Chapter 111: Lacks the Natural Talent for It

Hayley’s POV

“Are you quitting already? It seems like you can only focus for about three minutes!”

I felt a surge of resistance to that remark, my lips forming a slight pout. “Maybe I just lack the natural talent for it.”

Benjamin offered me some encouragement, saying, “Rock betting requires a lot of patience. Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment. When you’re choosing rocks, examine their colors and textures from different angles. There’s a saying in this game: Often, the most unremarkable rocks yield the best surprises. Keep that in mind, and you may discover a rock that you genuinely adore.”

His words ignited a spark of determination within me. I took another look at the room filled with raw stones, deciding it was worth another attempt.

After perusing the collection, I strolled around until I found a small heap of rocks near the entrance. The shopkeeper let out a sigh and remarked, “Miss, these are our least expensive rocks. They’re priced at 3 thousand dollars each.”

These so-called “cheap rocks” were practically worthless. An expert could easily tell that these pieces had almost no chance of containing emeralds due to their poor quality and dull colors.

Kneeling down, I examined two medium-sized rocks. They weren’t too costly, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to buy them just for fun. “I’ll take these two.”

The shopkeeper looked taken aback by my willingness to purchase such rocks. As a businessman, he felt obliged to caution me. “Miss, the odds of these rocks containing emeralds are exceedingly low, nearly nonexistent.”

His warning was straightforward. Buying these rocks would be like throwing my money away.

I appreciated his concern, but I saw potential in the two rocks, so I decided to go through with the purchase.

After I paid, the shopkeeper seemed hesitant to say more, but Benjamin jumped in. “Since you bought them, let’s open them right away.”

I nodded in agreement. “Sir, we’ll need your rock cutter’s assistance, please.”

The shopkeeper complied and called for the rock cutter, who assessed the two rocks I had selected. “Miss, these rocks have a slim chance of containing emeralds. Would you like me to cut them open to provide a definitive answer? It’ll save us all some trouble.”

I was about to reply when Benjamin interrupted, instructing the rock cutter, “Start grinding from the back right side of the rock, gently. Take your time.”

The rock cutter nodded reluctantly but followed his instructions. He began grinding the rocks with precision, making gradual progress. Just as he reached about a centimeter in, his expression shifted to one of surprise. “I see some green poking through! It actually has emerald inside!”

His exclamation sent my heart racing, and I focused intently on the rock. A faint green tint was emerging from what had previously appeared as a dull gray rock. Although the color wasn’t particularly vibrant, it…

Benjamin smirked and whispered to me, “Celestial emerald—you’ve struck it lucky.”

A smile spread across my face as I asked, “Is it valuable?”

Benjamin examined the rock closely. “In its raw state, it’s worth about a million dollars. If it’s crafted into jewelry, its value could multiply several times. But this type of emerald is rare and highly sought after.”

I couldn’t hold back my excitement. “I wonder how big the emerald is!”

I waited patiently while the rock was fully cut open, revealing about eleven inches of stunning Celestial emerald.

“This is fantastic; this rock is remarkable,” the shopkeeper remarked, his admiration evident. “I never expected this seemingly worthless rough rock to reveal such a beautiful Celestial emerald.”

News of the emerald spread quickly, attracting passersby who flocked in, eager to purchase rocks of their own. Suddenly, the shop was buzzing with activity, and the shopkeeper found himself quite busy.

“What do you plan to do with this rock?” Benjamin inquired.

With a grin, I said, “This large piece would be perfect for making a pair of bracelets. I’ll give them to my grandmother for her birthday next time.”

Upon hearing this, Benjamin offered, “I know a reliable raw stone processing company I can recommend to you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Benjamin!” I replied, my enthusiasm growing.

With the discovery of the Celestial emerald, my spirits soared. It reminded me of something Benjamin had mentioned earlier about the careful handling of the rocks. “Mr. Benjamin, do you have some sort of sixth sense? How did you know this rock would contain an emerald, and you seemed to know just how to work with it?”

Benjamin flashed me a mysterious smile without answering my question. Instead, he said, “That’s why I’m the expert and you’re the learner.”

I turned to my inner voice, Hera, asking, “Is it possible that his wolf can sense the quality of rocks?”

“Hey! What are you implying? Just because we’re both Alphas doesn’t mean I can smell what he can. He’s just more experienced,” Hera shot back, clearly annoyed.

“Still, I need to remind you that rock betting relies heavily on luck. Don’t think of it as a guaranteed way to get rich,” Benjamin cautioned.

I grasped his message. “Don’t worry! Unless it’s with you, I won’t return to places like this on my own.”

Benjamin appeared satisfied. “We’ve had our fun; now it’s time to head back.”

I nodded in agreement. “Sounds good.”

That afternoon, Benjamin and I boarded the flight home. Once we landed, I bade my farewells. “Mr. Benjamin, I hope to learn more from you in the future.”

He raised an eyebrow and replied, “You’ll have plenty of chances soon, especially since I need your assistance with my Mornant language.”

I beamed back at him. “Don’t worry, Mr. Benjamin. I’ll give it my all. I’ll see you online on Mondays and Wednesdays.”

I waved goodbye as Benjamin walked away, then turned to leave.

Just then, something on the ground caught my attention. I bent down to pick it up and realized it was Benjamin’s driver’s license!

I rushed after him, calling out, “Mr. Benjamin, you dropped your driver’s license!”

He paused to take the license from me. “Thank you, Ms. Selena!”

I replied politely, “No problem, Mr. Benjamin. Goodbye!”

Once he was out of sight, I didn’t hurry to leave. Instead, I took out my phone. I had just noticed that Benjamin’s birthday was April 6th, and today was April 3rd—his birthday was just around the corner!

But one important question lingered.