Chapter Seventeen: Starry Blue Diamond

Jiang Yunzhu held the photo frame and tossed it into the trash bin.

"This is the photo we took together when you were seventeen!" Shen Ruizhang's voice was even more hoarse as he snatched the frame back, wiping it with the sleeve of his shirt.

It was already spotless, yet he wiped as if it could never truly be clean.

After a moment of silence, he slowly straightened up and handed the photo back to Jiang Yunzhu.

His movements were forceful, not allowing rejection.

When their fingers touched, the sensation burned and made his heart race.

But Jiang Yunzhu's expression remained indifferent. She casually threw the photo aside and picked up the suitcase she had already packed, intending to take it outside.

A sharp pain seized Shen Ruizhang's chest.

Inside the suitcase were numerous crystal and jewelry pieces of various sizes, all gifts from him. Some, he could barely recall.

Yet Jiang Yunzhu had always treated them as treasures.

These old objects stirred memories in him, and he said, "These are all outdated now. You're an adult, you need jewelry that suits you better."

Jiang Yunzhu frowned slightly. "Uncle Shen, I—"

"That star-blue diamond necklace from the Shen Corporation, I'll have someone bring it to you," Shen Ruizhang replied in a calm voice.

The star-blue diamond was a necklace personally designed and crafted by Shen Ruizhang himself. It took him 157 days to complete.

Jiang Yunzhu smiled.

"Uncle Shen, I don't like jewelry anymore. There's no need to give me anything."

Perhaps once she had longed to possess such things.

But now, all she wanted was to leave as soon as possible.

She and her uncle—there was no turning back.

"How can a girl from the Shen family not have jewelry worthy of her status?" Shen Ruizhang's face showed a faint, distant smile. "Since I've promised it to you, just accept it when the time comes."

Jiang Yunzhu lowered her gaze.

What she truly desired had never been these external possessions.

It didn't matter.

When she left, she could return all of it to him.

At the corner of the spiral staircase, Zhou Qingpei had overheard their entire conversation, gripping the rail tightly.

Star-blue diamond.

She had once expressed her fondness for it, hoping Shen Ruizhang would give it to her, but he had pretended not to understand.

...

Shen Corporation.

Zhou Qingpei had a few advertisements to shoot today, but she was never satisfied with the necklaces chosen for the shoot.

"Miss Zhou, these are already the finest necklaces we can offer from Shen Corporation," the assistant said beside her.

Zhou Qingpei rested her chin on her hand, her fingertip lightly tapping the corner of her eye. "The best necklace? As far as I know, this isn't Shen Corporation's best. There's a star-blue diamond necklace, it's beautiful."

The assistant's expression faltered. "That one... is President Shen's private collection. We can't access it."

"I'm A-Rui's girlfriend. Can't I borrow it for a bit?" Zhou Qingpei smiled as she replied.

The assistant felt his scalp tingle.

Everyone knew the star-blue diamond was a necklace personally polished and crafted by Shen Ruizhang.

Its value aside, the sentiment behind it was priceless.

Ordinary people could never even touch it.

But Shen Ruizhang's affection for Zhou Qingpei was well known.

As Zhou Qingpei said, it was only to borrow for a short while—surely, it wouldn't matter.

"I understand it's difficult. I'll call A-Rui myself," Zhou Qingpei took out her phone and dialed Shen Ruizhang.

Soon, the call was answered.

"A-Rui." Zhou Qingpei's tone was gentle, and she went straight to the point. "I'm shooting an advertisement in the studio, but the accessories aren't suitable. I remember you have a star-blue diamond necklace—it fits the theme perfectly."

On the other end, Shen Ruizhang was silent for a moment.

"A-Rui, I know you crafted this necklace yourself. It wasn't easy," Zhou Qingpei's voice softened even more. "But I only want to borrow it for the shoot. I'll have it returned immediately afterward."

Shen Ruizhang finally spoke. "Alright, I'll have my assistant bring it to you."

"Thank you." Zhou Qingpei smiled and hung up.

Her gaze shifted slightly outward.

At the entrance, Jiang Yunzhu was walking in with Sang Bai, the two chatting about something.

"This luxury endorsement is meant for you, don't worry," Jiang Yunzhu said to Sang Bai.

"Yunzhu," Zhou Qingpei's voice suddenly called out.

Jiang Yunzhu and Sang Bai looked over at her.

Zhou Qingpei waved. "Come here, Yunzhu."

Jiang Yunzhu didn't move. At that moment, another person entered behind them.

It was Shen Ruizhang's assistant.

The assistant carried a box carefully to Zhou Qingpei.

Zhou Qingpei glanced at Jiang Yunzhu, then opened the box, prompting exclamations from those around.

"Sister Qingpei, let me help you put it on," said her assistant.

Jiang Yunzhu saw clearly as the assistant took out a necklace.

The necklace was predominantly white, with the chain made of small white diamonds. The pendant was a hollow butterfly crafted from millimeter-grade gold, its body a blue diamond.

This was the star-blue diamond necklace designed and polished by Shen Ruizhang himself.

"Yunzhu, isn't it beautiful?" Zhou Qingpei finished putting on the necklace and walked up to Jiang Yunzhu.

"Isn't that the star-blue diamond President Shen designed himself?" Sang Bai asked, surprised.

Jiang Yunzhu withdrew her gaze and nodded. "It's beautiful."

Then, with no evident emotion, she turned to Sang Bai. "It's your turn for the shoot. Go ahead."

Sang Bai frowned slightly, concerned, but went into the studio.

Now only Jiang Yunzhu, Zhou Qingpei, Zhou Qingpei's assistant, and Shen Ruizhang's assistant remained in the room.

"Yunzhu," Zhou Qingpei said with a soft laugh, "A-Rui and I will be getting married soon. It doesn't seem appropriate for you to keep living in his villa. I don't mind, but it's not a good look."

Jiang Yunzhu cast her a cold glance. "I'm not like you. I won't cling to him."

"Although I've lost in this relationship, utterly defeated, I believe with Uncle Shen's nature, you won't win either. Instead of worrying about me, you'd better worry about yourself."

The smile on Zhou Qingpei's face didn't reach her eyes.

She speaks so beautifully, yet she's still living in that villa.

She tidied her collar, exposing a kiss mark on her collarbone.

Jiang Yunzhu found it glaring and looked away. "Wearing a kiss mark for a commercial shoot—how unprofessional."

"Sorry," Zhou Qingpei immediately covered the mark. "It's all your uncle's fault. I told him not to leave any marks, so outsiders wouldn't laugh."

Though she spoke thus, she couldn't hide her pride.

She was glad Jiang Yunzhu could see it; it hadn't been in vain to pinch that mark herself.

Jiang Yunzhu couldn't be bothered to look again.

"Time to start. Go to your shoot."

"Alright, thank you for the reminder, Yunzhu." Zhou Qingpei tilted her head and glanced at the time. "Zhouzhou, is there anything else I need to change?"

Zhou Qingpei's personal assistant was named Zhouzhou.

Whether intentional or not, it was unclear.

Zhouzhou immediately brought over a pair of high heels. "Sister Qingpei, these are the shoes the brand wanted you to wear. Once you've changed, we can go on stage."

"Alright." Zhou Qingpei smiled.

Zhouzhou bent down, intending to help Zhou Qingpei change.

But Zhou Qingpei remained still, her gaze fixed on Jiang Yunzhu.