Chapter 135: Gravel and Stone

Seeing Ling Tian listening so attentively, An Qi felt incredibly happy. Since they first met, Ling Tian had always been the one helping her, and now that she could finally be of some small assistance, she felt as if she had tasted honey. She spoke with even more enthusiasm, sharing everything she had learned and observed over the years, talking for a full half-hour.

Many things are difficult to understand through words alone, but An Qi believed that at the very least, she could help Ling Tian move from complete ignorance to a basic understanding—anything was better than knowing nothing at all.

Zhang Ding handed An Qi a bottle of mineral water and said, "Boss lady, you've been talking for so long, have some water."

An Qi thanked him, but just as she opened the cap to take a sip, she noticed someone approaching. When she recognized the person, her expression changed drastically. She didn't even take a drink; instead, she hurried to Ling Tian’s side and linked her arm through his.

The newcomer’s expression flickered slightly when he saw An Qi holding Ling Tian’s arm, but he quickly regained his composure.

"An Qi, I was planning on finding you for a good chat after the jade exhibition concluded. I didn't expect to run into you here by such a coincidence," Zheng Shitian said, walking over with a smile.

Ling Tian observed the man who had suddenly appeared. He was handsome, impeccably dressed, and moved with an air of elegance—clearly a scion of a prominent family. In that instant, Ling Tian recalled how An Qi had hesitantly asked him to pose as her boyfriend; he guessed this fellow must be one of her suitors.

"Hello," An Qi said, unable to avoid him. She greeted Zheng Shitian, for despite her dislike for him, she had to maintain appearances; after all, they were both from prestigious families. "This is my boyfriend, Ling Tian. Ling Tian, this is Zheng Shitian, the eldest son of the Zheng family in Pengcheng. The Zheng family has been in the jewelry business for over a hundred years; they are quite remarkable."

Ling Tian and Zheng Shitian exchanged greetings, appearing cordial on the surface.

"An Qi, when did you get a boyfriend? Why didn't I know about this?" Zheng Shitian asked with feigned surprise. He assumed that Ling Tian and An Qi were merely pretending, knowing that the An family in Yunhai was exceptionally powerful, with jewelry businesses across the country and strictly upheld traditions that would never allow An Qi to take a boyfriend without their consent.

Furthermore, Zheng Shitian believed that only a man like himself was worthy of a woman as excellent as An Qi. He was determined to win her over, especially since his family—whose influence rivaled the Ans—was planning a marriage alliance between the two houses.

If they wanted to pretend, let them, he thought. It didn't bother him. The only thing that truly irked him was Ling Tian’s haughty expression and the fact that An Qi seemed to genuinely harbor some affection for him.

Being a newcomer to Yunhai City, Zheng Shitian was not yet familiar with the local landscape and was unaware of Ling Tian’s formidable reputation; otherwise, he would not have thought this way.

"Zheng Shitian, whether or not I have a boyfriend has nothing to do with you, so there is no need to ask for such details," An Qi said coolly, intentionally tightening her grip on Ling Tian’s arm in front of him.

Zheng Shitian’s brow twitched several times, but he managed to suppress his anger. Suddenly, he noticed a cart filled with raw stones next to Ling Tian. Realizing the guy was here to gamble on stones, a cold smirk curled on his lips.

"You play stone gambling, too? I’m quite an expert in this field. Would you like me to give you some pointers?" Zheng Shitian asked, his eyes filled with provocation.

This was exactly what An Qi feared. Zheng Shitian was a rare talent in the Zheng family with deep expertise in jade, rumored to have reached master level. If he intentionally caused trouble, Ling Tian—knowing nothing about the craft—would surely suffer.

Before An Qi could interject, Ling Tian smiled. "How about we make a wager?"

Zheng Shitian paused, surprised that Ling Tian would take the initiative. He laughed, "A wager? Are you sure you aren't joking?"

"Didn't you say you were an expert? I wonder if you have the guts to gamble with an amateur like me," Ling Tian said calmly.

"Of course I do. I’m only worried you might not have the nerve. Speak up—how do you want to bet?" Zheng Shitian looked at Ling Tian with arrogance. Extremely confident, he planned to teach Ling Tian a harsh lesson. The sight of Ling Tian and An Qi being affectionate had infuriated him, and now that Ling Tian was actively provoking him, Zheng Shitian was seething inwardly, despite his outward calm.

Ling Tian said indifferently, "Let’s bet on our judgment. We’ll see whose eye is better."

With that, Ling Tian picked out an unremarkable raw stone from the cart and said to Zheng Shitian, "I say there is jade inside this stone, and of a high grade, too. If I lose, I’ll give you one million. If you lose, you give me one million."

Zheng Shitian leaned in to take a closer look, a flash of disdain in his eyes. *With this level of skill, he dares to bet against me? How arrogant,* he thought.

"No problem." Zheng Shitian was no ordinary man; he had been dealing with jade for over twenty years. His family had even sent him to Myanmar to handle the sourcing of raw stones. Through years of training, he was a true master in the field of stone gambling.

Sometimes, a single glance was all he needed to judge the result. After a cursory look at the stone in Ling Tian’s hand, he had already reached a conclusion. "The stone in your hand contains no jade. It’s just an ordinary piece of gravel; you can find these all over the quarry..."

Ling Tian ignored the string of professional jargon that followed.

"Truly professional. Let’s begin, then," Ling Tian said with a calm expression.

Zheng Shitian wanted to burst into laughter. He had initially thought Ling Tian might have some skill, but it turned out he was a complete amateur who didn't even grasp the basics. Picking up a piece of common gravel and claiming it held jade? It was absurd.

However, seeing Ling Tian’s confidence, a flicker of doubt crossed Zheng Shitian’s mind. But then, seeing An Qi’s nervous expression, his last lingering doubt vanished.

In Zheng Shitian’s eyes, Ling Tian was purely relying on luck, so he was nothing to fear.

"Since we’ve agreed, let’s cut it now." Zheng Shitian took the stone from Ling Tian and walked toward the cutter.

An Qi tugged at Ling Tian’s sleeve, whispering, "The Zheng family has been in the jewelry industry for a century, and Zheng Shitian is a genius in their ranks with deep research into jade. You’re going to lose if you bet against him."

Ling Tian smiled. "What do you think of the stone I just picked?"

An Qi shook her head. "It’s a common piece of gravel; the chance of finding jade inside is virtually zero. You’re likely going to lose this time, but it’s fine—I’ll cover the million for you." She didn't want to reproach Ling Tian for his recklessness, so she chose to bear the burden herself; fortunately, one million wasn't an exorbitant sum.

Ling Tian laughed, "I never do things I’m not sure about. Just wait and see."

An Qi remained doubtful. In her mind, Ling Tian was decisive, calm, and steady—not a reckless person—but that stone really was just a common piece of gravel...

The master cutter was an old hand, moving with great efficiency. He took the stone and began to grind one side with extreme care. Instead of using a machine, the master used a simple grinding blade; while slower, it ensured the jade inside wouldn't be damaged.

He used a technique called "rubbing," focusing on one spot to see if any green would emerge. His technique was refined, only slightly slower than power tools.

Word of a major high-stakes gamble spread, and a crowd gathered to watch. Some who knew a bit about stone gambling pointed at Ling Tian's choice and voiced their opinions, and naturally, almost no one favored him.

"Am I seeing things? He chose a piece of gravel? Has he lost his mind? If this can produce green, then ghosts must be real," a man in his forties scoffed.

"That's not necessarily true. Maybe it actually will produce green."

"Produce green my foot..."

The clamor of voices was like a swarm of flies, and without exception, almost no one believed in Ling Tian.

Hearing the chatter, Zheng Shitian became even more smug. He said arrogantly to the nervous An Qi, "An Qi, it seems your boyfriend likes to boast. He has no real ability and is full of himself. I really don't know what you see in him."

An Qi was already tense. Although she trusted that Ling Tian wouldn't be easily bested, she remained worried because, from her perspective, it was impossible for that piece of gravel to contain jade. Moreover, Zheng Shitian was a master-level gambler; he rarely misjudged a stone.

An Qi’s heart remained in her throat, unable to settle until the outcome was revealed. Facing Zheng Shitian’s mockery, she could only offer an awkward smile, then turned her focus back to the stone, silently praying for a glimpse of green.

The stone was small, only the size of an adult’s fist. The experienced master had already ground away a quarter of it, and still, no color appeared.

"Give it up! It’s almost gone, and there’s still no green," someone in the crowd shouted.

The master kept grinding with complete focus. Since the owner of the stone hadn't told him to stop, he had to continue.

When a third of the stone had been removed, there was still no sign of jade. An Qi shook her head helplessly. At this point, the result was clear. Losing the money didn't matter; she was worried about how Ling Tian would feel, and she prepared to comfort him.

Zheng Shitian, believing victory was in his grasp, opened his mouth to deliver a cutting remark.

Just then, the master suddenly stopped. He set down his tools and used his sleeve to vigorously wipe the window he had just ground. A dense, rich green revealed itself—pure, dignified, and noble, radiating a mesmerizing luster.

"It's green!" a roar of astonishment erupted from the crowd!