Running a Fantasy Fertility Clinic

"Would you like me to continue?" Stone asked the lady. "I didn't mean for my reason to turn you into such a state."

Wu Meirong shook her head. 

"*Sniff*... No need…" She stuttered as she wiped away the tears. "I wasn't expecting to uncover such deep wounds and trauma."

Stone finished his glass of water as Wu Meirong calmed down and reign in her emotions. 

Seeing her recover, Stone let out a small chuckle before setting the booklet back in front of her. "Maybe I should've said that there was a price for all this, instead of that emotional rollercoaster."

"Roller…coaster?" Wu Meirong repeated, with a confused look on her face. 

"...Never mind." Stone shook his head as he continued to address her. "This is not going to be our only meeting between the two of us."

"It's… not?" Wu Meirong, still confused, trying to process foreign words and what Stone said. 

"Far from it, I will take payment once the child is born. And when that has happened, I will also provide help and resources to help you raise the child. Remember, while I did say that this is a fertility shop, it is also a pediatrics shop as well."

"Pediatrics? What does that mean?"

"In my tongue, it means caretaker of children. If they are injured, we heal them. If they get sick, we help them recover. If they are weak, we nurse them back and help them grow."

"Quite the honorable role." Wu Meirong noted.

"It is an honorable role." Stone said sarcastically. "While most of my colleagues are indeed honorable, there is always one that ruins everything. Letting it get into their heads that they are some sort of saint. But that is a can of worms that will be opened another time."

"For now, take the booklet with you. Hopefully the next time we meet, you will come bearing good news." Stone clapped his hand as he got up.

Caught in the moment, Wu Meirong followed suit, picking up the booklet in the meantime. 

Now that the time of parting is near, She caught herself thinking about all the things she had just experienced, especially on what Stone said about the booklet.

"Are you certain that whatever cultivation is in this booklet will let me bear a child?" Wu Meirong asked. 

Stone paused for a moment, before turning back to address her.

"There are no absolutes here." Stone began as he picked up a book. "What I have done so far is only half of what's possible. I was only able to address your concerns. Your other half, I have no knowledge of."

Stone flipped through the book, an old biology textbook from his world. 

"In my view, both parents are responsible for the child. Both are responsible for lighting the spark. The mother is responsible for nurturing and raising the child. The father is responsible for protecting and providing for both mother and child; as well as teaching and instilling discipline in the child." Stone put the book down and faced Wu Meirong. 

"That, unfortunately, only happens in a perfect world." Stone sighed, "And a perfect world rarely exists."

"That is why, for your next visit. I wish and hope you come bearing good news." Stone continued after noting Wu Meirongs silence. 

"It is getting late. You should return to your world now. If you have questions, hold onto them until your next visit."

Stone opened the main door and beckoned towards Wu Meirong. 

As she was leaving, she paused in the doorway before turning to Stone and bowing to him.

"Thank you for everything." Wu Meirong began. "I know this is our first meeting, and I haven't treated you right. But thank you for everything. You have given me hope that I have lost for the past 50 years."

Unsure of how to react, Stone sheepishly scratched his head before giving his reply.

"Please, save your salute for when you come with good news."

"You still deserve my salute." Wu Meirong shook her head and insisted. "For my next visit, I hope I can come and deliver the news with my husband. Farwell, Stone."

"Farewell Madam Wu. I look forward to that visit." Stone bowed as she walked through the door. 

As her figure disappeared from sight, Stone closed the door and looked at the shop, taking in the realization that this shop is indeed as special as he thought it was.

(Looks like I'm going to have a lot on my hands.) Stone thought to himself as he walked back into his office. 

"Time to close up shop." Stone said to himself as he noticed the sunlight start to fade. "Got a big day tomorrow, I can feel it. Now that the first person came, there's bound to be more people out there who need help." 

Yawning, Stone walked back through the shop, passing the break room along the way. Curious about Chelsea, he popped in to take a quick look, only for her to seemingly vanish. 

"Huh, I can only assume that she is a part of the shop." Stone mused to himself before turning and bumping into something.

"Ompf…"

"Ompf?" Stone repeated before looking down at what he bumped into. 

Chelsea's face was covered in his lab coat. Stifling a chuckle, Stone stepped back while making sure she didn't fall.

"What are you doing, stinky doc?" Chelsea demanded. 

(Stinking doc huh? What exactly did I do?) Stone thought to himself. "I was trying to check up on you, I'm closing shop now that the day is over."

"Oh, it's that time already?" Chelsea exclaimed as she checked her watch. "Then I'm going to hit the sack, 'kay!"

She then bolted towards the back of the shop before disappearing into a room.

(Huh, that's right across my room.) Stone noted before he entered his room.

Not a lot furnished his room. Ever since he moved into the shop, he barely had any belongings. Only his clothes and a few mementos of his late wife. Many of which still lie in boxes and containers hidden from sight. 

As he looked around, Stone pulled out a box and took out a picture frame. 

"I hope you're proud of me…" Stone muttered to himself as he held the frame. He kept this pose for what seemed like a lifetime before he put it back in the box and set it aside. 

"Time for me to hit the sack." Stone declared before flopping onto the bed and letting sleep take control.