In the early morning, Chu Qianli woke up sleepily. She casually pressed off the alarm on her phone, then lay in bed looking at the astrological chart. After a while, she slowly got up and washed up.
On her desk, her homework, playing cards, and unopened tarot cards were scattered. Chu Qianli casually swept the items into her bag and, without much thought, grabbed the bag and shook it, finally finishing the tidying up.
“Ah, almost forgot,” Chu Qianli murmured, reaching into her bag and feeling for the playing cards. She quickly counted them, intending to do her daily routine of divination.
This was a habit she’d had since childhood.
She had been asking the same question in her daily divination.
Chu Qianli no longer needed to lay out the cards in a spread. She casually drew a few playing cards and turned them over on the table one by one. Before finishing, she clicked her tongue and said, “So unlucky.”
The answer to the question had never changed.
As the saying goes, timing, location, and harmony—everything depends on the right moment. But she didn’t know when she’d get the chance.
At the breakfast table, Chu Qianli and He Shichen sat across from each other, eating breakfast. They were both getting ready for school, facing a brand-new Monday.
Chu Qianli stole a glance at He Shichen. While chewing on a dumpling, she reminded him, “Money-making, you know.”
He Shichen ate in silence, calmly and elegantly.
Seeing he didn’t respond, Chu Qianli immediately began chanting, “Money, money, money, money…”
“Shut up, no talking while eating,” He Shichen’s expression instantly broke, his blood pressure rising early in the morning. He snapped, “And students’ main job is to study, stop focusing on short-term gains.”
Chu Qianli smirked. “Our family works in the internet industry. You should get used to 996 now.”
He Shichen: “……” Is this even human language?
He Shichen didn’t want to engage with Chu Qianli. Yesterday, he was still patching up his fractured worldview. Honestly, he couldn’t handle any more stimuli right now. It was like encountering supernatural phenomena in a novel—without a high-energy warning, any reader would be left stunned.
He Shichen had no intention of thinking about Chu Qianli for now. He needed time to digest the shocking information.
In class, Chu Qianli enjoyed rare peace. He Shichen regarded her like an invisible person and didn’t interfere with her sleeping during class.
Tan Muxing, somewhat surprised, said, “I feel like your relationship with He Shichen has changed.”
Chu Qianli replied, “I guess he’s like a Muggle encountering magic for the first time in Harry Potter.”
Tan Muxing chuckled wryly. “Is He Shichen really a Muggle?”
Qiu Qingkong rushed over excitedly. She greeted the student sitting in front of Chu Qianli, then took the seat next to her, joining her and Tan Muxing at the same table. “I’ve come to apprentice myself!”
Chu Qianli replied casually, “Ah, I’ve already looked at your astrological chart, and you’re indeed suited to study this.”
Tan Muxing looked puzzled. “Apprentice?”
Qiu Qingkong’s face was full of excitement. “That’s right! I’ve watched a lot of videos online, but none of them were as accurate, so I wanted to come and learn from you.”
Qiu Qingkong had always been interested in mysticism, but there were so many charlatans among online fortune tellers. After discovering Chu Qianli’s incredible abilities, she immediately decided to formally become her student.
Chu Qianli said gently, “Although I’ve agreed to teach you, you don’t need to call me ‘teacher.’ I can only provide personal experience, and divination is a very personalized thing.”
Every diviner has their own style of interpretation. In other words, divination is individualized.
“That’s still like being a teacher! So what should we start learning?” Qiu Qingkong asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling. Then, she suddenly added, “Oh, should I pay the tuition first? I’ve seen online teachers charge for their lessons…”
Chu Qianli: “I don’t charge you any tuition, but I need you to do something for me.”
Qiu Qingkong: “What’s that?”
Chu Qianli placed a piece of paper on the desk and pushed it toward Qiu Qingkong. “Just help me spread the content on this.”
Chu Qianli had analyzed Qiu Qingkong’s astrological chart and knew that she was exceptionally skilled at spreading information and could maintain an active presence for a long time.
Tan Muxing looked over. He realized the paper had a price list, categorizing charges for astrology dice, tarot cards, playing cards, etc., and indicated the divination time for each tool. At the bottom was a separate entry for “Divination Astrology,” claiming to answer any question, and the price was the highest.
Tan Muxing understood. Chu Qianli wasn’t charging Qiu Qingkong tuition but instead had her distribute little advertisements.
Qiu Qingkong took the paper and read through it. She then realized, “I get it. You want to promote your business, Teacher.”
Tan Muxing looked at Chu Qianli and objectively commented, “You’ve made the right call by having her do this.”
“Yes, I saw from her chart that she’s good with people and has a strong ability to spread information, so…” Chu Qianli suddenly snapped back to reality and looked at her desk mate, stunned. “Wait, do you also know astrology?”
Otherwise, why would he make such a comment?
Tan Muxing shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t know astrology.”
Chu Qianli was confused. “Then how did you know she was suitable?”
Qiu Qingkong raised her hand. “Teacher, my family works in media, and everyone in the class knows.”
Tan Muxing, in good spirits, added, “One of the largest media companies in the country. You don’t need astrology to know that.”
Chu Qianli: “!!?”
Tan Muxing looked at his desk mate’s stunned expression and couldn’t help but smile. “Looks like you were right. Astrology is almost becoming a cost-effective tool. There are occasionally other methods, too.”
Chu Qianli used to say that studying Marxism was an escape from instinct, and now Tan Muxing understood her habitual way of thinking.
“The content is just too plain, nothing like the clickbait titles you see online. Nowadays, web fiction has to have some chaotic titles to grab attention,” Qiu Qingkong said, stroking her chin and brainstorming. “Let me help you improve it, Teacher. We’ll keep the basic info but spice it up a little, right?”
Chu Qianli decisively said, “Great, it’s decided then. Pikachu Qiu!”
Tan Muxing: “Pun jokes will cost extra.”
The three of them gathered together to discuss. Qiu Qingkong would handle the copywriting, Tan Muxing would be in charge of the design, and Chu Qianli would be the client.
“Based on the teacher’s divination abilities, the price should also be adjusted…” Qiu Qingkong tried to add a zero to the numbers with a fountain pen but found that the pen had been grabbed by Chu Qianli. She looked up in surprise.
Chu Qianli stopped her: “Don’t change the price.”
“Why?”
“It’s fine. This can also be considered your introductory lesson.” Chu Qianli paused for a moment and then tilted her head, adding, “Although many diviners profit from astrology and tarot, enjoying the fame and status that comes with the stars, I don’t really like that feeling…”
“It’s not that making money from the stars is wrong, but the people who come seeking the stars are often those who are at the end of their rope. Many people would never believe in astrology unless they’ve been seriously hurt. They’re in extreme pain and have placed their last hope in it.”
Chu Qianli had seen many people come for divination for the first time, most of them were trapped in suffocating despair. If someone’s life was happy, they rarely wanted to peek into their destiny.
Many people were lost in the pitch-black night, and only then did they hope for the starry light in the sky.
Even so, they might still doubt the diviner or even be deceived by them.
Chu Qianli fiddled with the astrology dice on the table, listening to the crisp sound they made, and softly said: “Those with power and influence might use the stars to consolidate their position, but the ones who really need the stars may never encounter them in their entire lifetime. That’s the reality from ancient times to now, and it might even contradict the spirit of astrology.”
Top diviners always served the successful people in the secular world, but these people were often not the ones who urgently needed the power of the stars.
Tan Muxing caught the rare seriousness in her tone and cautiously asked: “The spirit of astrology?”
“Mmm, have you ever watched Harry Potter? We’re all Muggles who can never learn magic, but we’re still moved by the stories of magic. I think that’s the spirit of astrology.”
Chu Qianli smiled and continued, “It’s possible that we might never get an accurate divination, but we can still be shaken by the philosophy of the stars, realizing that our lives have meaning and that there are things only we can do.”
The natal chart reveals a person’s life challenges, and these challenges are unique and irreplaceable.
Under the vast and boundless starry sky, everyone is as insignificant as dust, yet they still hope to dance as tiny specks of dust in the starry light.
“Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and many people oppose me.” Chu Qianli sighed and looked at Qiu Qingkong. “So, I don’t mind if you make big money from the stars, and I’ve already said it’s fine if you don’t call me ‘teacher.’”
Qiu Qingkong paused in confusion, “Why do they oppose you? I think what you said makes sense.”
“Being opposed is normal. Scientists often argue too.” Chu Qianli had long forgotten how many people criticized her, there were so many that it felt as numerous as the stars in the sky.
She numbly counted on her fingers, “Moreover, there are so many schools in metaphysics. Just in astrology, there are several branches. Eastern ancient astrology, such as Guo Lao Xing and Seven Political Stars, is commonly called fortune-telling by outsiders. Western astrology is divided into classical and modern astrology, and the ancient and modern astrologers often argue. In Western astrology, atheism itself can lead to arguments…”
Chu Qianli occasionally felt like she wasn’t an astrologer but a “star warrior” fighting against other star researchers every day.
Tan Muxing curiously asked: “So, which school do you belong to?”
Chu Qianli answered honestly: “I’ve studied both Eastern and Western astrology and integrated them. I belong to the ‘the one who is often argued against’ school.”
Tan Muxing: “…”
Tan Muxing imagined her calling herself a Marxist believer to people who dealt with mysticism, and he realized it was enough to make anyone stop in their tracks—no way she wouldn’t anger someone.
Qiu Qingkong: “So, Teacher doesn’t like making money from astrology?”
Chu Qianli: “Well, not really. I charge more for the rich, and less for the poor, trying to narrow the gap between the wealthy and the poor.”
Qiu Qingkong nodded thoughtfully, then added zeros to the price. “Then the price should be adjusted.”
Chu Qianli widened her eyes in surprise. “Why?”
Qiu Qingkong: “Because it’s really too low. It’s just the price of two cups of bubble tea.”
Chu Qianli was stunned. “Is bubble tea really that expensive in the city?!”
Tan Muxing nodded in agreement. “The original price isn’t expensive for the people in our class, though of course, our school is a bit special.”
Qiu Qingkong agreed. “Teacher really doesn’t understand the material world.”
Chu Qianli tactically withdrew, dumbfounded. “How do you know I neglect the material world? You haven’t seen my natal chart!”
Tan Muxing muttered under his breath: “…Because there are many things you can know without astrology.”
Tan Muxing realized that Chu Qianli lacked common sense. She was really only good at things related to stars, leaving her desk in a messy state every day, and sleeping through classes that didn’t interest her.
She probably had no idea how wealthy most of the students in the class were, and didn’t understand luxury goods like watches, cars, or high-end fashion.
For instance, the fountain pen Qiu Qingkong was holding to write was worth quite a bit, but to Chu Qianli, it probably just seemed like an ordinary pen.
After a discussion between Qiu Qingkong and Tan Muxing, they agreed on the new pricing for Chu Qianli’s divination service.
Chu Qianli stared nervously at the new price, realizing her environment had changed. She barely held back her tears and said, “Wuwuwu, the evil capitalist system… One day, we will see the liberation of all humankind…”
She knew the people at the school were likely wealthy, but her imagination about wealth was too limited. She hadn’t adjusted from the prices in her village.
Tan Muxing showed her the final design on his phone, and gently reassured her, “Yes, yes, we will all be liberated. Now, how about we take a look at the layout?”
Chu Qianli looked at the rough note she had written, which Qiu Qingkong had polished, and then Tan Muxing had formatted into a beautiful electronic image.
Chu Qianli gazed at the star-and-moon design with the embellished text and exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful! Did you just draw this? You can design too?”
Tan Muxing awkwardly said, “Uh, I occasionally design clothes, so it’s more or less the same.”
Chu Qianli: “That’s impressive! Are you planning to become a fashion designer?”
Tan Muxing was immediately at a loss for words. “Uh… well…”
Qiu Qingkong raised her hand and said, “Teacher, his family has several clothing brands. I don’t think he’ll get to do the design work himself.”
Qiu Qingkong’s family, like the He family, had only rapidly risen in recent years, involved in media, internet, finance, and other industries.
Tan Muxing’s family, however, was involved in traditional industries. His family had been wealthy since his great-grandfather’s time, and their family network was quite large, with the clothing business being just one aspect of it.
Upon hearing this, Chu Qianli fell silent and stared at her desk mate, suddenly realizing that she was the naive one in this situation.
Tan Muxing awkwardly looked back at Chu Qianli, his face flushing with embarrassment for his social class. He lowered his head weakly and said, “Sorry.”
He had betrayed the working class.
All he could do now was apologize to the followers of Marxism.
Chu Qianli: “…” She didn’t expect this guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes to have betrayed the revolution!
As a naïve astrologer, Chu Qianli had been hit with a double blow from both Qiu Qingkong and Tan Muxing. She now felt no psychological burden whatsoever and could collect fees from her classmates without guilt.
She was deeply aware that narrowing the wealth gap was urgent, and she had to contribute in some way to reducing the country’s Gini coefficient.
