Chapter 25: Encountering He Wenzhi

Chapter 25: Encountering He Wenzhi

When Shen Qing heard Inspector Zhong mention the old lady with the dog, she was not surprised at all. It had to be her who ordered Brother Hao and his gang to abduct her.

"Have they found Canja Ying? Is he still alive?" Shen Qing inquired.

"Though we haven't located him yet, based on some clues and traces, we believe he's still alive and not in immediate danger," replied Inspector Zhong, an experienced detective who relied on his intuition for many cases. "I think you should be more concerned about yourself."

With concern, Zhong addressed Shen Qing, "Her target seems to be you. Abducting Canja Ying might be to prevent him from revealing her identity or background..."

Zhong shared with Shen Qing the ideas and leads he had gathered the previous night. "Her intentions are clear—she doesn't want you alive, or perhaps she doesn't want you in Hong Kong..."

Aunt Hong also mentioned that this person didn't want her in Hong Kong, hence the desire to see her dead.

However, there were no more solid leads. The triad member Shen Qing had persuaded to turn himself in and gather information from Fish Sheng had yet to gain the trust of Brother Hao or Fish Sheng, leaving their progress stagnant.

"There could be another reason for kidnapping Canja Ying, apart from keeping secrets—using him as leverage to continue targeting you," said Zhong, well-versed in dealing with criminals. "Be extra cautious these days."

Shen Qing pondered before suggesting, "If the old lady with the dog is solely focused on harming me... then I..." She looked at Zhong. "Could I use myself as bait to lure her out?"

"It would be very risky," Inspector Zhong hesitated.

"She's determined to see me dead. Even if I hide, there will still be danger." Shen Qing couldn't possibly stay indoors for 24 hours a day. If she hid at home, the other party could still burn the place down and kill her.

Shen Qing said, "Inspector Zhong, there's a saying that you can only be a thief for a thousand days, but not protect against one for a thousand days."

Besides, it was impossible to guard against this thief. If she couldn't defend herself, she had to take the initiative.

"If Madam Dog really is trying to threaten Canja Ying into continuing her attacks on me, then I might be able to lure Canja Ying out too."

Inspector Zhong couldn't help but laugh at how casually Shen Qing spoke of it as if fishing.

At the same time, he knew Shen Qing was right. It was impossible to keep defending oneself indefinitely. Since that was the case, taking the offensive was indeed the best course of action.

"Alright." Looking at Shen Qing seriously, Inspector Zhong said, "I support your idea, but remember to prioritize your safety."

"You're just a young girl. Don't always put yourself in harm's way." In truth, Inspector Zhong felt rather sympathetic towards Shen Qing. His daughter was around the same age as Shen Qing and was always carefree, playing and joking with everyone, wanting to be the big sister.

Shen Qing clearly had family, yet she suffered more than an orphan. At least orphans didn't have family members who wanted to harm them.

Detective Zhong looked at Shen Qing with a gentle expression. "I'll also be lurking in the shadows to protect you during this period."

"Thank you, Detective Zhong," Shen Qing felt a warm sensation in her heart.

She had never experienced paternal love in either of her lifetimes; yet, she unexpectedly found a sense of care from an elder figure in Detective Zhong.

In reality, not everyone she met was a bad person; she had also encountered many kind souls.

"What are you thanking me for? I just want the case to be solved sooner," Detective Zhong couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the young girl's vulnerability. "It's late; let me send you back home."

Holding her fortune-telling items, Shen Qing prepared to follow Detective Zhong into his car. At that moment, two Bentleys with '88' license plates, which had been waiting for a while, suddenly drove over from the opposite street corner.

Shen Qing's eyes lit up. Had she finally come across her next wealthy client?

Detective Zhong noticed her excitement as she gazed at the Bentleys, feeling slightly curious.

Then, he saw her expression dim as the driver turned out to be not He Wenzhi, whom she had been waiting for, but another young woman.

The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, dressed in a black business suit. She was likely the secretary who would appear later in the storyline, assisting He Wenzhi with both personal and professional matters.

He Wenzhi has even hired an assistant; it seems she's determined to make a big splash in the business world.

Another day passes without encountering He Wenzhi.

With a tinge of regret, Shen Qing watches the Bentley pass by her, only turning away once it disappears from sight. She then says to Sir Zhong, "Let's go."

Seeing that Shen Qing is carrying many items, Sir Zhong crouches down to open the car door for her. Suddenly, he senses a cold, piercing gaze upon him. Alerted, he lifts his head and meets a pair of deep, dark eyes.

"Is he waiting for you?" Sir Zhong asks, looking down at Shen Qing.

Just as Shen Qing, now seated in the police car, raises her head in the direction Sir Zhong is pointing, she spots Jian Yao leaning casually on his motorcycle. Still clad in Saint Royale's school uniform, several buttons of his white shirt are undone, revealing his chiseled jawline.

Seated under a streetlight, Jian Yao seems to be radiating light, contrasting vividly against the dark night behind him.

Observing Jian Yao's relaxed demeanor, Shen Qing gets the sense that he's unhappy.

What could be bothering him?

This thought lingered in Shen Qing's mind for a mere second before it was promptly dismissed.

Inspector Zhong asked Shen Qing, "Do you want to go over and greet him? I saw that he's been staring at you. Could he be waiting for you?"

"I don't think he's waiting for me," Shen Qing replied. "He might be waiting for Grandma to close the shop and return home."

Looking at Jian Yao sitting on the motorcycle, Shen Qing waved cheerfully at him from afar, considering it as a greeting.

Jian Yao watched with a cold gaze as Shen Qing closed the car door and left Temple Street in Inspector Zhong's police car.

"Yao, were you here waiting for me today?" After closing the funeral parlor, Grandma approached Jian Yao, noticing his unwavering stare at the departing police car. "Were you waiting for your little sister to send her home?"

Without waiting for Jian Yao's response, Grandma continued, "She was just in Inspector Zhong's car and waved at me."

Grandma looked at the aloof Jian Yao and said, "Yao, if you want to send her home, you should say so. You're too reserved; how will she know if you don't tell her?"

"No," Jian Yao replied tepidly.

It was unclear whether he meant he hadn't been waiting for Shen Qing, hadn't wanted to send her home, or hadn't told Shen Qing about his intention to send her home.

By the time Shen Qing was dropped off at home by Inspector Zhong, it was already ten o'clock in the evening.

As soon as she stepped through the gate, the Filipino maid rushed over to say, "Miss, Mr. Shen has been waiting for you. He's been waiting for four or five hours and seems very angry."

"Isn't he angry every day?" Shen Qing didn't take her father's bad mood seriously.

Holding her divination tools, when she entered the living room of the villa, Shen Yimin's gaze immediately swept towards her. "Hmph, you finally know to come back!"

"Do you have to talk to me like that?"

Shen Qing's question left Shen Yimin bewildered. He looked at her in disbelief. "What did you just say? Say it again."

"I said, do you have to talk to me like that?" Shen Qing repeated her words and sighed. "You're always so angry when you speak to me. If you don't want to talk to me, you could just choose not to."

"I would like to talk to you nicely, but look at what you've done." Shen Yimin slammed the newspaper on the table. "A headline like 'Sir A Takes Down Evil Stepfather and Stepmother,' how dare you use such an outrageous title?"

"Firstly, I didn't choose the news title; secondly, Sir A caught criminals. If you're not one, then you wouldn't have been arrested," Shen Qing looked at her father. "Didn't they release you? It's only Yu Feifei who's still in police custody."

Shen Yimin was speechless and felt guilty at the same time.

Yet, he always felt that even if he was in the wrong, he was still her father. How could his daughter lose her temper with him?

Especially Shen Yimin, looking at Shen Qing who faced his anger with composure, was at a loss whether to vent his anger or not.

Well, he had no ground to stand on.

To abstain would be to lose face.

With a suppressed frustration, Shen Yimin took a while before he said, "Alright, I came back today to discuss something with you."

Shen Yimin genuinely feared his cunning and resourceful daughter, Shen Qing. After much contemplation, he decided to have a conversation with her.

Seeing that her father had adopted a negotiating stance, Shen Qing put down the items she was holding and sat in front of Shen Yimin. "What's the matter?"

Shen Yimin's gaze swept over the copper bell and the I Ching compass on the table, immediately recalling how Shen Qing had once predicted that Yu Feifei would bring her misfortune.

His heart skipped a beat, even though nothing untoward had occurred yet. Despite his recent prosperous business, the memory of Shen Qing accurately predicting Brother Tiger's demise made Shen Yimin shudder when he thought back to her warning about being financially drained and crippled by Yu Feifei.

Shen Qing noticed Yu Feifei's persistent gaze on her bell and compass, so she reached out to gather the items closer to herself.

Shen Yimin observed her defensive stare and said, somewhat helplessly, "What junk is that? Do you think I want it?"

"Not interested, then stop staring," Shen Qing casually replied. Seeing Shen Yimin's evident discomfort, she continued, "Oh, right, you mentioned wanting to discuss something with me earlier. Was it about the fortune-telling?"

Shen Qing asked, "Do you believe my predictions aren't accurate if they haven't happened yet?"

Without waiting for Shen Yimin's response, Shen Qing continued, "Don't worry, that incident will occur in two months."

According to the original storyline, the event was indeed set to happen in two months.

However, the timeline mentioned briefly in the novel unfolded day by day in real life.

By revealing this ahead of time, Shen Qing aimed to plant a thorn in both Shen Yimin and Yu Feifei's minds. The longer the thorn remained, the more rotten and irreparable the wound would become when the predicted event actually transpired.

Moreover, the occasional reminder of the prophecy, causing them unease and fear, was an outcome that Shen Qing found pleasing.

Faced with Shen Qing's bright, black eyes, Shen Yimin felt even more guilty. "It's not about discussing fortune-telling with you."

As Shen Qing had anticipated, Shen Yimin, already on edge, felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing those words.

He quickly steered the conversation back to business: "I've recently hired a top-notch foreign lawyer. I'm planning to defend your mother—"

Under Shen Qing's menacing gaze, Shen Yimin quickly corrected himself: "I mean, Hainan's mother. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, she should be released soon."

"You're not consulting me; you're informing me," Shen Qing pointed out. "Don't you think it's cruel and absurd to discuss with the victim how to free the person who harmed her?"

"I know it's hard for you to accept," Shen Yimin admitted after some thought. "But I made her promise that she'll never hurt you again in the future."

"After all, we're still a family. Blood is thicker than water," Shen Yimin continued. "She has apologized to you; forgive her. Besides, she's my wife, and Hainan is still young. A mother in jail might cause her to be ostracized by her classmates."

"What about when I was kidnapped, called a bastard, and bullied by Shen Hainan and her friends at school? Weren't you aware that I was even younger than her then?" Shen Qing shot back with a sarcastic smile. "Don't forget, I'm actually younger than Hainan."

"Y-you…" Shen Yimin opened his mouth, then said, "You are younger than Hainan, and you've certainly suffered. But let me apologize on their behalf. However, the family can't fall apart. Hainan needs her mother. So… could you make a compromise?"

In marriages and families, most parents typically side with their biological children and prioritize their well-being.

In blended and remarried families, it's often the children from the first wife who suffer the most.

These children find themselves in an awkward position, with a biological father and a stepmother. To maintain their own marital harmony and family peace, the biological father often expects the children from his first marriage to bear grievances silently, sacrificing their own feelings for the sake of the family's unity.

Shen Qing had endured enough of this injustice in her previous life. Her gaze was cold as she stared at Shen Yimin. "There's nothing to discuss here!"

"Why can't we talk about it? Can't you think about your father for once? Do you really want to see this family fall apart?" Shen Yimin was annoyed, feeling that Shen Qing was no longer the caring and affectionate daughter he knew.

Henna, not wanting to upset him, had refrained from mentioning the conflict between Yu Feifei and Shen Qing for the past few days. She even called him every morning to ask how he was doing.

But what about Shen Qing?

No calls, no concern, and now, even when discussing matters, she adopted such a cold and distant attitude.

"If you were to marry a good woman, I would wish nothing but happiness and harmony for this family," Shen Qing said. "I'm not inherently antisocial; why wouldn't I want a joyful and peaceful life? But, Father, Yu Feifei has tried to kill me. How could I possibly back down now?"

Shen Yimin grew agitated by Shen Qing's words. "You're really not willing to compromise?"

"No," Shen Qing declared. "Criminals should face justice. It's only fair, and even if you're my father, you have no right to ask me to forgive her."

Shen Yimin grew angry. "What if I insist on doing it?" Yu Feifei couldn't go in; otherwise, he would be doomed too!

With evidence in Yu Feifei's hands, Shen Yimin also became firm. "I'm here to inform you. Regardless of your consent, I'll hire a lawyer to get her out."

"I can't stop you from doing whatever you want, but I'll make it clear first." Shen Qing said with a cold smile. "If you dare to hire a lawyer to bail Yu Feifei out, Aunt Hong and Yu Feifei's tape will be aired on TV tomorrow in Hong Kong."

"I'd like to see which foreign lawyer would dare to help you release a murderer with solid evidence!" Shen Qing continued. "At that time, you'll become an accomplice for real."

Shen Yimin's expression darkened. "Isn't the tape with the police? How did you get it?"

"How could I have it?" Shen Qing looked at Shen Yimin with a mocking smile. "Of course, I made several copies to prevent you from bailing Yu Feifei out."

Faced with Shen Qing's impeccable plan, Shen Yimin opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

He rubbed his forehead helplessly. "There's really no room for negotiation?"

"Yes!" With that, Shen Qing ended the conversation and returned to the house without further ado.

Observing Shen Qing's slender yet resolute figure, Shen Yimin sighed inwardly. As the Filipino maid approached with a bowl of sweetened water, he remarked, "I wonder who she takes after? How clever she is."

"The young miss has always been sharp," the maid replied. "Sir, she is your own flesh and blood. Shouldn't you be delighted that she is intelligent and accomplished?"

"I...," Shen Yimin struggled to find words after a long pause.

Was he happy about Shen Qing's intelligence? He wasn't sure.

But yesterday, while socializing with a business acquaintance, the man had been particularly enthusiastic about the idea of his son befriending Shen Qing, all because he had heard that she had aced a set of Olympic math problems compiled by the esteemed Principal Kong Sanzeng.

Kong Sanzeng was a descendant of a sage, a renowned mathematician internationally. A student favored by Kong Sanzeng would undoubtedly have a bright future ahead.

Back then, hearing the praise that he had raised an excellent daughter, Shen Yimin must have been delighted! It was just regrettable that this clever daughter did not have a close relationship with him. Shen Yimin sighed inwardly once more.

...

In the following days, Shen Yimin didn't dare to mention rescuing Yu Feifei to Shen Qing, nor did he dare to try and save her.

Shen Qing also returned to her usual quiet life. To lure out the enemy, she attended school during the day and set up a fortune-telling stall in Temple Street at night. Inspector Chung would secretly monitor any developments on Shen Qing's end.

"Master, do you really think she can tell fortunes?" Officer Zhong's disciple, Big Knife Liu, couldn't help but ask, "Look, Master, so many people are gathered around her, all begging for a reading, yet she refuses. What's going through her mind?"

"She only reads the fortune of those with fate," Officer Zhong explained. "And when she does, she's incredibly accurate."

"You know Brother Tiger, right? She predicted his death," Zhong clarified, "Not that she caused it, but she accurately foretold the circumstances surrounding Brother Tiger's passing."

"I'm aware, Master. Didn't you catch the person who killed Brother Tiger because of her prediction?" Big Knife Liu was thrilled discussing these gossip-filled tales. "And also, Ren Hao and Fish Sheng you captured – I've heard she predicted numerous events in their lives."

Big Knife Liu's young apprentice, fresh out of police academy, chimed in, eager to share, "Even when I bought sweet soup earlier, the sweet soup grandma kept telling customers Shen Qing is a divine predictor. She said that by following Shen Qing's advice and changing the direction of her shop entrance, her business has been booming day by day."

Big Knife Liu observed Shen Qing, who was surrounded by eager customers seeking fortune-telling but never actually providing it. "Master, you have to admit, the less she reads fortunes for ordinary folks, the more they treat her like a divine soothsayer, all willing to pay just to seek her advice."

The news of Shen Qing accurately predicting Brother Tiger's demise had long spread through the interconnected streets of Temple Street, and now the whole of Hong Kong knew that a remarkable fortune-telling beauty had emerged from there.

The spot where Shen Qing set up her stall had become akin to a popular attraction in later times, attracting numerous admirers daily, all hoping for a glimpse of her clairvoyance.

"I'm sorry, I only read fortunes for those with whom fate has brought me together," Shen Qing would reply to the enthusiastic patrons, time and again.

Yet, the regret she felt each time she spoke these words was known only to herself.

Each customer's fortune-telling costs 666 Hong Kong dollars, so ten would amount to 6,666 Hong Kong dollars - enough to sustain Brother Biao and his crew for quite some time.

Unfortunately, when she was reborn, she didn't receive the mystical fortune-telling ability that those female protagonists in novels did. Otherwise, she could have amassed wealth simply by telling fortunes.

Ah, Shen Qing looked at the dozens of customers surrounding her, and the regret in her heart turned into a pang of pain.

They were all cash, all hard-earned money!

But fate was fair. Though she lacked the skill to predict the future, she had been granted knowledge of the original storyline.

She could still rely on that to amass wealth through fortune-telling, otherwise, she wouldn't be able to invest in those instant noodles that would soon become highly sought after.

With this thought, Shen Qing felt a sense of equilibrium return.

There were only three things she needed to do now.

Firstly, wait for the right moment to sell the instant noodles in her possession and make a huge profit.

Secondly, encounter He Wenzhi and provide her with a reading, securing a second source of funds.

The third matter was to lure the snake out of its hole and expose the real culprit hiding behind it - the old lady with the dog - and clarify why she had been killed.

As Shen Qing was inwardly drafting her 'wish list,' she suddenly heard an unusually excited voice from outside the crowd.

"Winnie, look, there's a fortune-telling girl," said He Wenzhi's secretary. She seemed to have accompanied He Wenzhi on a shopping spree and was now about to catch a movie at Temple Street Cinema.

Winnie?

Isn't that He Wenzhi's English name?

Shen Qing's eyes lit up as she pushed through the crowd to take a look. Indeed, she spotted He Wenzhi and her secretary standing not too far away.

The two must have just finished shopping in a mall, as He Wenzhi was followed by several mall staff carrying numerous high-end shopping bags. They surrounded He Wenzhi along with her secretary.

Shen Qing couldn't help but smile. Her daily visits to Temple Street to try her luck hadn't been in vain; she had finally encountered He Wenzhi.

As Shen Qing looked at He Wenzhi, the latter also glanced over in the direction pointed by her secretary's finger and then paused in surprise.

There stood a young girl, dressed in a white knitted cardigan and a frilly silk blouse, surrounded by people.

Her long, jet-black tresses cascaded loosely, accentuating her fair and delicate face. Despite just one glance, He Wenzhi felt an uncanny familiarity with Shen Qing.

"Winnie, she's the Temple Street fortune-telling sensation these days. She's predicted many things accurately and even helped the police solve cases using her divination skills," her secretary said excitedly. "Why don't we give it a try too?"

"Not really, do you think any fortune-teller will read for anyone who comes along?" A middle-aged man who had been waiting eagerly for Shen Qing's consultation spoke up. "I've been here all morning, but she hasn't read for us."

"Exactly, she only reads for those with whom she has a connection," another middle-aged woman who had also waited for a while added. "We wonder who exactly is the one Shen Qing is destined to help."

"What if we're the ones she's meant to read for?" The secretary countered, then turned to He Wenzhi with enthusiasm. "Winnie, why don't you give it a shot with the fortune-teller?"

He Wenzhi glanced at Shen Qing nonchalantly. "No thanks." Then, she addressed her secretary, "You're an educated person, don't be so superstitious."

Her embarrassed but eager-to-try secretary smiled. "But I really want her to predict my career prospects."

Seeing her secretary rush to Shen Qing, He Wenzhi felt helpless. However, Shen Qing declared, "I'm sorry, Miss, you aren't the one I have a connection with. I won't read for you."

He Wenzhi, about to leave, was taken aback. This was the first time she had seen someone turn down business that came knocking on their door.

She looked from Shen Qing to her secretary, whose face wore a disappointed look and still reached for her wallet to pay for a reading. Suddenly, He Wenzhi smiled.

A fortune-telling girl, plying her trade on Temple Street, even began emulating Lin Liping's "Three Things Not Calculated."

Lin Liping's three exclusions – not counting the dead, not counting oneself, and not counting fellow practitioners – didn't apply to this young lady. Was she only willing to read for those with whom she had a connection?

Is it miscalculation? Or simply a mockery?

"Well, it seems you folks aren't destined for this today." The fish ball vendor approached with his tray, his face radiant with excitement. "The other day, a divine soothsayer predicted my fortune. They told me that in five years, I would amass great wealth and that my neighbor would be selling their house to move abroad. I followed the soothsayer's advice and purchased the neighbor's house. Who knows how prosperous my future will be now?"

Though the fortune was five years away, the mere fact that Shen Qing accurately predicted her neighbor's intention to sell the house was enough to earn her the fish ball seller's awe and reverence.

However, He Wenzhi found it amusing. Was getting rich in five years a sure bet? What if the neighbor was colluding with this young girl to lure Fishball Man into buying the house?

Fishball Man was oblivious to He Wenzhi's disdainful thoughts as he placed the fishballs in front of Shen Qing. "The Oracle treats you. This is my way of thanking you."

With a cheerful expression, he said, "Apart from fishballs, I have shrimp balls too. I'm sure you'll love them."

"It's a pity you came a day late. If you had come a day earlier, the Oracle might have given you a reading out of neighborhood goodwill," Grandma Dessert also approached with a bowl of dessert in hand. "A few days ago, the Oracle did a reading for us just because we're neighbors, and it was incredibly accurate."

Ever since Shen Qing's fortune-telling led to Grandma Dessert opening her shop, her business had been booming. Whenever Shen Qing visited Temple Street, Grandma Dessert would send over a bowl of sweet soup as a gesture of gratitude.

"Today's dessert is mango sago with bird's nest, great for the skin." The Dessert Grandma also spoke with a warm smile.

Observing the crowd around them, He Wenzhi noticed that their eagerness to have Shen Qing read their fortunes had intensified after hearing Fishball Man and Dessert Grandma's testimonials. She felt that Shen Qing was collaborating with them to stage a show, promoting her services.

He Wenzhi was about to leave but noticed her newly hired secretary still eagerly looking at Shen Qing, hoping for a fortune reading.

"Dowser, you said if I buy this shop, I can truly enjoy my retirement, right?" Dessert Grandma asked Shen Qing, "Is that true?"

"Of course," Shen Qing nodded with a smile.

Determined to save up for the shop, Dessert Grandma started making plans to leave. Hearing this, He Wenzhi paused in her steps slightly.

Encouraging someone to buy a stall on Temple Street? This fortune teller had a knack for business, it seemed.

Seeing Shen Qing not only give readings but also engage in follow-up conversations with Dessert Grandma, everyone around was envious of the elderly woman.

"Dowser, whatever fee you want, just tell me if you'll read my fortune," an impatient and wealthy customer implored. It was frustrating to have the dowser right there but not be able to get a reading.

"I'm sorry, I only read fortunes for those with whom I share a connection," Shen Qing replied, consistent as always.

Unbeknownst to Shen Qing, her unique manner of refusal had only heightened the enigma and grandeur surrounding her mystic persona in the eyes of these guests.

Even He Wenzhi, a skeptic when it came to fortune-telling, found herself slightly curious about who this fated person might be for Shen Qing.

"Perhaps the mystic's destined one is me," said He Wenzhi's secretary, approaching Shen Qing eagerly. "Mystic, tell me, am I your fated person?"

Shen Qing glanced at the secretary and gently shook her head with a smile.

The secretary seemed genuinely disappointed. "Not me? Then, could my boss, Winnie, be your destined one?"

As Shen Qing lifted her gaze towards He Wenzhi, everyone else turned their attention to the latter as well.

Under the collective gaze, He Wenzhi calmly looked back at Shen Qing, eager to hear her response.

"She..." As Shen Qing began, everyone held their breath.

"At present, she is not my destined one," Shen Qing stated.

A collective sigh of relief echoed around the room. None of them wished to be or have anyone they knew as Shen Qing's fated person.

Soaked in the rain, they would tear apart others' umbrellas.

He Wenzhi, having been publicly rejected: "............"

"Ai, I thought Sister Winnie would be the destined one for the fortune teller," He Wenzhi's secretary lamented even more.

"You're all daydreaming. The destined one for the fortune teller appears only once every ten days or half a month," Fishball Man said cheerfully. "The fortune teller has been at Temple Street for so many days, and you could count her destined ones on one hand."

Fishball Man was unaware that He Wenzhi was the owner of the two 8 license plate Bentleys Shen Qing had been waiting for. He proudly shared his privilege with everyone, "Only Aunty Sweet Soup, Brother Tiger, and I have been fortune-told by the divine predictor."

"You don't know, the fortune teller predicted Brother Tiger would die in three days, and even Yama couldn't keep him for four," Fishball Man said, beaming with pride at the memory.

"Yes, I know. She also helped Sir find out who killed Brother Tiger," the customers immediately responded. "That's why I wanted a reading from the divine predictor. But to think she wouldn't read anyone at all."

"Not that I won't read anyone, but if the destined one's connection with me isn't ripe yet, I won't read them," Shen Qing smiled at He Wenzhi. "Like this Ms. He here, she isn't my destined one today, but we'll meet at the TV station in ten days."

"At that time, she will present the award to the winner of the Olympiad competition," Shen Qing stated.

"Wrong," He Wenzhi spared no politeness to Shen Qing. "The Olympiad is in two days, not ten. Your prediction is inaccurate."

He Wenzhi remarked, "The event where I presented the award to the Math Olympiad champion has been consistently covered in the newspapers. It's possible that you learned of this news through reading the papers."

After her remark, He Wenzi also addressed Shen Qing, "At your young age, you should focus on your studies instead of engaging in deceitful activities."

"Seriously? Is God's calculation a hoax?" The onlookers, witnessing Shen Qing being exposed by He Wenzhi, were left in utter disbelief.

Especially the middle-aged man who had been clutching his money, pleading for Shen Qing to give him a fortune-telling session, couldn't believe it. His voice rose to a shrill pitch as he asked, "Is it really fake? I've been waiting here for half the day for nothing?"

"I asked why not a single one counts for you? It turns out you're unsure and afraid to calculate." The uncle was beside himself with excitement. The fish ball vendor couldn't bear to watch and interjected, "What do you mean unsure? The divine calculator is always accurate. If you're not fated with the divine calculator, why are you so agitated?"

"And you," the fish ball vendor directed his gaze at He Wenzhi. "Madam, judging by your attire, you must be from an affluent family, right? It's fine if you don't believe in fortune-telling, but if the Divine Calculator says that the math olympiad will take place in ten days, it surely will."

"That's right, I trust the Divine Calculator's words," the sweet soup grandma nodded in agreement.

She and Fish Ball Uncle were Shen Qing's die-hard fans!

"Come on now, can she really predict the future? I don't think so!" This was the stubborn resident of Temple Street, known as Stubborn King, who sold ornamental fish and turtles.

He was also the one who had wanted Shen Qing to read his fortune but, due to his stubborn nature, had never actually asked her to do so.

"I've always been skeptical about her fortune-telling skills, so I never let her read my future when she offered to do it for the neighbors," Wang the Stubborn explained. "She charges an exorbitant amount – 6666 Hong Kong dollars."

"It is indeed expensive," those who had earlier begged Shen Qing for a reading now turned against her.

"Even if it's expensive, she didn't give any of you a reading. Why are you so agitated?" Shen Qing said leisurely. "And Miss He, I said that the Math Olympiad would take place in ten days, and it surely will."

"If you don't believe me, just wait and see," Shen Qing knew that He Wenzhi was an independent woman with strong opinions. She didn't trust fortune-telling, so anything Shen Qing said would be seen as a scam.

Since she hadn't sold the instant noodles yet, there was no way for her to make money from He Wenzhi beforehand. So, she left these words hanging, waiting for them to come true.

When He Wenzhi encountered her at the Math Olympiad, there would be no need for Shen Qing to say more; He Wenzhi's attention would naturally be drawn to her.

Shen Qing continued, "Miss He is someone with a strong work ethic. She isn't content being a wealthy bachelor's idle partner, always striving to achieve great things."

Upon hearing this, He Wenzhi's expression changed.

"But the time for your career isn't ripe yet. When the right moment comes, that will be the time we meet again." With these words, Shen Qing gathered her belongings and slowly walked away under the gaze of He Wenzhi and the others.

"Ms. Winnie, what did she mean by that?" the secretary asked.

"One can never tell; they might just be frauds." He Wenzhi dismissed the idea nonchalantly. "Fortune-telling is like magic in foreign countries – impressive to watch, but ultimately just an illusion."

"The math competition was sponsored by me; I'm the one who decides when it's held. How could she possibly predict that? Saying it would be in ten days? That's preposterous."

He Wenzhi felt that staying here was sheer waste of time.

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