Chapter 64: The Neighbor's "Gossip" (Part 1)

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting lazy, dappled spots of light onto the pristine teak wood floor.

Yu Ling curled up in the cloud sofa in the living room—the kind that swallowed her whole. A fashion magazine lay spread across her knees, but her fingertips rested unconsciously on a specific page: a necklace composed of countless tightly set blue diamonds, featuring a massive, deep blue sapphire at its center, radiating a cold, exorbitant light from the neck of a top model. The headline next to the picture was striking: [Heart of the Ocean Reappears! Sets Auction Record at Charity Gala!]

This piece of news pricked at her heart like a tiny needle, only to be instantly overwhelmed by an even greater sense of absurdity.

The few boxes of frozen pork belly in the refrigerator labeled "Market Special," which formed a tragic contrast to the top-tier A5 Wagyu, along with Zhao Chen's deadpan remark about a "Pinduoduo 9.9 yuan free-shipping family heirloom"… These images bounced back and forth in her mind, making her temples throb with a steady pulse.

She took a deep breath, closed the magazine, and decided to go out for some fresh air. If she stayed any longer in this luxury mansion reeking of "Pinduoduo antiques" and "app-master-chef" vibes, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to resist pressing Zhao Chen's sincere, innocent, handsome face right into that bowl of god-tier braised pork and demanding to know how many more "small targets" he was hiding!

Changing into a simple T-shirt and jeans, Yu Ling grabbed her phone and keys, planning to head down to the upscale boutique supermarket inside the residential complex to buy some fruit—mostly to check if they had a "9.9 yuan free-shipping" section to enrich Zhao Chen's prop inventory.

The elevator descended smoothly. The interior of the car was polished to a mirror shine, reflecting Yu Ling's slightly preoccupied face. When the floor indicator reached "15," a soft "ding" sounded, and the doors slowly opened.

A fragrant breeze, mixed with the scents of high-end perfume and skincare products, rushed in first. Two women entered, impeccably dressed from head to toe in an aura that screamed "I am expensive."

One was around fifty-early, well-maintained, wearing a classic Chanel tweed suit with a strand of lustrous pearls around her neck; the other was younger, around thirty, in a cleanly tailored Max Mara cashmere coat, carrying a Hermès Birkin in her hand.

The two were clearly acquainted and conversing in low tones. Upon seeing Yu Ling in the elevator, they gave polite, nodding smiles. Yu Ling smiled back and stepped aside into the corner of the cabin.

The elevator doors closed, and the descent continued.

"Mrs. Wang, have you heard?" the younger woman asked the older one, her voice low with the excitement of sharing a secret. "In this very building of ours, just a few days ago, without a peep, the entire fresh air ventilation system was replaced! Word is it's the latest imported European model, capable of filtering PM0.1 and releasing negative ions to regulate humidity. A single setup costs as much as a small apartment for an ordinary family!"

The older woman, addressed as Mrs. Wang, raised her eyebrows elegantly, her face displaying a well-calibrated mix of surprise and knowing amusement. "Oh? That matter? Property management mentioned it to my husband in passing. They said it was a generous donation from an anonymous 'Mr. Zhao' in our building! Said it was to give back to the neighbors and improve everyone's living environment."

She paused, her gaze sweeping casually over Yu Ling in the corner, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Truly a low-key and thoughtful philanthropist!"

Fresh air system? Cost of a small apartment? Mr. Zhao? Donation?

These keywords struck Yu Ling's nervous system with pinpoint accuracy! She tightened her grip on the canvas tote bag strap, her fingertips turning slightly pale. Her heart hammered uncontrollably in her chest. It was him again! Aside from her "ordinary employee" husband, what other Zhao in this building could possibly pull off such a "great benevolent deed"?!

She felt her cheeks burning slightly, forced herself to maintain a calm expression, and pretended to intently watch the flashing elevator numbers. Inside her head, however, she was screaming frantically: Zhao Chen! Can you use a different name when you donate a ventilation system?! "Warm-hearted citizen Mr. Zhao" would be better than this!

The woman known as Mrs. Wang seemed to feel the fire wasn't hot enough yet. She turned back to Yu Ling, her smile warm, though her tone carried an undeniable probing quality: "Mrs. Zhao, your husband is truly enthusiastic about public welfare and cares deeply for his neighbors. Ever since this new ventilation system was put in, my chronic rhinitis feels much better. I really must thank him properly."

Here it comes! Direct naming!

Yu Ling felt the smile on her face slipping away. Her mouth twitched stiffly, her throat went dry, and she could only bite the bullet and respond vaguely: "Ah… yes, yes, he… is rather enthusiastic, only right, only right…" Her voice was dry and utterly unconvincing.

The younger woman didn't seem to notice Yu Ling's awkwardness, or perhaps she was far more eager to share another, even more explosive "secret." She leaned closer to Mrs. Wang, lowering her voice further, though it still penetrated clearly into Yu Ling's unwillingly perked-up ears:

"Mrs. Wang, do you think the finale lot from last week's 'Starlight Charity Night'—that 'Heart of the Ocean' necklace bought by a mysterious buyer for an eight-figure sum—was it bought by our 'warm-hearted' Mr. Zhao?"

As she spoke, her gaze couldn't help but drift toward Yu Ling, her eyes burning with gossipy fervor. "I heard that the mysterious tycoon who won that necklace did it just to win a smile from his beauty! A wedding anniversary gift for his wife! Tsk tsk, how hopelessly romantic!"

Boom—!

Yu Ling felt as though her head had been struck hard by a heavy hammer! The image of the exorbitantly priced blue diamond necklace from *Global Capital* magazine instantly magnified in her mind! Eight figures?! A wedding anniversary gift? Given to *her*?!

She involuntarily raised a hand to touch her bare neck. There was only smooth skin and a faintly pulsing heartbeat there; forget a sky-high blue diamond necklace, she didn't even have a silver chain!

A sense of sheer absurdity instantly washed over her. Looking at the mixture of envy and inquiry sparkling in the eyes of the two wealthy matrons, and then down at her own simple T-shirt and jeans, she felt like a clown who had stumbled into a top-tier vanity fair.

"The... Heart of the Ocean?" Yu Ling's voice drifted uncontrollably, tinged with a bewilderment that she herself found laughable. "What necklace? I... I don't know anything about it?"

She really didn't know! Aside from the "Deep Space Gaze" watch she had gritted her teeth to buy herself, Zhao Chen had never bought her a decent piece of jewelry! Anniversary gift? He had indeed mentioned celebrating "ordinarily," but she had assumed that meant at most going out for a nice meal!

Her reaction clearly caught the two wealthy women off guard. Mrs. Wang and the younger woman exchanged a most subtle glance—one containing surprise, confusion, and a trace of undetectable sympathy? It was as if they were saying: He wins a sky-high necklace at auction and doesn't even tell his wife? This Mr. Zhao... plays games on a deep level indeed!

The air in the elevator instantly grew thick and awkward. Yu Ling felt as though she were being roasted over a fire; her cheeks burned, and she wished the elevator would crash instantly or that she could simply vanish on the spot.

At that exact moment, a soft "ding" sounded like music to her ears!

The first floor had arrived!

The elevator doors slowly opened.

Yu Ling felt granted a full pardon and rushed forward, head down, almost fleeing.

"Lingling?"

A familiar, deep male voice—lazy, smiling, and carved deep into her bones—acted like a immobilization spell, instantly pinning Yu Ling to the spot.

Stiffly, she raised her head inch by inch.

Outside the elevator doors stood Zhao Chen, tall and straight.

He had been waiting there who-knows-how-long, dressed in a simple white linen shirt and khaki casual trousers, his sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows to reveal the smooth lines of his forearms. The afternoon sunlight cast a soft golden rim around him, his handsome features wreathed in a warm smile, his amber eyes like melted honey, locking precisely onto the flushed and panicked little wife inside the elevator.

Acting completely oblivious to the bizarre atmosphere in the elevator and the suddenly respectful and gossipy looks of the two wealthy women, he stepped forward naturally, extended a long arm, and swept Yu Ling's stiff body entirely into his warm embrace.

"Why are you running so fast? Didn't we agree to go to the supermarket together?" He lowered his head, his nose affectionately brushing against Yu Ling's bangs. His voice was low and gentle, steeped in heavy doting, every single word falling clearly into the quiet elevator shaft: "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

His warm breath brushed against Yu Ling's sensitive earlobe, sending a slight shiver through her. That solid, warm embrace acted like the safest harbor, instantly pulling Yu Ling out of the suffocating awkwardness and absurdity of just a moment ago.

Yu Ling's stiff body slowly relaxed in his arms, but the churning waves in her heart showed no sign of calming down.

Leaning against his chest, she could clearly catch his crisp, pleasant scent mixed with the smell of sunlight. Yet her brain was frantically flashing explosive keywords like "ventilation system," "Heart of the Ocean," "eight figures," and "anniversary gift"!

She struggled slightly, wanting to look up at him and demand answers, but Zhao Chen unhesitatingly tightened his arm, pressing her even closer against his chest. He gently rested his chin on the crown of her head, creating a posture of absolute protection and possession.

Only then did he seem to notice the other two women in the elevator. Raising his head, he wore an impeccable, warm yet aloof social smile, nodding slightly to Mrs. Wang and Ms. Li: "Mrs. Wang, Ms. Li."

"Mr. Zhao!" Mrs. Wang immediately switched to an even more enthusiastic and proper smile. "We were just talking about you with Mrs. Zhao! Thank you so much regarding the ventilation system! And about last week's charity night..." She paused meaningfully, her gaze sweeping over Yu Ling's bare neck.