novelblue
Chapter 171 - 171 171 Better to Go for Something More
Chapter 171 - 171 171 Better to Go for Something More
?Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Better to Go for Something More Exciting Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Better to Go for Something More Exciting Luo Ning returned to her room, collapsed onto the bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
The reason she had left so quickly was that she was afraid Lu Xun might say something like a confession or a pursuit.
He had just confessed his feelings for her, which she had indeed sensed.
But having just ended a relationship, coupled with many other things she hadn’t done, she wasn’t ready to start a new one so soon.
She didn’t dislike Lu Xun, and she even felt a certain closeness to him, but to be together just like that seemed somehow insufficient.
Soon her phone rang with a notification.
Lu: Are you back in your room?
Luo Ning: Just got back and am preparing to sleep. You should rest early too.
Lu: Okay, goodnight!
Luo Ning: Goodnight!
After saying goodnight, a hint of a smile appeared in Luo Ning’s eyes. Lu really knew how to keep things appropriate.
If she were to truly fall for Lu Xun in the future, she would give both herself and the other person a chance, but now was not the time.
On the other side, having read the message, Lu Xun’s eyes showed a mix of helplessness and understanding.
His previous impulse to confess had been sparked by those photos, a result of momentary agitation.
Now that he was calm, he also knew Luo Ning wasn’t ready to start a new relationship, so he wouldn’t bring it up for the time being.
After all, he was patient.
The next morning, Luo Ning woke up early for a jog and happened to run into Lu Xun.
Both tacitly avoided mentioning last night’s events and, after the run, got breakfast for everyone together.
In the guesthouse lobby, Ji Xinghang saw Luo Ning and Lu Xun enter with breakfast, laughing and talking, his face sour.
That wolf in sheep’s clothing, Lu Xinji, surely harbored ill intentions toward his Ningning.
The frustrating part for him was that he was powerless to do anything about it.
After everyone had breakfast together, the director came to the lobby.
Each level of the National Treasure Institute had a day off every month, and today was the day.
The director wasn’t regretful; in fact, he felt it would keep the audience’s appetite whetted.
The director asked, “Do you all have plans for where to go today?”
The guests and students shook their heads. “We haven’t decided yet.”
They had toured National Treasure Town the day before, and there didn’t seem to be much else of interest nearby.
Luo Ning smiled and asked the director, “Are you planning to take us out for fun?”
The director chuckled, “Teacher Luo is so sharp, you saw right through me.”
The guests and students were surprised. Since when was the director so nice as to take them out?
Wei Yao asked more bluntly, “Director, where do you want to take us for fun? You’re not going to trick us, are you?”
The director gave a look of speechlessness, “When have I ever tricked you? Don’t make me out to be so bad, thank you.”
Everyone rolled their eyes. “You’ve tricked us plenty of times, like that deserted island survival stunt.”
The director, nearly in tears, raised his hand in promise, “That was a one-time accident, it will absolutely not happen again.”
“Here’s the thing, I just received a message that there’s a jade rough stone market nearby these few days, are you interested in checking it out?”
He thought it was better for the guests to do something more exciting while they were free.
He didn’t mind the viewership hitting another peak.
Wei Yao continued to ask, “Jade rough stone market? Are you planning to take us jade gambling?”
The director replied with a smile, “It’s not exactly gambling on stone, just taking everyone to have a look.”
“Of course, if you want to try your hand, that’s possible too.”
Ji Xinghang scoffed, “You’re that generous? Are you planning to live stream it?”
The director chuckled, “Teacher Ji is really smart.”
“Many viewers are not familiar with jade rough stones and haven’t even seen them, so I thought about taking the audience to experience it.”
Lu Xun asked, “Has the jade market agreed to this?”
Gambling on jade rough stones isn’t considered gambling, so there are quite a few people live streaming it.
There are live streams from the jade market as well, but they are relatively rare, and they require the organizer’s approval.
The director nodded and said, “Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t dare take you all there.”
“What do you think? Shall we go?”
Wei Yao smiled and said, “I’ve never gambled on stones before, so it would be interesting to check it out.”
Chai Jing said, “We can go take a look, I’m quite curious.”
“If I accidentally uncover a piece of jade, I’ll take it home as a treasure for my wife,” he said with full interest.
Hearing about gambling on stones, Bo Xiangxiang, who had been listless, instantly perked up.
She has always been particularly lucky and believed it would be the same with gambling on stones.
If she live streamed the gambling on stones and managed to continuously uncover jade from the rough stones, that would definitely make the viewers’ eyes light up and increase her popularity and number of fans.
She said, “I’ve never done it either, and I want to see.”
Su Qinglan and Ni Xinxuan were both quite interested and indicated they wanted to go.
Lu Xun and Ji Xinghang didn’t express their opinions, their gazes occasionally glancing toward Luo Ning.
Luo Ning was actually planning to purchase a batch of jade to carve and create nurturing magical tools.
If she could lease the mountain in the Kyoto Suburb, she would also need jade to provide energy for the arrays she intended to set up.
She had been thinking about taking a trip to the border to buy some jade rough stones after this episode of the variety show ended.
But now that a jade market had opened here, it was like someone had brought her a pillow just as she was feeling sleepy.
She said, “It’s better to have something to do than nothing, so it wouldn’t hurt to go and learn something.”
No sooner had Luo Ning finished speaking than Lu Xun and Ji Xinghang simultaneously said, “Let’s go then.”
The director had been waiting for these two to speak up, and when he heard the unanimous agreement, a deeper smile crossed his face.
“Then everyone, get ready. We’ll head out in fifteen minutes.”
“Okay!”
The reality show, which was supposed to take a one-day break from broadcasting, continued on air and was about to take viewers to see the jade rough stone market, to the delight and curiosity of the audience.
At the same time, the live stream attracted many jade and stone gambling enthusiasts to watch.
The location of the jade market wasn’t very far, just over an hour’s drive away.
When everyone arrived, the organizers of the jade market also sent people to receive them.
This area was known for producing jade rough stones, and as such, this market was the largest in the country and could rival the famous jade markets of countries known for their jade.
This market was held once a year and the show’s crew happened to come across it.
The organizers knew that the live broadcast of this reality show was particularly popular lately, and they also wanted to use it to make the market’s reputation even more resounding and to inform more people about it.
So as soon as the production team came to communicate, they agreed.
The person receiving everyone was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man who appeared quite capable and efficient.
He smiled and introduced the history of the market to the guests and students, as well as some common knowledge about jade.
After the introduction, he asked, “Are you mainly here to watch, or are you also planning to gamble a bit?”
Chai Jing replied, “Let’s buy a few rough stones to try our luck.”
“Alright, I’ll take you to the trading area. All the rough stones there have numbers assigned, and if you’re interested in any, just write down the number and take it to the checkout counter.”
“If nobody has bought it before you, once the payment is made, the stone is yours.”
“If bidding is required, refer to the starting price and fill in a bid. The highest bidder will get it.”
The middle-aged man paused and said, “After purchasing the rough stone, our market will provide free stone cutting services.”
“If you are lucky and uncover jade, you can keep it or sell it to individuals and companies that specialize in buying jade.”
Hearing this, everyone’s enthusiasm and interest were roused.
Luo Ning followed into the market’s trading hall, but when she saw another group entering through the other door, her smile faded slightly, and her gaze turned colder.