That Sister Susu wanted me to read her career fortune.
Actually, I didn't even need to look at the hand she stretched out to know that her current career was booming.
However, out of respect for my "fortune-teller" profession, I still carefully examined her palm and face. After some thought, I said, "You've been in a prosperous period for three years. Currently, your career is on the rise..."
"Pfft..."
Before I could finish, Bai Wei beside me scoffed, "Du Xinghe, please say something useful!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
A girl beside Bai Wei, who seemed to be on good terms with her, chimed in, "Who doesn't know that Sister Susu is a top - notch agent? Any star under her management can become a national idol. Do we need you to tell us her career is on the rise?!"
I glanced at the girl, grinned, and said, "What, you don't want me to say this? Do you want me to say she's 'haunted by bad luck' or 'about to have a big disaster'?"
Sister Susu's face instantly showed a hint of anger, but she had good self - restraint. She just glanced at Bai Wei and her friends, then turned to me and said, "It's okay, Miss Du. Just say whatever you want. We're just having fun. I won't take it to heart or get angry no matter what you say."
"Then... I'll tell the truth!"
I held her palm, but my eyes were fixed on her forehead. "The prosperous period you've had in the past three years was achieved by burning your own life force. Currently, it seems your life force can only last for about a year or so. Then you'll be completely exhausted, just when your career is at its most glorious..."
I didn't say any more. I just made a slashing gesture across my neck.
Suddenly, the small circle around me fell silent.
Everyone shut up and stared at my gesture.
"...Really?" Sister Susu's expression wasn't as exaggerated as the onlookers. It seemed more like sadness than fear. "Only about a year left?"
"Yes. It may not even be a year. If you get sick or injured, it will be even faster." I told the truth.
"My goodness, what should we do?"
Bai Wei beside me seemed to come to her senses and exclaimed anxiously in a low voice, "Sister Susu, you should find someone to break this curse!"
Sister Susu looked at me. "Miss Du, can you tell me how to deal with it?"
"Sure. Palm - reading is free, but exorcising evil spirits comes with a fee."
My grandfather's principle was to give someone a date first and then encourage them to buy a whole tree.
As soon as I finished speaking, there were low scoffs from the onlookers. The girl who was on good terms with Bai Wei was covering her mouth and laughing uncontrollably.
"Hey, what are you doing? Are you so happy when others are in trouble?"
Zhao Zifeng had a fiery temper. She immediately glared at the girl.
"No."
The girl stopped laughing, waved her hand, and pointed at me. "This Miss Du is really a fraud... Her words are exactly the same as what Weiwei told me just now!!"
Sister Susu turned to look at Bai Wei. "What? Can Miss Bai also tell fortunes?"
At this moment, Sister Susu was very impatient. Anyone would be in a bad mood if they were told they wouldn't live for more than a year!
Seeing that Sister Susu was really getting angry, Bai Wei quickly smiled and said, "I was just joking with Cheng Rui. I guessed that Du Xinghe would say 'spend money to ward off disasters' and ask you to spend money to break the bad luck."
After saying that, she glanced at me triumphantly. "Sure enough, I guessed right! That's the trick of charlatans. The more terrifying their words are, the more they'll ask for money! Du Xinghe, tell me, how much do you want from Sister Susu?"
"Are you going to pay for her?"
Zhao Zifeng looked at her mockingly.
"...I!"
Bai Wei had just asked casually, but being choked by Zhao Zifeng, she was put on the spot.
Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Bai Wei thought to herself that she had an annual salary of one million at Lingshan and her father's company was on the rise. She couldn't be held back by us. So she gritted her teeth and asked me, "Okay, I'll pay for Sister Susu! But how can we tell if the exorcism is successful?"
"Right!"
The girl named Cheng Rui continued Bai Wei's words. "You said Sister Susu won't live for more than a year. You're probably lying! Sister Susu is destined to live a long life. If she asks you to exorcise evil spirits, won't she just fall into your trap and waste her money?!"
"Ruirui, you can't say that. What if Du Xinghe is telling the truth?"
Under Bai Wei's sincere smile, I could detect a hint of ill - will.
"Tell me, how much does it cost for one exorcism?"
Bai Wei continued to press me.
She also wanted to make friends with this woman whose stage name was "Sister Susu" and real name was "Ma Su".
Ma Su was the actual controller of Taoran Media, which had emerged in the past two years. Several of the artists she signed had become a bit popular in some idol dramas. Now she was looking for a bigger investor to turn her company into a leading entertainment company in China like Huatian Entertainment under Lingshan Holdings.
Bai Wei had only met Ma Su a few times in the circle. They weren't really close.
This time, she wanted to take this opportunity to get closer to Ma Su!
"My fee for doing religious ceremonies is a bit high."
I smiled slightly and spoke to Ma Su. "Yours is about exorcising evil and breaking bad luck. The starting price is usually one million."
"Are you crazy about money?!"
Hearing my quote, Bai Wei almost fainted. She reached out and grabbed the back of the sofa, staring at me. "Do you believe I'll sue you for fraud?!"
"Listen clearly. This is just the starting price!"
Zhao Zifeng looked at Bai Wei's face with a smile. "I remember that exorcism fees depend on the severity. The more urgent the situation, the higher the price!"
"Oh, right."
I finally glanced at Bai Wei. "Wei Yuan once asked me to exorcise a ghost and paid ten million."
Although Wei Yuan only gave me less than half a million, I had already set the price.
Wei Yuan was a playboy, and I charged him ten million. This Sister Ma Su, who seemed to be very successful in the upper - class circle, should be charged about the same.
"Liar! No one will believe you. Young Master Wei is so smart. How could he be deceived by you?"
Bai Wei's face turned red. She knew that Wei Yuan and Si Jiangchen had once entrusted me with some tasks. And when they took me to Yizhou, she went with them. She was tied to a tree like a dog by a perverted dwarf, which was a nightmare she could never forget.
However, she never thought that Wei Yuan would promise me a reward of ten million.
"Stop shouting."
Ma Su was the absolute leader of this small circle. At this moment, she noticed that Bai Wei's screams had drowned out the music of the band on the stage. Many guests who were whispering were looking at them in surprise. She had to lower her voice. "I'll handle my own business and pay for it myself. I don't need others' help."
"No, Sister Susu, don't be deceived! I'll call Wei Yuan right now and expose her lies!"
Bai Wei took out her phone. She absolutely didn't believe that Wei Yuan, a playboy who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, would have the courage to take out ten million!