Chapter 85: What Are They Asking For?

Xu Jin and Quan Zhiwen waited for what felt like an eternity, yet the gates of the Xia family estate never opened again.

It was only then that Quan Zhiwen realized—Xu Zhi had clearly gone inside for her own business and hadn’t put in a good word for him at all.

With no other choice, the two of them could only wait for their bodyguards to finish repairing the car and pick them up.

After an exhausting afternoon, Xu Jin had had enough. She swore she wouldn’t come again tomorrow.

She told Quan Zhiwen to come alone.

Even on the way back, she kept complaining non-stop, giving Quan Zhiwen a headache.

But he still comforted her, his voice gentle and patient.

As the car passed by the construction site where Jing Xi’s house was being built, the driver in the front seat suddenly noticed something.

“Sir, take a look over there.”

Following the bodyguard’s indication, they both turned their heads and saw a group of middle-aged and elderly men emerging from an alleyway. Among them was Xia Lidong—Elder Xia’s eldest son.

“Stop the car!”

The bodyguard immediately brought the car to a halt, and Quan Zhiwen stepped out without hesitation.

“Mr. Xia! Please wait a moment!”

The moment Xia Lidong saw the luxury sedan, he instantly understood what was happening.

“What do you need?”

Quan Zhiwen stepped forward, attempting to shake hands, but Xia Lidong politely declined.

“Apologies, I just finished some work and my hands are dirty. Please, get straight to the point.”

Quan Zhiwen hesitated for a moment before quickly saying, “It’s about your father. I came to visit Master Xia today, but I wasn’t able to meet him.”

Xia Lidong remained calm. “My father has his own thoughts. As his children, we do not interfere. If he does not wish to see you, then he must have his reasons.”

Hearing this, Quan Zhiwen felt completely defeated. “So… there’s really no way?”

Xia Lidong shook his head. “You two should be on your way. It’s getting dark, and the road isn’t easy to walk on. Be careful.”

With that, he turned to leave.

Xu Jin, who had been holding back her frustration all afternoon, could no longer contain herself upon seeing Quan Zhiwen get rejected again.

She stormed out of the car and blocked Xia Lidong’s path.

“What’s wrong with you Xia family people? A measly fortune-teller, acting all high and mighty! Doesn’t look at this, doesn’t look at that. Do you even know we waited outside your house all afternoon without even a sip of water?”

Xia Lidong looked at her calmly. “I believe you were already turned away earlier. If that was the case, why didn’t you leave? Why insist on waiting outside?”

Xu Jin scowled. “Wasn’t it your wife who said she’d help us persuade him? But she never even came back out! We wasted an entire afternoon waiting for nothing!”

Xia Lidong remained composed. “If you didn’t get the result you wanted, why continue waiting? I believe my wife made things very clear.”

Xu Jin snapped, “I don’t care! You must give us an answer today. Otherwise, don’t even think about going home! Do you have any idea who we are? Do you really think our family will tolerate this kind of treatment? Believe it or not, if I’m still upset tomorrow, I’ll have someone come and demolish your house!”

She spoke without a care, but Xia Lidong’s expression remained unchanged.

“Go ahead,” he replied coolly. “As long as you can afford to pay for it.”

“…What?”

“Fortune-telling is a matter of fate. My father has no connection with your family. If you force it, the outcome will not be good. I advise you to think twice before proceeding. Pressuring me won’t change anything—my father’s decision is final, and no one can sway him.”

Xu Jin scoffed, “All you do is spew nonsense. What a hypocrite!”

Quan Zhiwen could see that Xu Jin was going too far. He quickly pulled her aside and gave her a look.

“My apologies, Mr. Xia! My wife is just straightforward—please don’t take it personally. I understand your words. We won’t disturb you any further. If fate allows, we shall meet again.”

With that, he dragged Xu Jin back into the car.

The imported luxury sedan sped off, deliberately kicking up a cloud of dust as it went.

Xia Lidong shook his head. Looking around, he realized that all his coworkers had already left, leaving him standing there alone.

“That woman…” he muttered. “One day, her mouth is going to get her into serious trouble.”

Then, he turned and headed home.

—

Not far away in the alley, Jing Xi had witnessed everything.

She had only come to check if Xia Lidong and the others had finished their business, but instead, she ended up seeing Xu Jin throwing a tantrum.

That woman was truly unreasonable.

But one thing was certain—Xu Jin and her husband had come to the Xia family for a favor.

Back in ancient times, Liu Bei had to visit Zhuge Liang’s cottage three times before he was willing to help.

The Quan family had already visited twice—and both times, they had been turned away.

Jing Xi couldn’t say for sure whether they’d try a third time.

But if she were that “Zhiwen,” she definitely wouldn’t bring Xu Jin along again.

That woman… was only making things worse.

—

Long Family, Shanxi Province

In a small courtyard, at a tea table…

“I heard that the head of the Quan family is seriously ill,” a voice remarked. “They’ve visited multiple hospitals, but none have been able to cure him. The Quan family is now desperate and seeking unconventional methods.”

Long Yue Zhi stroked a large black dog lying beside him, his gaze resting on the man standing at the doorway.

The man let out a low hum of acknowledgment. “As for whether he’s really gravely ill, that’s unclear. But they are indeed looking for alternative solutions. Quan Zhiwen even took Xu Jin with him to Hebei Province. And wouldn’t you know it… they went straight to Fucha Village.”

Long Yuezhi became intrigued. “There’s such a mysterious figure in Fucha Village?”

“You know, the old man who’s famous for his incredibly accurate fortune-telling. His last name is Xia.”

Long Yuezhi suddenly understood. “Oh, it’s him. The Quan family actually believes in this stuff? If they want to cure an illness, they might as well ask me. I could introduce them to Doctor Li in the capital—wouldn’t that be far more reliable?”

The man glanced at him, his expression unreadable. “So, the serious illness is probably fake. They must have some other request.”

Long Yuezhi absentmindedly stroked the dog’s head. The dog let out a comfortable whimper, signaling for him to continue. When he noticed the dog’s nose seemed a little dry, he quickly called out to Yu Er. “Has the dog not been eating well this month? Why is its nose so dry?”

Yu Er looked innocent. “Fourth Master, the dog eats better than we do. It’s had lamb, beef, and pork on rotation, never repeating a meal.”

Just look at that fur—so sleek and shiny, it looked healthier than his own hair!

Long Yuezhi rubbed the dog’s nose. “Take it to the doctor for a checkup.”

“Understood.”

After Yu Er left with the dog, only the two of them remained in the courtyard.

Long Yuezhi lazily spoke. “I’m not particularly interested in the Quan family’s matters. What I care about right now is someone else.”

The man raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with amusement. “Just say what you mean. Don’t beat around the bush.”

Long Yuezhi tapped his fingers on the table, pausing for a while before finally speaking. “I have a theory, but I don’t have any evidence yet.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Come closer.”

The two spoke in hushed voices…

When the conversation ended, the man straightened up, looking at Long Yuezhi with a faint smile. “I see.”

“This matter stays between us. No one else can know. And make sure Xu Jin doesn’t come back too soon—if she returns too quickly, she’ll just come and bother me again. Let her stay in Ji Province a while longer.”

“Understood.”

After the man left, Long Yuezhi picked up the bowl of now-cold medicine on the table and drank it.

He had been taking this medicine for years. It worked, but it still couldn’t completely eliminate the root cause.

Doctor Li had said he had never been able to pinpoint the exact source of Long Yuezhi’s illness, but he kept trying.

Long Yuezhi had long since grown used to this cycle of waiting—taking medicine, switching prescriptions, enduring pain, and continuing to take medicine.

He lifted his shirt, revealing the black snake-like pattern coiled around his entire waist and abdomen, its blood-red tongue flickering in sight.

Was he destined to rely on medicine just to survive for the rest of his life?