"Mom, how about we go ask Master Shen to tell my fortune and see if I have any talent for singing?" A student stood in the kitchen doorway, asking excitedly.
His mother, who was stir-frying bean sprouts, turned around in surprise. "When your dad and I suggested you try signing up for a music class, you said you didn't want to!"
"I did want to. It's just that everyone else already had a good foundation, and I'd never practiced."
"So what's changed? Why are you suddenly interested again?" His mother set down the spatula and looked at him helplessly.
The boy scratched his head bashfully. "It doesn't have to be singing. Painting, playing an instrument, whatever. Didn't you and Dad say it'd be best if I had a skill?"
"Then... what exactly do you want to learn?" his mother asked with a wry smile.
"I don't know either, but Master Shen might. I want to give it a try." His eyes darted around as he spoke.
With a click, his mother turned off the stove and pulled him into the living room.
"What Master Shen? Tell me what's going on."
"Mom, it's like this..."
"..."
Similar scenes were playing out in countless homes. A chubby boy was complaining to his grandfather in the study. "Grandpa, Dad won't let me go. He says fortune-tellers are all frauds."
The old man, well into his seventies and white-haired, furrowed his brow. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "How about asking your sister to go with you?"
The chubby boy immediately jumped up in excitement. "Great!"
Just then, an annoyed voice came from the living room. "Honestly, what's gotten into you? You should be studying, not chasing after this nonsense." A stubbly man walked over impatiently.
"What nonsense? I checked. There's no set fee for asking Master Shen to tell your fortune, so it won't cost much." The chubby boy hurried to explain.
His father's brow furrowed. "I've told you to spend less time on the computer and watch the news once in a while. What era are we living in? How can you believe in fortune-telling? Even if that used to be a real skill, it's been lost for ages."
"So what if I believe in it? Mom believes in horoscopes! And Sis is always playing with tarot cards. What's the difference?" The chubby boy huffed.
"I don't care. I've already made plans with my classmates. We're going on Saturday."
"You..." His father glared at him, exasperated.
The boy went back to his room and quickly pulled out his phone to message a girl saved as Qingqing on QQ.
"How'd it go? My grandpa said my sister could go with me." He added a grinning emoji.
About ten seconds later, she replied with a crying emoji. "I can't! My brother won't let me go. He says it's definitely a scam."
The chubby boy typed quickly. "Wasn't your brother a graduate of No. 73 Middle School? He should know about this!"
"He graduated three years ago. How would he know? Anyway, he said I'm not allowed to go." The girl sent another teary-eyed emoji.
Seeing that made the boy's heart ache. He hurriedly replied, "It's fine. I won't ask my sister to come with me. I'll go with you."
"Really?" she replied almost at once.
"Of course. Forget your brother—we'll sneak off together." The boy stepped up with all the bravado he could muster.
Three seconds later, she replied, "Okay!"
"Yes!!!" the boy shouted excitedly, holding his phone high.
Shen Qiong had no idea that anyone would use the excuse of going together to have their fortunes told to secretly arrange a date with a girl.
After all, they lived in different cities, and many high school girls didn't dare travel alone to an unfamiliar city—especially to visit a fortune-telling Master with a mysterious air about him.
The boys, meanwhile, didn't care whether Master Shen was genuine. This was a great chance to flirt. After a long journey, surely there'd be plenty of opportunities. Heh heh...
At that moment, Shen Qiong was lounging comfortably in the living room, waiting for his good buddy to cook. Back in college, Gu Liming had been nicknamed the ladies' man of their dorm. He was around six feet tall, had the long legs girls liked, and was great at sweet-talking. What left Shen Qiong most speechless was that the guy could cook, too.
"Here we go! Braised eggplant, and steamed egg with shrimp..."
Wearing an apron, Gu Liming carried the dishes out of the kitchen one by one, then gave Shen Qiong a disdainful look. "Could you help out for once? All you do is eat."
Shen Qiong grinned. "Coming, coming."
"Try some. I'm telling you, when I was in Germany, girls were always hanging around my place and wouldn't leave. They just couldn't bear to part with my cooking." Gu Liming bragged.
Shen Qiong chuckled. "Yeah, right, a master chef. You think that can make up for being short and quick in bed?"
"Get lost! Who's short and quick? I'm packing a cannon." Gu Liming picked up a fragrant piece of eggplant and popped it into his mouth, savoring it.
"Tsk, you're a pretty convincing actor. You should go on one of those food-tasting shows. Your expression alone would be enough." Shen Qiong teased.
Gu Liming grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Just then, a WeChat notification popped up on Shen Qiong's phone. It was a voice message from his younger sister.
Since they were eating, Shen Qiong simply turned on speakerphone. "Hehe, I have good news for you." Her voice came through, youthful and sweet.
Gu Liming immediately perked up and shouted, "Holy crap, Shen Qiong, you've been hiding this from me! Where'd you pick up this girl? And you were accusing me of going after high school girls? That voice is obviously from a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old!"
Shen Qiong gave him a disgusted look. "Going after her? This is my sister."
"Oh, right. I almost forgot you had a sister." Gu Liming flashed Shen Qiong a sly grin.
"Forget it. Don't give me that look. I'm telling you, you've got no chance!" Shen Qiong knew exactly what he was thinking and shot him down immediately.
Gu Liming pleaded, "Come on, I'm your brother's best buddy—we've practically shared the same pair of pants. At least let me meet her."
"Get lost. Who ever shared a pair of pants with you?" Shen Qiong nearly kicked him away.
He picked up his phone and played the voice message. "What's the good news?"
A little while later, Shen Shi sent him a screenshot. Shen Qiong saw it was a message from a magazine editor saying her submission had been accepted, and her payment would be deposited into her bank account on the first of next month.
Shen Qiong excitedly typed on his phone, "A short story? Did you submit it to a newspaper or a magazine?"
"It's a serialized coming-of-age inspirational novella in a fiction magazine!" Shen Shi replied.
Shen Qiong teased her with a grin. "Well, look at that. My little sister's a famous author now."
"Hmph, I knew you'd make fun of me. I'm not talking to you anymore," Shen Shi replied pointedly.
Gu Liming kept eating while watching the "strange" smile spread across Shen Qiong's face. He cried out in shock, "Oh, no wonder you've been single for two years since graduating. You've got a 'sister complex.'"
Shen Qiong glared at him. "You could call me a pedophile, and I still wouldn't give you my sister's WeChat."
Gu Liming shrugged. "Suit yourself."
But as soon as Shen Qiong set his phone down, Gu Liming snatched it away with lightning speed.
"Holy crap! You tricked me?" Shen Qiong yelled, lunging forward to grab the phone.
The two grappled over the girl...
Before you continue