Volume One, Chapter 60: The Garden's Treasure Offered in Tribute

They had agreed to meet for lunch on Saturday, and the restaurant was chosen by Jiang Huai.

It was a place called Mulberry Garden.

Sang Wan had lived in the capital for so many years, but not only had she never been, she had never even heard of it.

She followed the navigation for quite some time before finally finding the main entrance. Staring at the rustic gate of the courtyard, she opened her chat with Jiang Huai, double-checked the directions, and only then was she sure she hadn’t made a mistake.

She told the lady in the cheongsam at the entrance she was here for lunch, but the woman smiled apologetically. “Sorry, we don’t serve the public.”

She mentioned she had a reservation at the Purple Bamboo Pavilion, and suddenly the woman’s demeanor changed. “You must be Miss Sang?”

Once her identity was confirmed, the lady in the cheongsam guided Sang Wan into the courtyard.

Along the way, pavilions, bridges, and flowing water greeted her. Turning at a winding corridor, she was met with a moon gate ahead.

Passing through the moon gate, the scenery opened up suddenly before her.

Sang Wan was certain this was her first time here.

Yet everything felt oddly familiar, as if she had visited a thousand times in her dreams.

Entering the small courtyard of the Purple Bamboo Pavilion, she gazed at the lush bamboo grove outside the window.

Her footsteps halted.

At last, she understood where this sense of déjà vu came from.

In her freshman year, she had joined the literature club for a year and published many essays and poems in the school journal.

For a while, Haizi’s modern poetry was all the rage: “I have a house, facing the sea, with spring flowers blooming…”

Sang Wan had longed for a courtyard.

A small garden with pavilions, bridges, flowing water, a bamboo grove, and flower beds.

She wrote a short poem about it, handed it in, and promptly forgot about it.

Afterward, Sun Yueqing had her incident, and Sang Wan left the club.

All those romantic days faded into memory.

She never dreamed that the courtyard she yearned for truly existed, and that someone actually lived the life she once desired.

“Sis, come in! What are you daydreaming about?”

Jiang Huai called to her from the wide-open window.

Sang Wan entered, sincerely admiring, “Only you, Young Master Jiang, could find such an enchanting place!”

“Sis, do you like it?”

“I do.”

She nodded, took the tea Jiang Huai handed over, and couldn’t help asking, “Is this restaurant owned by someone you know?”

“Of course…”

Now that she was here, there was no reason to keep up the previous lie.

Jiang Huai admitted frankly, “If it wasn’t familiar, I wouldn’t have recommended it to you, right?”

The waiter brought the dishes.

Jiang Huai lowered his head and quickly sent a message: [Bro, where are you?]

The reply came swiftly: [On my way.]

Jiang Huai tossed his phone aside, introducing each dish as it arrived.

The meal felt less like Sang Wan treating him, and more like he was hosting a grand banquet for her.

“Young Master Jiang, have you gotten your vaccine?”

“Not yet. My brother said the doctor will come next week to vaccinate the 2S, so I’ll get mine then! It’s convenient—I’m too lazy to go to the hospital.”

“…”

By the time they finished eating, the person who was supposed to appear still hadn’t shown up.

Jiang Huai was at a loss.

Just then, Sang Wan’s phone vibrated. She glanced down and saw a message from Ke Yifan.

[Wan, are you free this afternoon? I need your help!]

[What do you need?]

[Next week is my mother’s birthday. I’m going to the boutique to pick a gift. Can you help me choose?]

[Sure. Shall we go to World Trade?]

[Great. I’m heading out now, I’ll be there in half an hour.]

[Okay, see you soon!]

Looking up, she saw Jiang Huai fiddling with his phone as well.

Sang Wan smiled, “Young Master Jiang, may I settle the bill now?”

She meant to say there was no rush, but Sang Wan made it clear she was leaving.

After that “on my way,” Lou Ye hadn’t responded at all.

Jiang Huai knew something or someone must have delayed him. Otherwise, knowing Sang Wan was here, Lou Ye would have raced over faster than a rocket.

Jiang Huai stood up, “Of course!”

A few minutes later, Sang Wan was left speechless by the handwritten bill the waiter handed her.

Even 199 would have made sense.

It was a familiar place, a gathering of acquaintances.

Thanks to Jiang Huai, she got a friendship price—so low it was almost a joke.

She understood.

But what was the meaning of 19.9?

Sang Wan glanced back at Jiang Huai.

He flashed a standard smile, all eight teeth showing, as if to say, “Just a token, Sis—giving him face is giving me face.”

Helplessly, Sang Wan thanked him again, “Looks like it’s impossible for me to treat Young Master Jiang to a meal outside. Next time, if there’s a chance, I’ll cook for you!”

???

Clearly delighted by this unexpected bonus, Jiang Huai grinned, “Sis, when will that be?”

Sang Wan: …

Then Jiang Huai pushed a palm-sized bamboo box toward her. “Sis, this is a little gift from your brother—please accept it!”

Sang Wan politely refused, pushing the box back. “Young Master Jiang, it’s not appropriate!”

“It’s absolutely appropriate!”

Jiang Huai pushed it again. “Sis, it’s just a token. If you refuse, I’ll be sad. Besides, it’s not anything expensive.”

He opened the box to reveal a string of agarwood beads.

A faint woody fragrance wafted out.

Sang Wan liked it at first glance.

No longer declining, Sang Wan accepted it respectfully, even putting the beads on her wrist.

Sure enough, Jiang Huai wore a proud look, as if saying, “Sis, your liking is giving your brother face.”

The time was about right. Sang Wan didn’t linger, said goodbye to Jiang Huai, and left Mulberry Garden.

As her taxi pulled away, a Maybach roared into the alley and parked.

He had set out without much hope.

But hearing from Jiang Huai that Sang Wan had just left, Lou Ye’s mood grew worse.

Jiang Huai, looking for credit, said, “Bro, I gave your treasure to your sister-in-law. You won’t blame me, right?”

Lou Ye glanced up sharply.

Jiang Huai, arms folded, leaned back like a lord on the sofa. “Just tell me, did your brother do a good job or not?”

Lou Ye shot him a cold look, but his mood had noticeably improved. “You said it’s my treasure—I would have given it myself, wouldn’t I? Did you have to present it on my behalf?”

“Then why didn’t you give it?”

Jiang Huai ignored him, basking in his own satisfaction. “Sis-in-law put it on right away—and said she’d cook me a feast next time!”

Lou Ye: …

On the first floor of the World Trade Mall, Sang Wan arrived to find Ke Yifan already waiting.

Ke Yifan’s mother’s birthday was next Wednesday. With work keeping him busy and since it wasn’t a major milestone, he’d already let her know he wouldn’t make it home.

But a gift was still essential.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Not much. As long as she knows I remembered, that’s enough.”

“…What’s your budget?”

“Around two hundred thousand.”

After asking about his mother’s preferences, Sang Wan had an idea.

She led Ke Yifan straight to the jewelry counter on the sixth floor.

They eventually chose a perfectly round, flawless Australian white pearl necklace.

Under the bright lights of the boutique, each plump pearl radiated a soft, dazzling glow.

The price was right.

Ke Yifan turned to Sang Wan, “Can you try it on for me?”

She nodded.

The sales attendant, wearing black gloves, lifted the necklace.

Just as Sang Wan lowered her head for the attendant to clasp the necklace around her neck, a sharp, furious voice rang out behind her.

“Sang Wan, you little tramp!”

Her hair was yanked.

Sang Wan turned around.

Smack!

A vicious slap landed across her face.