Felix Gallagher was shrewder and more dignified than the average merchant. He was clearly around the same age as Philip Hale, but when they stood together, the difference in their presence alone was stark.

Seraphina Sterling glanced at Felix Gallagher. ’For his company to be facing such a crisis, yet he can remain so composed... That forbearance and poise alone make him far superior to other entrepreneurs!’

Felix Gallagher crouched down, his gaze steady, and carefully inspected the batch of raw stones, not missing a single detail. His company was already on the verge of collapse and couldn’t afford another failure. This was a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble for him.

"President Gallagher, these are absolutely first-hand, freshly excavated stones that haven’t been screened in any way. Outside of the official stone auctions, this is the best you can get! I saved them especially for you!" The reverence and sycophancy in Philip Hale’s tone were so obvious he sounded less like a business partner and more like a subordinate addressing his superior.

Felix Gallagher looked at the raw stones. Some already showed hints of green on their surfaces, and many had protruding or indented emerald-green streaks on their rinds. The signs of jade were excellent; Philip Hale hadn’t been lying.

"Mr. Hale, business is built on integrity. I ordered these raw stones, and a quick glance confirms they are indeed freshly excavated. I’ll pay for them immediately." Felix Gallagher was straightforward. Jade Pavilion was counting on these to stay afloat.

"Excellent, President Gallagher!" Another deal closed. Philip Hale felt like the God of Wealth had truly smiled upon him lately. First, he’d hosted the stone auction, and now he’d closed another massive deal!

"Oh, so these raw stones really were pre-ordered. I thought the staff was just lying to me." Seraphina Sterling suddenly spoke up. Her soft voice sounded like a child’s, pouting and petulant, so even though she had interrupted the two bosses’ transaction, it didn’t feel the least bit inappropriate.

"Seraphina Sterling! What are you doing here?" Philip Hale recognized her instantly. The moment he saw her, he was reminded of his precious inkstone and the crushing pressure he had faced not long ago. Flames of fury flickered in his eyes.

"That’s a strange question, Mr. Hale. You open your doors for business, yet you ask me why I’m here?" Seraphina Sterling nonchalantly darted forward a few steps, stopping right in front of the batch of raw stones.

"You? You want to buy something here? What a joke! This isn’t some street stall where you can haggle for a few bucks. The cheapest item here costs thousands! Do you have that kind of money?" Philip Hale shot Seraphina a contemptuous glare.

’Like father, like daughter. Willow Hale must have learned her insufferable arrogance from him.’

Seraphina Sterling maintained her faint, warm smile. "Mr. Hale, have you forgotten whose student I am?"

Philip Hale’s expression froze. Mr. Grant was notoriously difficult and unreasonable; you could offend anyone but him. Philip cautiously asked, "Did Mr. Grant send you?"

’Such an opportunist. He and Felix Gallagher are both merchants, but they are worlds apart.’ "My teacher didn’t send me. I just came to pick out a gift for him, but the prices here are all so high. I’ve been looking for a long time and haven’t found..." Seraphina left her sentence hanging.

"Seraphina, there’s no need to be a stranger! Just tell Mr. Hale which one you like, and I’ll gift it to you! You’re Mr. Grant’s student, and you’re classmates with my Willow. I hear you get perfect scores on every test. If you get the chance, you should have Mr. Grant give my Willow some pointers too!"

Philip Hale was a smart man. In just an instant, he had calculated the most advantageous move. If spending a little money could help him latch onto a powerful backer like the Grant Family, it would be the bargain of a lifetime.

Of course, Seraphina understood Philip Hale’s intentions. ’He just wants Willow Hale to get close to Terrence Grant, doesn’t he? A pity his fantasy is doomed to fail.’

"Mr. Hale, you’ve misunderstood me! It’s not about the price, it’s about the quality!" Seraphina feigned an accidental glance toward Felix Gallagher. Seeing him listening with rapt attention, she knew she was already halfway to success.

Philip Hale’s face fell, worried that this deal was about to fly out the window. "You’re just a child who knows nothing about stones. Don’t spout nonsense here!"

"I admit, I don’t know anything about stones. I just find it strange. How come so many of these supposedly freshly excavated stones are so similar in size, and even have similar curves?" Seraphina said, pointing at the stones reserved for Felix Gallagher with a puzzled expression. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

A flicker of panic flashed in Philip Hale’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "It’s a big world out there; anything is possible. There are plenty of rocks on a mountain with similar sizes and shapes. Is that really so surprising? You’re just making a fuss over nothing because you’ve never seen it before."

Seraphina remained as calm as still water, her warm smile unwavering. "Then it seems I really am just inexperienced. But there’s one more thing that confuses me. These..."

"Stop—this is a shop, not a school! If you’re confused about something, go ask your teacher. I have no interest in answering your questions!" Philip Hale quickly cut her off.

Seraphina shrugged her shoulders and started walking toward the exit.

"Wait," Felix Gallagher said.