A turn at fortune-telling (part two)

Silence filled the car. Words could hardly describe how Wang Nuli and Zhang Zhengxiao felt.

In their minds, fortune-tellers usually wore long gray robes, with lengthy beards hanging down their chests, stylish little black sunglasses perched on their faces, and bells in their hands that they shook at a leisurely pace.

Their usual lines were things like, "Your forehead is darkened. Disaster may befall you," or, "Your star of romance is stirring, and wealth will soon come your way."

But Jun Wangchen was different. He had neither a fortune-teller's attire nor their stock phrases. He merely calculated on his fingers, yet could accurately predict what was about to happen.

Such an ability was unheard of, practically the work of an immortal.

No wonder Jun Wangchen had won repeatedly at today's Dice Guessing event and had shown no fear of wagering against Qin Shou. This was what he had been relying on.

Boss Jia, in the driver's seat, was equally stunned. Jun Wangchen's fortune-telling gave him a glimpse of just how capable his own ancestor must have been back then. He finally understood how his ancestor had repeatedly survived those years of war and poverty through fortune-telling.

Still reeling from the shock, Boss Jia quickly reversed out, then drove on, speaking to Jun Wangchen with excitement and admiration. "Your fortune-telling really is remarkable, Jun. May I ask who taught you?"

A few calculations on his fingers could tell him what would happen in the future. No one could be born with an ability like that. In other words, without an elder to teach and guide him, Jun Wangchen could never have reached this level.

"Well... I'm terribly sorry, but that involves some private matters, so I can't give you a direct answer." Jun Wangchen shook his head and smiled apologetically.

The Immortal Phone was his greatest secret. If it were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable. No matter who he was speaking to, he could never mention anything related to it.

Boss Jia gave a helpless smile. "Anyone who could train such an outstanding disciple as you must be extraordinary. It's a shame I can't learn that master's name. Otherwise, I could pay a visit."

Wang Nuli and Zhang Zhengxiao had no interest in who Jun Wangchen's master was. What interested them was his fortune-telling method. If they could learn it, wouldn't that be like having a phone that showed the future?

Seeing the eager looks on his roommates' faces, Jun Wangchen knew exactly what they were thinking. His eyes shifted as he invented an explanation. "You flatter me, Boss Jia. Actually, the fortune-telling method my master taught me is a spell that peers into the Heavenly Dao. You have to spend ten years studying in seclusion just to grasp a little of it. My master once had over a hundred disciples, but I was the only one who truly mastered the method. In other words, I only managed to learn this fortune-telling art through sheer luck.

"Besides, this art has a major flaw. Every time you use it, you suffer a backlash from the Heavenly Dao. In plain terms, you have bad luck. That little accident you had just now was most likely caused by my using the fortune-telling art."

Wang Nuli and Zhang Zhengxiao were dumbfounded.

Ten years of studying in seclusion was hard enough to swallow, and the success rate was only one percent. Worse still, this fortune-telling method actually had... a flaw!

It was like having a peerless beauty standing naked in front of you, only to be a eunuch yourself...

Boss Jia found this entirely convincing. If a spell that peered into the Heavenly Dao were so easy to learn, the world would be full of extraordinary people.

He simply hadn't expected Jun Wangchen to suffer bad luck after telling a fortune. Thankfully, that bad luck had only resulted in a minor accident. Anything worse, and whether they would make it home alive today might have been in doubt.

At that thought, Boss Jia couldn't help feeling grateful to Jun Wangchen. According to him, this fortune-telling art should never be used unless absolutely necessary, yet he had risked bad luck to tell Boss Jia's fortune. It showed just how generous he was.

Jun Wangchen took in all three men's changing expressions. He felt no guilt over his fabricated explanation. After all, when interests were at stake, anything could happen. He had only said it to protect himself.

"Jun, when you were telling my fortune just now, did you happen to look into my luck with children?" As though something had occurred to him, Boss Jia suddenly asked while driving.

Jun Wangchen paused. "Your luck with children?"

"I mean, did you see how many children I'll have in my lifetime? It's been almost five years since I got married. My wife and I have been trying hard, but she hasn't become pregnant all this time. So I really want to know what my prospects are." Boss Jia gave a rueful smile.

Jun Wangchen paused at that, then studied Boss Jia carefully before speaking. "Boss Jia, there's a Radiant Light flickering between your brows, and it's quite bright. It's a sign of flourishing vitality, which means you're certain to have many children and grandchildren.

"However, this Radiant Light doesn't point straight at the center of your brows. It slants toward it, which means you'll have children later in life.

"Besides, this Radiant Light consists of two thin rays, forming a paired sign. Generally speaking, multiple rays mean multiple children."

"Taking all that into account, I'd say Madam Jia is already pregnant. She may even be carrying twins."

"R-really?" Boss Jia became so excited that he nearly drove into a ditch.

Jun Wangchen smiled calmly and gave a measured answer. "It should be correct. When you go home at noon, you can ask Madam Jia."

"Jun, I'm truly grateful. Whether my wife is pregnant or not, thank you for those auspicious words." Excitement filled Boss Jia's face.

Jun Wangchen's earlier fortune-telling had been so incredible that his ability to read fortune through observation surely couldn't be far behind. That meant his wife was most likely pregnant.

Seeing Boss Jia's excited expression, Jun Wangchen smiled knowingly, then turned back to the window and silently watched the scenery.

Zhang Zhengxiao and Wang Nuli still had things to say, but with Boss Jia so happy, they felt it would be awkward to speak up and let the matter drop.

Soon, the car arrived at the milk tea shop.

Boss Jia's milk tea shop stood a little ahead of the midpoint of the street behind Jinling University. Its front entrance faced the entrance to the university's athletics field, giving it excellent foot traffic. This was especially true at night, when couples flocked past. Milk tea and flirting went well together.

After briefly examining the shop's exterior, Jun Wangchen rested his fingers against his chin and murmured to himself, "The whole shop is narrow at the top and broad at the bottom, with a solid foundation. There's an ornamental pond on the left and an artificial rockery on the right. The pond's water is clear and bright, its flowing shape like a dragon. The lush trees on the rockery to the right form the shape of a tiger. With mountains and water beside it, a coiling dragon and crouching tiger stand guard. Its imposing presence keeps evil spirits from causing trouble.

"There are also several willow trees in front of the shop, drawing righteous energy from every direction. The shop has only one entrance, yet it can gather wealth energy from all eight directions. Excellent, excellent. Buying this shop would certainly add prosperity to prosperity and bring tremendous good fortune."

Wang Nuli patted Jun Wangchen and asked, "Fourth, what do you think of this place?"

"This milk tea shop resembles the eight trigrams and gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It can bring prosperity to everyone here. It's only a matter of time before business takes off," Jun Wangchen whispered into Wang Nuli's ear.

Wang Nuli's eyes lit up. He wouldn't have believed anyone else saying that, but since it was Jun Wangchen, he had to believe it even if he didn't want to.

After all, the fortune-telling Jun Wangchen had demonstrated earlier was far beyond anything an ordinary person could do.

For some reason, Boss Jia seemed pressed for time. After briefly introducing the shop's advantages, he signed the contract with the three of them and drove away.

Wang Nuli and Zhang Zhengxiao were completely baffled, unsure what was going on. Only Jun Wangchen knew that Boss Jia was hurrying home to find out whether his wife was pregnant.

The time that followed flew by. Once they had acquired the rights to the shop, Wang Nuli and Zhang Zhengxiao began frantically drawing up all kinds of plans as though possessed by the god of commerce, leaving Jun Wangchen entirely on the sidelines.

Jun Wangchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Rather than interrupt them, he carefully examined the milk tea shop once more.

Although the shop's fortune was good, unfortunately, it only took the form of a Pixiu. The fortune of the nearby Blue Night Charm Bar, which occupied the very center of the street behind Jinling University, took the form of a dragon.

The dragon reigned supreme over all creatures. In other words, the Blue Night Charm Bar ruled the fortune of the entire street behind Jinling University. Every nearby shop, and even the people there, had to offer up their fortune to the central dragon fortune.

I'll find a time to have Third come to the milk tea shop. He's spent so long at the Blue Night Charm Bar that he's picked up plenty of dragon fortune. If he can bring some of it here, the central dragon fortune will stop draining the shop's fortune.

After thinking it over, Jun Wangchen walked into the milk tea shop to discuss its opening with Wang Nuli and Zhang Zhengxiao.

Meanwhile, Boss Jia soon drove home. When he eagerly opened the door, he discovered that his parents had already arrived at some point. His wife wore a blissful smile and kept stroking her belly, while the table was laden with fragrant dishes.

At the sight, Boss Jia's heart began pounding wildly. He stammered, "D-do we have some good news today?"

"We certainly do. Why don't you guess?" His parents exchanged a glance and kept him in suspense.

Boss Jia covered his mouth as Jun Wangchen's prediction suddenly came back to him. Trembling, he asked, "D-don't tell me we're having a baby?"

His parents froze, then both turned to his wife and asked with a smile, "Did you tell him ahead of time?"

"Mom, Dad, I didn't!" His wife shook her head in denial.

His parents turned back to him and pressed, "Then how did you know?"

Boss Jia wanted to tell his parents about Jun Wangchen, but felt it would be inappropriate to reveal someone else's private affairs like that. He made up an excuse, saying he had learned it in a dream.

Taking a deep breath, Boss Jia hesitated before asking softly, "Honey, are you carrying twins?"

"What kind of dream did you have? You even knew that?" His wife gave him an astonished look, clearly stunned.

Boss Jia didn't answer. Instead, he stared blankly out the window as Jun Wangchen's words echoed through his mind once more...