The classmates in the room gradually left, with only a few staying in the corner.
Chu Qianli sat stiffly at the desk, unable to hide her surprise.
After listening to Qi Yan’s words, it was the first time Chu Qianli regained the feeling she had when she first started learning astrology. She could understand each word, but when they were put together, she completely didn’t understand. Confused, she asked, “What does this mean?”
Qi Yan placed both hands on the desk and leaned forward, speaking calmly, “There’s not really more males than females, but I suggest you don’t fixate too much on gender.”
Chu Qianli: “…”
Chu Qianli started to panic a bit. She looked towards her deskmate for help, her pupils shaking in disbelief.
Tan Muxing also had a completely blank expression. He silently mouthed the words—Run away fast.
“What do you think?” Qi Yan withdrew her arms, preparing to walk around the desk and stand in front of Chu Qianli.
Chu Qianli, startled, shrank behind Tan Muxing. Using her big, bear-like deskmate as a shield, she desperately begged, “I’m not pretending anymore, I confess. There’s really not more males than females, but I just have a simple desire for their bodies, woo woo woo…”
“You are truly outstanding, both in appearance and inner qualities, but it’s not possible! It really isn’t possible!” Chu Qianli said resolutely, shaking her head like a rattle drum as she nervously hid behind Tan Muxing.
Qi Yan noticed Chu Qianli’s startled expression and didn’t approach recklessly. Instead, she spoke slowly and calmly, “It’s not really your fault. I’m pretty much the same as you—just simply craving their bodies, not thinking they’re all that great.”
Tan Muxing, feeling incredibly awkward, weakly and helplessly said, “…Could you please not discuss this in front of me?”
This seemed like a private topic between girls, and at that moment, all he wanted was to disappear.
Chu Qianli was still using her deskmate as a shield. She suddenly picked up on a key word and immediately asked, “Since you’re the same as me, why would you say something like that?”
She remembered that Qi Yan was the protagonist of a romance novel where she wasn’t the female lead of a yuri story!
Qi Yan confessed, “Because your astrology skills are very strong, so I’m willing to take the initiative and give way.”
Chu Qianli: “…”
Chu Qianli immediately relaxed, stepping out from behind Tan Muxing. She helplessly said, “Friends, astrology is astrology, but let’s not say things that are frightening.”
Qi Yan was the protagonist of the original novel, and she had the typical traits of a strong female character: skilled in manipulating relationships, determined to achieve her goals no matter what, and so strong that she could turn many male characters into mere background figures. She wasn’t someone troubled by love—what mattered most to her was her vast career ambitions.
Chu Qianli immediately understood: Qi Yan didn’t like her, she probably just admired her abilities.
Chu Qianli opened her backpack and took out her divination tools, planning to attend an extra class. She asked, “What question do you want to ask for divination?”
Qi Yan smiled and said, “Sweetie, I don’t want to ask just one question. I hope you’ll keep divining for me.”
Chu Qianli: “…”
“Is there anything you want? Money, power, or status? Although I haven’t fully taken control of my family’s business yet, I can promise you half of whatever I have.” Qi Yan thought for a moment and then added, “Of course, if you want good-looking guys, that’s fine too. Anything you want, I can try my best to give.”
Chu Qianli: “…………”
He Shichen, who had been overhearing the increasingly absurd conversation, could no longer tolerate it. He interrupted harshly, “Qi Yan, enough! Stop making dangerous statements trying to lure minors!”
Qi Yan turned to see He Shichen. She raised an eyebrow and casually said, “Aren’t we all minors? What danger is there?”
He Shichen frowned and said, “She has the responsibilities she should have at her age, and her parents provide for her. She doesn’t need the things you’re talking about.”
Qi Yan was surprised. “I didn’t know you were so righteous.” She looked at He Shichen, then at Chu Qianli, and suddenly realized, “…Wait a minute, are you the same kid from before?”
Qi Yan and He Shichen had always been rivals, competing against each other for the top spot in the grade.
He Shichen wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs. If it were a normal situation, he would have turned and walked away by now. But his intense reaction now seemed to suggest there was a different relationship with Chu Qianli.
Chu Qianli nodded, “Yes.”
He Shichen strode over and stood face to face with Qi Yan, speaking indifferently, “The He family won’t let her go without food or clothes. Even if her brain isn’t that smart, she’ll probably never have to worry about basic necessities in her life.”
Chu Qianli felt wronged. “Am I not smart?”
Tan Muxing softly comforted her, “Alright, you’re not.”
Qi Yan glanced at He Shichen, who had a blank expression, before sizing him up. She then mocked, “You don’t understand her value at all, and you have no idea what she’s capable of. She won’t just stay in a small family or a school. One day, she’ll walk further and further, to places you can’t even imagine.”
“Dao can be talked about, but it’s not the true Dao. Humanity’s understanding of the world is so limited. Even the greatest of people have uncontrollable variables. That’s why so many people want to peek into the secrets of the universe,” Qi Yan said calmly. “This is also the reason why different schools of fate and astrology were born. North of the Yangtze River, the Qian Mountain school is the most famous, while south of the Yangtze, there are many different schools.”
Tan Muxing was momentarily stunned.
“I’ve visited many masters for personal reasons, and for someone her age to have such high accuracy, she’s definitely a prodigy, not someone like you, an ordinary person.” Qi Yan glanced coldly at He Shichen.
“Ah, I’m not that amazing,” Chu Qianli said, pretending to be modest but secretly feeling proud. She urged, “Come on, say more, say more…”
He Shichen stared at the flattered and dizzy Chu Qianli, speechless. “You’re telling me this thing is a prodigy?!”
He Shichen seriously doubted he was the only normal person in the room.
In his view, Chu Qianli had some special abilities, but she wasn’t smart or a genius. Occasionally, she could even be almost naively foolish. She probably didn’t have bad intentions; otherwise, those little tricks she used would have backfired on her. But she certainly wasn’t as highly praised as Qi Yan made her out to be. Essentially, she was just an ordinary person with a few flaws.
He Shichen had been observing Chu Qianli for the entire week, and now, compared to when he first met her, he had a new assessment.
Although He Shichen didn’t want to admit it, Chu Qianli didn’t have any dark side. She appeared silly and carefree, but she wasn’t a character with a lot of scheming. She wasn’t as cunning as Qi Yan thought.
He Shichen’s expression grew impatient. “I don’t want to hear all this nonsense. She’s still a student. She should focus on her studies, not be inflated by people like you, who are making her lose touch with reality.”
“What do you mean by ‘losing touch with reality’? Don’t tell me you think she can only do boring divination?” Qi Yan sneered. “You mistakenly think she can only predict relationships or trivial matters. But in ancient times, astrology was used for national decision-making.”
Qi Yan was friends with Chu Qianli, but her ambitions were for a distant future blueprint, not for the small things of the present.
Chu Qianli, who had just been flattered by Qi Yan, calmed down upon hearing this. She said seriously, “It’s not a boring divination.”
Qi Yan froze.
Chu Qianli corrected her, “In your eyes, their questions might seem trivial, but to them, they are important issues. They’re eager and anxious to know the answers.”
Qi Yan might have thought that divining relationships and game results was trivial, but for some people asking, those were their biggest concerns.
Some people will always have a plain life, and the questions they face will also be plain. This is not something to be ashamed of.
After Chu Qianli said this, the air grew quiet.
Qi Yan saw that Chu Qianli had become serious. She hesitated for a few seconds before breaking into a smile, responding gently, “Mm, you’re right.”
Tan Muxing, seeing this, was greatly shocked. He felt that the top student in the grade was very flexible and could adapt, and his desire to win the favor of his new deskmate was obvious.
He Shichen, seeing his rival act so sycophantically, was also speechless. He couldn’t take it anymore and exploded, “Qi Yan, can you be normal for once?!”
Qi Yan rested her chin on her hand, ignoring He Shichen’s words. She turned to look at Chu Qianli, smiling lightly as she said, “Although He Shichen is somewhat capable, he’s probably a bit worse than me. I think you should reconsider. His future might not be as bright as mine.”
Chu Qianli’s face turned pale. “So this is the confidence of a strong female protagonist. I’m in love, I’m in love…”
He Shichen, hearing Qi Yan’s shameless words, instantly felt his blood pressure rise and said in disbelief, “What did you say?”
Qi Yan raised an eyebrow, not backing down at all. “What’s wrong with what I said? Someone who’s two points lower than me in total score shouldn’t be talking.”
He Shichen took a deep breath, gritting his teeth, “Why don’t you bring up the times I scored higher than you?”
Qi Yan: “I only focus on the present. I don’t get trapped by the past.”
He Shichen: “Then let’s go by the average ranking, don’t just bring up the two points!”
He Shichen and Qi Yan were inexplicably arguing over their grades, mocking each other’s rank, falling into a deadlock.
Chu Qianli seized the opportunity. She quickly teamed up with Tan Muxing to sneak away, whispering, “Brother, you can keep arguing, but we’ll leave first. I’ll wait for you in the car…”
Outside the teaching building, Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing successfully escaped. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s so competitive, so competitive. How can you get into a fight with anyone, brother?”
He Shichen, deeply influenced by the internet-driven family culture, already had a strong sense of competition even before entering the workforce. Now, he was treating exam scores like KPIs.
Tan Muxing muttered, “Qi Yan is even scarier, though. She gives off such a strong ‘chuunibyou’ vibe.”
Chu Qianli sighed. “As expected of someone with good fortune, she’s different the moment she appears.”
Tan Muxing looked confused. “Good fortune?”
Chu Qianli explained, “Yeah, some astrologers believe that one’s birth chart can be good or bad. They say a good chart indicates someone who’s destined for success, like a person with strong luck, similar to ancient nobles or generals. They’re bound to achieve fame and success…”
Qi Yan was the heroine of the original novel, and she didn’t even need to have her chart read to show that she was extraordinary.
“Of course, aside from the debate about whether a birth chart is good or bad, this kind of reasoning has some merit,” Chu Qianli added. “Everyone faces different choices in life. Some people’s personalities are indeed more likely to lead to career success.”
The people around Chu Qianli reacted differently to her astrology skills—Tan Muxing’s tolerance, He Shichen’s skepticism, Qiu Qingkong’s interest, and Qi Yan’s manipulation… Because of their different personalities, this led to different events.
Tan Muxing looked curious. “So, what she said is true? She really can give you a lot of things?”
Chu Qianli judged that Qi Yan was indeed a person with strong luck, so she was undoubtedly going places. It was probably no lie that she could offer money, power, and status.
Chu Qianli fell silent for a few seconds, then lowered her lashes and spoke honestly, “Although everyone likes money and power, and I’m no exception, that’s not the most important thing for me right now. At least, there’s something else that’s more important at the moment.”
It would be a lie if Chu Qianli said she wasn’t tempted by wealth and power—who could resist a comfortable life?
But she had a more urgent task to attend to, one that had been waiting for the right opportunity.
Since childhood, she had been divining the same question. Until she got a clear answer, pursuing anything else felt meaningless.
On the playground at dusk, the golden-red glow of the setting sun fell on Chu Qianli, casting a thick shadow over her.
The sky looked like it was on fire, with golden light breaking through the clouds, and after the rolling, unpredictable red of the sunset, starlight was about to emerge.
Tan Muxing was suddenly stung by the lingering rays of the sunset. He noticed Chu Qianli’s silence and vaguely sensed something, before pretending to be casual and saying, “Aren’t you the best in the world? What’s something you can’t do?”
He didn’t know what she was thinking.
But he could feel some kind of trouble and had no choice but to gently change the subject.
Chu Qianli normally liked hearing compliments, but Tan Muxing’s attempt to lift her mood this time unexpectedly didn’t work.
“There is something,” Chu Qianli said. “Even though I’m better than current astrologers, there’s still someone higher than me.”
“What’s that?”
“Fate.”
