Her pink hair was styled in twin buns, fastened with flying immortal hairpins, their golden strands shimmering under the midday sun.
The young lady before him possessed not only an extraordinarily elegant and captivating face but also a dazzling crystal-like third eye on her forehead. Yet, what truly stood out were the pristine white tights beneath her iridescent skirt, which perfectly accentuated the graceful lines of her legs.
Every time he saw this, Bai Heng couldn't help but feel a flicker of bewilderment.
Just who was the genius that came up with the combination of hanfu and tights?
They deserved to be honored in the ancestral temple!
Indeed, that unmistakable height of just around one point five meters, those signature white silk tights, and that one-of-a-kind way of referring to herself here on the Xianzhou Luofu—
The one who had appeared in front of Bai Heng's shop could be none other than—
The Master Diviner of the Divination Commission, Fu Xuan.
"It's entirely my fault for making you wait, Your Excellency the Master Diviner. But business has been slow lately, rent and taxes keep climbing, and I've lost the motivation to keep this stall open. At this rate, it won't be long before my Great Snow King Tea Shop closes down for good in the Exalting Sanctum district~"
Bai Heng sighed deeply, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his words dripping with the bitterness of being squeezed dry.
"Absolutely not!"
Fu Xuan's suddenly raised voice made Bai Heng startle, and he instinctively shrank back half a step.
Perhaps realizing she had lost her composure, the ever-dignified Master Diviner gave a light cough and straightened up, speaking solemnly, "Rent and taxes are managed by the Realm-Keeping Commission. The specifics are not something I am fully aware of. If you are facing difficulties lately, I can offer you some assistance."
"But this Great Snow King Tea Shop of yours must not close down!"
As she uttered those final words, Fu Xuan's expression was deadly serious, as if she were discussing a matter of life and death.
And in a way, she was.
Working folks all over the universe share the same struggles. Though Fu Xuan held a high position as the head of the Divination Commission, the workload she dealt with daily was no less—in fact, it was several times more—than that of an ordinary diviner.
Whenever the pressures of her duties weighed heavily on her, she would come for a cup of Great Snow King tea to soothe her weariness.
It was what working people everywhere called 'using milk tea to keep going'.
The mere thought of having to settle for the oddly flavored 'Startaro Bubble' after Great Snow King Tea closed down gave Fu Xuan the feeling she might fall into a Mara-struck state five centuries ahead of schedule.
Sure, she'd been fond of 'Startaro Bubble' in the past, but there was a saying for this:
Had I not seen the sun, I could have borne the shade.
After tasting Bai Heng's exceptional Great Snow King tea, with its superb flavor and reasonable price, Startaro Bubble?
Sorry, we're just not acquainted anymore.
"Your concern is greatly appreciated, Your Excellency, but things haven't quite reached that point yet. Recently, my shop is preparing to launch a new product called 'White Chocolate Milk Pudding' to turn things around!"
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble for Your Excellency to endorse our shop—given your prestige and popularity among the people of the Luofu, which rivals even General Jing Yuan's—I'm certain it would help us overcome this crisis!"
Though he was making a request, Bai Heng's words and demeanor were neither submissive nor arrogant; he carried himself with the air of someone determined to earn his keep with dignity.
On the other hand, Fu Xuan initially looked hesitant upon hearing Bai Heng's appeal.
After all, as the esteemed Master Diviner, endorsing a product felt somewhat beneath her dignity.
But after Bai Heng's remark about 'your prestige and popularity among the people of the Luofu, which rivals even General Jing Yuan's,' that hesitation vanished without a trace.
"Hmm... I suppose I have enjoyed your tea for quite some time now. This much, I can agree to."
"You can fill me in on the details of how you'd like me to assist later. For now, bring me a cup of tea to lift my spirits."
With that, Fu Xuan found a seat and sat down, rubbing her temples.
Over the past few days, a strange little screen had appeared before her eyes, playing a story that was neither too long nor too short. At first, the tale was wonderfully sweet—filled with romance, mutual affection, and a sweetness that surpassed any love story from the Luofu.
But as the story progressed, the heartbreaking twists and turns left Fu Xuan unable to sleep night after night, and even now, she hadn't fully recovered.
However...
As she watched Bai Heng bustling behind the counter, Fu Xuan confirmed her suspicions.
That was undoubtedly a story from some other parallel world. Though his appearance was nearly identical, the Bai Heng before her now was quite different in temperament and personality from the one in that story.
Just as Fu Xuan was lost in thought, Bai Heng, still busy with his work, suddenly spoke up:
"Speaking of which, Your Excellency once cast a divination for me, saying that choosing this location for my shop would not only attract wealth and blessings but also bring me a wonderful romance."
"While I've seen a glimpse of the wealth and blessings, I've yet to encounter that wonderful romance you mentioned."
This had happened not long after Bai Heng first arrived in this world.
Realizing he had no special advantages to rely on, he used what little starting capital he had to acquire a small cart and began selling Great Snow King tea on the streets of the Exalting Sanctum.
But back then, 'Startaro Bubble' dominated the market, and business was so bleak that he often stood alone under the night sky of the Exalting Sanctum—a truly pitiful sight.
As the saying goes: Back then, at eighteen, standing on the streets of the Exalting Sanctum, I was just a nobody.
Whether out of pity or curiosity, the passing Master Diviner became his first customer and was swiftly captivated by this otherworldly concoction of industrial sweetness.
Not only did she buy out his entire cart in one go, but she also offered him a free divination.
"Ahem..." Mentioning this topic now, Fu Xuan felt a little embarrassed.
She knew Bai Heng was being polite by saying he'd seen a glimpse of wealth and blessings. Given the current state of his business, closing down seemed almost inevitable.
"The predictions of the Divination Commission's Matrix of Prescience rarely deviate significantly. This current slump may only be temporary. As for the matter of your romantic fate... I can perform another divination for you."
With that, the pink-haired young lady closed her eyes and began tracing lines with her fingers.
Before long, she reopened them, a faint look of surprise on her exquisite features.
Noticing her expression, Bai Heng, who had just set a cup of tea in front of her, couldn't help but ask:
"What's the result?"
"The hexagram is 'Great Harvest,' with Fire above and Heaven below."
"The fifth line: sincerity inspires confidence, dignity brings good fortune. It is auspicious."
"Your fated meeting will arrive in three days' time."
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.