The shop owner was a quick-witted man. With a swift glance over Christoph, he could give an estimate. Rubbing his hands together, he ingratiatingly struck up a conversation, gauging Christoph’s wealth.
“Everything but the kitchen sink, hahaha.”
Instead of replying, Christoph scanned the display. Various gems emitted dazzling lights, each showing off its own brilliance.
Soon, his lips parted. Through them, an indifferent and dry voice seeped out.
“I’d like to see a hairpin.”
“A hairpin? The hairpins are over here.”
The owner pointed to the far left corner of the display. True to his words, an array of hairpins occupied the glass case.
Christoph’s eyes, which had been moving dispassionately, stopped at one spot. The owner quickly took out a box and presented the hairpin in front of him.
“You do have good taste. This hairpin is designed after a flower called Oxypetalum. Its five petals resemble stars, so it’s also known by the nickname ‘Blue Star.'”
“Gate of Love.”
“Pardon?”
The owner paused at Christoph’s muttering, but Christoph did not reply.
A whole book of flower language was stored in his mind. That night she had left a bouquet of oxypetalums and disappeared, Christoph had spent the night reading that book.
Holding a futile hope that somewhere a different meaning for oxypetalum might be hidden, he had hoped for not vanity but everlasting love, or at least affection.
However, his face as he closed the last page was covered in sheer despair.
“The petals of the Oxypetalum are in beautiful blue. That’s why I tried to represent them as close to their original form as possible with sapphires. Do you see this brilliant blue hue? This isn’t just any sapphire; it’s a top-grade sapphire called ‘Blue Star.’ Doesn’t the meeting of a Blue Star with another Blue Star feel fateful? And it’s not just that. The edge here is not silver but platinum. Doesn’t the elegant shine feel luxurious? It’s a hairpin any woman would fall for at first sight.”
The owner’s smooth voice brushed past Christoph’s ears. Tiny pearls linked seven Oxypetalum flowers together, resembling a crown.
Christoph slowly closed his eyes and imagined Marianne with the hairpin. It seemed to match perfectly with her azure eyes.
Eyes that seemed to contain a universe.
Christoph opened his eyes slowly and whispered in a soft voice.
“This will do.”
“Excellent choice. Is there anything else you need?”
Anything else.
Christoph knew he could buy the entire jewelry shop for Marianne if she so desired. However, that wasn’t what she wanted. He was coming to realize that some things could not be bought.
“That will be all.”
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
Taking out his checkbook, Christoph signed and climbed back into his carriage. The stationary carriage began to move. Instead of looking at the scenery outside, he fiddled with the box in his hand.
Would Marianne like it?
A slight anxiety and faint expectation. He had not thought that so many emotions could be contained in a single gift.
He remembered the numerous gifts he had given her in the past. Luxurious items and jewels devoid of his emotions, and Marianne’s bittersweet smile upon receiving them.
What if she gives another wry smile this time? Christoph felt his mouth go dry. He hoped she would like it.
“We’ve arrived.”
At Louis’s words, Christoph straightened his tie and stepped down from the carriage. Just then, the front door opened, and Mrs. List appeared.
“My, you look especially handsome today, Christoph. Of course, you’re always dashing, but today you particularly remind me of my ex-husband. Still, you’re nothing compared to Marianne. You’ll be speechless when you see her. Feel free to get excited.”
Her expression was that of a mischievous child brimming with excitement. Louis, taken aback by her informal tone, softly exclaimed, “Mom!” But neither Christoph nor Mrs. List took notice.
“Ta-da!”
Mrs. List stretched her arms toward the entrance. Simultaneously, Marianne slowly emerged beneath the white sunlight. With a shy face, she glanced at Mrs. List and said, “Don’t tease me.”
“…….”
The deep navy dress suited her incredibly well. Sunlight hitting the diamond beads made them shine brilliantly, adding to her glamour.
Christoph was speechless, simply staring at her. Suddenly, his eyes met Marianne’s, who awkwardly averted her gaze. The dress she wore after a long time felt unfamiliar.
Mrs. List poked her in the side.
“See, what did I tell you? I said Christoph would be utterly spellbound.”
At her words, Marianne’s neck turned subtly red. Christoph felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
Ah.
Then, he slowly nodded. Realization struck him all at once. It was the exact moment when he had been waiting for Marianne to walk toward him on their wedding day.
Marianne lowered her head with half tension and half shyness, while he stared at her as if bewitched. Only after grasping her hand did Christoph realize she was trembling.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
