Chapter 77: The Jade's Fate, Mutation!

Half an hour later, a piece of jadeite the size of a chicken egg, tender green and uncut, had already landed in Sui Yi’s hands. Even though it hadn’t yet been polished or processed, it was already captivating; its size was substantial, and its color was pure and gentle. The price…

“Two million!”

“Two point one million!”

Boss Quan, aware that his son’s attempt to charm Sui Yi had failed, maintained a careless façade, though inside he was thoroughly irritated. With a forced smile, he said, “My dear, our family is in this business. I’ll offer two point one five million. Once this jadeite is designed and if there’s anything left over, I’ll make you a pendant as a gift. How about that?”

If there’s anything left over? Many present couldn’t help but grimace at the old man’s words—what a clever way to phrase it.

Sui Yi glanced at him but hadn’t yet replied when Yu Quan spoke up, “Two point five million.”

This made several jewelers unhappy. “Yu Quan, you’re not in this trade. Why are you getting involved?”

This was tantamount to stealing their business and cutting off their supply! After all, access to raw jade was the lifeblood that determined whether a jewelry store could survive.

“Can’t I keep it for later? Maybe to give to a future daughter-in-law?” Yu Quan replied unhurriedly, unconcerned with offending anyone since he wasn’t in the jewelry trade.

Ha! You only have one son, at most one daughter-in-law—how much jade do you need to give?

“Two point six million!” Boss Wang, a chubby man, gritted his teeth and raised the bid by another hundred thousand.

His store was already having trouble sourcing jade. If he didn’t buy some soon, he’d have to close his doors.

“Two point six one million,” Boss Qian finally couldn’t resist. His own shop was also in crisis, and he could hardly blame his team for consistently failing to secure jade. Even though Sui Yi was someone he’d long resented, he had to swallow his pride.

So be it—if she earns another two point six one million from him, so what? As long as he got the jade, he could easily make up for it.

Luckily, Qian Shuangyu and her companion, foolish as they often were, knew better than to interfere at this moment; they could only stew in their frustration.

What surprised them was that Sui Yi did not immediately agree to Boss Qian’s price. Instead, she hesitated for a moment, as though she was purposely refusing to sell to them, turning their frustration into outright hatred.

Zhou Ran stared at Sui Yi, a resolution forming in his heart. Suddenly, he spoke. “Sui Yi, may I have a word with you?”

His tone was gentle, just as it had always been whenever he’d seen her in the shop.

Is he trying to play the emotional card? Old Tang sneered. Though Sui Yi was one of their own, this was...

“Speak,” Sui Yi replied softly.

Her meaning was clear: whatever you have to say, say it here.

Zhou Ran was momentarily at a loss for words, but before he could attempt another tactic, someone else called out.

“Two point eight million.”

A single leap of one hundred ninety thousand.

Everyone was shocked and turned to see Boss Wang, sweating profusely, looking at Sui Yi with a wry smile. “Miss Sui, I truly want to buy this. If anyone outbids me, I’ll have to concede.”

Boss Wang’s situation was even more desperate than Boss Qian’s. No wonder he was going all in; it was far more genuine than Boss Qian’s penny-pinching ways.

Sui Yi smiled faintly. “Boss Wang, your craftsmanship is excellent. I believe in your hands, this jadeite will shine with its true brilliance.”

At these words, Boss Wang’s face lit up with joy.

Was this agreement? And she’d even given him a bit of advertising—a truly endearing young lady!

Human nature is such that what is hard-won is always most cherished. When hope is nearly lost, a single gesture of goodwill will be remembered. Just as these bosses had previously left Lin Yun in the cold, Sui Yi was now doing the same to them. Thus, when she declared she would sell the jadeite to Boss Wang, he felt as though he’d been given warmth in the midst of winter.

Of course, Boss Qian’s face darkened. Two point eight million? It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford it; he just couldn’t justify such a big jump. Besides, wasn’t there still room to negotiate? How could this be...

This was precisely what Old Tang and the others criticized most about him: shortsighted, penny-pinching, unable to see beyond immediate profit.

Though Old Tang could be miserly himself, he knew when to be flexible. Boss Qian, however, was miserly by habit.

Boss Wang could hardly contain his delight, his plump face quivering with excitement as he hurried to close the deal with Sui Yi. Zhou Ran, however, was desperate and called out, “Sui Yi—”

He rushed forward, reaching for Sui Yi’s wrist.

Zhou Ran believed that if he bowed his head and apologized, Sui Yi would forgive him. She’d always been reserved with others but had shown him unusual friendliness. With his plea, perhaps she’d sell the jadeite to Boss Qian at a lower price.

He’d calculated that Sui Yi’s good upbringing would prevent her from making a scene, but he hadn’t anticipated that this move would provoke Boss Wang.

Damn it! I’ve almost closed this deal, and you want to interfere?

Despite his usually clumsy physique, Boss Wang seized Zhou Ran’s hand and flung him aside.

“Hey, boy, don’t you know the rules? Once a deal is struck, there’s no room for chatter! Like master, like apprentice!”

Boss Wang had never gotten along with Boss Qian, and recent conflicts over jade had only made things worse. His tone was harsh, thoroughly humiliating Boss Qian.

Sui Yi watched Zhou Ran’s embarrassing predicament as Boss Wang’s staff pulled him aside, saying nothing, her expression calm. She turned to finalize the deal with Boss Wang.

It was this very turn that allowed a figure lurking behind her to push her forcefully.

By sheer misfortune, she was shoved straight toward the sharp blade of the stone-cutting machine.

“Sui Yi!”

“Ah Yi!” Old Tang and the others cried out in terror.

Zhang Guangbiao’s face turned ashen. If anything happened, it would cast a dark shadow over everything, not to mention offending people like Old Tang.

But who could stop what was happening?

Sui Yi wasn’t far from the blade. Though startled by the sudden push, she reacted quickly. Just as she was about to move, someone grabbed her arm and swapped places with her.

The person who pulled her ended up hurtling toward the blade, while Sui Yi was pushed aside to safety.

It all happened in a flash. The crowd barely had time to react before seeing a young man, his face still unseen, falling toward the blade.

Many closed their eyes, unable to watch.

Sui Yi’s eyes narrowed.

A streak of blood flashed across the blade.

It was a terrifying sight.

Fortunately, the blood was not deep; no one had been impaled.

Two figures stood before the stone-cutting machine—a man and a woman—still shaken by the close call.

The crowd fell silent for a moment before bursting into noisy commotion.

The young man exhaled softly, looking at the girl who had just let go of his hand so quickly.

Recalling the moment, there was no sense of heroic pride, only embarrassment. “Sorry, I made things worse. Otherwise, you could have…”

Just as Sui Yi’s hand slipped from his grasp, she had reversed her grip, pulling him back from the blade with ease. Even without his intervention, she could have avoided danger. In the end, he had only complicated matters.

“I should be thanking you.” Sui Yi looked at Li Jing, surprised that her rescuer was that delinquent youth she thought she’d never meet again.

Perhaps fate truly is impossible to predict.

Everyone else was still frightened and in no condition to wonder who this sudden savior was. Their attention turned instead to the person who had pushed Sui Yi.

—Qian Fengling.

Old Tang said little, just, “Call the police.”

“Right,” Yu Quan replied, pulling out his phone. He was well-acquainted with the local police; he was the best person to make the call.

Boss Qian’s face was ashen. Still, as it was his own granddaughter, he hurriedly pleaded, “Everyone, my granddaughter didn’t mean it. Xiao Ling, tell them—you didn’t mean to…”

Qian Fengling, only now coming to her senses, trembled under the hostile stares and the uproar around her. “I—I really didn’t do it on purpose, I…”

No matter how she trembled or how the tears streamed down, Old Tang remained unmoved. He had clearly seen her expression when she pushed Sui Yi—ferocious and determined. This was no mere high school girl, but a would-be murderer!

Some people, remembering Qian Fengling’s youth, tried to speak in her defense.

As more voices joined in—pleas and accusations—the scene descended into chaos.

Zhang Guangbiao was in a foul mood, having already blacklisted everyone from the Qian family. What kind of people were they? They had almost caused a fatal accident in his establishment!

Zhou Ran and Qian Shuangyu felt as though the world had gone dark. They knew that if one of the Qian children was arrested for intentional harm, it would spell disaster for their business.

Desperate, they too joined the fray, frantically seeking Sui Yi’s help.

In the end…

Sui Yi looked at Qian Fengling’s tear-streaked, pitiful face. She was silent for a long moment. When everyone thought she had softened, she spoke.

“Not yet eighteen, is she? Intentional injury isn’t much—at most, some time in juvenile reform school. And if she’s found to have mental issues, then no punishment at all. So…”

“Old Tang, please help me contact a lawyer.”

A high school student? Was she really?

Too ruthless? Perhaps not.

Kind-hearted? Certainly not.

She simply wasn’t someone to be trifled with—absolutely not.

She had Qian’s family by the throat, leaving them with no grounds for complaint, yet inflicting maximum pain.

Mental illness? If word got out, the Qian family’s daughter would be ruined.

Sent to reform school? The result was the same.

Ruined, either way.

(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please support it with a vote or a recommendation at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.reading.com.)