Chapter 143: How Could Love Bear This?

After Zhang Yurong finished watching, she followed Jiang Xueyin’s praise and said lightly, "It’s really beautiful, but it’s too precious. I can’t accept this gift. The best gift is that you remember my birthday and come back to celebrate it with me."

After saying that, she closed the lid, put it back in the box, and then handed it to Liu Yuyang.

Everyone could see that Liu Yuyang wasn’t just there to celebrate her birthday. Given the compatible family backgrounds, the long years of knowing each other, and their similar ages, he hoped to use this birthday to leap directly from pursuing her to proposing a marriage alliance.

Everyone could also hear that Zhang Yurong was politely declining.

This was expected by Li Yan and Zhang Tianyi. Even Jiang Xueyin wasn’t surprised. Her cousin’s husband was right beside her, and you’re giving her a ring for her birthday? How appropriate is that? Accepting your ring would obviously lead to family issues.

Liu Yuyang started to feel a bit awkward. Originally, he thought that with the friendship between their parents and their business collaborations, a marriage alliance between the two families would be impeccable. As for his character, looks, and abilities, he thought he was an excellent choice and had known Zhang Yurong for a long time. Based on his understanding of her, there were hardly any other threats. That’s why he felt comfortable working in a foreign country previously, thinking that this special day, coming back from Lan Country with a custom-made birthday gift from Lorings specifically for her, would be enough to move her. But as always, there’s a big gap between ideals and reality.

"Compared to our many years of friendship, how is this precious? I didn’t mean anything else by it. It’s just that I haven’t seen you in such a long time, and I specifically came back for your birthday. I couldn’t come empty-handed, right? If you don’t like it, just leave it and don’t wear it. I can’t take back something I’ve given, can I?" Liu Yuyang, though a bit embarrassed, quickly regained his composure and joked with grace.

Zhang Yurong holding the box was at a standstill, as it was now awkward to forcefully return it or take it back.

Li Yan thought to himself, it’s my cue to step in!

In terms of elegance and grace, he couldn’t compare to Liu Yuyang. But in front of Zhang Yurong, she’d seen all his flaws, so he wasn’t afraid of losing face and didn’t mind being a bit cheeky.

At this moment, he was more worried that Liu Yuyang might take the opportunity to touch Yurong’s hand while taking back the box! So, sitting between the two of them and seeing that Liu Yuyang hadn’t taken the box back yet, he reached out and took the box that Yurong was holding in front of her.

When Li Yan took the jewelry box from her hands, Zhang Yurong was momentarily stunned and looked at him anxiously, hoping he wouldn’t do anything foolish.

Li Yan took out the jewelry box from the packaging, opened it, and took out the platinum diamond ring.

Liu Yuyang didn’t know what Li Yan was planning to do. Was he going to swallow the ring? Damn... if he did that, how could Yurong possibly still want it after it comes out?

He was watching Li Yan intently to prevent him from putting it in his mouth and swallowing it.

Li Yan looked at the ring for a moment, then laughed, "Tsk tsk... This ring is quite pretty, but it doesn’t have any substance. You just saw it, young girls like Xueyin might find it attractive, but Yurong doesn’t care for it! Liu, you know the Zhang Family’s situation. Now that Yurong is the CEO of the Paradise Group, she wouldn’t truly find this item so valuable, would she? She’s just being polite because of your family ties, and doesn’t want to say it outright..."

When he took out the ring, Yurong knew he was definitely trying to cause trouble. She didn’t expect not only would he cause trouble, but he’d also drag her into it, essentially using her name to humiliate someone.

At this moment, speaking up was inconvenient for her, and fortunately, Li Yan was sitting next to her, so she secretly pinched him on the waist.

"...Ouch!"

Li Yan suddenly exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

Liu Yuyang reacted quickly and thought to himself, trying to pull a fast one on me, huh?

His hands had been in plain view all this time, and he raised them slightly to indicate his innocence, then teased, "Mr. Li, what’s wrong? I didn’t touch you, and there’s no mouse or cockroach here, right?"

Li Yan paid him no mind and was looking at Zhang Yurong with a sorrowful expression, saying, "Yurong, why are you pinching my butt? I’m just telling it like it is! Even if Yuyang isn’t very familiar with you, we can’t lie, can we? Besides, being fake is not good. I’m just a straightforward person, speaking my mind..."

When Yurong pinched him on the waist, she didn’t use much force, only intending to subtly remind him. The truth was, this guy was all muscle, without any extra fat or cushioning to grip, and it was hard to pinch him even with clothes on. Hearing his exaggerated yelping, she thought it was bad, knowing he was surely going to make a big deal out of it!

Originally, she braced herself, thinking no matter what Li Yan said, she wouldn’t admit to it, but she didn’t expect he would say she pinched his butt! This was truly unbearable for Yurong.

All of a sudden, her face flushed red, but at that moment, she couldn’t argue in front of others, especially her father. Was she going to say, "I didn’t pinch your butt, I just pinched your waist?"

She could only punch him lightly, feigning annoyance, "What nonsense are you spouting? Can’t you be more earnest!"

...

Seeing their reactions, both Zhang Tianyi and Jiang Xueyin, the older and the younger ones, just smiled ambiguously and said nothing. From what they knew about Yurong, it was clear she couldn’t possibly have pinched Li Yan’s butt, but she definitely pinched him elsewhere. In their eyes, it was no doubt a playful banter between a couple, a show to enjoy.