Chapter 11: Agreeing to Meet Yue Yi—The Wise Avoid the River of Love

For a fleeting moment, Yue Yi felt as though she had fed her conscience to the dogs.

It was the first time she had kindly helped someone, only to discover the person was a fraud!

Yue Yi let out a bitter smile. Turning away coldly, she headed toward the trash bin, but halfway there, unwilling to give up, she took a deep breath.

She turned back.

Her eyes fell on the twig twisted into the girl’s hair—clearly picked up from the ground—while her clothes bore the unmistakable mark of luxury brands, albeit stained from water.

Clenching her fists tightly, Yue Yi wondered how she hadn’t seen through such a crude disguise during the day.

Unable to hold back her emotions, her entire body trembled.

“I thought you were truly in trouble, but it was all an act. It’s because of people like you that when an elderly person falls, no one dares to help!”

“Not even calling an ambulance!”

Fuxi Xi gripped the cardboard box weakly and helplessly, quietly pulling her legs free.

“Why? You have hands and feet, so why can’t you find a proper job? Why resort to scamming and fortune-telling? Do you think everyone is a fool?”

Hit with a barrage of questions, Fuxi Xi raised her small hands in innocence.

“Well, which one should I answer first?”

Yue Yi was momentarily stunned, tears still glistening in her eyes, a sudden wave of frustration washing over her.

After venting her helplessness, she cursed through gritted teeth, “You damn liar.”

The words barely left her lips when Yue Yi suddenly sat down beside Fuxi Xi and began to weep uncontrollably.

She cried in utter disregard of her dignity, wiping away tears and snot with her hands.

Gazing at her hands, she wiped them on Fuxi Xi’s clothes and continued to sob.

Fuxi Xi was puzzled.

What had she done to deserve this?

Five minutes passed, and Yue Yi was still crying.

If not for the booming music from the square dance nearby drowning out the noise, a crowd would have already gathered.

Rubbing her throbbing temples, Fuxi Xi had completely lost patience.

“Stop crying. Wait here and let me tell your fortune. Then you’ll know if I’m really a fraud.”

At once, Yue Yi stopped sobbing, sniffling, “Forget it. I know it’s not easy for you either. I was just too emotional. I’m really exhausted.”

But as she spoke, tears threatened to spill again, and Fuxi Xi hastily stopped her.

“Yue Yi, a university student, isn’t on good terms with her parents. She recently took leave to return home to arrange her grandfather’s funeral and ended up having a huge fight with them.”

Yue Yi sniffled, “Everyone in the neighborhood already knows all this.”

Good news never leaves the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles. All the family troubles were public knowledge long ago.

***

Fuxi Xi smiled warmly, staring at Yue Yi. “Your phone has a novel saved in the account of a certain ‘Madam,’ titled *My Roommate Abandoned Me—*”

Hearing Yue Yi’s lingering doubt, she paused until the last word. Then Yue Yi took a deep breath and covered Fuxi Xi’s mouth.

“No talking!”

Fuxi Xi simply looked at her without resistance.

Seeing the clear and honest gaze in Fuxi Xi’s eyes, Yue Yi began to reflect on herself.

Had she been looking through tinted glasses? Could such a pure girl truly be a fraud? It didn’t feel right—maybe she really was some kind of master.

Besides, the book was a secret, protected by a password. Unless Fuxi Xi was a hacker, but who would be so brazen?

Now, Yue Yi felt a strange blush creep up her cheeks. “You… you really can see the future?”

Fuxi Xi blinked and pointed to her own face.

Embarrassed, Yue Yi withdrew her hand and lowered her dim eyes.

“I’ve heard from my roommates that there are many things ordinary people can’t understand—mysticism is one of them—but I’m skeptical.”

If such powerful people truly existed, why had they never revealed themselves?

Fuxi Xi didn’t deny it. The Mystic Association was officially affiliated with an obscure, second-rate university.

They rarely took ordinary clients.

“Come find me here in two days. By then, all your doubts will be answered.”

Yue Yi was taken aback, about to ask why, but then remembered it was the day before she was to return to school. She had planned to spend the afternoon in a cafe.

Her steadfast belief had just crumbled.

She stared blankly at her half-eaten noodles. “You… you eat first.”

Though there was no clear answer, Fuxi Xi was certain Yue Yi would come.

Better to believe it true than false.

It was only a matter of time to verify.

After finishing the noodles, Fuxi Xi cast a fortune and then, wearing the cardboard box over her upper body, lay down on the bench to sleep.

***

After Old Wu was taken into custody, the members of Squad 09 continued to discuss Fuxi Xi.

Many knew the inside story but no one dared openly mention anything related to Ye Ning’an, focusing solely on Fuxi Xi.

“I think Master Fu is way more responsible and capable than those from the Mystic Association,” one said.

“Yeah, and I heard she only charged the family a hundred thousand yuan. Our team didn’t pay a cent. That’s rare for a case involving the deceased.”

One man shifted in his seat, carrying a bowl of minced meat noodles, and sat beside Xiao Li.

“Xiao Li, you’ve dealt with Master Fu. What’s she really like?”

Xiao Li slurped his noodles, looked up at the questioner, and replied, “Why so much talk? If Captain Shen hears this, is the matter in Luo City settled?”

He then remembered something and reminded, “Also, remember to call her Miss Fu when you’re outside.”

“Why all of a sudden…” The man’s smile froze as he saw someone entering through the door. “You’re right.”

When Shen Du entered, the room fell silent.

Ignoring the ongoing discussions, he looked directly at Xiao Li. “Come with me.”

“Yes, sir.” Xiao Li swallowed hastily, packed up his food container, and followed.

The others dared not continue the conversation; when it’s time to be serious, one must be serious.

In the car, Xiao Li spat out a mint gum, exhaled on his hand to confirm no scent remained, then asked, “Captain Shen, are you going to see Miss Fu?”

“The mystics believe in cause and effect,” Shen Du said, half-closing his eyes as he gazed out the window.

Xiao Li understood perfectly.

In all seriousness, the end result was still a visit to Fuxi Xi.

He glanced at the package in the back seat. So the reason Shen Du visited Xiao Tao’s parents this afternoon was to buy clothes.

Tsk tsk, a wise man never falls in love.

Lost in his own thoughts, the car stopped at the community entrance.

He opened the window and looked out.

“Captain Shen, Miss Fu said she’ll be at the park here these days, but it’s uncertain if she’s here at this hour.”

Before Xiao Li finished speaking, Shen Du had already opened the door, grabbed the package from the back seat, and stepped out.

Xiao Li followed but did not go further.

The man’s tall, upright figure stood like a pine tree in the night.

He blocked the light, casting a vast shadow.

Lowering his gaze, he saw the figure on the bench, wrapped in a cardboard box larger than her upper body, sleeping in a disheveled posture with one leg draped over the backrest.

As if sensing his presence, Fuxi Xi squinted open one eye and greeted him without any semblance of decorum.

“Captain Shen.”

Then she suddenly turned her head back.

“Oh, you can put the things down. They’ll be reassured. Xiao Tao will have a happy and fulfilling next life—or perhaps, fate will allow another meeting.”

Shen Du’s expression remained unchanged.

“I’ll tell her parents.”

He looked at the two lines written on the cardboard, lost in thought.

“Captain Shen, aren’t you leaving yet?”