The night had just fallen, and the streets were still busy with traffic. Logically, hailing a taxi shouldn't have been difficult, yet I waited on the curb for what felt like ages. Every cab that passed was occupied, not a single empty one in sight.
I waved my arm again and again, but no car stopped.
Just as I was starting to worry, an empty cab finally appeared in the distance. I waved frantically, and the driver slowly pulled up beside me. The driver was a woman, with long hair covering half her face. What I could see looked beautiful.
I've never seen a taxi driver this pretty before, I thought.
As I stood there stunned, the driver asked coldly, "Need a ride?"
I wasn't about to let this chance slip away. "Yes," I said, opening the door and sliding into the passenger seat.
Once inside, I told her I needed to go to the city center.
Hearing it was a long-distance trip, she said, "Night trips cost extra. It's 150 during the day, 300 at night."
Three hundred! That was double the price.
I hesitated, and she pressed, "Going or not? If yes, pay first. I'm a woman—if you run off without paying once we're out of town, what can I do?"
Before I could answer, she added, "If you pay upfront, I'll show you my face."
My face?
A chill shot through me. I turned to look—and saw Xiang Lili's face beneath that long hair.
"Ah!"
I screamed, jolting awake with a gasp. The scene before me shifted instantly. I wasn't in a taxi. I was sitting on the edge of a holly hedge planter—right where I'd called Wang Junhui earlier.
What just happened? Was it all a hallucination?
I remembered: after the call, I'd sat down to rest while watching for empty cabs. I must've dozed off. That whole encounter had been a nightmare.
Even as a dream, it terrified me.
As I stood up to hail a real cab, I couldn't shake the fear that Xiang Lili might be behind the wheel.
Luckily, my real-life luck was better than in the dream. Within minutes, a taxi stopped—driven by a man in his thirties or forties. His features were kindly, and his aura suggested good fortune in both wealth and family lately. Riding with him should be safe, I thought.
The driver watched me hesitate by the door. "Where to, buddy?"
"The city center. You going? How much?"
"Yeah, but it's extra at night. Two hundred. Deal?"
After that dream's three hundred, two hundred sounded almost reasonable. I agreed, hopped in, and told him to drive.
He asked for an address. I called Ning Haoyu, saying I'd be arriving late. He gave me a location and told me to call when I was close so he could meet me.
I relayed the address to the driver. "Got it. I know that place."
He chatted as he drove. At first, I replied, but exhaustion soon pulled me under.
Grandpa once said that after an encounter with spirits, a person's vital energy drains fast. You grow lethargic, sleepy—even risk passing out.
I didn't know how long I slept. A voice calling "Hey, hey!" finally roused me.
"We're here," the driver said.
"That fast?" I mumbled, blinking.
"Fast? You've been asleep almost three hours."
Still groggy, I paid him and stepped out. I was at the entrance of the gated community Ning Haoyu had named. After confirming the address, I called him.
He answered immediately. Minutes later, he appeared in boxers and flip-flops to escort me upstairs.
It was already midnight.
Ning Haoyu patted my shoulder. "Rough luck, huh? You look exhausted. Come on, get some rest. While you're here, help out at my uncle's shop. If it works out, stay. No point going back to that dead-end town."
I nodded gratefully.
Upstairs, his uncle's family was already asleep. We exchanged only a few words before collapsing into bed.
The ghost encounter had drained me. I fell asleep instantly and didn't wake until morning.
After breakfast, Ning Haoyu formally introduced me to his uncle and aunt.
I'd heard of his uncle—Xiong Jiu, a respected name in the antique furniture trade. Meeting him now, I saw why. Around forty, slightly plump but with noble features, he radiated prosperity. Yet his face hinted at turbulence in his 43rd and 44th years.
His aunt, though middle-aged, had carefully maintained her beauty. Wrinkles showed in places, but her grace remained. Her fortune lines were strong too—a clear "prosperous husband" aura. She was undoubtedly his stabilizing force.
As we exchanged greetings, I read both their faces silently. This time, I'd keep my insights to myself. No more tempting fate.
Ning Haoyu added that they had a daughter, currently in high school and living on campus. She only came home on weekends. Today was Tuesday—no sign of her.
After introductions, his aunt went to prepare breakfast while the rest of us chatted in the living room.
Casually, Ning Haoyu mentioned my fortune-telling. His uncle took the bait. "Kid here says you're the real deal. Feel like reading my fortune?"
His tone made it clear he didn't believe—this was just a way to pass time before the meal.
Ning Haoyu nudged me. "Yeah, give it a shot."
I smiled apologetically at Xiong Jiu. "I can read your face, Uncle. But not your fortune."
"Why not?" he asked, amused.
"Fortunes only work for believers," I said. "You're joking—so any reading would be wrong."
Unfazed, he replied, "Fine. Tell me what my face says. If it's accurate, I'll ask properly. And if that pans out, I'll pay you fairly."
I agreed and shared what I'd already seen.
Xiong Jiu raised an eyebrow. "I'm forty-two. You say trouble's coming at forty-three and forty-four. But what kind? Do you know?"
I shook my head. "Not without a proper fortune. But Uncle, I haven't finished."
He gestured for me to continue.
"The light in your fate palace is present but dim today. That means you're negotiating a major deal—one that's hit obstacles. A single misstep could ruin it."
His expression shifted slightly. "Go on."
"Also, shadows cloud your wealth palace. You're about to lose money. But within those shadows is a glimmer of light. So this loss will lead to a greater gain. If this ties to your deal, here's what I see: You'll need to spend money to save the deal. That expense will pay off. No outflow means no inflow; with outflow comes full inflow."
Xiong Jiu fell silent, deep in thought. Ning Haoyu looked lost. "You must be wrong. My uncle's got big deals going? Since when?"
I kept my eyes on Xiong Jiu. "Right or wrong, he decides."
After a long pause, Xiong Jiu straightened up. "You're correct. A major deal is in trouble—one even my wife doesn't know about. How did you see all that? Not just the problem, but the solution?" He studied me. "I've met many fortune-tellers. None were as sharp as you."
I waved off the praise. "Just a lucky guess."
"Then I ask sincerely," Xiong Jiu said, leaning forward. "Where should I spend my money to save this deal?"
I studied his face. The light in his fate palace was already brightening—he'd found his answer.
Smiling, I said, "You already know what to do. No fortune needed. I wish you success."
"Is that so?" Xiong Jiu chuckled, then turned to Ning Haoyu. "Kid, give him five thousand at the shop today. Payment for the reading."
Five thousand! Part of me wanted to refuse—I was here hiding from ghosts, after all. But…
Five thousand!
As I wrestled with guilt, Ning Haoyu beamed. "Sure thing, Uncle. Told you he was good."