"This one." The shopkeeper took the jade pendant off, and a tiny crack could be clearly seen on the back.
The winding crack adds another layer of beauty to the jade pendant.
"Little sister, you really know how to do business. You come to sell something, get the money, and then take something away from me."
The shopkeeper joked, showing no sign of resistance. After all, someone had sold him the jade pendant for ten yuan, and it didn't look like a good piece of jade; it even had flaws. If the seller hadn't been crying and begging, saying it was money to save his life, he might not have accepted it.
Zhou Sui smiled brightly, "You can't really raise the price of the ring, but if you give me a pendant as a gift, I'll feel better."
"The ring belonged to my mother. Now that it's been sold, I can't leave without giving her a gift in return. I think this pendant is quite pretty," Zhou Sui said, half-jokingly.
"Alright, we've already done the big business, what's a little more?" Thinking that this gold ring might solve his immediate problem, the boss readily agreed.
"This jade is so-so. When wearing it, turn the side with the crack inwards, and it will still look okay."
The boss said this while counting the money for Zhou Sui.
Zhou Sui smiled but said nothing, and put the money and pendant into her bag.
"Thank you, boss. I wish you booming business and ever-growing sales," Zhou Sui said as she left.
"Thank you for your kind words, little sister. I'll definitely give you the highest price next time you come." His little shop is barely making ends meet right now, and this price for that ring is already the absolute maximum.
After walking a few steps, Zhou Sui looked back at the inconspicuous little shop. Who would have thought that the owner, who was now in dire straits, would later become a well-known collector?
If I hadn't lived an extra lifetime and seen the news in the newspaper, I would never have been able to find the place.
Most of the things he collects are valuable, but Zhou Sui only wanted this jade pendant because she liked it, and it's damaged, so it probably isn't very valuable.
She felt that the pendant was particularly suitable for her mother, Li Qiuju, and that it made her look especially gentle and graceful. She thought it would be a perfect gift for her father to apologize to her mother.
Although she was somewhat reluctant, Zhou Sui would still do her best to fulfill her promise.
With money and gifts in her pocket, Zhou Sui quickened her pace, eager to go to the wholesale market.
Perhaps she was too excited and walked too fast, because her head bumped into a hard wall when she turned the corner.
"Hiss." Zhou Sui covered her head and looked up. This wasn't a wall at all; it was clearly someone else's chest.
"I'm sorry, I..." Zhou Sui paused halfway through her apology.
Isn't this Zhao Xinfeng's cousin, whom I met on the mountain yesterday?
However, Zhou Sui couldn't help but chuckle at his current attire. The ill-fitting military green jacket was baggy and oversized, and he was wearing a hat, which somewhat detracted from his handsome appearance.
If Zhou Sui hadn't happened to see his face, she wouldn't have recognized the person in front of her.
Song Qi'an turned his gaze back from the distance and looked down at a pretty face.
"Are you alright?" He was so focused on looking ahead that he didn't notice that it was a corner and someone would come out.
Zhou Sui shook her head, and just as she was about to speak, she saw Song Qi'an's gaze drift forward again.
Following his gaze, a couple was standing a few steps away at the intersection. The man had his back to him, while the woman turned her head to the side and smiled at him.
What a pure and lovely face! Zhou Sui couldn't help but exclaim.
The two acted intimately, with the man reaching out to touch the woman's hair.
Zhou Sui secretly glanced at Song Qi'an's face. Hmm, so dark.
Although she didn't know what was going on, Zhou Sui felt that it was not a good place to stay.
"Well, I'll be going now," she said, preparing to walk past Song Qi'an and leave.
Suddenly, Song Qi'an lowered his head, put his arm around her shoulder, and led her around the corner before Zhou Sui could react.
As Zhou Sui turned around, she heard a woman's clear, sweet voice from the intersection, "Brother Yuan, what are you looking at?"
Zhou Sui caught a glimpse of the man peering in their direction, but upon hearing the woman's voice, she immediately turned her head away.
"It's nothing, I thought I saw someone I knew," the man called Brother Yuan said as he turned around.
"Really? Why don't we go up and take a look?" The woman looked over, but there was no one left around the corner.
"No, I must have misread it. Let's go home." With that, the man took the woman's hand and walked across the street.
Zhou Sui and Song Qi'an used the wall to hide their figures until they could no longer see the two people, then Zhou Sui spoke softly.
"The person is gone, you can let go now."
The man's grip was strong, holding her shoulders tightly.
Song Qi'an snapped out of his daze, quickly let go of her hand, and looked at Zhou Sui apologetically, "I'm sorry."
"And thank you."
His actions just now were so rash; if Zhou Sui had spoken, people not far away would have noticed him.
The two were standing very close together. Zhou Sui took a step back to the side. Standing next to someone who is too tall is not good; it can be intimidating.
"No need. You helped me on the mountain last time, and I haven't formally thanked you yet."
"Thank you," Zhou Sui said sincerely, bowing to him.
Looking at the frail girl in front of him, Song Qi'an had felt her thinness when he put his arm around her shoulder earlier, and for the first time ever, he gave her a word of advice.
"If you encounter that situation again, don't hesitate, just go for it."
He saw Zhou Sui reach for the stone, but it was too late for him to strike.
Sometimes, you need to be unexpected, quick, and ruthless to turn the tide.
Although it was a well-intentioned reminder, something about it just doesn't feel right.
"Haha, thank you." Zhou Sui chuckled dryly, "But I don't want to encounter that situation again." How unlucky would she be if she did?
Song Qi'an seemed to realize that he had said the wrong thing with good intentions. A hint of embarrassment appeared on his resolute face, and he looked much gentler.
"By the way, I still don't know your name." To ease the awkwardness, Zhou Sui took the initiative to speak.
"Song Qi'an".
Zhou Sui read it aloud to herself; it was a good name.
"My name is Zhou Sui."
Song Qi'an nodded slightly. "I know."
Zhou Sui thought that Zhao Xinfeng must have told him. Although they had met twice, they were not familiar with each other. Zhou Sui was not a warm-hearted person, so there was nothing to say. Zhou Sui chose to leave first.
"It's getting late, I have to go now."
"Mm." Song Qi'an responded, stepped aside, and Zhou Sui nodded to him before leaving.
After Zhou Sui left, Song Qi'an looked at the place where the two had left. His dark eyes grew even darker, and in the end, he turned and left.
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