I Want a Lifetime with You
Chapter 280

"Yes, but when I'm with you, it always feels like we just got married. Everything still feels new." Fu Chengyan pinched Shi Nuan's nose and handed her the box. "Put mine on for me."

"There's one for you too?" asked a surprised Shi Nuan. She looked at her ring in satisfaction, then looked inside the box to replace a full set of jewelry and was even more shocked. "When did you prepare all this?' How did she not know at all?

"It's a secret." Fu Chengyan took out his ring and handed it to Shi Nuan. "Put it on for me."

She took it and compared it with the ring on her finger. Both were designed simply with no patterns or etchings, but the shape was unique, unlike a traditional round ring.

Shi Nuan looked at it this way and that but didn't put it on for Fu Chengyan. She held it under the light for quite a while. Suddenly, she gasped, "It's engraved?"

It was only then that Shi Nuan noticed the letters engraved in the inner wall on his ring. It was their initials. She took off her own ring to inspect. It had a similar engraving, but the initials were the other way round.

"These are... our names?" Her ring had 'Y&N' whereas Fu Chengyan's was 'N&Y.' Shi Nuan laughed. "Are you staking your claim?"

Fu Chengyan looked at the rarely seen a smile on Shi Nuan's face and nodded. "You can think that! Don't take off the ring, okay?" He slid the ring back onto her finger. Shi Nuan giggled and put his ring on his finger. "Yan, I really like our rings."

He knew she would. That was why he got them. "Jian's designs here are all unique."

"Really?" Shi Nuan turned to look at Jian, who was standing close to them. She was embarrassed when she noticed Jian had been watching them all this while. She had nearly forgotten they were out in public People would've seen the intimacy between her and Fu Chengyan.

"Don't worry, no one knows we're here today." Fu Chengyan held Shi Nan's hands and their fingers intertwined. The simple-looking rings suddenly became eye-catching. Shi Nuan, who had been feeling frustrated before, suddenly felt much better. She looked at the two interlocked hands and could feel her heart bursting with joy.

Fu Chengyan patted Shi Nuan's shoulder, "Have a look at the necklace and bracelet. Do you like them?"

"Yes! I like the whole set!" Shi Nuan nodded in Jian's direction. "Ms. Jian, your designs are wonderful, I really like them!"

"It's my honor to do this for Mr. and Mrs. Fu, especially since I am indebted to Mr. Fu!" Jian indicated for her assistant to hand another box over to Fu Chengyan. "When Mr. Fu came here wanting to customize a pair of wedding rings, I was curious to see which outstanding lady would be a good match for Mr. Fu. After meeting you, I finally have my answer. This is my wedding present for the two of you. It's nothing expensive, but I've put thought into it."

Fu Chengyan nodded to Shi Nuan for her to accept the gift.

Shi Nuan could tell Fu Chengyan cherished Jian's talents. She was also grateful for the designer's thought wedding gift. She accepted the gift, opened it, and saw that it was a brooch that resembled a phoenix The design was simple yet elegant, with decorated with glittering rhinestones. "This is too expensive!"

Even without considering the cost of labor, the materials would have cost an exorbitant amount. After what Jian said, Shi Nuan had actually believed it was going to be an inexpensive gift. "I can't accept this!" Jian perked her eyebrows and smiled at Fu Chengyan. Fu Chengyan took the brooch from Shi Nuan and thanked Jian. "I'll have Zhou Zheng send the check over."

"Alright!" Jian was an easy-going person, and she appreciated how Fu Chengyan always stood by his word. "When is Mr. Fu holding the wedding?"

Fu Chengyan raised his eyebrow and looked at Shi Nuan. "Not for the time being. When we do, I'll let you know."

"Then I'll wait for the good news!"

Fu Chengyan led Shi Nuan out of the jewelry shop. She was on cloud nine as she held his hand. All her previous unhappiness swept away. Fu Chengyan saw that Shi Nuan's mood had gotten much better, so he too was happy. "Yan, where are we going now?"

"It's still early. We can go replace a place to eat, then go watch a movie?" Fu Chengyan looked at Shi Nuan.

Shi Nuan smiled, then remembered something. "Don't you need to go back to the mansion? Mr. Su said this is the Fu's annual gathering. You left abruptly last time, didn't anyone say anything to you?" Shi Nuan recalled how she stubbornly insisted for Fu Chengyan to leave. The news would surely travel to the Fu family. Fu Chengyan was the future patriarch of the Fu family; his sudden departure would undeniably raise suspicion.

"You don't need to worry about these matters. I won't be going back today." Fu Chengyan led Shi Nuan to the car, opened the car door for her, then buckled her in. "I have my plans."

"But..." Shi Nuan felt it wasn't right. She looked at the ring on her finger. "Are you planning to go public about our relationship?"

"You don't want to?"

Shi Nuan shook her head. She might have hesitated before, but since she found out she wasn't really from the Shi family, her attitude changed. "I'm your wife. This is an unchangeable fact. I've never thought about running away from it. But if you're planning to go public, have you thought of the repercussions? Specifically, from the Song family?"

"It'll all be taken care of soon." The Song family had never been a roadblock for him. He had been holding back; but now, he had to take action. "Alright. So let's go eat now. Then we'll catch a movie and light some fireworks later as we wait for the countdown?"

"Really?" Shi Nuan's eyes beamed and grabbed onto Fu Chengyan's hand with excitement. "You're really going to go to Wutong Residence to countdown with me? Will it be okay if skip the gathering?"

"It's fine." Fu Chengyan didn't really care. It was only a formality, anyway. He always attended in previous years because he didn't have anywhere else to be. Now that he had Shi Nuan, he couldn't possibly leave her alone at Wutong Residence.

Shi Nuan hugged Fu Chengyan giddily and kissed him on the cheek. "Yan, I love you!"

"Silly!" Fu Chengyan rustled her hair. "Are you really that happy?"

"Of course!" Shi Nuan didn't tell Fu Chengyan that countdowns were only a formality to her too. She wasn't close to her family, and they weren't happy to be around her. If it weren't for Shi Yunsheng's requests they probably would've loved for her to not join them for the celebrations.

So each New Year was Shi Nuan's happiest and also most difficult time. She was happiest because of the cheery atmosphere, and she had her grandfather. It was a difficult time for her because she had to walk on eggshells around her family members. Those New Year gatherings were always a torment for Shi Nuan.

She originally thought that she would be sad and alone this year. Naturally, she was excited that Fu Chengyan was staying with her.

"But I just remembered something."

"What?" Shi Nuan blinked, then sat back down. "What's wrong?"

"We haven't been to Grandpa's."

"You're right!" Shi Nuan facepalmed herself and looked upset with herself. "I almost forgot! Usually, after I go to Grandpa's, I always spend some time with him. I was overwhelmed with what happened and it slipped my mind." Shi Nuan couldn't help but feel guilty. "Grandpa hasn't been calling me. Do you think he's angry with me?"

"No. Of course not!" Fu Chengyan squeezed Shi Nuan's nose.

"Then let's go see Grandpa now!" Shi Nuan grabbed her phone and called Aunt Fei. She then found out that Jiang Shizheng had been asking Aunt Fei to prepare extra for the past few days He was expecting Shi Nuan to drop by. Yet the old man had been waiting for a few days and she never made an appearance, so he was feeling unhappy. He had his pride too. Like a child throwing a tantrum, he refused to call Shi Nuan.

She listened as Aunt Fei complained about how Jiang Shizheng had been acting and couldn't help but laugh. "In that case, Aunt Fei, can you prepare extra food? Yan and I are heading over right now." "Mr. Yan is coming too?" Aunt Fei grinned widely. "Great! I will go prepare right away!"

Shi Nuan and Fu Chengyan headed to the mall to buy some gifts before driving over to Jiang Shizheng's place.

When Aunt Fei was on the phone, Jiang Shizheng was actually eavesdropping by the side. When he heard that the 'ungrateful' little girl had finally remembered him, he immediately perked up and forgot about his woes. He asked Aunt Fei to cook a few more dishes, insisting that they mustn't starve his precious granddaughter.

When Shi Nuan and Fu Chengyan arrived at the entrance, they could already hear Jiang Shizheng's booming voice. "Hurry up, hurry up! Why're you so slow? Nuan and Yan won't have anything to eat when they arrive!"

Shi Nuan and Fu Chengyan looked at each other and laughed as they knocked on the door.

When Jiang Shizheng opened the door and saw Shi Nuan, he immediately put on a stern face and glared at her. "You ungrateful girl. Why're you here?"

"Grandpa! Happy New Year!" Shi Nuan smiled and gave Jiang Shizheng a big bear bug. "It's been so long. You look as spectacular as ever!"

"You little thing!" Jiang Shizheng naturally wasn't really angry with her; any unhappiness he had dissipated when he heard Shi Nuan's laughter. But he still pretended to be mad and gave Shi Nuan a good knock on her forehead. "Why? You're finally willing to drop by? I thought you've forgotten about me! Weren't you thrilled to see your granddad?"

Shi Nuan couldn't help but giggled. She grabbed Jiang Shizheng's arm and led him inside while hinting at Fu Chengyan to bring in the gifts.

She grinned and pulled Jiang Shizheng into the living room. "Of course I was happy! But I'm even happier to see you, Grandpa!"