Wang Mingqiang hummed a tune as he returned to the office with a box of egg tarts.

As soon as he stepped in, he was about to offer the treats to everyone when his colleague Xiao Li pulled him aside, pointing discreetly at the editor-in-chief’s office. “Brother Qiang, that Sun Ming has been in there for half an hour. I overheard bits and pieces—he’s badmouthing you!”

“Sun Ming, huh? Acting all smug behind my back. When it comes to actual skill, he’s nowhere to be seen,” Wang Mingqiang sneered.

Today Times wasn’t a major publication—just a small operation with about a dozen staff members. But the smaller the pond, the greater the storms, and there was no shortage of scheming.

Sun Ming had joined earlier that year. Though about the same age as Wang Mingqiang, his experience was far inferior. Most of the top headlines came from Wang, which naturally left Sun Ming feeling resentful. He frequently schemed to undermine Wang in secret.

“It’s true, but you can’t defend yourself against every underhanded move,” Xiao Li sighed. Wang’s generosity had earned him the goodwill of his colleagues, and none wanted to see Sun Ming pull him down.

As they spoke, the editor-in-chief’s door opened. Spotting Wang Mingqiang, the editor waved him over. “Mingqiang, come here.”

Wang walked in, sparing Sun Ming a glance. “Chief, what’s up?”

“Tomorrow’s headline will go to Sun Ming. You’re on the side column,” the editor said curtly, clearly irritated by Wang’s morning absence.

Sun Ming smirked. “Sorry, Brother Qiang, for taking your headline.”

His tone was laced with sarcasm, dripping with mockery.

Wang, however, didn’t seem fazed. “No need to apologize. Chief, I dug up something big this morning. It turns out that the Taoist temple case wasn’t cracked by the cops—it was foretold by a fortune-teller in Temple Street. And this person is the real deal. I saw it for myself. Here’s the draft I prepared…”

He handed over the article he had written.

Sun Ming’s expression changed, and he scoffed, “Brother Qiang, your story sounds impressive, but don’t embarrass us if it turns out to be fake.”

Wang chuckled. “Ah, Ming, you’re new here, so I won’t hold it against you. But let me tell you, being a tabloid reporter isn’t easy. A headline has to be explosive, unique, and most importantly, accurate. You can’t just recycle stories from other outlets and call them headlines.”

Sun Ming’s face darkened.

He was known for being less resourceful and unwilling to spend money to get leads. As a result, his articles often leaned heavily on reports from other papers. Wang’s words were a direct slap in the face.

“Is this story for real?” the editor asked, quickly scanning the draft. His eyes lit up with excitement.

“Absolutely,” Wang confirmed. “I even got a photo of the fortune-teller. She’s a young girl, very pretty. A ‘beautiful master fortune-teller’? Who wouldn’t buy our paper to read this?”

“Excellent! You’re still the best. Tomorrow’s headline is yours. Print an extra 5,000 copies!”

The editor clapped Wang on the shoulder with a broad grin. “Mingqiang, I knew you wouldn’t let me down. If sales go up this month, I’ll make sure you get a bonus.”

Wang smiled. “Thank you, Chief.”

Turning to Sun Ming, he flashed a smug grin.

Sun Ming looked as though he had swallowed a fly, his expression dark and sour.

The next morning, Gu Xicao and Lin Yuan were still asleep when a loud knock echoed through their door.

“Who is it?” Gu Xicao groaned, kicking her bed frame lightly. “Xiao Yuan, go get the door.”

Rubbing his eyes, Lin Yuan shuffled to the door in his slippers. Outside stood Mrs. Leung and Uncle Ho, among others.

“Mrs. Leung, why are you here so early?” Lin Yuan yawned, puzzled.

Mrs. Leung held up a rolled newspaper, her face brimming with excitement. “We’re here to see your sister. Is Xiao Gu awake yet?”

Even if she hadn’t been, Gu Xicao was now wide awake from the commotion. Rubbing her eyes, she climbed down from her bunk bed. “Mrs. Leung, what’s got you all so worked up?”

“It’s big news! Great news! You’re in the paper!”

Mrs. Leung eagerly handed the newspaper to Gu.

Gu Xicao unfolded it and froze. The front-page headline read: “Beautiful Master Fortune-Teller Outshines the Supernatural, Exposes Temple Street Scandal!”

The headline was exaggerated, but the content…

Well, the content was just as over-the-top. The reporter had taken creative liberties, painting Gu as a nearly omnipotent master capable of divining even the downfall of empires.

“Xiao Gu, this is you, isn’t it?” Uncle Ho asked curiously.

“Of course it is. Her photo’s right there,” Mrs. Leung said proudly, as if she were the one in the spotlight. “Xiao Gu, you’re famous now! Maybe you’ll end up on TV, helping the rich and powerful with your predictions.”

“That would be amazing. Rich folks don’t hesitate to spend money,” Uncle Ho chimed in enviously.

Scratching her head in embarrassment, Gu Xicao replied, “Thanks for the good wishes. If I do make it big, I’ll treat everyone to a feast. But for now, we just woke up and need to get ready.”

Taking the hint, Mrs. Leung ushered everyone out, leaving the newspaper behind.

“Wow, Sis! You’re in the paper! That’s incredible!” Lin Yuan exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration.

Looking at the headline, Gu felt a mix of pride and amusement. Flicking Lin Yuan’s forehead lightly, she said, “That’s right. So, you’d better study hard. Maybe one day, you’ll make it into the paper too.”

In recent days, Gu Xicao had entrusted Lin Yuan to a local teacher in the public housing complex, asking them to help with basic education. Relieved of this responsibility, she found herself feeling significantly lighter.

“I will study hard!”

Lin Yuan, still a child, was easily encouraged by Gu Xicao’s words, feeling a surge of ambition without realizing how studying and appearing in newspapers were connected.

“Mr. Cai, here are today’s newspapers,” said Secretary Lin as she handed over a stack of freshly purchased papers to Cai Yongcheng.

Cai gestured for her to pass them to Xu Shaowen. “Old Xu, find the one from Today Times.”

Xu had a good memory and quickly located the paper in question, passing it to Cai. “Here it is, Mr. Cai. This fortune-teller is the real deal—I’m not exaggerating. She helped resolve the issues in my home. Perhaps she could assist with yours as well.”

Cai took the newspaper, put on his reading glasses, and studied the article. His hair was streaked with gray, his complexion pale, but his demeanor remained sharp and composed.

“Is that so? I’ve sought the help of countless people over the years, but none have been accurate. Even that Thai monk, who everyone in the circle claimed was incredible, couldn’t help me find my son.”

Hearing this, Secretary Lin began piecing together the story.

When she joined the company, she had heard rumors about how Cai had spent over twenty years and millions of dollars searching for his son. Despite hiring countless supposed experts and fortune-tellers, the search had been fruitless.

From her perspective, it seemed absurd that a successful toy magnate, worth billions, would place faith in such practices. Then again, considering his vast wealth, if spending half of it could reunite him with his son, he would likely deem it worthwhile.

“Grandfather!”

The office door burst open, and a man with slicked-back hair and car keys in hand barged in. Spotting Xu Shaowen, he appeared momentarily surprised before plastering on a smile. “Uncle Xu, you’re here too?”

“Yes, Ah Qi, I had some business with your Grandfather,” Xu replied politely.

Cai Yongcheng folded the newspaper, his expression gentle yet stern. “Ah Qi, haven’t I told you to knock before entering my office? How many times must I remind you?”

“Grandfather, I forgot! I was just worried about you,” Cai Qi replied warmly. “The doctor said you need someone by your side at all times after the bypass surgery. My mom told me to pack my things and move in to keep you company. Let Aunt Liu prepare a guest room for me, okay?”

Cai Yongcheng frowned, his displeasure barely concealed. “That won’t be necessary. Secretary Lin has already arranged for several caretakers at my house. You’re young, with different habits and schedules from me. It’s better if you don’t.”

“How can that be?” Cai Qi shot a glance at Secretary Lin, his smile tinged with malice. “Secretary Lin and those caretakers are outsiders. You need someone from your own family to look after you.”

“I said no, and that’s final. If I need you, I’ll let you know. For now, please leave. I still have business to discuss with Old Xu.”

Cai Yongcheng’s tone left no room for argument.

Unable to convince him, Cai Qi pursed his lips in frustration. As he walked past Secretary Lin, he muttered under his breath, “Fox spirit.”

“Ah Qi!”

The insult sent a wave of anger through Cai Yongcheng, causing his chest to tighten painfully. He clenched his fists against the ache.

Secretary Lin, however, maintained her composure. “Mr. Cai, I think Mr. Cai Qi has been reading too much horse racing news and now sees foxes everywhere. Mr. Cai Qi, please remember to close the door on your way out.”

Her calm and poised response left Cai Qi’s face red with embarrassment. Glaring at her, he slammed the door as he exited.

“Old Xu, what a disgrace. I apologize for the scene,” Cai sighed, retrieving a bottle of medication from his pocket as he shook his head in frustration.

Xu Shaowen gave him a sympathetic look. “Don’t say that. Every family has its troubles. Look at my son—he nearly killed me just because I smashed his gaming console.”

“Ah, the haunted house incident?”

Having taken his medication, Cai’s complexion improved slightly. He had heard about Xu’s previous ordeal with ghosts and how he’d planned to consult the infamous Master Bai for an exorcism.

Xu nodded. “Exactly. Fortunately, I ran into this fortune-teller, Miss Gu. She immediately pinpointed the root of the problem and resolved it. If not for her, I would have been scammed out of my fortune by that so-called Master Bai.”

The social circles of Hong Kong’s elite were tight-knit, and news traveled fast.

Though the general public was unaware of Master Bai’s activities—exploiting Taoism to run a cult, blackmail the wealthy, and even commit murder—the upper echelons had caught wind. Xu felt a lingering sense of fear when he thought about how close he had come to being ensnared.

“If you hold her in such high regard, I’ll give her a try,” Cai said, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes.

He didn’t have much time left. If he couldn’t locate his son soon, Cai Qi and his mother wouldn’t stop at mere visits—they would undoubtedly seize control of his fortune.