BODYGARD

Chapter 21: Actually, It's Not Expensive!

"I do!"

Jack nodded without any hesitation.

"Do you?" Diana giggled. "Even if you do, I still won't give it to you. This is the money to support your sister. You're dreaming if you think I'm giving it to you for free!"

Jack didn't seem surprised.

A necklace worth three hundred thousand, given to him for free, was indeed a luxury.

"But, if you really want it, it's not impossible," Diana said.

Jack's eyes lit up again with excitement.

This woman is just too much.

How could she tantalize him to the point of being hopelessly smitten, then cool him down with a bucket of cold water? And after the cold shower, she reignites his hope, teasing him to the point of no return.

"Give me your phone!" Diana extended her delicate hand.

"My phone?"

Although puzzled, Jack nodded and took out his phone. After all, a necklace worth three hundred thousand was on the line.

For his sister—

For his sister, it's worth everything.

Diana tapped a few times on his phone. Shortly after, a ringtone sounded from her own phone, which she skillfully pulled out from somewhere of her tight dress. Jack never noticed where she had been keeping her phone.

"Done!"

Diana returned his phone, and immediately asked, "Do you have a QQ account?"

"I do!" Jack replied.

"Give me your hand!" said Diana.

Listening to Diana, Jack extended his hand.

Diana took a ballpoint pen from somewhere, grabbed his wrist tightly, and the pen glided back and forth on his palm.

"Handsome guy, remember my QQ number, and make sure to add me tonight. Otherwise, I will harass you tomorrow morning! Also, forget about the necklace worth three hundred thousand!" Diana smiled triumphantly, her charm unforgettable.

Without thinking, Jack nodded.

He figured the woman, a big boss, is unlikely to cheat him.

For a necklace worth three hundred thousand, he would sacrifice his dignity.

"I'll take you to see a cheaper necklace. I owe you an explanation!" Spoke Diana, leading Jack again to another counter.

"Manager Ying!"

"Bring out the 'Dancing Butterfly' necklace!" Diana told a woman at one of the jewelry counters.

"Yes, Manager Ying!"

The woman took out a necklace from the display case. This piece of jewelry was strung with round beads that emitted a soft purple glow, and hanging from it was a jewel in the shape of a butterfly. When you looked at it, there was an illusion of the butterfly fluttering gracefully in dance.

Yes, it was an illusion.

The 'butterfly' wasn't moving at all.

It was your senses and eyes that were deceiving you.

One wonders how often in a lifetime the eyes will deceive.

"This necklace is called 'Dancing Butterfly,' and it sells for eighty thousand. From any angle, it appears to be dancing. Its color is purple, a very beautiful color," Diana said with a smirk.

Jack's eyes were fixated.

He really liked this necklace.

Not just for its beauty, but for the layer of purple that graced that beauty.

Yes, purple.

Because—

His sister loved purple.

"Is, is this for me?" Jack took a deep breath.

"Yes, but—" Diana began.

"But what?" Jack asked instinctively.

Diana chuckled, "But, by taking this jewelry, you owe me a favor. This favor, well, you're mine."

"I'm yours!" Jack's body jerked.

"That's right, handsome guy. Don't forget, you're my man now," Diana's lips moved seductively.

Jack thought to himself, if I'm yours, I'm yours, what loss could I possibly suffer?

"Take it!"

Diana handed the finely boxed necklace to Jack.

Jack grasped it with both hands, treasuring it as if he were afraid it might drop, or melt in his mouth.

"Let me ask you, do you like money?" Diana blinked and asked.

She was preparing to make her initial pitch. After all—

She was considering tempting this man to switch sides.

"I do!" Jack answered honestly.

"What do you want to do once you have money?" Diana inquired.

"Buy a car!"

"You would just buy a car? What for?"

"To pick up and drop off my sister!"

"To pick up and drop off your sister, come on, don't you have any other desires if you had money?"

"Um..."

Jack took a moment to think.

"Buy that three-hundred-thousand necklace for my sister!"

"..."

"Oh my—"

Diana was utterly astonished and speechless.

What exactly was going through this man's mind? Was his ambition truly so limited? Even a child would likely express a plethora of wishes, yet, this man's desires seemed to never stray far from his sister.

She doubted.

How important could this mysterious sister be in this man's eyes?

...

When Jack left, Diana emphasized again and again that he must add her on QQ once he got home in the evening.

By the time he got home, the sky had already darkened.

Mary was cooking in the kitchen.

The sounds of cooking wafted through the air.

"Back already?" Mary called out from the kitchen upon hearing the door open.

"Yeah!"

Jack replied.

He was thinking about how to surprise his sister.

The Dancing Butterfly necklace was in his hands.

He wanted to give it to his sister; if Diana hadn't gifted him the necklace today, he would have worked hard to save up enough money to buy it for her one day.

He owed Diana a favor and had no idea how to repay it.

He knew perhaps he shouldn't have accepted the necklace from Diana, but when it came time to refuse, he simply couldn't.

His heart was conflicted, yet excited.

Such feelings were rare for him.

He wondered if his sister would like it.

It wasn't until after dinner, as he sat at his computer desk and his sister stretched out with a yawn on the sofa, that Jack, despite seemingly focusing on the computer, wasn’t really paying attention to it.

"Sis!" Jack finally spoke up.

"Mmm!" Mary's gaze stayed on the TV, perhaps a bit weary from the day's bustle, her gentle voice tinged with a touch of lethargy.

"Close your eyes!" Jack directed.

"Close my eyes?"

Mary's eyes held a hint of wariness.

What's this kid up to now?

He wouldn't be planning to sneak up and hug her while her eyes were closed, would he? She felt that Jack, since entering society, had become braver than he used to be.

Quite different from the pure-hearted younger brother of the past.

However, she's lying down now.

What could he possibly do—

Hug her?

Mary closed her eyes.

After a couple of seconds, the room lights had been turned off. But in this darkness, between Jack's barely visible hands, was a necklace radiating a soft purple glow, its purple hue tinged with a layer of green,

and at the end of the chain hung a butterfly that seemed to dance.

This necklace was called Dancing Butterfly.

Even in the darkness, it shone so brightly.

No matter which angle you looked at it from, it was simply beautiful.

"Open your eyes now!" said Jack.

Mary opened her eyes in surprise.

As she did, she saw in the darkness a butterfly, seemingly fluttering its wings in flight, a soft green light in the dark which was exceptionally striking.

Mary's mouth opened slightly.

Her expression, utterly adorable.

Her pupils dilated with excitement, an emotion she could not hide.

Any woman would find it hard to resist a gift from someone important to them.

She stayed put.

Amazed—

She had not expected that upon opening her eyes, what Jack would show her turned out to be this.

"So beautiful..." Mary exclaimed instinctively.

Indeed, the necklace was beautiful.

And, it was in her favorite color, purple.

Purple, such a beautiful color.

"This is for my sister!" Jack said with a smile.

"For... me?"

Mary murmured to herself. However, in the next moment, her expression darkened, and a hint of anger appeared on her delicate face. "This necklace is very pretty, but how much did you spend on it? It surely wasn't cheap! I've told you, it's fine to be generous with money, but it has to be spent wisely. Even if you spend it on food, it's still yours, but—why would you buy something like this!"

Mary expressing such concerns didn't surprise Jack.

"I bought this for you!" Jack said, not waiting for Mary to respond further. "No matter how much it costs, I'm willing to spend it!"

"But!"

A warm anger filled Mary's beautiful face.

"Actually—it wasn't expensive!" Jack took a deep breath, finally admitting.

"I hope you won't refuse it."

Hearing this, Mary was stunned in her place.

How could I refuse, my silly brother?

How could I bear to refuse?

That's the necklace you're giving me.

Didn't she know...

That Jack meant well by it?

That Jack cared for her?

This kid—

When did he learn to win her over so thoroughly?

She was truly moved. So moved that she wanted to cry, her eyes moistening, yet she held back the tears.

Mary sat on the sofa, turning her face to look out the window.

Before you were born, I was already getting old. Brother, with what feelings should I regard you?