Before hanging up the phone, Zhong Ruanxing had originally wanted to tell him about Song Shuling’s situation last night, but hesitated when the words reached his lips.
Now that he knew about his emotional disorder, he could understand why his relationship with his own sister was so cold. Twenty years was enough time to erode away the pitiful remnants of sibling affection from their childhood. One was raised in the Song family, while the other was sent abroad. Aside from the same blood flowing through their veins, they were no different than strangers to each other.
Since the situation was already resolved, bringing it up again would only add to his troubles unnecessarily.
Zhong Ruanxing changed the subject: "Fu Ling said he contacted Master Pinghe. Let's go meet him this afternoon."
Master Pinghe was the famous expert in the entertainment industry. Zhong Ruanxing had heard many of his legendary deeds on set before. Things like giving a big shot's mistress a little ghost to raise, helping a wealthy tycoon avert disaster and death, resolving a top celebrity's love-crazed behavior after being cursed, and so on. Mysterious and unfathomable, mystical and divine.
If Pinghe's fees weren't so high, she would have wanted a little ghost to raise too. Not for the fame, she was just curious about this novelty and wanted to see a real ghost with her own eyes. She was always very curious about things she had never seen before.
Song Jinxing agreed and they made plans to meet at a teahouse near the company.
The wealthy had always treated these masters and experts like honored guests, and the richer one was, the more they believed in these types of things. But the Song family was an exception. Ever since the Song patriarch built the family fortune from nothing, they had never looked into fengshui or fortune telling. The Song family seemed to have an innate arrogance, relying only on themselves rather than ghosts and gods.
So when Pinghe received an invitation from the Song family, he was quite shocked.
After all, even older and more famous masters than him had never dealt with the Songs. If he could build a reputation with the Song family, who were known for not believing in fate or the supernatural, wouldn't his own fame rise exponentially? His fees could double!
He didn't know what the young master of the Song family wanted to ask about, but these rich folk usually only cared about marriage, fortune, and longevity. This was his specialty.
Pinghe went to the meeting in high spirits.
When he was led to the teahouse, he pushed the door open and saw a man and a woman inside.
The man had an extraordinary appearance and dignified bearing, while the woman was a breathtaking beauty, though seemingly cold and aloof.
Pinghe had done some research on the Song CEO's personality before coming. He heard the man had a strong personality and was hard to get along with, so he had felt rather apprehensive. But unexpectedly, it was the Song CEO who greeted him first:
"Master Pinghe, I have long admired your great name." His manner was mild and approachable.
Pinghe felt relieved and sat down across from them: "You flatter me, I am unworthy of such praise."
He took out his divination tools, laying out five copper coins on the tea table, and stroked his beard in the manner of a sage: "May I ask what Master Song seeks from me today?" As he spoke, his eyes slid over to the icy beauty beside the CEO. He already had some guesses in mind.
It seemed even the famous Master Song couldn't escape the trap of a beautiful woman.
This was perfect. He would give them a pairing of excellent compatibility to please them both.
Sure enough, the CEO asked: "Master, can you discern the relationship between this lady and I?"
Pinghe felt smug inside but didn't show it outwardly. He made a show of divining and studying the hexagrams before solemnly declaring: "From the hexagrams, it is clear you two are a match made in heaven, with fate and destiny aligned perfectly. There may be some minor friction in love, but none are major issues. With determination, you will certainly overcome obstacles and attain a happy union. The main obstruction..." Here he stroked his beard, "comes from family and relatives. But as long as you two remain resolute, you can live in bliss."
Song Jinxing: "..."
Zhong Ruanxing: "..."
It sounded like bullshit.
Zhong Ruanxing persisted: "Other than that, did you discern anything else, Master?"
Pinghe studied the hexagrams again and had an epiphany. "Your careers will complement each other. With this lady's support, focusing on family after marriage will surely bring Master Song's business to new heights!"
What nonsense was this? Talking rubbish!
Zhong Ruanxing: "Master, I want to raise a little ghost."
Pinghe paled in shock. "Master Song, you have succeeded in your career already. Do not dabble in unorthodox arts anymore. Ghosts can help people but the slightest carelessness invites disaster. You absolutely must not, absolutely must not!"
The icy beauty who had been silent finally spoke, her words as cold as her demeanor: "Next."
How could such icy words come from her sweet lips!
And so Pinghe was dismissed.
Still confused in the hallway, he wondered what exactly he had gotten wrong? Two people wanting an auspicious match, how was that not good enough? If they wanted a passionate love filled with trials and tribulations, he could have made that up too! They didn't even let him finish. So frustrating.
After he left, Zhong Ruanxing complained with dissatisfaction: "What was that? He couldn't even tell we had switched, just rambled about compatibility and marriage. Obviously a fraud!"
Song Jinxing hadn't held much hope for these masters to begin with, so he wasn't surprised.
Fu Ling had invited more than just Pinghe, since this was an invitation from the Songs who were famous for not believing in fate or spirits. All the masters and experts with a bit of fame in China had come to the meeting.
But one after another, it was the same old things once they entered the room.
Some read their birth charts, some examined their palms and faces, some made accurate assessments, but in the end none grasped the key point.
Zhong Ruanxing drank a whole pot of tea, her previously expectant gaze gradually dimming. Fu Ling opened the door: "Boss, there's one last master left."
Zhong Ruanxing listlessly waved her hand: "Forget it, just pay them and send him away."
Fu Ling scratched his head: "Boss, this one didn't come by my invitation. He came himself saying he wanted to meet you two."
Came voluntarily?
Probably wanted experience for his own benefit right?
Oh well, might as well see the last one, Zhong Ruanxing said: "Let him in then."
A plainly dressed young monk walked in, palms joined in greeting them before sitting down with a smile. Zhong Ruanxing also put her palms together to return the greeting: "Greetings, Master."
The monk's brows curved kindly: "You two seem very troubled."
Zhong Ruanxing responded: "We certainly are. Do you have any solutions, Master?"
The monk looked between them meaningfully and said unhurriedly: "All things turn according to causal relationships. Trying harder when the timing is not right will only be in vain. Rather than struggling, it may be good to accept your new identities and live a different life. It does not have to be a bad thing."
Zhong Ruanxing's eyes lit up and her previous depression vanished in an instant. "You can tell? When will the timing be right?"
Song Jinxing also watched the monk intently.
But the monk only laughed gently with palms joined again before standing up to leave: "I came today only hoping you two would stop worrying over this. All life is just appearances, so try to savor the experience. When the time comes, things will naturally fall into place."
Zhong Ruanxing wanted to ask more but the monk slipped away swiftly as if afraid to reveal heavenly secrets. In a flash he was gone.
Zhong Ruanxing felt some regret, but Song Jinxing was calm: "Since he says so, it seems there is no better way for now. Let's just go with this."
At least they knew from the monk's words that they still had a chance to switch back. Though when that time would come, be it one, two, or ten years, no one knew.
