Ch 113: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

When Lin Zixiao tried to contact Shen Yunxuan, she was deep in cultivation and unavailable, so he refrained from disturbing her. Upon returning to the company and seeing the various changes made, his anger toward his father resurfaced. Originally, he had planned to return home in a few years, but now? Hmph. Let the old man keep running the family business for another ten years. After all, thanks to the pharmaceutical industry, his father was in excellent health and far from needing retirement.

As for that so-called Master Xuanyang? What a joke. Coming up with such underhanded schemes. Lin Zixiao decided he’d warn his friends against dealing with shady practitioners and instead recommend Shen Yunxuan—the real deal, the “Master of Idle Cloud Temple.”

After notifying his circle of friends, Lin Zixiao arranged a meeting with the boss of Xinxing Entertainment to negotiate the termination of Shen Yunxuan’s contract. However, Xinxing boss, holding a grudge against Shen Yunxuan, made exorbitant demands: a payment of 10 million yuan and a signed agreement ensuring Shen would never speak ill of the company.

Lin Zixiao couldn’t agree to such terms on Shen Yunxuan’s behalf, and the negotiation fell apart, leaving him frustrated. Shen Yunxuan had helped him tremendously, and now he couldn’t even handle this issue for her. How would he face her?

One of the intermediaries teased him, “Why are you so invested? Don’t tell me you’re interested in her?”

Lin Zixiao gave him a light slap on the back. “Show some respect! She’s a genuine master who helped me out big time. I worked so hard to get her to stay at my company; of course, I need to take care of her concerns. It’s just more complicated than I thought. I’ll figure something out.

By the way, if anyone you know encounters anything strange or paranormal, have them consult Master Shen. She’s even selling talismans on my platform—buy some whether you need them or not.”

The friend chuckled. “You’re superstitious now, huh?” Then he added in a quieter tone, “Did you see the trending news on Douyin? A big streamer scammed their top supporter out of six million yuan. Turns out the guy borrowed the money from loan sharks, and now that he can’t pay it back, the streamer’s refusing to acknowledge him. The guy’s planning to sue.”

“Really?” Lin Zixiao quickly pulled out his phone to check the gossip.

His friend continued, “There’s more—two major gaming streamers were arrested for drug use. Evidence is solid, and they’re done for. With three big names in trouble at once, this is bound to hurt their reputation. You think this might be your chance?”

The comment was offhand; after all, Shayu Stream was on the verge of bankruptcy. Even if Douyin stumbled, it wouldn’t necessarily boost Shayu Stream. But to Lin Zixiao, it seemed like a golden opportunity. Maybe the company’s luck really was turning around after the Feng Shui adjustments.

He clinked glasses with his friend. “Brother, if I make it big, I’ll buy you a car! Gotta go!”

Lin Zixiao rushed back to the office, instructing his team to reach out to major Douyin streamers and invite them to switch platforms. He quietly began poaching talent while revamping Shayu Stream’s platform. He created a dedicated metaphysics category, immediately positioning Shen Yunxuan as the top streamer in that space. He also extended invitations to metaphysical content creators from other platforms, promising a focused category and extensive promotions. Competing on Shayu Stream would be far easier than on crowded platforms like Douyin.

Although Shayu Stream couldn’t match Douyin’s traffic, Shen Yunxuan’s successful haunted house livestream proved that talent could still shine. Plus, Lin Zixiao offered an 80-20 revenue split favoring the streamers—much better than other platforms. This incentive managed to attract some creators.

Meanwhile, Douyin was facing chaos. Three major scandals broke at once. The CEO was summoned for a “chat” with authorities and was ordered to crack down on live-streaming irregularities. Douyin responded by introducing strict new rules and tightening content moderation.

The new restrictions frustrated both streamers and viewers. With so many prohibitions—some words even triggering warnings—streamers felt stifled, and audiences grew weary. Within days, some part-time streamers stopped broadcasting, while others dissatisfied with the constraints left the platform. This led to a noticeable dip in user engagement.

In a tense company meeting, Douyin’s CEO addressed the issue, projecting data on a large screen that highlighted the decline in activity. The room fell silent as everyone pondered how to navigate the crisis.

“Who can analyze and summarize the causes of this incident?” the CEO asked.

One person frowned. “This mess started with those three streamers. But on a platform this large, we can’t control everything. Stricter regulations are all we can do. As for the top supporter scam and the drug use cases, those aren’t really our fault. We couldn’t have foreseen them—this is just bad luck.”

“Naturally, the new rules are causing dissatisfaction, and engagement is dropping. There’s no way around it. Any platform in this situation would face the same.”

“Not necessarily,” someone else interjected. “I’ve noticed some unusual activity on Shayu Stream recently. They signed a popular celebrity and started pushing fortune-telling content. It’s an eye-catching gimmick. Lin Zixiao seems to have found some success and is actively poaching streamers. A few of our creators have already jumped ship.”

“The ones who left are minor creators—tarot card readers, haunted house explorers, amateur fortune-tellers. Basically, scammers. They weren’t key players, so it doesn’t matter. Lin Zixiao is betting on these fringe acts; it won’t amount to anything. He’ll end up paying the price.”

Hearing this, the CEO dismissed Shayu Stream’s activities as inconsequential. The discussion returned to stabilizing user engagement and managing risks, as they focused on surviving the current crisis.

A department manager who had stayed silent throughout the meeting quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It was he who had taken Zhou Yunxuan’s money to block Shen Yunxuan’s account, effectively forcing her to move to Shayu Stream, where she unexpectedly gained popularity. If the CEO pursued the matter, his bonus would likely have been forfeit. Fortunately, the CEO didn’t seem to care. As he saw it, what was an insignificant minor celebrity? Even if she had a fleeting moment of fame, her fortune-telling persona would inevitably collapse, and people would chase her down with criticism. Better to avoid such a streamer altogether.

---

During Shen Yunxuan’s days of seclusion, news of her haunted house livestream and ghost-banishing exploits never made it to the trending lists. Her replay videos were frequently taken down across platforms, cutting off her traffic and leaving those who had seen her streams to discuss them only in fan groups.

Then, Manager Feng posted a snide comment on Weibo:
“Wishing Shen Yunxuan all the best with her new employer. Just don’t forget to settle your contract first—termination fees must be paid as per the law.”

This immediately set off her detractors, including fans of Zhou Yunxuan, those of the new talent being promoted by the company, and even fans of the idol who was once falsely paired with Shen Yunxuan for publicity. They flooded in to ridicule her, accusing her of being ungrateful and heading for disaster.

“So she hasn’t even terminated her contract before signing with a new company?”

“Quick question: Does the money she made through livestreaming have to be shared with Xinxing Entertainment?”

“Of course it does! Isn’t that common sense? Is she ignorant of the law or just planning to skip out on her penalty fees?”

“Violating contracts like this—could she also be evading taxes? Someone should report her!”

“Haven’t seen Shen Yunxuan around these past few days. Did she go into hiding out of guilt?”

“Maybe she grabbed the money and ran. Didn’t she scam that haunted house owner out of over a million yuan? And didn’t Fang Qianqian give her antiques worth three million? Has anyone called the police yet?”

“She’s probably plotting her next scheme with her team. Next up, a livestream about finding lost pets or missing children—same old tricks.”

“Is there anyone who can stop Shen Yunxuan? Get her out of the entertainment industry already!”

Her fans and those who believed in her abilities rallied to her defense. They were convinced Shen Yunxuan had been bullied by her company and were worried her absence might mean she was in trouble. They trusted there was more to the story. Meanwhile, her detractors mocked them as gullible, saying they deserved to be “harvested” by Shen Yunxuan. They even accused her fans of forming a cult around her Idle Cloud Temple. The online argument spiraled out of control.

Manager Feng watched the chaos online and sneered. “Shen Yunxuan dared to block me and disrespect me, humiliating me at the company. I’ll make sure she learns a lesson she’ll never forget! With the backing of the Xie family and the company adding fuel to the fire, can she survive this? If she doesn’t spiral into depression and jump off a building, she’ll be considered lucky!”

As Shen Yunxuan refined her faith-derived power and suppressed her streak of bad luck for a few days, her cursed fate began to resurface. This time, it manifested in fresh scandals online, bringing a storm of criticism. Luckily, the Boss Lin continued to suppress trending topics about her, preventing the situation from escalating.

When Shen Yunxuan emerged from her retreat, Idle wanderer immediately showed her the online situation. “What should we do? Should we clarify the rumors?”

Shen Yunxuan looked closely and found it wasn’t as severe as she had expected. “Have you noticed something? While I’m still unlucky, it’s not as bad as it was at the beginning. Back then, even zipping up my coat could pinch my skin, and on the way home, I’d get caught in the rain and fall down. Now, even though people are insulting me, there are others defending me and liking me. It’s already much better.”

Idle wanderer thought for a moment and examined her features. “Your aura still seems hazy, as if obscured by mist, but it does feel less cursed. Could it be the accumulated power of your good deeds making a difference?”

“Very likely!” Shen Yunxuan was delighted. “If I keep accumulating merit, one day I’ll defy fate entirely and never be unlucky again! This is worth celebrating—let’s order takeout!”

Xianglan chimed in, “Master, aren’t you going to address the online rumors? If too many people believe them, it might affect your faith-derived power.”

Shen Yunxuan waved it off. “I’ve already thought of a solution. Have you been paying attention to Douyin? Any news there lately?”

“Yes,” Idle wanderer said, pulling up Douyin’s trending topics. “Three of their top streamers have gotten into trouble. Take a look.”

After reading the official announcements and accompanying gossip, Shen Yunxuan laughed. “Just as I thought. My cursed fate brings misfortune, but the merit, faith power, and money I earn are rewards from the heavens to offset it. When Douyin took their share of my earnings and then banned me, it was like profiting from my good fortune while also harming me. That goes against the will of the heavens, so my misfortune shifted to them. These three streamers’ scandals might have stayed hidden otherwise, but now their bad luck has come to light.”

Both Idle wanderer and Xianglan were stunned. They hadn’t considered such a possibility, but the thought that Douyin was now suffering karmic retribution made them feel vindicated. The platform that had so unfairly banned Shen Yunxuan was now reaping what it sowed.

“That’s what they get for being greedy and reckless,” Idle wanderer said. “Serves them right!”

“Meanwhile, Shayu Stream’s CEO Lin Zixiao knows how to do business,” Xianglan added. “He gave Shen Yunxuan her full share of the revenue, the best livestream recommendations, and excellent support. If Shayu Stream doesn’t succeed, who will?”

Xianglan suddenly realized, “Master, you mean that Xinxing Entertainment, by acting unjustly and trying to extort termination fees while harming you, will end up as unlucky as Douyin?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded, checking her messages and emails. She saw that Lawyer Liang had resolved the inheritance matter and immediately contacted him to proceed with inheriting Qi Yue’s estate.

Qi Yue’s handwritten will was confirmed authentic, and all legal conditions for its validity were met. There was also solid evidence of Chen Songwei’s crimes, including imprisoning and murdering Qi Yue and her daughter and forcibly seizing their assets. With Lawyer Liang’s formidable abilities, the matter was quickly resolved.

After covering various related fees, Shen Yunxuan inherited 13 million yuan. She immediately went to Xinxing Entertainment to terminate her contract and started a livestream. “Everyone’s been concerned about my contract with my former employer. Today, I’m here to settle it.”

[Shen Yunxuan, so you admit you breached the contract?]
[Ha, doing a livestream during a scandal? You’re addicted to being controversial, aren’t you?]
[Honestly, I kind of admire Shen Yunxuan’s mental resilience. Is there something wrong with me?]

The livestream was unexpectedly lively. Fans and critics alike swarmed in, filling the screen with rapid-fire comments, ranging from taunts to worries.

Manager Feng hurried in after receiving the notification and exchanged a glance with the boss. She sternly said, “Livestreaming is not allowed here.”

Shen Yunxuan, unimpressed, retorted, “The livestream only shows me. What exactly is off-limits? It’s not like I’m exposing your private matters. You went online to mock me and demand termination fees, causing me to get bashed by everyone. Now I’m here to pay and prove myself, but that’s not allowed either? Is the whole world supposed to revolve around Xinxing Entertainment?”

The boss intervened, “Alright, let’s not let personal grievances cloud the discussion. This won’t look good for either Miss Shen or the company. Since we’re here to talk about termination, let’s do so calmly.”

Trying to pin everything on a personal conflict between Shen Yunxuan and Manager Feng, the boss subtly shifted the blame. Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “Bring the contract. I’ll sign and terminate it right now. The money’s ready.”

Manager Feng was shocked. “Looks like you’ve made quite a bit recently. Talking about paying termination fees so casually. But everything must be done by the book. The earnings you’ve made through your recent livestreams—pardon me, fortune-telling—weren’t reported to the company. Per the contract, we’re entitled to a share.”

“No problem. I’ve prepared everything. Here are my income records for the past few days. Take a look,” Shen Yunxuan said nonchalantly, handing over a thick stack of papers detailing her revenue streams. She then wrote a check for 11 million yuan. Items that were gifted to her, such as the antique from Fang Qianqian, weren’t subject to division. Even so, the amount she offered was generous, leaving the boss and Manager Feng speechless.

With the money handed over, they had no leverage to hold her back. They had no choice but to sign the termination papers.

Satisfied, Shen Yunxuan smiled at the camera. “It’s done. I’m officially free from Xinxing Entertainment. To everyone watching, remember this moment—starting now, I have nothing to do with Xinxing Entertainment.”

The boss shot a displeased look at Manager Feng, who hastily chimed in, “Shen Yunxuan, isn’t this a bit ungrateful? If it weren’t for Xinxing Entertainment’s support, how could you have become a celebrity?”

Shen Yunxuan scoffed, “You know exactly what happened back then. Since we’re talking legalities, I won’t say more. But I’ve already authorized Lawyer Liang to represent me fully. He will file a lawsuit against your company for using exploitative clauses to cheat me out of my income and for unlawfully charging exorbitant termination fees. See you in court.

Of course, if you’d like to settle privately, show some sincerity, and I’ll reconsider.”

With that, Shen Yunxuan left. Manager Feng hurried after her, about to say something, but Shen Yunxuan warned, “I’m livestreaming. If you say anything reckless, it’ll harm your company’s image. Be careful.”

For a moment, Manager Feng was lost for words, helplessly watching as Shen Yunxuan walked away.

[Seriously? Shen Yunxuan is going to sue her company? If she’s so confident, why pay the termination fees?]
Shen Yunxuan replied, “To continue livestreaming and fortune-telling. If I didn’t pay, they’d hold me hostage, blacklist me, and stop me from rebuilding Idle Cloud Temple.”

In truth, she wanted Xinxing Entertainment to suffer. By taking her money, they would also share her misfortune—a fact she wasn’t about to disclose.

[You’re so ungrateful, stabbing your company in the back after leaving. Didn’t they make you a star in the first place?]

“What does ‘support’ even mean? Compare me to others who are ‘promoted’ in the industry. Wasn’t I only known because of my face and a bunch of random scandals? Scandals that had no evidence, by the way. I’ve also entrusted Lawyer Liang to investigate those. So, what does this have to do with the company?”

[Well… they didn’t really seem to promote her.]
[Exactly! Our Yunxuan’s resources were terrible, and she was constantly bashed. The company never cleared her name, just left her to fend for herself. What kind of promotion is that?]
[Am I the only one who noticed the termination fee was 10 million? That’s way too high!]

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “I didn’t pay earlier because the contract terms were unfair. But since the company decided to air it online and caused such a stir, I resolved it. The rest is up to the professionals.”

Glancing at her phone, she added, “I’m ending the stream now. My lawyer has sent out the legal notice. I’ll go repost it. Everyone, please share it. Being a working professional isn’t easy. I hope this helps more people understand contract terms and avoid being scammed like me.”

Lawyer Liang issued an official letter of complaint and filed a lawsuit, listing the unfair terms in Shen Yunxuan’s contract with Xinxing Entertainment, highlighting the illegal clauses and the potential penalties the company could face. It served as an educational moment for the public about exploitative contracts.

Shen Yunxuan reposted it: “There are many things I can’t discuss without evidence, but I believe the law will give me a fair and just outcome.”

Xinxing Entertainment, naturally, was unwilling to take this lying down. Such disputes were common in the industry, and they rarely lost. Their legal team was confident; most of the contract’s exploitative clauses exploited legal loopholes, making it difficult to hold them accountable. Responding cautiously, the company simply stated: “We are at peace with our actions and will handle everything according to the law.”

However, the phrase “at peace with our actions” implied that Shen Yunxuan was lying, further tarnishing her reputation after taking her money. Yet, misfortune soon followed for Xinxing Entertainment.

Aware of her own unlucky fate, Shen Yunxuan quickly donated the remaining two million yuan from Qi Yue’s inheritance to charity, earning herself a sliver of good karma.

A day later, two artists under ten-year contracts with Xinxing Entertainment publicly accused the company of oppressive practices. They revealed being forced into staged relationships, rivalry plots, and other shady publicity tactics. Any defiance led to punishment, including being shelved for years. They had been inactive for three years of their eight-year careers, and seeing Shen Yunxuan stand up gave them the courage to speak out.

Shortly after, a less prominent artist under Manager Feng posted a video. In it, Shen Yunxuan is seen arguing against being forced into a publicity relationship while Feng pointed at her, threatening to shelve her if she resisted and forbade her from earning money elsewhere. In the background, Zhou Yunxuan tried to mediate, asking Shen Yunxuan to comply and stop causing trouble.

The artist explained that the clip was recorded accidentally and that Feng treated him similarly. He revealed that he was suffering from depression due to the company’s treatment and had been shelved for refusing to cooperate. He posted the video out of frustration, hoping to expose Feng’s true face.

This time, the scandal couldn’t be suppressed. The internet exploded with outrage against Xinxing Entertainment, branding it the epitome of predatory capitalism. The shelved artists still had fan bases, and their fans bombarded the company’s official accounts. Other fans of Xinxing’s artists also panicked, fearing their idols might be victims too, joining the collective backlash.

At the same time, Zhou Yunxuan’s involvement raised eyebrows. Initially perceived as the victim of Shen Yunxuan’s bullying, the video painted a different picture. Zhou Yunxuan appeared to have a close relationship with Feng and seemed to accept the company’s tactics, even urging Shen Yunxuan to comply.

This shift revealed Shen Yunxuan as the oppressed party, who had been forced to pay over ten million yuan in termination fees. Her decision to sue the company suddenly made sense.

Online sentiment swung dramatically in Shen Yunxuan’s favor, while Xinxing Entertainment, Manager Feng, and Zhou Yunxuan became villains in the public eye.

Hearing the news, Xie Hengchen’s assistant hurriedly reported to him. Irritated, Xie remarked, “This woman is nothing but trouble. I thought she was gentle, but it turns out she’s been faking it all along.”

After some thought, he added, “The Xie family cannot have a wife with a tarnished reputation. Frame it this way: Zhou Yunxuan was also a victim of oppression. Unable to fight back, she focused on earning money to pay her termination fees. She never intended to hurt or suppress Shen Yunxuan. Handle it well—I don’t want to see any more negative news about her.

Also, announce that she is my savior and our wedding date. Leverage this momentum—I want everyone to know she’s part of the Xie family.”

The more people believed Zhou Yunxuan was part of the Xie family, the more the Xie family could benefit from her fortune. This was Zhou Yunxuan’s sole value to him. As long as she played her role as his wife, Xie Hengchen wouldn’t mind her past.

With the Xie family pulling strings and spending significant resources, public opinion about Zhou Yunxuan swiftly shifted. As she wasn’t central to the scandal, the narrative that she was a victim fit seamlessly into the public’s broader criticism of Xinxing Entertainment. The Xie family successfully removed her from the controversy, redirecting focus to her upcoming marriage into the Xie family.

“Those twin partners are really lucky. One has found a new agency and is doing well with fortune-telling livestreams. The other is marrying into a wealthy family—both have good outcomes.”

“They’re better off than most of Xinxing’s oppressed artists. Different lives, same company.”

“I’ve never heard of Zhou Yunxuan being linked to a scandal. How did she suddenly snag a wealthy husband? Who’s got the scoop?”

“Word is she saved Xie Hengchen’s life. It was love at first sight.”

“Wow, so romantic. And Xie Hengchen is so handsome, and Zhou Yunxuan is so sweet and innocent. They’re a perfect match.”

“This is straight out of a romance novel. I believe in love again. Wishing them happiness!”

Seeing discussions about her savior status, Zhou Yunxuan felt a pang of anxiety. Only she and Shen Yunxuan knew that it was Shen Yunxuan who had saved Xie Hengchen. She worried Shen Yunxuan might confront her publicly. However, since Zhou Yunxuan was the one who called the filming crew and ambulance, everyone but Shen Yunxuan believed she was the true savior. It should be fine… right?

She saw the flood of blessings for their engagement, and the previously harsh voices criticizing her had disappeared. Her heart swelled with sweetness. Xie Hengchen truly loved his wife; he worked so hard to protect her, maintain her reputation, and announce their engagement so publicly. This showed how much the Xie family valued her, letting everyone know that she was marrying for love and not simply for wealth. She felt so lucky.

No wonder Shen Yunxuan had been so happy in her previous life—Xie Hengchen was truly a good man. Even the Xie family treated her well. In her past life, as someone cursed by ill fate, she had never experienced the warmth of a family. But now, with so many loved ones surrounding her, she was sure she would be happy for the rest of her life.

Shen Yunxuan, on the other hand, had no interest in confronting her. When she heard about their engagement, she simply went out with Idle Wanderer for hot pot, celebrating with gusto.

She wanted to avoid Zhou Yunxuan’s endless worries and entanglements, so she decided to start a livestream directly.

As expected, as soon as she went live, viewers flooded her with questions, including ones about Zhou Yunxuan’s engagement.

Zhou Yunxuan, who had long since registered a secret account, immediately entered the stream as soon as it started, worried about what Shen Yunxuan might say. If Shen Yunxuan claimed to be Xie Hengchen’s real savior, even if the Xie family and their staff believed her, there would be wild speculation online. The more people talked about it, the more likely it was that the Xie family would begin to question the truth, especially since “Yunxuan” and “Yunxian” sounded so similar.

To her surprise, Shen Yunxuan, while enjoying hot pot, casually said, “What do I think? Congratulations, of course. I hope they grow old together. Beyond that, it’s not my place to comment since it’s their private matter. Alright, today there’s no fortune-telling—this is just a food livestream. Give me some restaurant recommendations, and I’ll try them all out one by one.”

“Can someone practicing Taoism indulge in such worldly pleasures?” someone asked in the chat.

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “I practice Taoism my own way—live as you please. Anything that makes you unhappy is wrong, and whatever brings you joy is right!”

Her viewers joined in the banter, eagerly discussing food and restaurants.

Zhou Yunxuan was stunned but ultimately relieved. If Shen Yunxuan didn’t say anything now, she probably never would. Based on her expressions, it seemed like Shen Yunxuan didn’t even care about this issue at all.

Still, Zhou Yunxuan felt a strange mix of emotions. Something she had worked so hard to obtain seemed to mean nothing to Shen Yunxuan.

Of course, she thought to herself, Shen Yunxuan didn’t understand what it meant to marry into the Xie family. With her current wealth and independence, she probably didn’t grasp the life of luxury awaiting her. But one day, Shen Yunxuan would realize what she had given up, and she would deeply regret it. By then, Zhou Yunxuan would have solidified her position as Mrs. Xie, possibly even with children. It would be far too late for Shen Yunxuan to make any moves.

As long as Shen Yunxuan stayed out of her way and didn’t cause trouble, Zhou Yunxuan decided she would let her go. If, in the future, Shen Yunxuan was tormented by misfortune and came to her in regret, Zhou Yunxuan might even show pity and throw her some scraps.

This thought comforted Zhou Yunxuan immensely. She had traded her fate for this life and was determined to live better than Shen Yunxuan ever could.

If Shen Yunxuan knew what Zhou Yunxuan was thinking, she’d probably laugh herself silly. The Xie family’s snake pit of troubles was something Shen Yunxuan would avoid like the plague. Whoever wanted to deal with it could have it; she had no interest in getting involved. She was far more eager than Zhou Yunxuan to part ways and live her own life.

That day, since Shen Yunxuan’s livestream didn’t feature fortune-telling, viewers speculated that she might not have prepared a new “script.” After all, her previous livestreams had caused quite a stir, and pre-planning was likely crucial for her content.

However, just a few days later, local police departments in multiple regions issued official announcements confirming that everything depicted in Shen Yunxuan’s livestreams was real.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆