"Hubby, this brand of watch is way too expensive," Qiao Yinyin whispered.
Jiang Cheng chuckled. "Expensive? It's not expensive if it's for you."
Realizing Jiang Cheng was buying it for her, Qiao Yinyin felt a surge of sweetness.
"We don't have to get such a pricey one; the ones around two-hundred-thousand look lovely, too."
Jiang Cheng understood what Qiao Yinyin meant.
Seeing her consider his feelings, Jiang Cheng nodded in satisfaction.
Whether a girl truly likes you shows in these tiny details.
If Qiao Yinyin saw Jiang Cheng only as an ATM, she'd simply pick the dearest, flashiest model.
Instead, she was watching the price tag.
Jiang Cheng raised his own watch. "I bought this from a collector for seventeen million. Pieces at that level aren't kept in stock—you need status and a years-long wait. In two years it'll be worth over twenty. So yours really isn't expensive."
His explanation plus sweet talk left Qiao Yinyin blushing, gazing at him with a shy smile.
While Jiang Cheng appreciated her thoughtfulness, Qiao Yinyin was equally grateful for his pampering.
Love needs a reason; in her heart Jiang Cheng was nothing like the usual Second-generation rich, utterly worthy of her affection.
Soon Xiao Chen carried over a display tray of famous watches.
On it lay the blue-croc-strap 5961P, the lilac-dial Aquanaut 5072, a diamond-set Aquanaut 5062, and finally a Patek Philippe 7099.
Qiao Yinyin's eyes sparkled at the four luxurious pieces, yet she hesitated to choose.
"Don't you like any of them?"
She shook her head. "Apart from the 5072, I'm not keen on the blue 5961P's color, and the 5062 and 7099 are too bling-bling—too showy."
The 5072's taro-purple shade is both intellectual and elegant.
Its bezel is set with forty rectangular diamonds, the dial mother-of-pearl in two-tone cream.
Altogether it looks supremely refined.
The classic Aquanaut silhouette is timeless.
Compared with the other three pavé-dial models, this one is far more tasteful.
She pointed to a magazine on the table. "Actually, none of these beat this one."
What caught her eye was the white Aquanaut 5269, retailing at only ¥380,000.
Jiang Cheng realized she didn't want to spend too much.
When she first saw the lilac 5072 her eyes had unmistakably lit up.
Jiang Cheng casually flipped the magazine. "The 5269's nice too—really suits you. Do we have it in stock?"
Xiao Chen nodded. "Yes, Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Cheng pointed to another page. "This white-gold Nautilus looks great for my mom—how about it?"
"Mr. Jiang, the yellow-gold 7118 Nautilus is ¥588,000. After Beckham bought one for his wife it became super-hot, so we require you to purchase another million-plus piece alongside it."
"Meaning if you buy any one of these four million-plus models you'll qualify for the 7118."
Jiang Cheng dislikes such bundling, yet every top luxury house plays the same game.
If you refuse, you can only turn to the gray market.
Even there, a hot Nautilus like the 7118 carries a premium.
Sure enough, Xiao Chen murmured, "On the secondary market you'd need at least ¥800,000 for that piece."
The hotter the model, the more brands demand bundles or mark-ups.
Patek isn't the first; compared with others its pairing rules are almost kind.
Everyone knows Rolex's bundling and premiums are wilder.
Then comes Hermès, which makes you want to curse.
To buy a bag you first scarf-up on silk scarves and tableware for the right to purchase even an entry-level purse.
Their plates can nauseate you—¥10,000 a dish, thousands for a cup—go figure.
Pure stupidity tax, yet the world's rich keep queuing.
Spending is subjective; one man's poison is another's pleasure.
To the ultra-wealthy, a few thousand yuan feels like spare change.
You can't put a price on liking something.
So even if Hermès tableware matches the quality of a ¥10 plate, tycoons still rush to bundle.
Jiang Cheng checked his system backpack: one Basic Cashback Card (max ¥500,000) and one Intermediate Cashback Card (max ¥2,000,000).
A million-plus Aquanaut 5072 plus the ¥588,000 white-gold Nautilus and the ¥330,000 5269 totals roughly two million.
Perfect for the card's ceiling.
"Wrap up these three," Jiang Cheng said, tapping the counter.
Seeing him produce his bank card, Xiao Chen beamed and respectfully took it.
"Certainly, Mr. Jiang. I'll fetch the watches right away."
Jiang Cheng waved him off. "No need—just swipe the card."
He picked up the Aquanaut 5072 and said to Qiao Yinyin, "Come, let me put it on you."
Staring at the million-plus timepiece, Qiao Yinyin was deeply moved.
He hadn't hesitated for a second before buying something so costly.
Jiang Cheng treated her like any loving boyfriend, never belittling her because of their relationship, and that thrilled her.
In truth he didn't need to think twice—he had the Intermediate Cashback Card.
Spending two million might earn him tens of millions more.
Why hesitate?
Because Jiang Cheng had previously bought four Patek pieces—two exceeding a million—he was now listed as a Global VIP client.
Today's trio included another million-plus model.
Each of the three watches was rounded down at checkout.
Final bill: ¥1.98 million.
"Mr. Jiang, here's your receipt." As Xiao Chen handed back the card and invoice, the system voice rang in Jiang Cheng's ear.
"Ding! Intermediate Cashback Card used. Congratulations: 50× cash-back—¥99 million credited!"