Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1352: Chapter 1347: Changing the Stakes

”Truly worthy of the Jade Queen of the Mainland, you live up to your reputation! Miss Huo’s stone-solving skills earn my admiration!”

While Li Jun had just made a single cut, Huo Sining’s stone-solving was already nearing its end. Her speed and precision were such that even his company’s Old Stone Solver Master couldn’t match her. No wonder Huo Sining had rapidly risen in the Mainland in such a short time; her prowess was indeed unmatched by ordinary individuals.

If Huo Sining knew what Li Jun was thinking, she would definitely feel ashamed and embarrassed.

The speed with which she solved the stone wasn’t to show off or act cool; it was entirely because, upon seeing those two pieces of waste material, she felt anxious and wanted to solve this gamble quickly and then deal with those two pieces of waste, hence cutting the raw material swiftly and decisively, aiming for a quick resolution.

Huo Sining held the piece showing green mist and placed it in front of the small grinding wheel to polish it. Very quickly, she rubbed off that layer of white mist bit by bit, revealing the crystal-clear Jadeite inside.

”It’s Ice-type, seems like Yang Green as well.”

Ouyang Jun and Bai Yishan were both watching closely. Seeing the green hue of the Jadeite, Ouyang Jun couldn’t help but hastily judge.

But soon Bai Yishan noticed something was off, overturning Ouyang Jun’s conclusion: ”No, I see purple. Could it be Spring with Colors?”

Huo Sining wore a smile on her face, her hands never stopping. The pineapple-sized rough stone grew smaller and smaller under the rotating wheel, until only two adult fist-sized pieces remained.

She scooped a ladle of clean water to wash off the sandy residue on the stone’s surface, and the entire piece of Jadeite was suddenly displayed for everyone to see.

”Three colors of yellow, green, and purple—it’s Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity!”

Seeing the Jadeite, the onlookers couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise; after all, the Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity that Huo Sining cut out was simply too perfect!

Ice-type Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity itself is rare, even more so this piece with yellow, green, and purple in one, with distinct colors.

Moreover, the transition between the three colors is very natural and perfect, appearing not garish but rather with a gentle and warm feeling.

Such Jadeite could be considered a masterpiece.

Seeing this rough stone, Li Jun, who was still solving his stone, couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

He didn’t need to solve it to know; in this competition, he was definitely going to lose.

Because the rough stone in his hand, even when cut, was just Egg White Type. Even if it transformed, it would only reach Ice-type, but it was single-colored, absolutely incomparable to the Ice-type Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity in Huo Sining’s hands.

In half an hour, the rough stone in Li Jun’s hand was also solved.

Just as he expected, his rough stone was a transformed Jadeite, Egg White Type to Ice-type transformed Apple Green.

”I lost.”

There was a slight look of disappointment and unwillingness on Li Jun’s face, but that unwillingness quickly faded. He looked at Huo Sining with interest and asked:

”Miss Huo, your abilities are indeed exceptional, but I have a question lingering in my mind, and I wonder if you could resolve it for me. I have many well-performing rough stones in my warehouse; why did you choose this one?”

Huo Sining chuckled and looked at Li Jun, saying: ”You grew up abroad, Young Director Li, so I don’t know if you’ve heard a Chinese proverb that goes, ’all that glitters is not gold’?”

”Actually, stone gambling is about the same principle. Some python patterns and pine flowers may seem promising, but they’re deceptive. One cut, and the python is broken with no green.”

”Many people in stone gambling get trapped by the rules, single-mindedly seeking traits, only to be deceived by the python patterns and pine flowers. Such cases are countless in the stone gambling circle.”

”But the true insight is, just because there’s a sign doesn’t guarantee what’s inside. Evaluating the rough stone’s appearance is important, but real stone gambling requires understanding two words: virtuality and reality.”

Huo Sining spoke ambiguously, mixing truth with falsehood.

However, the speaker was inadvertently inspiring for the listener.

Her offhand words seemed like an epiphany to Li Jun. After listening, he was stunned for a while, his eyes filled with surprise and respect. He bowed respectfully to Huo Sining and sighed:

”Your words are more valuable than ten years of study. Miss Huo, thank you for your guidance.”

Huo Sining shook her head with a smile. At this moment, her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with those two pieces of waste material discarded by Sakai Ichiro, contemplating how she could inconspicuously acquire them without arousing the suspicion of Sakai Ichiro and Li Jun.

”I lost this gamble, and as the stake, these two Jadeites are yours, Miss Huo.”

Li Jun’s face returned to a calm smile as he peacefully handed over the transformed Apple Green he had just solved to Huo Sining.

Although giving away such fine Jadeite made Li Jun feel a bit regretful and heartbroken, he was not like Sakai Ichiro, someone lacking in demeanor who doesn’t accept the outcome of a gamble.

Unexpectedly, Huo Sining shook her head and declined the fine Jadeite being handed over by Li Jun: ”Young Director Li, I prefer to change the wager temporarily, if you can permit it.”

”Please go ahead, Miss Huo.”

Li Jun raised his eyebrows slightly, for from the teahouse to the Li Family Manor in less than an hour’s interaction, he could already tell that someone like Huo Sining wasn’t the type to not know when to advance or retreat, yet here she was suddenly changing her mind, wanting to swap the wager.

Of course, Huo Sining did not miss the trace of contemplation in Li Jun’s gaze. She suppressed her inner impulse and smiled:

”I enjoy challenges and taking risks. I’m not very interested in finished Jadeite; if I really need a wager, I hope to choose a rough stone freely from your place. Is this agreeable?”

A flash of surprise crossed Li Jun’s eyes because Huo Sining actually refused the finished Jadeite, which could be easily sold at no risk, to pick a rough stone from the warehouse that might not yield any Jadeite. This was somewhat strange.

Could it be that there was an even finer piece in his warehouse than the Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity that Huo Sining had just solved?

Li Jun harbored some doubt, but seeing Huo Sining’s unwavering confidence in her stone gambling skills, he couldn’t find a reason to refuse.

”Since Miss Huo insists, I certainly won’t decline.”

This request was certainly something Li Jun couldn’t be happier about, as his company lacked high-grade Jadeite. To simply give away this Apple Green made his heart ache unknown amounts.

However, Li Jun’s surprise soon escalated again.

Because, after agreeing to Huo Sining’s request, she played against convention entirely.