Tan Muxing browsed online for a long time, looking at various arguments, and finally conceded, “Although I’m still not sure whether astrology is scientific, I do believe in your divination skills. They’re truly amazing…”
Tan Muxing wasn’t interested in delving into academic questions. He simply trusted Chu Qianli, even though her abilities differed from his previous understanding. Deep down, he accepted her skills.
Chu Qianli was quite satisfied. “That’s enough for me. We have different views, but it’s great that we can accept each other like this.”
Tan Muxing breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great. I was afraid you’d be mad at me…”
He was afraid of offending Chu Qianli, especially since her reaction had been quite strong earlier. It seemed she really cared about the issue.
Chu Qianli calmly shook her head. “No, I won’t get mad. Even if you don’t believe me, I won’t be upset. You’re one of the people who accept me the most.”
Even though her divination skills had once been top-tier, she had often been regarded as a fraud. Countless people had closely monitored every one of her predictions, hoping that one day she would fail and break the myth of her unbroken streak.
Among these people were fellow astrologers, researchers of other forms of metaphysics, and ordinary people who simply didn’t believe in the supernatural. Humans are fearful of the unknown and find it hard to accept things beyond their understanding.
Chu Qianli’s tone was casual, but Tan Muxing, for some reason, felt a sense of loneliness in it. His heart was unexpectedly pierced by the indifference in her voice.
Tan Muxing hurriedly changed the subject, saying warmly, “But you actually study Marxist philosophy too? I thought you were only interested in the stars.”
Chu Qianli responded, “Ah, that’s my self-protection mechanism.”
Tan Muxing was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”
Chu Qianli paused for a few seconds, carefully choosing her words as she tried to explain. “The most mysterious and controversial symbol in astrology is the lunar nodes, especially the South Node, which represents the past. It’s something we’re good at, what genetics calls inheritance, or what some people call karma. It causes us to make choices instinctively…”
“The South Node represents the area we’re obsessed with. I do have a natural talent for astrology, and it feels familiar and effortless, which is what the South Node tells me. But if I get stuck there, I won’t make any progress. The South Node also has the meaning of ‘departure,’ indicating avoidance when faced with difficulties.”
Doing what we’re good at is comfortable, but it also means that there’s little room for new growth.
Chu Qianli had seen countless star charts, and naturally, she had also studied her own. In fact, that was where her journey into astrology began.
Everyone’s star chart is unique, revealing both their strengths and weaknesses.
Chu Qianli lowered her gaze and said, “The reason I study Marxist philosophy is a self-preservation mechanism, a way to counterbalance the inertia of the South Node’s influence. A person can only reach their potential future if they don’t get lost in their primal instincts. Growth, change, and evolution are the core of astrology.”
Astrology had both made and broken Chu Qianli. Sometimes, she had to step outside of it, which was also what her star chart indicated.
Tan Muxing was partially understanding, but still a little confused. “What would happen if you didn’t have this self-preservation mechanism?”
Chu Qianli thought for a moment, then said, “Well, I might rely on astrology to gain immense wealth and status, but then get lost in the flattery of my followers and mistakenly believe that I’m truly a god. In the end, I would face a tragic fate from which there’s no return?” She blinked and teased, “Like the fallen leader of a cult?”
Tan Muxing was speechless…
That actually seemed quite plausible. She was indeed good at brainwashing people and even gathered students during lunch break. In some ways, she did have a certain persuasive power.
Tan Muxing’s expression was complex, but he nodded in agreement. “Please continue studying Marxism. Don’t ever remove your self-preservation mechanism.”
He didn’t want her to spread superstition and end up facing a disastrous outcome.
After school, since Chu Qianli didn’t have a phone, Tan Muxing wrote down his number for her and told her to add him if she had a chance over the weekend.
At the school gate, He Shichen was sitting in a car, watching coldly as Chu Qianli said goodbye to Tan Muxing. He completely didn’t understand the sudden friendship between them. His fingers drummed impatiently on the car door.
Tan Muxing comes from a well-off family, but he himself lacks ability and doesn’t have an advantage in appearance. He loves sewing clothes for dolls, which is far from being associated with the term “elite.” He has a submissive personality and is often ridiculed by people like Wang Zheng. Could it be that Chu Qianli thinks he’s easy to control?
In He Shichen’s view, Chu Qianli’s actions are full of ulterior motives. Perhaps she’s trying to deceive him with a foolish façade, waiting for the right moment to strike a fatal blow, just like the huge contrast in the afternoon’s quiz performance.
He Shichen is suspicious by nature. He doesn’t believe that Chu Qianli has no ill intentions toward him. As a result, he’s constantly preemptively analyzing her moves, weaving one scenario after another of a rich family power struggle.
Chu Qianli got into the car and waved at Tan Muxing. When the vehicle started moving, she noticed that He Shichen had a dark expression. She asked in confusion, “Does your wound still hurt?”
He Shichen’s injury hadn’t healed, and he had tried to cover it up a little when going to school that day, but people around him still expressed concern.
He Shichen didn’t feel like indulging her with false politeness and casually replied, “No, it doesn’t hurt.”
Chu Qianli responded, “Then why do you have such a sour face?”
He Shichen glared at her, feeling that she wouldn’t take the hint. He mocked, “Every time I see you, I feel bad. Is that okay?”
He Shichen made it very clear. They acted polite in front of their parents, but their first meeting had already been a huge explosive event.
Chu Qianli, in a good-natured way, suggested, “It’s fine, but I can’t really do anything about it. Why don’t you talk to Dad and Mom about moving out?”
She didn’t take his dislike seriously. She just thought that the male protagonist was rejecting the female supporting character because he wanted to stay loyal to the female lead.
He Shichen stared at her innocent face: “!!?” You want to kick me out?
He Shichen was convinced that Chu Qianli was scheming. On the way home, she made veiled remarks in the car, then pretended to be innocent at home, starting to play the victim in front of their parents.
At the dinner table, the family was eating happily. He Zhenghe observed Chu Qianli’s expression and cautiously asked, “Qianli, do you want to change your last name back?”
Chu Qianli had just returned, and many of the formalities hadn’t been completed. Changing her name would be easy.
Her parents thought that He Shichen didn’t need to change his name, but they were worried that Chu Qianli might feel a lack of belonging, so they brought up the idea.
Yu Shen looked at Chu Qianli with concern, while only He Shichen felt uneasy, as if he were an outsider.
Chu Qianli gently declined, “No need, He Qianli and Yu Qianli don’t sound good either. No matter what surname, we’re still a family.”
He Shichen secretly thought, so you’re saying that since I have the surname He, I’m not really part of the family? What a clever move—retreating to advance.
Yu Shen softly asked, “Are you really sure you don’t want to?”
Chu Qianli replied, “No need. There’s something more important than this.”
He Zhenghe asked, “What’s that?”
Chu Qianli blinked obediently, made a hand gesture like counting money, and pitifully said, “Mom and Dad, poor, money.”
Nothing warms the heart like a large sum of money. Now that she had returned to the wealthy family, there were things she wanted to buy.
“……” He Shichen was both annoyed and helpless when faced with her act of being cutesy. He only felt that his fists were clenched.
He Zhenghe and Yu Shen had never seen a child ask for pocket money in such a manner. They burst into laughter, both feeling that it was quite fresh. He Shichen was always mature and serious and would never do such playful things.
The atmosphere at the table instantly became lively. Yu Shen helplessly got up and said in a warm voice, “I’ve already set up your phone and added a card. Let me show you how to use it.”
“Thank you, Mom.” Chu Qianli, like a little tail, followed Yu Shen eagerly, her eyes sparkling as she clearly couldn’t wait.
He Zhenghe smiled, “I promised you yesterday, so it looks like I should give you a red envelope. I can’t let Xingxing say I lied.”
Chu Qianli cheerfully said, “Thank you, Dad, thank you, Xingxing.”
He Shichen didn’t say a word the entire time. He didn’t mind giving money. The family had never lacked for his living expenses, and they even prepared a separate account and extra money for him to study the stock market.
He just wasn’t used to the family atmosphere. While she could soften her voice and act cute to make their parents happy, he couldn’t even bring himself to do such things. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of frustration, as though he were being excluded. He knew this mindset was unhealthy, but he couldn’t stop himself from feeling like an outsider.
They were a warm, blood-related family, and he was just a passerby with no ties.
He Shichen’s eyes dimmed, and he struggled to hide his sense of desolation.
After getting her new phone, Chu Qianli saw a red envelope from He Zhenghe in the family chat. She didn’t hesitate and opened it to claim it, then eagerly looked at He Shichen, repeating her previous act, “Brother, poor, red envelope.”
He Shichen: “……”
He Shichen’s mood instantly shifted. After hearing that, he felt his scalp tingle with embarrassment and suddenly wanted to be excluded from all of this.
He Zhenghe chuckled, “You really know who to ask. Shichen’s better than me. I heard from Second Uncle that his stock trading has been doing well recently?”
He Shichen modestly replied, “It’s nothing special.”
Chu Qianli’s eyes brightened upon hearing this, and she looked at him expectantly, like a little animal begging for food.
He Shichen, fearing that she would embarrass him again, expressionlessly entered the password and directly gave her a red envelope to get rid of her. There wasn’t much money in it, but for some reason, it made him uncomfortable.
Chu Qianli cheerfully said, “Thank you, Brother.”
He Shichen was speechless, his fingers trembling slightly. He didn’t want to give her a red envelope; he wanted to smack her instead.
After receiving her phone and the red envelope, Chu Qianli quickly dashed upstairs to her room to start shopping.
Yu Shen also got up from the table. The dining room was now left with just the father and son. He Zhenghe asked with concern, “How was school today?”
He Shichen replied, “Nothing special, just…”
He Shichen suddenly hesitated, unsure how to describe it. He wanted to say that Chu Qianli’s attitude toward studying wasn’t serious, but her physics level was even better than his, which he still couldn’t accept.
In the end, He Shichen didn’t embellish the truth and said fairly, “My sister has some subject gaps; there’s a big difference between her high and low points.”
He Zhenghe wasn’t surprised and calmly said, “She was in an ordinary school before, so of course, her results won’t be as good as yours. She’s only just transferred here. Don’t expect too much from her—let her at least get used to it first.”
He Shichen’s face darkened. If she was already like this before adjusting, then once she gets used to it, won’t she surpass me in every way?
He Zhenghe said, “Your mom and I have observed for a while, and it seems that Qianli isn’t interested in business studies. She might not attend the same type of university as you; she may have her own field of interest in the future.”
He Shichen had been deeply interested in business management since he was young, so He Zhenghe and Yu Shen had readily supported him. They never had the intention of cultivating a successor. Some children from wealthy families lack the business acumen, and professionals are hired to handle the management. It wasn’t necessary for a family member to take charge.
Chu Qianli, now without financial worries, had a wider range of options, and perhaps her interests would be different from He Shichen’s.
He Shichen’s expression softened slightly. He was persuaded by his father and began to adjust his mindset. He nodded in response, “I understand.”
Chu Qianli had been talking about all kinds of strange things the entire day. She didn’t have any excellent business management thinking, and at least in that aspect, she wouldn’t replace him.
In her bedroom, Chu Qianli had already finished exploring her new phone. She first added Tan Muxing on WeChat and noticed that his profile picture was an anime character of a big white bear, from the show Polar Bear Cafe. The bear was adorably clumsy, and it really resembled him—definitely a typical “second dimension” fan.
They exchanged a few casual words, and Tan Muxing added her to the class group, telling her that the weekend homework would be announced there.
Chu Qianli nearly wanted to leave the group right then and there, just to avoid the mandatory homework.
She didn’t care about the group or the homework and happily began online shopping. She placed orders for astrology dice, tarot cards, and other items, buying a lot of odd and quirky things, planning to expand her collection and then get back to her old hobbies.
