With this thought, everyone couldn’t help but turn their heads to look at Guh Siqing on the other side.
Guh Siqing’s face was ashen, her body trembling, and her eyes filled with disbelief. She had never imagined that she would lose to someone, especially to An Yiqing, the very person she regarded as a thorn in her side! Seeing the way everyone looked at her, Guh Siqing felt humiliated to the extreme. She clenched her fists tightly, fearing that she would lose control and gouge out everyone’s eyes!
An Yiqing, seeing her ugly expression, gave a faint smile, "Miss Guh, would you like to continue the competition?"
Her tone was calm, with no sign of contempt. However, Guh Siqing interpreted An Yiqing’s words as mockery and insult.
With an unwilling glare, Guh Siqing lifted her chin haughtily and said, "Of course we’ll continue! I just wasn’t careful this time! You think you’re always going to be this lucky, An Yiqing!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than the crowd inwardly scoffed. Luck? If it were just about luck, how could An Yiqing consecutively uncover several pieces of top-quality jade? If you’re so capable, why don’t you reveal a Jade Spirit for us all to behold? Guh Siqing had already left a poor impression these past few days, and this time, she gave everyone another excuse to mock her.
An Yiqing wasn’t bothered by Guh Siqing’s overbearing attitude. She smiled lightly and said calmly, "Good. Since Miss Guh intends to continue, then I shall oblige. Brother Yusheng, continue with the stone cutting!" Saying this, she turned and walked to her own side, casting the infuriated Guh Siqing to the back of her mind.
Guh Siqing, feeling desperate and frustrated, glanced at the derisive crowd and then at An Yiqing, who utterly disregarded her, her heart seething with a hatred so intense, she wished she could slap her to death.
"Ah Chen! What are you staring at! Get on with the stone cutting!" Guh Siqing glared at Ah Chen fiercely, as if attributing all her failures to the luck of the stone cutter.
Ah Chen gave her a cold look and, without a word, bent down to pick up the fifth piece of raw jade to start cutting.
With the appearance of the colorless, transparent Jade Spirit, the crowd didn’t have high expectations for the following competition. What jade could surpass the legendary Jade Spirit in quality? Everyone leisurely admired the Jade Spirit while sparing some attention to watch the progress of the two competitors.
Zhang Yuksheng took the fifth piece of raw jade material. It was that piece of Red Jade initially found by An Yiqing in the waste area of the third section. The raw jade was large, weighing about a hundred and ten pounds. Zhang Yuksheng exerted himself in an attempt to lift it onto the table by himself, but despite turning red in the face, the stone didn’t budge. At that moment, a pair of black Country Yi leather shoes appeared in front of him. Looking up, Zhang Yuksheng saw Gu Yelin enveloping the stone in his arms, and with a light lift—without even breaking a sweat—the stone appeared on the table.
Zhang Yuksheng’s mouth twitched as he watched Gu Yelin lifting the stone, not by hugging or carrying, but as if it were as light as a bubble.
Zhang Yuksheng composed himself to soothe his bruised ego, took a deep breath, and started cutting with the Stone-Cutting Machine.
This time, Guh Siqing also chose a large piece of raw jade material. She had intended to use it to curry favor with Guh Tian, planning to cut it in front of him when she got home. But now, she could not sit still—if she lost, not only would she lose the title of the most esteemed lady of Xuandu City, but she would also have to apologize to An Yiqing. For the ever proud and haughty Guh Siqing, this was an utterly mortifying disgrace!