14. Cartier Amulette

“Xuanhemen, do you have any?”
“There are only three boxes left.”
Seeing the three boxes of cigarettes in the clerk’s hand, Chen Ze quickly showed his QR code, grabbed the cigarettes, and left the supermarket.

Outside, he stretched luxuriously, then slid into the driver’s seat of his Maybach and gently opened the pack.

He only smoked Xuanhemen.

The strength of these cigarettes was mild—just right.

Chen Ze had been trying to quit smoking every day; now he only smoked when deep in thought.

This afternoon, he had successfully persuaded Su Wei to join his cause and demonstrated his determination with action.

It was worth mentioning that although they said no family labor, when it came to those truly loyal, they still had to be family. Su Wei promised full cooperation and even insisted on paying the expenses himself as an uncle, which touched Chen Ze deeply.

Also, he finally understood why the system included cash in his beginner’s gift package.

Because this really burns money.

Hiring the media and rallying workers—without slipping red envelopes, why would anyone listen to only his side? Although covert operations could catch the enemy off guard, Gong Yaowu would surely do public relations, and countering that still required money.

Moreover, the investigation company from Yanjing had arrived this afternoon, quoting a price of 200,000 yuan.

Despite the sting, some expenses had to be paid—not only for himself but for the millions of ordinary people.

When a housing project is left unfinished, the ones hurt the most are the common folk.

After all, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse; Chen Tianhong might still be alive, but someone had even committed suicide over this.

An old man who had sold his ancestral home to quietly buy a house nearby for his working son—intending to ease his son’s burden but instead adding to it.

Because the house was left incomplete, the mortgage still had to be paid. If you refused, only a clean break upon departure could clear the debt.

“Click.”

Chen Ze thought for a moment, then stuffed the cigarette back into the pack, gripped the steering wheel, shifted gears, and drove off.

...

At that moment, inside Anli Community.

In a cozy little room hung with pink curtains, Xu Jiarou read and deleted a message on WeChat.

She had forgotten about this, or rather, she hadn’t expected Chen Ze would really come to celebrate her birthday.

Thinking that he was already outside, she hurried out of the room straight to the kitchen, hesitating as she swayed slightly.

“Go keep Grandma company. There’s no need to help.”

In the small kitchen, Zhang Suyun glanced at her daughter who wanted to help but continued washing vegetables without stopping and said,

“If you have something to say, just say it. Are you going back to school?”

“No.”

Xu Jiarou shook her head, still feeling a bit embarrassed. Before her mother turned away, she finally said,

“Mom, a classmate is coming over to celebrate Grandma’s birthday. Maybe you could cook a little extra.”

“Your classmate is in Jinmen now?”

“A high school classmate.”

Zhang Suyun kept washing vegetables, hearing this with little doubt but growing curious.

“Who is it? Has Huang Tao come home for vacation?”

Huang Tao was Xu Jiarou’s best friend. She had really wondered about that before, but Huang Tao was still studying in Hangzhou.

Seeing her mother’s eyes only focused on a female classmate, Xu Jiarou hesitated, then quietly said,

“It’s... Chen Ze.”

Zhang Suyun paused mid-wash, turning to look at her somewhat guilty daughter with a puzzled expression and asked,

“He’s back in the country?”

Having been Chen Ze’s homeroom teacher for three years, how could Zhang Suyun forget that mischievous boy?

“Yeah, I met him on the road today.”

“I see.”

Zhang Suyun was genuinely curious about how Chen Ze had been these past two years. Although she had some doubts, she didn’t refuse.

“I don’t know what he likes to eat, but it’s fine as long as he doesn’t complain.”

“How could he? Thank you, Mom.”

Seeing her daughter happily hug her from behind, Zhang Suyun raised her eyebrows, about to ask something when Xu Jiarou said,

“I’ll go downstairs to pick him up.”

It was already past six in the evening. Zhang Suyun watched her daughter rush off, then continued washing vegetables thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, Chen Ze parked his Maybach on the side road outside Anli Community, waiting for someone.

It didn’t take long before a beautiful figure stepped out of the community gate, tiptoeing and looking around curiously.

“Little punching bag, over here.”

Chen Ze walked to the trunk and waved. Xu Jiarou’s smile stiffened slightly, and she jogged over, muttering,

“Don’t call me little punching bag.”

“There’s no stranger here.”

Although her mother was the homeroom teacher, when Xu Jiarou was bullied by Chen Ze, she never said a word.

One day, Xu Jiarou finally exploded and asked Chen Ze why he liked to pick on her. How could he explain?

Was it that he liked her? And then got rejected? He could only cover it up by saying, “Because you’re my little punching bag.”

Because of that, Xu Jiarou ignored Chen Ze for several days until he apologized and stopped calling her that.

Looking back, those petty personal grudges now seemed like playful jokes that lightened the mood.

Hearing “no strangers,” Xu Jiarou felt like a punch landed on cotton, and she rolled her eyes irritably, saying,

“Alright, let’s go upstairs.”

“Wait, I have something to get.”

Chen Ze opened the trunk, revealing several boxes of nutritional supplements and gift bags bought along the way.

“Why so many?”

“Everyone gets one, except you.”

Xu Jiarou pouted, but before she could say anything, Chen Ze returned to the rear door.

After closing the door again, Xu Jiarou stared at the bouquet of pink roses in his arms, stunned.

“The teacher should like these, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

Smelling the strong fragrance, Xu Jiarou looked up when asked, her face clearing of confusion.

“These are for my mom?”

“Of course.”

Their eyes met; seeing Chen Ze’s sincere gaze, Xu Jiarou quickly looked away and muttered,

“She’ll... she’ll like them.”

Zhang Suyun was Chen Ze’s homeroom teacher for three years; giving flowers was only proper.

“There’s another bouquet in the car for Grandma. You go get it; I’ll carry these.”

Chen Ze handed her the flowers, ignoring Xu Jiarou’s distracted expression, then closed the trunk and picked up the gift boxes.

They walked side by side into the community. Not far away, a middle-aged man adjusted his glasses.

Seeing the girl holding flowers and smiling brightly was indeed his daughter, his heart immediately sank.

Maybach, young man, roses, gift boxes, intimate behavior, happily walking together.

Damn.

How could it be that just stepping outside, the blonde had already sneaked off to the mountains?

“Smell the roses; aren’t they fragrant?”

“Yeah.”

Xu Jiarou, still bashful and lost in her own thoughts, replied without lowering her head.

Both bouquets were modest, about a dozen stems each. Holding one in each hand, she walked quickly.

Chen Ze sighed,

“Smell carefully, don’t be so perfunctory.”

“Again…”

Hearing the word “perfunctory,” Xu Jiarou flared up, lifting her head to retort but quickly softened her tone,

“Of course flowers smell good; I’m smelling them.”

“Smell closely.”

Watching the unruly Chen Ze, Xu Jiarou snorted and rolled her eyes, then lowered her head pretending to smell carefully.

She was still the same—if teased a little more, she’d obey.

Just as Chen Ze’s smile grew, Xu Jiarou looked up in surprise, pointing to the flowers.

“There’s something inside.”

“Take it out and see.”

Their eyes locked; with permission from Chen Ze, Xu Jiarou, holding the golden-red bouquet for the elderly lady with one arm, reached into the pink roses and grabbed a golden chain.

The next moment, she pulled out a delicate golden and white jade necklace, her small face full of astonishment. She looked back with a hint of delight.

“The salesgirl said ‘Amulette’ means ‘protection’ in French. She hopes this necklace will be your talisman, keeping you safe and healthy from now on.”

Chen Ze explained softly. Xu Jiarou stared at the round jade pendant inlaid with a diamond in the center, surprised, and said,

“For me?”

“Yes. Do you like it?”

Seeing the faint smile in Chen Ze’s eyes, Xu Jiarou bit her pink lips and glanced at the 18K gold chain, then asked,

“How much did it cost?”

“1,300 yuan. Good quality.”

“So expensive? Why buy me a necklace?”

Xu Jiarou was surprised. She had no decent jewelry and didn’t care much for it, so couldn’t judge its value.

“I noticed you don’t wear anything on your chest…”

Chen Ze was about to explain why he bought the necklace, but Xu Jiarou’s eyes suddenly widened. After glancing downward at a particular height, she quickly waved her hand to stop him.

“Alright, don’t… don’t say it…”

What kind of person was he, staring at that area?

Blushing, Xu Jiarou turned her head and placed the necklace back in Chen Ze’s hand, speaking quickly,

“I don’t need it. You should return it.”

“No.”

Chen Ze looked at the necklace in his hand. Seeing Xu Jiarou walk away, he hurriedly caught up and reasoned,

“We haven’t seen each other for a long time; it’s normal for friends to exchange gifts. You don’t have to accept mine, but I can’t refuse yours. Do you understand?”

Despite being a Chinese literature student, Xu Jiarou was a bit confused by this. Only when she caught his subtle gaze did she realize what he meant.

“Alright, I’ll keep it.”

She grabbed the necklace, not treasuring it like a precious gem, but her face was filled with happiness.

Chen Ze saw this and said,

“Let me put it on you.”

He didn’t ask but acted immediately. Xu Jiarou turned her head, and before she could react, he had already grabbed the necklace. Without much struggle, he succeeded.

Blinking, Xu Jiarou looked ahead. It was evening with many people around. She timidly said,

“No, I’ll put it on myself at home.”

“I want to be the first to see how it looks.”

Chen Ze prepared to put it on her regardless. After hesitating briefly, Xu Jiarou responded with silence.

Her cascade of hair was swept aside, and Chen Ze swiftly fastened the clasp of the necklace around her fair neck.

He had no improper intentions, carefully placing this expensive necklace—the first he had ever given to this girl.

Just then, a sudden, loud cough nearby seemed to remind them sharply.

Already tense, Xu Jiarou turned her face away and ran off as soon as she saw who it was. Chen Ze quickly released the necklace, his eyes flashing with anger as he glanced toward the cough.

One look changed his expression completely.

“Uncle... hello.”