Boss Wei returned, receipt in hand, drenched in sweat. The sweltering heat of Myanmar was even harsher than Ruili. "The materials are in hand now, Zhao Fei. The performance is up to you," he said.
I nodded, instructing Zhao Kui to carry the materials into the cutting room. The room was stifling, empty of any stone cutters due to the oppressive heat. Inside, Liu Qiang sat in a chair, flanked by a wiry, dark-skinned man, dressed in fatigues, with an air of a mountain guerrilla.
Seeing us, Liu Qiang laughed. "Zhao Fei, your girlfriend's got quite the spirit. She left me feeling weak all over."
Though I knew it was part of the act, his words stung. I hadn't seen Xiaomi, and concern gnawed at me.
"Ignore him," Boss Wei muttered. "Focus on the gamble, Zhao Fei."
I averted my gaze from Liu Qiang, focusing instead on the figure beside him—an intimidating presence, lean yet lethal, a menacing shadow.
I handed the materials to Wang Gui. "Slice it thinly, three centimeters each, enough for bangles," I instructed.
Wang Gui nodded, placing the rough jade on the cutting machine. He marked it and began. The material tapered from thick to thin, a balance that required careful handling.
Boss Wei and I observed the first cut. I dabbed water on it, revealing a richening black within. "It's changing color, but still translucent, with minimal cotton—a decent find. The black has intensified, but so has the underlying blue, which creates a clashing effect."
Boss Wei nodded thoughtfully. "A slight gain, but not substantial. We'll have to gamble further that the blue fades."
I agreed, signaling to Wang Gui. "Go deeper from the wider base. If there's no blue, we're in the clear."
Wang Gui repositioned the stone and resumed. Sparks flew as the machine cut through, my thoughts spiraling to Xiaomi's absence. Liu Qiang would never leave her unattended.
Suddenly, Liu Qiang approached me, showing me his phone. A photo appeared on the screen, and rage coursed through me. Xiaomi was caged, naked, bound, her body marked by lashings, her hair tangled. Fury flared within me.
Liu Qiang silenced me with a grin. "Come on, Zhao Fei, share the fun, won't you? Just let me in."
I wanted to stab him right there. "Let Xiaomi go," I said through gritted teeth.
"Ha! Look at you, still the lovestruck fool," he sneered. "She's there to remind you who's in control. Think on that."
I fought the urge to retaliate. Wang Gui's shout broke the tension. "Fei, take a look!"
Reluctantly, I turned back to the material, leaving Liu Qiang in Boss Wei's sights. Under the bright light, the cut revealed jet-black stone, pure and unblemished.
Boss Wei's eyes sparkled as he examined it. "The quality's outstanding. The green's been completely subsumed by the black—a level up from translucent. We're looking at a small fortune here. A hundred million is plausible, though we may only manage ten bangles from it."
Wang Gui nodded, slicing with steady precision. I watched, beads of sweat gathering as worry gnawed at me. Liu Qiang had plans with Kun San, and I feared his growing influence. Boss Wei voiced his concern: "If Kun San's allegiance shifts, we're finished."
I could only shake my head. "In matters of profit, loyalty is fickle."
Another call from Wang Gui. "Fei, the blue's showing."
We turned back, watching as the cut revealed a vibrant blue edging into the black jade—a rare blend of contrasts, striking yet challenging to assess.
"Fifty bangles, worth millions," Maran murmured. "We've won big this round."
Liu Qiang's voice taunted from the sidelines. "Don't stop now—keep going until it's all gone."
His arrogance was obvious, his intentions clear. Yet we remained silent, securing the materials, locking away this small victory amidst the lurking dangers.
Leaving the room, I felt a pang of dread. Xiaomi's fate was in my hands, and Liu Qiang's sadistic games gnawed at my restraint. Boss Wei placed a hand on my shoulder. "Keep watch here. I'll negotiate with Kun San."
I gave him a solemn nod. Waiting here on foreign soil, bound by the whims of others, I felt trapped. Glancing at Qian Guang, I muttered, "I hate this helplessness. If we had our own forces here, I'd have struck by now."
He gripped my shoulder. "Stay focused. Escape will be possible only if we're wise."
I nodded, my eyes falling on the jade. Whatever it took, I would protect those I cared about, even if it meant confronting the most brutal realities.
Boss Wei headed off to meet Kun San, leaving me with the jade materials, and the stifling weight of uncertainty settled over me. Our entire fate now hinged on Kun San's intentions. In this foreign territory, every action felt like walking on the edge of a blade, one wrong move could mean death.
Qian Guang noticed the tension on my face. "What's wrong?" he asked.
I wiped the sweat from my brow. "They've locked Xiaomi in a dog cage. I don't know if she's revealed our plan yet. Things might have shifted."
His expression darkened, his fingers loosening the buttons on his suit as he glanced toward Liu Qiang, who was idly playing with his phone, unfazed. From his phone, I could faintly hear the sound of a woman screaming—whip strikes, the anguish in the voice unmistakable. It was Xiaomi's voice. My fists clenched.
At that moment, Boss Wei approached, catching my distracted gaze. "What's wrong? You seem miles away."
"We need to know Kun San's stance. If he's wavering, we're done for," I said quietly.
Beads of sweat began to form on Boss Wei's forehead as well. "Let's hope not," he muttered.
I shook my head grimly. "Greed drives men to desperation. Until the very end, we can't be certain."
"Fei, the blue's showing again," Wang Gui called out, pulling me back to the material at hand.
We gathered around to inspect the cut. It had yielded another rich, blue section, but the jade's dark, oily black was more dominant, deep and lustrous—prime material for high-end jewelry.
Maran picked up one of the newly sliced jade pieces, weighing it thoughtfully. "Seven slices, enough for fifty bangles. Each one could easily fetch a million. We're looking at a fifty-million haul at least."
Boss Wei nodded in satisfaction. "Wrap it up," he instructed.
Liu Qiang's mocking voice interrupted, "Why stop? Go all in; then pack it up."
We understood his underlying challenge, his open provocation. Ignoring him, I motioned to Wang Gui and Zhao Kui to store the jade securely. This material alone was worth a small fortune, but each win deepened my unease. Xiaomi's absence weighed heavily on my mind, her suffering left festering by Liu Qiang's hands.
As we exited, having secured our haul, my heart grew even heavier. Although we'd won this gamble, the reality of Xiaomi's plight gnawed at me. I was desperate to find her, to save her from Liu Qiang's cruelty. Yet each step felt like a deeper plunge into this perilous game.
"Zhao Fei, keep an eye on the materials. I'll be back after meeting Kun San," Boss Wei instructed before heading toward Kun San's quarters.
Left behind to watch the jade, I paced restlessly, all too aware of the fine line we were walking. In this hostile terrain, every ally could become an enemy at a moment's notice, and each decision felt like a gamble with life or death at stake.
Qian Guang caught my eye, sensing my frustration. "This situation is intolerable. We're utterly at their mercy," I muttered. "If we had our own forces here, I would've fought Liu Qiang tooth and nail."
Qian Guang put a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Hold your fire. Finish what's in front of you. Money is our only weapon now."
I took a deep breath, nodding. I returned my focus to the jade, but a storm of emotions swirled within. This moment of vulnerability—this oppressive dependence on others—was something I vowed never to experience again. Whatever the outcome, I would not let this happen twice.