Chapter 170 - Executing Her Plan

Sitting at the edge of her bed, Shi Lian gazes at the pictures on her phone. The ring does look surreal. She has never seen anything so beautiful. 

She was relieved that her father didn't wake up and everything went smoothly. She does feel bad for her mother though. She has put her mother in a difficult situation and she does know about that but she couldn't tell her about the creep as well. 

Now that she has the photos, she only needs to begin her plan but that plan will be taking a lot more time than her deadline. 

Pondering what to do, she decided to call the creepy man. Just as always, there isn't any ringing sound. He picked up and his tone is as always creepy. "What a surprise, Shi Lian."

"I need one day more time" she demands, half expecting him to agree on it. 

"Why?" he asks, sounding confused and suspicious at the same time. 

She says instead, "If you want the ring, give me one day more time."

She hears him laughing. "Haven't gotten the hold yet?" he taunted. 

She rolled her eyes, ignoring his mockery. "Answer fast. I need one day more."

He sighs. "Fine, take another day" he agrees, his voice displeased, "but in return for your extra time, I need some charge too."

Damn, she was expecting something like this. This man can never be generous or any less greedy. 

"Fine. Name it how much do you want?" she says in an annoying tone. 

"24 million" he replies which makes Shi Lian's eyes wide. 

"What the heck? This is too much you are asking" she argues sternly. Even though she is not going to give him any sort of advance, she still cannot believe he will charge this much. 

"Oh no, Shi Lian. It's according to the extra time you borrowed. One day equals twenty-four hours" he explains, sneering. 

Damn him. "How greedy can you be, huh?" she blurts. 

He laughs under his breath and says, "You cannot even imagine."

"Fine, I agree with your deal," she says, "and don't try to play smart when you get the ring, you understand?" 

"The same thing goes to you as well" he retorts back. With that, he ends the call. Shi Lian is relieved to know that she has more time for the time. Tomorrow, in the morning, she will go first to the jewelry store. 

**

"Miss Shi Lian, are you having any trouble?" Fang Xiao asks, passing her the tabloid. 

Shi Lian smiles, taking the tabloid. "No, why? Do I look sunken?" she jokes. 

"No no, that's not what I meant. It's just you having run around for a few days now" she explains. 

Shi Lian chuckles. She is running around for the whole week and she will be doing it for today as well. 

Her schedule is tight because she has not attended some of the meetings from past days. 

The news about her uncle ending up in jail. It's circulating all over the company and she has been hearing people gossiping about it since yesterday. 

"Um...now that Mr. Mo isn't there, who will be taking his position?" her secretary asks, hesitant. 

Shi Lian hasn't given much thought to it but now that the question has arrived, it made her wonder who should take his position. 

"I haven't thought about it yet. Let's leave this topic for a while. I don't think, it will be appropriate to give his position to someone else this fast" Shi Lian tells her. 

Fang Xiao nods, "Yes, I agree with you."

Shi Lian wanted to ask her from yesterday but couldn't because her mind was already preoccupied. "Where was JJ yesterday?"

"He attended two meetings and then he probably went home. He didn't say anything" XiaoXiao informs her. 

Shi Lian guesses he must have been shocked by the news and probably needed some time to himself. She will talk to him some other day. Now, she has another important thing to do. 

"Email these recipients and after you get the content, forward it to me" she orders, passing her a piece of paper. 

Taking the paper, Fang Xiao exits the office, closing the door behind her. 

Shi Lian has ringed a jeweler she knows. He used to visit at home with his father to make or sell jewelry when she was there before going to America. 

She somehow got his number or the store's number and called him earlier. She had to introduce herself first since he couldn't recognize her. It took him a while to recall but he did and he quickly became the gleeful man she knew. She told him about the ring. Not the ring's secret but that she wanted to make the exact copy of this ring. Since she wasn't there and she probably cannot go to his store knowing that the creep is watching her every move. 

It would be better to call Moxing, the jeweler to her office and discuss everything right here. She also especially told him not to tell her father anything about this. Lying that it is going to be a surprise for him. 

She told him to come around this time. She glances at her watch, getting anxious if he will come or not. 

When her desk phone rings, she immediately takes the call. 

"Ma'am, there's a man named Moxing who says he has an appointment with you. Shall I send him in?" the receptionist tells. 

"Yes, please do. Send him to my office" Shi Lian replies. 

"Yes, Chairwoman."

Shi Lian waits, looking at the door every passing second, getting nervous for no reason. 

Ten minutes later, there's a knock on the door which makes Shi Lian startle. Regaining her composure, she yells, "Come in!"

A man, probably in his forties, dressed in a suit enters. Shi Lian cannot recognize that he is the same man she used to see coming into her house with her father. 

"It's been a very long time, Mr. Huan. Pleased to meet you" Shi Lian smiles and greets him. 

He smiles, his wrinkles visible. "Oh my, you have grown up, Shi Lian. It's been so long!"

She chuckles, "You have changed as well. I couldn't recognize you at all."

"We cannot stay young forever, can we?" he jokes, laughing along with her. 

Shi Lian gestures him to take a seat on the couch and Shi Lian joins him, sitting opposite to him. 

"So for the thing, I called you here is important and I hope it will be a secret between us," she says, her tone serious. 

"Of course. You don't need to worry about that" be assures her. 

Giving him a small smile, she shows him the pictures of the ring from her phone. "This ring" she points out, "will it be possible for you to make the same copy?"

Making the exact copy of such an exquisite ring is difficult and she does not think that it will be done just in a day. Even though she said one day, but she isn't sure how long it will take. 

Adjusting his spectacles, he takes a clear look a the picture from every angle. "I have never seen such beauty. Where did you get it?" he asks. 

Shi Lian laughs nervously, "It was customized."

"Well, making the exact same copy of a ring like this will take time but it can be made," he says looking at the picture. 

"How long will it take?" she asks, nervous and she can feel her heart popping out of her chest any second. 

He scratches his subtle chin, giving it some thinking. "I think a week at most."

She gasps, widening her eyes. A week. A whole fucking week! That's way too long. 

"Can't it be done any sooner than that?"

He looks at her and asks, "When do you want it?" 

Biting her lip, she replies, "Tomorrow"

He gives her an astonishing face. "That's impossible. Making such a ring in only 24 hours is not possible" he tells, shaking his head. 

"I actually need it urgently by tomorrow" she half-lies, making a pitiful face. She does need it urgently and if she does not get it by tomorrow, things will go very wrong. 

"This..... " he mumbles. 

"Please, just give it a try. I am trusting you with you, Uncle. Please, help me out" he begs, reaching to hold both his hands. 

Unable to see her in a state like this, he agrees, "Okay, I'll try my best but I will still say not to keep your hopes high."

She smiles widely and thanks him continuously, "Thank you so much, Mr. Huan. You don't know how big of a help you have done to me."

"Please, don't thank me now," he says, giving her an apologetic smile. "If I did make it in the given time, I'll be setting a record then" he jokes, adding. 

"That will be great and do give me a call whenever it is ready. I know you will do it" she boosts him. 

"I hope so."