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by 陈年奶泡Without hesitation, Chen Haoming set his alarm for 6 a.m. the following day and stumbled downstairs, still half-asleep.
Assuming he would secure the best spot for fortune-telling, he was surprised to find the usually deserted dessert stall already bustling with grandpas and grandmas practicing Tai Chi.
Four or five of them were conversing while performing their moves.
"Hey, Uncle Tree, you're here for a fortune too?"
"Yes, I want to know how many points my grandson will score on his exam. The results come out this afternoon, and I couldn't sleep well last night, my heart was all over the place. What about you?"
"I want to find out if I'll have a baby girl next."
A baby girl?
Chen Haoming watched as the thin-legged grandma bent her knees for the Tai Chi move, listening in with a bewildered expression. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he couldn't resist asking,
"Auntie, you're already 60, isn't it too risky to have a child at your age?"
"Sigh, you young ones just don't understand my desire for a granddaughter." The old lady held onto Chen Haoming, pouring out her grievances. "Young people nowadays are all about their high-quality lifestyles, delaying marriage and childbirth. My son is in his thirties and still hasn't found someone to settle down with. I have to take matters into my own hands."
"Well... it must be tough for you, Grandma," Chen Haoming wiped the sweat from his brow.
After engaging in simple small talk with the potential in-laws, Chen Haoming promptly handed over two hundred yuan to each of them as a respectful gesture, securing his second spot in line.
As the day progressed and the sun rose higher, the crowd at the dessert stall grew larger.
Chen Haoming had practiced his entrance countless times in his mind.
Apparently, it had paid off.
He had successfully made an impression on the neighbors, drawing attention to the gym.
Two aunties even expressed interest in purchasing classes from him.
"Sir."
Chen Haoming naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to do business. After fumbling for a while, he pulled out two hundred yuan from his quick-drying shorts and placed it on the table with a smile.
"A hundred extra for the fortune-telling fee. I see you've just been out running errands, so it must have been tiring. I'll add another hundred."
As he spoke, another hundred dollars was withdrawn from his shorts pocket and placed on the table.
"You don't need to bother with mine, Master. Use the time for my reading to get some rest."
"Come, come, ladies, follow me." Chen Haoming, after paying, stood up excitedly, ready to beckon the two ladies who were eyeing him lasciviously up to the next floor.
Facing the renowned Temple Street fortune-teller,
he seemed to have no qualms about leaving.
After all, fortune-telling couldn't compare to the profits he could make from two business deals.
"Wait a moment."
The girl, seated at the wooden table, watched the three hundred dollars on the table and gradually smiled. "Are you sure you don't want a reading?"
Chen Haoming waved his hand, his face beaming. "Master, there's really no need. Honestly, there's not much to calculate in my life."
"Is that so?" Chu Yuening observed his countenance and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want me to consider your deeply rooted issue?"
"Besides, a few customers won't save your gym."
With a single sentence, she pinpointed Chen Haoming's predicament.
Chen Haoming's smile froze, a stark contrast to his previous nonchalant demeanor. A cold sweat broke out across his back.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
He had never confided his troubles to anyone else. How could Master Chu possibly know?
Chu Yuening pushed the three hundred yuan back. "If you're sure it doesn't count, then take your money. I'll proceed with the next person."
"However, I still need to tell you. Your emotional baggage has a significant impact. If you don't resolve it, your gym will inevitably go bankrupt."
"Would it count?"
Upon hearing that the issue was related to his career, Chen Haoming perked up.
Who would go against their livelihood, after all?
That was three million yuan! Three million!
Chen Haoming had already taken a seat across from her, placing both hands on the table with an expectant gaze fixed on Chu Yuening. "Master, please do tell. As long as you can save the gym from ruin, I'd even be willing to work as a gigolo."
"There's no need for that; your body might not withstand it," Chu Yuening chuckled.
"I'm very capable, I assure you," Chen Haoming rolled up his sleeves and flexed his well-defined muscles.
The two housewives couldn't help but ogle at his muscles again.
Following the usual routine, Chu Yuening first took Chen Haoming's birthdate and combined it with his facial features for analysis.
"As per usual, let me start by giving you a general overview of your situation."
Chen Haoming lowered his sleeves and stopped joking around. Since he had decided to take the fortune-telling seriously, he needed to be earnest. No job was easy, and he had to respect the person he was dealing with.
Chu Yuening interlaced her fingers. "With Jia Mu as your Day Master and Yi Tu as your spouse star, you have an older sister. Your father is still alive. The presence of an evil star and a food star in conjunction with your mother's palace being dim and hollow suggests that your mother has passed away, correct?"
The sudden mention of his mother visibly startled Chen Haoming. "Yes, my mother passed away in an accident when I was twenty. If she were still alive, she would surely worry herself sick over my gym's lack of progress."
Chu Yuening nodded in agreement. "Mothers often worry more about their children."
"Indeed." Chen Haoming, realizing his momentary lapse, laughed heartily again. "I do have an older sister who is married and living in New Zealand. You've hit two marks accurately, Master. You truly possess remarkable skills, no wonder your business is always bustling."
After Chu Yuening finished her calculations, Chen Haoming's expression became more serious.
If she could even guess about his family members, then… the situation with the gym, as the Master had mentioned, must be dire, right?
Thinking about how he had painstakingly saved for over a decade to accumulate millions, only to potentially lose it all within a few months, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Master, what does it take for my gym to thrive?"
Chu Yuening shook her head. "Right now, the gym isn't the most pressing issue. As I said earlier, your emotional baggage will be a significant obstacle in your career."
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