On the weekend, the street outside the teahouse was as bustling as ever. Street vendors sold various snacks, and the hot pot restaurant was filled with the noisy chatter of patrons, making the area especially lively.
The main entrance of the teahouse was small. Ascending the narrow staircase to the quiet second floor, the space suddenly opened up.
Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing went upstairs one after the other, heading toward the bright and elegant private room of the teahouse.
Chu Qianli, walking ahead, was still complaining, “What do you mean you’re afraid I’ll get beaten up? I’m obviously a very reasonable person. Do you really think I’d get hit for being unreasonable?”
Tan Muxing, who had been listening to her grumble for several days, felt he had gotten himself into trouble. Awkwardly, he explained, “I didn’t mean it that way. Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether you’re reasonable or not; the other party might just get angry…”
“That’s because they can’t handle the truth,” Chu Qianli said confidently. “That’s not my problem!”
Tan Muxing silently refrained from pointing out that it was precisely this attitude that might get her into trouble.
The second floor of the teahouse had both a main hall and private rooms. The hall was already occupied by quite a few people, though they didn’t seem to be there just for tea.
Chu Qianli stopped at the stairway landing, observing the familiar-looking group. They seemed to be the same people who had accompanied Boss Zhang to Mount Qianshan. Dressed in branded clothing, they could either be Boss Zhang’s relatives or close associates.
Tan Muxing followed her gaze. Standing beside her, he searched for a familiar figure and called out, “Uncle Jianping!”
He Jianping, who had been chatting in the corner with Boss Zhang and the others, immediately looked up upon hearing his name. With a big smile, he said, “Ah, you’re here! Let’s head to the private room!”
Among the group, there was only one woman. Despite her heavy makeup, her weariness was evident. Upon hearing this, she suddenly stood up, scrutinized Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing incredulously, and questioned, “Which one of them is the master?”
Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing both appeared quite young, with Tan Muxing looking slightly more like a master.
He Jianping quickly walked over and introduced generously, “This young lady is the master.”
The woman examined Chu Qianli, who wore her hair in a short ponytail, and exclaimed in shock, “She’s just a young girl?!”
Chu Qianli’s hair had been growing out, allowing her to tie it into a small ponytail, though it resembled more of a rabbit’s tail. She didn’t care much about her attire, as her clothes were all picked by Yu Xin, who favored a neat and innocent style. Indeed, she looked like a child.
Blinking innocently, Chu Qianli said honestly, “I am quite young. If you feel it’s unsuitable, we can head back now.”
“Uncle He, we’ve met now. Just send the payment to the usual account,” she added.
With that, Chu Qianli turned and headed downstairs, urging Tan Muxing to follow her as they prepared to leave.
Tan Muxing sighed inwardly. They had barely spent a few minutes in the teahouse, and it felt like a speedrun. Nonetheless, he followed her lead and started down the stairs.
“Wait, you’re leaving already?” He Jianping feigned surprise. “Well, this sort of thing can’t be forced.”
He Jianping had only planned for Chu Qianli to make an appearance, so he made no effort to stop them, standing calmly to the side.
Boss Zhang, however, panicked. Rushing over to stop them, he was blocked by the towering Tan Muxing and had to plead from a distance, “Master, please don’t leave! She’s young and ignorant; don’t hold it against her!”
Chu Qianli waved modestly. “Oh no, no, she’s young and wise. I actually like long-haired people. Her opinion is perfectly valid. I think it’s best if I go back…”
The group found themselves in a tug-of-war on the stairs, with Chu Qianli insisting she wasn’t up to the task and wanting to leave, while Boss Zhang insisted on her competence and begged her to stay.
After several rounds of polite refusals and concessions, they reluctantly reached an agreement and moved to a private room on the second floor.
In the private room, Boss Zhang cleared out everyone else, including the heavily made-up woman. The others could only eavesdrop at the door, straining to catch snippets of the conversation through the cracks.
Inside, Boss Zhang glanced at the three people in the room. His expression was ingratiating as he defended Chu Qianli. “She doesn’t know much, so of course, she wouldn’t understand the master’s brilliance!”
While He Jianping prepared tea for everyone, Tan Muxing lowered his head and sent a text to Chu Qianli:
[That woman is the one he married later.]
Chu Qianli glanced at her screen and then, pretending to be humble, responded to Boss Zhang’s compliments with polite platitudes.
Boss Zhang had insisted on meeting with Chu Qianli to discuss matters. Regardless of whether she accepted the case, formalities had to be observed. He was clearly well-prepared, immediately pulling out all the relevant documents and even providing his birth date and time, leaving no detail to chance.
“Master, please take a look at these. If there’s anything else you need, just ask,” Boss Zhang said with a tone of urgency, as though the matter had plagued him for some time and he was desperately grasping at straws.
Chu Qianli originally intended to exchange a few polite words and leave. However, after taking Boss Zhang’s birth details and starting her chart analysis, she froze upon seeing the information. She suddenly understood why her peers had avoided this hot potato.
Boss Zhang nervously watched Chu Qianli, trying to catch any hint of her thoughts from her microexpressions, fearing she might furrow her brows and outright refuse.
After a moment, Chu Qianli chuckled softly. “Uncle Zhang, someone must have told you about the consequences of this matter, right?”
Boss Zhang, flustered, replied, “Other people did say this issue was difficult to resolve, but I trust that you, Master, can handle it. Just name your price—I’m willing to give up everything if I have to…”
After being turned down countless times, Boss Zhang was terrified that Chu Qianli would also refuse.
Chu Qianli looked up at him, her tone calm. “I’m not talking about the other masters you consulted. Didn’t the person from over a decade ago tell you what would happen if you did this?”
Boss Zhang froze upon hearing this. Faced with Chu Qianli’s composed gaze, he suddenly felt a chill creeping up from his feet. From south to north, he had consulted numerous metaphysics masters, but no one had directly pointed out the truth at the outset.
She was the real deal.
Chu Qianli, displeased, said, “You’re cheating. I don’t like people who cheat in games. It’s unfair to others.”
Chu Qianli was usually either joking around with no sense of seriousness or putting on a considerate and professional front. However, her gaze at this moment seemed to be soaked in icy water, and even her voice carried a bone-chilling coldness.
Tan Muxing was stunned. It was rare for him to see his classmate so displeased—she seemed like a completely different person.
Boss Zhang felt a chill down his spine, sweat forming on his forehead. As he looked at the young girl with her tender face, it was as if he were gazing at a divine being. Overwhelmed with panic, his legs gave out, and he knelt heavily on the floor.
Facing Chu Qianli, Boss Zhang began kowtowing repeatedly, pleading in a sorrowful voice, “Please save me! I… I was bewitched at the time and believed his lies. That’s the only reason I did it! He never told me any of this!”
Chu Qianli sneered, “He never told you?”
Boss Zhang dared not reply and continued banging his head on the ground as if trying to break through the floor.
He Jianping, who had just finished pouring tea for everyone, was utterly astonished. “What’s going on now?”
“Uncle He, he took something he shouldn’t have, and that’s why this happened,” Chu Qianli said indifferently. “I hate studying and always muddle through my homework, but I never cheat in exams. You think you’ve gained something, but actually, you’ve just been incredibly stupid.”
Boss Zhang had taken shortcuts with metaphysics, seizing wealth that wasn’t his to begin with. Now, all he could do was return everything.
For everything gained, something must be lost. Yet, there are always people who think they’re clever, believing in shortcuts and tricks.
Boss Zhang’s forehead was already bruised from his kowtowing. In a trembling voice, he said, “I’m the stupid one, I’m the stupid one. Please, have mercy! I was just confused at the time!”
Chu Qianli stood up, packing her things as she spoke casually, “That person told you not to covet your friend’s factory, but you gave in to greed. That person told you not to divorce your wife and daughter, but you insisted on remarrying. That person told you to do good deeds and donate generously, but you used charity as a front to scam people out of money…”
“Uncle Zhang, other people pride themselves on being occasionally foolish, but you’ve never been clear-headed in your entire life.”
This wasn’t the first crisis Boss Zhang had encountered. Each time, he relied on metaphysics to resolve the issue. Now, he had finally hit the immovable wall of a life-or-death fate. Masters could help him for money once or twice, but they couldn’t prevent him from never learning his lesson.
Tan Muxing noticed Chu Qianli gathering her things, so he stood up and followed her out, deliberately bypassing Boss Zhang, who was kneeling at the door.
Chu Qianli waved goodbye. “Uncle He, see you. I can’t deal with this matter. In fact, it’s not something that should be dealt with at all. Every cause has its effect.”
He Jianping quickly responded, “Ah, okay, take care on your way…”
As Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing left the room, Boss Zhang stumbled after them, his sparse hair and disheveled appearance making him look pitiful. With a sob in his voice, he called out, “Master, please save me! Save me! I’ve repented, I’ve truly repented!”
“I’ll pay you whatever you want! I’ll sell my house and car if I have to!” Boss Zhang wailed. “Please, save me!”
The heavily made-up woman, watching the scene unfold, instantly flew into a rage upon hearing his words. She screeched, “What are you talking about—you can’t sell the house!”
“Shut up, you useless woman! What do you know?!” Boss Zhang snapped.
The second floor of the teahouse descended into chaos. Tan Muxing furrowed his brows at the commotion, eager to leave the scene with Chu Qianli. But just as they were about to leave, he noticed Chu Qianli stopping in her tracks.
She let out a soft sigh, though it was unclear what she was lamenting.
Turning back, Chu Qianli asked, “You said you’ve repented?”
Boss Zhang was overjoyed to see her turn around. He nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes! I know I was wrong. I’ve truly repented. Please, help me!”
Chu Qianli stared at him for a long time, tugging at the corner of her lips but saying nothing, as if she were deep in thought.
After a long pause, Chu Qianli spoke slowly, “Sell your house and car to resolve this?”
Boss Zhang quickly replied, “Yes, yes! Just name the price. I’ll sell whatever I have to and get the money together!”
Chu Qianli said, “Then go sell your house and car. I don’t want your mortgaged assets. Sell everything you can within the next month… No, within the next half month. Transfer the cash directly to me. No extensions.”
Tan Muxing was stunned. “You’re really going to…”
Boss Zhang hurriedly interjected, “If I sell everything and transfer the money to you, will you help me?”
The heavily made-up woman, with her long nails, lunged at Boss Zhang, ready to scratch his face, screaming, “You can’t sell! Those are mine! You absolutely can’t sell them!”
“Enough!” Boss Zhang shoved her to the ground, his face red with anger. “Do you want us to go bankrupt and end up in jail?!”
Chu Qianli watched the spectacle unfold without raising an eyebrow. Calmly, she said, “I’m not helping you. I’m merely pointing out a possible path forward. Which one you take is up to you.”
“Okay, okay, that’s enough for me…” Boss Zhang rubbed his hands together in relief. “I’ll go handle this right away. Please wait for my message.”
Chu Qianli nodded and left with Tan Muxing, leaving Boss Zhang and the others behind.
The heavily made-up woman, still sprawled on the ground, had lost all her previous elegance. She began wailing, “You can’t sell it! How are we supposed to live if you sell it all? You’re such a fool!”
Boss Zhang retorted coldly, “We need to get through this crisis first. Money can always be earned again. If worst comes to worst, I’ll find another master to ask about making money. Priorities, woman!”
“When I sought out that guy back then, wasn’t it the same? He also advised me not to do those things, but nothing happened after I did them anyway. I just found someone more capable to fix it!” Boss Zhang touched the wound on his forehead, hissing in pain. “It’s just a matter of begging for help, nothing more.”
Outside the teahouse, Tan Muxing finally escaped the noisy environment and could speak freely. Testing the waters, he asked, “Are you really going to help him?”
Tan Muxing thought Boss Zhang was a rotten person; even accepting money from someone like that felt unlucky.
Chu Qianli corrected him seriously, “I’m not helping him. He wants to know the method, right? I can tell him, but the choice is still his to make.”
Tan Muxing remained silent for a moment before speaking softly, “But he’s just going to muddle through again? Can someone like that really find happiness?”
“People are actually very hard to change. Some say they’ve changed, but deep down, they haven’t at all,” Chu Qianli said with a laugh. “You remember everything I’ve said, right? Do you still remember the story about the cult leader?”
Tan Muxing heard her change the subject and, though puzzled, still responded, “I remember.”
Chu Qianli said leisurely, “It’s true, I’m not joking. This is also a possibility—my game’s bad ending (BE) route. My abilities are just too suited for controlling others, and once you start manipulating people, it becomes addictive. It’s easy to start thinking you’re a god.”
“It’s like serial killers, isn’t it? They start with small animals to satisfy their sadistic urges, then move on to humans, and before you know it, they can’t stop,” Chu Qianli said helplessly. “The only solution is to never cross the line. Without the first step, there’s no bad ending.”
Tan Muxing stared at her blankly, hesitating for a long time before admitting, “I sometimes… have similar thoughts.”
Tan Muxing didn’t know how to control his own power. But as long as he always hated violence, he would never reach a bad ending.
Chu Qianli nodded. “Boss Zhang is someone who’s addicted. He will never truly repent. No matter how beautifully he talks, in his heart, he still thinks he’s clever.”
“Then why did you still calculate for him?”
“Because dragging this out for another two or three years is too long. I’m just a human, not a god. Humans have little tempers too, like hoping some people get their retribution sooner.” Chu Qianli paused, then quickly corrected herself, “Pah, pah, pah, that’s not in line with an astrologer’s code… I take it back, immediately take it back!”
Chu Qianli looked up at the sky, as if speaking to someone unseen, and muttered, “I haven’t committed the sin of slander, okay? I’ve been very professional and haven’t crossed the line!”
Tan Muxing, seeing her occupational habit flare up, quickly comforted her. “Alright, alright, you didn’t say it to Boss Zhang’s face. People complaining about their boss behind their back isn’t a crime.”
Half a month later, Boss Zhang did indeed bring the money to see Chu Qianli. The two met again at He Jianping’s teahouse.
“Master, please take a look at the numbers. The more valuable properties I sold to my friends at a discount, and the less valuable ones I couldn’t sell in time—mainly because the timeline was too tight…”
Chu Qianli had set a strict deadline. Transferring ownership of properties and vehicles took time, so Boss Zhang could only offload them to wealthy friends at a discount. Boss Zhang’s company was currently in trouble, so others were hesitant to deal with him and naturally refused to pay high prices.
Even if Boss Zhang managed to weather the crisis, his losses on the properties and vehicles were substantial, and it would take a long time to recover.
The heavily made-up woman’s face was now pale. She glared at Chu Qianli with deep resentment, as if wishing to eliminate her.
However, the burly Tan Muxing always stood by Chu Qianli’s side. The two were inseparable, leaving no chance for an ambush.
Chu Qianli glanced at the woman adorned in gold jewelry. Raising her eyebrows, she said disapprovingly, “Uncle Zhang, you’re not being honest. I don’t even need to calculate to know you’re holding something back.”
Boss Zhang was taken aback and hurriedly assured her, “No, no, absolutely not! I’ve sold everything I could! I wouldn’t dare to deceive you in the slightest!”
Chu Qianli pointed to the gold bracelet on the woman’s wrist and said, “Let me tell you, no one understands gold better than I do. How dare you lie to me right in front of my eyes!?”
Boss Zhang stammered, “This gold bracelet… does that count too…?”
Chu Qianli frowned. “I told you to sell your properties and vehicles, and you really only sold those? So you’re just taking the bare minimum? Well then, I can’t help you with this.”
She stood up to leave, and Boss Zhang quickly moved to block her. His face alternated between red and green as he barked, “Take it off! Put it on the table!”
The heavily made-up woman looked at him in disbelief and snapped, “Zhang, are you out of your mind? This bracelet was bought with my money!”
“Your money? You think I don’t know about the little tricks you pull to transfer funds in secret? All your jewelry and luxury goods were bought with my money. I didn’t care to argue before, but now you’re still playing dumb?” Boss Zhang fumed.
“Master, how about this? Let’s tally up these smaller items and offset them directly. Selling each piece individually would take too much time…”
Chu Qianli, magnanimously, replied, “Fine.”
“Zhang, you can’t do this! None of this has anything to do with you. How dare you give it away!” the heavily made-up woman wailed, preparing to throw a tantrum.
Boss Zhang, however, was a hard-hearted man. He had abandoned his first wife without a second thought, and he wasn’t about to go soft on her now. He forcefully removed her expensive necklace and earrings and threw them decisively onto the table.
The heavily made-up woman collapsed on the ground, crying.
Chu Qianli listened to the sobbing and kindly reassured her, “Alright, alright, stop crying. I’m doing this for your own good…”
What goes around comes around. Coveting things that don’t belong to you will inevitably bring retribution.
The heavily made-up woman shrieked, “Nonsense! You’re just a fraudster pretending to be a fortune-teller!”
Chu Qianli lazily advised, “Oh, come on. They say too much money can bring trouble. I’m just worried it might burn you out, so I’m helping you take on this burden. How can you be so ungrateful?”
The heavily made-up woman: “!!?”
She was utterly stunned by Chu Qianli’s shamelessness. Not only was this person a fortune-telling fraud, but she also had an unbelievably thick skin.
