Chapter 37: Luck Won’t Save You, But Money Might Change Fate
Two hours later, after enduring a police investigation and stern lecture, Chi Chaoshen left the station with Chi Qian at his side.
He stayed silent for a long while.
He had never in his life been called into a police station before.
And yet here he was—for suspected child abuse.
The so-called “minor” in question had, just an hour earlier, kicked a robber so hard he’d snapped the man’s crown jewels, leaving the criminal with little hope of functioning as a man ever again.
What a surreal, messed-up day.
Chi Chaoshen pinched the bridge of his nose and said to Chi Qian beside him, “I wasn’t trying to starve you. I just… forgot you were at home.”
He had lived alone for so long that it wasn’t easy to shake old habits.
Chi Qian waved her hand breezily. “No worries! Thanks to Second Uncle locking me up, I was right there to stop a murder from happening.”
That robber had admitted he was planning to kill his victim after the robbery to silence them.
Hearing that, Chi Chaoshen finally thought to ask, “You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
“Nope, I’m perfectly fine.” Chi Qian shoved her hands in her pockets. “But Second Uncle, where were you coming from just now?”
“I was on my way to meet a friend.”
“Ohhh, that explains it. Lucky you got held up, otherwise you’d have flown right into trouble.”
Chi Chaoshen: “…” Was she mocking him?
Chi Qian pressed, “Second Uncle, are you still going to meet that friend later?”
If yes, she needed to decide whether to fake a stomachache or a cold to trick him into going home instead.
Chi Chaoshen had originally planned to go. “…No. First I’ll take you to get some food.”
Better that than letting her starve and landing himself in another police report.
Chi Qian threw up a peace sign. Perfect! If Second Uncle didn’t go meet that “friend,” he wouldn’t get framed for smuggling antiques. That whole disaster of a plotline could be avoided!
But… what if he went tomorrow?
She’d have to find a way to warn him that his so-called friend was trouble.
At the restaurant, once the dishes were served, Chi Chaoshen’s phone practically never stopped buzzing.
First Chi Lisen, then Chi Fengxiao, each taking turns scolding him.
Chi Lisen: “You locked Chi Qian at home and didn’t even feed her? Some uncle you are, Chi Chaoshen. You’re really outdoing yourself.”
Chi Fengxiao: “Second Brother, I can’t believe you! You actually kidnapped Qian Qian and starved her? Give her back right now!”
And Chi Muze, just finished with a meeting: “Chaoshen, you’re usually the most level-headed. How could you pull such a reckless stunt? Take Qian to eat immediately. I’ll call later to check.”
Besieged on all sides, Chi Chaoshen: “…”
This was absurd.
How had it only been a short while, and suddenly everyone was treating this girl like she was some precious treasure?
He honestly couldn’t see what was so special about her besides her sweet mouth.
…Well, and the fact that she could put away food like a black hole.
Seven or eight empty plates were stacked in front of her as he thought this with a blank face.
The incident had blown up on the news. Chi Qian’s fans never expected to see their idol pop up in social headlines—
And in such a dramatic way, no less.
[LOL she climbed down from the fifteenth floor, who does she think she is—Spider-Man?]
[Film Emperor Chi really locked her in and didn’t feed her? Strong condemnation from the “Love Our Queen” alliance!]
[Reminder: she said it was her second uncle. Chi Lisen has five sons.]
[This second uncle is just like my dad. He once biked me to school, but when he got there, I was still at home 🙂 ]
[Robber: If I could do it all again, I’d take back everything that was mine—including my crown jewels…]
The internet was howling with laughter.
When the news reached Gu Hua, however, she only sneered.
Second Uncle Chi Chaoshen?
In the original novel, he was a pitiful figure whose reputation was destroyed after being arrested for smuggling antiques.
Back then, whenever she was around the Chi family, she went out of her way to avoid him, lest she be dragged down with him.
Now Chi Qian was living in his house? There was no way she wouldn’t get dragged into the mess.
Well, well. This was going to be fun to watch.
*
After the meal, Chi Chaoshen took Chi Qian to the mall to buy her some clothes—his way of making it up to her.
Chi Qian told him she could try them on by herself and asked him to buy her a milk tea.
He gave a noncommittal “mm.”
A little while later, when he came back with the drink, he saw a fortune-teller approaching.
The man had white whiskers, was dressed in Daoist robes with a matching hat, and even carried two flags with slogans.
On the left: “The Immortal Guides, Clearing Confusion.”
On the right: “Luck Won’t Save You, But Cash Can Change Fate.”
Across the middle: “One Fortune, One Hundred.”
Chi Chaoshen didn’t even lift his eyes, ready to walk past, but the old Daoist blocked him.
“Young man,” the fortune-teller said, stroking his beard, “your face is shrouded in dark clouds. Trouble with the law looms ahead!”
Chi Chaoshen said nothing.
The old man went on, voice lofty and mysterious. “For only one hundred, I can dispel this misfortune and drive away evil spirits.”
Chi Chaoshen’s lips twitched. “I don’t believe in this.”
The fortune-teller paused, then dug into his bag, pulling out tarot cards, a crystal ball, a crucifix, paper talismans—an entire buffet of spiritual paraphernalia.
“Which do you believe in? I’ve got them all. Take your pick,” he said warmly. “What kind of reading would you like?”
For once, Chi Chaoshen was caught off guard. “…None. Please move.”
“Ah, well then. Let me at least give you a destiny slip,” the man said, handing one over. “Your forehead is shadowed. You’ve recently been plagued by petty villains. The source of your misfortune lies in… certain newly unearthed objects.”
“Take heed, take heed.”
With that, the fortune-teller left without asking for payment.
Chi Chaoshen stood there, brows furrowed.
Newly unearthed objects… artifacts?
Could this be connected to the shipment his friend had mentioned?
No. He couldn’t take a charlatan’s words seriously.
The fortune-teller disappeared into the crowd, then yanked off his fake beard, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Heh. That should give Second Uncle a wake-up call.
“Hey, fortune-teller! Is that one-hundred-per-reading accurate? Give me a go!”
A passerby, spotting the flags on Chi Qian’s back, walked over with interest.
Chi Qian slipped away in a hurry.
She hadn’t even brought her turtle shell—what was the point of pretending?
It wasn’t like she was some wandering con artist!
*
Two days later, the studio funds finally arrived.
Chi Chaoshen let out a small breath of relief, finished a phone call with a friend, and agreed to meet up later.
When he turned around, he spotted Chi Qian peeking suspiciously out from behind the curtains.
“Chi Qian,” he called, “pack up your things.”
Chi Qian, still racking her brain over how to stop her second uncle from meeting that friend, was momentarily confused.
“Your grandfather will be here to pick you up in a while. I’ll take you downstairs,” Chi Chaoshen explained.
Chi Qian: ！！！
What a heartless second uncle!
He’d raised her for only two days and was already giving her up!
Chi Chaoshen’s attitude was firm, leaving no room for her to drag things out.
He was never good at dealing with children in the first place. Tolerating her staying here for a few days was already his limit.
Now that his father had returned from a business trip, there was no reason for Chi Qian to remain.
While waiting downstairs with her, Chi Chaoshen handed her a card.
“There’s a million inside. Think of it as a little gift from your uncle.”
Chi Qian’s face lit up with delight—until he added, “In the future… if your grandfather asks you to stay with me again, I hope you’ll refuse.”
He really couldn’t handle kids.
Nor did he want to.
