C7 Little Test of Strength!

When Lee Wen first moved into his rental a year ago, he was quite taken with Liu Jiajia's youthful charm, her cute and cheerful personality captivating him for quite some time. He harbored a secret crush on her for a long while, but as time passed, he noticed that she treated everyone the same way—regardless of gender, as long as she enjoyed their company. Realizing this, Lee Wen quietly let go of his unrequited affection.

Hearing the word "duck" escape Liu Jiajia's lips, paired with her sparkling eyes and plump, rosy lips, Lee Wen nearly lost his composure and pinned her against the wall. But the thought of Ye Tingyu, who sent his heart racing, helped him quickly regain his composure. He patiently explained, "Liu Jiajia, can't you hope for the best for me? Do I seem like that type of guy? I work at an antique shop! The best one in Antique City, Tingyu House—you know it, right? That was my boss who just dropped me off; I worked late, and he was kind enough to give me a ride home."

"Hmph, the more you explain, the guiltier you sound," Liu Jiajia retorted with a dismissive tilt of her head. "You're telling me you have no feelings for her?"

"I've got feelings for you, too!" Lee Wen shot back, eyeing her well-toned dancer's figure. He playfully slapped her on the behind and chuckled.

"Ah! How dare you take liberties with me!" Despite her usual laid-back demeanor, Liu Jiajia dashed off toward her house like a frightened deer, yelling, "Mom! Lee Wen touched my butt..."

Damn!

Lee Wen panicked and bolted to his room.

The next morning, after a silent night, Lee Wen arrived at Tingyu House for work. Once he finished cleaning, he took a leave of absence from Ye Tingyu and stepped out, intent on finding someone who could repair a vase.

Despite the early hour, Antique City was already bustling with activity. The streets were alive with a myriad of rare antiques and a diverse crowd weaving through the vibrant scene.

As Lee Wen strolled down the street, his mind buzzing with curiosity, he found his path suddenly blocked by a throng of onlookers. Peering through the crowd, it became apparent that something intriguing was unfolding, as intermittent sighs rippled through the bystanders.

"Could there be something entertaining going on?" Puzzled, Lee Wen hastened forward and wormed his way into the crowd.

"Just now, that gentleman purchased a raw stone for three thousand dollars and turned a profit of over a hundred thousand in mere minutes—everyone here witnessed it! Now, let's move on to the next round!" An elderly man sporting a cap and a pair of slender, comical moustaches stood by a heap of jade stones, barking out invitations. "Pick any you like, pay, and we'll cut it right here. Today could be your lucky day! The raw stones vary in price, from one hundred to several thousand dollars..."

With a clang, the old man struck a gong in his hand. "Those who dream of riches, step up..."

"Boss, I'll pick one!"

"May it be jadeite!"

"This one seems promising!"

Several onlookers, already itching to try their luck, eagerly approached the pile of raw stones, selecting with great care as the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.

A thought struck Lee Wen, and he edged his way to the forefront of the crowd. Since his body had undergone its transformation, he could determine the authenticity of various ancient jade artifacts. He wondered if his ability would apply to jade raw stones as well.

"I'll give it a go!" Lee Wen's excitement grew, and he stepped toward the raw stones, full of hope.

As a newcomer to the industry, Lee Wen's knowledge of raw stones and jade artifacts was limited. He relied solely on his unique ability to sift through the stones. Upon touching the first raw stone, a crisp verdict echoed in his mind after three seconds: "Defective raw stone, no jade, appraisal complete."

"Raw stones can be appraised too! This could be my chance!" Lee Wen was ecstatic internally, yet his face remained impassive as he reached for the second raw stone.

"Defective raw stone, no jade, appraisal complete."

"Substandard raw stone, no jade, appraisal complete." He continued in this manner, and after several minutes, the results were consistently the same. Exhausting his psychic force, Lee Wen began to feel a draining weakness. As he stood up, dizziness washed over him, and he nearly lost his balance.

"Young man..." chuckled the elderly host of the stone gambling event, giving Lee Wen a friendly smile. "After feeling all those raw stones, have you set your sights on any?"

The onlookers burst into good-natured laughter upon hearing this. Most of the attendees, aside from a few bystanders, were somewhat skilled or had researched stone gambling. They knew that Lee Wen wasn't looking at the stones quite right.

Lee Wen's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but he brazenly replied, "What's the rush, boss? I'd like to keep browsing a bit longer!"

"Ha, go ahead, it's free to look!" The old man replied with a hearty laugh.

As Lee Wen turned to squat down and resume his search, he stepped on a raw stone the size of an egg. It was so smooth that he stumbled and nearly fell.

"Shoot... Huh?" Lee Wen exclaimed as he picked up the inconspicuous little stone. He was about to swear, but he bit back the rest of his words.

The moment his fingers touched the stone, it began to itch and heat up. "Mid-grade raw stone detected, contains jade, assessment complete!"

Lee Wen's mind raced with excitement. He quickly turned back to the old man and inquired, "Boss, how much for this raw stone?"

The old man glanced at it and chuckled, "You've taken a fancy to this unassuming piece? Take it for five hundred. Do you want to cut it here or take it with you?"

"Let's cut it here!" Lee Wen, confident that the stone would turn a profit, declared. "I didn't bring any cash, I'll transfer the money to you."

"That works..." The old man, disinterested in further conversation, recited his bank details and then directed a worker to cut the stone for Lee Wen before moving on to attend to other potential high rollers.

The old man had hired four or five assistants, all seasoned workers from Antique City, each with professional stone-cutting skills and a strong work ethic. The worker assigned to Lee Wen appeared simple and honest, and he didn't take any shortcuts with the small stone. He carefully watered it, secured it in place, and then proceeded to cut with precision, watering the stone gradually with each deeper cut, following the proper procedures meticulously.

Observing from the sidelines, Lee Wen considered the situation: if the jade sold for a handsome sum later on, perhaps he should consider tipping the cutter as a token of appreciation.