Chu Qianli didn’t recognize luxury jewelry. She wandered around in distress until she was suddenly drawn to a middle-aged man not far away, who was enthusiastically explaining things.
“Let me tell you, this jade bracelet is no ordinary piece. Many people think green is the most expensive, but this one has green, orange, and white—all three colors blending beautifully. That makes it a ‘Fu Lu Shou’ jade, which can sometimes be even pricier than pure green!” The middle-aged man spoke with great energy.
A passing tourist nodded in response. “Oh, I see.”
“This one is also great—it’s a natural pigeon’s blood ruby. In the past, ruby rings of this size have sold for tens of millions at auction…”
“You really know a lot.”
“Hahaha, well, even if I can’t afford it, I should at least understand it. Seeing is owning!”
“You’re joking, you’re joking.”
The exhibition hall was filled with people from all walks of life. Just being able to attend the preview already suggested they were well-off, but those who were actually willing to pay the deposit and participate in the auction were far fewer. Some people came simply to admire the rare treasures collected from around the world rather than to buy them.
Auction previews also served as social gatherings, where people exchanged casual conversation and sometimes formed connections. Many knowledgeable attendees would even discuss their insights with one another.
Chu Qianli quickly set her sights on the middle-aged man. She treated him like a museum tour guide, silently following behind him, discreetly listening to his explanations.
The middle-aged man was lively and well-informed, able to introduce nearly all the jewelry in the hall. He was like one of those car enthusiasts who, despite not owning a vehicle, could name all the brands, recite specifications, and even analyze prices better than actual car owners.
Some people responded politely, while others felt awkward after being approached and quickly made excuses to leave, as if trying to avoid him.
It didn’t take long for the middle-aged man to notice Chu Qianli tailing him. He greeted her directly: “What do you want to hear about? I’ve seen you two following me for a while.”
Tan Muxing quickly apologized, “Sorry about that…”
They had been stealthily eavesdropping on his discussions with other visitors.
But Chu Qianli, now caught, remained unfazed. She boldly admitted, “I want to hear everything. I don’t understand any of it.”
Some people feared exposing their ignorance and would rather avoid looking closely, hurrying past instead. But Chu Qianli wasn’t afraid of embarrassment—she openly declared herself a complete novice.
The middle-aged man laughed heartily. “Alright, alright! Let’s take a walk. The first time you don’t understand, but after listening a couple of times, you’ll get it. I’ll explain it to you!”
“Thank you!”
The man introduced himself as Li Like, a jewelry merchant who had been doing business in G City for many years. Chu Qianli, observing his facial features, could tell that he was a talkative and sociable person, someone who genuinely enjoyed discussing jewelry.
Sure enough, now that he had two eager listeners, Li Like became even more enthusiastic, determined to cover every detail. He arranged for them: “This piece here is a pear-shaped blue diamond. You should be able to try it on—let’s have them take it out for you to see…”
Watching the staff carefully remove the blue diamond ring while wearing white gloves, Chu Qianli curiously asked, “Can we try it on even if we’re not buying it?”
Li Like answered without hesitation, “Of course! This is a preview, a tasting event, so people can inspect the jewelry up close. Otherwise, who would dare bid on it?”
“Of course, some special auction items can’t be touched, but most of these can be taken out. If the staff refuses, you can file a complaint.” Li Like chuckled. “I’ve attended so many jewelry exhibitions over the years—I couldn’t possibly buy everything I see, right?”
Chu Qianli nodded in understanding. “Ah, got it. A lesson from a small-town girl.”
Tan Muxing asked, “Do you come here often for work?”
“More or less. You have to know the market to talk business with people.”
“So what do you usually buy?” Chu Qianli, sensing his expertise, humbly sought advice. “What’s a good investment?”
Li Like replied, “Well, I don’t usually deal in antique jewelry. These auction pieces already have set prices—they’re good for long-term holding and preserving value, but they’re not ideal for quick profits. If you’re really interested, I can take you to a different hall later.”
Hearing that these ‘precious’ treasures weren’t even the best for making money, Chu Qianli lost interest in the blue diamond almost instantly. Eagerly, she said, “Let’s go, let’s go! I want to see!”
Tan Muxing had no objections and simply followed along as she excitedly explored the halls with Li Like.
“Alright, let’s head next door. That area is mostly industry insiders.”
Li Like led them out and into an adjacent exhibition hall. As soon as Chu Qianli stepped inside, she immediately sensed a completely different atmosphere. Instead of finished jewelry pieces, the hall showcased a variety of raw gemstones.
The people here were noticeably more tense and focused. Many even brought their own tools, carefully examining the rough stones. Unlike casual visitors, most of them were in the gem trade, just like Li Like.
Several attendees seemed to recognize Li Like and greeted him proactively.
“Old Li, aren’t you going to take a look? This ruby is incredible—it could yield quite a few good pieces.”
Li Like, standing with Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing, politely declined, “Not this time, not this time. My funds are too tight right now.”
Chu Qianli studied the oddly shaped, rough, and dull stones in the display cases, asking in confusion, “Are these all gemstones?”
“Yes,” Li Like explained. “We buy these raw stones, cut and polish them, and then hire designers to craft them into jewelry—like the ones in the previous hall. Raw stones never look good at first.”
“Old Li, seriously, you’re not taking a look? This one’s really promising!” another person called out.
Li Like looked conflicted.
Tan Muxing asked, “Do you want to check it out?”
Li Like smiled awkwardly. “I usually sell one stone before buying another. I can’t afford to stockpile too much. The last batch I bought hasn’t sold yet, so buying more raw stones would be risky. That’s why I wasn’t even planning to come into this hall today…”
He knew if he looked but couldn’t buy, it would only make him more restless.
Although raw stones looked unimpressive, they were genuine gemstones, and larger raw stones were exponentially more expensive due to a market concept called “carat premium”—where prices skyrocketed as the size increased.
For companies, holding too much unsold inventory could be financially dangerous, potentially breaking their cash flow.
Chu Qianli observed Li Like closely. Her fingers twitched slightly before she casually remarked, “You can check them out now. I see a large sum of money coming your way soon.”
“Huh? A large sum of money?”
Chu Qianli thought for a moment before explaining, “Yes, I sense you’re about to receive a payment—seems business-related, and it’s happening fast.”
“If only that were true!” Li Like laughed bitterly. “I haven’t had any payments coming in lately. If I could make money that easily, I’d be thrilled!”
“I’ll just browse with you guys, but I really can’t make any purchases today.”
Rather than squeezing through the crowd, Li Like took them on a casual walk, explaining gemstone patterns and how to distinguish real stones from fakes.
As the three wandered through the hall, a sudden ringing sound broke the silence.
“Excuse me, I need to take this call.” Li Like pulled out his phone, gave them an apologetic look, and stepped into a corner to answer. “Hello? What’s up?”
“Sold? When did it sell? Hasn’t it been sitting there for ages?”
Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing, standing nearby, could hear the excitement in his voice.
“Great, great, this is a huge help!” Li Like could barely contain his joy. He listened carefully to the details before responding quickly, “Yes, custom orders are totally fine! I’m actually looking at stones right now—just let me know what they want, and I’ll get it immediately!”
“Understood, understood. Whatever preferences they have, just tell me—including gemstone color.”
A moment later, Li Like returned, beaming with excitement. He sighed with relief, “Good thing I stuck around with you guys! Otherwise, I would’ve left too early—one of my jewelry sets just sold out of nowhere!”
“And they want a custom piece! I need to find a good stone now.” He looked at Chu Qianli in utter amazement. “You really saw this coming? How did you know?”
Earlier, when she mentioned a large sum of money, Li Like had assumed it was just flattery or a polite remark. But now, it had actually come true.
Chu Qianli waved it off modestly. “Just a professional at work—standard performance.”
Li Like was momentarily stunned. He glanced at her again, reassessing both her and Tan Muxing. Their demeanor was calm and composed, carrying a subtle air of distinction. Suddenly, he had a realization and hesitantly asked, “I’ve heard of fortune-telling before…”
“It’s not fortune-telling,” Chu Qianli corrected. “It’s Zi Wei.”
Li Like’s eyes widened in shock. “What?! The Imperial Study of Destiny?”
He stared at them in disbelief. “I can’t believe I accidentally ran into a true master!”
Because of historical influences, Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology) was far more well-known in G City compared to traditional Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny). Many businesspeople were familiar with it to some extent, and Li Like was no exception.
His mind spun as he suddenly had a bright idea. “Wait—does this mean you can calculate the best time to buy gemstones?”
Chu Qianli answered honestly, “I can tell you if it’s a good time for you to buy, but I don’t personally understand gemstones.”
“That’s good enough! That’s all I need!” Li Like exclaimed. “I know gemstones, but even experts like me can lose money in this industry. What matters is whether it’s the right time to buy!”
Without hesitation, Li Like pulled out his phone, eager to exchange contact details.
Tan Muxing, caught off guard by how Chu Qianli had just landed a new client, quickly resumed his role as her manager, handling the networking exchange professionally.
“Perfect timing!” Li Like grinned. “I need to pick out a new raw stone right now. I’ll show you how to choose one!”
He requested tools from the hall staff and instructed, “Let’s move closer—better view that way.”
The best raw stones attracted large crowds. These weren’t casual visitors; most were serious buyers who could afford the deposit and bidding process for raw gemstones.
Li Like led the duo through the hall, scanning the stones until he identified a few promising options. Now, all that remained was to see if he could successfully bid for them the next day.
Meanwhile, Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing also received tools, mimicking Li Like’s movements as they got a firsthand experience of a day in the life of a gemstone trader.
Suddenly, someone waved and called out from a distance.
“Old Li! Come take a look at this—can you tell what it is?”
“Is this a ruby? You’re the expert on red stones!”
Intrigued, Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing followed Li Like toward a rough stone still encased in its outer layers.
Li Like frowned slightly, studying the raw stone inside the glass case. After a brief moment, he muttered, “This doesn’t look like a ruby.”
The rough stone inside the display case was not large, numbered 1134. It was about the size of a baby’s fist, wrapped in a thick stone layer, with only a few small cracks revealing a red glow. If it weren’t placed in the well-lit preview hall, it would look like an ordinary riverbed pebble, unlikely to attract any attention.
“We’ve been studying it for a while, just trying to figure out what it is.”
“The crystal structure of a ruby is either tabular or prismatic. Look at these textures—they’re obviously not right…” Li Like leaned in for a closer look. “Ask them to take the stone out so we can see it.”
The staff member apologized and shook their head. “Sorry, this is an auction item and cannot be touched.”
“Even in stone gambling, people can examine the stones up close. This is ridiculous!”
“Then can you at least tell us what kind of rough stone this is?”
The staff member replied tactfully, “Based on our current appraisal, this is a rough stone of an unnamed rare mineral. A more detailed identification would require damaging its surface, so unfortunately, we don’t have any further information.”
“That’s as good as saying nothing,” Li Like lost interest immediately. He turned to call out to Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing, “Let’s head back over there.”
Li Like and the others were only interested in valuable gemstones, and their focus on rough stones would shift according to market preferences. Naturally, they weren’t swayed by marketing phrases like “rare mineral.”
However, Chu Qianli found the words familiar. She vividly remembered Tan Muxing once saying that the red crystal was not a ruby. When he helped appraise the red crystal tarot and compass, even the company’s gemologists said they couldn’t determine what the red crystal actually was.
While the others had already moved away from Rough Stone 1134, Chu Qianli stayed behind at the counter, carefully examining it.
Tan Muxing noticed her focused gaze and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Xingxing, can you see that little bit of red clearly?” Chu Qianli couldn’t touch the rough stone, so she couldn’t compare it directly. She hesitated and said, “It’s covered in rock on the outside, so I can’t see inside.”
Other rough stones could be touched and illuminated with strong light, but Rough Stone 1134 was locked inside a display case, restricting outside observation. No wonder Li Like and the others didn’t linger there.
Tan Muxing guessed what Chu Qianli was thinking. He also recalled the unknown red crystal and tried to make out more details, but unfortunately, he didn’t have X-ray vision.
Tan Muxing set down his tools, thought for a moment, and said, “If we just want to know whether it is or isn’t the same thing, perhaps we can cast a divination?”
Chu Qianli didn’t know how to appraise gemstones, but she could divine whether the red crystal and Rough Stone 1134 were related.
Chu Qianli immediately put down her magnifying glass, suddenly realizing, “Right! I totally got distracted by them—I’m a fortune teller, not a gemologist!”
Li Like and the others were busy shining flashlights and tapping stones, which had almost made Chu Qianli forget her own profession.
She cast a divination on the spot to determine whether the two were connected. The result was “yes.”
Chu Qianli quickly said, “Xingxing…”
Tan Muxing didn’t wait for her to finish—he already understood and nodded. “I’ll go get a bidding paddle.”
At the entrance of the preview hall, Li Like regrouped with them after finishing his business. When he saw the bidding paddle in Tan Muxing’s hand, he was surprised and asked, “Did you two find something you like?”
Chu Qianli: “A rough stone.”
“Which one? I can take a look for you. First-time buyers shouldn’t make blind purchases—there’s a lot of risk in rough stones.”
“Number 1134.”
“I don’t even remember that one…” Li Like scratched his head in confusion. “What kind of gemstone is it?”
Tan Muxing reminded him, “It’s that rare mineral they wouldn’t let us touch.”
Li Like was startled. “You want to buy that one? I don’t think it’s valuable. Not all rare minerals can sell for a high price, and without a clear appraisal, it’ll be hard to resell.”
Tan Muxing admitted honestly, “We don’t plan to resell it. We just want to take it back and examine it.”
Chu Qianli added, “Eh, we’ve got money—it’s just for fun.”
Li Like was both amused and exasperated. “Wow, you guys really know how to have fun. You’re jumping straight into buying rough stones! Even I don’t dare to burn money like that.”
“Well, we’ll see each other again tomorrow. Your stone should be easy to win—I’m not even sure I can outbid my competition. Too many people are after the good ones…” Li Like bid them farewell. “See you tomorrow!”
The two waved goodbye to Li Like and then went to collect Lyle Gadbury’s manuscripts and art supplies, finally wrapping up another task.
In the car, as soon as Chu Qianli sat down, she ruthlessly tore open the packaging, searching for the astrologer’s legacy. She rummaged through everything and eventually pulled out an old leather pencil case. Giving it a little squeeze, she felt something unusual inside.
The pencil case was already falling apart, but she decisively opened it and found a deck of cards—the missing Minor Arcana!
“This is incredible. The leather pencil case is in tatters, but the tarot cards are completely intact.” Chu Qianli swiftly counted through the cards, placing them alongside the Major Arcana. Sure enough, not a single one was missing.
Tan Muxing watched as she laid out the tarot cards one by one and commented, “The cards we got today don’t have a starry sky theme.”
The two had originally seen a starry sky painting at the exhibition, which Chu Qianli later turned into the Major Arcana. However, the Minor Arcana they obtained today did not depict the night sky. Instead, the cards looked like they were covered in a blood-colored underground landscape. The Minor Arcana shared the same abstract beauty but had a darker, fiery aesthetic.
Although the two sets had different illustrations, they were clearly from the same artist, with a recognizable artistic style.
“The colors on these cards kind of resemble the red crystal…” Chu Qianli compared the Minor Arcana to the red crystal compass. “I still don’t know what this stone actually is. Even the gem experts have no idea.”
Tan Muxing reassured her, “We avoided damaging the compass before. Once we win the rough stone at auction tomorrow and have it analyzed, we’ll finally get some answers.”
They were interested in Rough Stone 1134 purely because they wanted to uncover the truth behind the red crystal. With the rough stone, they wouldn’t need to sacrifice the compass or tarot cards for analysis.
Meanwhile, in a high-rise near the auction house, Shi Zhuoqu walked into a room, picked up the bidding paddle on the table, and asked, “What’s the status of the sample stone?”
“No one seems to have noticed it so far. We’ve arranged for it to be off-limits to touch, and we’ll bid for it as planned tomorrow. Even Rosia doesn’t know about it.”
Rosia Auction House and Jogaard Auction House were competitors. Their operations weren’t as smooth as before, making things more complicated.
“That’s good. Try not to alert Rosia. The fewer people who notice this, the better,” Shi Zhuoqu said. “The boss is coming to G City soon, probably within the next few days.”
“We should have enough time. We’ll bid for it tomorrow and speed up the retrieval process.”
“Alright, I’ll go personally,” Shi Zhuoqu nodded. He glanced down at the bidding number in his palm, then clenched his hand around it.
—
The next day, Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing were about to head to the auction. Just as Uncle Qi was about to open the car door for them, they unexpectedly ran into Jin Xiaoyuan, who had been waiting for a long time.
The moment Jin Xiaoyuan saw Tan Muxing, he put on a reproachful expression and complained, “Muxing! I heard you spent a long time chatting with Old Li, the stone enthusiast, yesterday. If you like gemstones, why didn’t you tell me in advance? Why go looking elsewhere?”
Jin Xiaoyuan had strong local connections, and the slightest bit of news would reach him quickly. Naturally, he had heard about Tan Muxing meeting Li Like.
This made Jin Xiaoyuan anxious—how could someone else get ahead of him!?
Tan Muxing hadn’t expected to be ambushed like this. Hearing the complaint, he hurriedly explained, “Uncle Jin, we just happened to meet and chatted for a bit. We hadn’t known each other before…”
“I heard you even changed your bidding number?” Jin Xiaoyuan asked. “What are you trying to buy? You could’ve just let me exchange it for you—there was no need to do it yourself! I’m well-connected with them!”
Chu Qianli listened to Jin Xiaoyuan’s exaggerated tone and whispered to Uncle Qi, “Is this what anxiety in the flattery industry looks like? He thinks he’s falling behind just because we went out with someone else.”
Uncle Qi responded, “That’s why if you excel at anything, you can succeed.”
Tan Muxing, caught under Jin Xiaoyuan’s sorrowful accusations, inexplicably felt as if he had been labeled a heartless traitor. He quickly pulled out his best excuse. Sneaking a glance at Chu Qianli, his face turned slightly red as he explained, “Uncle Jin, it’s not necessary. I’m buying it for her…”
The underlying message: There’s no need for Jin Xiaoyuan to exchange the bidding number.
This time, however, Jin Xiaoyuan was not so easily dismissed. Enthusiastically pulling Tan Muxing close, he declared, “Alright, alright! I won’t interfere when you’re trying to impress her, but I’ll still go with you today. I even got a bidding number myself—let’s go check things out together!”
Tan Muxing hesitated. “Uh… this…”
Jin Xiaoyuan gave him no chance to refuse, decisively stating, “You’re just two kids, it’ll be inconvenient for you. If I don’t take good care of you while you’re in G City, I won’t even have the face to visit your grandma!”
Uncle Qi, standing beside Chu Qianli, listened from the back and added a snide remark, “No, the old lady doesn’t even remember his face.”
Unable to shake off Jin Xiaoyuan, Tan Muxing had no choice but to accept.
Jin Xiaoyuan was instantly overjoyed. All the way to the auction house, he acted as if he were leading a grand parade, eager to provide a VIP experience for Tan Muxing and company.
Upon arrival, Jin Xiaoyuan immediately revealed his status and demanded a private room, looking like he was about to summon the owner of Rossiya Auction House to personally welcome them. His presence screamed mob boss energy—he was the very definition of a local big shot!
Watching the grandiose display, Chu Qianli finally understood why Tan Muxing always refused Jin Xiaoyuan’s offers. She sincerely commented, “We really look like arrogant villains.”
Tan Muxing, unable to rein Jin Xiaoyuan in, sighed helplessly, “…Be more confident—remove the like.”
I am just a novice translator and Chinese is not my native language. I try my best to translate the chapters as accurate as possible.
If there are any mistakes then kindly comment and remind me. Your support means a lot.
