Xia Weiwei looked away from Mo Shian, pretending that she had not heard his question.
Unfortunately, her husband did not plan to let the matter go.
"Weiwei."
"What?"
"Is my birthday really the password to your phone?"
"Why are you asking when you already unlocked it last night?"
"I want to hear you say it while you are sober."
Weiwei tightened her fingers around the glass of warm water.
She had changed the password after her rebirth. In her previous life, she had used her own birthday, but after realizing how much of her life had revolved around herself, she decided to use Mo Shian's instead.
It was a small action, but it reminded her of him whenever she unlocked her phone.
Mo Shian's eyes remained fixed on her face as he waited for an answer.
"Yes," she finally admitted.
"Why?"
"Does there have to be a reason?"
"Mmm."
"You're being troublesome so early in the morning."
Mo Shian moved closer.
"Tell me."
Weiwei knew that he would not give up easily. For someone who was usually cold and spoke very few words, he could be surprisingly persistent whenever the matter involved her.
"I changed it because your birthday is important to me."
Mo Shian's eyes softened.
"When did you change it?"
"A few days ago."
The answer caused a small sting in his heart, but it quickly disappeared.
A few days ago was better than never.
The fact that she had deliberately changed it after deciding to repair their marriage meant more than if she had used it without thinking.
"Are you satisfied now?" Weiwei asked.
"Yes."
"Then stop smiling like that."
"How am I smiling?"
"Like you just closed another billion-dollar contract."
Mo Shian shook his head.
"This is more important than a contract."
Weiwei felt her cheeks heat again.
Why was this man becoming so good at saying sweet things? Was this still the same cold and expressionless Mo Shian everyone feared?
She pushed the empty glass into his hand.
"I have answered your question. Now go and get ready for work."
"I can stay home today."
"There is no need. I only have a mild headache."
"You were drunk."
"That is not a terminal illness."
"You also climbed onto a table."
Weiwei immediately pulled the quilt over her head again.
"Go to work."
Mo Shian laughed and pulled the quilt away from her face.
"Fine. I'll go after making sure you eat."
"Aunt Wu is here."
"I know."
"Then why do you have to supervise my breakfast?"
"I don't trust you to eat properly when your head hurts."
Weiwei wanted to argue but eventually gave up. She knew that when Mo Shian became concerned about her health, there was no reasoning with him.
He would probably remain at home all day if she continued resisting.
"Fine. I'll eat breakfast."
Only then did Mo Shian appear satisfied.
They washed up and went downstairs together.
Aunt Wu had already prepared light chicken porridge, steamed buns, and several small dishes. When she saw the couple descending the stairs side by side, her smile became so wide that it nearly split her face.
"Young Master, Young Madam, breakfast is ready."
"Aunt Wu, please prepare something that will help with a hangover," Mo Shian instructed.
Aunt Wu turned to Weiwei in surprise.
"Young Madam drank last night?"
"Only one glass," Weiwei hurriedly explained.
"Two," Mo Shian corrected.
"The second glass belonged to you, so it shouldn't count."
Mo Shian did not understand her reasoning, but he did not argue.
Aunt Wu suppressed her laughter and went back into the kitchen to prepare honey water.
The young madam had become much livelier in the past few days, and even the young master smiled more often.
Josen Garden finally felt like a home again.
Mo Shian personally filled Weiwei's bowl with porridge and watched until she ate more than half of it.
Only then did he check the time.
"I have a meeting at ten."
"Then you should leave. You'll be late."
"It's still early."
"It takes at least thirty minutes to reach the office. You should also prepare before the meeting."
Mo Shian reluctantly stood.
"If your headache worsens, call me."
"I will."
"If you feel dizzy, don't go into the studio."
"I understand."
"Don't use any machinery today."
"Shian."
"Mmm?"
"If you continue, I might forget every instruction before you reach the door."
Mo Shian finally stopped.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"I'll call you later."
"Have a good day at work."
Mo Shian walked toward the entrance, then turned around and looked at her again.
Weiwei waved.
Only after seeing her smile did he leave.
Aunt Wu came out of the kitchen carrying honey water and watched the door close behind him.
"The Young Master really cannot bear to leave you."
Weiwei accepted the cup.
"He worries too much."
"He has always worried about you. He just didn't know how to say it."
Weiwei lowered her eyes.
She knew that better than anyone now.
Aunt Wu did not continue the conversation. She instructed Weiwei to finish the honey water before going to supervise the house staff.
Weiwei had just emptied the cup when the butler entered the dining room.
"Young Madam, someone from Weixin Auction House is at the gate. They are here to deliver the item you purchased yesterday."
Weiwei's eyes brightened.
The stone had arrived.
"Let them in."
A few minutes later, two auction-house employees entered carrying a black security case. A third person followed with several documents and a small electronic device.
"Good morning, Mrs. Mo," the man carrying the documents greeted respectfully. "We are here to deliver the item you purchased yesterday. Please inspect it before signing the transfer papers."
"Put it on the table."
The security case was carefully placed on the dining table.
The employee entered a code, then opened it.
Inside was the strange stone Weiwei had spent 1.2 million dollars to obtain.
At first glance, it did not appear valuable. It was slightly larger than an adult man's fist and had an uneven black surface. Red and golden lines ran through it, but they were so faint they could easily be mistaken for ordinary mineral veins.
No one who looked at it would believe that it possessed spiritual and medicinal properties.
Even in Weiwei's previous life, it had taken researchers a long time to discover its value.
"Is everything satisfactory?" the employee asked.
Weiwei put on the gloves provided and lifted the stone.
The moment it touched her palms, an unexpected warmth travelled through the gloves and entered her skin.
She almost dropped it.
"Young Madam?" the butler asked worriedly.
"I'm fine."
Weiwei steadied herself and examined the stone again.
It no longer felt warm.
Had she imagined it?
Perhaps the stone had absorbed heat while being transported.
She turned it carefully, confirming that it had not been damaged. After signing the documents and completing the verification, she asked the employees to leave.
The butler looked at the stone curiously.
"Young Madam, is it a precious gemstone?"
"I'm not sure yet. I bought it because I liked its appearance."
The butler could not see what was attractive about the rough black rock, but he did not question his young madam's taste.
"Should I have someone carry it to the studio?"
"There is no need. I can take it myself."
The stone was not particularly heavy. Weiwei placed it back inside the security case and carried it upstairs.
Her headache had already improved, but she remembered Mo Shian's warning about using machinery.
She had promised to rest, and she did not want to break that promise only minutes after he left.
Instead of cutting the stone, she would examine its exterior and determine how much usable material it contained.
Weiwei entered her home studio and locked the door behind her.
The newly renovated room was bright and spacious. One side contained a large design desk and several shelves, while the other contained professional cutting, polishing, engraving, and metalworking equipment.
Mo Shian had spared no expense.
Even the tools were from the best manufacturers.
Weiwei placed the stone beneath an examination lamp and turned on the magnifying lens.
Under the bright light, the red and golden lines became clearer.
They did not appear random.
Weiwei adjusted the lens and slowly rotated the stone.
Several thin golden lines curved upward and connected with the red veins. Together, they resembled feathers.
She frowned and moved the light closer.
More lines appeared.
One looked like an outstretched wing. Another curved like a long tail feather. Near the centre was a tiny marking that resembled the head of a bird.
"A phoenix?"
Weiwei whispered the word.
The pattern was not carved onto the surface. It appeared to exist inside the stone itself, concealed beneath several rough mineral layers.
She remembered the strange cry she heard before hitting the rocks below the cliff.
At the time, she had assumed it was a hallucination produced by fear and approaching death.
But now that she thought about it, she had also seen something on the rock below her.
An ancient carving.
She had been falling too fast and experiencing too much pain to examine it, but the vague image in her memories resembled a phoenix spreading its wings.
Weiwei's heart began beating faster.
She removed one glove and touched the rough surface directly.
The stone remained cool.
She moved her fingers along one of the golden lines.
Nothing happened.