Chapter 16: The First Free Divination
The ginseng fruit stared at the large shrimp, saliva almost dripping down: "That shrimp looks absolutely delicious."
While peeling the shrimp, Yun Ran said, "I know, I know. Once we find the ingredients, I'll help you improve your health."
"Hehe, the host really understands me~"
By afternoon, Yun Ran leisurely set up her little stall in the designated vending area of the scenic spot.
No sooner had she arranged everything than she played a pre-recorded announcement through a loudspeaker:
"The first three divinations are free! Don't miss out as you pass by."
"The first three divinations are free! Don't miss out as you pass by."
"The first three divinations are free! Don't miss out as you pass by."
...
When the tour guide arrived, he paused briefly upon hearing this and realized he might be a bit greedy because he also wanted to have a fortune told.
Seeing the visitor, Yun Ran handed over the talisman she had drawn earlier during a free moment.
After paying, before he could speak, Yun Ran interrupted him: "One must never be excessive in anything!"
The tour guide immediately understood her meaning. Having received her guidance and purchased a peace charm, he had already averted one misfortune and couldn’t ask for more.
Whether it was because the scenic area was crowded or Yun Ran’s loud announcements, her efforts finally began to bear fruit.
Soon, two young women approached.
One’s face showed clear signs of melancholy, while the other wore an expression of frustration, as if exasperated by the first.
“I told you, you never listen. Now there’s a free fortune-telling session—why not give it a try?”
“But I came here to buy a love lock today. I don’t believe in all this superstition.”
The woman who was scolded rolled her eyes in irritation.
“The love lock isn’t superstition? You spend a hundred yuan on a broken lock, thinking it’ll make your wishes come true?”
The accused woman hesitated, doubt flickering across her face.
Yun Ran smiled softly, watching the two debate at her stall, as if she were neither the vendor nor a participant, but merely an amused bystander.
“Little lady, are you really accurate at divining?”
---
“You don’t even ask, how would you know if I’m accurate or not?”
“Is this still one of the first three free divinations?”
Nearby, a chubby young man had been watching Yun Ran’s rare business with slow hand movements, deliberately listening in on the gossip.
When he heard about the hundred-yuan love lock purchase without a blink, yet disdain for Yun Ran’s ‘superstition’ and questioning whether her readings were free, he was speechless.
Indeed, even when something is free, some people always find fault.
He wanted to defend Yun Ran but didn’t know how, only growing more anxious.
But Yun Ran remained unfazed, nodding: “The first free reading hasn’t been given away yet.”
Enticed by the offer of a free reading, the hesitant woman finally sat down.
“I’ve been having some bad luck lately...”
Yun Ran lifted her hand to stop the explanation: “Judging by your features, your romantic star is stirring, yet a veil of melancholy shrouds you. It seems your marriage plans have encountered trouble.”
Within the scenic area, no one had seen such a young fortune teller before, and a crowd soon gathered, some even beginning to film videos.
Yet Yun Ran stayed composed.
A curious onlooker asked the woman, “Is she right?”
Others retorted, “Hah, didn’t her friend say they came to buy love locks? Of course it’s about romance. And the woman looks unwell—must be problems in love. Even I can tell that much. Little girl, you look like a student. Why aren’t you studying properly and instead come here pretending to be a fortune teller? Aren’t you afraid of getting beaten?”
“Exactly! With such poor skills, you have the nerve to scam people here?”
...
Many of the nearby vendors were participants in the ‘Love on the Road’ charity event, all from noble schools, and it was the first time they’d been embarrassed like this.
The chubby guy grew anxious, wanting to step forward and defend them, insisting they weren’t con artists and didn’t need the money.
Yun Ran, however, controlled her pace and ignored the heckling.
She had once been a renowned master throughout half the district—these small scenes were nothing to her. Moreover, to draw more attention to her stall, such necessary conflicts were quite useful.
---
Hearing the crowd’s words, the woman gradually lost her nerve, feeling foolish for trusting such a young girl.
She was about to say she didn’t want a reading after all.
At that moment, Yun Ran’s voice rang out just in time:
“This relationship is one-sided; you are the one chasing while being controlled. Every word from the other side causes you immense anxiety.
You thought to buy the love lock because a deep sense of crisis has unsettled your peace of mind.”
If before, Yun Ran’s guess about the woman’s romantic troubles could be dismissed as mere fortune-telling, now she had named the exact cause. The crowd was left speechless.
“Is she right?”
The woman’s pupils contracted sharply at Yun Ran’s words. Her conditions were good, and normally, falling in love and marrying should have been smooth sailing.
But after dating two years, whenever marriage was mentioned, her boyfriend would say there was no rush, yet continually urged her to get pregnant quickly.
This had unsettled her, so she asked a friend to investigate. There was no infidelity; he treated her well.
Still, the constant tension wore on her spirit. Even her best friend had advised breaking up, but she felt trapped, unable to resist.
Now that someone had uncovered this hidden, suffocating truth, she felt as though a heavy weight had lifted from her chest.
“That’s right.”
“Is he still pushing you to get pregnant? Looking at your child palace, you will encounter joy within three months.”
The woman’s face suddenly paled. She had only come for a free reading, just to listen.
She never expected everything to be so accurately revealed.
The tense string in her heart completely snapped, like spotting a lighthouse in the vast sea, finally giving her direction.
“Yes. My boyfriend says it’s their custom to have a son first before registering the marriage.
But I always felt something was wrong and didn’t know how to say it. That’s why we’ve been at an impasse. What should I do now?”