Han Wenxue turned back, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Having grown up in America but raised with traditional Eastern values, her sense of propriety was far more delicate than that of blonde Western women. Ji Hao's remark left her so flustered that she quickly released Chen Yi's arm.
"Ahem, are you done setting it up?"
Chen Yi coughed lightly, trying to mask his awkwardness.
Though he prided himself on his thick skin and sharp wit, even excelling in the art of manipulation, the reality was that he remained, in every sense of the word, an inexperienced young man. Being so close to a stunning beauty naturally triggered a reaction he couldn't entirely control—an instinctive impulse he had yet to master.
"We've been ready for a while, Master Chen. Now it's your turn to impress us!"
Ji Hao sneered, his expression brimming with mockery.
Chen Yi glanced at the tea cup, which had been moved slightly closer to the center of the table. It seemed Ji Hao had already placed something inside.
The Tang Dynasty Club, one of Quancheng's most luxurious establishments, was renowned for its opulent décor.
The tables and chairs were all crafted from fine mahogany, while the floors were made of high-quality ceramic tiles, each adorned with intricate carvings.
As Chen Yi observed these details, inspiration struck, and he immediately began divining based on the objects around him.
At his level, tools were no longer a necessity. Divination had become second nature—fluid, intuitive, and adaptable. Even the most mundane objects could serve as mediums for his readings.
The red mahogany furniture and the exquisite ceramic flooring formed a clear hexagram in Chen Yi's mind.
Red symbolized the element of fire, while the ceramic tiles represented the mountain, an earth element.
Fire above, mountain below—the resulting hexagram was Fire Over Mountain, known as "The Traveler."
"The object in the cup should be related to fire," Chen Yi concluded with some confidence.
Ji Hao's face stiffened at these words. "I asked you to divine what's in the cup, not spout vague nonsense!"
"I wasn't finished. Why so impatient, Mr. Ji? Or is your temperament so fragile that you can't even wait for a few sentences?"
Chen Yi's words, though delivered casually, were a thinly veiled insult. Before Ji Hao could react, Chen Yi continued, "Fire above, earth below. The earth diminishes the fire's energy, meaning the flame is weak—a small fire."
"That's obvious! A large fire couldn't possibly fit in a cup. Let me remind you, you must describe the object precisely, or you lose!"
Ji Hao added a new condition on the spot, drawing a chorus of boos from the onlookers.
When Ji Hao had placed the object earlier, he hadn't hidden it from the crowd, though Chen Yi and Han Wenxue had been turned away.
From Chen Yi's analysis, it was clear he was already close to the truth.
But could he guess correctly? The onlookers held their breath, nervous for him.
Ji Hao was a sly one, deliberately choosing an object designed to confuse and mislead.
"Mountain represents stillness, and since the earth diminishes the fire, the object doesn't burn when stationary. The changing hexagram reveals Wind and Lake—Wind signifies air, and Lake represents the mouth. Fire used by the mouth suggests something for lighting cigarettes. Based on this, I should guess the object is a lighter. However..."
"However what?"
Ji Hao's tension was palpable.
"However, if I guessed lighter, I'd be falling into your trap!"
"Can't you just get to the point? Stop rambling like an old woman!"
Ji Hao hated the confident, knowing look on Chen Yi's face—it was a clear sign that he had lost.
"Mr. Ji, your memory seems rather poor. Didn't you say earlier that you wanted me to enlighten you? I'm simply explaining the hexagram so you can understand it better. This way, no one can accuse me of cheating later."
Chen Yi's tone was one of benevolence, but his real intent was to preempt any excuses Ji Hao might use to back out of the wager.
Too many gamblers couldn't handle losing, and while Chen Yi didn't know if Ji Hao would openly renege in front of everyone, he wasn't about to take any chances.
"If you're going to say it, just say it already!"
"At first, I thought the object was indeed a lighter. But then I realized you wouldn't put something so obvious in the cup—that would be far too simple. And while lighters rely on gas to ignite, all flames require oxygen to burn. This creates an intentional misdirection, reflecting the duplicity of human thought."
Hexagrams could reveal a person's inner thoughts, but only with a targeted reading. Chen Yi's current hexagram didn't have that capability; he was merely indulging in some mischief to unsettle Ji Hao.
Trying to outwit a fortune-teller? That was asking for trouble.
"So, I used my family's secret technique to reverse-engineer the hexagram. The resulting hexagram was Thunder, which represents wood. A lighter clearly doesn't fit this attribute. Mountain also represents earth, and fire is produced through movement. Matches, with their wooden sticks and phosphorus heads, must be struck against a matchbox to ignite. They align far better with the hexagram than a lighter does."
As Chen Yi finished speaking, applause erupted from the crowd.
There was no need to check; the object in the cup was undoubtedly a box of matches.
Chen Yi had not only won the wager with his extraordinary divination skills but also earned the admiration of everyone present.
"Mr. Ji, Mr. Feng, I'll gladly accept this ten thousand yuan. But I must say, you almost had me there. Who even uses matches to light cigarettes these days?"
Chen Yi cheerfully threw an arm around Ji Hao's shoulders, laughing heartily.
Ji Hao was seething inside. Not only had Chen Yi taken ten thousand yuan from him, but he had also mocked him, both overtly and subtly, leaving him no room to retaliate. His frustration was palpable.
It dawned on Ji Hao that he had been thoroughly outplayed. From the start, Chen Yi had controlled the entire exchange. Despite his obvious skill, Chen Yi had feigned hesitation, baiting Ji Hao into raising the stakes.
Ji Hao finally realized he had been duped.
He had been manipulated, and in front of so many witnesses, he couldn't even protest. Chen Yi had cleverly cut off all avenues of retreat.
D*mn it!
That was the only thought running through Ji Hao's mind.
Feng Kun wasn't faring much better. Though he maintained a composed exterior, he was just as frustrated as Ji Hao. Unlike Ji Hao, who could vent his anger, Feng Kun had to bottle it up, forced to endure the bitterness in silence.
Meanwhile, Han Wenxue's expression was a mix of emotions. She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a laugh.
She was thrilled by Chen Yi's victory and impressed by his playful antics.
Not only had he won the wager, but he had also managed to humiliate his opponents while acting as if he were doing them a favor.
Her grandfather's words echoed in her mind: never judge this man by appearances, or you'll end up counting money for him after he sells you.
But would he ever deceive her?
The thought crossed Han Wenxue's mind but was quickly dismissed. She was too beautiful—he wouldn't have the heart to lie to her.
Stop it! What am I thinking? We're just pretending to be a couple. Why am I getting carried away?
Still, she couldn't help but think that Chen Yi would make an excellent partner—handsome, charming, humorous, capable, and dependable. He was practically perfect.
But a man like that surely wouldn't lack female admirers.
She glanced at him, still laughing mischievously with Ji Hao, and momentarily forgot where she was.
"Wenxue, your junior has quite the talent. We're looking for a Feng Shui consultant for our new development on Pedestrian Street," Feng Kun suddenly said, breaking her train of thought.
Though he was seething with anger, he feigned magnanimity, pretending to offer Chen Yi an opportunity.
"Is that the development with the flame sculpture in the central plaza?" Chen Yi asked, surprised.
"Yes, that's the one. You've heard of 'Weiran Gardens'?" Han Wenxue chimed in.
"I've seen it. I passed by while consulting for a client on Pedestrian Street," Chen Yi replied briefly before asking, "What's your connection to Weiran Gardens?"
"I designed its landscaping. What do you think, Master Feng Shui?" Han Wenxue's face lit up with pride.
The project had earned her a national award and was the first design she had seen fully realized after graduation. Naturally, she was pleased with it.
"Did you also design the flame sculpture in the plaza?"
Chen Yi ignored her expectant look and asked the question weighing on his mind.
"Of course not! I'd never put something so ugly there. The developer insisted on it. But... never mind," Han Wenxue trailed off, reluctant to say more.
She clearly disliked the sculpture, which clashed with her vision of tranquility and harmony with nature. Moreover, she had noticed something unsettling about it.
In China, unlike in the West, designers had little authority. The one with the money always had the final say. If the developer wanted a hideous sculpture—or even a pile of trash—she had no choice but to comply.
"Wenxue, you shouldn't say that. The sculpture was approved by you in the end. Don't ruin your own reputation," Feng Kun joked, diffusing the tension.
"Chen Yi, you should visit Weiran Gardens sometime and give us some Feng Shui advice."
"There's no need. I've already assessed its Feng Shui," Chen Yi replied.
Feng Kun's expression shifted. "You've assessed it? It must be excellent, right? When we start selling, we'll advertise it as endorsed by Master Chen of Quancheng. I'm sure your clients will flock to buy!"
"No, don't use my name. I wouldn't want to harm anyone. The Feng Shui there is too dangerous—it's utterly unfit for habitation. It's only suitable as a landfill."
Chen Yi's words were sincere, not intended to provoke Feng Kun.
Even minor Feng Shui flaws like "Gun Sha" or "Sharp Angle Sha" could disrupt lives. A site as ominous as Dragon Sha was far worse, suitable only for waste disposal.
"What did you say? Don't push your luck! Do you really think you're some kind of living god?"
Feng Kun's fury finally erupted.
Chen Yi's statement was tantamount to slandering Weiran Gardens. If word got out, who would dare buy property there?
Poor sales, low prices, prolonged delays—any of these issues would reflect poorly on Feng Kun as the marketing director.