Rebirth: Marriage into a Powerful Family

Chapter 10

Meng Weiyuan carried himself with effortless composure.

“Please, go ahead,” he said with quiet grace.

Unreserved now, Yousijia drew from her pocket the velvet box resting on top.

The gift box, in a muted shade of silver-grey, appeared understated, almost austere.

But the moment she lifted the lid, her breath caught in her throat.

Nestled against the black velvet lining lay a necklace of rare magnificence—its centerpiece, a violet-pink diamond of no less than eight carats, exquisitely cut, encircled by a constellation of smaller stones. It shimmered like the blush of a maiden, modest yet luminous, surrounded by stars as though heaven itself deferred to her.

Under the brilliance of the chandelier above, the necklace blazed like a fallen galaxy suspended against the night sky—radiant, intoxicating, and impossibly precious.

Stunned, Yousijia snapped her gaze upward. “You… you’re the one who bid by phone that night!”

Even the ever-perceptive Meng Weiyuan faltered, momentarily unsettled by her sudden, cryptic accusation.

But her expression only grew more certain. For all her frivolity, as Jiang Lingyu often teased, Yousijia possessed an artist’s eye, sharp and unforgiving. Whether in fashion or in jewels, she recognized the rare and the exceptional at once, her memory for such treasures flawless.

And this necklace—this precise violet-pink diamond—was undeniably the very piece she had sought days ago at the Harbor City auction, the one that had slipped through her fingers, leaving her sulking all night with You Kuiqing.

“Some vulgar upstart!” she had railed. “Utterly insufferable! Three pieces in total, and they snatched up every last one! Do they think I couldn’t afford it? I simply refused to play their ridiculous price games! Kuiqing, if you hear a whisper at your endless banquets—find out who bought them. Necklace or bracelet, I must know. I’ll buy them back if I must, no matter the cost.”

Now the truth glimmered cold and bright before her.

Meng Weiyuan, catching up at last, arched a brow. “You mean… the auction? You were there as well?”

What a curious twist of fate. He himself had not attended—obliged instead to return to the capital for a critical meeting—yet he had left instructions with one of the city’s most renowned jewel experts to secure every piece of jewelry that evening.

It had not been difficult to learn of Yousijia’s proclivities. Her love of fine adornments was hardly a secret; she was notorious for arriving at the simplest luncheon draped in haute couture and rare gems. Some mocked her extravagance, but others—many more than she realized—secretly imitated her choices.

To indulge such a passion was effortless for him. Thus, the auction had been decided in advance: every jewel would be his, if only to place them at her disposal.

Yousijia had never expected the necklace she coveted to circle back to her in such a way. She gave a small, haughty hum, her lips curving in mock disdain, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of delight. Like a pampered Persian cat, she announced with delicate arrogance, “That is precisely why I went to Harbor City in the first place.”

At once, understanding dawned for Meng Weiyuan. He recalled the phone agent mentioning a woman at the auction—determined, unyielding, nearly obsessive. He had dismissed it at the time, intent only on ensuring the bid succeeded. Little had he known the rival bidder was none other than Yousijia herself.

The elevator doors parted, revealing the rooftop garden of the Hengyuan Hotel.

Spanning nearly a thousand square meters, the space unfurled like an urban Eden, its paths lined with sculpted hedges and candlelit tables. Artificial flames flickered in their glass holders, casting the scene in a gentle, romantic glow.

Trailing behind her, Meng Weiyuan wondered if his victory at the auction had secretly offended her. Childish though such a grievance might seem, he already understood enough of Yousijia’s temperament to know—it suited her perfectly.

Breaking the silence, he murmured, “There is another gift still in the pocket.”

Though faintly irked, her curiosity stirred. She reached back into the leather pouch, fingers brushing against a square, solid shape. Drawing it out, she blinked in surprise. A set of books.

Her breath caught anew. The moment she saw the cover, her eyes widened.

“You…” she whispered, staring at him, then at the illustrated volume in her hands, then back again, repeating the motion as though to confirm reality.

How could he have known of her fondness for this particular illustrator? No debutante of her circle would ever dare to present so modest a gift. And yet here it was, her delight laid bare, offered without pretense.

“You and this book,” she finally managed, her voice tinged with incredulity, “seem such an unlikely pairing.”

Meng Weiyuan remained inscrutable. “As long as Miss You likes it, that is all that matters.”

And she did. Dearly so. Yet her heart swirled with contradiction. For this, too, she remembered. In another life, the very same set of illustrated books had come into her hands—his wedding gift to her.

So, he had begun observing her far earlier than she ever realized.

For the first time that evening, she faltered, biting her lip. “I… I hadn’t thought so far ahead. I didn’t prepare anything for you.”

“There is no need,” he replied evenly. “Tonight, it is I who seek to win Miss You’s hand. How could I expect her to bring me gifts?”

Her small embarrassment dissolved at once, though heat crept unbidden into her ears. What an antiquated man—seeking to marry indeed! He made it sound so solemn, so ceremonial.

And yet, despite herself, she felt… pleased.

Buoyed by the unexpected lightness in her chest, the proud Miss You finally deigned to gesture outward, pointing to the skyline. The view of Nancheng at night, she explained, ranked among the five most resplendent in the nation, and from this rooftop perch, overlooking the coastline of a first-tier city, it seemed infinitely more alluring.

By the time they departed, the families were in agreement: masters would be consulted, auspicious dates chosen, wedding preparations set in motion.

In the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, Yousijia dangled the violet-pink diamond necklace in triumph, its facets scattering rainbow fire across her sister’s astonished gaze.

“Isn’t it stunning?” she declared, pride glinting in her eyes.

Kuiqing could only gape. “Wait—that’s the necklace? The very one you tried to bid for?”

“That’s right.” Yousijia’s smile turned luminous.

“And Meng Weiyuan gave it to you… as a meeting gift?”

Another nod, this one tinged with satisfaction.

Her sister leaned close, smirking. “Shall I try to buy the other two from him, then?”

“Don’t you dare!” Yousijia swatted the suggestion away. “You’ll only make me angry.”

Laughter rang out, light and teasing, as the night closed around them.

Later, at home, her phone buzzed—a message from Meng Weiyuan. They had exchanged WeChat that very evening.