Gu Tangxue picked up her coffee cup and said softly, "I was an extra in the film crew for a year, and I never gave up. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, even if it was fleeting, I would strive for it. You're younger than me, and you'll understand this sooner or later. Don't give up, strive for it. Even if a forced melon isn't sweet, I'll still twist it off!"
Her eyes were filled with ambition.
If she hadn't persevered until now, she wouldn't have lasted until Xu Linyun stepped down.
Nor would she have replaced Xu Linyun to become the sought-after new rising star.
"So, you can't give up either, okay?"
Gu Tangxue's hand was warm.
That warmth, from her fingertips, reached Su Qi's heart.
After parting ways with Gu Tangxue at the coffee shop, Su Qi stood for a moment, then drove back to the road near Shallow Bay.
This was a road she had traveled countless times.
She used to think this road was long and dark. Perhaps it was because Christmas was approaching, and the roadside was adorned with colorful light strips. As dusk fell and they lit up, the view was like a sea of stars.
As the car passed a small shop, Su Qi's gaze was drawn to it.
After parking the car, Su Qi got out and glanced at the shop's sign.
Tarot Hut.
She remembered what Gu Tangxue had said that afternoon; it should be this shop.
Su Qi had never believed in fortune-telling, but on a whim, she decided to go in and try it out.
Su Qi pushed open the door of the Tarot Hut. Inside, everything was decorated in a Gothic style, both vintage and romantic. It was evening, and the shop's lamps were all in the style of ancient European centuries, with warm orange light filling the entire interior. The shop wasn't large, and furniture occupied most of the space.
The moment Su Qi entered, she was captivated by the peculiar little trinkets, unable to tear her eyes away.
They were all sorts of strange and unusual items, unlike anything Su Qi had ever seen.
She was the only one in the shop, not even a staff member appeared. Only her breathing and footsteps echoed, making the place exceptionally quiet and eerie.
A light rain began to fall outside, its pattering drops hitting the shop's glass windows.
Su Qi stood for a moment, and just as she was about to leave, a woman in a dress emerged from behind an inner screen.
The woman was dressed elegantly and luxuriously, looking exactly like a noble lady from medieval Europe. She held a feathered fan, gently fanning herself and covering most of her face. Su Qi looked up, and the woman narrowed her eyes and smiled.
"Please, come in."
Su Qi was taken aback. She had only intended to look around, but her curiosity got the better of her, and she followed the woman behind the screen.
Behind the screen, there was another world.
Although the furnishings were also Gothic and European, there were added sofas and chairs. The walls were covered in floral wallpaper, giving it a very stylish feel. Incense wafted through the room, carrying a faint scent of agave that was incredibly calming.
In a golden cage by the window, a beautifully colored parrot was kept. It didn't squawk, but merely stood on its perch, looking around.
"Please sit. What would you like to drink? Since you're pregnant, perhaps some tea."
The woman turned to prepare the tea. Since becoming pregnant, Su Qi had been extremely careful about her diet and lifestyle, rarely consuming unfamiliar items. The tea was brewed and placed before her. Su Qi didn't touch it, but instead asked,
"Can you do fortune-telling here?"
"What would you like to divine?"
The woman produced a deck of Tarot cards from somewhere and presented them to Su Qi.
"Love."
The woman smiled mysteriously, selected a few Tarot cards, and laid them out before Su Qi.
"Please choose one card based on your first impression."
There were three cards before her.
Su Qi glanced at them, then her finger landed on the middle one, selecting a Tarot card with a hexagram.
The woman picked up the Tarot card, looked at it, and smiled slightly, her voice gentle, "The hexagram indicates that you already have someone in your heart."
Obvious.
Su Qi almost rolled her eyes.
If she didn't have relationship issues, why would she come for a love divination?
But then, the woman continued, "Unfortunately, the hexagram is surrounded by clouds, which means you are very confused. You don't know what your feelings are for the person you have in mind, or rather, you don't know what their feelings are for you."
Su Qi's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "How accurate!"
However, this might just be a guess.
"Let's look at the second set of cards."
The woman placed three more cards on the table.
This time, Su Qi chose the card on the left.
The woman picked up Su Qi's card, looked at it, and fanned herself with the fan.
"It seems your love life is very bumpy. From this card, it can be seen that your path in love is arduous. You've walked a long road in love. You've loved the other person for a long time. This is a ladder, with someone climbing it endlessly, unable to see their future, and not knowing whether to persevere."
Su Qi couldn't help but gasp inwardly.
Gu Tangxue didn't lie to me; it's indeed very accurate.
"Then what should I do?"
"Please look at the third card."
The woman presented the third, and final, set of cards to Su Qi.
Su Qi glanced at them. These three cards seemed to foreshadow different outcomes.
"Please choose one card based on your first feeling."
The woman fanned her fan, and the scent of agave, accompanied by a gentle breeze, wafted into Su Qi's senses.
Su Qi looked at the cards before her and chose the middle one.
The woman narrowed her eyes, a flicker of surprise in her gaze. She picked up the card and examined it closely, as if unsure, looking at it a few more times before her gaze settled back on Su Qi.
"What's wrong?" Su Qi didn't understand why the woman's gaze had become so strange.
The woman put down her fan, and Su Qi finally saw her face clearly. The indoor light was dim, her red lips were bright, and her oval face, with a high-bridged nose, made her look like a Eurasian. Even her eyes were emerald green, striking and captivating.
"This card is very strange. It seems your intended also has feelings for you, but there seems to be something separating you. All three cards have clouds, indicating that you are separated by mist. To cross this mist, you need to boldly move towards each other. However, effort from only one side is not enough."
The answer the woman gave was ambiguous.
Su Qi frowned.
It was as if she said something, but also said nothing.
"Could you be more specific?"
"It means, either go all out, or retreat completely. Otherwise, your outcome will be unfortunate. If happiness is within reach, grasp it firmly."
As the woman spoke, she raised her emerald green eyes and checked the time, which was approaching seven o'clock.
"The shop is closing. If you need further divination, you can come another day."
Su Qi stood up, "How much..."
"You don't need to pay right away. Come and pay when you feel that what I've said is accurate."
The woman smiled and saw Su Qi out.