131

A wave of commotion rippled through the audience.

Zhu Zhu’s eyes widened, her mouth agape. It was as if she were seeing such a handsome man in the flesh for the very first time.

"Wow! So handsome! Just getting to see him this close makes me feel so happy. I can't even imagine how lucky the person he loves must be..." Zhu Zhu clutched Xia Yuwei’s hand, her own voice trembling with a mix of nerves and boundless longing, as if she were talking to herself.

For the principal, who stood off-stage beaming like a flower, the most remarkable thing was that a single word from President Lu had brought a fifty-million-dollar donation to the school. As for the content of the speech, he didn't care in the slightest; all that mattered to him was the fact that "he came" and "he was here."

Beside her, Xia Yuwei’s immediate instinct was to stand up and walk away. If their first reunion had been pure coincidence, then this second one was likely the act of someone with too much time on their hands.

Yet, why should she leave?

They say the most thorough way to ignore someone is not to hate them, but to forget them. To her, he was nothing more than a passerby now—not someone who belonged to her. She should be able to face him calmly, treating him as a stranger she was meeting for the first time. Suppressing the urge to stand, Xia Yuwei sat perfectly still, even offering a polite nod to Zhu Zhu’s commentary. "Yes, he’s quite impressive."

The speech began, and the students below laughed and applauded at Lu Yichen’s witty remarks. Xia Yuwei kept her expression neutral, even growing bored enough to start fiddling with her pen.

"...Finally, I would like to invite a student from the audience to try on the latest concept piece from our Bailey Group, the 'Dreamscape,' to experience our design philosophy and inspiration firsthand." As Lu Yichen spoke, he gestured with his hand, and immediately a tall woman in a gown walked onto the stage carrying a tray.

On the tray, resting on a piece of red silk, was an exquisite, open jewelry box. A diamond ring with a unique design shimmered under the stage lights.

The people in the audience were students of the industry; they naturally understood the value of such a ring. The entire diamond was crafted with a unique technique, seamlessly integrated into the base. Under the light, it faintly resembled the shape of a rose, truly evoking a dreamlike, ethereal quality.

Those familiar with jewelry knew that most flower-shaped rings were constructed with a single base diamond surrounded by tiny stones, joined together with various setting techniques to create the illusion of a single piece. No matter how small the gaps, they were always visible to an expert. However, this ring was clearly a single, unified stone set onto the base. Not only was the diamond itself precious, but the advanced craftsmanship was breathtaking, showcasing the Bailey Group’s leading position in the industry.

"Wow!..." Another wave of gasps swept through the room.

"Who could be so lucky as to wear such a ring?"

"Does President Lu intend to give this ring to the lucky student?" someone even joked loudly.

"If she is willing, I would certainly be happy to present it to her," Lu Yichen replied, shrugging with a relaxed tone. He cast a casual glance across the hall, and the room fell instantly silent. Everyone stretched their necks, hoping for good fortune to fall upon them. Finally, Lu Yichen’s gaze settled on Xia Yuwei in the front row. "You, student. Please come up here."

Every eye in the auditorium turned toward Xia Yuwei. Even Zhu Zhu, who had initially thought the handsome man was referring to her, felt a pang of disappointment and mixed emotions. She nudged Xia Yuwei, who seemed unresponsive. "Sister Yuwei, he’s calling you!"

"Hmm?" Xia Yuwei had been trying hard to look anywhere but at Lu Yichen, keeping her eyes fixed on the ring. She only snapped out of it when Zhu Zhu nudged her.

"He wants you to go up and try on the ring!" Zhu Zhu repeated, assuming Xia Yuwei was simply too thrilled to react.

Xia Yuwei had no choice but to brace herself and walk toward the stage.

That Lu Yichen—he wouldn't be satisfied until he made a fool of her, would he? He knew perfectly well she hated being in the public eye.

She walked onto the stage, stopped at the edge, and forced a smile for the audience, though she knew how stiff it looked.

"Student, please, come a little closer." Lu Yichen smiled at her, stepped forward with polished manners, and extended his hand like a gentleman, inviting her to take it.

Zhu Zhu was practically drooling from the audience. "Sister Yuwei, hurry, take his hand, take his hand..."

Xia Yuwei hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his to avoid appearing strange. Suddenly, she felt him give her hand a firm, sharp squeeze.

The sudden ambush almost made her cry out.

What a... weirdo! She suppressed her racing heart, cursing him silently.

Lu Yichen led her toward the woman holding the tray. He picked up the ring with his right hand and slid it onto her slender, elegant finger. The movement was so gentle and steady that, for a fleeting moment, one might have mistaken this for a wedding ceremony.

Xia Yuwei instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but he gripped her wrist tightly. The ring was placed firmly on her ring finger.

*Fine,* she thought. *If it's just to try on the ring, I'll show everyone once it's on, and consider it a favor to act as a 'hand model' for a moment.*

With that, she took the initiative and stepped forward, holding her slender hand gracefully against her chest to display the ring, letting the students below witness the live demonstration.

Amidst the envious stares, Xia Yuwei finished her display, turned around, and took the ring off, ready to place it back onto the tray held by the woman behind her.