Ch 108: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

For the first time, Shen Yunxuan practiced the cultivation technique and entered a meditative state for three days and nights. When she finished, she felt an obvious surge of vitality, as though she could run a marathon without breaking a sweat! Even her slight nearsightedness was gone, her vision clear, and her hearing sharper than ever. Was this an enhancement of her senses?

She ran to the mirror and looked at herself. Whether it was her imagination or not, her skin seemed a little better, and her entire demeanor exuded a more refined aura. Excited, she stepped outside and immediately said to the Idle wanderer, “Senior Brother, I did it! I really can cultivate using faith energy. From now on, we should stream together so you can cultivate too.”

The Idle wanderer sighed in amazement. “As expected, you truly are the destined head of our temple. I’ve lived over sixty years and never heard of anyone cultivating through faith energy or virtue. Doing good deeds has always been a concept, not something you could tangibly accumulate. The cultivation technique recorded in our ancestral texts—I couldn’t understand it, nor could my master. Turns out it’s designed to refine faith energy.”

Shen Yunxuan was stunned. “Then how do you cultivate?”

“Just the basic entry-level Taoist methods, relying on the scant spiritual energy left in the world. Otherwise, how do you think my skills ended up so mediocre?” The Idle wanderer clutched his chest in regret. “If only I were born in a more spiritually abundant era when this temple flourished, I’d surely have been a top expert. I know it!”

Shen Yunxuan found it extraordinary. Those texts, given so casually to her by the Idle wanderer, were the ancestral scriptures of the temple, containing its most refined knowledge—techniques, talismans, spells, alchemy, artifact crafting, exorcisms, and more. But without sufficient cultivation, much of it remained out of reach.

The temple had suffered through three generations of mediocre cultivation, leaving it in its current dilapidated state. Now, however, she could tap into its potential. This was like manna from heaven!

Flipping through the book of memories that held her experiences in other worlds, Shen Yunxuan noticed that she had often been fortunate in her reborn lives. While her success required effort, she frequently encountered helpful people and good fortune, as though rebirth had been a compensation for her previous life’s suffering—or a reward for her triumphant comeback.

Regardless of the reason, it felt like a blessing rather than a trap. Shen Yunxuan reassured herself, “It seems like this cultivation method requires a unique aptitude. I wouldn’t even have been able to use it if not for the fate-swapping incident. Perhaps it’s actually a method meant for Zhou Yunxuan.”

The Idle wanderer chuckled. “If that’s the case, then the fate swap worked out well. If Zhou Yunxuan ever learns about this, I wonder if she’ll regret it.”

Thinking of Zhou Yunxuan’s personality, Shen Yunxuan said, “If she’s living well, she won’t regret it. But if she isn’t, then she definitely will. Either way, I should investigate how she swapped our fates in the first place. If I can figure that out, I can prevent her from reversing it. Let’s make time to explore and gather more information about such methods—it might even help us find a cultivation method suitable for you.

By the way, how have you been feeling these past few days? Has staying within the spirit-gathering formation helped?”

“Absolutely. I feel much better. Even my complexion is healthier,” the Idle wanderer replied, his tone softened as he looked at Shen Yunxuan. This young woman, who could be his granddaughter, bore the burden of a cursed fate and still worried about his health. He resolved to scour the library’s texts on healing methods to extend his time.

Xianglan floated over, bowed, and congratulated Shen Yunxuan on her successful cultivation. She also mentioned that she had tidied the temple, clearing away broken tiles and furniture to the backyard.

Such a massive task would have been exhausting even for a ghost like Xianglan. Shen Yunxuan quickly lit three sticks of incense. “You’ve worked hard, Xianglan. I’ll hire workers to repair the place soon—don’t overwork yourself.”

Xianglan gratefully absorbed the incense, her face glowing with contentment. “It’s a pleasure to help out. It feels safe and peaceful here, and I want to make it even better.”

Looking at the Idle wanderer and Xianglan, Shen Yunxuan felt a warmth in her heart—it finally felt like she had a home.

And a home should be well-maintained. After breakfast, Shen Yunxuan started searching for renovation crews online. Before she could finalize anything, Fang Qianqian and Xu Wei arrived, beaming with joy.

Fang Qianqian bowed deeply to Shen Yunxuan, laughing as she said, “Master! Thank you for saving me. Not only did I expose my stepmother, but my father—after fainting from rage—went for a full health checkup and discovered he had low sperm count!

“So he demanded a DNA test for me and my stepsister. Turns out, I’m his biological daughter, but my stepsister isn’t. He’s bedridden now and handed the company over to me. I’ve inherited the family business early and don’t even have a competitor! Master, meeting you must have been the greatest blessing of my past life.”

Seeing such a wonderful outcome, Shen Yunxuan was genuinely happy for her. From her face, it was clear Fang Qianqian would now live a smooth, carefree life. Truly, all’s well that ends well.

“Congratulations! This is part of your own good fortune and opportunities. Keep doing good deeds, and you’ll continue to have good luck,” Shen Yunxuan said.

“I definitely will, don’t worry!” Fang Qianqian promised. She fully believed now that evil deeds lead to retribution. Thinking of her father and that mistress’s downfall made her so happy she could laugh even in her sleep. She decided to visit her mother’s grave later to share the good news.

At that moment, Shen Yunxuan received a call from a renovation team about the estimated cost of repairs. The price was higher than expected, so she decided to think it over.

Fang Qianqian quickly offered, “Master, are you renovating the temple? If you trust me, leave it to me. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

Xu Wei added, “Exactly! Qianqian’s family is in the real estate business. They’ve got reliable contacts and will definitely do a great job. I’m working at Qianqian’s company now, so I can even help supervise.”

Shen Yunxuan’s eyes lit up. “That would be amazing! Thank you both so much. By the way, what’s the cost? I’ve been asking around because I was worried about shoddy work, and I don’t know much about this. If you handle it, I’d be at ease.”

Fang Qianqian waved dismissively. “No need to pay. After all you’ve done to help me inherit the family business, fixing up the temple is nothing.”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head firmly. “I have to pay. I’ve already accepted payment for solving your problems, and I can’t be greedy. Even between close friends or family, clear accounts make for lasting relationships.”

Though sincerely grateful, Fang Qianqian understood Shen Yunxuan’s principles after interacting with her a few times. She agreed to charge only for the cost of materials and labor, adding that she’d likely visit often and hoped Shen Yunxuan wouldn’t find her bothersome.

Seeing their genuine appreciation and friendship, Shen Yunxuan accepted their help and gave them each a protective talisman she had written. “These can protect you from a crisis. Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but it’s better to have some insurance. Wishing you both peace and safety.”

Both Fang Qianqian and Xu Wei gratefully accepted and carefully wore their talismans. Xu Wei then suggested, “Master, why not sell talismans during your livestreams? I’m sure your talismans are effective. You could also sell other helpful items. If people find them useful, they’ll believe in you more, and it’ll also earn you money. It’s a win-win. Plus, once people realize how effective they are, your supporters will grow, and the haters won’t matter anymore.”

The idea struck a chord with Shen Yunxuan. More people believing in me? That’s exactly what she needed for faith energy. It was a great way to build trust and earn money. She decided to create more talismans and try it out.

After discussing some details about selling items, Xu Wei even offered to help set everything up. She had marketing experience and had worked in sales early in her career, so she knew how to handle it. She even had ideas for advertising slogans.

Fang Qianqian called in a construction team to discuss the renovations. Shen Yunxuan decided to prioritize fixing her living quarters. Since no one else usually visited, comfort for herself was the main concern.

If she was going to renovate, she planned to do it right. She intended to live here for the rest of her life, and her years as a wealthy wife had given her a refined taste. After selecting quality materials, the total cost left Shen Yunxuan nearly broke again.

Restoring the temple’s glory will be a long journey, Shen Yunxuan sighed, marveling at her own poverty. She opened Douyin, intending to livestream, only to discover her account was still banned even after three days. Despite her inexperience with livestreaming, this seemed unreasonable.

She contacted customer support, but they only gave scripted responses about violations. When she pressed for details, they dodged her questions.

Fang Qianqian explained, “There was a lot of negative press about you online the past few days—some true, some fake. It damaged your reputation. When I visited the temple and saw you were busy cultivating, I took it upon myself to suppress the trending topics, but some people started claiming you had a wealthy backer. Thankfully, the heat died down. Still, most of that attention shifted to a new artist from your company, who gained sympathy from the narrative that you oppressed her.”

Looking up her own name online, Shen Yunxuan found numerous smear campaigns. It was obvious the company had orchestrated them, but with no concrete evidence and having missed her chance to respond during her retreat, public opinion now assumed her guilty by default.

That wouldn’t do. Faith energy depended on her reputation. She couldn’t let anyone tarnish it.

Shen Yunxuan contacted Lawyer Liang for advice. After hearing her situation, he said, “This looks like someone deliberately set you up. Are they really doing all this just because you want out of your contract?”

Shen Yunxuan speculated, “I suspect Zhou Yunxuan had a hand in this. She likely wants me to disappear from the public eye entirely.”

“Zhou Yunxuan? Your former partner?”

Shen Yunxuan recalled that Liang only took on intriguing cases and added, “She’s about to marry into the wealthy Xie family. My current misfortunes could be connected. My agent doesn’t have the clout to ban my account, but Zhou Yunxuan could have used the Xie family’s influence to pressure Douyin.”

“The Xie family?” Liang’s interest clearly piqued. To him, Shen Yunxuan had seemed like an ordinary minor celebrity. Yet she had exposed a murderer, was potentially inheriting a victim’s estate, and now had ties to the Xie family in this tangled web. He couldn’t help but feel there was more to this story than met the eye.

Shen Yunxuan seemed to have fallen into another whirlpool of controversy. It wasn’t just one person targeting her—now even the wealthy elite were involved. Why was she so special? Could it really just be bad luck?

Compared to other cases at the law firm, Shen Yunxuan’s situation was far more intriguing. Thus, Lawyer Liang uncharacteristically took on her case against the marketing accounts that had slandered her. He quickly issued lawyer’s letters to several gossip accounts that spread false information about Shen Yunxuan and targeted a few particularly vocal trolls, also reporting the cases to the authorities.

To counter the negativity, Shen Yunxuan borrowed 100,000 yuan from Fang Qianqian and donated it to charity. She then retweeted Liang’s post with a simple statement: “If you have evidence, present it. Defamation is illegal.”

After three days of silence, Shen Yunxuan had finally spoken up—and so boldly.

Her detractors erupted, flooding her social media with insults.

“With so much evidence out there, how dare you show your face? Get out of the entertainment industry!”
“You think no one knows you stole resources from new talents? Even your staff can’t stand you!”
“You bullied Zhou Yunxuan and dragged her down with you! So many photos and videos prove it!”

However, as more neutral onlookers joined the conversation, they started to notice something strange: Where was the evidence? Despite the loud accusations, nothing concrete was being shared. The so-called “evidence” turned out to be vague photos or easily debunked claims. Not one solid piece of proof emerged.

This inconsistency piqued the curiosity of the internet’s amateur detectives. They began digging into Shen Yunxuan’s past and found only positive accounts from former classmates and acquaintances. Who exactly had she bullied?

The supposedly “oppressed” newcomer turned out to have better resources than Shen Yunxuan. How had she been suppressed? As for Zhou Yunxuan, who was supposedly a victim of Shen Yunxuan’s behavior, why had she stayed in the duo if she was being mistreated? It wasn’t like they were a popular group; going solo wouldn’t have hurt her career.

And the staff members who allegedly claimed Shen Yunxuan was difficult to work with? After the lawyer’s letter, they all disappeared. Not one continued to speak out.

If there was no evidence, could it mean that Shen Yunxuan was being deliberately sabotaged? And who would do that? The most obvious beneficiaries were Zhou Yunxuan and the newcomer.

The speculation gained traction. Was this a calculated move by Zhou Yunxuan to boost her popularity by stepping on Shen Yunxuan? Was the company using Shen Yunxuan as a scapegoat to promote new talent? If so, why sacrifice Shen Yunxuan? Her beauty alone was worth investing in—unless, of course, she was leaving the company.

The internet sleuths were onto something. Based on their theories, many began leaving comments on Shen Yunxuan’s page: “Are you leaving your company? Is that why they’re targeting you?”

Shen Yunxuan replied candidly: “I’m in the process of terminating my contract. As for the rest, I won’t make baseless accusations without evidence.”

This response set the internet ablaze. Though she said little, it confirmed the narrative: her company was unhappy with her leaving and was squeezing the last bit of value out of her by smearing her name. The alleged scandals were orchestrated.

The reversal was shocking. Was the maligned minor celebrity actually innocent?

The digging intensified, but no incriminating evidence surfaced. Instead, patterns emerged: Zhou Yunxuan always appeared composed and confident, while Shen Yunxuan showed subtle signs of discomfort. Using microexpression analysis, some even concluded that Shen Yunxuan was the one quietly enduring mistreatment.

As doubt about Zhou Yunxuan grew, so did conspiracy theories. People suggested she might have a manipulative “performance personality,” portraying herself as harmless and wronged to win sympathy while subtly painting Shen Yunxuan as the aggressor. Her vague responses to controversies involving Shen Yunxuan and her polished portrayal of a “close sisterly bond” began to seem suspect. If they truly had a good relationship, why hadn’t Zhou Yunxuan defended Shen Yunxuan? If they didn’t, then wasn’t Zhou Yunxuan’s behavior an act?

Once seeds of doubt were planted, every action of Zhou Yunxuan’s came under scrutiny. What might have been minor missteps became magnified into major faults through the lens of suspicion.

In no time, both Shen Yunxuan and Zhou Yunxuan were trending again.

Under the hashtag #TheRealZhouYunxuan, netizens dissected her public persona, comparing her past interviews and actions. The tables were turning, and Zhou Yunxuan found herself in the hot seat.

The trending topic #XinxingEntertainmentPittingStarsAgainstEachOther exposed the company’s manipulative tactics of suppressing Shen Yunxuan to promote newcomers. Concrete evidence piled up, causing significant damage to both the company and the new talents’ reputations.

At the company, Manager Feng was under intense pressure. The CEO berated her in a conference room in front of everyone:
“How are you handling this? Don’t you know the personalities of the people you’re managing? How do you plan to clean up this mess? Who’s responsible for the damage to our reputation?”

Sweating profusely, Manager Feng tried to explain:
“It’s just that Shen Yunxuan was a bit disobedient. I’ve disciplined her a few times before, and nothing ever came of it, so I assumed…”

“You assumed? Even a rabbit will bite when it’s cornered! Not understanding her limits is your failure. Your bonus is gone this year. I don’t care how you do it—make her shut up. I don’t want to hear any more bad news about this company!” The CEO slammed a folder onto the table, filled with printouts of negative online comments. This situation could’ve been managed easily, but if it spiraled further, it would solidify Xinxing Entertainment’s image as a corrupt and oppressive company, harming its long-term prospects.

Manager Feng had no idea how to handle this. She’d never encountered a sidelined minor celebrity daring to fight back this fiercely—reporting marketing accounts to the police and filing lawsuits. The chaos was unprecedented.

Left with no better option, she reached out to Shen Yunxuan, humbling herself to ask what she wanted.

Shen Yunxuan didn’t mince words:
“I want to terminate my contract without paying the penalty. I also demand a public apology.”

Manager Feng was stunned.
“Waiving the 10 million yuan penalty? And an apology? That’s impossible!”

“Your company knows full well who smeared my reputation. Don’t I deserve an apology and a public clarification? My ruined reputation—who will be held accountable for it? My conditions are non-negotiable. Think it over carefully.” Shen Yunxuan was firm, unwilling to waste more time.

Manager Feng, begrudgingly, relayed these terms to the CEO. The CEO scoffed.
“She certainly knows how to seize an opportunity, but she overestimates herself. Isn’t Zhou Yunxuan connected to Mr. Xie? Go ask her for help. See if the Xie family can intervene. If they can suppress Shen Yunxuan, our problems will resolve themselves.”

Manager Feng agreed immediately, thinking it a brilliant idea. She had noticed that Zhou Yunxuan clearly didn’t want Shen Yunxuan to rise to fame. With public scrutiny now questioning Zhou Yunxuan’s character, sending her into the fray to clean things up seemed ideal.

Zhou Yunxuan received Manager Feng’s call while attending a Xie family banquet. She had recently confirmed her relationship with Xie Hengchen and was meeting his family for the first time at a grand birthday celebration for the Xie family patriarch.

Everything had been going splendidly. The Xie family welcomed her warmly, introducing her as Xie Hengchen’s future wife to prominent guests. For Zhou Yunxuan, it was like stepping into a dream. She finally felt like she was surrounded by good fortune, a stark contrast to her past life.

But Feng’s call shattered her euphoria.
“What? The internet is accusing me of bullying Shen Yunxuan and being a fake white lotus?”

Her face fell as she opened her phone to see herself on the trending blacklist. The harsh reality hit her—she wasn’t just a Cinderella marrying into a wealthy family; she was a former celebrity with a tarnished reputation. If her public image crumbled, she would become a laughingstock in high society.

She felt humiliated. Recalling the surprised looks from guests earlier, she realized they weren’t admiring her—they were shocked that the Xie family would associate with someone embroiled in controversy.

Panicked, Zhou Yunxuan excused herself and retreated to a private room. She immediately spent all her savings hiring PR teams to suppress the negative press and deploy damage control.

As she fretted, Xie Hengchen entered, concern etched on his face.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look well. If there’s any trouble, you can tell me—I’m your boyfriend, after all.”

Zhou Yunxuan took a deep breath to calm herself. She reminded herself that this life was different. She had switched fates with Shen Yunxuan; good fortune was now on her side. The Xie family would undoubtedly stand by her, just as they had supported Shen Yunxuan in her previous life. She was also Xie Hengchen’s savior. Surely, he wouldn’t hesitate to help her.

Gathering her composure, she explained the situation to Xie Hengchen, carefully framing herself as an innocent party caught in the crossfire between Shen Yunxuan and the company.

Xie Hengchen, initially indifferent, reassured her with a warm smile:
“These things can be handled. Don’t worry. The internet forgets quickly.”

He instructed his assistant to resolve the matter, emphasizing discretion. For Xie Hengchen, the details of who was right or wrong didn’t matter. What mattered was putting an end to the online discussion. To further comfort Zhou Yunxuan, he added,
“If similar issues arise in the future, just let my assistant handle them. You don’t need to stress yourself.”

Feeling relieved, Zhou Yunxuan thanked him, confident that her new life of privilege was secure. Meanwhile, the wheels of suppression were set in motion.

Zhou Yunxuan thanked Xie Hengchen and smiled, thinking to herself that she was indeed blessed with good fortune. From now on, she could leave all her troubles to the Xie family. After all, she had been reborn to enjoy life.

The trending topics about her were scrubbed clean, but this only fueled netizens’ curiosity and defiance. People were just casually gossiping—why was someone trying to silence them? Was there something worth hiding?

Many began referring to the parties involved using nicknames and initials. What started as skepticism about the company, its new talent, and Zhou Yunxuan evolved into full-blown conviction that they were guilty of wrongdoing. The public mocked them for their apparent guilt and attempts to suppress the scandal. This only solidified their support for Shen Yunxuan, urging her to keep fighting.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan noticed that Douyin still hadn’t lifted her streaming ban. Taking Fang Qianqian’s advice, she switched to a different platform—Shayu Live. Fang had explained that while Shayu wasn’t as popular as before, it had a loyal user base and a streamer-friendly revenue split of 70-30.

Having grown frustrated with Douyin’s lack of response, Shen Yunxuan felt more favorably toward Shayu and quickly registered a new account. She announced the switch on her Weibo, sparking widespread attention. Fans eagerly spread her livestream link across various group chats, rapidly boosting her follower count and viewership. Some fans even created Shayu accounts just to watch her streams.

In the stream, viewers bombarded her with gossip-related questions, but Shen Yunxuan addressed them directly:
“We’re not discussing those matters here. This is a fortune-telling stream. Two thousand yuan per reading. Anyone interested?”

[“Ha! Are you really fortune-telling now? Still riding this new persona?”]

[“What’s today’s script? Tease it a bit first—I’ll tip if it’s intriguing.”]

[“Shen Shen, is the cut on your face fully healed? I can’t see a trace of it. What did you use?”]

Surprised, Shen Yunxuan checked the livestream feed and realized the scratch on her face had completely vanished. Her skin looked flawless. She hadn’t even noticed the change. Recalling Xu Wei’s earlier suggestion, she smiled and said:
“Practicing Taoist techniques, of course. But if you’re interested in a quicker recovery, I sell talismans. These can significantly speed up healing, whether from injuries or illnesses.

“Just to be clear, these aren’t miracle cures. They won’t treat everything. But if you’re looking at a year-long recovery, wearing my talisman could cut that time in half.”

The chat paused momentarily before viewers began joking and bantering, clearly skeptical of her claims. They dismissed her pitch as part of her act.

With no one interested in fortune-telling or talismans, Shen Yunxuan turned to browse other livestreams. Suddenly, she came across a video featuring someone attempting to sleep overnight in a notorious haunted house. Intrigued, she asked:
“Eight thousand eight hundred yuan just to stay until morning? Is this real?”

[“…Yeah, it’s real, but everyone who’s tried has run out screaming in the middle of the night. One guy even developed a mental illness afterward. Forget about that money.”]

[“If you can spend the night in that haunted house, I’ll believe you’re the real deal and pay for a fortune-telling session!”]

[“Right! You summoned ghosts last time, didn’t you? This should be easy for you. If you dare to go, I’ll become your biggest fan!”]

[“Don’t listen to them, Shen Shen. That haunted house is notorious. It’s terrifying. The owner only offers this prize because they can’t sell the property. Please don’t risk it—it’s truly cursed!”]

Despite the mixed reactions—some urging her on and others pleading with her not to go—Shen Yunxuan sent a private message to the owner. When she received a response, her eyes lit up. It was legit.

The owner required the participant to livestream the entire night. If they successfully stayed until morning, they’d receive 8,800 yuan. However, if they left early, they’d get nothing, and the owner would not be held responsible for any consequences. Additionally, if someone could permanently resolve the haunted house’s issues, the payment would be negotiable.

This was perfect!

Excited, Shen Yunxuan turned to her senior, smiling brightly:
“Senior brother, let’s go make some money!”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆