Chapter 273 Suddenly Being Targeted
Joe Ga took out the black diamond necklace, which was the "information fee" left by 'Medic Officer Bird' when he packed up and left without a word.
One of the diamonds, which was of relatively good quality, had been fashioned into a ring by Joe Ga himself and presented to Nis.
Another one, with obvious cracks in it, had been turned into a necklace by Joe Ga.
Somehow, after the processing, this diamond with multiple cracks would reveal an ink wash painting when light shone through it.
The ink painting of "Fishing Alone in the Cold River Snow" against a black background and white light, its value probably only appreciated by people from China.
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Joe Ga initially intended to give the necklace to his brother, suggesting he keep it for the girl he loved, but now that Tong Tong's mother had become his family's benefactor, there was no need to pass it on.
Without any fancy box or such, Joe Ga casually sat next to Tong Tong, handed over the necklace, and said with a smile, "It wouldn't do not to have a gift for our first meeting. I'm giving you this necklace, and I wish you all the happiness in the world."
Stunned by the Royal Family secrets and gossip Charlene was sharing, Tong Tong reflexively accepted the necklace handed to her by Joe Ga. She instinctively grinned and said, "Thank you, bro..."
Little did the girl realize that the gift Joe Ga gave her was worth at least 20,000 US dollars in the market.
Playing with the necklace, which boasted a minimalist design, Tong Tong observed the mystery colors emanated from the black diamond the size of a broad bean as it reflected the flickering campfire.
Mimicking the venerations she saw on TV, she lifted the diamond to her eyes for a mock inspection, then, chuckling, she turned to Liang Qiao on her left and said, "It must be real, worth a fortune, right, Qiao Liang?"
As a bona fide poor second-generation, what did Qiao Liang know about jewelry?
To him, a silver chain with a black pendant could never be more valuable than a graphics card.
But now that he knew his brother's net worth and understood his temperament, assured that he wouldn't give Tong Tong anything of little value, he quickly nodded and replied, "Definitely, definitely. Don't just show it off - find a box to keep it in later."
Seeing Qiao Liang's frugal nature, Tong Tong snorted and retorted, "It's a gift from my brother, none of your business, right?"
Then turning to a grinning Joe Ga, she smiled showing off her pearly whites and said, "You see, right, bro?"
Joe Ga really liked Tong Tong's personality – warm, cheerful, a little spoiled but not at all pretentious.
Feeling invigorated by the address "bro," Joe Ga glared mockingly at Qiao Liang and declared, "Exactly, what's it to you? The gift is for Tong Tong, and it's up to her how she wants to handle it."
Seeing Qiao Liang chastised and silent, Tong Tong snickered and started fiddling with the necklace, trying to figure out how to put it on herself.
Struggling with the clasp and ready to ask Qiao Liang for help, Princess Charlene, seated on the ground across from them, suddenly asked, "May I have a look?"
Predisposed with a mysterious admiration for princesses, Tong Tong squeezed past Qiao Liang to sit beside Charlene. She made a funny face at Briella, who was sitting in her mother's lap, then handed the necklace to Charlene, saying, "I can't find the clasp."
Charlene, a famous princess from a wealthy European royal family, had seen many jewels.
She skillfully fiddled with the platinum necklace's fastener at the top and opened it.
However, she didn't immediately put the necklace on Tong Tong, but instead placed the broad bean-sized black diamond in her palm, tilting it slightly against the firelight...
"This is a black diamond, it has quite a few cracks, but these cracks are more interesting than the diamond itself."
Huddling close, Tong Tong squinted with dubious understanding, curious to know, "What's a black diamond? Are there really black diamonds? Are they expensive?"
Charlene chuckled at the question, shaking her head, "Black diamonds are rare, but the value of jewelry depends on the person and the significance it holds for its owner."
As she spoke, Charlene then handed the necklace to Qiao Liang, signaling him to put it on his girlfriend, then spread her hands and said, "I genuinely don't know how much it is worth.
The design of this necklace has a strong industrial vibe, lacking a bit of romance and failing to highlight the mysterious aura of the black diamond.
But the craftsmanship is very fine, the diamond was not cut in the traditional way, but rather it seems to cater to the pattern formed by the cracks inside.
Quite interesting. I rather like it!"
Tong Tong wasn't really concerned about the so-called 'price'; judging from Charlene's reaction it probably wasn't worth much. But hearing the princess say she really liked it, with a show of evident envy, Tong Tong playfully nudged Qiao Liang, saying, "Put it on quickly. Black diamonds, huh? I never heard of them before."
Little Princess Briella watched as Qiao Liang awkwardly put the necklace on Tong Tong. The young girl noted the envy on her mother's face, confused, for she didn't understand her mother's 'envy' stemmed from desiring sincere affection. Intent on sticking up for her mother, Briella scrunched her nose and said in halting English to Joe Ga, "Hu Lang, you should give my mom a present."
Seeing Charlene's slightly embarrassed expression, Joe Ga waved his hand indicating it was okay, then he made a grabbing motion in the air, leaned in with his fist extended towards Briella, and said with a smile, "Blow a breath here, and I'll conjure a gift, but this is for the loveliest little princess. If you want a gift for mom, you'll need to venture into the great plains by yourselves."