Fortune Telling Live: Streaming from the Human Realm

While An Rugu was live streaming her encounter with a scammer, the show’s impact was explosive, and many viewers forwarded the Live Streaming Room to friends and family.

New viewers were completely baffled as to why someone would send them this link. They clicked on it with a sense of confusion, and before they could even ask what it was about, they forgot their initial thoughts, their eyes glued to the screen.

The host was absolutely stunning!

Her eyes were like black glass marbles submerged in clear water, and her long, straight black hair cascaded down her shoulders like an ink waterfall pouring from the top of her head.

Unfortunately, she didn’t smile. Her upturned eyes gave her a cold, distant demeanor, keeping people at arm’s length. Yet, because she didn’t smile, it was hard to read her, adding an ethereal, unapproachable beauty to her presence.

Her looks and charisma allowed An Rugu to effortlessly captivate everyone’s attention.

The other half of the screen showed the road captured by Time Flows Like Water’s phone. Since it wasn’t professional equipment, the screen was shaky. They waited for a while, not understanding what was going on, but because of the host’s striking appearance, they stayed in the Live Streaming Room.

After all, who isn’t a bit of a sucker for beauty?

As Time Flows Like Water found the scammer, the new viewers pieced together the story from the comments and the visuals, and they quickly got excited.

This emotionally charged and highly righteous situation ignited their curiosity and love for drama.

By the time An Rugu announced she would perform a second fortune telling, the number of viewers in the Live Streaming Room had grown from a few hundred to over a thousand. Those who had been quietly observing, having seen her skills, almost all felt the urge to give it a try.

Every second, at least one person was frantically typing, and the comment section was flooded with messages saying, “I want a fortune telling,” making it look like a completely different room compared to the quiet start.

A small, savvy group remembered the process from Time Flows Like Water’s fortune telling and directly opened the recharge interface, ready to send a High-energy Rocket to seize the opportunity.

Seeing so many people requesting a fortune telling, An Rugu pondered for a moment. Her first fortune telling had been entirely based on speed-whoever grabbed the spot first got it-so everyone assumed the subsequent ones would follow the same method.

But then she thought, now that more people were willing to pay, what if someone sent a gift as the fortune-telling fee after the first person? For her, refunding would be quite inconvenient.

An idea struck her, and she spoke up to stop those who were about to pay the fortune-telling fee: “Hold off on paying the fee. Here’s what we’ll do: Shark Platform has a lottery system. I’ll start a lottery, and the prize will be the qualification.”

When the audience heard this, they paused for a moment, considering the new approach. After some thought, they decided it didn’t really affect them and quickly accepted it. Meanwhile, those who were slower on the draw or had poor internet connections were thrilled.

[If it’s about speed, I’d never get a chance. I’d rather leave it to fate. Hehe, I always pull SSR in gacha games.]

[Draw your sword, you cursed Lucky Player! This Non-Lucky Player will never surrender!]

An Rugu caught these comments out of the corner of her eye and responded, “The concept of ‘fate’ includes both destiny and luck. Some people are fortunate in every aspect of life, likely due to their inherent good fortune. As the saying goes, ‘If destined, you’ll meet even across a thousand miles; if not, you’ll pass by without recognition.’ To have me perform fortune telling for you, all you need is a connection with me. It doesn’t necessarily require exceptional luck.”

[Now that the host mentions it, I’m reminded of the wealthy woman earlier. She was scammed-that’s bad luck. Is misfortune a prerequisite for fortune telling?]

[Oh no, I suddenly don’t want to enter the lottery. What if my boyfriend turns out to be a scammer too?]

[Haha, don’t worry! If it’s revealed, you can cut your losses in time.]

An Rugu set up a lottery in the backend of the Live Streaming Room, with the prize being the second fortune telling session. The draw would take place in ten minutes. To qualify, viewers only needed a Level 1 badge, which was easily obtained by following the channel.

Eager to participate, many viewers who hadn’t followed the host before quickly hit the follow button.

Ten minutes later, An Rugu’s follower count had surged to over 300. The system then announced the winner.

The user ID: Won’t Change My Name Without Grad School.

[I waited for over ten minutes and still didn’t get picked. My luck is truly terrible.]

[With a one in 356 chance, honestly, it’s harder than passing an exam. But hey, I’m definitely not a Non-Lucky Player!]

An Rugu promptly sent a message to the winner, asking if she preferred a voice call or to send a photo.

The fan opted for a voice call.

When the video call connected, a young woman in her early twenties appeared on the screen. She was dressed in a white T-shirt and denim shorts, her hair tied up in a high ponytail. Her fresh, student-like appearance exuded a youthful charm.

[Wow, how come both winners are beautiful women? Is this the law of attraction among beauties?]

[I know this one! Her name is Won’t Change My Name Without Grad School-she’s definitely here to ask about her studies!]

An Rugu ignored the comments and focused on the girl’s face. Despite her vibrant, youthful energy, the aspiring graduate student looked troubled. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her hair was slightly disheveled.

The girl had agreed to the voice call without hesitation earlier, but now she seemed hesitant and a bit nervous. She unconsciously fidgeted with her fingers, looking lost and unsure whether her impulsive decision to seek fortune telling online-out of desperation-was the right move.

An Rugu, noticing her demeanor, didn’t try to comfort her. Instead, she calmly reminded her, “Hello, please pay the fortune-telling fee-one High-energy Rocket.”

“Oh, right, of course,” the girl replied, snapping out of her daze. She quickly navigated her phone and sent the gift.

An Rugu remained composed, even taking a moment to sip her tea to soothe her throat.

Over the years, she had gained some straightforward experience in dealing with people. It was natural for everyone to be cautious and skeptical about things they hadn’t encountered before. She understood this perfectly and didn’t take offense.

All she needed to do was present evidence that would convince them.

Besides, once someone with their own judgment believed in her abilities, they would often go out of their way to spread the word about her.

Setting down her teacup, An Rugu’s voice was serene and soothing, instantly calming the atmosphere. “You were born into a well-off family. Your parents have a harmonious relationship, and you have a younger brother. Your family environment is warm, and they treat you well. You also have a good relationship with your brother.”

The girl’s eyes widened in surprise, and she instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, exclaiming, “That’s so accurate! I do have a brother. He’s six years old, and while he’s a bit mischievous, he’s really adorable.”

Starting with a direct statement about family was a masterstroke in fortune telling. It not only showcased her skills but also earned the client’s trust, making further communication much smoother.

While others might have taken a moment to bask in the satisfaction or even laughed, An Rugu remained expressionless, as if this feat were nothing extraordinary. To onlookers, this only added to her air of mystery.

An Rugu continued, “You have a strong presence in wealth, career, and education. It’s easy for you to achieve academic success. Your college entrance exam results must have been outstanding.”

The girl was even more astonished now, nodding vigorously like a pecking bird. She was fully convinced. “I scored first in my class on the college entrance exam. Now I’m studying at a decent 985 university, and my grades are pretty good. My parents are really proud of me.”

[A decent 985 university? Redefining the word ‘decent.’]

[When top students say ‘decent,’ they mean among the 985 universities. But for us mere mortals, that’s definitely not ‘decent.’]

[This girl has a good family, great relationships at home, and excellent grades. What a blessed life! Crying tears of envy here.]

[It seems the earlier assumptions were wrong. Not everyone who wins the lottery is unlucky, huh?]

“What brings you here today?” An Rugu’s gaze settled on the girl, her eyes carrying a faint trace of curiosity.

The first chosen one, Time Flows Like Water, had encountered a scammer, and her bad luck was evident in her Physiognomy-it was clear at a glance.

But this girl showed no signs of misfortune, yet she looked deeply troubled. It was strange.

At the question, the girl seemed to recall something, her expression sinking into despair. She raised a hand to her forehead, as if she could barely hold herself up. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill over. “My younger brother is missing.”

[???]

[To the person who said the chosen ones aren’t all unlucky-step forward. Isn’t this pretty unlucky?]

[I thought she was here to ask about her studies. Turns out, I’m the clown.]

The girl didn’t want to cry in the Live Streaming Room-it felt too embarrassing-but the overwhelming panic and worry surging in her heart made it unbearable. She covered her eyes, hiding their redness. “A few days ago, my parents went back to our hometown to visit relatives. My brother had a bit of a fever, so they didn’t take him. I’m about to take an exam, and I’m worried I won’t be able to secure a postgraduate recommendation if my grades drop. So, I’ve been studying in my room nonstop. For the past two days, I’ve kept the front door locked and left the TV on for him. But last night, after I finished studying and was about to order takeout, I realized he was gone. The door was closed, but the lock had been opened from the inside. I have no idea where he went.”

[Oh my god, call the police! Missing children cases can be filed immediately-you don’t have to wait 24 hours.]

[The sister is so careless. How could she not notice he was gone?]

[I actually think the sister isn’t to blame. It’s the brother’s fault. She locked the door-who knew he’d be so mischievous and run off without saying a word?]

[Stop arguing! The person involved is already feeling terrible. Instead of assigning blame, why don’t you keyboard warriors help find him?]

The girl caught a glimpse of these comments. After calming herself down, she was still choking back sobs but quickly explained, “I called the police as soon as I realized. The officers at the station filed the case immediately. My parents found out and rushed back overnight.”

Her parents hadn’t blamed her. Instead, they comforted her, telling her not to panic. They just asked her to help search. They’ve been putting up posters around the neighborhood and sharing missing person notices on social media.

Even though her parents didn’t blame her, the girl couldn’t help but feel terrified at the thought of what might happen to her missing brother out there.

They all knew that the longer he was missing, the more dangerous the situation became.

She had stayed up all night, searching for someone outside until dawn when she finally decided to get some sleep.

Before bed, she opened her phone to see if anyone online had posted any clues about her younger brother. Instead, her roommate forwarded a Live Streaming Room link. She clicked on it and was surprised to find it was a fortune-telling live stream.

At that moment, Time Flows Like Water had just arrived at the internet cafe. Guided by the host, she found the red-clothed man who was suspected to be her boyfriend, and the comments section was flooded with “666¹666.”

She had never believed in these supernatural things, but seeing so many people eager to enter the lottery, a sense of conformity and hope suddenly sprouted in her heart.

Why not give it a try?

What if the host really is magical?

The girl pulled herself back to the present and recalled her past visits to temples. Awkwardly, she clasped her hands together and bowed slightly, saying, “Tao Master, oh no, Taoist Nun, please help me find my younger brother.”

An Rugu: “…”

An Rugu glanced at her hands and gently corrected her, “Actually, women are also addressed as Tao Master. Also, clasping hands together is a Buddhist gesture. In Taoism, the proper gesture is to cup one hand over the other in a fist. And I haven’t formally entered Taoism, so I’m not a taoist. You can just call me the host.”

The girl froze mid-gesture, utterly embarrassed. She quickly put her hands down, feeling annoyed-mostly at herself.

Ugh, she thought she was being clever.

Wasn’t this like trying to flatter someone and ending up offending them instead?

Great, the Master is definitely going to be mad now!

[So there’s such a distinction? Sorry, I just learned this.]

[Watching this, I’ve already cringed hard enough to build the Potala Palace with my toes.]

[It’s fine, it’s just a bit of public embarrassment in front of over a thousand people.]

[Host is furious: I’m out.]

The audience thought An Rugu would be angry, but in reality, she was perfectly calm.

Ignorance is no crime, and besides, influenced by the Taoist philosophy of tranquility and non-action, Taoist disciples are usually very easygoing and don’t fuss over such trivial matters.

Seeing the girl’s face turn increasingly red-almost to the point of steaming-An Rugu quickly changed the subject and got straight to the point: “About your younger brother, I have a way. Do you have a photo of him?”

Footnote: