Chapter 640: Extra Chapter 1: Give Me a Child

However, at that time I was wholly focused on the Wufu Town pawnshop and Xiao Jiu, and my gaze did not linger on Jin Wuya for long.

I saw him again on an antique appraisal show.

The regular guest on this show was Tang Ao, the powerful head of the Tang family, well known in Huicheng.

Tang Ao lives up to his name—he is not only capable, but also has integrity and spirit.

Those he chooses to promote are never wrong.

During that period, whenever Tang Ao appeared on the show, he always brought Jin Wuya along.

I watched those episodes; Tang Ao heavily promoted Jin Wuya, the market would throw topics at him, and Jin Wuya handled them with ease—this person has an enormous knowledge base; at least as a Strange Artificer, he is no empty fame.

Although my grandfather is old, he is not senile; seeing that I had been paying attention to Jin Wuya all this time, he said to me, "Ah Rou, if you like him, give it a try—don't miss the chance and regret it later."

I shook my head: "I only admire his ability, but… he seems a bit old…"

A man in his early forties… if he doesn't keep himself pure, his fertility might not keep up, right?

Yes, I never thought about romance with him; I only considered his fertility.

But people are like that—once accustomed to something, if forced to stop, they feel all kinds of discomfort.

I watched several episodes of Tang Ao and Jin Wuya collaborating; I thought Jin Wuya would blow up from then on, and even without Tang Ao he would keep getting invitations—at least for two or three years, his figure would often appear on that appraisal show.

But there wasn't.

The Tang family had some incident then, and Tang Ao suddenly became low-key, the whole person in a semi-retired state.

This was a great opportunity for Jin Wuya; he could completely take Tang Ao's place in that role.

Surprisingly, Jin Wuya never appeared on the show again.

So I secretly looked into it and found that Jin Wuya had turned down all invitations and returned in earnest to his old trade.

During this process I also discovered that Jin Wuya's relationship with the girl named Li Qingying from the Wufu Town pawnshop seemed unusual.

I inexplicably felt a sense of crisis.

My grandfather urged me again: "Ah Rou, time waits for no one; you're already 38, and if you get any older, you won't be able to bear and raise your own child."

I gritted my teeth and made a decision.

I personally set up a scheme.

At that time Jin Wuya was in a bad mood, so I had people approach him, cater to his tastes, and introduce him to Lingnan auction houses, stone‑gambling markets, and antique shops…

Jin Wuya is a Strange Artificer, deeply familiar with the whole yin‑yang trade; he needs no elaborate schemes—once brought to Lingnan, he dives in like a fish into water.

I kept secretly observing him.

His eye is vicious; he can always snag the best antiques, yin artifacts, yang artifacts, etc., at the lowest price, then remodel them into strange artifacts through his hands and resell them for a big profit.

Especially after entering the stone‑gambling market, he was practically divinely aided—one look and he knew.

During that period he was visibly happy, immersed in the Lingnan yin‑yang market, oblivious to home.

Seeing the moment ripe, I began to close the net.

I pulled my connections to hold an auction, and also picked a few items from my grandfather's treasure vault that looked unimpressive but had great provenance to send to the auction house.

At the auction, Jin Wuya indeed took a fancy to two of my grandfather's items; he bid, and I followed.

I kept following.

I followed until he was furious, his whole gaze fixed on me; then I raised my bid and won the item, nodding at him to signal.

Hmm, in his view that probably counted as… provocation?

But soon enough, his friend introduced my background to him.

Then I had someone pass him a message saying I wanted him to turn those two auction items into suitable strange artifacts, price negotiable.

Jin Wuya agreed without much thought.

After the celebration banquet, I invited him to meet alone, and we talked in the private room until dawn.

I showed my appreciation for him and invited him another day to visit the Shi family to see my other collections.

Two days later, Jin Wuya came to pay a visit.

He truly is a person of great personal charm—articulate, perceptive, and kind‑hearted, basically all‑round.

My grandfather looked at him with great satisfaction, constantly praising him, introducing him to contacts; within just two or three months, Jin Wuya's name had made a place for itself throughout Lingnan.

He felt grateful to my grandfather, and even more so to me.

After closing another big deal, he once again invited me out for a meal, saying he wanted to properly thank me.

Of course, he also invited my two male cousins at the same time; they were on very close terms with him.

In the private room, the two cousins kept pouring drinks for Jin Wuya, urging him to drink—no stopping until drunk.

Afterwards, only Jin Wuya ended up passed out.

The two cousins helped him to a hotel upstairs room; he clung to the blanket, drunk, muttering a name: "Qingying…"

I was a bit angry, walked over, and slapped his cheek hard.

Jin Wuya opened his eyes, looking at me in a daze.

I asked him, "Jin Wuya, can you see clearly who I am?"

After a while he said, "Shi… Shi Rou."

I asked again, "Between me and Li Qingying, who is prettier?"

He hesitated, then said, "Both are pretty."

The alcohol sprayed on my face, a bit intoxicating.

I continued, "Do you like Li Qingying or Shi Rou?"

He slumped, murmuring, "Qingying… Qingying already has someone she likes… I… I am fated by heaven to be lonely and destitute, destined to spend my life alone and miserable…"

I cupped his face again and said, "I too have a hard fate and even harm husbands—do you dare to try with me, to see who's tougher?"

Jin Wuya, emboldened by drink, replied, "Let's try then—who's afraid of whom?"

Then I lowered my head and kissed him, pressing him onto the bed...

One night of debauchery.

The old man has indulged his desires, and he doesn't let the young man have any less.

At first I was the one who took the initiative, but later… later I couldn't tell who was right or wrong.

Originally I had planned that after we were done, I would splash him with cold water to wake him up, then sit down and have a proper negotiation with him.

As a result… I was so exhausted I fell asleep directly.

The two of us tossed and turned until late at night, sleeping in each other's arms, until the next morning when the sun was high, and a phone call startled us awake.

Our eyes met, I was bleary-eyed, he was stunned like a wooden chicken.

The phone rang three times before he came to his senses, then he began to apologize: "Sorry, Shi Rou, last night I drank too much and did something wrong. I… I will compensate you; tell me what you want, and I'll get it for you even if I have to go through blades and fire."

I said: "Hmm, you have to take responsibility for me."

"I want to take responsibility, but I can't." Jin Wuya began to explain incoherently: "My fate is cursed with loneliness and widowhood; whoever marries me will have no good ending, I can't harm you… Shi Rou, you should know me best; besides marrying you, I can agree to anything else."

I slightly curled the corner of my mouth and asked: "Really, anything?"

Jin Wuya nodded firmly: "Really."

I then said: "Then give me a child…"