Chapter 59 July in Yunnan, the rainy season arrives as scheduled…
In July, the rainy season arrived in Yunnan as scheduled, but it did not bring continuous gloom. The weather on the plateau is always unpredictable. Often, the morning is clear and the sky is blue, followed by a refreshing downpour in the afternoon, and by evening, the blue sky and the sunset are exceptionally clear, wiped clean by the rain.
Ren Xiyao's body has fully adapted to the high-altitude environment. The headaches and shortness of breath that once plagued her have long since disappeared, replaced by stronger cardiopulmonary function and more abundant physical strength. Her speed and explosiveness on the ice rink have steadily improved, and her more agile figure during mountain cross-country running all demonstrate the remarkable effectiveness of this high-altitude training.
Training remains arduous, with every day pushing the limits, but when the body no longer sends strong protest signals, the mind has more room to experience the world around it.
This was a rare day of rest, with no high-intensity training scheduled, only some relaxing activities and technical video analysis. After lunch, the team members gathered in small groups in the lounge to chat and look at their phones.
The team members chattered amongst themselves, mostly out of curiosity about the jade from Yunnan.
Ren Xiyao was quietly watching the technical video when she heard the word "jade" and paused for a moment.
Kwon Ji-yong's birthday is in August. He's given her many gifts, from expensive custom-made necklaces and jewelry to hand-drawn cards, each one carrying his heartfelt sentiment. He always seems to enjoy showering her with what he considers the best, trendiest, and coolest things. And she, aside from occasionally cooking him a meal, seems to have never really given him anything substantial.
She could afford an expensive gift. But it's not just about the money; it's more about the sentiment, the feeling of "I put thought into choosing this for you."
Perhaps… we could check out that jade market? Jade, in traditional culture, symbolizes good fortune and peace, and its gentle, understated nature resonates somewhat with his seemingly flamboyant yet actually sensitive heart. How about giving him a piece of jade jewelry? Like… a ring?
The thought made her heart race slightly. A well-chosen jade ring can make a man appear tasteful and sophisticated. Unlike diamonds, it's not ostentatious, but it exudes a sense of composure and elegance.
"Xiyao, Ren Xiyao! What are you thinking about?" Lin Shan's voice interrupted her thoughts: "They're talking about that jade market, should we go check it out? Just to get some fresh air!"
Ren Xiyao looked up and met Lin Shan's bright, expectant eyes. The budding thought in her mind instantly became clear and firm.
The midday sun made the road scorching hot. Ren Xiyao raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight and followed Lin Shan into the shade of the jade market's shed. The cool breeze that greeted them eased the heat a little. Hundreds of stalls stretched out like a maze, their glass display cases gleaming with various colors.
The market was bustling with activity. Rows of stalls were filled with all kinds of jadeite stones—raw stones, bracelets, pendants, and ornaments—a dazzling array of green, white, purple, and yellow hues. The air was thick with the smell of jade polishing dust and the enthusiastic calls of vendors.
"How long will it take to shop like this?" Lin Shan stood on tiptoe and peered around.
Ren Xiyao's gaze swept over the nearest few stalls. The counter on the left was piled high with peace buckles, the right was covered with colorful strings of Pixiu, and in the middle the fat boss was shining a powerful flashlight on a piece of "imperial green" jade. The moment the light penetrated the stone, Ren Xiyao saw spiderweb-like cracks inside.
“It’s fake.” She grabbed Lin Shan, who was about to get closer, and said, “It’s been injected with glue and dyed.”
"Huh?" Lin Shan's eyes widened. "It looks pretty clear to me?"
Ren Xiyao shook her head: "It's glowing."
I searched for a long time but couldn't find anything I was truly satisfied with; the noise was just annoying. Jade is all about fate. Sometimes you know it's the one at first glance.
After passing several rows of stalls selling tourist souvenirs, a small stall was filled with various kinds of jade. Lin Shan picked up a jade bracelet with floating patterns and examined it against the light: "How's the quality?"
Ren Xiyao took the bracelet, her fingertips brushing against the cool jade surface: "The clarity is alright, but there are some cotton-like inclusions." She put the bracelet down, her gaze sweeping over a few unset jadeite cabochons lying in a glass cabinet of an inconspicuous shop in the corner, and she subconsciously walked over there.
The shop owner, an elderly craftsman with graying hair, was carving a piece of black jade while wearing a magnifying glass. Seeing them stop, he looked up and smiled, "Young lady, you know about jade?"
"I know a little." Ren Xiyao pointed to one of the jadeite saddle ring faces: "Can I take a look at this one?"
What immediately attracted Ren Xiyao was its extreme blackness—a pure, serene black that seemed to absorb all light, containing endless mystery and power.
Black jadeite is the "hermit" of jadeite. At first glance, it is inconspicuous and may even be mistaken for an ordinary black stone. However, its preciousness lies in the fact that "black hides green," and only under strong light will it reveal its rich and intense green interior.
This understated elegance, this hidden brilliance, is just like Kwon Ji-yong offstage—a man who, though stripped of his stage persona, occasionally reveals sensitivity and vulnerability, yet remains exceptionally talented and strong-willed.
The cabochon gleamed in the sunlight, like a pool of frozen spring water. Lin Shan leaned closer: "You're buying this? As a gift?"
"Um."
Ren Xiyao stopped her from saying anything more with a look.
The master craftsman smiled and took out the cabochon: "This is old mine black jadeite, with a very fine texture. Look at the luster, it's the color of black under natural light."
Ren Xiyao picked up the ring face; it felt cool and smooth to the touch, with a substantial weight. She first examined it carefully under natural light; the ring face was entirely black, with a glossy sheen, and almost no impurities or flaws were visible. Then she pressed a light on it.
An amazing thing happened!
The originally pure black cabochon, under strong light, instantly revealed an extremely rich, pure, and vibrant emerald green, like that of a top-grade emerald! The green was deep, full, and even, as if it were flowing within the cabochon itself, alive with life. The stronger the light, the more vivid and luscious the green became.
"Wow! It changed color! How amazing!" Lin Shan, who had been curiously watching from the side, couldn't help but exclaim.
Ren Xiyao's heart also quickened slightly due to this wondrous change. She repeatedly shone her flashlight from different angles, carefully observing the internal structure. The quality of this piece of black jade was indeed excellent; it was completely translucent when the light shone through, the green color was even and rich, and there were almost no cotton-like inclusions or impurities, resembling a pool of lake water—a rare and superior piece of black jade.
“This piece of material is very rare,” the shop owner added at the right time. “Black jadeite is valued for its color, clarity, texture, and craftsmanship. This piece is black enough, green enough when backlit, has a clean base, fine texture, and a very regular saddle surface. It will look very good when set in a setting.”
"How much is this?" Ren Xiyao put down the flashlight and looked up to ask. She had already made up her mind.
The shopkeeper quoted a price. This figure made Lin Shan, standing nearby, secretly gasp. For an ordinary tourist, this was definitely a considerable sum—enough for two years' salary for an average office worker. But Ren Xiyao knew that given the quality and size of the jadeite, while the price wasn't low, it was within a reasonable range and not an exorbitant charge.
Ren Xiyao imagined Kwon Ji-yong wearing the ring in her mind. His fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles, and he had worn many stylish rings, able to pull off various materials and styles.
"Xiyao, this...it's so expensive..." Lin Shan gasped and whispered a reminder to her.
Ren Xiyao didn't answer Lin Shan. She looked at the jadeite ring face lying quietly on the velvet, as if she could already see it set into a ring and worn on someone's slender finger. Understated and composed, yet unintentionally revealing that stunning green light that belonged only to him.
"I'll take this one." Ren Xiyao said firmly, taking out her bank card.
A hint of appreciation flashed in the old man's eyes. He could tell that this young woman was truly knowledgeable and genuinely interested in buying. He quickly issued an invoice and a certificate of authenticity, packed the jadeite cabochon in a small, exquisite brocade box, and handed it to Ren Xiyao: "What kind do you want?"
Ren Xiyao didn't hesitate and said directly, "Make a men's style, plain band saddle, and don't make the band too thick."
Do you have sizes?
She took out her phone and opened the notes app: "This one."
Lin Shan stood speechlessly beside him: "You even saved his finger size?"
Ren Xiyao's ears burned: "...Just take the measurement."
The old man suddenly knocked on the glass cabinet: "Old Zhang's processing shop in the back, you can go and see the best craftsmanship in this area."
The master craftsman's workshop was tucked away in a back alley of the market. An old-fashioned fan creaked as files and sandpaper lay scattered on the workbench. Ren Xiyao watched as the master craftsman used calipers to measure a cabochon: "How long will it take?"
"For rush orders, two weeks." The experienced mechanic suddenly asked, "To my boyfriend?"
Ren Xiyao did not deny it: "His birthday is in August."
"That's very thoughtful." The master craftsman picked up his carving knife: "Jade nourishes people and also fosters relationships."
Lin Shan wandered around the studio, then suddenly pointed to a half-finished piece: "What's this carved? A dragon?"
"The dragon symbolizes good fortune." The master craftsman looked at Ren Xiyao and asked, "Should we have a character engraved on the inside of the ring?"
Ren Xiyao shook her head, but then suddenly said, "Let's engrave a date on the inside."
"What date?"
"R&G 2013.11.01".
Lin Shan suddenly turned her head; that was the day Ren Xiyao first met Kwon Ji-yong at a Seoul club.
Stepping out of the shop, the noise outside seemed less unbearable. Lin Shan was still astonished by the "huge sum" she had just received, and at the same time, she was repeatedly amazed by Ren Xiyao's "generosity."
The taxi swayed and rattled through the sea of flowers on the way back. Ren Xiyao stroked the pendant hidden under her collar. It was the ice skate pendant that Quan Zhilong had given her on the day he confessed his love, and she had always worn it.
Lin Shan suddenly leaned closer and asked, "Have you ever given him a gift?"
“No.” She paused. “...except for food.”
Those were less like gifts and more like feeding. Kwon Ji-yong would always provide plenty of emotional value and occasional moments of pride like "I'm an idol" or "I've gained weight," while simultaneously devouring all the food.
Lin Shan counted on her fingers: "He gave you an ice skate necklace, a Tiffany necklace, a Cartier bracelet..."
How did you know?
"That ice skate necklace, don't you wear it every day? There are posts on Douban about other people wearing the same thing!" Lin Shan lowered his voice: "The fan forums have searched through all the things that his rumored girlfriends have worn. They probably never would have guessed that his girlfriend is someone who wears the national team uniform."
Ren Xiyao looked out the window. The setting sun gilded the distant mountains, and at their foot stretched a continuous expanse of gray-tiled roofs of Bai ethnic minority houses. She suddenly thought of the drawer crammed with gifts, from limited-edition sneakers to rare vinyl records, where Kwon Ji-yong could always casually utter nonsense like "I just happened to pass by and bought it" or "I thought it was suitable and bought it."
Now, Ren Xiyao wanted to give him a surprise. A surprise from the distant plateau, a surprise that embodied her heartfelt wishes and blessings.
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