Chapter 98: The One Dearest to the Crown Prince's Heart

Jiang Ciyou was pulled into the courtyard by Shen Nuo.

Fireworks burst across the sky, brilliant as cloud brocade, splendid beyond measure.

Everyone in the courtyard had tilted their heads to look, standing still in admiration.

Jiang Ciyou looked up as well.

Watching the display, she could not help thinking of the day of her own birthday.

It had been the same all-consuming blaze of roses stretching across the heavens.

What had once been a heartbeat of longing was like a great bubble.

With a soft pop, it had shattered.

The fireworks lasted about ten minutes.

Then they slowly fell back into silence.

But the courtyard grew all the more lively.

Everyone had gathered beneath a flowering crabapple tree in the middle of the grounds.

Beneath the tree, gifts of every size were piled high like a small mountain.

At last, Jiang Ciyou saw tonight’s heroine, Shen Qingqing.

Shen Qingqing looked very young.

Though she was only three years younger than Jiang Ciyou.

There was something so fresh and naive about her face that she could have passed for a high school student.

Her hair was black, long, and straight, with blunt bangs; her features were delicate, her makeup light and subtle.

A pink dress outlined her slender figure.

Those eyes of hers were especially innocent, and when she smiled, sweetness seemed to bloom within them.

Beautiful, youthful.

That was Jiang Ciyou’s first impression of her.

Like a refined Barbie doll displayed in a shop window.

As if she had been born to be held aloft, cherished, and pampered like a little princess.

A large crowd of girls surrounded her.

Jiang Ciyou and Shen Nuo stood across from them, separated by an artificial lake.

But the distance was only a few meters.

Their chattering voices still drifted clearly into Jiang Ciyou’s ears.

"Qingqing, why hasn’t the heir arrived yet?"

"Qingqing, I heard the heir specially had a reality show customized for you. Is that true? Don’t forget us sisters when the time comes."

"Qingqing, we’re so jealous of you. You’re only in your second year of university and you’ve already appeared on several major productions. Once those dramas you’ve been sitting on finally air, you might go straight to top-tier stardom."

"Qingqing is just blessed. We can’t envy that. The heir even founded an entertainment agency just for her. In this industry, that kind of favor is one of a kind."

"Our Qingqing is practically the future mistress of the family. So what if he founded a company for her? Before long, I’m afraid even Bo Group itself will be placed right into the heir’s hands for her."

Shen Qingqing kept smiling faintly until she heard the last sentence.

Her cheeks turned red as she said, somewhat shyly, "Please don’t say things like that. I and Fourth Uncle are not what you think."

"Why do you still call him Fourth Uncle? That’s a generational gap. Xue Qin calls him Brother Xiu, after all. You can’t be lower than her."

Shen Qingqing replied earnestly, "He is Fourth Uncle, and that’s that. Don’t talk nonsense. If Fourth Uncle hears it later, he’ll be unhappy."

A stir broke out not far away.

Someone said, "Qingqing, the heir has arrived."

The crowd that had been gathered there naturally parted to make a path.

A tall, lean figure walked straight toward them.

The moment Jiang Ciyou saw that figure, her heart skipped a beat.

Shen Nuo, standing beside her, kindly reminded her, "Look, that’s the Bo family heir, Bo Jinxiu."

Bo Jinxiu.

How could she not know him?

The custom-made suit fit his frame perfectly, and his handsome face was the kind that made people forget his lofty status and simply lose themselves in that heaven-defying beauty.

Each of his steps seemed to tread directly upon the hearts of those around him.

If not for the cool, oppressive aura radiating from him, someone might have been unable to resist screaming.

One had to know that among the current heartthrobs of the entertainment industry, no one could match his face.

Bo Jinxiu walked unhurriedly to Shen Qingqing’s side.

People nearby immediately began greeting him one after another.

Bo Jinxiu nodded casually in response, but in the end his gaze settled on Shen Qingqing.

"Qingqing, happy birthday."

Shen Qingqing was clearly overjoyed, looking up at Bo Jinxiu with eyes that seemed to glitter with starlight.

"I brought you a birthday gift. See if you like it."

Bo Jinxiu lifted a hand.

Gao Cen, who had been following behind him, stepped forward at once.

He presented both hands with a square black velvet box.

Then he opened it carefully.

A dazzling light flashed out.

Exclamations of envy rose all around.

Inside the box lay a pink-diamond necklace.

A huge pink diamond carved into the shape of a heart, surrounded by countless tiny diamonds, glittered with an almost blinding brilliance.

Someone with sharp eyes immediately exclaimed, "It’s QUEEN’s newest design, Heart of Cherry Blossoms. I remember this piece was just auctioned last month at the Kobe Jewelry Center, and a mysterious tycoon bought it for eighty million. So it was the heir who bought it for Qingqing as a gift."

"So romantic. The heir must have started preparing this surprise for Qingqing ages ago. An eighty-million surprise, my god."

"The heir must know that Qingqing loves pink the most. He really put so much thought into it."

Shen Qingqing was clearly moved as well.

Her eyes filled with tears, yet she still looked uncertainly at Bo Jinxiu. "Fourth Uncle, this gift is too precious."

Bo Jinxiu smiled faintly, his eyes full of indulgence. "Eighty million means nothing to me. As long as you like it."

"I love it. Thank you, Fourth Uncle."

Someone nearby started cheering them on. "Heir, hurry and put it on Qingqing."

Bo Jinxiu took the Heart of Cherry Blossoms out of the box.

Then he gently gathered Shen Qingqing’s hair aside and fastened it around her neck.

Her slender neck, graceful as a swan’s, instantly gleamed with radiance.

So beautiful that no one could look away.

Afterward, Bo Jinxiu even tidied her hair for her with thoughtful care.

Shen Qingqing wore an expression of perfect happiness.

The people around them began flattering and praising them in waves.

Jiang Ciyou saw everything.

A trace of mockery suddenly curved at the corner of her mouth.

Heart of Cherry Blossoms had been designed by her too.

So it turned out that when he went to Japan that year, he had not only photographed that piece of hers, Abandoning Darkness for Light.

Xiao Hecuan had encouraged her to open her heart to Bo Jinxiu.

She had truly wavered.

Fortunately, the words I love you had never made it out in time.

After giving the gift, Bo Jinxiu received a phone call.

He stepped away from the crowd and went behind the rockery to answer it.

Shen Qingqing’s side remained as lively as ever.

Countless people surrounded her, flattering her from every side, and everywhere was a chorus of admiration.

That harmony was broken only when Xue Qin appeared.

Xue Qin had arrived late.

In truth, she had not even received an invitation from the Shen family.

It was only after she sought out her aunt Xue Ling that she managed to enter the Shen residence.

The moment she came in, she heard everyone discussing the eighty-million necklace Bo Jinxiu had given Shen Qingqing.

She rushed straight up to Shen Qingqing and, sure enough, saw a priceless pink-diamond necklace around her neck.

Xue Qin was furious to the point of trembling. Pointing at Shen Qingqing’s neck, she snapped, "Shen Qingqing, take that necklace off!"

One of Shen Qingqing’s friends stepped in front of her. "Xue Qin, open your eyes. This is a gift from the heir to our Qingqing. Why should she take it off?"

"Brother Xiu is my fiance. How can he give you such an expensive gift?"

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Xue Qin, are you dreaming in broad daylight? Who doesn’t know that Qingqing is the one the heir treasures most? What sort of fiance are you? Even if Old Master Bo favors you, what good is it if the heir refuses to marry you? Are you planning to marry into the Bo family just to serve the old man?"

The Xue family had indeed been somewhat stronger than the Shen family in recent years.

There had long been rumors outside that Old Master Bo intended to ally with the Xue family through marriage.

Xue Qin was so enraged she shook all over, nearly losing all reason.

She pointed at Shen Qingqing and sneered loudly, "The one he treasures most? I doubt that very much. Shen Qingqing, let me tell you this: Brother Xiu already has a girlfriend in Rong City."