Chapter 327 New Year's Gift
Lilian resided very close to the office, merely one subway station away. Hence, she went home by herself.
Sophia stayed with Natalie, waiting for the car arranged by the company.
"Natalie, are getting gifts for your friends for the festive season?" Sophia asked.
Natalie realized she had not given much thought to this. Primarily because she did not have anyone in particular she intended to give gifts to. Her friends, like Jane, whom she had known for over a decade, did not care about such formalities. They exchanged gifts whenever it seemed fitting.
Noticing Natalie's lack of interest in gifting her friends, Sophia gently suggested, "Natalie, didn’t you mention Roger had been of great help to you in the past? This could be an excellent chance to give him as a gesture of appreciation."
"Ah, you have a point!" Natalie agreed.
She had lost touch with Roger for some time and nearly forgot the substantial help he had provided. The dinner she once invited him to now seemed inadequate.
Natalie pondered over a suitable gift for Roger. Given his status, he seemingly had everything he could need.
"Natalie, if you find it challenging to choose a gift, perhaps I can help you?”
Sophia knew that Roger would treasure whatever Natalie gave him.
…
In the end, both of them told the driver to take them to the commercial area.
After visiting two shopping centers, Natalie still had not found the perfect gift.
She instinctively felt that clothing was too personal an item to gift. She had previously only purchased clothing for Oliver and Lucas, the two men closest to her.
Upon passing a jade store, Natalie stopped abruptly, her gaze fixed on a jade pendant.
She experienced a brief disorientation in her memory, with flashes of unfamiliar scenes. It seemed she once placed a jade pendant in the hands of a young boy, who clutched it tightly.
The pendant, with its beautiful red string, likely did not belong to the boy, as the color suggested it was intended for a girl.
‘Was it mine?’
She is unfamiliar with those scenes.
‘Are these the missing fragments of my memory?’
Natalie shook her head, feeling as if she was overthinking. The jade pendant was high-quality and valuable, and she was certain that she had never owned one before.
Because of the pendant, Natalie got an idea and asked Sophia, "What about gifting him a bracelet?"
"Great idea!" Sophia immediately agreed. Anything would do as long as it was from Natalie.
The mall boasted a high-end area specifically for jewelry, catering to the affluent. The fourth floor was dedicated to men's jewelry.
Natalie took Sophia there.
"Let’s go there."
Natalie quickly selected one of the shops.
"Sir, may I personally choose the beads for this bracelet?"
The owner, who was in his sixties, wore a dark blue coat and glasses, giving off a scholarly vibe. He appeared somewhat surprised by Natalie's request and said, "It can be done, but it will cost extra."
"Thank you!" Natalie responds, "I’d like 'Pterocarpus Indicus Willd' and 'Kallaite', please."
Pterocarpus Indicus Willd had a deep and glossy color, which suited Roger's complexion. The emerald green of Kallaite would make for a perfect decoration, with colors that harmonized well together.
The owner brought two large boxes of Pterocarpus Indicus Willd and Kallaite from the storeroom and allowed Natalie to choose for herself.
Natalie made her selection quickly and smiled, saying, "May I trouble you to teach me how to string and braid them?"
Upon seeing the beads Natalie had chosen, the owner raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I didn’t expect you to be knowledgeable about this considering your age! You took away the best beads."
Natalie's choice of Pterocarpus Indicus Willd turned out to be high in oil content, with small dark eyes and twisted S-like patterns, all of premium quality. The three Kallaite beads were also clean, clear, and had a delicate finish.
"Thank you!" Natalie expressed her gratitude with a smile.
…
As she completed the task of stringing the beads, the night had already set in, consuming a total of five hours.
Natalie calculated the time and realized that visiting Roger at this hour would result in her returning to Rosewood Estate exceptionally late. Therefore, she requested Sophia to deliver the gift.
Sophia consented, albeit with a hint of regret. She believed that if Natalie had personally delivered it to Roger, he would be even happier.
…
After Oliver finished work, Natalie asked Oliver about his plans for the forthcoming day.
"What is the occasion?" Oliver asked, one eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve."
"And how do you want to celebrate it?" Oliver drew Natalie closer, his hand tenderly caressing hers.
Though indifferent to holidays, Oliver was keen on celebrating the occasion with Natalie, hoping to make her happy.
Natalie, taken aback by Oliver's inquiry about her preference, suggested, "Perhaps we could celebrate quietly at home?"
She assumed Oliver, typically engrossed in work, would not be inclined toward festive celebrations.
Oliver agreed to her suggestion.
"Let’s also invite Lilian over tomorrow,” Natalie suggested.
Upon hearing this, Oliver's expression froze, and he asked, “Why bother considering her treatment of you before?”
At the same time, he thought to himself, ‘Why must we invite her? To be the third wheel?’
Natalie responded awkwardly, "She is just a child."
She reasoned that Lilian's initial attitude, though slightly bad, was not malicious. Moreover, she questioned inwardly whether Oliver was in a position to judge others' behavior.
With some reassurance, Natalie managed to appease Oliver.
…
The following day, Oliver selected a festive outfit for Natalie, featuring a maroon cloak paired with a fluffy white hat – an ensemble that was both charming and elegant. The designer's attention to detail was evident, complementing the cloak with a warm-toned dress and high heels added a touch of sophistication.
Oliver's impeccable taste was once again on display, and Natalie seemed to effortlessly enhance the beauty of any attire.
On the year's final day, they were greeted by snowfall.
Shortly after descending the stairs, they were informed by Liam that Lilian had arrived at the gates of Rosewood Estate.
Oliver remained expressionless. He had already expected this yesterday.
Unexpectedly, Lilian was accompanied by another person.
"It’s been a while!" Lucas exclaimed, smiling playfully.
Recently, he had trimmed his long hair, making him look a little more mischievous than usual.
"Lucas, you’re here too!"
Natalie's joy was in her smile. She had contemplated inviting Lucas but reconsidered due to his imminent exams.
Oliver, standing a step behind Natalie with arms crossed, looked displeased as he glared at Lucas. At the same time, he asked, “Who invited you?”
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