Anna decided it was best to be honest with Jessica. She recounted everything that had happened at the recent jewelry expo, hoping to avoid any future misunderstandings or unwarranted blame.
To her surprise, when she told Jessica about the events following the project's launch ceremony, Jessica seemed utterly unfazed. She even let out a cold chuckle. "He really can't change his spots, can he? You didn't get hurt, did you?"
Anna shook her head. Although taken aback by Jessica's casual reaction, she answered truthfully.
"That's good. I cut ties with him a few days ago, so don't worry about it." Jessica spoke nonchalantly, clearly having moved on from the relationship.
Seeing Jessica so unbothered, Anna felt a weight lift off her shoulders. It seemed that, as Rachel had suggested, to people like them, so-called partnerships and relationships were just games. Only she had been taking these matters to heart.
As the year drew to a close, Anna found herself with fewer jewelry appraisal projects. She took on a few small gemstone testing jobs but spent most of her time idle in her rented apartment.
One day, Jessica approached her with a mysterious smile. "There's a promising project with a hefty paycheck. You should give it a shot, though there's no guarantee you'll be selected."
Anna habitually asked about the compensation. Upon hearing the figure, she nearly choked on her water, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"Look at you, acting like you've never seen money before," Jessica rolled her eyes, handing her an address. "By the way, this gig was introduced by that brat, Michael Carter. He called it a 'breakup fee.' Ugh! Who is this big shot throwing around so much money? Wants you to handle gemstone evaluations—does he think he's royalty or something?"
When the day of the interview arrived, Jessica accompanied her. As they reached the location, Jessica was stunned, swallowing her previous remarks. "Well, I stand corrected. This really is 'royalty.'"
Anna stood beside her, equally astonished. The interview venue was a grand estate near a prestigious park, a standalone mansion with its own gardens—properties like this weren't easily acquired, no matter how wealthy you were. Moreover, the mansion had historical significance; it was once the residence of a prominent figure, inaccessible to the public until it was eventually auctioned off at an astronomical price.
A guide led them inside, through a courtyard shaded by lush bamboo. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground that swayed with the breeze, giving the illusion of stepping back in time.
They weren't taken into the main house but directed to an eastern annex. Under the veranda, a number of people were waiting. Glancing around, Anna noticed several top gemstone appraisal experts and even some renowned jewelry designers among them.
"This feels like a casting call for a royal court," Jessica whispered, her skepticism evident. "Could it be some old tycoon pretending to be cultured?"
But to attract such big names in the jewelry industry, the compensation couldn't be the main draw—the key was the person behind it all. Jessica's bold speculation hinted at ulterior motives.
Anna grew increasingly curious.
After waiting for over an hour, it was finally her turn. That was relatively quick, considering many before her had emerged after just a couple of minutes, looking dejected after being reprimanded. The staff escorting them even mocked them, saying they were "wasting everyone's time." Even those esteemed experts weren't spared, leaving with strained expressions and not daring to protest.
Anna felt a surge of nervousness. As she ascended the staircase, she felt like a trespasser. She knocked on the door, and only after hearing a response did she dare to enter.
The room was a spacious office with a classic Western design. Heavy patterned curtains sealed off the outside world, lending the space an air of serene elegance.
The blinds were slightly open, allowing occasional bird songs to drift in. A potted plant sat casually on the corner of the desk, its greenery adding a touch of life.
Daniel sat behind the desk, holding a fountain pen, focused intently on writing something.
From Anna's vantage point, she could see his well-defined jawline. His short, dark hair was neatly styled, with a few strands casually falling over his forehead. His crisp white shirt was impeccably tailored, the top two buttons undone, offering a glimpse of his toned physique.
Hearing the door open, he set down his pen and looked up, pausing briefly. "It's you?"
Anna's face flushed instantly, unsure how to respond. Though his tone was neutral, she couldn't help recalling the previous incident where he'd caught her nearly being taken advantage of by Michael Carter. Despite these personal feelings, standing before him now made her feel awkward.
What must he think of her? But then again, she reminded herself that any misunderstandings between them didn't matter much—they'd only crossed paths a few times.
"I'm here to interview for the gemstone appraisal position. Could you please provide me with an assessment?" she said, striving to sound composed.
The young woman clearly wasn't adept at masking her emotions; her words came out a bit stiff, tinged with apprehension.
Daniel chuckled softly, not replying immediately.
Realizing she might have sounded brusque, Anna quickly added, "You can't expect me to guess blindly, right? I don't even know what criteria you're looking for in this interview."
"Smart, getting straight to the point," Daniel remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone as he looked at her.
Though his words were lightly teasing, Anna felt a bit flustered, sneaking a glance at him. Daniel's gaze was calm, seemingly indifferent yet hiding an unreadable emotion.
His deep-set eyes appeared cool and detached, but there was a subtle warmth beneath his sharp brow. His firmly set lips added to his composed demeanor, exuding an aura that was both reserved and subtly enticing—a presence that was hard to ignore.
Anna felt a touch of unease. It was the first time she'd encountered someone who embodied such contrasting qualities—both approachable and intimidating, inspiring a mix of curiosity and caution.
She proceeded to describe a rare gemstone she'd previously appraised, explaining its composition and characteristics using professional terminology. Occasionally, she stole glances at Daniel.
But she noticed he seemed only mildly interested, propping his chin on his hand and lowering his gaze, almost as if he were indulging her. Especially when she mentioned some basic gemstone features, his expression grew subtly inscrutable.
Was her explanation that poor? Anna wondered, feeling a bit disheartened.
Just then, Eric Thompson pushed the door open, teasingly remarking, "Are you genuinely interviewing candidates, or just using company time for personal matters? Planning to have someone lecture about gemstone appraisal at your grandfather's birthday party? Aren't you worried the old man will throw both of you out?"
His words introduced a sudden shift in the atmosphere, especially the phrase "both of you," which added an unexpected layer of ambiguity to the conversation.
Anna's face turned crimson, resembling a ripe apple.
Anna's less-than-stellar gemstone appraisal naturally didn't get her selected. As for who eventually got the project, she had lost interest. Her mind was filled with memories of that interview, recalling how she stood there naïvely and fearlessly, feeling inexplicably nervous and awkward when facing Daniel.
After returning home, the more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. Frustrated, she grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly, kneading it in her arms. Her legs kicked aimlessly in the air as she imagined the scene. "Would he think I was deliberately flirting with him? So embarrassing! I just want to crawl into a hole!"
In November, the temperature in New York plummeted, and pedestrians began donning thick winter clothes. The sycamore trees lining the streets had only sparse yellow leaves left. Fallen leaves swirled with the wind, filling every nook and cranny of the street corners.
The late autumn sunlight filtered through thin clouds, casting a warm, golden hue. The bustling vehicles, pedestrians, and swirling leaves formed a picturesque, painting-like scene.
Leaning against the window, Anna watched the traffic outside, her mood still unsettled. She took out her phone and saw the weather forecast predicting clear skies today. On a whim, she decided to visit the Serenity Temple to light incense, praying for good fortune and hoping for a turn in her life.
It took her some time to get there, bouncing along on public transportation until she reached the foot of the mountain. After purchasing a ticket, she looked up at the long stone steps, took a deep breath, and began her ascent to the temple.
Climbing all the way up left her somewhat breathless, but as she stood before the temple, all her fatigue seemed to vanish. The temple grounds were tranquil and elegant, with verdant mountains stretching into the distance like a sea of green. Nearby, the crimson halls were partially hidden under golden maple leaves, appearing solemn and beautiful.
She respectfully prayed before the main hall's Buddha statue, then took a wish ribbon and went to the wishing tree to silently make her plea. After making her wish, she stood on her tiptoes and tossed the ribbon upward, hoping to hang it on the tree. Unfortunately, due to her height, she failed on her first try.
The ribbon fell to the ground. Anna picked it up and tried several more times but still couldn't get it to stay. Instead, it landed on the lowest branch.
Looking at the ribbon dangling just out of reach, she felt extremely frustrated. She stretched out her hand, trying her best to grab it, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't touch it.