Seraphina Sterling watched as the master finished processing the half-cut stone on the ground, a nearly black piece with just a hint of green light. Gazing at the long, rough-hewn block and feeling its subtle, delicate texture, her spirits soared. 'This time, I'm really going to make a killing!'
This time, however, Seraphina Sterling had learned her lesson. She put the cut jade directly into her schoolbag to avoid a repeat of yesterday's incident. It seemed, though, that all her good fortune was spent on stone-gambling, leaving little luck for anything else.
"Hey, little girl! I'll give you ten thousand dollars for that drab-looking black jade you just got!" The speaker was a young man with a staggering eight rings on his ten fingers—a textbook example of new money.
"Not for sale." Seraphina Sterling's brows furrowed slightly. Though her voice was soft, her refusal was unwavering.
