Her father’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Who did?"
"Hera, the girl I invited! She got a green jade, a blue jade, and the highest quality green imperial jade!"
"What?!" Her father almost shouted in surprise. He remembered that the girl had only bought three stones and couldn’t believe that they were all valuable jades worth hundreds of millions. "You must be kidding me."
Liz pouted in annoyance. "If you don’t believe me, go over there and ask the stone master yourself. I’m not lying!"
He nced at the stone master and the third-floor assistant, who were busy conversing, and decided to approach them himself. Liz, irritated that her father didn’t trust her, followed closely behind.
"Did you really open a green jade, a blue jade, and an imperial jade for the girl who was here earlier?" Liz’s father asked directly, not wasting any time.
"Oh? You mean the beautiful girl? Yes, we did," the stone master replied, his face lit up with pride and excitement. He relished the opportunity to boast about opening such a rare find, knowing that imperial jade is nearly unheard of in the market.
Liz’s father was floored, regretting his earlier skepticism. He worried he might have offended Hera and Zhane with his dismissive attitude. Turning to Liz, he asked if she had managed to get their contact information. Liz then realized, with a pang of regret, that she had only given them her business card and had not obtained their details.
If Hera never called her, Liz thought, it would be a lost opportunity. She turned to the third-floor assistant, who had handled Hera’s delivery address, and asked for Hera’s contact information. However, the assistant stood firm, exining that client confidentiality agreements prohibited him from disclosing any personal details.
Liz and her father could only cry in regret.
Hera was taken aback. She had anticipated a trip to an amusement park, a ssic date choice and the same venue Zhane had chosen for his first date with Alice. Instead, she found herself at a shooting range.
As Zhane gently guided her inside by the hand, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of curiosity and excitement. The unexpected choice of venue hinted at a different kind of adventure, one that promised a new experience away from the usual date spots.
They quickly secured a private section of the shooting range, where two instructors awaited them. The area was stocked with an array of firearms, from pistols and assault rifles to sniper rifles. The instructors stood by, ready to assist with any questions or guidance they might need.
Hera stared nkly at the distant shooting target as Zhane helped her don the ear protection "muffler" and ballistic eyewear. The eye gear would shield her from any potential hazards, including stray fragments from the bullets.
Zhane noticed Hera’s distracted expression and rubbed his nose thoughtfully. After studying her face for a moment, he couldn’t quite gauge her thoughts. With a hint of unease, he asked, "Are you disappointed that I brought you here instead of the amusement park?" His voice was steady, but a trace of concern lingered.
Hera’s head snapped toward Zhane, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "What are you talking about? This feels like a dreame true! I’ve always wanted to try a shooting range, but my grandpa never let me because he said it was a men’s sport and too dangerous!"
She turned her attention back to the shooting target, her excitement palpable. Her palms were beginning to feel mmy, and a wide grin spread across her face as she eagerly awaited the instructors to begin their brief on how to use the firearms.
Upon hearing Hera’s enthusiastic response and seeing the sparkle of excitement in her eyes, Zhane let out a sigh of relief and chuckled softly. He walked over to the array of firearms and selected a smaller pistol, one designed for ease of use, especially for women. This choice would ensure Hera wouldn’t struggle with the weight or handling when she fired.
When Zhane handed her the pistol, Hera pouted and looked disappointed. "But what about a Magnum or a Desert Eagle?" she asked, clearly longing for something more impressive.
Zhane almostughed at Hera’s enthusiasm. Seeing this new side of her—her genuine excitement for his hobby—delighted him. He hadn’t anticipated she’d enjoy shooting so much. He had simply hoped to share a passion of his and bond, but her happiness here, even more than at an amusement park, pleasantly surprised him and made him even happier.
"Don’t worry, this Glock 19 is a great choice and will fit your hand perfectly. Plus, those others you mentioned would be too heavy for you."