"You designed it yourself?"
The female clerk blinked in surprise. In all her time working at the jewelry store, this was the first time a customer had come in requesting to custom-make a personally designed wedding ring.
Was this gentleman a professional jewelry designer? Or just someone with confidence in his DIY style?
It was special, sure—but a wedding ring designed by an amateur could be a disaster if the execution fell short.
Still, none of her doubts showed on her face. She kept her professional smile and nodded.
"Sir, we offer private custom services. If you provide the design drawings, we can manufacture it for you. However, the price may be slightly higher."
"Money isn't an issue," Chen Mo said calmly.
He placed a holographic phone on the table and turned it on.
The clerk's eyes lit up. The holographic phone was one of the hottest tech products on the market, and although she didn't own one herself, she recognized it immediately. However, the model in Chen Mo's hand looked… a bit different. Sleeker. Custom? But she didn't think too much of it, focusing instead on the projection that was about to appear.
Beside him, Xiao Yu watched with shining eyes. She knew Chen Mo had been designing this ring while recovering in the hospital, but he never let her see it. He said he wanted it to be a surprise once it was finished.
She had been looking forward to this moment for a long time.
A soft beam of light rose from the phone, and a pair of rings slowly emerged in the holographic column.
The moment she saw them, the clerk gasped softly. Even after seeing countless dazzling jewels, she couldn't help but admire this set.
So beautiful.
Xiao Yu froze at first, then leaned in, captivated. If she didn't know it was a projection, she would've begged to wear it right there and then.
Simple, yet exquisitely unique—the rings had seven thread-thin strands, as fine as silk, intricately woven together like a rainbow. The design was elegant but not showy, with a natural harmony that made it feel organic, effortless, perfect. Even a minor change in the curve of one strand would've ruined the effect.
Chen Mo had designed this just for her.
She felt an overwhelming warmth bloom in her chest. Her eyes, as she looked at him, were filled with tenderness and love.
"You like it?" Chen Mo asked.
"Mm." Xiao Yu nodded firmly. Even a plain band would've moved her if it came from him—but this? This was beyond anything she'd dreamed. She wanted to wear it now.
The clerk was still in awe. "Sir… this is your own design? It's stunning. Your girlfriend is very lucky."
She knew that wedding rings were meant to be simple—symbols of love worn every day. They weren't meant to be flashy. And yet this one achieved both simplicity and artistry. It was a masterpiece.
Xiao Yu smiled proudly. This was her man—always the most amazing.
"Sir, may I ask… what is the inspiration behind the pattern? It's so unique, yet natural. I've never seen anything quite like it."
"Fish scales," Chen Mo replied, smiling.
"Fish scales? That beautiful?"
"Yes. Mermaid scales," he added.
Xiao Yu's body trembled gently. Her cheeks flushed as her heart fluttered. His words were casual, but to her, they were filled with romantic meaning. If they weren't in public, she would've kissed him right then and there.
"A truly special ring," someone suddenly exclaimed nearby.
Heads turned. A young woman who had been browsing stopped in her tracks, captivated by the projection. Others followed her gaze, and soon, a small crowd had gathered.
All eyes were drawn to the glowing rings.
"How much is this ring?" a man asked the clerk.
His question broke the silence, and soon others chimed in eagerly, hoping to buy a pair. Everyone here could afford luxury. And giving such a unique ring to a girlfriend or wife? Priceless.
The clerk blinked, confused. She didn't recall seeing this design in their catalog. She flipped through it just to be sure—but nothing.
Privately customized?
"Shihui, when did this ring design come out? I can't find it in our listings," another clerk asked.
"That ring?" Shihui turned and answered with a smile. "It's not in our inventory. It was designed by Mr. Chen himself. It's a private custom piece."
Her tone held deep admiration. As far as she was concerned, this design outclassed everything in their entire store. It would win awards if entered into a jewelry competition.
She looked again at Chen Mo, a strange sense of familiarity creeping in. Where had she seen him before?
Just then, the store manager arrived—a stylish woman in her thirties, her makeup flawless. She paused at the sight of the ring, eyes widening.
"Sir, are you a professional jewelry designer?"
"I am a designer," Chen Mo answered with a light chuckle. "But not of jewelry."
Indeed, he was a designer—of holographic phones, projectors, and half the cutting-edge products coming out of Marching Ants.
The manager's eyes gleamed. "Would you consider selling this ring design? We're willing to pay generously."
"Sell?" Chen Mo looked at Xiao Yu.
"Sorry," she replied politely but firmly. "We're not selling."
The manager looked at Xiao Yu and smiled sincerely. "You must be his fiancée? You're stunning."
Then she tried again: "We're willing to offer 300,000 yuan for the design."
As an experienced professional, she knew this design had massive commercial potential. If they could acquire it and submit it to the head office, it could elevate their brand instantly.
"Thank you for the compliment, but really—we're not selling," Xiao Yu said, still smiling.
"Five hundred thousand," the manager offered, sweetly persistent.
"Sell it," someone in the crowd encouraged. "You could buy a hundred rings with that."
"It's not about the money," Chen Mo said calmly. "We're not short on cash. The only question is: can you make this ring or not? If not, we'll go elsewhere."
He waved his hand, and the projection vanished.
The crowd groaned—they'd forgotten to snap a photo! A picture would've let them chase down a jeweler elsewhere to recreate it.
As she watched Chen Mo retrieve the holographic phone, a thought flashed in Shihui's mind. That design, that confidence… and that phone.
Marching Ant Company.
Her eyes widened. She reached for her phone with shaking hands. She had to check something.
"Sir, please reconsider. 500,000 isn't low. If that's not enough, name your price," the manager pushed.
She knew a winning design when she saw one. If their company could mass-produce it, they'd dominate the market.
"It's not about money," Chen Mo repeated. "If you can't do it, we'll go elsewhere."
"Wait! Sir! We'll customize it for you for free! And we'll offer one million for the design!"
The air in the store froze.
One. Million. Yuan.
A single ring design. People around them gasped. Was it really that easy to make money nowadays?
"...It's really him," someone whispered.
Everyone turned to see Shihui holding her phone up, staring at Chen Mo with eyes full of awe.
She'd found a photo online. A photo of Chen Mo.
Everything suddenly clicked.
From the moment he walked in, she'd felt a strange familiarity. But now it was confirmed.
"Shihui, what's going on?" the manager asked, frowning at the interruption.
"He's... he's Mr. Chen Mo," Shihui said, almost reverently.
The store fell into stunned silence.