Raising his eyes to look at the old man, Christan said, "Grandpa, don't worry about Celia. I'll talk to her and try to help her through this."
"Alright, go try talking to her," the old man nodded. "Your mother's tried several times in the past few days, but that girl's stubborn as a mule-nothing gets through to her. You two have always been close since childhood. Maybe she'll actually listen to you."
Seeing the sorrow on Grandpa Bryan's face, Christan suddenly felt a wave of guilt.
He said earnestly, "Grandpa, you're getting older now. You should be enjoying your golden years in peace, not getting worked up over things like this. This whole mess Celia's gotten into-it's my fault as her big brother. I've been so focused on work, I neglected my family. I should have noticed what was going on with her sooner."
The old man waved it off. "You're a man-building your career first is no sin. I don't blame you for that. Celia might look sweet and obedient, but she's got a stubborn streak. Even if you had known what she was planning, you might not have been able to stop her."
Then he sighed, his voice weary, "It's getting late. Go on home now-I'm a bit tired myself."
Christan nodded obediently, "Alright. I'll head off then. Grandpa, get some rest."
He left the room, walking down the corridor toward the stairs.
As he passed Celia's room, he heard faint sobbing from inside.
He frowned, paused for a moment, but ultimately kept walking.
...
The next morning, 8 a.m.
Serena was still tangled in her blanket, wrestling with her dreams, when her phone rang loudly from the bedside table without a hint of mercy.
Groggily, she reached out and grabbed the phone without even checking the caller ID.
"Hello..."
"Hello, is this Miss Knowles?"
"Yes, who's this?"
"Oh, we met yesterday at the stone auction. My last name is Ryder."
"Ryder?" Serena's brain took three seconds to boot up. Then her eyes shot open and her voice filled with pleasant surprise, "Are you Mr. Bryan Ryder?!"
"Yes, that's me." The old man chuckled on the other end. "It's still early-did I wake you?"
"No, not at all!" Serena sat up quickly in bed. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Well, here's the thing. I have an old friend who's been in the stone business for years. He just got his hands on a massive piece of raw stone and asked me to take a look-to see if it should be stored or cut open. I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining me?"
As soon as she heard the word 'stone,' Serena perked up instantly.
She nodded eagerly, "Of course! I'd be honored to evaluate gemstone with a respected master like you!"
"Don't flatter me too much," Bryan said modestly. "Between the two of us, you're the real master. If you hadn't stopped me at the auction yesterday, I probably would've brought home that deceptive piece of stone."
Serena scratched her arm sheepishly, "I... I just got lucky!"
Bryan didn't continue the small talk. "I'll send you the time and location. See you in a bit."
"Alright, see you soon!"
After hanging up, Serena still felt like she was dreaming.
She ruffled her bed-head and sat in a daze for a second before suddenly exclaiming in excitement, "Oh my god, this is insane! Bryan Ryder just personally invited me to examine gemstone with him!"
Moments later, her phone buzzed with a message from him. It included the full address and a meeting time: 9:30.
Any trace of morning laziness vanished. Serena jumped out of bed.
The location was at least a 45-minute drive away, and she still needed to wash up and get ready. Time was tight.
She dashed into the bathroom-shower, toothbrush, all done in 25 minutes.
Standing before her wardrobe, Serena found herself thinking back to Bryan's outfit from the day before.
If she remembered correctly, he'd been dressed in a vintage-style three-piece suit-classic, understated, with a touch of old-world charm. It gave her the impression that he appreciated timeless elegance over fleeting trends.
She knelt down, reaching into the back of her wardrobe, and pulled out a rarely worn dress-something a little more refined than her usual style.
It was a tailored, emerald green midi dress with a high neckline and cap sleeves, the fabric embroidered with delicate clusters of white blossoms. The cut hugged her figure without being too revealing, striking a balance between grace and quiet allure.
Serena's complexion was porcelain-pale, her features soft with a touch of youthful innocence. But her silhouette told another story-elegantly curved, poised between delicacy and confidence.
In the green dress, her skin looked almost luminous, her lips a natural rose. She looked like a dream caught between centuries-modern in form, but with something timeless in her presence.
To match the dress, she tied up her long hair into a neat bun and adorned it with a few silver hairpins.
She slipped on a pair of modest black heels, just 5 centimeters high-conservative yet elegant.
With her graceful stride, she looked dignified and poised, not the slightest bit frivolous.
Once ready, she rushed out the door.
Driving at full speed, she arrived at the address at exactly 9:25 a.m.
After parking the car and stepping out, she immediately spotted a figure standing nearby with his back to her.
"Mr. Ryder!"
The old man turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes lighting up with appreciation as he smiled.
"Miss Knowles, you've arrived-and you look stunning today!"
"Thank you, Mr. Ryder, for the compliment!" she replied with a charming smile, graceful without being overly modest.
He chuckled warmly, clearly pleased by her poise. "No need to be so formal," he said, giving a light wave of his hand. "If you don't mind, just call me Grandpa Ryder. It has a nicer ring to it, don't you think?"
Her eyes sparkled, a hint of surprise mixing with delight. "Alright then... Grandpa Ryder."
Her confident yet respectful response seemed to please him even more. His approving nod carried a quiet fondness, as though he were welcoming her into a much smaller, more personal circle.
"Come, let's go in. My friend already has the stone ready for us."
"Alright, please lead the way."
Once inside, Serena couldn't help but be taken aback. What had appeared to be a simple, unassuming building from the outside revealed itself as an exquisite hidden treasure.
The courtyard stretched out before her, vast and serene, several hundred square meters in size. It was designed with a meticulous reverence for tradition, evoking the essence of an old European estate.
Lush, manicured gardens gave way to rolling hills and gently flowing streams, while a charming pavilion stood gracefully at the heart of it all, framed by winding waterways.
Every corner exuded a sense of history and elegance, as though she had stepped into the private grounds of an aristocratic family, untouched by the passage of time.
They strolled along a covered walkway, the stone beneath their feet echoing with each step, until in the distance, a large, ornately carved wooden door came into view.
Inside, nearly as tall as a man, stood a striking stone, its polished surface gleaming in the light.
Before it stood a figure in a long, brown robe, a quiet presence in the middle of the tranquil space.
Upon seeing Mr. Ryder approach, the man stepped forward with a warm and welcoming smile.
Serena narrowed her eyes, instinctively feeling that the man was somehow familiar.
A flicker of recognition stirred within her, but her mind couldn't quite place where she had seen him before...
***