He still remembered that Chu Qianli had attended school in the village and couldn’t solve even a single step of the process, likely because she didn’t understand the questions.
Chu Qianli looked stunned, “No, I understand.”
He Shichen, seeing her stubbornness, became more impatient and said earnestly, “It’s not shameful if you don’t understand. You can switch to the Chinese class instead of stubbornly sticking with the English class and suffering.”
He Shichen feared that she was too thin-skinned and didn’t want to be mocked by those around her, so she was forcing herself to stick with the English class. Learning the material was what mattered most, and the opinions of others were insignificant.
Chu Qianli spoke sincerely, “I do understand…”
He Shichen showed an unhappy expression, convinced that she was being stubborn and unwilling to switch classes to avoid being laughed at, just to protect her fragile self-esteem.
He Shichen: “Nonsense…” You’re just saving face.
In the next second, Chu Qianli shattered his assumption. She said confidently, “I really do understand; I just simply can’t learn it!”
Chu Qianli: “You can doubt my intelligence, but don’t doubt my English.”
After all, she had strong Mercury energy, which gave her a talent for languages.
He Shichen: “…”
He Shichen, hearing her nonsense, waved his sleeve and left, too angry to deal with her. He walked away quickly, deciding to let her suffer the consequences of her own stubbornness, feeling he had already done his best.
Tan Muxing, leading Chu Qianli to change classrooms, kindly suggested on the way, “If the teacher asks questions next period, you can look at my answers.”
Chu Qianli had been goofing off all day, which wasn’t good. The classmates might mistakenly think she hadn’t received any education, which would ruin her image in the class.
Tan Muxing was deeply troubled by this. Once a person exposes flaws and weaknesses, ridicule and mockery follow. He didn’t want to see Chu Qianli repeat his own mistakes.
Chu Qianli instinctively said, “Isn’t that cheating?”
Tan Muxing lowered his head in shame, looking troubled, “Ah, if you think it’s inappropriate…”
Chu Qianli: “It’s appropriate, very appropriate. Participation is what matters!”
Tan Muxing: “?” What a refreshingly unique view on cheating?
Their plan before class was good, but things changed quickly. The upcoming physics class was brutal. The physics teacher immediately assigned a difficult problem and required the whole class to complete it within a set time.
The celestial mechanics problem appeared on the screen. After reading it, He Shichen showed a slight hesitation, then quickly began to solve it on paper, racing against time to dissect the complex problem.
Tan Muxing, needing to provide answers for Chu Qianli, also began calculating, but noticed his deskmate wasn’t moving. He whispered, “At least pretend to be doing something…”
Chu Qianli sat there motionless, not even pretending to solve the problem, which made her too conspicuous.
Chu Qianli: “Huh? Haven’t you solved it yet? I can tell you the answer.”
The whispered conversation between the two caught the foreign teacher’s attention. The physics teacher, who had a much more serious demeanor, noticed that Chu Qianli wasn’t solving the problem and sternly asked her why.
Chu Qianli quickly regained her composure and casually replied in English, “I’ve already got the answer.”
As soon as Chu Qianli spoke, everyone in the class was surprised, even causing He Shichen, who was focused on solving the problem, to look up incredulously.
Wang Zheng sneered, “She’s just bragging. It takes time just to read the question.”
This was a physics problem involving three celestial bodies, complete with complex diagrams. Analyzing the system of celestial bodies alone took time, and she claimed to know the answer with just a quick glance?
Given Chu Qianli’s poor performance in chemistry class, the classmates found it hard to believe.
He Shichen’s eyes deepened with doubt. He looked at the half-completed process on his paper, showing a skeptical expression. He was likely the fastest in the class at calculations, and only Qi Yan from the neighboring class could rival him in the grade.
The physics teacher, noticing the commotion, gestured for Chu Qianli to come to the front and solve the problem.
Chu Qianli wasn’t nervous at all. She confidently went to the front and began writing on the electronic screen without even pausing to think, as if the answer was deeply ingrained in her mind.
Her struggles in chemistry class were simple to explain: she could only learn quickly when it involved stars, absorbing other knowledge very slowly.
What is celestial mechanics?
It’s the motion of various celestial bodies in the universe—basically, the movement of stars!
While many modern astrologers rely on software for calculations, ancient astrologers had to do the calculations themselves. To handle more complex problems, one must have strong computational and logical thinking abilities.
Chu Qianli finished the problem smoothly, and the foreign teacher confirmed it as correct, astonishing everyone present.
Wang Zheng questioned, “She must have done this problem before!”
The physics teacher, who had initially been quite displeased with Chu Qianli, now explained kindly, “I modified the numbers in this problem, so you wouldn’t be able to find the answer elsewhere.”
Even if Chu Qianli had done a similar problem before, her quick solution to the modified version, even faster than the teacher who changed it, was impressive enough.
He Shichen watched in disbelief. He couldn’t understand how someone who slept through class could have such strong physics skills. Could she be a genius?
Unaware of her background, the foreign teacher praised her in English, “It seems you learned very well at your previous school.”
Chu Qianli shamelessly nodded, “Yes, our village’s physics education is very strong.”
The classmates were shocked upon hearing this. They didn’t expect her to admit she came from a rural area, nor that her previous school’s teaching level would be inferior to a village’s.
Qiu Qingkong was stunned, “Which village is that? I need to go there to improve my physics.”
He Shichen’s face tightened, his grip on the pen so strong his knuckles turned white, feeling an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Chu Qianli calmly returned to her seat after solving the problem, and soon the break time arrived.
Tan Muxing, accustomed to her outrageous remarks, knew it had nothing to do with the village’s teaching. Curious, he asked, “Why are you so good at physics?”
Chu Qianli: “I’m an astrologer.”
Tan Muxing looked confused, “What’s the connection? Isn’t astrology about fortune-telling?”
Tan Muxing remembered the scene where Chu Qianli used playing cards for divination. He completely didn’t understand how this was related to physics.
Upon hearing the misunderstanding, Chu Qianli had an intense reaction for the first time, feeling aggrieved and saying, “It’s not just fortune-telling. Astrology is very scientific!”
Tan Muxing, whose personality was soft, immediately felt weakened, mumbling, “Uh, science, you say… predicting destiny with stars…”
Tan Muxing really wanted to support her theory unconditionally, but he clearly felt that fortune-telling didn’t fit with the concept of science, at least not with the general public’s perception. At most, it could only be classified as metaphysics.
Chu Qianli, like a child who was making a fuss, wanted to defend astrology, and said indiscreetly, “Of course it’s scientific. Kepler and Newton were both astrologers, so my physics is that good!”
Tan Muxing, hearing the names of well-known scientists, weakly complained, “Newton’s coffin lid might not be able to stay on…”
He felt he had accidentally touched Chu Qianli’s sore spot, causing her to become very agitated.
Chu Qianli: “Not at all. If you don’t believe me, you can check online.”
Tan Muxing had to secretly take out his phone and search. He saw on the webpage “The Lesser-Known Astrologer Newton” and immediately exclaimed, “It’s actually true…”
New, strange knowledge was added.
Seeing his surprised expression, Chu Qianli’s eyes flashed with a triumphant look, eagerly wanting to change people’s prejudices against astrology.
Tian Muxing was greatly shocked by the upheaval in his worldview. He immediately searched for whether astrology was scientific and found that the debate was still ongoing. Critics and astrologers each had their own opinions, much like the disagreements between him and Chu Qianli. Even within the field of astrology, there were various factions and disagreements.
Chu Qianli, speaking with righteous fervor, argued, “There are no things in the world that are unknowable, only things that are not yet known. Due to historical conditions, the understanding of each era is always limited, but human knowledge is continuously expanding and deepening. Therefore, I think insisting that astrology is unscientific is rather rash…”
Tian Muxing listened to the astrologer who used star predictions talk about Marxism, and he felt quite peculiar. It was a mix of styles that struck him as unusual.
Fortune-telling or divination would not be surprising, but what was astonishing was that the diviner understood Marxist philosophy—truly keeping up with the times.
Tian Muxing browsed through various arguments for a long time and eventually conceded, “Although I’m still unsure if astrology is scientific, I believe in your divination abilities. They are indeed amazing…”
Tian Muxing wasn’t interested in exploring academic issues; he simply trusted Chu Qianli. Despite her beliefs being different from his previous understanding, he could accept her abilities internally.
Chu Qianli was quite satisfied: “That’s enough. It’s great that we can be like this even with our different perspectives.”
Tian Muxing sighed with relief, “That’s good. I was afraid you’d be upset…”
Tian Muxing was worried about offending Chu Qianli, especially since her reaction earlier seemed intense and she appeared to care deeply about the matter.
Chu Qianli calmly shook her head, “No, I won’t be upset. Even if you don’t believe, I won’t get angry. You’re actually one of the more accepting people I’ve encountered.”
Despite her top-notch astrology skills in the past, she had still been considered a fraud many times. Numerous people focused on every prediction she made, hoping she would one day make a mistake and break her unbeaten record.
Among these people were fellow astrologers, those who studied other forms of divination, and ordinary people who simply didn’t believe in esoteric knowledge. Humans have a fear of the unknown and struggle to accept anything that transcends their own understanding.
Chu Qianli’s tone was nonchalant, but Tan Muxing inexplicably sensed loneliness from it. Her indifferent manner pierced his heart.
Tan Muxing hurriedly changed the subject, warmly saying, “But you also read Marxist philosophy. I thought you were only interested in stars.”
Chu Qianli replied, “Ah, that’s my self-defense mechanism.”
Tan Muxing was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Chu Qianli paused for a few seconds, carefully choosing her words to explain, “The most mysterious and controversial symbol in astrology is the lunar nodes. The South Node represents the past and our strengths. In genetics, it’s called inheritance; some call it karma. It drives us to make instinctive choices…”
“The South Node is the area we’re attached to. I indeed have a natural talent for astrology and feel familiar and comfortable with it, as the South Node indicates. But being too deep into it means no progress, as the South Node also signifies ‘retreat,’ or avoidance when faced with difficulties.”
Doing what you are good at feels comfortable, but it also means it’s difficult to make new progress.
Chu Qianli had seen countless natal charts, naturally studying her own as well, which was even the starting point of her learning astrology.
Everyone’s natal chart is unique, revealing a person’s strengths and weaknesses.
Lowering her gaze, Chu Qianli said, “Reading Marxist philosophy is a self-defense mechanism for me, used to overcome the inertia of the South Node’s influence. Only by not indulging in primal instincts can one reach their potential future. Growth, change, and evolution are the core of astrology.”
Chu Qianli’s success and failure both lay in astrology. She occasionally needed to detach herself, as her natal chart suggested.
Tan Muxing somewhat understood. “What would happen if you didn’t have this self-defense mechanism?”
“Then I might rely on astrology to amass astonishing wealth and status, but I would lose myself in the praise of believers, mistakenly thinking I am a true deity, and end up in a tragic, irreversible downfall,” Chu Qianli blinked, testing, “like a cult leader who gets taken down?”
Tan Muxing was speechless.
That seemed quite plausible. She was indeed good at persuasion and gathered classmates during lunch breaks, showing a certain degree of influence.
Tan Muxing’s expression was subtle as he nodded in agreement. “Please keep studying Marxism. Don’t ever remove your self-defense mechanism.”
He didn’t want her to be arrested for spreading superstitions, leading to a disastrous end.
After school, since Chu Qianli didn’t have a phone yet, Tan Muxing wrote his number for her, so she could add it over the weekend if she got a chance.
At the school gate, He Shichen sat in a car, coldly watching Chu Qianli say goodbye to Tan Muxing. He couldn’t understand their sudden friendship, and his fingers impatiently drummed a rhythm on the car door.
Tan Muxing came from a wealthy family, but he lacked personal abilities and wasn’t particularly attractive. His favorite hobby was sewing clothes for dolls, which was far from the image of an elite. His meek nature often made him the target of ridicule by Wang Zheng and others. Did Chu Qianli think he was easy to control?
In He Shichen’s view, Chu Qianli’s actions were full of hidden meanings. She might be using a facade of foolishness to deceive him, waiting for a critical moment to deliver a fatal blow, just like the stark contrast in her performance answering questions in the afternoon.
He Shichen was naturally suspicious and didn’t believe Chu Qianli harbored no hostility toward him. He was constantly predicting her moves in his mind, weaving intricate dramas of family rivalry.
Chu Qianli got into the car and waved to Tan Muxing. As the vehicle started, she noticed He Shichen’s somber expression and asked in confusion, “Does your wound still hurt?”
He Shichen’s facial injury hadn’t healed yet. He had tried to cover it up when going to school, but people still showed concern.
He Shichen, not interested in her false sympathy, replied perfunctorily, “No, it doesn’t.”
Chu Qianli asked, “Then why do you look so upset?”
He Shichen glared at her, feeling she was oblivious to his feelings, and mocked, “Every time I see you, it ruins my mood. Is that okay?”
He Shichen’s words were harsh. They appeared to be friendly siblings in front of their parents, but their first encounter had been explosive.
Chu Qianli, in a good-natured attempt to negotiate, said, “It’s okay, but I can’t do much about it. Why don’t you discuss moving out with Dad and Mom?”
She didn’t take his hostility seriously, thinking perhaps the male lead was just rejecting the female supporting character, possibly out of some misguided sense of loyalty to the female lead.
He Shichen looked at her innocent face in shock, thinking, “Are you trying to kick me out?”
He Shichen was convinced that Chu Qianli was cunning. In the car, she spoke in veiled terms, and at home, she pretended to be innocent, playing the victim in front of their parents.
At the dinner table, the family was having a pleasant meal. Observing Chu Qianli’s expression, He Zhenghe cautiously asked, “Qianli, do you want to change your surname back?”
Chu Qianli had just returned, and many formalities were yet to be completed. Changing her name would be easy.
Her parents didn’t think He Shichen needed to change his name, but they feared Chu Qianli might feel a lack of belonging, so they proposed this idea.
Yu Xin looked at Chu Qianli with concern, while He Shichen felt like an outsider, as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
Chu Qianli politely declined, “There’s no need. He Qianli or Yu Qianli doesn’t sound good. We’re family regardless of the surname.”
He Shichen thought to himself, doesn’t this imply that even if he has the He surname, he isn’t part of the family? What a clever move of retreating to advance.
Yu Xin softly asked, “Do you really not need to?”
Chu Qianli replied, “No need. Compared to this, there’s something more important.”
He Zhenghe asked, “What’s that?”
Chu Qianli blinked innocently and made a money-counting gesture with her fingers, pitifully saying, “Mom and Dad, I’m poor, I need money.”
Words of comfort couldn’t compare to a generous sum of money. Now that she had returned to the wealthy family, there were some things she wanted to buy.
“…” He Shichen felt his fists clenching as he watched her act cute.
He Zhenghe and Yu Xin had never seen such a way of asking for allowance. They burst into laughter, finding it quite novel. He Shichen had always been mature and serious, never doing such amusing things.
The atmosphere at the table instantly became lively. Yu Xin, unable to contain her laughter, got up and said warmly, “I’ve already got your phone ready and linked a card to it. I’ll show you how to use it.”
“Thank you, Mom.” Chu Qianli, her eyes bright with excitement, followed Yu Xin eagerly, clearly impatient.
He Zhenghe laughed, “I promised you yesterday. It seems I should give you a red envelope. ”
Chu Qianli cheerfully responded, “Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom.”
He Shichen remained silent throughout. He had no objection to giving money; his family had never skimped on his allowance, even setting up an account and extra funds for him to study the stock market.
He just wasn’t used to the family atmosphere. She could sweet-talk their parents and make them happy, while he couldn’t bring himself to do such things, which left him feeling inexplicably frustrated. He knew this mindset was unhealthy, but he couldn’t help feeling excluded.
They were a close-knit, happy family, while he felt like an unconnected outsider.
He Shichen’s gaze darkened as he tried to hide his sadness.
Chu Qianli, having received her new phone, saw He Zhenghe’s red envelope in the family group chat and accepted it without hesitation. She then looked at He Shichen expectantly and repeated, “Brother, I’m poor, red envelope.”
He Shichen: “…”
His gloom was instantly dispelled, replaced by an intense embarrassment. He suddenly wished he were excluded.
He Zhenghe chuckled, “You sure know how to pick your target. Shichen is better than me. I heard from your uncle that his recent stock trading profits are pretty good?”
He Shichen modestly said, “It’s just okay.”
Hearing this, Chu Qianli looked at him with even more anticipation, her eyes shining like a little animal begging for food.
To avoid further embarrassment, He Shichen, with a blank expression, entered his password and sent her a red envelope. Though the amount wasn’t much, he still felt a bit annoyed.
Chu Qianli cheerfully said, “Thank you, Brother.”
He Shichen’s fingers trembled in frustration. He wanted to hit her, not give her a red envelope.
After receiving her phone and red envelope, Chu Qianli darted upstairs, eager to start shopping.
Yu Xin also left the table, leaving just the father and son in the dining room. He Zhenghe asked, “How was school today?”
He Shichen replied, “Nothing special, just…”
He Shichen hesitated, unsure how to describe it. He wanted to mention Chu Qianli’s poor study attitude, but her physics skills were better than his, which he still found hard to accept.
In the end, He Shichen didn’t exaggerate and fairly said, “My sister is a bit uneven in her studies, with a wide range of performance.”
He Zhenghe wasn’t surprised and calmly said, “She used to attend an ordinary school, so her grades can’t compare to yours. She’s just transferred, so don’t expect too much from her. Let her adapt first.”
He Shichen’s face darkened. If this was her performance before adapting, he couldn’t imagine how she’d outperform him once she had adapted.
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