Chapter 147: Engagement Ring

Dapeng Shopping Street always had all sorts of strange and peculiar shops—back when online shopping wasn’t so developed yet, this place was like a treasure trove. Visiting every now and then always felt fresh and exciting.

Zhu Ying excitedly pointed to a New Store—originally an adult health products shop, now draped with purple curtains covered in bizarre, intricate symbols that gave off a mysterious vibe.

“Look!”

“Is this some kind of fortune-telling shop?”

“No, it’s an unmanned vending store!”

“Ah? Unmanned vending?”

An Jing blinked in surprise.

“Isn’t it risky? Won’t people just steal stuff?”

“There must be surveillance and locks! Hurry, let’s go inside and check it out!”

The shop had no windows at all, but it was unusually bright inside.

There was a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and many recessed lights hidden in the corners.

“Ah—so this is what unmanned vending means.”

Zhu Ying looked disappointed.

“Ahem, it’s basically a vending machine… ‘unmanned’ is not exactly wrong.”

“I thought it would be some kind of new high-tech thing!”

Indeed, there wasn’t a single person inside, no traditional counters or shelves.

Against the walls were vending machines—eight in total, including one by the door.

“—Two, three, four… seven, eight. There are eight machines in total.”

“What’s being sold?”

“Looks like… all lottery draws.”

An Jing tilted her head, eyeing the poster stuck on the nearest machine.

“Japanese-style Fukubukuro, mystery… surprise? Five yuan per draw, so expensive!”

“Anything foreign-related is never cheap.”

An Jing glanced at the other machines behind her.

“Seems like each one sells different items.”

“Yeah, this one’s all bracelets, the one next to it pendants, then rings, bracelets…”

“Look closely.”

An Jing pointed to the fine print at the bottom of the poster.

“It says the items on the poster aren’t guaranteed. Besides those, there could also be mobile phone straps, stickers, and keychains.”

“So the Second Prize and above are definitely the items shown on the poster?”

“Yes. But how do we even know the odds? Although it’s called the Second Prize…”

An Jing made an exaggerated gesture, pretending to lift the entire vending machine.

“Maybe there are only two Second Prizes and just one Main Prize inside?”

“That’s true. But isn’t the thrill of the unknown what makes it fun?”

An Jing pursed her lips.

“But if you spend money and get nothing, it’s not fun at all.”

“But I still want to try!”

Zhu Ying took off her backpack and stuffed it into An Jing’s arms.

“Hold this for me!”

“Ah?”

An Jing nervously held the bag—she noticed the straps were already stained, the dirt blending into the fabric.

“Your backpack needs washing.”

“Aren’t backpacks usually washed only once per semester?”

“Oh… really?”

“When was your backpack last washed?”

“Uh… first year of middle school?”

“You have the nerve to say that to me!”

“I’m just surprised… Even pretty girls can’t keep all their stuff perfectly clean.”

“Definitely! No matter how pretty you are, it’s impossible to be spotless. You’re such a dummy”

Zhu Ying grumbled as she unzipped the backpack and rummaged through it, finally pulling out a small wallet hidden in a compartment.

“I wonder if they’ll accept coins here… or maybe they take paper bills?”

“You’re not seriously going to try, are you?”

“Of course! Look, I have two five-yuan bills, three tens, and the rest are twenties—let’s just spend all this change.”

“You’re so rich…”

An Jing stared dumbfounded at the stack of bills.

Apart from getting red envelopes during Chinese New Year, she rarely carried so much money herself.

“Aren’t you afraid of losing it?”

“That’s why I keep it in my backpack.”

“This is all your pocket money for this year?”

“Pocket money? No, it’s just for this month.”

“Wow, is your dad a corrupt official or something? Where does all this money come from?”

“Stop talking nonsense! It’s just that they give me more each month. See, there’s only about five hundred here.”

“Five hundred a month? I think that’s quite a lot.”

“My dad gives me three hundred, my mom two hundred. But usually I ask for more only after I spend it all—so even though theoretically I could have that much each month, I usually stretch it over two or three months.”

“Nice. It feels like all the girls around me are so rich.”

“No, not really.”

“My parents don’t like giving me pocket money… They say they’re afraid I’d waste it.”

“But your parents must give your cousin money, right?”

“Yes, but not much, just five hundred a month for living expenses.”

“That’s basically pocket money, don’t be so harsh on your parents.”

“No, it’s not like that… ahem!”

An Jing hastily waved her hands.

“I’m just saying.”

“It’s fine. If you ever want to eat something, just ask me, alright? Hehe, I don’t mind treating you.”

An Jing scratched her head awkwardly.

Actually, she knew very well Zhu Ying was usually the one treating.

“Even though you have a lot of money, you still need to be frugal.”

“Yeah, so I’ll just spend these thirty-five yuan!”

“Feels like throwing money away…”

“Spending money to buy happiness!”

“Such extravagance…”

“Want to try first?”

“No thanks, if I don’t get anything, you’ll blame me…”

“Hey, am I that kind of person?”

“Hmm.”

An Jing hesitated but placed her hand on the knob of the machine, which looked like a gashapon capsule toy machine—but it was probably just for show.

The machine was likely fully automatic.

“Okay, five yuan in! Spin!”

“Whee—”

“Something dropped!”

A square Gift Box fell with a ‘thud’ from the machine.

The exquisite packaging didn’t last long before Zhu Ying eagerly tore it open.

“What’s inside… uh… oh, a Bracelet.”

“Great! If I get a bracelet, we can be a matching pair.”

“I doubt there’s a bracelet in my color.”

An Jing gently lifted her left wrist.

“Doesn’t matter, I want to draw this one.”

“Did you get anything?”

“Sailor Moon Sticker.”

“So these Fukubukuro are basically discounted clearance items that didn’t sell.”

An Jing clicked her tongue.

“This one’s for you. How are you going to atone for this!”

“Hey! We agreed you wouldn’t blame me even if I got nothing!”

“Hmph, I don’t care. I’m punishing you later!”

“You’re just looking for an excuse to punish me.”

“Master-servant game?”

“I’m not playing!”

“Tch, not romantic at all. I’m spinning next!”

“What kind of romance is that…”

So, Zhu Ying spent all thirty-five yuan, but only got a pile of stickers, keychains, and mobile phone straps.

However, the fluffy phone strap looked pretty cute—probably the only item worth five yuan here…

“No luck… didn’t even get the cheapest bracelet!”

Zhu Ying clung to An Jing’s arm, teary-eyed.

“What should I do?”

“Well… I can’t help either…”

“Want to try again? Seems like it doesn’t accept twenty-yuan bills. I’ll go break some money outside…”

“Hey hey, you’re addicted!”

“But I didn’t get anything!”

“You could just buy one directly. There are two Jewelry Stores in Dapeng Shopping Street.”

“But buying outright isn’t the same as drawing.”

“You’re so stubborn.”

An Jing sighed and covered her forehead.

“I still have… six coins. If it’s five yuan per draw, I still have one more chance.”

“Will I get it?”

“If not, then we’re done. Don’t waste money.”

“Phew.”

Zhu Ying calmed down a bit.

“Alright! Let’s hope for this last draw! Definitely can’t waste money.”

“Uh… let me see…”

“Aren’t you drawing bracelets?”

“I don’t think it matters. After all this time with no luck, another try won’t help.”

An Jing twirled in place, hesitating.

“Uh… , what’s your favorite color?”

“Purple and black. You don’t even know that! You haven’t checked my Space Log carefully!”

“I-I don’t read that stuff!”

“You’ve looked at my photos, right?”

Zhu Ying squinted playfully.

“You’ve seen those photos and those photos?”

“Don’t make it sound so weird!”

“I know you like red and white.”

“You cheating with mind-reading doesn’t count!”

“Just remember that for next time!”

“Fine, fine, purple, purple… okay, let’s pick that purple machine.”

“Hmm, it looks like it dispenses rings?”

“Let’s try. Don’t know if we’ll get anything…”

An Jing dropped coins one by one into the machine with a ‘clunk clunk’ sound.

Zhu Ying was both hopeful and nervous, whispering to herself that if she didn’t get anything this time, she’d quit for good.

Whether she could really hold back later was another question.

An Jing took a deep breath and suddenly spun the knob several times hard.

Then came the clatter of something falling.

A delicate Gift Box dropped down.

Without hesitation, she bent over and opened it—it contained a red Ring Box made specifically for jewelry.

“Got it!”

“Don’t celebrate too soon. What if it’s just an empty ring box?”

An Jing calmly lifted the lid.

Inside lay a ring that looked like agate or jade, resting quietly.

It looked like flowing purple dusk clouds with a few patches of white—about the size of a thumbnail, translucent and beautiful.

“Main Prize!”

“Whew… I really got it, but it’s probably synthetic. They wouldn’t put a super expensive ring in here…”

“At least it’s worth a hundred yuan or so!”

“Maybe not even that much…”

“Well, to me, it’s priceless now! Right!”

Zhu Ying winked mischievously.

“Can you wear it on my ring finger?”

“Ah? Uh… I’ll try… If it’s too small, I can wear it on my pinky… Uh… seems to fit perfectly.”

“Yeah! This ring will be our Engagement Ring!”

“Okay, ah? Eh?!”