When the leading teacher received the call from the police station, there was a moment he thought it was a scam call, until he heard Yun Ran's voice on the other end and realized something had happened.
After explaining the situation to others, he quietly left the main group, brought two of the school's assigned security personnel with him, and quickly arrived at the nearby police station.
Yun Ran was sitting on a stool, eating snacks and swinging her legs, looking nothing like someone who had been taken hostage and nearly killed.
"Hello officer, I'm Song Qi from Xinghua School. What's the situation with student Yun Ran?"
It was only when Song Qi learned that Yun Ran had been taken hostage that the tension he had been feeling eased.
As for the fate of the captor and who they were, he had no interest in it whatsoever.
After signing some papers, Song Qi finally left with Yun Ran, avoiding the two security personnel, and asked with some curiosity, "You didn't let the police know about your abilities?"
"I'm afraid of getting involved in trouble!"
Normally, she wouldn't mind taking down a common fugitive, but this one bore a mark from someone, and she didn't want to get into murky waters.
As soon as they left, personnel from the official agency arrived, shocked beyond belief to see Zheng Qiang still alive.
"A person marked for death is still alive?"
The agency personnel immediately heightened their security measures and secretly took Zheng Qiang away, even the police officers involved in his arrest were asked to assist with the investigation.
Having returned to General Mountain, Yun Ran faced the task of climbing the mountain again, which left her a bit speechless.
Just then, a bird, which had been completely plucked, dropped right in front of Yun Ran, and she remembered that she had sent Little Paperman to hunt the bird.
"What's this?"
"It's karma for defecating anywhere!"
Some coincidences are merely that, but when they happen to Yun Ran, Song Qi didn't believe it was by chance, wisely choosing not to ask any further.
The bird, previously bold when pooping in front of Yun Ran, especially now with half its rear end exposed, felt utterly ashamed and wished to die.
But due to the threat of Little Paperman, it didn't dare to be reckless and could only skulk away. Seeing Little Paperman not chasing after it anymore, it quickly spread its wings and flew off.
The pitiable state of the bird extinguished the anger in Yun Ran, and she no longer had complaints about climbing the mountain.
When they reached the mountainside again, students who came up via the slideway were leisurely eating and drinking, while those who climbed up slowly lay exhausted in the resting area, not wanting to move an inch.
"Eh, how come you've only just arrived?"
Looking at Little Fatty, who did not seem to have suffered at all, Yun Ran might have thought he was deliberately being sarcastic if not for the sincere expression on his face.
"I walked slowly."
Perhaps it was Yun Ran's indifferent expression that made Little Fatty too embarrassed to chat aimlessly.
He had no choice but to awkwardly state his purpose, "Can you really only divine three fortunes a day?"
Only then did Yun Ran look up and meet his gaze, "So you're looking for a backdoor favor? You want a reading? Let me be clear, even for classmates, there's no discount, and it's not free either!"
Little Fatty: ...
Did he look like someone without money?
Little Fatty sat down directly, "How much?"
"2000 per reading, also, if you need a solution, it'll cost extra!"
Although it seemed like Yun Ran was too fixated on money, Little Fatty didn't feel repulsed. It was her right to set the price, and his decision to accept or not.
He lowered his voice, "I want a reading for my elder sister. You must have heard about her situation before."
Yun Ran searched her memory; the Zhu Family didn't have much business interaction with the Yun Family.
However, they were in the same social circle and had similar assets, so of course, she had heard some stories about them.
Little Fatty Zhu Shijia's sister, named Zhu Xuejun, was known in their circle for having an exceptional reputation.
The Zhu Family didn't adhere to the patriarchal value of preferring sons over daughters, nor did they have a rule that only sons could inherit the family business.
As soon as the Eldest Lady Zhu graduated, the Zhu Family put her in charge of managing one of their large restaurants.
Everything was going smoothly until a year ago when Eldest Lady Zhu suddenly fell madly in love with a man in his thirties who was divorced, abusive, unfaithful, a drunkard, and a gambler.
A man possessed of these five poisons would not be favored by any sane woman, but the well-cultured Eldest Lady Zhu of the Zhu Family became infatuated beyond rationale.
Not only did she give him cars and houses, but she also willingly took care of his entire family, carrying them on her back like leeches and causing a huge disturbance in the Zhu household.
The Zhu Family suspected that Zhu Xuejun had been cursed and consulted many masters, but none of them found anything amiss.
Ultimately, before the situation escalated into a bigger farce, they had to send the daughter of the Zhu Family away.
The rumor in the circle was that the Eldest Lady Zhu was just lovestruck, previously a bookworm who acted as if she had never seen a man, and despite her capabilities, she fell into a deep pit over a man.
Don't think that these rich ladies and young mistresses would have much decency. Yun Ran has heard even harsher words spoken by them.
Of course, she, too, was one of the people talked about by those in this circle.
"My sister wasn't like this before. Although my uncles had someone look into it and said she wasn't plotted against, I always felt something was off. Please help me read my sister's fortune."
As a cousin and one of the contenders for the Zhu Family's inheritance, Zhu Shijia had nothing to lose if the Eldest Lady Zhu's reputation was ruined.
Unexpectedly, Little Fatty now came to Yun Ran for help, which showed that he indeed had an innocent heart.
"Alright, then I'll read for you. Show me the photos of your sister before and after the changes."
Little Fatty didn't expect Yun Ran to agree so easily, which was completely different from the rumors he had heard.
Thinking about how his sister had been maligned, he suddenly realized that rumors truly couldn't be believed.
He quickly took out his phone and laid out the photos in front of Yun Ran.
The first photo was of Eldest Lady Zhu before. Her features were sharp yet kind.
Such a person appeared to be both independent and strong while simultaneously being caring. Born into affluence, her facial features suggested she would be successful in her career and have a happy family life.
But upon flipping to the second photo, Yun Ran's expression suddenly grew cold. Had these photos not come from Little Fatty, she would not have believed that two people who looked nearly identical, but whose facial features were completely opposite, could be the same person.
Only a child born into an affluent family could maintain insight without being naïve.
At least, Little Fatty could tell from Yun Ran's changing expressions that the thing he feared the most had indeed happened.