Chapter 6: The Gift Had Been Prepared Long Ago

She suspected that this man was deliberately flirting with her to put on a show for everyone, and his next move confirmed her suspicion, leaving no room for doubt.

With his right middle finger, adorned by a black ring, he picked up a strand of her hair and began to twist it back and forth with evident amusement, leaving Xu Tanxi feeling flustered and annoyed.

What a childish man. How old is he to be playing with someone’s hair?

She wanted to slap his hand away, but fearing that the elders would only think they were flirting, she held back.

"Sister-in-law, when is your birthday?" asked the inquisitive Shang Yuqing.

"Tomorrow," Xu Tanxi replied with a smile.

"Wow, brother, you’d better be well-prepared then. This is the first birthday you’ve spent with her since you returned to the country."

Shang Hejing’s dark eyes held a cryptic smile, yet his tone was resolute: "That goes without saying. The gift has already been prepared."

This time, Xu Tanxi wasn't the least bit surprised, because she knew he was just spouting nonsense in front of everyone to craft his perfect image.

Shang Hejing used the same finger he’d been using to play with her hair to poke her shoulder. Xu Tanxi turned to look at him: "What?"

"Are you looking forward to it?"

"To my birthday gift?"

"Yes."

Xu Tanxi paused for a second, her tone filled with performative exaggeration: "Haha, looking forward to it, of course I am."

"As long as you’re looking forward to it. Trust me, you will definitely like it."

Who would believe his wild fabrication?

Catching a glimpse of Shang Hejing’s finger moving as if to continue playing with her hair, Xu Tanxi immediately swept her long hair around to the front.

The man’s finger twisted at empty air: "..."

Xu Tanxi shot him a glance and let out a cold snort.

Eventually, the family banquet came to a harmonious close. Some of the elders went to play mahjong, while others headed to the home theater for karaoke.

Ge Huaiqiu asked them with a smile: "Hejing, Tanxi, where are you planning to go later? Would you like to stay at the old mansion for the night?"

Xu Tanxi remembered her plans to go drinking with Meng Qianyi that evening.

Thinking of her persona as a gentle and virtuous wife, she turned to the man nearby, her face beaming with a sweet smile.

"Honey, you decide. I’ll listen to you."

Shang Hejing met her gaze. This was the second time he had heard this woman call him "honey"; the first time had been during that phone call earlier today.

He had been drinking water at the time and had nearly choked.

He knew her true personality well; she was by no means the obedient, docile, clinging vine she was portraying now.

Clearly, she was acting. But since she enjoyed the performance so much, he didn't mind playing along.

Xu Tanxi looked at him with a gentle smile, though her mind was entirely occupied by the fact that from today on, they would be moving into their marital home together.

She was not in the least bit happy.

Because she was so deep in thought, she didn't notice Shang Hejing move to her side until she felt a strong, overbearing grip on her waist. It was too late to react.

With a firm tug, her slim waist was pulled into his grasp, and she fell right into his arms.

It was exactly the same as that morning after their wild night in Paris, when he had pulled the ribbon on her back tight.

The man’s solid, broad chest pressed against her back, their body heat intermingling.

Xu Tanxi cursed silently.

Yet, this man just had to keep up his act, asking her with solemn concern: "What’s wrong, honey? Can’t stand steady in those high heels?"

His tone was brimming with care, and immediately, those around them cast looks that clearly said, "I ship them, I ship them."

Only Xu Tanxi knew that this dog-like man was being deliberately insufferable again.

She turned to meet his eyes, maintaining her gentle smile, and squeezed out three words through gritted teeth: "Not. At. All."

"That’s good. Shall we head back to Tang Garden tonight?"

Tang Garden, located in the most high-end villa district in the western suburbs of the capital, was priceless. The 1,200-square-meter, two-story villa had remained unoccupied since the day they registered their marriage, visited only by domestic staff for regular cleaning.

Tang Garden was their marital home.

Xu Tanxi nodded: "Okay."

Whatever. She’d agree for now in front of the Shang elders; she had plenty of ways to shake him off later.

Seeing that they had made up their minds, Ge Huaiqiu didn't press the matter.

She called Xu Tanxi upstairs and handed her a box made of agarwood. It felt warm and smooth in her hand, with a faint, lingering fragrance.

Inside was a glass-seed jadeite bracelet with golden silk veins; even to a layperson, its top-tier quality was immediately apparent.

Ge Huaiqiu smiled warmly: "This bracelet suits you perfectly. I had intended to give it to you after dinner today anyway. Just now, when I heard Yuqing ask, did you say tomorrow is your birthday?"

Xu Tanxi nodded: "Yes."

Upon hearing this, Ge Huaiqiu took another box of the same size from the cabinet.

"In that case, you should accept two gifts—one as our welcome gift to you, and the other for your birthday."

Xu Tanxi smiled gracefully: "Would that be too much of an expense for you?"

"It’s no expense at all. Nothing is too much for my daughter-in-law. This is a token of affection from Hejing’s father and me. Just take it."

"Then thank you, Mom and Dad."

Ge Huaiqiu patted her arm lightly: "No need to be so polite. From now on, as long as you and Hejing live well, that’s all that matters. Hejing has a cold and somewhat peculiar temperament. If he ever makes you angry, don't just yield to him; don't let yourself suffer any grievances."

During this one family banquet, the elder before her had surprised Xu Tanxi twice.

In the past, she had spent most of her time in the dance troupe, where the environment was simple and she hadn't encountered many different types of people.

But since becoming the principal dancer at the National Opera and Dance Theater a year ago, all sorts of monsters and demons had begun to surround her.

A year was neither long nor short, but it had greatly improved her ability to read people.

Xu Tanxi could tell that Ge Huaiqiu was not being insincere; she was truly genuine.

Having gone too long without receiving care from elders, she felt momentarily dazed.

However, there was one thing the other woman had said that Xu Tanxi didn't quite agree with: Shang Hejing’s temperament wasn't cold or peculiar—it was just a bit lecherous.

But she couldn't say that in front of her mother-in-law.

After heading back downstairs, Xu Tanxi was cornered by Shang Yuqing.

Having heard people at the table talking about how Xu Tanxi was already a principal dancer at the National Opera and Dance Theater at such a young age, Shang Yuqing immediately began pestering her with star-struck, curious questions.

"Sister-in-law, I’ve been seeing videos of beautiful women dancing classical dance all over the internet recently. It made me itch to learn, so I signed up for a class. But there are some moves I just can’t get right. Could you teach me?"

Xu Tanxi found the young girl cute and lively, so she explained many things in detail, even getting up to demonstrate, which left Shang Yuqing completely mesmerized.

The young girl was incredibly enthusiastic, constantly showering her with compliments as she learned.

By the second half of the evening, Xu Tanxi’s mind began to wander. She listened to the flattery while watching the sky grow dark outside the window, occasionally picking up her phone to reply to a message or two.

Sitting across from her, Shang Hejing watched these small movements, lost in thought.