“Not spending money?”

Nancy looked at Linda, half-amused, half-exasperated. Somehow, she felt like Linda was trying to coax her into something.

Ashley seized the opportunity to continue her pitch. “Miss Nancy, The Thompson family is the world’s largest dealer in jade, antiques, and jewelry. Betting on jade here really could make you rich overnight. And beyond jade gambling, there are antiques, gold, and jade jewelry. You should definitely check it out.”

Nancy wasn’t particularly interested in jade gambling. She knew that small bets could be entertaining, but large ones could ruin lives—especially for those who became addicted.

However, the mention of gold and jade jewelry caught her attention. Her aunts had gifted her plenty of pieces before, and she hadn’t returned the favor yet. Plus, with so many cousins and in-laws in Charlie’s family, having gifts ready for birthdays or festivals would save her from scrambling at the last minute.

“Alright,” she sighed, pretending to surrender to Linda’s persuasion. “Ashley, lead the way for us.”

“Of course,” Ashley said with a warm smile. “This way, please.”

Nearby, Vivian, still fuming, grabbed Taylor Lesser’s arm. “Taylor, let’s go see what this jade gambling fuss is all about!”

Taylor gave her an exasperated look. “Can we stop getting involved in Nancy’s business? You always end up losing…”

Like a fool being played by Nancy time and time again.

But Vivian ignored him, dragging him along determinedly.

The fourth floor was distinctly different from the others. Numerous counters displayed items categorized neatly, each section clearly organized.

As soon as they entered, Linda was stunned by the sight of a small mountain of stones. “What is this? Just a pile of rocks? There’s no layout, no polishing—looks like they were just dumped here.”

Ashley nodded with a chuckle. “That’s exactly what it is.”

“Huh?”

Linda looked utterly confused. “Why would you just dump a pile of rocks in such a fancy place?”

Ashley laughed softly, patiently explaining, “These stones were appraised by The Thompson family’s jade experts. They’re not high-quality materials, so they’re placed here for people with smaller budgets to buy for fun. Naturally, the prices are quite low.”

Henry’s interest was piqued immediately. “How low?”

Ashley glanced at the pile. “Five hundred dollars per stone. Very affordable, don’t you think?”

Linda clapped her hands in excitement. “That’s so cheap!”

Emily nodded in agreement. “It is.”

Henry: “…”

The world of the wealthy was truly incomprehensible. Five hundred dollars for a single rock? That was outrageously expensive in his book!

“Let’s go take a look inside,” Nancy said, uninterested in the rocks, and walked further into the showroom.

The inner section was dazzling, filled with an array of exquisite items that made it hard to focus.

“Nancy, look at this hairpin! It’s gorgeous! What if we each got one? Then, next time we perform together, we could wear traditional outfits, do our hair in a classical style, and pair it with these hairpins. It would look stunning!”

Linda’s idea brought back a memory for Nancy. During their last training camp, they had played a couple of folk tunes together, regretting not having traditional attire and hairstyles to match the occasion.

“Sounds great. Let’s pick one.”

The hairpins, made from fine jade, weren’t cheap but not overly expensive either—just a few thousand dollars each. Nancy and Linda each chose one.

The showroom was filled with other beautiful jewelry: jade earrings, jade necklaces, and more. Nancy was thoroughly enchanted as she browsed.

Suddenly, a man’s voice came from nearby. “Do you like it? If you do, I’ll buy it for you.”