Ch 127: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

In her previous life, when Shen Yunxuan discovered Xie Hengchen’s affair, she immediately erupted, demanding a divorce and leaving. Zhou Yunxuan, however, was not Shen Yunxuan. She swallowed her anger, recorded a video of the situation, and then leaked the explosive news about Xie Hengchen’s affair and illegitimate child to media contacts. Xie Hengchen’s carefully cultivated public image as a loving husband and good man collapsed instantly, and even his company’s reputation suffered greatly.

“Everyone knew Xie wasn’t a good guy. Isn’t he part of the Xie family that blacklisted Shen Yunxuan and got her account suspended?”

“It was probably Zhou Yunxuan behind it. She’s no saint either—two peas in a pod, serves them right!”

“You can’t say that. In this case, Zhou Yunxuan is definitely the victim. She married into a wealthy family thinking it would bring her happiness, only to find out her husband already had an illegitimate child.”

“Exactly. They’ve only been married a few months, so the child must have been conceived before the wedding. And yet, Xie Hengchen had the audacity to pretend Zhou was his savior? Disgusting!”

“Boycott his company! If this is the kind of person running it, it can’t be any good.”

“Agreed—boycotting!”

Xie Hengchen’s father summoned him home and threw a stack of printed-out online comments in his face. “Look at what you’ve done! I told you to clean things up, but do you even understand human language? Are you trying to ruin the Xie family? If you’d told us you didn’t want to marry Zhou Yunxuan earlier, we could’ve arranged someone else. Don’t you know you can’t have your cake and eat it too?”

Frowning, Xie Hengchen quickly explained, “I’ve already made things clear with Lin Fei. This time, I only went because Xiao Le was sick, and I was worried about him.”

“What’s there to see about some illegitimate child? Is he more important than the entire Xie family? Now Zhou Yunxuan knows everything and hasn’t come out of her room since. How do you plan to fix this? If she’s no longer willing to be part of the Xie family, she’ll be a threat to us. Do you want to watch the Xie family go downhill?” Father Xie was furious. In his eyes, personal desires were expendable when it came to the family’s survival. Besides, Zhou Yunxuan wasn’t unattractive or troublesome—why couldn’t Xie Hengchen just settle down?

Taking a deep breath, Xie Hengchen made up his mind. “I’ll send Lin Fei and her son abroad and make sure they never come back. Zhou Yunxuan is pregnant now. I’ll make her forgive me.”

“You’d better handle this cleanly. If not, I’ll have your brother divorce his wife and marry Zhou Yunxuan to ensure she stays in the family. Don’t think I won’t do it.” His father’s tone was icy, his disappointment palpable. It was a clear warning: if Xie Hengchen didn’t handle the situation, he’d be replaced as the heir.

This rattled Xie Hengchen. Although he managed the company, his father still controlled the shares. The message was obvious: whoever could appease Zhou Yunxuan would secure the heir position. He disliked the situation, but the family’s fortunes had slightly improved recently, indicating that keeping Zhou Yunxuan happy was working. For his future, he had to cut ties with Lin Fei—there was no other choice.

What the Xie family didn’t know was that their improved fortunes were due to Shen Yunxuan breaking the array set by Xuantian Sect. With no external force draining their luck, the Xie family’s siphoning of Zhou Yunxuan’s luck naturally became more effective. This happy coincidence led them to place immense value on her.

This was precisely why Zhou Yunxuan dared to expose everything. Confident in her position as Mrs. Xie and pregnant with the heir, she knew the family would side with her against any outside threats.

Still, she wasn’t complacent. For hours, she stayed in her room, trying to set up formations or curses against the illegitimate child. She was determined to eliminate any threats to her and her child’s inheritance.

Yet no matter how many times she used Xie Hengchen’s hair, nothing worked. Frustrated, she tried divination, but she couldn’t see anything. None of her old spiritual abilities were effective anymore. She couldn’t even harm others if she wanted to.

In that moment, she deeply regretted losing her previous talents. In the past, with her Yin-Yang Eyes, she wouldn’t have needed to learn any techniques—she could have simply sent ghosts to deal with Lin Fei and her child. She could have scared Xie Hengchen into submission every time he strayed. Now, she was powerless, experiencing the helplessness of an ordinary person.

Wasn’t this the life she had always dreamed of? Then why did she feel so powerless?

Her once-perfect happiness shattered, revealing the harsh truth beneath. A Cinderella story wouldn’t lead to a happy ending. Disparities in family background would always prevent true respect.

Xie Hengchen knocked on the door, promising never to stray again and assuring her that he would send Lin Fei and the child away forever. Drawing on her acting skills, Zhou Yunxuan opened the door with tearful eyes, claiming she couldn’t accept it yet and wasn’t sure if she wanted to keep their child.

This alarmed Mother Xie, who immediately tried to console her with emotional appeals. To placate her further, the family gave her a 2% share of the company’s stock. The dividend alone was enough to ensure her a comfortable life. Zhou Yunxuan was pleasantly surprised, feeling as though she had opened a new door of opportunity. After some feigned reluctance, she forgave Xie Hengchen and allowed herself to be pampered by the entire family as she focused on her pregnancy.

She couldn’t understand why the Xie family was treating her so well—it felt strange—but since she was the one benefiting, she didn’t bother overthinking it. At the same time, she knew she needed to secure additional options for herself, and re-entering the entertainment industry was one of those. Given the recent scandal and the public’s sympathy for her, it was the perfect opportunity to make a comeback.

When Zhou Yunxuan expressed her desire to return to the entertainment industry, the Xie family was initially against it. After all, as the matriarch of a wealthy family, stepping into the public eye in the entertainment world seemed undignified to them. However, she argued that staying home with nothing to do would make her overthink things and that pursuing something she enjoyed could help her relax. Reluctantly, the Xie family agreed.

The Xie family, following her wishes, invested in a live-streaming dating show to secure her a spot—on the same program as Shen Yunxuan. Like all participants, Zhou Yunxuan was required to sign a waiver, and soon after, she went to visit Shen Yunxuan.

“Yunxuan, how have you been lately?” Zhou Yunxuan asked with her usual harmless smile.

Shen Yunxuan replied with a faint smile, “Thanks to you, I’ve been doing very well. I have Yin-Yang Eyes, a natural talent for cultivation, and in just a few months, I’ve built my foundation and joined a government department. With the Red Flag’s protection, even bad luck rarely comes my way. Life is great.”

“Red Flag protection?” Zhou Yunxuan believed her and felt stifled. Why hadn’t she thought of that in her previous life? If she had known, she would’ve taken the public service exam, joined the government early, and used her cultivation and ghost servants to climb higher than even the Xie family.

She didn’t think Shen Yunxuan was smarter than her. This must have been pure luck. Shen Yunxuan was inherently fortunate; even after the exchange of fates, destiny refused to let her suffer and paved such a smooth path for her.

Suppressing her jealousy, Zhou Yunxuan asked, stunned, “Thanks to me? What do you mean by that?”

Shen Yunxuan, now cold and indifferent, replied, “There are only the two of us here. Isn’t it tiring to keep playing dumb? Honestly, I should thank you. What you discarded as worthless was exactly what I dreamed of. I’ve always been interested in cultivation, and now I’ve achieved my dream. But you didn’t lose out either. You wanted to be Mrs. Xie and stole the title of my savior. You’ve also gotten what you wanted.”

Zhou Yunxuan’s face stiffened, and she felt immense pressure. “You know everything? Then why have you never spoken up? Why haven’t you mentioned anything to those netizens?”

Shen Yunxuan smirked. “Because none of it matters to me. Xie Hengchen isn’t a good match. If you want him, take him.”

“How do you know that?” Zhou Yunxuan blurted, then quickly added, “Did you divine it? What else have you seen? Tell me!”

Shen Yunxuan calmly sipped her tea before looking at her. “Why should I help you? You’ve schemed against me multiple times, tried to blacklist me. It’s already your good fortune that I’m not holding grudges. And you expect me to help you? Zhou Yunxuan, let me make this clear. If you dare cross me again, I’ll make you end up like Xuan Yang.”

A chill ran down Zhou Yunxuan’s spine. This was the first time she had felt such overwhelming fear emanating from Shen Yunxuan. She suddenly realized they were no longer equals. Shen Yunxuan was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, among the top ten in the world, while she was just an ordinary person. Killing her would be easier for Shen Yunxuan than swatting a fly.

She shouldn’t have provoked her.

Zhou Yunxuan swallowed her anger, quickly lowered her posture, and repeatedly apologized. Tearfully, she told Shen Yunxuan about her “Calamity Lone Star” fate, the suffering she had endured, and the devastation of discovering Xie Hengchen’s affair. All she wanted now was to keep a foothold in the entertainment industry. She begged Shen Yunxuan not to expose her and hoped they could coexist peacefully on the show.

Shen Yunxuan replied flatly, “If you don’t do anything malicious, I won’t do anything to you.”

Zhou Yunxuan immediately promised, “I’ll watch my words and actions. I won’t harbor any bad intentions!”

“Good, let’s stay out of each other’s way.” Shen Yunxuan drew a clear boundary, signaling that she wouldn’t interfere further. After all, none of the Xie family members were good people. If Zhou Yunxuan caused trouble, they deserved it, and Shen Yunxuan had no interest in getting involved.

Moreover, Zhou Yunxuan was also a reincarnator, sharing the same opportunity she had. While Zhou Yunxuan had schemed against her for personal gain, it had indirectly helped her as well. Shen Yunxuan felt they were even now. If Zhou Yunxuan could carve out a good life for herself through her efforts, Shen Yunxuan wouldn’t mind at all.

With Shen Yunxuan’s assurance, Zhou Yunxuan finally felt relieved and confirmed her participation in the variety show. She intended to leverage the sympathy she’d gained from recent events and the buzz of appearing alongside Shen Yunxuan to boost her own popularity. If she played her cards right, she could solidify her position in the entertainment industry as a unique figure—a wealthy socialite turned star.

Even if the Xie family someday turned against her, a loyal fanbase would back her, ensuring the Xie family wouldn’t dare mistreat her. Wasn’t Shen Yunxuan’s current prominence built on her fans’ support? Zhou Yunxuan believed she could achieve the same.

The storm within the Xie family settled, and Xie Hengchen sent Lin Fei and her son abroad with a large sum of money to sever ties. The family returned to its harmonious appearance, and when Zhou Yunxuan started working, they even provided her with a nanny van, a driver, assistants, a nurse, and bodyguards.

When the show’s live broadcast began, viewers flocked to see Shen Yunxuan. When they discovered that the mysterious guest was Zhou Yunxuan, they were utterly stunned.

[In this lifetime, I can’t believe we get to see them in the same frame! Didn’t they have a falling out?]

[Yeah, remember when Zhou Yunxuan bullied Master Shen? Trying to blacklist her as if nobody would remember?]

[I’ve said it before, birds of a feather flock together. Xie Hengchen with his mistress and illegitimate child, and Zhou Yunxuan clinging to Master Shen for clout—what a shameless pair. They’re a perfect match. Lock them up and spare everyone else!]

[Director, are you out of your mind? Inviting someone like her to irritate Master Shen?]

[I think it’ll be a great watch. Hoping Master Shen exposes her true face and spills all her dirty deeds!]

[Don’t forget to drag Xie family down too!]

The Xie family, watching the live stream at home, grew visibly upset. They quickly arranged for someone to steer public opinion and suppress trending topics before they stopped watching. Their resentment toward Zhou Yunxuan was palpable. She had the opportunity to live a quiet, luxurious life as a wealthy matron, yet chose to flaunt herself in public, dragging the Xie family’s reputation down with her. If the day came when they no longer needed her, they’d make sure to teach her a lesson.

The live broadcast screen was split into two parts: one showing the dating show live, and the other showing the observers’ room. While the observers couldn’t see the live comments, they could see the participants’ activities in real time.

The six observers included Shen Yunxuan, Zhou Yunxuan, renowned entertainment host Hao Ling, popular idol Bai Ze, comedian Shi Peng (famous for his no-nonsense commentary), and psychology expert Liang Meilan.

Everyone introduced themselves, and Hao Ling invited Shen Yunxuan to sit on the sofa beside her—essentially the “center” seat. After a brief round of introductions, Hao Ling kicked things off. “I’ve hosted this show for six seasons, but this is the first time we’re doing a live format. Everything we observe will be happening in real-time. Isn’t that so exciting?”

Zhou Yunxuan eagerly chimed in with a smile, “This is my first time on a live reality show. I’m thrilled to be here. I shamelessly begged for this spot as an observer and couldn’t be happier.”

The others exchanged puzzled glances. Did she just openly admit to forcing her way into the show? What was her angle?

Surprisingly, some fans appreciated her honesty. They felt it was refreshing for her to admit that she’d bought her way in. After all, if pay-to-win is acceptable in games, why not here? Her straightforwardness earned her some loyal fans who found her candor endearing.

Hao Ling turned to Shen Yunxuan with a smile and asked, “Yunxuan, it’s been so long since we last worked together. Back then, you were just a newbie in the entertainment world. You’ve come so far now and even taken on a new identity. Should I call you Master Shen?”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Any name is fine. It’s been so long since we last met, but you, Ling Jie, still look radiant. It’s clear you’re living a carefree and happy life, which is something many people can’t achieve. Your state of being is truly admirable.”

Hao Ling was surprised. “You can tell that I’m happy, can’t you? I’ve always told people that, even though I’m 40 and single, I’m living a fulfilling and joyful life. But so many people don’t believe me. They insist on saying I’m single because no one wants me or that I’ll grow old and lonely without kids. It’s so frustrating.”

She smiled with relief. “Now that you’ve confirmed it, I feel at ease.” Addressing the camera, she added with a laugh, “Everyone heard that, right? Master Shen herself said I’m living a good life. So, please stop projecting your imaginary catastrophes onto me!”

Bai Ze, seated beside Shen Yunxuan, asked curiously, “Yunxuan jie, did you see that in Ling Jie’s face? Can you tell something about mine?”

(T/N: Jie = sister)

Shen Yunxuan glanced at him and teased, “That’ll cost extra.”

Shi Peng immediately chimed in, “I know this one! If you want a reading, go to Master Shen’s livestream and hope to win a goodie bag. Once she starts, you’ll be too stunned to speak—it’ll hit you right in the feels! But for now, let’s focus on our live broadcast and check out the contestants finding love.”

The group burst into laughter and turned their attention to the participants’ first awkward meeting and nervous small talk.

However, Bai Ze’s fans were less amused.

[What’s with the ‘cost extra’ comment? Just because she can read faces doesn’t mean she can act superior.]

[Can she really tell anything, or is this just a gimmick? No reputable master does live streams or goes on variety shows. They’re too esteemed for that.]

[She read Hao Ling’s face but won’t read for Bai Ze? Clearly trying to pander to women for clout. We see through your act!]

[This is infuriating. I can’t stand seeing Bai Ze treated unfairly. Let’s head to Weibo and let her have it!]

[Agreed. Time to flood her fan circle with some reality checks!]

Bai Ze’s fans were a massive force, but Shen Yunxuan’s supporters were even more numerous. The two sides quickly clashed online.

[You’re seriously triggered by a casual comment? How fragile are you?]

[Maybe your idol’s vibes were just too bad, and Master Shen didn’t want to embarrass him. She saw Hao Ling’s happiness and commented on it—it’s that simple.]

[Readings cost money, period. It’s up to Master Shen whether she offers a freebie. You can’t expect a free reading. Who do you think you are?]

[Does Master Shen love women or not? We don’t know, but Bai Ze’s fans sure seem to hate them. Always starting fights—one day it’s this person, the next it’s someone else, and today they’re even picking a fight with Master Shen. Forgot about the public apology fiasco, huh?]

[Haha, let them rage. Honestly, I’d love to see them apologize en masse again. Even Douyin and Xinxing Entertainment had to bow down last time. Let’s see if Bai Ze’s fans have the guts to go head-to-head.]

This comment made some of Bai Ze’s fans hesitate, but the majority were provoked instead. They firmly believed Shen Yunxuan was a fraud. Even if she could read faces, how could she possibly deal with so many of them at once? What was she, a god? If she were that powerful, why would she bother with variety shows?

Their indignation led them to storm Shen Yunxuan’s fan pages, spam her Weibo and Shayu Live accounts, and spread defamatory content across various platforms. Shen Yunxuan’s fans, stunned by their sheer aggression, fought back, digging up dirt on Bai Ze’s fan base and escalating the conflict.

Meanwhile, in the observation room, the tension brewing online was unknown. The contestants, now gathered in a villa, awkwardly chatted for a while until the production team assigned them a task: settle in and collaborate to prepare a lavish dinner, with everyone contributing.

The six contestants—three men and three women—quickly split into roles. The youngest pair, a male and female college student, admitted they couldn’t cook but offered to prepare fruit platters and drinks. Naturally, they gravitated toward each other and started working together. Sharing similar life stages and interests, the two easily found topics to discuss, and their occasional laughter filled the room.

Hao Ling smiled fondly at the screen. “Ah, they’re so sweet. They have that youthful, innocent vibe—like a scene straight out of a campus romance drama. Don’t you think?”

Zhou Yunxuan eagerly chimed in, “Seeing them makes me smile without even realizing it. It’s like remembering my own youth when everything felt good and right, no matter what.”

Bai Ze nodded, a hint of envy in his voice. “They’re like the epitome of first love—so sweet.”

Shi Peng gave him a side-eye. “Why do you sound jealous? Haven’t you ever been in a relationship? You’re so handsome; what’s the story there?”

Bai Ze blushed, looking slightly embarrassed. “I’ve never met the right person. Plus, my work keeps me busy, so I haven’t had the chance to get to know anyone deeply. My focus has always been on my career.”

Shi Peng nodded knowingly. “That makes sense. Career first, then love.”

Hao Ling turned to the psychologist, Liang Meilan. “What do you think, Teacher Liang? Have you noticed anything?”

Liang Meilan smiled warmly. “I think everyone’s observations are spot on. The two of them naturally clicked because of their similar backgrounds and interests. But I’ve noticed something else—they’ve unconsciously formed a pair and are less interested in interacting with the other four contestants, who are already working professionals. If the production team doesn’t intervene, these two might continue to develop their connection. Only if they find it doesn’t work out might they consider engaging with others.”

“So they’ve already singled each other out as the best option?” Hao Ling asked, surprised. “Isn’t it a bit early to settle on someone? They haven’t even gotten to know the others yet.”

Zhou Yunxuan nodded in agreement. “Exactly. What if someone else is a better match? Rushing into feelings can easily lead to being misled by superficial impressions. It’s better to take time to explore and understand who’s truly the right fit.”

Hao Ling and the others exchanged knowing glances—Zhou Yunxuan’s comments clearly hinted at her own regrets. It was obvious she was using the show to gain sympathy and rebrand herself as someone who had learned from her mistakes, particularly in choosing a partner.

Suddenly, Liang Meilan turned to Shen Yunxuan. “We’ve all shared our thoughts, but what about you, Master Shen? You have unique abilities—just a glance at someone’s face, and you can uncover hidden truths. Do you see anything we’ve missed? Perhaps a connection or potential issues between them?”

Liang Meilan’s tone was gentle and unassuming, but her words carried a subtle edge. It sounded like she was questioning the relevance of the other observers now that Shen Yunxuan was present. After all, if Shen Yunxuan could instantly determine compatibility and reveal secrets, what was the point of the observers’ analyses?

Hao Ling felt uneasy. Perhaps Liang Meilan was still smarting from the previous season, where the couple she had deemed most compatible had been embroiled in a scandal post-show. This time, the production team had invited a literal master to join—someone capable of divining truths. It must have felt like a direct challenge to her professional credibility.

Shen Yunxuan, unbothered, responded calmly. “Right now, they’re just getting to know each other. I don’t think anyone needs a reading yet. Besides, with the lack of close-up shots, I can’t see clearly enough to make any accurate judgments.”

Liang Meilan seized on this. “So you’re saying you don’t share our impression of their sweetness? Does that mean there’s something wrong with them? Perhaps one of them has a secret?”

Zhou Yunxuan quickly tried to diffuse the tension. “It’s too early to be spilling secrets, isn’t it? Haha. Let’s wait until they’ve spent more time together.”

But Liang Meilan persisted. “I’m just curious about Master Shen’s unique abilities. It’s such a rare opportunity—I couldn’t resist asking.”

[What’s with Liang Meilan? Why does it seem like she’s deliberately targeting Master Shen?]

[Yeah, everyone else tried to change the topic, but she just kept pressing.]

[Honestly, next to her, even Zhou Yunxuan seems tolerable.]

Shen Yunxuan’s gaze flickered briefly over Liang Meilan, her smile enigmatic. “Teacher Liang, if you’re so eager to test my skills, I have a little ‘secret’ about you. Would you like to hear it?”

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