Chapter 286 - 171: All Gifts for Mom (2)
"Hm?"
Sensing the confusion in Li Zhi’s voice, Shen Yuan quickly explained, "My mom didn’t say what time her flight was. I’m afraid she might be on an early one, so if I go to bed early tonight, I might miss her."
Li Zhi nodded. "Okay, then you should head back early."
Hearing Li Zhi agree, Shen Yuan let out a breath of relief. His tense shoulders relaxed as if a great weight had been lifted.
The two continued to walk hand in hand, stepping on the dappled spots of light cast by the streetlamps, making their way unhurriedly to the entrance of her apartment building.
After they got out of the elevator, their hands separated with a tacit understanding.
Before they parted ways, Li Zhi stood at her door, turned to Shen Yuan, and said softly, "Oh, right, please tell your mom for me that the gift I bought hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll give it to her in a few days, but for now, please wish her a happy birthday for me."
"Then why don’t you come tell her yourself?"
Li Zhi wrinkled her nose. "If I come to your place, I won’t be able to resist petting the cats. And I’d only get to pet them for a few minutes anyway. I’ll just wait until Sunday. I’ll come pet them on my day off."
"Besides, it feels a little weird to show up without a gift."
"Alright, have it your way. I’ll tell her in a bit."
Li Zhi gave a slight nod, then opened her door and went inside.
The moment Shen Yuan walked in, he saw Ms. Zhang Yuyan in the brightly lit living room, bent over and busy with an open suitcase.
She was folding clothes and travel necessities into it. A few small bottles and jars sat beside it.
"Mom, still packing? What time is your flight tomorrow?" Shen Yuan asked as he watched his mother.
Zhang Yuyan didn’t even look up, her tone light and a little hurried. "It’s an early one. Hey, you little rascal, you’re back just in time. Help your mom figure out which outfit to bring."
Shen Yuan looked at the clothes in his mom’s hands and offered a sincere assessment.
"Anything my mom wears looks good."
Hearing his reply, Ms. Zhang Yuyan rolled her eyes at him.
"Shoo, shoo! You’re no help at all! We’ll see what you do when Li Zhi asks you in the future!"
Shen Yuan blinked and answered earnestly, "Anything Li Bao wears looks good."
Zhang Yuyan rolled her eyes at Shen Yuan. "Oh, get lost!"
"You got it!"
Shen Yuan hurried back to his room and retrieved the deep blue velvet box containing the pearl necklace.
Box in hand, Shen Yuan opened his door.
Seeing Shen Yuan reappear in the living room, Zhang Yuyan couldn’t help but ask, "Don’t you have anything better to do?"
Shen Yuan shook his head, walked up to his mom, and handed her the box.
"Ta-da! Birthday present!"
Shen Yuan’s tone was a little smug, yet also uncharacteristically awkward.
"It’s for you... Um, an early one. Since you and Dad are leaving tomorrow, I have to give it to you now."
Zhang Yuyan was visibly stunned for a moment.
Her hands stopped moving completely. She looked at the exquisite little box, then at her son, who stood a head taller than her with a proud look on his face. Her eyes were filled with astonishment.
"For me?"
Shen Yuan nodded. "Yep. Open it and see."
Zhang Yuyan took the box hesitantly, feeling the softness of the velvet under her fingertips.
She gently opened the lid—
Under the soft light, a string of lustrous pearls lay quietly on the dark lining.
The pearls were round and full, perfectly sized, and glowed with a gentle, elegant luster. A single glance was enough to tell they had been carefully chosen.
"Wow!"
The moment she saw the necklace, Ms. Zhang Yuyan couldn’t help but let out a gasp of admiration.
Seeing the unfiltered surprise on his mom’s face, Shen Yuan’s smile grew even wider.
Zhang Yuyan reached out and gently touched one of the pearls. It was cool and smooth to the touch.
"Pearls?"
She looked up at Shen Yuan, her tone filled with incredulous confirmation.
Seeing the undisguised surprise and astonishment on his mother’s face, Shen Yuan was instantly filled with a sense of satisfaction.
He nodded emphatically and grinned. "Yep! They’re real! Perfect timing for your trip tomorrow, you can wear it out. It’ll be like you’re taking me with you."
"You little punk..."
Zhang Yuyan’s voice caught with a distinct choke, but it was immediately washed away by immense joy.
She hadn’t expected her son to be so thoughtful. Without another word, and without letting the tears fall—though her eyes were indeed a little moist—Zhang Yuyan threw her arms around Shen Yuan, stepping forward to pull him into a tight hug.
It was a solid hug, full of a mother’s love and a slight, excited trembling.
She patted Shen Yuan’s back firmly, the smile at the corners of her eyes and brows threatening to overflow.
"Alright! Mom will listen to you. I’ll wear it tomorrow when I leave!"
With that, Zhang Yuyan took the necklace and went to her room.
"Old Shen! Shen Guohao! Look at the gift our son got me!"
Hearing the delight in his mom’s voice, Shen Yuan couldn’t hide the proud smile on his face. That little bit of awkwardness from before had completely vanished, replaced by the easy satisfaction of a successful plan.
"Mom, you can go back to packing! I’m heading back to my room."
"Go on, go on!"
His mom’s happy voice came from the master bedroom, and Shen Yuan turned to go back to his own room.
Just as he was about to reach his room, Shen Yuan suddenly remembered he’d forgotten to pass on Li Zhi’s message. He hurried back to the outside of the master bedroom.
"Mom! Li Zhi said the gift she bought hasn’t arrived yet, she’ll give it to you when you get back! She also wanted me to wish you a happy birthday."
Hearing this, Ms. Zhang Yuyan bustled out of the room and looked at Shen Yuan with a puzzled expression. "Why didn’t she come tell me herself?"
"She was embarrassed to come without a gift."
Zhang Yuyan pressed her lips together. "Fair enough. Well, after your dad and I get back, we’ll have her over for a meal."
"We might have a long weekend next week. We have to take San Geng and Naonao to get neutered."
Zhang Yuyan wasn’t concerned. "There’ll be time."