Chapter 185: Vesper, You Choose

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Vesper, You Choose

Rex Lambert’s interest was piqued. He chuckled and asked, "What do you want?"

The two hadn’t made a wager in a long time. The last one was three years ago, betting on the development value of a plot of land. The one who lost, in the end, was him.

"The Hawthorne Group’s jewelry company needs some raw materials," Jared Hawthorne said, his tone casual as he crossed his long legs.

"You really know how to play your cards, don’t you?" Rex’s dark eyes narrowed. "I have several undeveloped mines under my name. If I lose, you can pick any one of them. But if *you* lose, you’ll help me transport a shipment of goods. How about it? Do you dare take this bet?"

Jared Hawthorne stared at him for a moment, then a faint smile slowly curved his thin lips.

"Deal."

"Alright. Let’s start picking stones."

As the host, he naturally wouldn’t rush to pick first.

Jared glanced sideways at the woman beside him, who was holding a glass of juice and taking slow, small sips.

"Vesper, you choose."

Vesper Grayson, who had been enjoying the show, was suddenly put on the spot. She looked up at him with a blank expression.

"Me?"

"Mhm."

"I’m not very good at this."

She quickly waved her hands, not daring to pick randomly, nor wanting to make such a rash decision for him.

Rex Lambert glanced at the manager, who immediately understood. The manager stepped forward quickly, his demeanor humble and professional, his tone gentle.

"Ma’am, it seems this is your first time dealing with raw stones. It’s perfectly normal not to know the ropes. Why don’t I give you a detailed explanation and teach you the basics of stone appraisal?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he had several different types of raw stones brought over. He began a patient and detailed explanation. First, he taught her to observe the texture of the stone’s outer skin, judging the quality of the jade within by the maturity of the crust and the coarseness of its sandy surface. Then, he produced a jeweler’s flashlight and demonstrated how to angle the light from the side. He explained how to judge the jadeite’s quality and clarity based on the translucency of the halo it produced.

He then pointed to the patterns on the stone’s surface, explaining in detail that green flecks and colored bands were key indicators of green jade within, while dark spots and impurities were pitfalls to avoid. He also showed her, step-by-step, how to weigh the stone in her hand to gauge its density and how to tap its surface, listening to the sound to determine if there were hidden cracks or hollows inside. He laid out all the basic tricks for a beginner in stone gambling, along with key points for avoiding common mistakes.

Vesper Grayson listened with rapt attention. Her eyes were lowered in concentration as she absorbed every detail, looking for all the world like a diligent student eager to learn.

During her three years living in Ashmore, she had mostly stayed home, managing the household. In her free time, she often browsed short-form videos and watched jadeite livestreams, so she already had a rudimentary understanding of raw stones. Now, after the manager’s professional explanation, she felt a surge of confidence and a budding eagerness to try her hand at it.

When the manager finished his explanation and retreated to the side with a bow, Vesper lowered her voice. "Do you really want me to choose? What if I have bad judgment and make you lose?"

A gentle, doting look filled Jared Hawthorne’s eyes. "It’s fine. Your husband can afford to lose."

"But something feels off," she said, frowning with suspicion. "Mr. Lambert is only asking you to transport a shipment, but a mine is worth tens of millions. The stakes are completely unequal. This bet seems too simple, it’s suspicious all around. There might be a hidden scheme."

"Do you think he’s the type to make a losing deal?"

Vesper Grayson shook her head decisively.

Rex Lambert had the air of a shrewd and calculating man; he was no fool. It was easy to imagine that the cargo he wanted transported was anything but simple.

Rex Lambert watched the two of them whispering intimately, completely ignoring him. He lifted his glass, took a sip, and spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"If you have secrets to share, can’t you wait until you’re back in your hotel room behind closed doors? Mrs. Hawthorne, just focus on picking a stone. No pressure. Think of it as a bit of fun."

Vesper was speechless. ’Easy for you to say.’

Jared soothed her in a low voice, "Don’t be afraid. Just pick one. Whichever one catches your eye is fine."

With him there to back her up, Vesper no longer hesitated. She took the jeweler’s flashlight and examined the stones one by one. But the few raw stones on the coffee table all had very similar-looking crusts, which paradoxically made it harder to choose.

Her fine eyebrows knitted slightly, her expression hesitant.

Neither Rex Lambert nor Jared Hawthorne said a word, waiting quietly and giving her plenty of time to consider.

"Are there any other raw stones?" Vesper looked up at the manager.

The manager was stunned for a second before nodding slightly.

"Of course, there are. It’s just that these few are all choice pieces with outstanding characteristics. I would recommend you choose from among them; it’s a safer bet."

"I’d like to see the rest," Vesper said firmly.

The manager didn’t dare say more and immediately had a cart of raw stones wheeled into the private room.

"Mr. Lambert, I can choose from these as well, right?"

Rex Lambert raised an eyebrow. He swirled the liquor in his glass and said nonchalantly, "As long as it’s a raw stone in this establishment, it’s fair game."

Vesper secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She went through several carts of stones, but still hadn’t found one she liked.

"Mrs. Hawthorne, with all these raw stones, has not a single one caught your eye?" Rex’s tone was tinged with amusement, a playful look in his eyes.

’Experts look for substance while amateurs just enjoy the show. This Mrs. Hawthorne is certainly different.’

Vesper slowly rose to her feet and looked down at the floor below through the floor-to-ceiling window.

"I want to go take a look in the main hall downstairs."

’It’s always best to shop around. You have to see more to tell the good from the bad.’

Jared immediately stood up, his voice full of indulgence. "Alright, I’ll go downstairs with you."

The manager hurried forward to caution her. "Ma’am, the stones in the main hall on the first floor are all leftovers that the experts have already picked through..."

This was how the stone gambling business worked. The high-quality raw stones with excellent crusts and superior appearances were meticulously sorted and screened by experts, then set aside for esteemed, knowledgeable clients. They would never be sold loosely in the main hall.

Only the stones with ambiguous features and muddled characteristics—the ones that even seasoned experts couldn’t confidently assess—were put out in the main hall. They were high-risk, highly unpredictable, and left for regular customers to try their luck with.

"I’m aware," Vesper replied calmly. She looked up at Rex Lambert, her smile gentle and faint. "Those stones that have been screened by experts already have a certain guarantee of quality. There’s no suspense in choosing from them, so it’s not much of a gamble. Since this is a wager, we should be betting on luck, don’t you agree, Mr. Lambert?"

Rex Lambert’s gaze deepened slightly as he instantly understood her hidden meaning.

This Mrs. Hawthorne was determined to go to the main hall and choose a stone based purely on fate and luck.

He set down his glass. "Ladies first. As long as Mrs. Hawthorne is happy."

"In that case, would Mr. Lambert mind if I add one more condition?"

"Let’s hear it."

"The purchase value of the selected stone cannot exceed five thousand RMB. Whoever’s stone yields a massive find wins!"

Rex raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Yes."

’This is getting more and more interesting!’

"No problem. We’ll do it your way."

The group took the elevator down to the first floor.

The first-floor hall was open and bright. Raw stones of all kinds were sorted into categories and arranged on heavy, solid wood tables and bluestone shelves, available for customers to touch, examine, and select at their leisure.

Vesper walked along the rows of shelves, examining them one by one. Jared followed close behind her, never leaving her side, occasionally offering a quiet suggestion.

As they walked, Jared suddenly lowered his voice and asked coolly, "Doing this on purpose?"

Vesper didn’t even look up, continuing to inspect the raw stone in front of her.

"Is it that obvious?"

"It’s just a bet. You don’t have to be so serious about it," Jared said in an even tone. "Besides, he wouldn’t deliberately plot against me."

"It never hurts to be cautious."

A faint smile touched Jared’s thin lips as he murmured his agreement.

"Mrs. Hawthorne is right. A little caution isn’t a bad thing."