The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 497

"Sure thing," the pretty salesgirl replied with a smile, "Who's the lucky recipient?"

"A very special someone." Sophia's voice trailed off as she glanced at the clerk.

"Is it for a guy or a gal?" the salesgirl inquired.

"A guy," Sophia responded.

"Alrighty, your boyfriend, perhaps?" the salesgirl asked with a playful grin.

Sophia just offered a smile in return, unsure if she and Brandon were actually in a boyfriend-girlfriend kind of deal.

The salesgirl was sharp enough to pick up on Sophia's hesitation and didn't press further. Instead, she cheerfully began to explain, "So, what's your vibe? We've got a whole array of styles and themes here. 'I'm sorry', 'Lovey-dovey', 'Anniversary special' – you name it! We've got all sorts of goodies like DIY cards, photo albums, cakes, figurines, decorative pieces, men's wallets, car hangings, scarves, necklaces, bracelets."

Suddenly, Sophia thought of the white jade necklace tucked away in her drawer and blurted out almost subconsciously, "A necklace, I guess."

"Right on," the salesgirl said, presenting a selection of necklaces for Sophia to choose from, "Which one's catching your eye?"

Sophia glanced over at the display, noting the delicate sweater-chain styles perfect for the winter season.

It got chilly in the West district, and Brandon was fond of dark sweaters, though Sophia had never seen him sport any jewelry.

With his tall, well-proportioned figure, Brandon exuded an aristocratic chill in dark sweaters, dashing as is. A sweater chain would add a youthful, trendy edge to his sophistication.

Sophia went for a subdued yet classy design – a pendant encircled by a tag that could be customized with text on the front and a QR code on the back, leading to a private, photo-uploadable e-diary page. It was ideal for saying things that might be hard to say face-to-face.

"This one," she finally decided, noticing the solid thickness and width of the circular design, which reminded her again of the white jade necklace she'd treasured for years. It sparked the saying in her mind, "People wear jade for protection."

"Can we fit a white jade piece right here?" Sophia asked softly, pointing to the inside of the circle.

The salesgirl was a bit taken aback by the customization request but nodded, "Sure thing. It'll have to be a super tiny and thin slice of jade, though."

"No worries," Sophia said as she scanned a QR code with her phone, "I'll lock in this design and bring the jade later to finish it up. Can you hold onto this necklace for me?"

After scanning and paying, Sophia watched the salesgirl store the item in a personal locker and then asked, "What made you think of adding white jade in there?"

"For protection," Sophia replied with a smile, "A big pendant isn't really his style, but tucked inside it'll be just right, and not visible from the outside."

"True that," the salesgirl agreed with a smile, "You must really love your boyfriend."

Sophia just smiled, changing the subject, "Can I design the necklace myself?"