Yao Hongguang had been ignored, and it annoyed him. He immediately raised his voice. "I'll pay 500,000 for a reading. Will you do it?"
Shen Qiong froze, then remembered the name. After searching for him in the crowd for so long, could this be the wealthy reader who had tried to outbid him on Dian Niang the other day?
He turned to look at Yao Hongguang in surprise. "It's you?"
A smile slowly spread across Yao Hongguang's face. He finally remembered him?
"That's right. It's me!"
Ren Tianxue watched the two of them with wide, curious eyes. First the guest had quoted poetry, and now he was offering 500,000 for a reading. Could this be some new code Shen Qiong had come up with?
"So the big spender has come calling! My apologies for not recognizing you." Shen Qiong was about to ask his assistant to pour the man some tea, but then thought better of it. He'd pour it himself.
"Please, have a seat. I never expected a big spender to come visit."
Yao Hongguang waved his hand with a smile. "Don't call me a big spender. My fellow readers just call me that for fun. I didn't expect Master Shen to be so young. Just call me Brother Yao."
Shen Qiong gave him an amused look and teased, "You're not really here to get a reading, are you?"
"I'm here to see if I can make five million," Yao Hongguang said, smiling brightly at Shen Qiong.
Shen Qiong certainly remembered saying he charged 500,000 for a reading and would pay back ten times that if he got it wrong. At the time, he'd even urged the man to come see him!
Ren Tianxue glanced at Shen Qiong curiously and muttered, "When did he get to know a client like this? The guy's just casually talking about five million?" She could tell Yao Hongguang was probably a rich second-generation kid, and she didn't doubt he could afford it.
Shen Qiong laughed. "You can forget about making five million. I, on the other hand, might just get my 500,000."
"Oh?" Yao Hongguang smiled. "You're that confident?"
Shen Qiong took a sip of tea and said nothing.
"Fine. Give me a reading, and I'll transfer the 500,000 right now." Yao Hongguang had plenty of money to spare, and he wanted to see just how capable Shen Qiong really was.
"Huh?" Ren Tianxue was stunned. So they really were talking about paying 500,000 for a reading? It wasn't a code?
Then what did the five million mean?
Shen Qiong frowned. He really did want the money, but he had already checked People nearby and found no information on Yao Hongguang. So he couldn't give him a reading yet.
Seeing Shen Qiong hesitate, Yao Hongguang laughed. "Don't tell me you're scared! You won't even take 500,000 when it's right in front of you?"
She kept signaling to Shen Qiong. A big client had walked in! Hurry up and agree!!!
But Shen Qiong said, "No. I can't bend the rules. If you want a reading, you'll have to book an appointment first."
Ren Tianxue covered her forehead with her hand, utterly exasperated. The look on her face said it all. With a wry smile, she said, "Shen Qiong, you really are crazy. You won't even take money that's being handed to you."
"What? I have to make an appointment? Are you serious?" Yao Hongguang stared at Shen Qiong in disbelief.
"I am. Everything has to follow the rules here. I'd say the same even if you offered a million, not just 500,000," Shen Qiong said, forcing himself to hold his ground.
Inside, though, a hundred thousand grass-mud horses were stampeding through his mind.
Yao Hongguang was furious! What was this nonsense? He was offering 500,000 for a fortune-telling session, and he still had to make an appointment? And who knew how long it would take to get one?
"Get the housekeeper to bring 500,000 in cash. I'll wait here at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. Right now!" Yao Hongguang called his housekeeper. He refused to believe there was anything money couldn't buy these days.
Shen Qiong sighed. "There's no need to go to all that trouble. Just spend more time wandering around Shili Street, and you'll have a better chance of getting an appointment." He earnestly tried to talk him out of it.
Yao Hongguang had no idea Shen Qiong was telling the truth. He thought Shen Qiong was just looking for an excuse to send him away.
"No. We'll wait. Cash! I'll pay in cash. Just give me a reading, and the 500,000 is yours."
Rich people really did whatever they wanted. The next client to come in for a reading overheard Yao Hongguang, and stopped to watch the show instead.
Not long after, a large box of money was set down in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's main hall. Stacks of hundred-yuan bills—500,000 in all—lay right before Shen Qiong.
"Well?" Yao Hongguang looked at Shen Qiong with a smile. To him, 500,000 was just a number, but to an ordinary person, it was a fortune.
Shen Qiong looked at the money on the floor and swallowed. He really wanted it!
"Read whatever you're best at. As long as you get it right, you can take the money away!" Yao Hongguang declared boldly.
This was practically shoving money into his hands!
People passing by the shop were drawn over, and soon a crowd had gathered outside to watch.
"What a rich guy! Master Shen's going to be set. That's 500,000 in cash—more than I make in years! And I'd have to save every penny to get that much!"
"Heh, I'm ready for the show! I bet Master Shen won't give him a reading!"
"Why wouldn't he? That's 500,000 in cash. Master Shen isn't an idiot!"
"You don't get it. Master Shen does whatever he wants. If he says no, then it's no!" an old Shili Street resident said with a laugh.
"Who cares who gets a reading? Why refuse? Even if Master Shen is stubborn, surely he wouldn't turn down money?"
Shen Qiong gritted his teeth and said coldly, "No. You need to book an appointment first. Wait for us to contact you!"
The crowd erupted in shocked cries!
"Good heavens! I've seen something today. I'd heard Master Shen was stubborn and never went back on his word, but now I've seen it for myself. Incredible!"
Ren Tianxue couldn't take it anymore either. She hurried over to Shen Qiong and whispered, "Just take it! He's practically handing it to you!"
Shen Qiong was at a loss for words. Did she think he didn't want to?!
"You're sure? If you miss this chance, who knows if you'll ever get another opportunity like this?" Yao Hongguang asked, baffled. He could tell Shen Qiong was tempted.
Some people had already secretly taken pictures of the 500,000 in cash and posted them on Weibo!
Out of sight, out of mind! Shen Qiong was suffering more than anyone. He stood up and declared firmly, "No! I can't bend the rules. Not for 500,000, not for a million! You have to book an appointment to get a reading from me. Sorry!"
He didn't give Yao Hongguang any face at all. He turned and ducked straight into the room.
It was pandemonium! The scene erupted in an instant!
"Awesome! From now on, Master Shen is the only fortune-teller I respect!"
"No one else comes close. When it comes to doing whatever he wants, I only respect Master Shen."
"Good heavens! I can't take it anymore! I have to hurry home and brag about this."
"Wait for me! I can brag about this at school for a whole year..."
Shen Qiong hid in the room, his heart in absolute turmoil!
Who said showing off felt good? Why was it so painful when he did it?
A line suddenly came to mind: Once, 500,000 had been right in front of me, but I hadn't treasured it...
Before you continue