Chapter 96 — Happy Birthday

The trip back to the house was made in record time, and for the first time ever, Li Yuchen wasn't the only one chattering. Han Yichen was sharing his experience and the new information his instructor had given him, whilst looking quite different.

Instead of his normal calm and expressionless look, his eyes were bright, his lips were perpetually widened into a smile and surprisingly, he was even using his hands to gesticulate.

Pei Yueran looked back to study him. Was this still her son?

Li Yuchen also noticed and was very happy. This was great. His friend liked the things he liked as well, and could show excitement. This meant that he didn't have facial paralysis, unlike those CEOs he had heard about from those girls in his class who loved to read such novels!

They ate lunch at home and rested for a while before heading out again. Knowing how much Han Yichen loved history and tourism, Li Chuanmo had scheduled a tour to some famous spots in the city and a visit to the local museum as part of their itinerary.

Han Yichen enjoyed the trip very much. The last place they visited before going home was an antique shop. It was a family business, and the owners had been running it for centuries.

They sold famous antique sculptures that were centuries old and that had been sourced from different parts of the world. They also made small sculptures and items as souvenirs for tourists or when commissioned.

Han Yichen was very interested in the history behind these pieces of art and asked a lot of questions, which delighted the owner, who loved to talk about his experiences acquiring special pieces.

When tourists came, they were usually in a hurry to buy something and leave, so it was a pleasure to finally have a customer that was actually interested in the history of antiques.

The more he spoke, the more entranced Han Yichen became, and the more questions he asked. Li Chuanmo, Pei Yueran and Li Yuchen were forcefully subjected to a history lecture.

Li Yuchen in particular was just thinking, how on earth can someone be interested in this kind of boring topic?

Eventually, all questions had been answered and it was time to go. Li Chuanmo generously bought antiques for everyone. Li Yuchen picked a medium-sized stone lion that gave off a playful vibe. The shop owner said it once belonged to the prince of a certain royal family one hundred and fifty years ago.

Pei Yueran chose an antique painting of Country F, named "A Day In 1523". Li Chuanmo also picked a painting, but his was an oriental painting of mountains and seas.

Han Yichen decided on a exquisite porcelain dolphin that looked like it once belonged to a child. It was by far the cheapest of the things they had bought.

Seeing that, the shop owner refused to accept payment for the dolphin and even gave Han Yichen a gift. It was a glass vase, with a map of country F on it. Apparently, it was made a long time ago by the shop owner himself, who was a glass blower. It looked very delicate and beautiful.

"It's not an antique, but I like to think that it would be one in half a century. S'il vous plaît, treasure it, will you?" He said, smiling.

Han Yichen nodded and thanked him. Seeing the way Han Yichen handled it with care, like a treasure, the shop owner was satisfied. He had given it to the right person.

Everyone thanked the old man before leaving.

Then they grabbed dinner at a local eatery before heading home. The boys went to Li Yuchen's room where they played games for a few hours before sleeping.

Li Chuanmo and Pei Yueran sat in the parlor, watching a movie. It was a romantic comedy and Pei Yueran enjoyed it quite a bit. She wanted to take herself to bed afterwards, but Li Chuanmo suddenly remembered he had a question to ask her about work.

That got her very interested. She sat down again as they discussed, jotting down some points on her phone. She would write up a proper document when they get back.

Li Chuanmo had been surreptitiously checking the time. Immediately the grandfather clock in the parlor struck twelve, he leaned over and kissed the unsuspecting Pei Yueran deeply, holding her cheeks in his big hands.

Pei Yueran melted almost immediately and responded instinctively.

After the kiss ended, Pei Yueran looked at him with dewy eyes. "What was that for?"

"Happy birthday, my precious Ran."

Pei Yueran was shocked. That was today? She had totally, totally forgotten her birthday!

It wasn't surprising though, because she had not celebrated her birthday in a long, long time.

She smiled at him with emotions coloring her eyes golden. "Thank you."

It then dawned on her, "Oh, that's why you suddenly started talking about work! I should have known."

Li Chuanmo smiled. He then gave her a medium sized jewelry box. "Your birthday gift."

Pei Yueran received it from him. When she opened the box, she stopped and stared. Inside lay an exquisite set of jewelry made of colorless diamond. Even as she held the box, they sparkled brilliantly, reflecting the light from the chandelier above.

Pei Yueran was not very knowledgeable about diamonds, but even her untrained eye could tell that the set was made from a diamond of high quality. It looked absolutely flawless.

Infact, the entire set was made out of a single colorless diamond, the highest grade, which spoke volumes of its flawlessness and value.

It was auctioned and won more than two decades ago by a world famous jeweler from Country T, who crafted it into a jewelry set consisting of a necklace, bracelet, earrings and an anklet.

The jeweler, calling it his best piece ever made, named it "The Pride of Light". Many celebrities had tried to get their hands on it, but to no avail. It was always the same story: The jeweler would say, "I'm sorry, but it has no affinity with you."

Whether it truly had no affinity with them, or the jeweler just wanted more money than what they offered, no one could tell. It remained unsold for more than ten years.

Li Chuanmo only decided to contact the jeweler recently, after confessing to Pei Yueran. Apparently, he had both "affinity" and lots of money, because the set became his soon after.

He had spent more than double the price of the original diamond. The finished product, sitting on Pei Yueran's lap, was worth hundreds of millions.