Fortune Telling Live: Streaming from the Human Realm

Time Flows Like Water slightly opened her mouth, her tone filled with shock: “Ah… he’s a scammer?”

【Holy crap, is it true? The rich lady’s boyfriend she’s about to marry is a scammer!?】

【No way, she seems pretty sharp, how could she be scammed?】

Time Flows Like Water was visibly shaken and blurted out: “How could he possibly be a scammer?”

Because she believed in An Rugu’s fortune-telling skills, her worldview was somewhat shattered. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, her eyes filled with confusion.

Seeing her like this, An Rugu said: “You and your current boyfriend didn’t meet face-to-face, but through letters, or rather, the internet nowadays.”

“Right,” Time Flows Like Water nodded: “He said he accidentally added the wrong friend, so we got to know each other.”

Since she ran a beauty salon, the people Time Flows Like Water interacted with were mostly women. After her divorce, she had both money and free time, and inevitably felt lonely at times, occasionally visiting bars.

She wasn’t initially interested in strangers on her phone, but the other person often checked in on her. Because she had been in the service industry for years, she always had a smile for everyone and wasn’t used to being cold, so they gradually became familiar.

Later, the man revealed that he had been through a painful marriage. Time Flows Like Water was quite guarded, but because of their shared experience, she felt a certain empathy.

Two somewhat similar strangers became familiar and turned into friends.

Time Flows Like Water occasionally shared small professional troubles with this online friend that she couldn’t tell people around her.

The friend didn’t understand business matters, but was very considerate.

Over time, Time Flows Like Water felt she had met someone who could cheer her up and understand her.

Time Flows Like Water briefly recounted how she met and got to know her boyfriend, then sighed deeply: “Because of him, I even understand why those lousy men cheat. Who can resist someone so gentle and considerate? It was him who made me think about getting married again.”

【I feel like there’s an ulterior motive, that’s why he’s always so gentle and considerate.】

【This routine sounds so familiar. Isn’t this exactly a pig butchering scam?】

【What’s a pig butchering scam?】

【A pig butchering scam is when someone uses online chats to talk about love, then tricks you into investing and takes your money. It’s like raising a pig, fattening it up before slaughtering it, hence the name pig butchering scam.】

Time Flows Like Water saw these comments and slowly shook her head: “I know there are these types of scammers, and I’ve heard my clients talk about such things, but he doesn’t seem like one. I’m very sharp when it comes to money matters, and I haven’t noticed him trying to lure me into investing.”

Her eyes flickered with uncertainty, her heart filled with doubt. After a moment, as if she had finally made up her mind, she looked up at An Rugu on the screen, her tone firm and serious: “Is he really a scammer? Just tell me the truth. I can handle it.”

An Rugu fixed her gaze on the woman. Her love life was plagued by Rotten Peach Blossom-deceptive, suspicious, and cunning, with a history of schemes.

If An Rugu didn’t intervene…

The Rotten Peach Blossom wouldn’t have much of an impact on this woman.

Generally, women with a pure and untainted Official Star, though noble and wealthy, often derive their status from their husbands. However, this woman’s chart was dominated by the Creative Star and the Food Star, indicating a strong focus on her career and an independent personality. She had achieved her wealth entirely on her own, a true powerhouse. The Rotten Peach Blossom couldn’t harm her.

Instead of directly answering Time Flows Like Water’s question, An Rugu knew that someone like her would need evidence. So she said, “Your boyfriend told you he’s not in Nan City right now, and that he’ll meet you once the wedding date is set, correct?”

Time Flows Like Water immediately nodded. This was one of the reasons she had been so eager to set a wedding date. “Yes, he said he’s currently abroad on a business trip.”

【On a business trip abroad? This scammer’s act is pretty convincing.】

【Scammer: Just landed in the U.S., send me money ASAP.】

An Rugu continued, “If you trust me, put on a mask, leave your house, and follow my directions. You’ll see him soon.”

With fortune-telling combined with a satellite map app, it was almost foolproof, allowing for real-time precision down to the traffic conditions.

Time Flows Like Water trusted An Rugu at this point. Without much hesitation, she nodded, put on her mask, picked up her phone, and stood up. “Alright, should I hang up the call?”

“No need. Just point the camera at the road. It’ll help me see more clearly.”

The audience in the Live Streaming Room hadn’t anticipated this turn of events and were beyond excited. Viewers who had initially come for the leaderboard stayed for this unexpected twist.

【So the host is saying the scammer is in Nan City right now!】

【Is this for real? Is the host really that good?】

【This is live, though. If she doesn’t find him, it’ll be social suicide.】

【Wow, I’ve seen live streams catching cheaters, but never a live stream catching a scammer!】

【I can’t handle this bizarre situation alone. I’ve already sent the link to my third cousin, fourth cousin, and eighth cousin.】

The hundreds of viewers in the Live Streaming Room, sensing something big was about to happen, felt a surge of excitement. They quickly shared the stream with their friends and family.

“Walk straight down Huainan Road until the end, then turn onto Zhu Rong Road. On Zhu Rong Road, there’s an internet café called Koala. Go inside, and make sure to wear a mask.”

Time Flows Like Water walked briskly down the street, her emotions a mix of melancholy and excitement. If she had indeed been scammed, she wasn’t so much heartbroken as she was proud of the idea of exposing the damn scammer in front of everyone.

As Time Flows Like Water made her way to the café, the heat in the Live Streaming Room tripled.

Many newcomers immediately asked: 【I heard this stream is about catching a scammer. Where’s the scammer? Are we calling the police?】

Ten minutes later, Time Flows Like Water stood at the entrance of the internet café, double-checking that her mask was securely in place before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Through her earpiece, An Rugu’s calm and cool voice came through, offering her a sense of reassurance in this unfamiliar environment: “Second row, third seat. The guy in the red jacket-do you see him?”

Time Flows Like Water followed the direction she described, her gaze landing on a man in a red jacket. He appeared to be in his thirties, decent-looking but unshaven, giving off an air of disheveled poverty.

The man was sitting at his computer, typing away on the keyboard.

Time Flows Like Water assumed he was playing a game, but as she quietly approached from behind, she realized his screen displayed a WeChat chat window.

The text on the screen, magnified to scale, was almost perfectly legible.

The man typed: 【Actually, I’ve been through a very painful marriage.】

【What happened? Can you tell me about it?】

The man: 【My wife-well, ex-wife-cheated on me with my friend… but never mind, it’s all in the past now. I’ve moved on.】

Time Flows Like Water: “!!!”

The Live Streaming Room audience: “!!!”

【What he’s saying sounds so familiar. Didn’t the rich lady say something similar earlier?】

【Drop the ‘something similar’-he literally said the exact same thing. He’s definitely the scammer the host mentioned.】

【The host is a genius!】

【I don’t know, maybe he’s not the scammer. Could just be a coincidence, right?】

Under her mask, Time Flows Like Water’s face turned from red to pale, then to green. As the person directly involved, she knew far more than the audience in the Live Streaming Room. The message he had sent her earlier was almost word-for-word identical to what was on the screen.

Who else could this be but her boyfriend?

As her anger flared, Time Flows Like Water’s expression grew darker and darker. She was itching to confront this online scammer right then and there. But just as she was about to act, she noticed the audience’s skepticism out of the corner of her eye. After a moment’s thought, she pulled out her other phone and dialed her boyfriend’s number.

Then, a phone ringtone suddenly blared. The man picked up his phone, saw it was his girlfriend calling, and was about to answer when the call ended before he could even press the button.

Just as he was wondering what had happened, the Live Streaming Room exploded.

【Holy crap, the timing matches up. He really is the scammer.】

【This has blown my mind. How did the host even figure this out?】

【Where did the host find such a good actor? The performance is so convincing.】

After locating her boyfriend, Time Flows Like Water thought for a moment, quickly devised a plan, and decided she didn’t want to stay there any longer. She turned and left.

Once she was out on the street, she suddenly said, “Master, thank you.”

Before An Rugu could respond, Time Flows Like Water immediately pulled out her phone and started sending gifts in the Live Streaming Room.

【Time Flows Like Water sent a South Sea Pearl.】

…………

The audience in the Live Streaming Room watched as the screen was flooded with extravagant gift animations: “!!!”

The South Sea Pearl was the most expensive gift on Shark Platform, each worth 5,000 yuan. In just a short moment, Time Flows Like Water had sent ten South Sea Pearls.

And it looked like she was about to keep going.

Seeing her relentless gifting, An Rugu quickly stopped her: “You don’t need to keep sending gifts. You’ve already paid the fortune-telling fee.”

But Time Flows Like Water insisted, “This fortune-telling session is worth its weight in gold.”

An Rugu calmly explained what she had foreseen: “He wanted to set a wedding date before meeting you because he knew you were smart. He was hesitant, thinking that once the relationship was official, you’d accept him. Your destiny is marked by nobility, so you’re not easily affected by petty people. Even without this reading, it wouldn’t have made much difference.”

Time Flows Like Water didn’t see it that way. If it hadn’t been for An Rugu’s warning, she had no idea how long she would have been deceived by this scammer.

“But I really hate being deceived, especially emotionally,” Time Flows Like Water said, her brow deeply furrowed. “These people have hands and feet-why don’t they do something honest? It’s disgusting, truly disgusting.”

【Scammer: “I’ll never work a real job in my life. No way.”】

【If I were the rich lady, I wouldn’t be able to stand being emotionally deceived either. I’d have to scam the scammer out of their money to ease my anger.】

【Hahaha, fight fire with fire.】

【Am I the only one curious why this scammer dared to meet the rich lady in person and even planned to marry her? Most online scammers avoid meeting offline because they’re afraid of getting caught.】

【I think he was after even more money.】

An Rugu glanced at the comments and explained, “The reason he made this request wasn’t actually to scam you out of money.”

Time Flows Like Water had thought the day’s events had already shattered her worldview, but now there was more. She asked, “Then what does he want?”

How could a scammer not be after money?

An Rugu, thinking of the man’s “Red Luan Star” (a sign of romantic fate), said, “He has genuine feelings for you. In other words, he likes you.”

Time Flows Like Water: “…”

The Live Streaming Room audience: “!!!”

【How is that possible?】

【But the rich lady is really beautiful and, of course, really wealthy. Who could resist that?】

【This is hilarious. The scammer tried to deceive her emotionally but ended up falling for her instead.】

【Youth is wasted on the young. Sis, give me a chance.】

【If it’s mutual, does it still count as emotional deception? Would the rich lady be willing to accept her boyfriend?】

Time Flows Like Water wasn’t the type to lose her head over romance. She hadn’t even developed feelings for her scammer boyfriend; she was just lonely and looking for companionship.

After calming herself, she didn’t change her stance because of her boyfriend’s supposed feelings. “Master,” she said firmly, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to send him to jail and make sure this scammer gets what he deserves.”

“Alright.”

Time Flows Like Water didn’t underestimate An Rugu because of her youth. Her voice was filled with sincere gratitude. “Thank you, Master. Once this is resolved, I’d like to visit you in person to express my thanks. Would that be okay?”

Time Flows Like Water already liked An Rugu, and seeing her extraordinary abilities, she keenly realized that An Rugu was destined for greatness. She wanted to form a positive connection.

Time Flows Like Water assumed the Master might not want to be disturbed and was prepared for a rejection.

But An Rugu didn’t refuse. Instead, she said, “Once you’ve handled your affairs, you can come to Chuyun Temple and light an incense stick.”

Hearing this, Time Flows Like Water realized An Rugu had agreed and was overjoyed.

Afterward, An Rugu ended the call and turned her attention to the comment display. “There’s one more fortune-telling session left today. Who wants it?”

The first time she had offered to tell fortunes, almost no one had been interested-only Time Flows Like Water, who had plenty of money to spare, had stepped forward.

But now, the comments exploded. Many people typed “I want a fortune reading” on the public screen, and the chat was buzzing with excitement.

It was clear to everyone that An Rugu’s fortune-telling skills were nothing short of miraculous.