Shen Qianzhan’s work hours had always been quite flexible.

Midway through, when passing the overpass exit, she had a change of heart and exited early through the toll booth to get her car washed first.

The car wash wasn’t far from Qiandeng Pictures, located in the underground garage of a mall in the business district.

When the mall first opened, the car wash and parking promotions were generous. She had recharged several thousand yuan in one go and still hadn’t used it all up.

After getting out of the car, she handed the car keys to the car wash attendant, specifically instructing: “Please wipe off the footprint on the passenger dashboard, and if you have disinfectant, please disinfect it as well.” Things had been too unlucky recently.

The attendant looked through the open car window toward the passenger side: “No problem.”

He took notes of the car owner’s requirements with a pen, watched Shen Qianzhan sway all the way into the elevator area, and called for his colleague to quickly wash the car.

Shen Qianzhan first went to a newly opened Cantonese tea restaurant for a brunch meal. After settling the bill, she rode the elevator down with a clear goal, heading straight for the luxury goods counters to browse her beauty and wardrobe section.

When Qiao Xin sent her a WeChat message, she was playing with Gucci’s new Ophidia bag.

Qiao Xin asked: “Sister Zhan, was there traffic on the road?”

“No.” Shen Qianzhan typed with one hand, quickly replying: “Is there something at the company?”

Qiao Xin: “CEO Ji’s special assistant returned the final contract version to me. There’s a clause I’d like to confirm with you?”

The little assistant carefully added a question mark to probe.

Shen Qianzhan guessed which clause it was. She brazenly acted as if nothing had happened: “I’ll come over after washing my car. Put the contract on my desk first.”

Qiao Xin agreed and continued to add: “CEO Ji’s side notified me that we can prepare the investment contract and bring it over together this afternoon. Should I extract a copy based on the last cooperation contract with Shiyue?”

Shen Qianzhan thought this was feasible.

She was about to move her little finger to praise her excellent little assistant’s work capability when, with the words at her lips, she inevitably remembered last night’s face-losing embarrassment and immediately lost all mood.

She turned to look at the wandering little bag still in her arms, feeling heavy-hearted as she loosened her grip.

Forget it, today’s mommy doesn’t deserve to be rewarded by you.

Seeing there were matters at the company waiting for her to handle, Shen Qianzhan didn’t linger further. She familiarly found the direct elevator, preparing to retrieve her car and leave.

Halfway back, Shen Qianzhan looked at the huge logo of the Bu Zhong Sui watch counter and, as if possessed by a ghost, changed her route and stepped into the store.

The store’s featured timepieces were the “Suimu” series, with posters and standees all showing local promotions for the watch endorsement.

She stopped in front of the ladies’ watch counter, examining several timepieces in the glass cabinet that were illuminated to show understated luxury.

Beneath blue velvet backing, silver mechanical watch faces sparkled with diamond light, dazzling and brilliant.

There were both fashionable minimalist scattered diamond series and low-key luxurious Chinese style series, from crane’s return to magpie’s song, with three-dimensional relief designs as well as decorative craftsmanship techniques.

Quite… stunning?

How had she never noticed Bu Zhong Sui’s timepieces were so beautiful before?

Seeing Shen Qianzhan lingering for a long time, the counter service staff noticed where her gaze was focused and explained: “This Magpie Song model was designed by Mr. Ji Qingzhen. It uses hand-crafted hot stamping and wire drawing techniques, presenting the artistry of court watch faces through inlay artistic methods…”

Seeing her listening intently, the counter lady smiled slightly and said: “Old Master Ji Qingzhen was a court timepiece restorer with very deep research into the artistry of timepieces.”

“She knows.” A slightly cold voice sounded from behind, somewhat low, somewhat restrained.

Before Shen Qianzhan could turn around, several service staff behind the counter had already bowed their heads and quietly greeted: “CEO Ji, Special Assistant Ming.”

Shen Qianzhan turned around.

Ji Qinghe stood two steps behind her, wearing a rigorous and understated dark gray suit. Behind him, besides the assistant she’d met once last night, a large group of executives followed.

This unexpected encounter made Shen Qianzhan somewhat uncomfortable. She stiffened her neck, forcing a smile that was more shock than politeness: “What a coincidence, CEO Ji.”

Ji Qinghe didn’t respond.

But his gaze clearly conveyed: “I’m visiting my brand’s counter—where’s the coincidence?”

He walked toward the counter, glanced at the timepiece in front of her, then looked sideways at her: “Interested?”

He was thoroughly cold, as if he had gotten out of a car and rushed here against bitter cold wind, emanating coldness from inside out.

This Ji Qinghe looked somewhat unfamiliar.

But it was understandable.

She also had two different faces—when working versus when privately drinking and playing games.

Shen Qianzhan quickly calmed down and explained: “Washing my car downstairs, stopped by to browse.” After a pause, she asked: “You’re here for store inspection?”

Ji Qinghe chuckled, seeming to smile: “Something like that.”

Ming Jue and the executives behind couldn’t help touching their noses.

Shen Qianzhan realized she probably hadn’t guessed correctly, but seeing Ji Qinghe himself had no objections, she felt at ease. Just as the words “My company still has matters, I won’t disturb you further” reached her lips, Ji Qinghe slightly bent down and scanned all the ladies’ timepieces in the cabinet.

Seemingly finding none to his satisfaction, his gaze lingered on her wrist for several seconds. He knocked on the counter with his knuckles, his sight slightly raised, pointing to the store’s treasure displayed behind the main poster: “Bring that over.”

Shen Qianzhan blinked.

She watched the counter lady turn around, using keys hanging from her wrist to unlock the cabinet clasp, carefully taking out a timepiece.

Shen Qianzhan’s first glance went to the price tag below.

Before she could count all the dense zeros behind it, Ji Qinghe had already taken the gloves handed by Ming Jue and meticulously removed that ladies’ timepiece: “Try it?”

Shen Qianzhan didn’t have the nerve to ask “Do I have to buy it if I wear it?” With several gazes watching the show feeling like thorns on her back, she straightened her spine to stand upright and raised her wrist to extend her hand.

Ji Qinghe looked up at her. Behind his glasses, those eyes held some faint amusement, seeming to harbor three parts malicious mockery toward her current predicament.

“This ladies’ timepiece is the first to debut from the Key of Time series. It only has a serial number and hasn’t been named yet.” His slender fingers, covered by plain white gloves, gently grasped her wrist and lifted it. He widened the diamond-pattern brown strap and put the watch face on properly. Then he turned her wrist over, accurately adjusted the length, and fastened it for her.

Her wrist was pale and slender. The Key of Time ladies’ timepiece, from face to strap length, fit perfectly around her wrist.

Shen Qianzhan intuitively felt this timepiece held extraordinary significance for Ji Qinghe. After appreciating it for two glances, she spared no effort in lavishing rainbow praise.

The timepiece had a simple appearance, so she praised its design sense, conforming to current trends of premium light luxury.

The timepiece’s craftsmanship looked somewhat ordinary, so she praised the materials, from 18k gold to the crocodile leather strap.

When she really couldn’t find anything else to praise, she blindly fabricated artistic sentiment and wearing comfort.

Ji Qinghe merely curved his lip corners at her assembly-line wholesale rainbow praise, only waiting until she was parched and creatively exhausted before appropriately interrupting: “You’re praising so sincerely, I’d think you want to buy this timepiece.”

He tapped the price tag, making a half-joking remark: “Given our relationship, I’d be conflicted about what discount to give you.”

Shen Qianzhan suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, shaking her wrist to signal him to remove it: “Better not discount it. Even with two fewer zeros I couldn’t afford it.”

Ji Qinghe removed the timepiece for her and handed it back to the counter. Half-removing his gloves, he looked around the counter and asked: “What do you think?”

His question was vague without a clear subject. But Shen Qianzhan understood. She nodded thoughtfully and rarely gave a serious evaluation: “It’s quite good. Bu Zhong Sui timepieces’ value isn’t just brand enhancement, but rare thoughtful craftsmanship.”

China’s five thousand years of history—though timepiece manufacturing only began in the Qing Dynasty, court craftsmanship was not only a kind of artisan inheritance but also an epitome of an era.

The tribute drama Shen Qianzhan wanted to create had an unexpected harmony with the story behind the Bu Zhong Sui timepiece brand.

Perhaps with her spirit relaxed, her courage grew again: “But CEO Ji, when you initially said you professionally lived off your family and that your home had a general store that sold everything, didn’t you feel it went against your conscience?”

Shen Qianzhan pointed to the row of timepieces in the glass cabinet that were no less than five figures each, clicking her tongue twice.

Ji Qinghe’s expression remained normal, responding quite calmly: “Are you sure you want to settle old scores with me here? I don’t particularly mind.”

No, she wasn’t sure.

Shen Qianzhan immediately shut up.