Did something else happen after she fell asleep last night?
Tang Mianmian glanced suspiciously at Long Yejue but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
So she continued opening the gifts.
He Xijue's present was a bit more down-to-earth.
A lifetime presidential suite membership card for H≈X chain hotels.
Wait — H≈X? Wasn't that He Xijue's hotel empire? The one with branches in every major city?
"He Xijue gave you a lifetime presidential suite card," Tang Mianmian said, holding up the golden card.
She thought Long Yejue might've guessed wrong this time — but he just gave a faint smile. "That's for you."
"For me?" She was stunned.
"I already have one," he said, his gaze locked on her pretty face, finding it more beautiful the longer he looked.
Uncomfortable under his stare, Tang Mianmian turned away. "What do I even need this card for?"
"To book a room for me."
"…"
Her lips twitched. "Didn't you say you already had one? Why should I book it?"
"Fine, then I'll book it for you," he replied smoothly.
She was speechless.
No matter how she answered, it was clearly a trap.
Rolling her eyes, she grumbled, "Compared to those expensive gifts, this one at least seems kind of affordable."
Affordable?
He narrowed his eyes. "Do you know how much this card is worth on the market?"
"How much? I'm guessing no more than a million." That was her upper limit.
Long Yejue raised his brows and chuckled. "It's a limited edition. Only fifty exist globally. Market value — ten million. And that's not counting the black market price."
Ten million?!
She felt her soul leaving her body.
Was there any hope for normal people living among these rich folks?
Cradling the ten-million-dollar+ card in her hands, she sobbed dramatically, "It's truly an honor to know rich people like you. So, how about it, Mr. Moneybags — let's be friends!"
Long Yejue chuckled and tapped her forehead. "I only want a wife. Not friends."
"So basically, you're saying women over bros, huh?" she teased with a blink.
"Yep. I'm the kind of guy who'd stab his brothers twice for a woman."
"…That doesn't sound great."
But somehow, that blunt honesty touched her heart.
This man never says much, but when he does — it hits hard.
She flipped through the box again and found another greeting card.
She figured someone like He Xijue — smooth and refined — wouldn't write anything weird, right?
Wrong.
His card also had the same words printed boldly:
"Birthday gift delivered. Surprise tonight."
Seeing it again, Tang Mianmian lost it. She waved the card in front of him. "What do they mean by this?"
Long Yejue took it, glanced at it, then curled his lips in a sly smile. "Nice surprise."
"What surprise?!"
He didn't answer directly, which made her even more curious.
He leaned in and whispered a few words into her ear.
Tang Mianmian's eyes flew open in shock as she stared at the smug smile on his face. "You… You mean—"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"I've been set up! That's outrageous!" she exploded.
She'd been used as the "surprise" birthday gift for Long Yejue… by his friends.
Even though she was planning to give herself as a present, it was still insane!
These so-called friends… really were something else.
Tears of frustration welled in her eyes.
Long Yejue pulled her into his arms and casually tossed one of the boxes aside.
"What are you doing?" she asked, trying to pick it up.
Those were all valuable gifts from rich people. Each was probably worth a fortune!
"Trust me. That one's better left unopened," Long Yejue said, eyes flickering darkly.
Curious, she asked, "What is it?"
"From Shen Shaogong. A health care card from his hospital."
"…Seriously?"
As a surgeon, he gave a health card… Like he was expecting someone to get sick!
Tang Mianmian decisively ignored it. Who wants to be reminded of illness?
She grabbed a familiar-looking bag and remembered it was from Su Xi. She handed it to Long Yejue. "This one's from Su Xi. Open it."
"Weren't you the one opening gifts? Why should I open this?" Long Yejue asked while still busy with her.
He'd already said his best gift was in his arms. Everything else? Meh.
Tang Mianmian gave him a look. "At least act a little grateful. These are gifts, after all."
"I'm only enthusiastic about my wife," he whispered near her ear, "and I can be very enthusiastic."
The warm breath on her sensitive ear made her body jolt — like she'd been electrocuted.
She tried to push him away, but with his rock-solid frame and all her strength drained from the night before, it was hopeless.
Since he wouldn't open it, she did.
It turned out to be a book — a German original she couldn't read. She handed it to him. "I can't read this, so it's definitely for you."
Long Yejue glanced at it and replied, "It's the German original of Letter from an Unknown Woman by Stefan Zweig, a famous Austrian author."
"Does the book mean anything? Why would she give it to you?" Tang Mianmian asked, trying to probe.
She didn't know the story, but it felt symbolic.
Long Yejue shrugged. "Su Xi likes books — all kinds. It's not strange for her to give me one."
"I see." She didn't pry further and accepted it as an explanation.
Still, giving him something she loves… must have some meaning, right?
It looked used — like she'd read it before.
Tang Mianmian looked at the book now tossed aside and turned her attention to the last two boxes. "Huh? Didn't Su Wanru give you a gift? Where's her box?"
"Did she? Probably got lost in the pile," Long Yejue said casually, though his gaze darkened slightly.
Tang Mianmian assumed it had gotten buried — there were so many gifts — and didn't think much of it.
Truth was, Long Yejue had thrown it away.
Anything from Su Wanru disgusted him too much to even look at.
Long Ruoshui's gift fit her style — a luxury wallet.
Long Yejue didn't need it, of course. Just another ornament.
The final gift was from Fu Ranjan — a mystery.
The box was small but exquisitely wrapped.
Tang Mianmian held it curiously, trying to guess what was inside.
Long Yejue, who had shown little interest in the other gifts, suddenly perked up, remembering Fu Ranjan's cryptic smile.
He snatched the box from her hand.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"This one's mine, so I'll open it," he said, like it was obvious.
She huffed. "You didn't show this much enthusiasm for the others."
He ignored the jab and elegantly undid the ribbon.
The purple box slowly revealed its secret.
Tang Mianmian craned her neck, eager to see what was inside.
When Long Yejue pulled out a thin piece of fabric and gave it a shake to unfold it —
Tang Mianmian's eyes locked on it and froze — then let out a sharp shriek.
She lunged to snatch it back, screaming, "Fu Ranjan, you bastard!!"
Long Yejue raised a brow. "Give it to me."
"No!" she clutched it tightly.
But she was no match for him. With ease, he reached behind her and took it back.
Tang Mianmian leapt up, trying to retrieve it — to no avail.
Holding it up, Long Yejue inspected the item with amusement lighting up his phoenix eyes. "Is this what they call men's sexy underwear?"
Tang Mianmian: "..."
AAAAAAAHHHH!
Fu Ranjan, I'm gonna kill you!!
Tang Mianmian buried her face in the couch, mortified beyond belief.
Fu Ranjan had actually given Long Yejue that kind of gift?! The message was too obvious!
No wonder she'd refused to let her see it earlier, claiming she'd deliver it herself!
Long Yejue lifted a brow. "Your friend's quite interesting."
Interesting?!
What kind of brain did this man have?
Heart pounding, face burning, she wished she could disappear.
"Next time, tell her to go a size up. This one's a little small," he said, holding it up against himself and giving a very serious suggestion.
Tang Mianmian wanted to sew his mouth shut.
"Wife, I'll wear it for you tonight as thanks for your generous gift last night."
"Drop dead!!"
She fled the room without looking back.
Before bed, Long Yejue even brought that thing into the bathroom with him.
Outside the door, Tang Mianmian was ready to claw the walls down.
Fu Ranjan, we are DONE!
So the next morning, the first thought in her head was to come up with ten thousand ways for Fu Ranjan to die — and make her choose one.
Long Yejue, on the other hand, looked refreshed and satisfied, while she dragged her aching body to work.
All morning, she had a gloomy, resentful expression.
Long Yejue saw her face and couldn't help but smirk. "Wife, if you keep looking at me like that, people will think I didn't satisfy you."
"…"
Didn't satisfy her?!
She was practically tortured to death!
—
Because of all the "exercise" last night, Tang Mianmian spent her morning completely drained.
Cindy saw her state and instantly understood what had happened.
She didn't assign her any work and even kindly ordered lunch for her by noon.
Long Yejue was very satisfied with his A+ secretary — gave her a triple-level bonus on the spot.