"This guy is so annoying. I've told him I don't have feelings for him, but he just won't listen."
After Feng Kun left, Han Wenxue pouted, her dissatisfaction written all over her face.
"Haha, doesn't that just prove how irresistible our little Wenxue is?"
Old Master Han, ever the cheerful one, chuckled heartily. His face, already marked with deep wrinkles, seemed to brighten even more in the presence of his granddaughter.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Chen Yi let out a sharp cry, slapping his thigh as he jumped to his feet.
"What are you doing? You scared me half to death!"
Han Wenxue and her grandfather both flinched at Chen Yi's inexplicable outburst, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion.
Ignoring Han Wenxue's displeasure, Chen Yi asked in astonishment, "Wait, did you just say you don't have feelings for him?"
"That's right," Han Wenxue replied, staring at him in bewilderment.
"Ah, how could I be so stupid!"
Chen Yi's erratic behavior left everyone at a loss. His words were equally cryptic, as if he were speaking in riddles.
The moment he walked in and saw the two of them together, he had naturally assumed they were a perfect match—a couple destined for each other. Little did he know, Feng Kun was the only one interested, while Han Wenxue had no feelings for him whatsoever.
Overconfidence is a killer!
If he had known earlier, he would have drawn a divination. Now, the opportunity was gone, the fat lamb slipping right through his fingers.
Chen Yi felt as if his heart had been stabbed.
This was a rare golden goose!
D*mn it, Feng Kun! If you're not her boyfriend, why are you acting like a big shot and targeting me at every turn? If it weren't for that, I'd have taken you down ages ago.
Noticing the shifting expressions on Chen Yi's face, Han Wenxue grew wary. "Let me make this clear: I'm not interested in kids, so don't get any ideas about me."
One Feng Kun was already enough trouble. If Chen Yi joined the fray, she might as well flee back to the United States.
"No, no, I'm not interested in you," Chen Yi shook his head vehemently, like a rattle drum. "I'm interested in Feng Kun. I thought you two were a couple, so I held back. But tomorrow, I'll definitely attend your birthday party. You have to help me out—I can't let him slip away this time."
"What?"
Han Wenxue stared at him, her cherry-like lips slightly parted in disbelief.
"What's wrong? I'm just asking you to say a few words for me. Or… could it be that you actually have feelings for him?"
What's wrong with this woman? She just said she didn't like Feng Kun, and now she's acting all weird. Make up your mind! Chen Yi thought, utterly baffled.
"You… you're interested in Feng Kun?"
"Of course. Is there a problem? He's a rich second-generation heir—a rare find. If you're interested in him, I'll back off. After all, we're family, and I wouldn't want to cross any lines."
"No, that's not what I meant," Han Wenxue quickly denied, though her gaze at Chen Yi now carried a hint of complexity.
Chen Yi scratched his head, beginning to sense that he might have been too blunt. She's had a Western education—maybe she can't handle my straightforwardness as a fortune-teller.
"If it's too much trouble, then forget it. After all, I'm not like you. Our worlds are too different, and I don't want to put you in a difficult position."
"No, I support you. You're brave to pursue your true love!"
Han Wenxue's tone was firm, her eyes filled with encouragement.
Chen Yi was utterly dumbfounded.
What in the world is going on here?
Old Master Han, who had been sipping water, suddenly choked and sprayed it out, his face lighting up with a mischievous grin that made him look like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"Love between men is quite common in the United States. I have several classmates who are like that. I won't discriminate against you."
Chen Yi: "…"
"I know it's hard for such love to be accepted in China, but don't let others' opinions deter you. Be brave and stay true to yourself—pursue your happiness!"
Han Wenxue clenched her small fists and made a cheering gesture, feeling a sense of pride in helping a confused young man find his way.
It's over. Everything is over.
Chen Yi's once-proud image of wisdom and might was now in tatters.
No matter how much he tried to explain, Han Wenxue's face remained painted with an expression of ambiguous understanding.
Chen Yi left Old Master Han's house in a daze, unsure of how he had even managed to walk out.
"Grandpa, this Chen Yi doesn't seem all that impressive. He can't even handle Feng Kun, let alone the forces behind him!"
After Chen Yi's departure, Han Wenxue voiced her concerns.
"You still don't understand Chen Yi," Old Master Han said, taking a leisurely sip of tea. "That little rascal is a master at playing dumb to catch the tiger. He may seem like a fool, but he's sharper than anyone."
"Grandpa, you speak so highly of him, but I didn't see it. He couldn't even talk back to Feng Kun's taunts and just let himself be mocked."
Han Wenxue was curious. She had observed Chen Yi closely from start to finish, but aside from the dzi bead, nothing about him had stood out.
Even the dzi bead, if not for her grandfather's insight, would have been dismissed as a cheap trinket.
The old man wasn't bothered. His granddaughter was growing up, forming her own opinions. Whether right or wrong, it was a good thing. His role was to guide her where she lacked experience.
With Chen Yi, however, there was no need for such explanations. It wasn't just a matter of talent—it was also a matter of time being of the essence.
"I've spent over three years with him. Much of what he knows, I've taught him. I understand him, and he understands me. There's no need to spell everything out."
"But what if he's figured it out? Won't he be upset, knowing we're using him?" Han Wenxue asked anxiously.
"You underestimate him. The moment he walked through the door, he saw through your situation, guessed why you returned to China at this time, and even discerned my intentions. It's just that we're so in sync, some things don't need to be said. Besides, he has no reason to be upset. Whether he gets involved is entirely up to him."
"Grandpa, aren't you overestimating him? You once used our family's ancestral compass and spent an entire day and night calculating with Qimen Dunjia to gain clarity. Are you saying he's even better than you?"
"In terms of Feng Shui and divination, he surpassed me long ago. That's why, over the years, I've only taught him the rules of the trade and how to walk steadily. It's not that I'm withholding knowledge—I simply have nothing left to teach him in this field. In that sense, I've been an unworthy teacher."
Han Wenxue pouted, clearly skeptical.
When she was born, Old Master Han had read her fortune and predicted an early death. She hadn't believed in such unscientific things until her grandfather's foresight repeatedly saved her from danger. Only then did she realize his abilities were beyond her comprehension.
As Americans would say, such powers were akin to those of God.
Her return to China this time was due to her grandfather's warning that this year, under the ominous influence of the Greedy Wolf and Seven Kill Stars, would be her most perilous. Only by returning to China could the danger be mitigated.
To her surprise, Old Master Han didn't plan to handle the matter personally but entrusted it to his disciple, Chen Yi. This left her feeling somewhat uneasy.
Especially after hearing her grandfather's repeated praise of Chen Yi, her dissatisfaction grew.
This young man, younger than herself—if he was truly as extraordinary as her grandfather claimed, "genius" wouldn't even begin to describe him.
Moreover, according to her grandfather, Chen Yi was an orphan, not born into a Feng Shui family, and hadn't started learning until he was sixteen.
In just three or four years, could he really have become a master prophet?
Even Mozart, the musical prodigy, had achieved similar feats—composing at four, touring at six.
Considering the time frame, Chen Yi's accomplishments were comparable to Mozart's. But unlike Mozart, Chen Yi didn't have a father guiding him from birth.
"What if he refuses? What if he chooses not to help?"
Han Wenxue suddenly recalled her grandfather's earlier comment about the choice being Chen Yi's and couldn't help but worry.
"Yes, the choice is his. But I guarantee he'll agree," Old Master Han said with a sly smile, the kind only a cunning old fox could wear. "I'll add a little fuel to the fire and make sure he walks into the trap willingly."