Chapter 12: The Fake Bracelet

Qin Yue said, "Are you under some kind of misunderstanding? That little girl looks a lot like you, and President Huo doesn't seem like the type to find a substitute to marry..."

Yuan Xi gently stroked her lower abdomen and smiled faintly, "I didn't know Huo Shiyan when I was a child. We only married because there was a child."

Back in the private room, Huo Shiyan placed a plate of fruit in front of Yuan Xi. "Want some fruit?"

"Okay."

Yuan Xi ate the Summer Black grapes that Huo Shiyan had already peeled for her; the sweet and sour taste suppressed the discomfort of her morning sickness.

Huo Shiyan and Si Chen were chatting about a new film project.

Youzi Film and Television was planning to shoot a science fiction movie with an estimated investment of around 500 million. Si Chen had also intended to ask Huo Shiyan to invest when he organized this dinner.

Huo Shiyan did not agree immediately. On the way back from Ruohu Whispers to the mansion, Yuan Xi looked at Huo Shiyan with curiosity.

"An investment of 500 million isn't much, and President Si only asked you to invest 50 million. Why didn't you agree?"

Huo Shiyan said, "500 million isn't enough to shoot a sci-fi film. Once you enter his trap, it's hard to get out. The initial 50 million will likely turn into more than 200 million later on. If the box office doesn't meet expectations when it's released, those investments will be money down the drain."

"What a pity. I actually quite liked the original novel, *Escape from the Galaxy*, that he wants to remake," Yuan Xi said softly.

Huo Shiyan took out his phone, sent a message to Si Chen, and then put the phone into his jacket pocket.

In May, the lakeside was filled with the sounds of frogs and insects.

As they walked, Yuan Xi said to Huo Shiyan, "When I was a child, I loved coming here with my good friends to catch frogs and bugs. During summer vacation, there were so many fireflies here. I remember one summer, my friends and I snuck out late at night and walked three kilometers around the lake to catch fireflies here."

Huo Shiyan looked at Yuan Xi. "Are there still fireflies here now?"

Yuan Xi shook her head. "I haven't been here in the summer for almost eight years, so I don't know if there are any left. When I was little, my brother Zhuangzhuang was really good at catching fireflies. It's a pity he went to the United States for middle school, and after that, no one ever took us out to catch fireflies during the summer vacation again."

Huo Shiyan said, "This summer, I'll take you to catch fireflies."

Yuan Xi smiled faintly. "Okay."

After the two walked back to Ruohu Mansion, Yuan Xi took a bath and lay on the bed, looking for what kind of jade to give Yang Ying as a gift.

Yuan Xi knew nothing about jade and didn't understand its value or anything else, so she had to do some homework now.

Huo Shiyan saw Yuan Xi looking at jade and asked, "Are you looking to buy jade?"

"Yes, for my mom."

Huo Shiyan said, "It just so happens that I have two jade bracelets that just arrived. They were originally meant for my grandmother, but the size was wrong and I was about to return them. What size bracelet does your mother wear?"

Yuan Xi really didn't know what size Yang Ying wore. She thought for a moment and sent a message to Chu Lin.

Chu Lin replied quickly, "Size 56. Do you have the money to buy a bracelet for Mom? Should I transfer some to you?"

"No need," Yuan Xi said. "I have money."

Yuan Xi said to Huo Shiyan, "Size 56."

Huo Shiyan said, "Perfect. I'll go get them, and you can take a look."

After Huo Shiyan got out of bed and went to the study, he returned shortly with two jewelry boxes. When Yuan Xi opened them, she saw bracelets full of green, transparent and icy. Even though Yuan Xi didn't know much about jade, she had heard of Imperial Green.

Yuan Xi asked, "This wouldn't be the legendary Imperial Green bracelet, would it?"

"Not quite, it's just Yang Green. It doesn't have the same value as Imperial Green. If you like it, take this one to give to Mom."

Yuan Xi closed the jewelry box and said, "How much? I'll transfer it to you."

Because the blue diamond ring was given to her as a wedding ring, Yuan Xi could accept it with peace of mind. But this jade bracelet was so precious that Yuan Xi really couldn't just accept it like that.

Huo Shiyan leaned close to Yuan Xi, their noses almost touching. "We have already received our marriage certificate, Mrs. Huo. Property after marriage is split equally; there is no need to distinguish between yours and mine, understand?"

Yuan Xi nervously gripped the bedsheet, causing the silk fabric to wrinkle.

Huo Shiyan's breathing deepened. "I'm going to take a shower first."

Yuan Xi said, "Didn't you already wash..."

Yuan Xi was not an eighteen-year-old girl after all; she quickly understood what Huo Shiyan meant. She blushed and went straight to sleep.

...

The next two days of work were still busy. Perhaps because she left work on time at 5:30, Yuan Xi felt that her working hours were particularly short now.

On Friday, near the end of the workday, Chu Lin arrived at Michen Games.

Chu Lin knocked on Yuan Xi's desk. "Secretary Yuan, you're quite busy."

Yuan Xi said, "Indeed, unlike you, President Chu, who is so leisurely."

Chu Lin smiled and said, "There's a Chu family dinner today. Bo Fan and his parents and sister will all be coming to eat. Mom told me I must bring you home. If Gu Hanchen makes you work overtime, just beat him up, but you have to come home."

Yuan Xi didn't believe Yang Ying would let Chu Lin beat up Gu Hanchen, but she really had no reason to refuse this dinner.

Gu Hanchen walked out of his office, heard this, and gave a light hum. "Who made her work overtime? She's been leaving at 5:30 every day this week. You can't take her now; she still has ten minutes before she gets off work. Not a minute less."

Yuan Xi went to the restroom and called Huo Shiyan to inform him that she was going to the Chu family today and that he didn't need to pick her up.

After work, Yuan Xi took Chu Lin's car to the Chu family home.

Yang Ying had been waiting outside the Chu house for a long time. Chu Yan stood by, feeling very jealous. "Mom, the sun is so strong. Why don't we go inside and wait?"

"Where is the sun still strong when it's almost six o'clock? Xin'er is coming back; it's fine for me to wait a little longer."

Chu Yan whispered, "Mom, is it because Xin'er is back that you don't like me anymore?"

Yang Ying put her arm around Chu Yan's shoulder and said, "Silly child, you are the daughter your father and I chose ourselves. Our love for you will not change, but we also love Xin'er. Besides, we really have failed her."

When Yuan Xi arrived at the Chu house, she saw the mother and daughter hugging. After Yuan Xi got out of the car, she walked up to Yang Ying. "Mom, Chu Yan."

Chu Yan said, "Sister, you're here. Mom has been waiting for you outside for a long time. Mom has never waited for me like this."

Yang Ying stepped forward and looked at Yuan Xi. "Why have you lost weight? How is your stomach trouble?"

"It's much better. By the way, Mom, this is the jade bracelet I bought for you. Consider it a belated Mother's Day gift."

Yuan Xi took two wooden boxes out of her bag.

Yang Ying said with a heavy heart, "I'm really touched that you have this heart."

Chu Yan leaned in to look. "What kind of jade is it? Let me see. Mom, Bo Fan and I also prepared an Imperial Green 'Peace Plate' for you. We were going to give it to you with Sister, but Sister probably didn't know you only love jade and said she would give you other gifts."

"Look, speak of the devil, Bo Fan and Bo's mother's car is here."

Chu Yan went to the Bo family's car. After Bo Fan got out, she wrapped her arms around his arm very intimately. "Did you bring the 'Peace Plate'?"

Bo Fan took out a box, walked up to Yang Ying, and said, "Yan Yan felt that the Mother's Day gift she prepared wasn't good enough, so she specifically picked out an old-pit Imperial Green plate for you."

Yang Ying took it. "You have a heart. Yan Yan is also very filial."

Chu Yan looked at the two wooden boxes in Yang Ying's hands. "Mom, open them and see what kind of jade bracelet Sister gave you. It just so happens that Bo's mother is here; she's an expert. Let her take a look."

Yang Ying opened one of the boxes, and the transparent green bracelet inside was dazzling.

Chu Yan picked up the jade bracelet and immediately smashed the Yang Green bracelet in her hand onto the ground. The jade bracelet shattered into three pieces with a crash.

"Oh my, Sister, it's one thing for you to wear a fake diamond ring, but why give Mom a fake bracelet? This dyed and acid-washed jade bracelet will cause cancer if worn!"