After all, since he was back in the country, it would be rude not to visit his uncle.
Shen Yuan specifically chose a weekday to go. Xiao Lin was away at boarding school, and the home that had once felt warm now left him with a complicated, somewhat awkward feeling as he stood at the door.
Li Chen, however, was as usual—gentle and welcoming, as if nothing had happened. This only made things feel stranger, since they tacitly avoided mentioning Xiao Lin. Shen Yuan felt like a guest, no longer truly part of this family.
After a moment of hesitation, he took out the egg Xiao Lin had smashed last time, but didn’t dare mention him: “…Uncle, please keep this. It’s valuable, and I tried my best to repair it. Our flight is tonight, so I should get going.”
Li Chen paused, realizing this was an unavoidable moment. He took the repaired egg in his hands. Though the golden-filled cracks mended the surface, it could never be as perfect as before.
A sudden weariness washed over him. He didn’t know what he had done wrong to let things come to this. He nodded slowly: “Alright, I’ll keep it safe. Have a good trip.”
On the way to the airport, Shen Yuan spoke to Qiao Hailou with a heavy heart: “Uncle Qiao, when I was little, they used to mock me, calling me a jinx, saying I had a hard fate, that I had caused the deaths of my grandfather and great-grandfather, that anyone who got involved with me would be unlucky and bring chaos to their household.”
Qiao Hailou waved it off: “You’re young—why are you so superstitious?”
Shen Yuan shook his head: “Not really superstition… it’s more like there’s a sense of fate I can’t explain. I just don’t understand why, even after all my efforts, things still turn out so badly.”
Hailou simply handed the baby into Shen Yuan’s arms. Surprised, he caught the little one and looked at Hailou.
“Bad?” Hailou asked. “You have a devoted husband, a well-behaved, adorable baby, a thriving career… how many people would envy that? Your luck is already good enough.”
Shen Yuan paused, then smiled: “Who said you’re a good husband yourself? Shameless.”
Hailou grinned: “Am I not? Besides, people used to say my old man constantly scolded me like I owed him debt. We’re practically made for each other, aren’t we?”
Shen Yuan thought about it—they hadn’t had perfect childhoods, yet somehow they ended up together.
Back at school, Shen Yuan learned his episode would air in about two weeks, though the schedule could adjust.
A week later, Zhang Meng, the fashion magazine deputy editor he had met during filming, contacted him: “Shen Yuan, we’re planning a jewelry designer feature for our March issue, and I thought of you. Interested in a few photo shoots? You can also promote your work.”
After consulting with Hailou, Shen Yuan replied: “Sure. But do I need to fly back for this? I’m busy with school—if so, the earliest I’m free is the week after next.”
Zhang Meng responded readily: “No problem. You don’t need to come. We’ll shoot at your campus—it’ll look much more high-end than a studio.”
Shen Yuan felt a bit embarrassed that they’d come all that way for him.
But Hailou had been right—just by participating in a small media appearance, he had unexpectedly built valuable connections. In this digital age, old-fashioned methods might truly be worth abandoning.
They arranged the shoot for next Friday. Shen Yuan, being considerate, promised to pick them up at the airport and host them during downtime.
Before Zhang Meng arrived, Shen Yuan noticed the show’s official social media account had posted a preview of the episode. Curious, he clicked—and blushed.
For some reason, the producers had featured him as a central highlight! Aside from a few popular stars, he had the most screen time.
The two-minute preview included at least thirty seconds of him, with over-the-top praise: “Little Prince,” “most handsome jewelry designer in the industry,” “even more beautiful than the pearls he holds.” Shen Yuan had expected to be background, yet the effect was astonishing.
Engagement soared: likes, shares, and comments far exceeded previous episodes:
- “I thought he was a newbie, but he’s a complete amateur… and still shows up without makeup? So gorgeous!”
- “What angelic looks??? I’m in love with Shen Yuan already!”
- “Even if I climb the wall, there’s no merchandise to buy. His merch is probably the most expensive ever.”
- “That’s my senior! Genius! Former student council VP! Comes from a good family!”
- “Checked his resume… impossible to compete.”
- “You superficial people only care about looks—I care about neck, waist, hands—I declare: I approve!”
- “Husband, husband, husband, I’m ready in bed.”
Shen Yuan unexpectedly went viral, trending in the top ten. His solo clips and GIFs were shared tens of thousands of times—more by curious onlookers than fans.
The camera had focused closely on him as he held one of his jewelry pieces: a long Baroque pearl crafted into a little maiden. Golden hair, a platinum dress, and purple gemstone flowers accented the pearl’s natural hue.
He cradled her gently, looking at her as if she were a lover, eyelids like crow’s wings, eyes sparkling faintly, introducing to the host: “She’s called Lover.”
His voice was like polished jade—clear and pleasant.
Viewers commented that true beauty now resides among ordinary people, not the entertainment industry.
Overnight, his follower count grew by 200,000.
Shen Yuan wasn’t vain; he rarely posted selfies, only the occasional movie review or group photo. His most recent post was taken by Hailou at school, with vibrant red maple leaves behind him.
His account, open for over two years, had only 50–60 posts, yet overnight, netizens explored everything. Shen Yuan turned off notifications, uneasy at the intrusion into his private life.
Though he’d seen other designers on TV or magazines, nothing had caused such a stir. Something felt… unusual.
He turned to Hailou: “Uncle Qiao, did you buy the trending spot for me? Paid for promotion? If so, just admit it—I won’t scold you.”
Hailou laughed: “No, really didn’t. Can’t you just trend for your own good looks? My boy is genuinely handsome. They recognized a gem when they saw one.”
Shen Yuan hesitated: “Really? You’re not lying?”
Initially, Hailou hadn’t lied, though later he might have “enhanced” things a bit. He claimed it was just embellishment.
“Not lying,” Hailou said. “Scared?”
Shen Yuan huffed confidently: “Scared of what? It’s great! I’ll turn this account into a professional one. My seniors had to build followers from scratch—I have so many already. Perfect! I just need to maintain this. In two years, when I graduate, I can start my studio smoothly.”
Hailou was unsurprised. As expected from the boy he liked—strategic and sharp.
That same day, Shen Yuan applied for verification. With the traffic surge, he instantly became a verified account, but didn’t post boastfully.
He analyzed his image: a refined, high-culture jewelry designer, a wealthy scholar, a gentleman—he had to remain aloof, not cheapen the persona, even if followers were primarily drawn to his looks. He planned to post selected works instead.
Meanwhile, Zhang Meng and the magazine team flew to E Country to conduct an interview and shoot feature photos.
They found Shen Yuan waiting at the airport.
Zhang Meng asked: “Will all of us fit? We brought a lot of props.”
Shen Yuan smiled: “No problem. I arranged extra cars. You won’t be cramped.”
Three luxury vehicles waited, and Zhang Meng got into Shen Yuan’s car, a little flustered—feeling like he’d really found a treasure this time.