Volume One, Chapter 80: You Can Only Choose One—Reading or Fortune-Telling

It was a string of unfamiliar numbers, but with such ostentatiously auspicious digits, Qin Yu didn’t need a note to know who it was.

“Have you made it home?”

Qin Yu replied, “Thank you for your concern. I’m home!”

There was no further response. Tossing and turning in bed, Qin Yu hesitated, then typed, “Mr. Lu, I read your fortune today. The stars of romance are moving—you must have found someone you like. However, this relationship is destined to end with no result. Please be cautious, stay true to yourself, and don’t fall too deep.”

She capped it off with a playful, cute smiley face.

A long time passed with no reply. Remembering Ye Puming’s warning that morning, Qin Yu opened the Sprout app.

Sure enough, Ye Puming had messaged her.

Ye Puming: “To be honest, although I once stayed at Clear Breeze Monastery, they only had me fetch water, chop wood, and cook. They never truly taught me anything.

“I used to think it was all part of ascetic training, a way to temper the heart. But when I realized most people there had no real skills, I left without hesitation.

“I’m still making a living on the monastery’s reputation, so I ought not to speak ill of it. But I don’t want to see a master deceived by Clear Breeze Monastery.”

Qin Yu thought, this Ye Puming is at least conscientious.

She replied with a “Thanks for the warning,” and closed the app.

No sooner had she exited than the wealthy number sent a reply: “Thank you for the warning.”

Qin Yu: …

The moonlight climbed higher.

Qin Yu got up to meditate.

Though her spiritual energy had recovered and surged, she’d always felt a blockage when circulating it; but just now, it flowed perfectly smoothly!

The Chang Yi Sword was helping her!

As it turned out, getting too excited before bed was a mistake; it only led to insomnia.

With nothing else to do, Qin Yu picked up her phone and opened Weibo.

#Song Yuzhi Breached Her Contract!#
#Song Yuzhi Get Out of Showbiz!#

The top two hot search topics were both explosive and sensational.

Qin Yu clicked in—Song Yuzhi’s agency had taken her to court.

Nine long screenshots, every one accusing Song Yuzhi of breaching contracts, throwing tantrums, owing the company money, sleeping her way to the top…

Wave after wave of blackmailing scandal overturned the public’s image of this innocent starlet.

Online abuse and factional infighting erupted, surging one after another.

Long, vitriolic essays filled the comment sections.

Suddenly, Song Yuzhi’s high school classmates, friends, and drama staff all emerged from nowhere in droves, each one slamming her with more accusations.

Qin Yu thought for a moment and opened the Sprout app again.

Elsewhere.

Song Yuzhi sat hopelessly by the window, her fair, slender legs dangling outside. One tilt forward was all it would take to end her suffering.

Her phone kept chiming incessantly at her side.

Even after removing her SIM card, people found new ways to hurl abuse at her across every social platform.

She felt like a transparent ghost, stripped bare and hung on display for all to see.

Even her small anonymous accounts for venting had been dragged out and crucified.

No matter how she tried to explain, her words were futile.

Her agent’s threats echoed in her ears. She wondered whether, if she persisted, anything would ever change…

She closed her eyes.

Would freedom be hers if she jumped?

“Ding-dong!”

A special notification—loud and clear!

Like a drowning person grasping a life-saving plank, she clung to it.

Bamboo Autumn: “Justice may be late, but it never fails to arrive. I support you! Hang in there!”

Reading those warm words, tears streamed down her face.

She made a decision—no matter what, she would fight on!

That night, Song Yuzhi, who had remained silent so long, suddenly posted.

She accused her agent and company of deceit, luring their female artists into selling themselves, and using usurious loans to control them…

One after another, chat logs were exposed.

Song Yuzhi bravely stood before the world.

Qin Yu saw the trending topic notification on Weibo and smiled.

Good girl, don’t give up! Victory will be yours!

Feeling a touch of sleepiness, Qin Yu finally rested easy and fell asleep.

The next morning, she went through her routine, washed up, and headed downstairs. As usual, she was the only one at home.

Seeing Qin Yu preparing to head out early, Lin Jian’an was overjoyed. “Miss, are you going to the hospital?”

Qin Yu nodded.

Delighted, Lin Jian’an hurried off to fetch the car.

At the hospital, Su Nianxin had already arrived.

At the sight of Qin Yu, she covertly tugged at Qi Huairou’s sleeve.

Qi Huairou looked up. It was clear she had something on her mind, but when she opened her mouth, she said nothing.

“Mr. Su, are you all right?” Qin Yu asked.

Qi Huairou shook her head, visibly upset. “The doctor says more observation is needed.”

Qin Yu glanced at Su Jin’s face. “It shouldn’t be much longer—three days at most.”

Qi Huairou took this as comfort and felt a little better.

But remembering what Nianxin had whispered to her that morning, her expression darkened again.

She turned to Su Nianxin. “Nianxin, take care of your father. I need a word alone with your sister.”

As always, Su Nianxin was obedient.

But as she watched the two leave, a look of schadenfreude flickered across her face.

Qi Huairou led Qin Yu down to the hospital’s activity area. It was breakfast time, and many families were bringing meals upstairs.

They found a bench and sat.

Qin Yu sat quietly at her side, waiting for her to speak.

Qi Huairou hesitated, but finally spoke earnestly. “Yu Yu, our Su family isn’t some grand household, and we don’t have high expectations for you or Nianxin. But a daughter of the Su family must have backbone, must respect herself—do you understand?”

Qin Yu was puzzled, not sure why she was saying this, but nodded dutifully. “Yes, I understand.”

“If you ever face difficulties, tell me. I’ll help you, understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Our whole family is your steadfast support, understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I’ve said so much—don’t you have anything to say to me?” Qi Huairou looked at Qin Yu’s constant nodding, feeling stifled, as if something was stuck in her chest.

Qin Yu was even more confused. She shook her head.

In that instant, Qi Huairou lost her composure.

“From now on, you’re not allowed to go out and do business. You’re a young lady meant to study and attend school. In the past, I didn’t say anything because we had to survive. But now you have a home—stay here, study hard, and be the proper young lady of the Su family!”

Qin Yu couldn’t understand Qi Huairou’s anger. She looked at her seriously and asked, “Can I only choose one between studying and fortune-telling?”