight these past few months.” Jiang Chengyu leaned down and kissed her.

Shen Tang loved it when people told her she was thin. “Where have I lost weight?”

Jiang Chengyu’s kisses landed on her soft, flat waist. “Here, you’ve gotten thinner.”

He kissed her inch by inch.

The kisses slowly moved downwards.

________________________________________

After a long while, Jiang Chengyu held Shen Tang in his arms, reaching for a T from the nightstand and handing it to her.

Once inside, he kept his eyes on hers. The gentleness from when he kissed her earlier was gone; the force he gave her was like a fierce storm with torrential rain.

Shen Tang experienced his passion for her tonight in this way.

Due to excessive physical activity, Shen Tang was exhausted and too hungry to sleep afterward.

“Jiang Chengyu, can you please make me something to eat?”

Jiang Chengyu had just come out of the bathroom after a shower, toweling his hair. “What do you want to eat?”

“Anything, just make whatever’s in the fridge.” Shen Tang got out of bed, wearing a bathrobe.

Jiang Chengyu told her to go to the kitchen first. “Take out whatever you want to eat from the fridge, and I’ll go to the study to check an email, then I’ll come downstairs and make it for you.”

“Okay.” Shen Tang hummed the song they used to sing together as she went downstairs.

Jiang Chengyu put the towel back and took his phone to the study next door.

Two hours ago, Yan Heyu had sent him a message: [The tourism development company for Haitang Village is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Evergreen Group, and the investment amount is considerable. That’s all I’ve found out so far.]

Jiang Chengyu: [Did Xiao Donghan invest in it?]

Soon, Yan Heyu replied: [Probably not. This project was approved last year and is a legitimate development to build tourism in Haitang Village.]

Jiang Chengyu: [Let me know if there’s any progress there. Tomorrow night, Kohn and He Chuyao are going to the club. If you’re free, come over.]

After reading a few emails, he took a box from the drawer and brought it downstairs.

Shen Tang took out shrimp from the refrigerator, intending to boil them in salted water—the simplest dish that required no cooking skills.

Jiang Chengyu entered the kitchen, and she looked up at him. “You go ahead and be busy. I can handle it myself.”

“I’m done being busy.”

Jiang Chengyu placed the jewelry box on the counter, rolled up his sleeves, and started cooking shrimp for her.

Shen Tang saw the jewelry box and thought it was a bracelet or something for her. “It’s not any special occasion recently, is it?”

“It’s not for you,” Jiang Chengyu turned to her. “It’s a men’s ring.”

Shen Tang opened it to satisfy her curiosity. There was only one, not a pair of rings.

“Your ring is upstairs. I’ll give it to you when I propose.”

Jiang Chengyu put the shrimp in the pot to boil, washed and dried his hands, and extended his left hand to her. “Put it on for me.”

Shen Tang looked at him. “Why are you wearing it early?”

Jiang Chengyu: “Today is different for me.”

Shen Tang carefully picked up the ring. It was engraved with the initials of her name. “I will be good to you my whole life, and protect you my whole life.” She slipped the ring, along with her lifelong promise to him, onto his ring finger.

Jiang Chengyu pulled her into his arms with one hand, his voice hoarse. “Thank you.”

Shen Tang held his hand, the one wearing the ring. This high-status man who used to reject marriage had now, for her, stepped into the city of matrimony.

________________________________________

The next afternoon, Shen Tang went to the company. Today was the recording of the eighth episode of the variety show, and she wanted to see Chu Ran’s recent condition, so she went to the recording venue.

Chu Ran was touching up her makeup in the lounge. She asked her assistant if President Qin was outside.

The assistant whispered, “President Qin didn’t come today.”

Chu Ran felt an odd sensation she couldn’t pinpoint. “Good that he didn’t come, saves me the irritation of seeing him.”

The assistant had just received a message. “President Shen is coming today, she’ll be here soon.”

Shen Tang went directly backstage to find Chu Ran and encountered Fan Yishuo, whom she hadn’t seen in over a year.

Fan Yishuo had specifically come to see his cousin Chen Yinuo today. He felt like everything was going wrong for him and now he’d run into this crazy woman.

In Haitang Village, he had been kicked by Shen Tang, rupturing his spleen. He lay in the hospital for over half a month, a period that felt like a nightmare, almost ending his acting career.

Even now, just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.

He couldn’t afford to provoke her, but he could at least avoid her.

Fan Yishuo pushed open the door to Chen Yinuo’s lounge and quickly closed it, as if afraid Shen Tang would barge in.

Chen Yinuo looked at him in the vanity mirror. “Why are you free to come today?” Ten minutes ago, she had received a call from her cousin saying he would visit her during her show recording.

Fan Yishuo was afraid of affecting her recording later, so he casually made up an excuse: “Not much work these days, just happened to be passing by.”

He planned to talk to her after the show was finished.

“How about it, confident you can beat Chu Ran and take first place?”

Chen Yinuo scoffed, “I don’t even have her in my sights.”

The competition format for this episode was all things Chu Ran excelled at. After being completely outmatched by Chen Yinuo in the previous few episodes, Chu Ran finally had a chance to turn things around today.

In this episode’s scoring, Chu Ran took first place.

Chen Yinuo only got third, but her total score was still far ahead.

Shen Tang sat in the audience, giving her applause to Chu Ran.

After more than a month, Chu Ran’s prickly edges had been smoothed out a bit; she wasn’t as arrogant and condescending as she was at first.

Chu Ran thought she would be especially excited after beating Chen Yinuo. Of course, she was happy, but something felt missing.

In the parking lot, the bright red sports car that usually parked next to her manager’s car was replaced by Shen Tang’s black SUV today.

The company had a small group chat with a few people, including her and Qin Xing.

Shen Tang talked about today’s competition in the group. Only Sister Li and Huo Teng congratulated her. Qin Xing didn’t respond, though he couldn’t have missed it—he had just updated his WeChat Moments a few minutes ago.

Shen Tang looked at her. “Why do you look unhappy?”

Chu Ran had also learned to hide her emotions now. “It’s not unhappiness, it’s stress. I’m afraid I’ll lose to Chen Yinuo again next episode.”

“The next episode won’t be recorded for a few more days, so just be happy for now.” Shen Tang opened the car trunk. “I brought you a gift. I didn’t get a chance to give it to you yesterday.”

“Wow!” Chu Ran’s face instantly lit up with joy. Shen Tang had brought her L-brand summer ready-to-wear clothing again, a total of four sets. She wouldn’t have to worry about gowns for her upcoming commercial events.

With gifts in hand, they each got into their cars and left.

Chen Yinuo and Fan Yishuo also got into the company car. Fan Yishuo had his own car, but he got into Chen Yinuo’s car because he had something to tell his cousin.

“Did you hear about Auntie’s situation?”

Chen Yinuo froze, her heart sinking. “What happened to my mom?”

She had called her mother at noon and hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

“Not her, the company.” Fan Yishuo sighed. “All the projects fell through, no money to film dramas, and they can’t find investors for a while. Auntie is so worried she’s crying in front of my dad.”

Chen Yinuo had been busy recording the show lately and hadn’t paid attention to the company’s situation. “What exactly happened?”

Fan Yishuo: “Shen Tang made a fool of Auntie, investing huge sums of company money into Auntie’s company. But then, when the projects were almost ready, she suddenly breached the contract and withdrew the investment. Auntie was caught off guard.”

He came to Chen Yinuo to ask her to talk to Chen Nanjin. Only Chen Nanjin could help now.

“If you truly care about Auntie, go talk to your dad. He’s invested in so many movies; he won’t be short of that much money to invest in Auntie’s company.”

Chen Yinuo opened her mouth, hesitating to speak.

Fan Yishuo used a feigned retreat to press her. “I’m not forcing you. If you can bear to see Auntie’s company collapse, then suit yourself.”

After half a minute of silence, he pushed open the car door and got out.

Chen Yinuo still hadn’t fully recovered.

Her agent patted her arm and said, “When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.”

Chen Yinuo immediately arranged to meet her father that evening. This time, it wasn’t her mother’s fault; Shen Tang had instigated it, which led to her mother’s current passive situation.

Her mother’s company was under her name; she couldn’t remain indifferent.

Chen Nanjin hadn’t seen his daughter in some time; he himself was incredibly busy.

“Dad watched your variety show. If you keep up this state, first place will be no problem.” He poured his daughter a glass of warm water.

Chen Yinuo wasn’t in the mood for small talk; her mind was full of worries.

“Dad,” she twiddled her fingers, “Mom’s company has run into some trouble.” She told her father everything she knew, down to the last detail.

“Please help me decide what to do.”

She rephrased her request, not directly asking her father to invest.

Chen Nanjin clasped his hands on the table. “Yinuo, my company isn’t just decided by me alone. That money isn’t personal funds. Whether your mother’s company’s projects have investment value needs to be discussed in a meeting.”

Chen Yinuo wasn’t asking him to invest under the company’s name. “What about you personally?”

She knew her father was wealthy, with a considerable sum, enough to save her mother’s company.

Chen Nanjin: “I’ve invested in the tourism development of Haitang Village by a tourism development company under Evergreen Group. All my money has been invested there.”

Chen Yinuo suppressed her jealousy, not wanting to mention Haitang Village. “You invested in tourism? You don’t even understand the depths of that industry. How could you just casually put such a large sum of money into it?”

Chen Nanjin had his own plans. “Only by investing money will I have a say in the future. I hope they can develop it well and not affect Haitang Village.”

No need to guess, it was also for Shen Tang.

Chen Yinuo felt incredibly upset. “Then what about my mom’s company and mine?”

After a moment.

Chen Nanjin said, “Let’s think of another way together.”

Chen Yinuo bit her lip, remaining silent for a long time.

Outside the restaurant window, dusk settled.

The club was unusually lively today.

Shen Tang headed straight to the club after leaving the recording venue. Xie Yuncheng and a few others were still stuck in traffic, but Jiang Chengyu had already arrived.

Yan Heyu sat at the card table and instructed a waiter to open a bottle of red wine.

Qin Xing, sharp-eyed, as if he’d never seen anything grander, exclaimed, “Holy cow! Brother Jiang, why are you wearing a ring?”

As his words fell, everyone in the private room gathered around.

Jiang Chengyu’s stance on not marrying was deeply ingrained in people’s minds. Even after he got back together with Shen Tang, many still thought they wouldn’t marry. Today, his wearing a ring surprised many.

Jiang Chengyu nonchalantly shuffled the cards. “Shen Tang put it on me.”

After a pause, he said, “It’s the engagement ring I ordered.”

The private room became noisier and more chaotic than when a school bell rang at dismissal.

Yan Heyu was prepared. He handed him a glass of red wine. “Congratulations.”

Jiang Chengyu had promised Shen Tang to drink less, so he declined the red wine. “Give me a glass of water.”

Yan Heyu frowned, his eyes disbelieving. “Recently, in our group chat, everyone’s been talking about preparing for pregnancy. You’re not also preparing for pregnancy, are you?”

Jiang Chengyu: “...”