"Maybe I really imagined it."
She released a breath she had not realized she was holding.
Rebirth was already difficult enough to explain. She did not need to start imagining mysterious birds inside ordinary rocks.
Weiwei reached for her sketchbook and opened the page containing the pendant design.
She had already changed the design from cufflinks to a pendant, but several details still needed improvement.
The dragon would coil around the central stone, with its head raised and its eyes looking ahead. The finished pendant had to be elegant enough for Mo Shian to wear with both suits and casual clothes.
It could not be too large or flamboyant.
Weiwei placed the stone next to the sketch and began adjusting the dimensions.
As she drew, the golden and red veins seemed to shift beneath the stone's surface.
Weiwei stopped and looked up.
Everything was normal.
She continued drawing.
A few minutes later, she felt warmth against the back of her hand.
She looked down.
Her fingers were resting against the stone.
This time, the warmth was unmistakable.
Before she could pull her hand away, the red veins inside the rock lit up.
The phoenix pattern appeared beneath the black surface, its wings extending across the stone as though it was awakening from a long sleep.
A cry echoed inside Weiwei's mind.
It was distant, ancient, and filled with endless sorrow.
Weiwei jerked her hand away.
The light vanished instantly.
The studio became silent.
She stared at the motionless stone, her breathing unsteady
"What exactly are you?"
Xia Weiwei's question echoed through the empty studio, but the stone naturally did not answer her.
It lay beneath the examination lamp looking dark, rough, and completely ordinary.
If Weiwei had not seen the phoenix pattern light up with her own eyes, she might have convinced herself that the strange scene was another side effect of her hangover.
She cautiously reached out again.
Her fingers stopped before touching the stone.
After hesitating for several seconds, Weiwei picked up a pair of protective gloves and put them on. Only then did she turn the stone beneath the light and examine every part of its surface.
There was no heat.
There was no glow.
She also did not hear another phoenix cry.
However, the faint golden and red veins were still there. Now that Weiwei knew what to look for, she could clearly see that they formed the shape of a phoenix.
She picked up her phone and took several photographs from different angles.
The phoenix pattern could not be seen clearly in the pictures. No matter how she adjusted the lighting, only a few irregular mineral veins appeared on the screen.
"That is strange."
She switched to video mode and recorded the stone for several minutes, but nothing happened.
Weiwei finally turned off the examination lamp.
She wanted to test the stone further, but she remembered her promise to Mo Shian. She had told him that she would rest and avoid using the machines until her headache disappeared.
More importantly, she did not know whether touching the stone again would cause another strange reaction.
She placed it inside the security case, locked it, and stored it inside one of the cabinets.
Before she could think about the matter further, her phone rang.
The caller was Joel.
"Hello?"
"Young Madam, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"You're not. Is something wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong. The legal department has completed the partnership agreement for your jewelry company. The lawyer is available to bring it to you this afternoon. Would that be convenient?"
Weiwei looked at the time.
It was already a few minutes past eleven.
She had not realized how much time she spent examining the stone.
"That is convenient. I also need to contact Feng Tian so that she can review it."
"Should the lawyer come to Josen Garden?"
"Yes. We can meet here."
"Understood. He will arrive at two."
"Thank you, Joel."
"There is no need to thank me, Young Madam. I'm only carrying out the boss's instructions."
The call ended.
Weiwei immediately contacted Feng Tian.
"Are you free this afternoon?"
"I am free. Is something wrong?"
"The partnership agreement is ready. Mo Shian's lawyer will bring it to Josen Garden at two. You can review the terms before deciding whether to sign."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"The agreement is already ready?"
"Mmm."
"You only mentioned it yesterday."
"My husband's legal department works quickly."
That was an understatement.
When Mo Shian wanted something done, his employees probably completed a week's work within one day to avoid facing his cold expression.
"I'll be there before two," Feng Tian said. "Send me the address."
"I will."
After ending the call, Weiwei sent the location of Josen Garden.
She then looked toward the locked cabinet.
She was tempted to remove the stone and examine it again, but she controlled herself. If she started now, she might forget the time and keep Feng Tian and the lawyer waiting.
Besides, she had a feeling the stone would not reveal anything else so easily.
Weiwei left the studio and went downstairs.
Aunt Wu had already prepared lunch. Seeing that Weiwei's face looked better, she finally stopped worrying.
"Young Madam, is your headache gone?"
"It is almost gone."
"You should still rest after lunch."
"I can't. Feng Tian and the lawyer are coming at two."
"Then rest until they arrive. You were drinking last night and still woke up early."
Weiwei did not think she had woken up early, considering how long Mo Shian had kept her in bed questioning her. However, she did not argue.
She finished her lunch and returned to the living room, where she closed her eyes on the sofa.
She had only intended to rest for a few minutes, but she ended up falling asleep.
It was Aunt Wu who gently woke her shortly before two.
"Young Madam, Miss Feng has arrived."
Weiwei opened her eyes and sat up.
"Where is she?"
"The butler is bringing her in."
Weiwei quickly straightened her clothes.
A few moments later, Feng Tian entered the living room carrying a worn leather bag. She had changed from the outdated blouse and faded jeans she wore the previous day into a simple blue dress.
Although the dress was not expensive, it was neat and suited her well.
When Feng Tian looked around the spacious villa, she became visibly nervous.