Ma Xiaoling's appearance dispelled all the unpleasantness from before. Though only twenty years old, she possessed a maturity and composure unbefitting her age.
Her delicate features, elegant attire, and those slender, beautiful legs drew every man's gaze.
It's one thing to be rich.
To be rich and beautiful is truly enviable.
Ma Xiaoling was exceptionally aloof; just looking at her gave one a sense of unapproachability, a distance that made one wonder what kind of exceptional man would be worthy of her.
Next, Ma Xiaoling offered a brief greeting to the guests and then moved on to a very important segment of the birthday banquet: the pendant presentation!
Invited by Ma Tengyun, jewelers from all over Modu attended this banquet.
Big, small, old, new – all were invited, not for any other reason than to ensure Ma Xiaoling received the most perfect pendant!
Everyone knew that Ma Xiaoling herself was an incredibly accomplished jewelry designer.
Furthermore, her favorite accessory was pendants!
She had designed no less than a hundred types of pendants, each selling exceptionally well; Ma Xiaoling was the trendsetter in the jewelry industry.
If she were to wear jewelry from a particular brand, that brand's sales would skyrocket.
Today, Ma Xiaoling broke from her usual style, wearing no jewelry at all, her neck bare. She wanted to gauge the capabilities of each jewelry store and see if they could match her standards.
The host announced, "Now, we invite all the jewelers to present their respective pieces."
The first to step forward was the owner of Qian Jiang Jewelry. He opened a deep blue box, revealing a sapphire pendant.
Round and smooth, it shimmered with a radiant luster.
It was like a fallen teardrop of a beauty, making it impossible to put down.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, is this exquisite pendant the first piece? Remarkable, truly remarkable. It seems everyone has gone all out."
"What else can you expect? If one can gain Ma Xiaoling's favor, they can connect with the Ma family, and future money-making opportunities will be abundant."
"I thought our pendant was outstanding, but now it seems getting first place is purely a matter of luck."
Hearing the fawning, the Qian Jiang owner was quite pleased. He smiled at Ma Xiaoling, confidently believing she would adore this 'teardrop of a beauty.'
To his surprise!
Ma Xiaoling merely glanced at it and then looked away.
Furthermore, she uttered a single word in a voice as cold as ice: "Tacky."
With one word, Qian Jiang Jewelry was condemned!
In Ma Xiaoling's eyes, this teardrop was a vulgar item. Since it was vulgar, it naturally couldn't match the elegant and high-class Ma Xiaoling.
Therefore, Qian Jiang Jewelry had failed!
The host said, "I'm sorry, please take your teardrop and leave."
The Qian Jiang owner was immensely disappointed but dared not protest. He could only sigh deeply and leave the banquet hall with his jewelry.
Those who failed didn't even have the right to stay and dine.
It seemed truly heartless.
Everyone shook their heads.
"What the hell, that's too harsh! To just send someone away if it doesn't meet her fancy, without giving them any face at all."
"Who cares if she's Miss Ma? Who cares if she's the daughter of the richest man? What if she doesn't give you face? You just have to endure it!"
"She even looked down on such a beautiful teardrop and called it tacky. Ma Xiaoling's standards are far too high. I'm afraid I'll be sent away too."
Just as everyone predicted, the subsequent scene could only be described as 'horrifying to behold.'
Jewelry store owners, one after another, presented pendants they believed to be perfect, only to be rejected by Ma Xiaoling, without exception.
None met her approval!
This caused those who came later to lose all hope, their faces etched with dejection.
Ma Xiaoling's stringency exceeded everyone's imagination.
Finally, it was Kaixuan Jewelry's turn!
Xiao Zhan handed the box to Jiang Mengxin, encouraging her, "President Jiang, the pendant meticulously designed and crafted by our Kaixuan Jewelry is absolutely perfect. Please go up with confidence."
"Mm."
Jiang Mengxin nodded and walked onto the stage, box in hand.
Instantly, the men's interest was piqued.
Because Jiang Mengxin was also exceptionally beautiful, her looks and figure were in no way inferior to Ma Xiaoling's, and she appeared even more mature.
If Ma Xiaoling was a slightly astringent green apple, then Jiang Mengxin was a mouthwatering red apple.
The duel between the two beauties made the men present swallow their saliva.
Regardless of the final outcome, just being able to witness such a stunning spectacle was worth it.
Jiang Mengxin smiled, opened the box, and revealed the pendant within.
An emerald pendant!
"Whoa, it's emerald! Kaixuan Jewelry has spared no expense. This pendant alone would cost at least ten million."
"Ten million? You're dreaming! It's at least thirty million to start."
Such a precious raw material piqued Ma Xiaoling's interest slightly.
She peered closely and couldn't help but chuckle.
This was Ma Xiaoling's first smile of the evening, like the melting of ice and the caress of a spring breeze, leaving everyone captivated.
The reason for Ma Xiaoling's smile was that the pendant was exceptionally unique.
Kaixuan Jewelry had designed it in the image of a general holding a sharp sword, returning victorious!
It was a bold design.
Xiao Zhan and Jiang Mengxin had considered many designs but found them unsatisfactory. In the end, they simply integrated their company's brand image into it, creating this piece.
Very bold.
However, it yielded significant rewards.
Ma Xiaoling nodded and said, "Interesting. Keep it."
This was the first pendant kept that evening!
Jiang Mengxin was overjoyed. She placed the pendant on the low table in front of Ma Xiaoling and said with a smile, "Thank you, Miss Ma."
Then, she gracefully returned to her seat.
Xiao Zhan high-fived Jiang Mengxin, saying, "Our design succeeded! As expected, being bold can create miracles."
Jiang Mengxin also said, "I can tell Miss Ma really likes our pendant."
"Is that so?"
Just as Xiao Zhan and Jiang Mengxin were exceptionally excited, Lu Ming poured cold water on them at an inopportune moment.
Jiang Mengxin looked at Lu Ming with great displeasure, "Can you die if you don't speak? You only say discouraging things all day, you're so annoying."
Lu Ming gave a wry smile, "It's not that I want to say discouraging things, but that's the reality. Although your pendant was kept, there's no reason to be happy."
Jiang Mengxin asked doubtfully, "What do you mean? Not worth being happy just because it was kept?"
Lu Ming said, "Because Miss Ma doesn't actually like your design. She merely thinks you were bold enough and appreciates your courage, which is why she let you keep it. In simple terms, it's just a consolation prize."
"What?" Jiang Mengxin didn't believe him. "You're just being jealous."
Lu Ming shook his head and pointed at the Kaixuan pendant, saying, "Let me ask you one thing: if Miss Ma truly liked it, why didn't she even touch it? Let alone try wearing it?"