Jiang Cheng gazed at the Patek Philippe 5374 on the screen and shook his head in regret.
A crisp, deep-blue dial set inside a white-gold case—simple yet imposing.
The strap was hand-stitched crocodile in a lustrous twilight blue.
A diamond-set buckle, lugs, and bezel complemented the blue lacquered dial, while the hour markers echoed the same hue in rectangular sapphires.
Those touches lent an extra layer of opulence to this complicated minute-repeater chronograph.
Bold! Mysterious! Luxurious!
"Old Jiang, why don't we come back next time? Maybe the watch will be for sale then." Wang Zheng patted Jiang Cheng's shoulder in consolation.
Jiang Cheng gave a resigned nod.
"All right, I'll see if anything else catches my eye."
The moment he finished speaking, the front door opened again.
A set of measured footsteps echoed from outside.
One pair was unmistakably the click of a woman's high heels.
The steps were unhurried, each footfall landing in perfect rhythm.
It had to be the female proprietor they had mentioned.
At the sound, everyone fell silent and turned toward the lounge entrance.
A pair of fair, slender legs stepped into view.
First to catch the eye were black JIMMY CHOO stilettos with razor-thin heels.
The gaze traveled upward: over long, milky calves to a tailored black business dress.
Glossy black hair was twisted into an elegant French ponytail, and diamond studs the size of pigeon eggs glinted at her small earlobes.
The entire presence radiated authority.
Jiang Cheng's brows lifted in surprise when he saw that familiar face.
It's actually her!
As soon as she entered, everyone greeted her with easy familiarity.
"Sister Xin, we meet again."
"Sister Xin, you're even more gorgeous today!"
An Xin smiled gracefully. "Sorry I'm late—traffic in Shanghai is as awful as in Chengdu. Have you all found something you like?"
Her gaze swept the room—and she froze for an instant.
The cool aloofness vanished from her cheeks.
She strode straight to Jiang Cheng, astonishment in her voice. "Jiang Cheng, what are you doing here?"
That bright smile of hers left everyone else momentarily dumbstruck.
They had met An Xin several times, and she had always appeared poised and proper.
Though they chatted about watches, none of them had ever seen her smile so brilliantly.
Jiang Cheng nodded at her. "Never imagined this place was yours."
"Right—why are you in Shanghai? Weren't you in Chengdu the day before yesterday?" An Xin asked delightedly.
"Got bored; I only arrived yesterday."
"I flew in yesterday too. Had I known you were coming, I'd have asked you along. Annie's been nagging non-stop—she was afraid she wouldn't see you if she came with me. Convincing her took forever."
Listening to An Xin rattle off little devil Annie's faults, Jiang Cheng laughed helplessly. "That imp is far too clever for her age."
An Xin gave a resigned nod. "If she finds out you're in Shanghai, she'll pester me to bring her to you."
Clearly overjoyed to see Jiang Cheng, An Xin chatted with him as if no one else were present, leaving the others to one side.
The onlookers couldn't help but relish the gossip unfolding before them.
After all, they never got to see the ever-elegant An Xin acting like a shy young woman.
Even the old steward stared in surprise at his mistress.
He had managed the place for years; An Xin had always been strictly business with guests—never this warm.
"Jiang Cheng, you two know each other?" Qin Fen asked with interest.
An Xin answered first. "Jiang Cheng and I are from the same hometown."
They recalled that An Xin was also from Chengdu; it made sense that wealthy second-generation kids from the same city would know one another.
"I was planning to introduce Sister Xin to you today—who knew you two were old acquain—" Wang Zheng caught himself a hair's breadth from saying "old flames" and rubbed his nose in embarrassment.