Ch 126: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan had previously noted Auntie Li’s resilience, believing that she could succeed on her own with just a little push. Sure enough, less than a month later, Auntie Li called with fantastic news!

Auntie Li exclaimed excitedly, “After I came back from meeting you, he scolded me for running around, but I followed your advice and treated his words like wind in my ears. I watched variety shows every day, laughing out loud. Whatever he said, I just replied, ‘Yes, sure,’ which drove him mad. He couldn’t sleep well at night, haha.

I stopped paying the household bills, so the overdue notices went to him. When he asked me about it, I’d say, ‘Oh, I forgot,’ or, ‘I don’t have money.’ After a few days, he paid the bills himself for the first time! I didn’t do housework either. If he asked me to clean, I’d just pretend to tidy up. When he complained about dirt here or there, I’d say, ‘It looks clean to me. I’m old and can’t see well.’ He told me to do laundry, so I mixed colors and ruined the clothes. He was furious, but I laughed it off, saying, ‘I forgot how to do it.’

Cooking? That was the best part! Every meal was either too salty, not salty enough, undercooked, or burnt. I threw in random seasonings, and the food was inedible. He yelled at me every day, and I just said, ‘I don’t seem to know how to cook anymore.’ He even paid for a full-body checkup for me! I’m healthy, but he’s the one with all the problems—he couldn’t stand it, haha! After that, he started ordering takeout.

I followed your advice and joined a dance group, making a bunch of friends. I invited them over often, and he, being so concerned about his image, didn’t dare kick them out. But he couldn’t stand the noise, so he started going for walks to escape, coming back angry every night. By then, I’d locked the bedroom door, put on earplugs, and gone to sleep. During the day, I went shopping, bought jewelry, clothes, and had my hair done. He thought I was having an affair! He even called in relatives to investigate, but they found out I was just hanging out with friends. In the end, they stopped siding with him, saying he was making trouble out of nothing.

He already had health issues, and with all the stress and sleepless nights, a common cold hit him hard. He ended up hospitalized. Then I made sure he overheard me talking to the doctor, asking if I’d have the final say if his condition worsened, like whether to admit him to the ICU or even to remove life support. Haha! You should’ve seen his face. He discharged himself that very day and demanded a divorce!

When he found out about the mandatory cooling-off period for divorces, he cursed the policy, calling it a disaster. He eventually found a loophole, saying I had mentioned divorce before, so the cooling-off period had already passed. That’s how we finally got divorced.

I’ve never felt so free in my life! I’m over fifty years old, and I’ve never been this happy. Master Shen, I can’t thank you enough. I’m so grateful…”

Auntie Li couldn’t stop talking, laughing heartily at all the “pranks” she had played. But when she spoke about finally escaping that man and successfully divorcing him, her voice choked with emotion.

Shen Yunxuan knew she was crying tears of joy—finally free from her shackles and emancipated.

For those who’ve never experienced such despair, they’ll never truly understand the suffocation and hopelessness of it. Auntie Li had been reborn; her future was now full of possibilities.

Shen Yunxuan smiled warmly, “Congratulations. Your life is just beginning. From now on, you can do whatever your heart desires.”

“Yes! That’s right! I’m coming to Idle Cloud Temple to burn incense. It was there that I made the decision to fight back, and now it’s time to fulfill my vow. I thought that as long as I could escape that pit of misery, I’d be fine leaving with nothing. But you were right, Master Shen—why should he get off so easily?

When he brought up divorce, I insisted on splitting the assets equally. If the house went to him, he had to compensate me. He cursed me endlessly, even tried to hide his money. Thankfully, you had already figured out his finances. I listed everything for him, and he called me conniving, but he had no choice. If he wanted a divorce, he had to divide the assets. In the end, I got a good amount of money. I want to donate it to Idle Cloud Temple.”

Shen Yunxuan advised, “It’s enough that you have the intention. Your dream was to travel and see the world. Use the money to buy a good, safe car. You’ll feel more secure with money in your pocket while traveling. As for Idle Cloud Temple, I’ve received a large settlement from those who wronged me—I’m not short on funds.”

She knew Auntie Li probably felt compelled to donate after seeing the destruction of Idle Cloud Temple, but for someone like Auntie Li, who had lived frugally all her life, Shen Yunxuan hoped she would use the money to enjoy her newfound freedom.

She then asked, “How did your children react to all this?”

Auntie Li laughed. “Not much to say! The old man even brought the kids and a few relatives over to lecture me, constantly criticizing this or that. I just cheerfully told them I was taking it easy. I wasn’t cheating, nor was I fighting with him—can’t a senior enjoy a little relaxation? As for chores, bills, and cooking, isn’t the old man capable? Why should I be the only one doing it all? Am I his servant or a prisoner in my own home?

Relatives couldn’t argue with me after hearing that. Some tried to persuade me to think of decades of marriage and take better care of him, but I replied, “You relatives have known him even longer than I have. How about taking him to your home for a few days? We can take turns, one family at a time. Wouldn’t that work?” They quickly found excuses to leave.

At first, my child wanted her parents to stay together, but after watching everything, she realized what was really going on—that her father just wanted to bully me and treat me like a maid without paying me. So, she fully supported me. She said, “Mom, you’re just relaxing and enjoying yourself; you’re not doing anything wrong. People always said Dad was a great man even though he never helped you. Why shouldn’t you take it easy now?” She agreed with the divorce and said it was for the best.”

“That’s great to hear. Rest assured, leaving someone who drains your energy and life force will bring you endless possibilities and happiness!” Shen Yunxuan wasn’t exaggerating. She had just checked Auntie Li’s fate and found that her future would be even better than her original trajectory. Auntie Li’s remaining years were destined to be vibrant and fulfilling.

Auntie Li cheerfully replied, “Thanks for your blessing, Master Shen. Wait for me—I’ll visit you in Beijing soon.”

“Alright, travel safely.”

After hanging up, Fang Qianqian and the others noticed Shen Yunxuan’s cheerful mood. “Master Shen, you seem really happy,” they remarked.

Shen Yunxuan nodded and said thoughtfully, “Yes, I am. When I went through my darkest moments, someone reached out a hand to help me. I want to be that person for others in their dark times. If this kindness can be passed on, it might save countless people in despair.”

Xu Wei said, “Master Shen, you’re so kind-hearted. If I were in your shoes, with the kind of malicious online hate you endured, I might have turned bitter. But you only focus on helping people—you’re truly extraordinary. Master Shen, why don’t we organize some charitable activities? A lot of people want to help others, but there are too many scams nowadays. Even donations of old clothes can end up being sold for profit. If we organize trustworthy activities, it could give people a safe way to do good deeds. What do you think?”

Shen Yunxuan considered it. “That’s a wonderful idea! But would it be too troublesome and prone to suspicion? It’s crucial for the temple to build trust as we grow.”

“It won’t be,” Fang Qianqian said, throwing an arm around Xu Wei’s shoulder. “This is Xiao Wei’s area of expertise. She can handle all the logistics, licensing, and fund transparency without a hitch. Leave it to her.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Alright. Let me know if you need anything. If it ever becomes overwhelming, we can stop.”

Xu Wei nodded eagerly. She had been looking for ways to repay Shen Yunxuan’s kindness and was determined to excel at this task.

The next day, Shen Yunxuan performed a ritual at Idle Cloud Temple to bless the construction work. Just as she finished, Xianglan brought Auntie Li inside. Xianglan, now wearing her soul-nourishing jade pendant, could manifest her physical form, walking freely in sunlight. To others, she appeared completely human, except for her cold touch and lack of a shadow.

Auntie Li entered with her phone live-streaming, softly asking Shen Yunxuan, “Can I continue streaming?”

Shen Yunxuan replied with a warm smile, “Of course. I was planning to stream a bit later, too.” She stepped in front of the camera and greeted the audience. “Hello, everyone. I’m Shen Yunxuan. Welcome to Auntie Li’s live stream.”

Auntie Li laughed. “I don’t know if anyone remembers me. A while ago, I had a fortune told by Master Shen.”

[Oh, I remember! Isn’t this the Auntie who seemed so hopeless? She looks so much younger now!]

[Auntie Li, is that really you? I compared old clips, and wow, you look so much younger! What’s your secret? What kind of treatment did you do?]

Auntie Li chuckled. “No treatments, really. I just bought a basic skincare set—it’s not even expensive. But mainly, it’s my mindset. Thanks to Master Shen’s advice, I figured things out. What’s so scary about divorce? As long as I love myself, that’s all that matters. Recently, I’ve been focusing on what makes me happy—eating, drinking, having fun. At my age, after working hard my whole life, I deserve to relax.

Once my mood improved, I looked better. Also, marriage should be equal. I’m no longer someone’s maid, so I’m not worn out anymore, and my health has naturally improved. As for the old man, he couldn’t handle my changes, so he filed for divorce. Now I’m free.”

[Wait, divorced? Congratulations! Auntie Li, you’re finally free!]

[Haha, he couldn’t handle your changes? In other words, he wanted a free maid. When you refused, he tried to replace you. Serves him right!]

[Marriage isn’t slavery. If he doesn’t contribute financially or otherwise, why should Auntie Li stick around? Good on you for standing up for yourself!]

[Auntie, you didn’t get the short end of the stick, did you? Knowing his type, he probably wanted to leave you with nothing.]

Auntie Li waved her hand dismissively. “Not at all. We split the assets equally—otherwise, I wouldn’t agree to the divorce. As long as I focus on making myself happy, life will be just fine.”

[Impressive! Marriage is just a piece of paper. If you stop taking it seriously, it’s worth nothing. So many men live carefree lives within marriage; women can do the same. Just don’t let it weigh on your mind. Do whatever you want. If someone can’t handle it, they can divorce. And if you divorce, make sure to split the assets properly. Haha, amazing!]

[Curious what kind of changes made the old man so fed up that he initiated the divorce.]

[My guess is she stopped doing housework and cooking.]

[Or maybe she threatened to pull his oxygen tube? Hahaha.]

The viewers were joking, but they weren’t far from the truth. Auntie Li smiled but didn’t confirm or elaborate. Many of the things she did were subtle and hard to criticize, but saying them aloud might seem inappropriate. Plus, these strategies were taught by Shen Yunxuan, and Auntie Li didn’t want to share them carelessly. She simply gave vague answers, knowing that anyone in a similar situation would understand the underlying message.

Even if Auntie Li didn’t reveal much, viewers who had followed her previous streams could sense that Shen Yunxuan had helped her. Otherwise, Auntie Li wouldn’t have come straight to Idle Cloud Temple after her divorce or be so close to Shen Yunxuan. While Auntie Li’s marriage had been painful and her divorce challenging, everyone sympathized with her and felt relieved for her freedom. Their admiration for Shen Yunxuan only grew—was there anything Master Shen couldn’t solve? Trusting her was the right choice!

As a first-time streamer, Auntie Li wasn’t sure what to say. She just shared whatever came to mind. Shen Yunxuan, noticing this, took her to a beautiful spot to sit down and asked, “Auntie Li, what inspired you to start streaming?”

Auntie Li chuckled. “I used to scroll through videos occasionally to de-stress. Then I stumbled upon your stream and found so much help and encouragement from you and the viewers. That support lifted me out of my dark place.

The internet is such a powerful tool. It can spread kindness far and wide. I thought there must be others like me who are struggling. I wanted to share my daily life and show other women that divorce isn’t the end of the world. Leaving a toxic home isn’t the end of the world. Being older doesn’t mean it’s too late.

If even one person feels inspired by my story to take charge of their life, then sharing this is worth it.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded in agreement. “That’s a wonderful thought, Auntie Li. A lot of life’s pain loses its power once you wake up to it and decide to take action. Of course, some struggles are harder to face, but there are always ways to overcome them. Anyone feeling trapped can come to Idle Cloud Temple for help. Also, Xu Wei from our temple will soon organize activities to assist those in need. Anyone interested is welcome to participate.”

Auntie Li immediately offered, “Please let me know about these activities. I’d love to contribute. By the way, after the divorce, I received my rightful half of the assets. I plan to split it into three parts: one for my child, one to buy an RV so I can travel, and one to donate to the temple as a token of gratitude. Please accept it, Master Shen.”

This time, Shen Yunxuan didn’t refuse and smiled warmly. “Thank you for your generosity, Auntie Li.”

“It’s me who should thank you, Master Shen. Your merit and virtue are boundless.” Auntie Li and Shen Yunxuan shared a knowing smile. Despite their different ages, both had experienced transformative challenges and emerged renewed, a sentiment that touched many viewers in the live stream.

[Feeling so warm and uplifted.]

[Women supporting women always gets me emotional. This is so beautiful.]

[I’ve been with my boyfriend for three years and often cry because of him. He’s my first love, and it was wonderful at the start, so I’ve been reluctant to break up. But after hearing Auntie Li’s story, I’ve decided to leave. He drains my energy. I deserve better.]

[I’ve decided to get a divorce, too. We had a great love story, but his parents and brothers are unbearable. He constantly gives in to them, leaving me to suffer. I was raised with love and care, and I refuse to keep sacrificing my happiness. We just aren’t meant to be. He can stay with his family.]

Seeing the comments, Auntie Li shared tips on breaking up and the divorce process. She advised viewers to prioritize safety and ensure fair asset distribution, suggesting family support during the process to avoid being shortchanged. Shen Yunxuan also reminded everyone to stay cautious and seek her help if they encountered unusual situations.

The live stream unexpectedly turned into a session on how to leave toxic relationships. Viewers also shared their experiences and advice, offering plenty of practical tips. Auntie Li gained a significant number of followers, establishing a solid base for her new venture.

After the stream ended, Auntie Li hesitantly asked, “Did I do okay? I was so nervous for my first stream.”

Shen Yunxuan gave her a thumbs-up and praised her, “You were amazing, Auntie Li! Your stream was even better than my first one. You came across as confident, relatable, and sincere. I think everyone could feel your genuine desire to share your story and inspire others. Keep it up! Sharing your joy with others is a joyful experience in itself. Plus, interacting with viewers can bring unexpected benefits, like advice and support when you need it.”

Auntie Li nodded with renewed confidence and said, “I’ll keep doing my best. The internet gave me a second chance, and I want to give something back to the world through it.”

Auntie Li’s matter was resolved perfectly, and she was about to embark on her journey. Coincidentally, Fang Qianqian’s family had an unused RV in excellent condition, barely driven and practically new. After Auntie Li saw it and expressed her liking for it, Fang Qianqian sold it to her at a very low price.

Auntie Li accepted this kind gesture and later donated even more to the Idle Cloud Temple. When she found out that Fang Qianqian and Xu Wei had both become disciples of the temple, she immediately expressed her desire to join as well.

Although spiritual energy was scarce nowadays, making it hard to even reach the Qi Refining stage, practicing cultivation could at least improve physical health. Shen Yunxuan taught Auntie Li the basics of cultivation, and after a few days of diligent practice, Auntie Li began her journey, recording daily vlogs to share on her social media account.

Other members of the cultivation world, who were following Shen Yunxuan, were amazed to see that the aunt she helped had quickly gained popularity online, with the potential to become a social media influencer. They were shocked by the power of the internet.

Previously, Shen Yunxuan had explained that her safe tribulation crossing was partly due to the immense collective prayers of countless people online, all united with one wish. She had suggested that others try developing an online presence. Many assumed it was her background as a former celebrity that helped her think of this approach, but since it worked, everyone decided to give it a shot.

Some shared tips on home Feng Shui, others on improving luck, drawing protective talismans, or live-streaming fortune-telling. Most of these efforts didn’t garner much attention, but a small group managed to build a following and turn their accounts into something significant.

It became clear that this required talent; some people were naturally suited for it and quickly found a new path, one that allowed them to do good, accumulate virtue, and earn money—a new kind of opportunity. Those without the knack for it simply moved on.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan’s follower count skyrocketed after several major events. Her Shayu Platform followers surpassed 30 million, and her Weibo followers broke through 50 million! For context, when she was reborn, she had only 8 million followers on Weibo. Reaching this number in just a few months felt like she had been launched on a rocket.

Fans began asking for a follower milestone celebration. Typically, celebrities post special videos or perks for reaching milestones like 10 million or 20 million followers. Shen Yunxuan’s rapid growth and busy schedule had left no time for such gestures, but now that things had settled down, fans eagerly hoped she would do something special.

This buzz drew broader attention to Shen Yunxuan’s follower count.

“Wow, she has more followers than a lot of idols.”

“Fifty million followers already surpasses most A-list celebrities. And the craziest part is her live stream numbers—she tops the charts!”

“That’s insane. She probably has the most real, active followers of anyone.”

“By the way, she used to be a celebrity, right? Will she return to the entertainment industry? With so many fans and this much clout, it’d be a shame not to cash in. Master Shen, think about it! Even if you don’t act, you could do variety shows. The entertainment industry makes money fast—you could use it to rebuild the temple!”

“What variety show would invite her? They can’t have her fortune-telling on set; that’d drive the producers crazy.”

“I have an idea. Can some major relationship or psychology-focused shows invite her? Master Shen could replace those so-called experts and get everything right!”

“Yes! Put her on dating shows! She’d instantly expose all the fake stuff, and maybe we’d finally have honest content. I mean, how many scandals ruin couples for us? Let Master Shen fix this mess and give us real couples to root for!”

To everyone’s surprise, one production team noticed this online chatter and extended an invitation to Shen Yunxuan.

Their dating show had run for six seasons, but it was struggling with a lack of innovation. Scandals involving cast members had tarnished its reputation in the last two seasons, and the network was considering canceling it altogether if this season didn’t perform well.

Despite carefully selecting cast members for the upcoming season, early buzz was lukewarm. Inspired by the online comments, the team decided to take a bold approach: turn it into a live-streamed show and invite Shen Yunxuan as an observer. If any cast member turned out to have a poor character, they’d replace them immediately!

They figured combining live streaming with Shen Yunxuan’s presence would create enough buzz to save the show.

The production team went all in, offering Shen Yunxuan a generous appearance fee and giving her free rein to say whatever she wanted. They also proposed creating a dedicated segment called “Idle Cloud Insights,” a five-minute feature at the end of each episode where she could share tips on reading people, managing relationships, or any wisdom she wished to impart.

This collaboration seemed like a win-win. The show would benefit from her fame and appeal, while she would gain a platform to introduce herself and the Idle Cloud Temple to a broader audience. After all, not everyone followed live streams or trended topics; this was a chance to reach new viewers.

The production team spared no effort in persuading her, speaking at length to emphasize the opportunities. Shen Yunxuan, who hadn’t planned to return to the entertainment industry as she was focused on cultivating virtue, was intrigued by the arrangements. After some consideration, she signed the contract.

She needed the power of faith, and the entertainment industry was the easiest place to gather it. Participating in a reality show wouldn’t take much of her time—she just had to speak truthfully. It also gave her the opportunity to share knowledge, gain followers, strengthen the faith directed at her, and earn money. Moreover, helping genuinely sincere participants avoid poor-character matches might also be considered an act of merit. Why not?

The production team couldn’t believe it until Shen Yunxuan signed her name. After all, she was a true master capable of exorcising spirits! Overjoyed, they immediately announced the news and revised contracts for all prospective participants. The new contracts explicitly stated that the presence of a master might expose hidden secrets. Participants could opt out if they wished, but if they agreed to join, they had to sign a liability waiver.

Even the show’s existing observers had to sign updated contracts. One observer and one participant ultimately dropped out. Since the finalized cast hadn’t been publicly announced, the team quietly replaced them, relieved to have weeded out potentially problematic individuals.

News of Shen Yunxuan joining the dating show quickly went viral among her fans. Finally, there was another place to watch her! The production team had apparently heard their requests, making fans eager to support the show.

The production team received a flood of free publicity, boosting morale as they accelerated preparations for filming.

The online buzz didn’t go unnoticed by Zhou Yunxuan, who stumbled across the news during her browsing. She couldn’t understand how Shen Yunxuan had garnered such immense popularity. Could it be that the fate-swapping ritual hadn’t fully worked? Was Shen Yunxuan’s innate good fortune still dominant? Even the people around her—her senior brothers and friends—seemed unaffected. Had her “Calamity lone star” curse also failed?

Jealousy surged uncontrollably within Zhou Yunxuan. She had thought Shen Yunxuan would suffer as much as she had in her previous life, but instead, Shen Yunxuan seemed even more successful than before. Could this really be a matter of destiny?

Zhou Yunxuan quickly dismissed the thought. After all, she was the one living a blessed life now—she had just discovered she was pregnant, and Xie Hengchen had transformed into the perfect husband. The entire Xie family treated her like a treasured jewel. She had achieved a level of happiness she could only dream of before.

Shen Yunxuan’s current success had nothing to do with her, yet seeing Shen Yunxuan thriving filled her with unbearable frustration. How could fate be so unfair? How could the same exchanged fate allow Shen Yunxuan to flourish? Why?

Unable to keep her feelings bottled up, she prepared a pot of soup and instructed her driver to take her to Xie Hengchen’s office, intending to surprise him.

When she arrived, she saw Xie Hengchen exiting the elevator with his most capable assistant, Lin Fei, heading toward his car. She smiled and was about to greet him when Lin Fei stumbled, twisting her ankle. Xie Hengchen immediately wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her and, after checking her ankle, carried her into the car.

Zhou Yunxuan froze, her smile stiffening on her face. She stared in disbelief as Xie Hengchen drove off with Lin Fei. Climbing back into her own car, she barked at her driver, “Follow them!”

The driver hesitated. “Madam, this…”

She glared at him with venomous eyes. “If you don’t follow them, I’ll call a taxi myself and file a report accusing you of harassment. Let’s see how long you last in jail. It’s your choice.”

Though furious, the driver dared not defy someone so powerful. He wasn’t aware of the Xie family’s inner workings and assumed this was just another case of catching a cheating spouse. He had no choice but to comply, but he resolved to quit as soon as this errand was over. He couldn’t afford to risk his own life dealing with such a volatile employer.

They trailed Xie Hengchen’s car all the way to an apartment near his office. Zhou Yunxuan saw him get out with Lin Fei, where they were greeted by a nanny pushing a baby stroller. Xie Hengchen picked up the baby and said with a smile, “Son, did you miss Daddy?”

Zhou Yunxuan felt as if lightning had struck her.

Xie Hengchen had an affair? And he already had an illegitimate child? Was Shen Yunxuan’s happiness in their previous life nothing but an illusion?!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆