Ch 103: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Inside the camping tent, Shen Yunxuan opened her eyes and instinctively grabbed something, pressing herself against the head of the bed in a defensive posture. Once she realized she was in a tent and still outdoors, she froze. Her gaze landed on a strange young woman in the tent, and she froze again.

Zhou Yunxuan approached her, staring fixedly at Shen Yunxuan and asking suspiciously, “What’s wrong with you? What are you doing?”

Shen Yunxuan looked at her face and suddenly remembered—this was Zhou Yunxuan, her partner from when she first entered the entertainment industry. Since they were the same age and their names were similar, the company tried to market them as a “sister duo,” arranging for them to do everything together.

But wasn’t that two decades ago? Ever since Shen Yunxuan married into the Xie family, they hadn’t seen each other. It seemed Zhou Yunxuan had also left the entertainment industry. So why was she now face-to-face with a young Zhou Yunxuan? Could she have been reborn?

Shen Yunxuan tightened her grip on the object in her hand, realizing belatedly that in her panic, she had grabbed a thermos. A flood of memories surged in her mind. Clutching her forehead to mask her expression, she said, “It’s nothing, just a terrible nightmare.”

Zhou Yunxuan scrutinized her. “Are you feeling unwell? How about I tell Sister Feng, and we leave early? The program’s already finished filming, and there’s nothing left for us to do here.”

As Shen Yunxuan sorted through the memories in her mind, she realized she really had been reborn. Excitement and exhilaration surged through her. Then she recalled that this was the place where she had saved Xie Hengchen. Quickly grabbing her phone, she checked the time—2:00 PM. She had saved Xie Hengchen while fetching water around noon, which meant the Xie family could arrive at any moment. She nodded hurriedly. “Let’s go. I don’t want to stay here any longer. That nightmare really shook me.”

Shen Yunxuan’s casual excuse brought relief to Zhou Yunxuan, whose lips curled slightly in a hidden smile. She turned to find their manager, Sister Feng.

Shen Yunxuan unscrewed her thermos to take a sip of water but accidentally burned herself. The pain snapped her into full alertness, calming her down significantly. She stuffed all her belongings into her backpack, prepared to leave as soon as someone came to get her. Her plan was clear: terminate her contract, retreat to a Taoist temple, and vanish from the public eye to ensure the Xie family could never find her.

While zipping up her backpack, she accidentally pinched her hand, drawing blood. She paid it no mind, attributing it to her nervous and distracted state. Standing at the edge of the tent with her bag ready, she cautiously peeked outside. The fresh outdoor air brought tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

In her previous life, Shen Yunxuan had been scouted right after graduation and entered the entertainment industry. Her cool, radiant beauty with a scholarly aura made the company market her as the “most beautiful campus belle.” Paired with Zhou Yunxuan’s sweet and innocent looks, they were branded as a sister duo. Together, they appeared in films, variety shows, and even had their chemistry spun into fake drama to attract attention and boost traffic.

Shen Yunxuan opposed the gimmicks fiercely once she realized their intentions. However, as a naïve newcomer with a five-year contract, she was powerless. The company threatened to blacklist her if she didn’t cooperate, and as an orphan with no other income, she had no choice but to comply, hoping to save enough money or become famous enough to switch agencies.

Unfortunately, the company considered her rebellious and retaliated by maliciously editing footage, spreading half-truths, and using negative rumors to keep her controversial. Despite her dignified and aloof persona, public perception painted her as difficult, especially as Zhou Yunxuan often appeared victimized by comparison. The public was quick to label Shen Yunxuan a bully.

Her blacklisting gained more traction than her actual fanbase, leaving her disheartened. Despite everything, she remained kind-hearted. During an outdoor survival show where she and Zhou Yunxuan were guest stars, she spotted a man drowning while fetching water and jumped in to save him.

The man was unconscious when she pulled him out, and she informed the crew before returning to camp. Little did she know, this man, Xie Hengchen, would later track her down to express his gratitude. He fell in love at first sight, passionately pursued her, and even helped her resolve her contract issues. The Xie family welcomed her warmly, and for an orphan like Shen Yunxuan, this seemed like fate—a love and family to cherish. Naturally, they married, and she left the entertainment industry to become a socialite.

At first, life was blissful, but over time, she sensed an invisible barrier with the Xie family. Though they treated her well, she couldn’t feel their sincerity. Xie Hengchen, once devoted, became increasingly distant, often using work as an excuse. Her unease grew, and one day, she discovered he had another family—his assistant and their child.

When she confronted him and demanded a divorce, the Xie family strongly opposed it, confining her freedom. Xie Hengchen’s grandfather even punished him, enforcing the family’s rule against divorce. Though they swore loyalty to Shen Yunxuan, she realized her marriage was a gilded cage.

Mother Xie argued that if they divorced, it would cause fluctuations in the company’s stock price, resulting in losses amounting to billions. She hoped Shen Yunxuan would consider the family’s well-being and offered her 2% of the company’s shares, along with property and financial compensation. Although Shen Yunxuan didn’t care about money, she couldn’t bring herself to harm the Xie family, who had always treated her well. Reluctantly, she shelved her plans for divorce. After all, she and Xie Hengchen were already living in separate rooms, and their daily lives were no different from being divorced.

The Xie family even arranged for a dedicated driver, bodyguard, and housekeeper for her, ensuring her every need was met—a form of compensation, perhaps. Shen Yunxuan decided to find something to occupy herself and opened a teahouse. It was there that she unexpectedly met an unusual guest.

The guest was a Taoist with the title “Idle Wanderer,” who occasionally came to the teahouse for tea, claiming they were destined to meet. He gave her books to read, such as the Tao Te Ching. Initially, Shen Yunxuan didn’t think she was interested, but once she started reading, she was captivated.

The two formed a deep friendship despite their age difference. Inspired, Shen Yunxuan filled her teahouse with books, turning it into a library-like space where patrons came to read. The Xie family remained unaware of what she was doing.

Over three years, Shen Yunxuan followed the Idle Wanderer, learning many Taoist principles and reading extensively. She finally understood the strange sense of discord she felt about the Xie family: their kindness was all an act. Her strong fortune was a blessing to the Xie family; as long as she bore goodwill toward them, their family would thrive.

The realization plunged Shen Yunxuan into despair. Terrified, she resolved once again to leave the Xie family. She bought a plane ticket to flee abroad, but just before boarding, the Xie family caught her and dragged her back. Later, they brought in a Feng Shui master who declared that since they could no longer rely on her goodwill, they would have to resort to forcefully extracting her fortune.

Afterward, Shen Yunxuan began to feel her strength and vitality draining away. She realized they were siphoning her fortune, and once it was completely depleted, she would die. Desperate, she tried to escape but was repeatedly captured and even beaten by the Xie family’s bodyguards. She managed to send out a plea for help to the Idle Wanderer, only to have the Xie family throw the note back at her, laughing cruelly as they informed her that the Idle Wanderer had died.

It turned out the Idle Wanderer had been in the late stages of cancer when they met. He had extended his life for a few years through virtuous deeds and secret techniques. By the time Shen Yunxuan needed help, he had already passed away, and his Taoist temple had become an abandoned house.

Realizing escape was impossible, Shen Yunxuan calmed down and tried to live normally. She requested the books from her teahouse and asked for more books to read. The Xie family, eager to keep her placated in the hope of regaining her goodwill, readily complied.

Unbeknownst to the Xie family, the Idle Wanderer had disguised many Taoist scriptures with ordinary book covers and instructed her never to reveal their true nature. Thus, the books reached her hands without incident. As she delved deeper into Taoist teachings, she found a letter hidden in one book.

In the letter, the Idle Wanderer explained that the Xie family was her karmic trial. No one could help her; she had to comprehend the essence of life herself to achieve rebirth. He encouraged her not to fear or rush, assuring her that her affinity with Taoism would guide her to enlightenment.

Shen Yunxuan recalled that the Idle Wanderer had once told her she lacked the aptitude for Taoist practices. Despite studying for three years, she had achieved nothing beyond theoretical knowledge. She couldn’t predict fortunes or read Feng Shui, seemingly disconnected from the mystical arts. But now, the Idle Wanderer claimed she had a destiny with Taoism—what did that mean?

Trapped and stripped of her freedom, Shen Yunxuan could only read. She learned that the Xie family had forced Xie Hengchen’s mistress to undergo plastic surgery to resemble her, allowing the mistress to live openly as his wife while she was imprisoned underground, her identity erased.

Shen Yunxuan discovered that most of the books in her teahouse had been replaced with Taoist scriptures—likely the legacy of the Idle Wanderer’s temple. Over the next decade, she meticulously studied them, committing every word to memory. She couldn’t practice divination or Feng Shui, but she absorbed a wealth of knowledge from various fields.

As her health deteriorated, the Xie family moved her to a remote room, providing her with a doctor and caregivers to sustain her. Initially cautious, they relaxed their vigilance when they saw her seemingly resigned to her fate.

Over the years, Shen Yunxuan quietly won over her caregivers, housekeeper, bodyguards, and even her doctor, turning them into her allies. With their help, she orchestrated her revenge. The Xie patriarch and Xie Hengchen’s parents died one after another. Panicked, Xie Hengchen offered half his wealth to a Taoist master to save the family, thinking they were suffering backlash from the fortune-stealing rituals.

The master, upon investigating, discovered Shen Yunxuan’s meticulous plans. Enraged, Xie Hengchen demanded an even more potent ritual to drain Shen Yunxuan’s remaining fortune and condemn her to a fate worse than death. As they discussed in her presence how to suppress her soul after death and make her an eternal tool for the Xie family’s prosperity, Shen Yunxuan feigned fear.

When they finally left, satisfied with her apparent submission, she smiled.

After years of reflection, Shen Yunxuan hadn’t uncovered much, but she had made progress in understanding her own fate and fortune. She realized that while she couldn’t escape, she could destroy her destiny and reverse her fortune. It would harm herself, but she didn’t care. At this point, why not drag the Xie family down with her? And that detestable master—after using so many rituals, wasn’t it time he experienced backlash?

Using her own fate and fortune as a sacrifice, Shen Yunxuan conducted the ritual. For the first time, she felt an overwhelming darkness coursing through her body, a stark contrast to what she had ever known. It was deeply uncomfortable, but she knew she had succeeded!

As expected, calamities began striking the Xie family one after another. First, Xie Hengchen was involved in a car crash and fell into a coma. Then his son got into a fight, was seriously injured, and became infertile. Next, Xie Hengchen’s elder brother’s family and younger sister’s family faced their own disasters. Finally, even the mistress who had undergone plastic surgery to resemble Shen Yunxuan was diagnosed with cancer. When Xie Hengchen finally regained consciousness, he urgently sought the Taoist master for help, only to learn that Master Xuanyang had suffered severe backlash, coughed up blood, and was now in a vegetative state.

Xuanyang’s senior, Master Xuanqing, came to investigate. He quickly discovered that it was Shen Yunxuan’s doing. The Xie family had absorbed all of her bad luck, so misfortunes were inevitable. The fact that they hadn’t been completely wiped out was only because Shen Yunxuan’s remaining fortune wasn’t strong enough for them to exploit further. Xuanyang, having performed three major rituals on Shen Yunxuan, faced the worst backlash yet. Even if he survived, his cultivation would be greatly diminished.

Xuanqing, enraged, decided to kill Shen Yunxuan. She knew that if he acted, her soul would be suppressed, and she would never reincarnate. She refused to let that happen. Having prepared in advance, she performed another sacrifice, this time offering her soul to ensure her enemies met a miserable end.

As flames of agony consumed her, Shen Yunxuan felt searing pain like being burned alive. In her final moment before death, she saw Xuanqing coughing up blood. A sense of exhilaration washed over her, and she smiled as her consciousness faded—only to wake up twenty years in the past.

Shen Yunxuan felt an overwhelming sense of unreality, but the pain of being burned by hot water and pinched by a zipper earlier confirmed that this was all real. Outside the tent, the air was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. She took a deep breath to calm herself. She had been reborn.

Recalling the searing pain before death, Shen Yunxuan had a sudden realization: Could this be the “nirvana and rebirth” the Idle Wanderer had mentioned? As she sorted through her memories, she noticed something peculiar about her rebirth.

In her past life, after saving Xie Hengchen from the river, she returned to inform the production team, only to be scolded by Sister Feng. Changing out of her wet clothes late had caused her to catch a cold, and by the time they returned to the city, she had already developed a fever.

But now, her body felt perfectly fine, with no signs of illness. Even stranger, in this life, after saving Xie Hengchen, she had encountered Zhou Yunxuan. Zhou had expressed concern, urging her to change clothes quickly and offering to inform the crew about the rescue. Zhou had also reminded her about the cameras that might still be rolling and suggested taking a different route back.

Thus, Shen Yunxuan had gone straight back to the tent this time, avoiding others entirely. After changing clothes… her memory became fuzzy. She remembered feeling unusually drowsy and falling asleep.

This hazy memory raised Shen Yunxuan’s vigilance. It was autumn, and the river water had been freezing. How could she have felt sleepy after being soaked to the bone? And why was Zhou Yunxuan acting differently from her previous life? Could this be a parallel world?

Digging deeper into her memories, she found fragments of “book of memories” and was shocked to discover she had lived many lives in other worlds. Each time, she had been reborn, and each time, her life had been stolen by someone else. Could it be happening again?

Realization struck her: Zhou Yunxuan was also reborn! Zhou likely assumed Shen Yunxuan’s past life as a wealthy socialite had been blissful and wanted to usurp the identity of the savior to steal her life.

For a moment, Shen Yunxuan felt conflicted—angry, amused, and uneasy all at once. She resolved not to get entangled with the Xie family again, to protect herself, and to avoid becoming a victim of sorcery. If Zhou Yunxuan wanted to take her place, that would be a blessing in disguise. But despite their past workplace rivalries, Shen Yunxuan didn’t bear any real grudges against Zhou. Letting Zhou walk into a trap felt like a moral burden.

Then again, the Xie family hadn’t sought her out immediately in her previous life. It had taken days of investigation into her fate and fortune before they targeted her. Zhou’s destiny and fortune differed from hers, so the Xie family likely wouldn’t calculate against her. At most, Zhou might gain the Xie family’s wealth and resources without facing real danger.

When Zhou Yunxuan returned with Sister Feng, Shen Yunxuan decided to keep silent. Revealing her rebirth would only complicate matters. Her earlier cautious behavior had already aroused Zhou’s suspicion, and she didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble.

Sister Feng entered, immediately frowning. “You’re always so troublesome. This was such a great opportunity, and here you are, hiding in the tent and sleeping. Don’t you know to help out with the crew or make an impression on the director? No wonder you can’t become popular. Someone like you, ignoring the company’s plans, wouldn’t even land a single guest role without our support. How do you expect to earn money and survive?”

Shen Yunxuan lowered her head and stood silently to one side, not responding. This only made Sister Feng angrier, and she continued to scold her. Zhou Yunxuan quickly packed her things and handed Sister Feng a bottle of mineral water. “Sister Feng, Yunxuan just had a nightmare and hasn’t recovered yet. I’ll talk to her later. You’ve been running around with us all day—you must be exhausted. Let’s head back, and I’ll treat you to dinner to help you recharge.”

Sister Feng took a sip of water and felt slightly appeased. “You’re always so considerate, Zhou Yunxuan. Shen Yunxuan, you should learn from her! Let’s go.”

When Zhou Yunxuan mentioned the nightmare, Shen Yunxuan decided to close her eyes and feign discomfort after getting into the car. She planned to slip away to the dormitory once they reached the city. She needed time alone to sort everything out and figure out how to terminate her contract, avoid the Xie family, and steer clear of Xuanyang and Xuanqing.

However, shortly after the car began moving, she became carsick. A bump in the road caused her forehead to hit the glass, leaving a painful lump. There was no need to fake anything now—by the time they reached the city, Sister Feng couldn’t wait to send her away and avoid seeing her altogether.

Feeling unwell, Shen Yunxuan watched them leave. Through the car window, she seemed to catch a glimpse of Zhou Yunxuan smiling. On her way back to the dormitory, it started raining heavily. Soaked to the skin and chilled to the bone, she shivered as she entered the building, only to slip and fall on the wet floor.

At this point, even in her daze, Shen Yunxuan felt something was seriously wrong. She had been emotional after her rebirth, but she thought she had calmed down long ago. How could she keep encountering accidents one after another? Carsickness, rain, and a slippery floor weren’t connected to her state of mind. Besides, she had never been carsick before, and her shoes had never been slippery. How could she, shivering and walking so cautiously, still manage to slip?

This wasn’t distraction—it was pure bad luck!

In her previous life, Shen Yunxuan had been extremely lucky. From childhood to adulthood, everything went smoothly for her. Even the Xie family targeted her because they coveted her fortune and wanted to steal it.

Could it be that her sacrifice of her fortune in her previous life had carried over, transforming into misfortune in this one? That would be too cruel!

Unable to figure it out, Shen Yunxuan stopped dwelling on it. She took a hot shower, ordered takeout, and enjoyed a good meal. The energy and vitality of her younger body gave her an unexpected sense of satisfaction. She checked her bank balance, only to find she had a mere 5,000 yuan left. With three years left on her contract and a termination fee of at least 10 million, how could she possibly break free?

Shen Yunxuan considered her options. Perhaps she could find the Idle Wanderer and ask if he could lend her some money. Weren’t they destined to meet? Helping each other should be expected. She also wanted to warn him to seek medical treatment immediately—maybe it wasn’t too late to save him.

As she mulled it over, she instinctively performed a divination for herself, a habit she had developed during the years she was imprisoned in her previous life. People often said you shouldn’t divine for yourself, but even though she had memorized countless Taoist texts, she still couldn’t grasp the essence of metaphysics. Unable to resign herself to being manipulated by fate, she would occasionally try divining for herself.

To her surprise, this time she felt a faint sense of something mystical. Though she still couldn’t discern anything concrete, she vaguely sensed that she was under the influence of extreme misfortune, like a “Lone Star of Calamity.”

At that moment, Zhou Yunxuan returned. Shen Yunxuan’s heart stirred, and she looked up at Zhou Yunxuan’s face. Her pupils contracted slightly—Zhou Yunxuan’s fortune was remarkably strong!

Although twenty years had passed, Shen Yunxuan distinctly remembered Zhou Yunxuan as an extremely unlucky person. That was why so many people believed Shen Yunxuan had bullied her—because Zhou Yunxuan always seemed to be surrounded by misfortune. How could someone like her suddenly have good fortune?

Shen Yunxuan recalled the moment in the tent when she had felt drowsy and her memories grew hazy. When she woke up, Zhou Yunxuan was there, and her expression had seemed off. At the time, Shen Yunxuan had thought Zhou was simply testing if she had been reborn. But now, could it be that Zhou Yunxuan had done something to her?

If Zhou Yunxuan’s fortune had improved while hers had worsened, had Zhou stolen her fortune? Was that why she had been testing whether Shen Yunxuan was now plagued by bad luck?

No wonder Zhou had smiled so cheerfully afterward. She must have confirmed the success of the exchange when she saw Shen Yunxuan’s string of misfortunes.

Shen Yunxuan suddenly thought: if her destiny and fortune had truly been exchanged, would the Xie family and Xuanyang still target her? Could she finally be safe? Did she no longer need to hide?

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆