Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Among conventional diamond rings, a value of six thousand dollars could only be regarded as middle to low. If stuffed to death, a full one hundred percent would still only be around twenty points or so. Not to mention those Tuhao class diamond rings. Diamond rings of this level had small flaws; it was not possible to be flawless, and it wasn’t really possible to have only miniscule flaws. Although there were some small flaws, experienced artisans would cover up the defects as much as possible through methods of cutting and mosaic. It could not be seen with the naked eye.

  With this diamond ring, its every aspect had already surpassed the quality that this level of price should have. The only regret was that the form of the diamond was emerald, which was similar in shape to a rectangle. It was possible that the artisans had deliberately tried to cover up the flaws in accordance to its original size. Diamonds on diamond rings came in a variety of shapes. The most common ones were round circle-shaped, square-shaped, and heart-shaped. Heart-shaped ones were the most popular among young men and women. That was because by just looking, the heart-shaped ones appeared very romantic. However, the heart-shaped ones also had the lowest ratio of the original stone being used. Under the same price, if you insisted on choosing the heart-shaped, then you must have some compromise in other areas, such as in weight and in clarity. Otherwise, you should unquestioningly add more money. Most middle-aged men and women would choose round circle-shaped or square-shaped diamonds, which symbolized harmony, firmness and stability. People also liked other shapes such as teardrop shapes and marquise shapes, especially sentimental girls under the age of twenty-five. In comparison, the emerald shape was a bit awkward.

  Su Min actually quite liked the emerald shaped diamonds. That was because this type of diamond has a very unique cut, unlike other cutting methods that were brilliant. Thus, it was rarely confused with fake diamond rings—she really valued this point. It must be occupational illness; whenever she walked down the street and saw a ring on a woman’s finger, she would always ponder whether it was real or fake. Very few fake diamond rings were emerald shaped. That was because there was no need to consider the original stone or the issue of covering up the defects. Of course, what was prevalent was popular. This diamond ring had been displayed on the counter even before Su Min had assumed her job. The original price was 8888; it couldn’t be sold so it was lowered to 7688, then it still couldn’t be sold so it decreased to 6688, and then that couldn’t be sold either so it was decreased to 5888, where it was now. As a small shop clerk, Su Min did not know its purchase price, but the cost was roughly equivalent to its value, no matter how you looked at it.

  She also liked the romantic heart-shape and the stable round circle-shape, but she would more so consider the issue of diamond preservation. Sure maintenance of value was directly associated with the diamond’s weight. If she could only choose one between the three factors of romance, stability, and preservation, she would choose preservation without hesitation. Zhang Zian asked her which one she thought was the best, and she chose this one. After she had finished speaking, she felt not only her face, but also her hands burning up. When she moved her fingers, there was a small cluster of water vapor where her palms were on the glass of the display cabinet.

  “Was I making a decision that I was not in a position to make?” she wondered. “Maybe the customer was just speaking casually, but I took it for real.” She stared at the ground, and secretly peeped at Zhang Zian’s face in the ground’s reflection. “Not everyone could accept the emerald shaped diamonds; what do I do if he requests a change?” Zhang Zian did not understand jewelry, including the one that Su Min had pointed out. He saw that all the diamond rings were very pretty, and all very upscale. In addition, looking with his judgment for cats and dogs, this ring’s diamond was indeed bigger than the other diamonds in the same area, although visual assumption wasn’t that accurate.

  Thus he decided at once, “Then I want that one. I’ll pay now.”


  Su Min’s heart suddenly felt excited. It was the first time that a customer trusted her so much. Something close to six thousand dollars was decided upon with one word of hers. The other customers would always pick and choose—this style wasn’t good, that diamond was too small—but they didn’t want to add more money, so it was difficult to deal with.

  “All right, I will wrap it up for you immediately,” she said with her lips tight.

  “Right. I can get a two percent discount, right?” Zhang Zian asked to confirm.

  “Yes, I can only offer you this much of a discount,” she replied.

  Zhang Zian was very satisfied, “Ok, two percent is pretty good.”


  The colleagues collectively expressed their distaste and turned their faces away.

  They had not thought that Su Min would make the first business of the day since opening. This even had a small commission of two hundred; they could basically take a break for the day.

  On the other hand, the forty-year-old foreman did not have a good expression on his face. “This customer, who dressed averagely, paid money too happily every time. Could he be a hidden Tuhao? But how could a Tuhao fancy a six thousand dollar ring, and would even be in a tizzy over a two percent discount?”


  The foreman had decided he would discipline the damn lass with the surname Su well after the customer had left. “Where did she forget the teachings received during new staff training? If the customer wanted a six-thousand dollar ring, the shop clerk should recommend a seven-thousand dollar one. Who let you sell and recommend a 5888 one?” The wallet of the customer was like a peanut—as long as it was pressed on, some extra oil could always be extracted from it…


  Paying with a check was done really quickly. Su Min placed the wrapped-up ring into the gift bag and handed it to Zhang Zian. Zhang Zian constantly felt that the atmosphere in this store made him uncomfortable, and earnestly wished to end it quickly and leave. He received the gift bag and nodded at Su Min and said, “Goodbye.”


  With no need for the foreman’s reminder, Su Min chased him closely out the door, and bowed deeply at his back , saying, “You’re welcome to come again next time!”


  Zhang Zian thought in his heart, “This ring better increase Fina’s likability, I don’t want to come again. What kind of rotten setup is this for this game; it would be better to simply charge money directly through Alipay!”


  His restlessness and anxiousness only gradually decreased as the cool wind blew on him. When he was waiting for the bus, he seemed to have contracted the fear that Galaxy had towards humans. He clutched the gift bag tightly in his chest; everyone looked like a thief, and he constantly felt as if troublesome people wanted to harm him…


  The road back was smooth. After getting off the bus, he walked back to the pet shop, and to his surprise, found someone patiently waiting in front of the locked door of the shop. It was a pity that someone who had come this early was definitely not a customer! It was a young person wearing a long windbreaker and a baseball cap. The person’s forehead, eyes, and most of the nose were hidden in the shadow of the baseball cap, and only his thinly pursed lips could be seen. This person must have a deadpan face that does not usually harbor a smile, and always has pursed lips. There were obvious laugh lines at each corner of his mouth.

  The strange thing was, didn’t a claw from Fina tear the long windbreaker that he wore to act pretentious? Could there really be a person who would buy two sets of clothes?

  Zhang Zian didn’t want to pay attention to this person, but this person was standing in front of the shop’s entrance, and there was no way to go around him to open the door.

  This person charged into the shop, and his gaze swept left and right as if he was looking for something of interest. Hearing Zhang Zian’s footsteps, this person turned around, and his eyes flashed under the brim of his cap. Zhang Zian stood firm. “Zhang Zian here, what business have you come here for?”