"Yes! Cut it!" Serena replied confidently. "Although the surface of the stone doesn't look great, I believe it's large and thick enough that the deeper you go, the more unpredictable it becomes-and the more likely you are to find high-quality gemstone."
"But..."
Mr. Kim glanced at Grandpa Bryan, who was stroking his beard, lost in thought.
Mr. Kim said hesitantly, "Based on the surface features, the inside is likely just low-grade, poor-quality bean gemstone. If I cut it open, I might not even recover 2 million of my cost."
Serena remained calm. "You said yourself that when you bought this stone, it was a gamble. Since you're gambling, why not go all in? Who knows-one slice and your 'bicycle turns into a motorcycle.' Not only might you not lose money, but you could even make a few million."
"You... you're sure?" Mr. Kim asked cautiously.
Serena smiled slightly. "There's no such thing as a 100% guarantee in this world. But I'm 80% sure."
She said 80%, but her expression was full of certainty.
Mr. Kim still looked hesitant.
Just then, Grandpa Bryan finally spoke. "Mr. Kim, what Miss Knowles said makes sense. Since you bought it with the intention of taking a risk, why not follow through? Besides, even if you lose money, a mere one or two million is nothing to someone like you."
Mr. Kim pursed his lips and thought for a while.
At last, he made up his mind and slapped his thigh. "Alright, we'll go with Miss Knowles' advice-let's cut the stone!"
Right after speaking, he called someone to prepare the cutting machine and special gemstone-cutting blades.
Once everything was arranged, Mr. Kim turned and said politely, "Thanks to Mr. Bryan and Miss Knowles today-you helped me make up my mind and finally brought me peace about this stone. Come, let's go have some tea in the side room. I'll make sure to treat you both to a proper lunch."
Grandpa Bryan chuckled. "Mr. Kim, you're too kind. The credit today goes entirely to Miss Knowles. I'm just tagging along for the ride."
Serena blushed. "I... I didn't do much. The stone hasn't been cut yet. It's still unclear if it will increase or decrease in value."
"Don't be so modest," Grandpa Bryan said with a smile. "At yesterday's auction, it was the determination in your eyes that convinced me. Today, I see the same determination. I trust your judgment won't be wrong."
Grandpa Bryan looked at Serena with warmth and admiration.
He had always respected those who stood firmly by their convictions.
And Serena, as a woman, carried herself with a rare confidence and poise-it made her all the more remarkable.
Mr. Kim grinned. "Exactly! I really have to thank Miss Knowles." He gestured politely. "Please, let's go to the side room and rest a bit."
Serena didn't decline further and followed behind Grandpa Bryan, walking with Mr. Kim to the side room.
They had barely taken a few sips of tea when Serena's phone started ringing inside her handbag.
She took it out and glanced at the screen, then quickly said to the others, "Excuse me, I need to take this call."
She stepped out of the side room and walked a good distance down the corridor before answering in a low voice. "Hello?"
Her deliberately hushed tone instantly triggered Xavier's suspicion. "Serena, where are you and what are you doing?!"
"I'm out, not doing much. Why are you calling-do you have any updates on what I asked you to look into?"
His voice dropped, "Straight to business? That's pretty cold, don't you think? Don't you have anything else to say to me?"
Serena blinked and smirked. "Young master, I'm busy right now. If there's nothing urgent, let's talk later."
"Busy?!" His voice turned aggrieved. "Didn't you just say you weren't doing anything?!"
"..."
When did this man become so nitpicky with words?!
Serena gritted her teeth. "I'm out looking at gemstone with someone!"
"Really?!" Still suspicious. "Why so secretive then? Why not just say it?"
"There are elders around-I need to be more discreet. Besides, I thought you'd bring up Gaius. Since it concerns my father, I didn't want unrelated people overhearing."
"Hmph!" He sounded pitiful. "Then tell me where you are. I'll come find you. I want to see for myself whether you're lying."
"Mr. Blaze!" Serena sighed helplessly. "Why would I lie to you?"
"I don't care. If you don't tell me where you are, I'm not telling you what I found out."
Serena's eyes lit up. "So you really did find something?!"
Xavier lifted his chin proudly. "Of course. Do you even know who I am? Now-are you going to tell me where you are?"
Serena hesitated before replying, "Even if I tell you, you can't come. Aren't you still locked up in the exclusive clinic? You can't even get out the door."
"Don't worry about that-I have my ways!"
"Oh? You really dare sneak out? Aren't you afraid Uncle Blaze will break your legs if he finds out?"
"Let him break them! For the sake of winning over my future wife, I, Xavier Blaze, am willing to risk it all! No pain, no gain-and no broken legs, no bride!"
Serena couldn't help laughing. "Alright then, I'll send you the address. But I'm leaving at noon. If you can't make it before 12, that's not my problem!"
With that, she hung up.
Almost immediately, Xavier's message popped up.
[Serena, hurry! Send me the address!]
Serena smiled to herself. "What's the rush?"
As she spoke, she copied and pasted the address Grandpa Bryan had given her and sent it to him.
Passing a stone planter filled with blooming hydrangeas near the veranda, she paused for a moment, admiring the soft pastel clusters.
She wasn't sure why, but she felt unexpectedly lighthearted. The gentle hues of the flowers seemed especially lovely today.
Meanwhile, at the Blaze family's exclusive clinic-
Xavier stared at the address on his phone, lips pursed in thought.
A moment later, he pressed the call button on the bedside.
Seconds later, Peter rushed into the room in a panic.
"Young master, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?!"
Lying leisurely on the bed, Xavier had his hands behind his head, one leg crossed over the other.
"How I feel," he said lazily, "depends entirely on how well you perform."
***