Tan Muxing found it hard to forget the blood-red, golden glow of the sky for a long time.
Beneath the brilliant clouds, only a lonely black shadow remained at her feet, stretched long by the setting sun.
The two of them walked through the sunlight and bid each other farewell at the school gate.
Tan Muxing watched Chu Qianli get into the car. He looked up at the sky, rubbed his eyes, and felt that the sunset was too glaring, nowhere near as serene and beautiful as the starlit sky.
Her words were like flickering sparks—seemingly casual, but they scorched the listener without leaving a trace.
Chu Qianli sat in the car waiting.
Not long after, He Shichen got into the car with a dark expression, silently sitting on one side.
Chu Qianli observed his gloomy expression. She suddenly lifted her fingers in a delicate gesture and began making random motions in the air.
He Shichen, feeling displeased, noticed her little movements and snapped, “What are you doing again?”
Chu Qianli pretended to be mysterious, saying, “I can tell by the way I pinch my fingers, you lost the argument.”
It was obvious that He Shichen had hit a wall with Qi Yan. As soon as he got into the car, he turned cold, exuding an aura of displeasure.
He Shichen: “…”
Chu Qianli withdrew her fingers and smiled. “Hey, actually, I could tell without even pinching my fingers.”
He Shichen: “…………”
He Shichen turned his head toward the window. He needed to calm down by looking at the scenery; otherwise, he would really get sick from being angered by her.
The Worst Experience in Playing a Game?
It’s not dying in the game at all, but rather when, after you’ve been killed, your teammates keep spamming “Well done!”
He Shichen had a lot on his plate last Friday. First, he had a talk with the teacher, then he lost an argument with Qi Yan, and afterward, he was ridiculed by Chu Qianli in the car. After dinner at home, he started to shut himself off, even forgetting to discuss with his parents about someone spreading superstition at school.
In the living room, Yu Shen noticed that He Shichen had gone upstairs without saying a word. She looked worried and asked, “What’s wrong with Shichen?”
Chu Qianli, lounging on the sofa and casually watching TV, responded, “Big brother lost an argument to the top student in our grade today. They said he scored two points lower than him. He’s probably going to lock himself in his room and angrily solve a set of test papers.”
He Zhenghe was surprised. “Oh, still so competitive, huh?”
Yu Shen, concerned, went upstairs and knocked on He Shichen’s room door, reminding him, “Shichen, don’t stay up too late tonight. Tomorrow you have to meet Uncle Er.”
The next day, Chu Qianli and the others set off by car again to visit He Yuanyang for their regular family gathering.
After a couple of visits, Chu Qianli had gotten to know Uncle Er’s family well, and she had a pretty clear understanding of his personality. He Yuanyang’s favorite topic was investment—not so much because he wanted to make money, but because he enjoyed the process.
At the dinner table, Chu Qianli observed He Yuanyang’s expression and hesitated before asking, “Uncle Er, did you not sleep last night?”
He Yuanyang sighed with a laugh, “How could I sleep! You should ask Shichen. He definitely didn’t sleep either.”
Chu Qianli looked over at He Shichen. “Big brother, did you not sleep last night?”
He Shichen, for once, looked uncharacteristically downcast. He half-heartedly replied, “…I didn’t sleep well.”
He Shichen had been really upset the night before. He had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, and had trouble even feeling drowsy.
He Yuanyang clicked his tongue. “See, I knew it. This kid didn’t sleep!”
Chu Qianli: “Why?”
He Yuanyang sighed again. “Ah, you don’t know how exciting the crypto market was last week. I listened to your advice and focused on the second half of the week, but I still missed the mark. At the time, I should’ve sold when it was good, but I turned around and it rose a little more.”
He Yuanyang had been watching Bitcoin all week. Chu Qianli had told him that the price fluctuations were huge, and pointed out that he would either make a huge profit or lose it all. So, He Yuanyang had specifically researched when to enter. He did make a good buy-in, but his sell point wasn’t the highest, so now he was feeling regret.
This was something astrology couldn’t decide for him. Chu Qianli could suggest what to do, but whether it worked out or not depended entirely on him.
When everyone is presented with the same information, their final choices can be vastly different. This is why timing, location, and people are all crucial.
He Yuanyang smiled and asked, “Shichen, how was your return? When did you sell?”
Chu Qianli was surprised. “Big brother didn’t buy, did he?”
Chu Qianli had advised He Shichen to buy in, but he had vehemently rejected the idea at the time. He probably didn’t take her advice.
He Yuanyang, understanding He Shichen’s personality well, waved his hand quickly. “No, don’t let his silence fool you. It may seem like he hasn’t listened to anything, but his mind is constantly working. He’s often having a one-man show in his head. When he lost money for the first time, he was livid. He’s always been like that…”
He Shichen wasn’t naturally good at investing. When he first started, his mindset was volatile, and after his first loss, he felt as though the world was collapsing.
Chu Qianli looked at He Shichen in surprise.
He Shichen, extremely sensitive about his face, immediately interrupted. “Uncle.”
He Yuanyang, continuing to tease, joked, “I paid for your fortune-telling, but he definitely overheard and was secretly trading on his own. He pretends not to hear, but then he quietly gets rich!”
Chu Qianli, in a dazed tone, said, “Is this what they call ‘pride’? I thought he didn’t buy.”
He Yuanyang laughed. “No, no, no, when he says he won’t buy, that means he’s definitely going to buy. When he says he doesn’t want something, that’s exactly what he wants. Just listen carefully, if he really doesn’t want it, he won’t react at all. If he reacts, it means he cares…”
Chu Qianli nodded eagerly. “Got it, got it.”
Yu Shen and He Zhenghe, hearing this, burst out laughing, agreeing, “He’s figured out the pattern!”
He Shichen: “…Why do these people love talking about my childhood so much?!”
He Shichen felt awkward and wanted to sink into the floor. He really didn’t want to hear about his past mistakes, especially with them discussing it openly in front of Chu Qianli. It made him feel too ashamed to lift his head.
He Yuanyang raised his voice, “Shichen, talk to us. I’m not asking for any fortune-telling fees. Just tell us how much you made last week!”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t buy in. I absolutely don’t believe you didn’t make any moves.”
He Shichen was really feeling overwhelmed now.
He Yuanyang wasn’t wrong; He Shichen had been trading secretly, but he didn’t know how much he had earned, mainly because he was too frustrated to keep track.
Chu Qianli had urged He Shichen to invest in Bitcoin during breakfast on Monday, which had made him react rebelliously and not want to pay attention to the crypto market. But after a couple of days, when he calmed down, he did check the Bitcoin market again and looked for a good entry point.
He Shichen had planned to sell on Friday; that was the plan he set for himself. But on Friday, he had been called into a meeting by the teacher, then had a falling-out with Qi Yan, and later, he was emotionally drained, shutting himself off in the evening. He had completely forgotten to sell.
This was a major mistake.
He Shichen didn’t want to admit it and felt embarrassed to say that he had forgotten.
He Shichen gritted his teeth and said, “I don’t know.”
He Yuanyang was surprised. “How do you not know?”
He Shichen, feeling defeated, confessed, “I went to bed early yesterday and didn’t sell. I probably lost money.”
He Yuanyang had just been talking about investments, and only then did He Shichen remember.
He Yuanyang was confused. “Huh? Which platform did you use? Bitcoin doesn’t close!”
Bitcoin, unlike stocks or futures, operates 24/7 without any breaks. He Yuanyang had missed a small price rise earlier, but that was a while ago. The situation must have changed by now.
During the conversation, the cryptocurrency market was still fluctuating.
He Shichen, in a defeated mood, said, “We can check now. I didn’t have time to follow it yesterday.”
Chu Qianli didn’t understand Bitcoin, and now, just like He Yuanyang, she was shocked and panicked. “Did it lose money? What does that mean? It can’t be, right? It shouldn’t be…”
Chu Qianli was very sensitive to the word “lose,” as she clearly remembered He Shichen’s financial fortune was good.
He Shichen was getting a headache from her constant nagging. He gritted his teeth and said, “I’m the one who lost money, why are you more anxious than me? It’s not your money!”
Chu Qianli angrily retorted, “How could you lose money? My divination has never failed! Are you trying to ruin my reputation?!”
Chu Qianli had initially thought He Shichen hadn’t invested, but if he had, and still lost money, it was different from her divination.
She was now genuinely flustered. She had never lost to any other fortune-teller, so how could she lose to He Shichen?
Chu Qianli exclaimed, “Do you think it’s just you who’s losing money? You’re shattering my faith!”
He Shichen: “???”
He Shichen, trying to suppress his frustration, said, “What faith are you talking about? Didn’t you say you’re a Marxist believer?!”
Chu Qianli shouted hoarsely, “Who says a person can’t have two beliefs?!”
He Shichen: “!!?” What kind of faith is this with two beliefs?!
Yu Shen tried to mediate, “Alright, alright, it’s just some small money. Don’t get worked up.”
He Zhenghe chimed in, “I’ll reimburse you. Don’t take it too seriously.”
He Yuanyang had already pulled out his laptop. Opening the screen, he said, “Alright, let’s see if we can still recover the losses…”
He Shichen logged into the platform using He Yuanyang’s laptop and began checking the current market situation.
Chu Qianli, curious, leaned in to look. She couldn’t make sense of the page and asked in confusion, “What’s going on? What’s the situation?”
He Shichen and He Yuanyang both stared at the data in silence, not saying a word.
Chu Qianli, feeling urgent, asked again, “No way, no way, no way. Did I really fail my divination?”
The two remained silent.
He Shichen’s expression was stiff.
After a moment, He Yuanyang suddenly slapped He Shichen on the shoulder. Laughing but also annoyed, he scolded, “You little rascal, you’re really good at staying calm, trying to make me angry on purpose!”
“Sigh, I should’ve guessed it. You always pretend to be humble, and I end up running around doing all this nonsense, only for you to earn more than me. This time, you really didn’t predict the right moment…” He Yuanyang stood up, then turned to comfort Chu Qianli. “Don’t be scared, he’s just pretending. You know the term ‘Versailles’ that young people like to use? He’s enjoying that feeling right now.”
In He Yuanyang’s view, He Shichen deliberately downplayed his abilities, pretending not to know what he was doing, only to then turn around and make a huge profit—this was the perfect setup for a dramatic reversal.
Chu Qianli, still confused, asked, “So, he didn’t lose money?”
He Yuanyang replied, “No, no losses. He could sell right now and make a big profit.”
Chu Qianli let out a sigh of relief. Her reputation remained intact; she was still the best in the business.
He Yuanyang looked surprised. “But how did you know it would go up? There were several rounds of peaks before this, and you managed to hold off on selling. I really admire your mental fortitude.”
This type of short-term trading relies heavily on the investor’s ability to react quickly and accurately. Decisions must be fast and decisive, aiming for a perfect strike. Even though Chu Qianli provided vague guidance, it was up to them to make the final judgment and figure out the best time to act.
He Shichen, now in a daze, stared at the platform. His mind just didn’t want to work.
What mental fortitude?
The only thing that kept him from breaking down on Friday was his ability to stay calm despite the arguments with Chu Qianli and Qi Yan.
He Shichen wasn’t as amazing as He Yuanyang had made him out to be. He couldn’t bring himself to tell his uncle that he’d simply forgotten. The funniest part about investing was doing all the right moves, but still not making as much as those who let things flow naturally.
He Shichen had indeed researched the best time to buy, but he had forgotten to sell on time, just as a new round of price peaks arrived.
He truly didn’t want to believe in Chu Qianli’s predictions, but now he had to admit, it was almost uncanny. How could such a series of coincidences happen?
When Chu Qianli said his financial luck was good, he just brushed it off, but once the luck kicked in, there was no stopping it!
This didn’t mean that a person’s efforts were irrelevant, but rather that luck worked like an amplifier. Doing the right thing at the right time could produce results that were exponentially better.
If He Shichen hadn’t entered the market, he might have missed this wave of financial luck, but as long as he grasped the opportunity, the result could have been much better.
For example, some people experience a strong “marriage luck” year, with a higher chance of meeting their ideal partner. If, however, they keep rejecting everyone during this period, they might miss out on their true match.
Encounters between people are about fate, something largely uncontrollable, but one can at least know when the right time is.
He Shichen was in a state of disbelief, still in shock as he stared at his account.
He Yuanyang smiled, “Well then, let’s have Qianli predict for me again. What should I buy next week?”
Chu Qianli replied, “Uncle, I’ll do a free one for you, but you really shouldn’t be messing with things for the next two months.”
He Yuanyang looked puzzled. “Why?”
Chu Qianli answered calmly, “Looking at your luck, these next two months are better for rest and leisure, to spend time with family and friends, and maybe even take a short vacation. This isn’t the time to be working.”
“It’s not that you shouldn’t work, but it’s a better time to rest. Life should be balanced, you can’t be busy with just one thing.”
He Yuanyang looked surprised. “Ah, my friend did invite me to go fishing, and I’m still hesitating whether I should go.”
Chu Qianli encouraged, “Then go fishing. Some fortune-tellers say that people have their own energy and magnetic fields, which is why they like to play with purification crystals to enhance their luck. But self-care works even better.”
Some people claim that crystals absorb negative energy, but in reality, rest and leisure can also eliminate negative energy. The key is adjusting your mindset and emotional state.
He Zhenghe agreed, “That’s right, you should go out and relax. Otherwise, we’ll come visit you, and you’ll just keep staring at the computer.”
He Yuanyang could only scratch his nose and say, “Alright then.”
In the car on the way back, Chu Qianli kept sneaking glances at He Shichen. She noticed he was resting with his eyes closed and couldn’t help but wave her hand in front of him, trying to get his attention.
He Shichen wanted to pretend he didn’t see her, but he had no choice but to open his eyes, annoyed, and said, “What do you want this time?”
Chu Qianli pitifully said, “Brother, poor, poor, money, money.”
He Shichen finally printed out some money. Of course, she had to withdraw it immediately!
She had finally waited for payday!
He Shichen still remembered how Chu Qianli had exploded, saying he was ruining her divination reputation, yet now she was acting all fake and weak—she was nothing but a complete two-faced person.
She acted all sweet and well-behaved in front of her parents, but at school, there were endless problems, and it even led to him being called in by the teachers.
He Shichen’s brow twitched, and he scolded, “Why do you always act so foolish?”
Chu Qianli aggrievedly asked, “What’s foolish about me?”
He Shichen snapped, “You’re always asking people for money like that. It’s easy to be deceived with just a little bit of kindness. Do you think that’s smart?”
“Qi Yan flatters you a bit, and you start getting all cocky. That’s clearly not smart.”
He Shichen thought there was something wrong with Chu Qianli. Now, she was using her divination to take people’s money—what would happen if her divination was wrong one day?
He Shichen could never accept taking money from others. It made him extremely uneasy. If he couldn’t make money one day, he’d be trapped in a situation where he was being controlled by others.
He felt that Chu Qianli was too carefree and naïve.
Chu Qianli froze for a moment. “But I don’t just take people’s money randomly.”
He Shichen questioned, “Nonsense, you’re asking for it right now.”
Her face practically screamed, “Send me the money quickly,” and she still had the nerve to claim she wasn’t asking for it.
Chu Qianli confidently put her hands on her hips and said, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t take Qi Yan’s money, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t take yours either! That’s clearly different!”
He Shichen: “?”
He Shichen couldn’t believe it. “What’s the difference?!”
Chu Qianli said firmly, “Qi Yan has no karmic connection with me, so of course I can’t take her money, but your money is fine. It’s definitely different!”
Chu Qianli had to return Qi Yan’s money, but she didn’t have to return He Shichen’s. How could that not be called a money-printing machine?
He Shichen felt dizzy hearing all these metaphysical terms. He was about to get so mad he couldn’t think straight, but he also realized that her reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong. This week’s income was indeed related to her divination.
He was a proud person and truly didn’t want to owe her anything. He firmly believed that he could earn it back on his own in the future.
Just as He Shichen was about to angrily give her the money and cut ties, he suddenly remembered something. He spoke up, “I’ll transfer the money, but there are conditions.”
Chu Qianli complained, “Why are you slower than an ATM spitting out money?”
He Shichen gritted his teeth and suppressed the urge to slap her, coldly saying, “Starting next week, tone down your superstitious activities. At least don’t let it become so widely known that even the teachers are noticing!”
Chu Qianli: “Why should I?!”
He Shichen: “…Do you want to attract people like Qi Yan?”
Chu Qianli had been furious, but at this moment, her eyes shifted, and she suddenly became calm and obedient, saying, “Alright, I’ll tone it down.”
He Shichen: “…” Good, now Qi Yan was like a ghost scaring a naughty child.
He Shichen had already sold the assets, but the funds hadn’t been deposited yet. However, he used his own savings to transfer money to Chu Qianli first and then said, “By the way, you can’t sleep in class, and do your own homework…”
Chu Qianli’s phone vibrated slightly, and she was stunned when she saw the payment notification. She hadn’t expected He Shichen to actually transfer the money, and it was processed so quickly.
She had assumed He Yuanyang’s words were true. He Shichen’s words were just hot air. When he said “no,” it actually meant “yes.” If he really didn’t want to, he wouldn’t have bothered with her at all.
Chu Qianli had figured it out.
The noise of a money-printing machine spitting out money didn’t matter; as long as it eventually spat out the money, that was all that counted.
The car had already reached the gate of her house, and Chu Qianli couldn’t be bothered to listen to his rambling. She was overjoyed as she held her phone tightly and quickly jumped out of the car, casually saying, “Mhm, alright, next time for sure.”
He Shichen saw her clumsy movements and immediately felt his blood pressure rise. He scolded, “You didn’t even follow the proper way to get out of the car!”
Chu Qianli didn’t even look back as she ran towards the house. She didn’t care about He Shichen’s exaggerated reactions and, in a provocative manner, threw back a sentence, “Brother, I think you’re the one who’s not smart. Once the money is in hand, who cares what you say? Even the client knows to make demands first before transferring the money.”
“I’ll make you spend money to learn a lesson. In the future, don’t mess up the company’s management, or you’ll bankrupt my family’s fortune!”
Chu Qianli stood at the foot of the villa’s stairs, waving at He Shichen with a smirk, then happily hopped away, completely ignoring his earlier words.
He Shichen: “???”
