Ma Qi scoffed, folding her arms as she plopped into her seat. “I know what you’re going to say—that Ah Yong is only with me for my money. So what? My family’s rich. I’m my mom’s only daughter. Can’t I choose a man who makes me happy and is willing to pamper me? And what about other men? Even if I marry someone else, wouldn’t they also be after my money? Little girl, you’re too young to understand how relationships work for adults.”

Wang Rongyan froze, stunned by Ma Qi’s words.

Despite all her worldly experience and years of navigating life’s complexities, she had never heard someone articulate this perspective.

It wasn’t entirely unreasonable—wealthy women often attracted men motivated by money. Even among wealthy families, many marriages were driven by financial interests.

But while Ma Qi’s reasoning seemed logical, something about it felt off.

Wang Rongyan looked at Gu Xicao, hoping she would have a counterargument. She was beginning to wonder if she was simply too old to keep up with the mindset of today’s youth.

“Well said. Truly well said.”

Gu Xicao set down her teacup and clapped her hands.

“Master Gu?!” Wang Rongyan almost fell out of her chair. Was this really the time to be applauding? Wasn’t this just fueling Ma Qi’s arrogance?

“You think I’m making sense, don’t you?”

Seeing Gu Xicao seemingly agree with her, Ma Qi finally smiled, her expression less combative.

“Not exactly,” Gu Xicao replied, tilting her head. “I just think your argument has some merit. But let me ask—do you really know your boyfriend?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? So what if Ah Yong doesn’t have a job?” Ma Qi snapped impatiently. “I have money. I can support him!”

“True. But do you know that he relied on someone else to support him before you?” Gu Xicao said, stroking her chin thoughtfully.

Wang Rongyan’s eyes widened in shock. She turned to Gu Xicao and asked, “Master Gu, are you saying he’s… a gigolo?”

Gu Xicao replied, “Calling him a gigolo is a bit harsh. Let’s just say he’s a kept man.”

Wang Rongyan: “…”

Wasn’t that the same thing?!

Ma Qi gritted her teeth. “Nonsense! Ah Yong is not a gigolo. Stop making baseless accusations, or I’ll sue you for defamation!”

“You don’t believe me?” Gu Xicao asked curiously. “If he’s okay with you supporting him, why wouldn’t he be okay with someone else doing the same? And since you said he doesn’t have a job, have you ever wondered how he lived before he met you?”

Ma Qi opened her mouth to retort but found herself at a loss for words.

Flashes of Ah Yong’s expensive designer clothes, accessories, sneakers, and the 500-square-foot apartment he rented popped into her mind.

“Am I right?”

Gu Xicao rested her chin on her hand. “A man without inheritance or a job, yet living lavishly—money doesn’t just fall from the sky, does it?”

“Ah Qi, the master is right. It’s one thing for a man to earn less money, but it’s absolutely unacceptable for a man to rely entirely on a woman and live off her. Let me tell you the harsh truth: men like that never truly love you,” Wang Rongyan said, her brows furrowed deeply.

This wasn’t just a matter of ambition or drive; it was about a man whose very character was rotten to the core.

Wang Rongyan had seen plenty of men who relied on women throughout her life. Without exception, such men were heartless. They would run away the moment trouble arose and, when in debt, might even force the woman to sell herself to pay it off.

No wonder Ma Chunya was so adamant. Even she couldn’t bear to watch Ma Qi jump into such a pit of fire!

“He… even if he used to be a gigolo, he’s changed now!”

Ma Qi fell silent for a moment before standing up abruptly, her voice trembling with emotion. “After we get married, he won’t need to rely on any other woman. Auntie, you’ve always told me that everyone makes mistakes, but as long as they change, they deserve a second chance. Since being with me, Ah Yong hasn’t been with anyone else!”

“Ah Qi, why are you so stubborn?!”

Wang Rongyan was baffled. Didn’t normal women break up with their boyfriends as soon as they found out they had been gigolos?

Even a pig would know what to do in this situation!

Why was Ma Qi so insistent?

“Auntie, you don’t understand the kind of bond Ah Yong and I share. He’s really good to me. When I’m sick, he takes care of me and makes me porridge,” Ma Qi said, her eyes red and brimming with tears. “Growing up, no man has ever treated me this well.”

Gu Xicao: “…”

If only I had some sunflower seeds to snack on… She made a mental note to tell Wang Laoshi to stock the office with snacks like sunflower seeds or peanuts next time.

“Are you stupid?” Wang Rongyan felt like she was about to lose her mind. “He treats you well because he’s after your money! If another woman had money, he’d treat her just as well. A man like that should be dumped immediately!”

“I don’t care! I’ve already decided to marry Ah Yong. Auntie, whether you and Mom approve or not, I’m going to be with him!”

Ma Qi’s tone was firm as she grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

But just as she reached the door, Gu Xicao said slowly, “What if he once had a relationship with your mom?”

Ma Qi froze mid-step, her body stiffening as if she had been struck by lightning.

Wang Rongyan was also taken aback. She turned to Gu Xicao, her face tense. “What did you just say?”

“I thought I made myself very clear,” Gu Xicao replied, spreading her hands. “This man was previously kept by Ma Qi’s mother.”

…

The sheer weight of this revelation hit Wang Rongyan like a freight train.

She took a sip of water to steady her nerves, raised her head to look at Gu Xicao, and then lowered her head to take another sip, trying to process everything.

“How… how is that possible?” Ma Qi turned around, her face twisted with disbelief. She stormed over to the table, one hand on it and the other pointing at Gu Xicao. “Take back what you said! You’re just trying to scare me, aren’t you?!”

Staring at the finger pointed inches from her nose, Gu Xicao shrugged. “I never lie when it comes to fortune-telling. If you don’t believe me, why don’t you call your mom and ask?”

She gestured toward the phone nearby.

Ma Qi’s eyes were red as she grabbed the receiver. “Fine, I’ll call! If you’re lying to me, I’ll smash your shop today!”

“Ah Qi!” Wang Rongyan frowned disapprovingly.

“It’s fine. Let her call,” Gu Xicao said nonchalantly.

The call connected quickly. At first, the person on the other end didn’t recognize the caller and simply answered with a “Hello?”

Ma Qi gripped the receiver tightly, her voice hoarse. “Mom, it’s me.”

“Ah Qi?!” Ma Chunya’s voice was filled with surprise. “Ah Qi, why are you calling all of a sudden? Did something happen?”

Hearing her daughter’s unusually dejected tone, Ma Chunya felt a flicker of hope. As she doodled absentmindedly with a pen, she silently thanked Wang Rongyan for her help. It seemed the master knew how to handle things discreetly. As long as Ah Qi broke up with that man, she’d be at ease.

“Mom, the fortune-teller said you and Ah Yong had… a thing. Is it true?”

Ma Qi’s voice trembled, and her knuckles turned white as she clutched the phone.

Snap!

The pencil in Ma Chunya’s hand broke in half. She stood up abruptly, the chair screeching loudly against the floor. “Who told you that?”

“The fortune-teller!” Ma Qi’s face paled. “Mom, is she lying to me? Are you working with her to trick me? Tell me the truth—I can handle it.”

Ma Chunya fell silent, cold sweat pooling in her palms.

After a long pause, she finally said, “Ah Qi, what she said is true. I did keep Dai Yong for a while in the past.”

What?!

Ma Qi looked like she had been struck by lightning, her entire body trembling as though it might split apart.

“You, him, you…”

Her mouth moved, but no words came out. Her mind had completely shut down.

“It happened ten years ago,” Ma Chunya explained. “At the time, I was feeling down and went to a nightclub to have fun. That’s where I met him. He stayed with me for a while, but we parted ways quickly because I realized he was too greedy. He wanted too much—he even wanted to marry me and have kids. I already had you, my daughter. How could I have another child with someone else?”

After a pause, she continued, “We never saw each other again after that. When you brought him home, I recognized him immediately. But it seemed like he didn’t recognize me. I didn’t want to tell you, but now that you know, I won’t hide it anymore.”

Click.

The call ended.

Ma Qi collapsed into a chair, looking like her soul had left her body.

She muttered under her breath, “It’s true… He and my mom…”

Wang Rongyan sat frozen, unsure how to react.

She had thought her own life was dramatic enough, but her friend’s life was equally explosive.

No wonder Ma Chunya had been so determined to stop them. If they got married, it would be catastrophic.

“Miss Ma, look on the bright side,” Gu Xicao said, pouring her another cup of tea. “At least you found out before getting married. Imagine if you’d only learned about this after the wedding. Now that would’ve been awkward.”

Ma Qi stared at Gu Xicao, her face a mask of devastation.

After leaving the Fortune Pavilion, Ma Qi said to Wang Rongyan in a monotone voice, “I’m breaking up with that disgusting man!”

“Good, good. Don’t be too upset. There are plenty of men in the world. Auntie will—”

“I don’t want men anymore! All men in this world are trash!” Ma Qi shouted, clutching her head in anguish.

Inside the shop, Wang Laoshi and Lin Yuan overheard her outburst. The older man and the boy exchanged confused looks.

Biting into an apple, Lin Yuan asked, “Uncle Wang, why is that lady saying all men are trash?”

“Don’t ask, Ah Yuan,” Wang Laoshi said, patting the boy’s head with a heavy sigh. “The adult world is too complicated.”

Lin Yuan tilted his head in confusion and replied obediently, “Oh.”