The light in Yanhua's eyes seemed to gradually dim as she looked at Chen Xiao. Then, she let out a soft sigh. She continued to gaze at Chen Xiao, but her eyes held a faint sadness.
"People like me are called prophets or seers abroad, but in China, they're probably just charlatans or something like that."
"You...can you really predict the future?" Chen Xiao asked, moved. "What things can you predict?"
Fireworks remained silent for an even longer time this time, and her final answer was only two words:
"What exactly does that person inside look like?" Bai Cai stood in the courtyard outside the door, somewhat impatient, and looked at Gong Gong: "You..."
Gonggong smiled slightly: "Little girl, don't be in such a hurry... You'd better calm down and think about what questions you need answered when it's your turn."
"question?"
"Yes," Gonggong smiled mysteriously, "The person inside can answer any question you can imagine! Whether it has happened or not! Any question!"
"Any questions? Even things that haven't happened?" Bai Cai's eyes widened. "If I ask the people inside, who...who is my future husband?"
As she spoke, Cabbage Girl's face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but glance into the house.
Gonggong smiled: "This question is very simple for the person inside, and they will definitely be able to give you the accurate answer!" He paused, then kindly reminded him: "However, this is a rare opportunity, and I personally don't recommend you waste such a valuable chance asking this kind of question. Perhaps you could consider asking something more important..."
The cabbage fell silent, looking nervously at its toes...
Chapter Seventy-Three: Inevitable or Accidental
The conversation continued inside the room.
"You really know everything?" Chen Xiao had tried to calm down, but was still somewhat excited: "You can foresee everything in the future? Then you can..."
Fireworks shook her head. She picked up a sunflower seed with two fingers, brought it to her lips, and gently bit it open. Most women in the world don't look very good when they crack sunflower seeds, but Fireworks still had an indescribable elegance when she cracked this seed. It was as if this subtle action made her look more vivid and graceful.
"I understand what you mean, but I regret to inform you... I can see it, but the future is different. Some futures are coincidences that can be changed through human intervention; but some futures are inevitable, and even if you can see them, you cannot change them." Fireworks shook her head as she said this, her expression carrying a faint trace of sadness.
Change...cannot be changed...
“Take this chair and this teacup, for example,” Fireworks’ voice was gentle. “I saw they would break, but that was inevitable, something I couldn’t change, so I didn’t warn you. Even if I had, you might have been curious, nervous, and might have accidentally knocked them apart. In other words, whether I said anything or not, the result would be the same—they would be destroyed.” Chen Xiao frowned. “Then…some things can be changed?”
“Yes.” Fireworks nodded. “For example, I just asked you for a favor… Oh. Young man, please don’t forget, it’s the first alleyway after you go out.”
"...I still don't quite understand." Chen Xiao frowned.
Fireworks pointed to her eyes. Her eyes were indeed very, very beautiful, with a deep gaze that made one feel as if they were about to be drawn into them.
"The future I see... is not a picture, but a series of roads." Fireworks' voice was tinged with sadness: "Some futures are a straight road—only one road. Then I know that this future is inevitable and unchangeable. At the same time, some futures I see are not a single straight road, but perhaps there will be forks in the road, or even crossroads... which means that these futures are not inevitable and can be changed."
Chen Xiao became a little nervous. He looked at the fireworks and said, "Then... please look at my future... I..."
Fireworks gazed at Chen Xiao. After a long while, she suddenly let out a soft sigh.
“Young man, actually, I’ve been thinking about this ever since you walked in…” Her smile carried a hint of apology: “It’s strange. Over the years, I’ve seen many, many people with superpowers. But you are a special individual that I have never seen before.”
She paused for a moment, then suddenly sat up straight, reached out and gently grasped Chen Xiao's hand. Her eyes were bright, but her voice was solemn: "I see so much in you... so much, so many detours! You are someone who can bring about a great deal of change in the future. This is very rare."
Chen Xiao listened quietly, his expression seemingly unchanged, but what he was thinking was anyone's guess.
“Generally speaking, I will answer anyone who comes to me for help without reservation. I’m willing to go home no matter what the problem is—life is like walking through a maze, and I’m happy to offer some kind advice. Although many facts cannot be changed, I would be happy if I could remind people to make better choices when facing crossroads.” At this point, Fireworks’ tone suddenly changed, becoming solemn: “However, I will only spend a maximum of ten minutes with each visitor! Ten minutes is only enough to ask a limited number of questions—because perhaps you can’t understand. Perhaps most people who come to me for help can’t understand. You think that being able to predict the future is a good thing—but that’s not actually the case.”
Fireworks sighed: "I've seen so many people. They all don't understand that if you know too much about your future—especially if those things happen to be inevitable and unchangeable—then...it's actually a very sad feeling."
As she spoke, she sighed sadly: "When I was nine, I learned that my best friend would die in a car accident two days later, but unfortunately, I couldn't change the fact. When I was thirteen, I sensed that my mother would break her leg while going upstairs—but unfortunately, I still couldn't change that fact. When I was sixteen, I had a premonition that my father would fall in love with another woman. I saw that it was an inevitable future, but I still tried to change it. I tried to use my special ability to prevent my father from having the opportunity to meet that woman—but unfortunately, I failed. In the end, my father still fell in love with another woman, broke up with my mother, and my family fell apart."
Fireworks stared at Chen Xiao: "Young man, do you understand? There are many times when knowing the future is not a fun thing. Especially when you know that many sad things will happen, but you are powerless to stop them."
She added, "And... when you can predict every single day of the future in detail... then life will lose most of its fun for you. Every day will no longer be fresh, every day will no longer be brand new... so I limit the time for guests to come here for help to ten minutes. In ten minutes I can answer one or two questions, but I can also ensure that guests don't learn too much from it."
Chen Xiao was somewhat agitated: "Then, may I ask you, will the problem I have now cause me any harm in the future...?"
"You mean a genetic issue?" Fireworks smiled, but she didn't give an answer: "I'm sorry, I can answer questions for others... but for you, I refuse."
"..." Chen Xiao was stunned.
What does this mean?
The fireworks are held up like three fingers.
"First, I see that there are many crossroads in your future life... The uncertainty of your life is much, much higher than that of ordinary people! Therefore, I cannot give you an accurate answer... If I tell you what possibilities you will encounter in the future, then I am telling you how to choose—wouldn't that be equivalent to me indirectly controlling your life?"
Secondly, young man, I envy you greatly. Because your life is full of uncertainty! You have many crossroads, which means every day from now on will be fresh and new. I envy you for that! Because your life is full of all sorts of possibilities! Unlike me… my life is almost just a straight line.
As for the third…
Fireworks finally laughed again: "The third reason is actually quite ridiculous... Before you came, someone asked me to refuse to serve you."
"What?"
Chen Xiao was truly stunned this time!
Did someone ask the fireworks company not to serve them?
Who would do such a thing?
"I'm sorry." Fireworks smiled slightly. "But I can give you a small gift... The problem you're worried about now, concerning your body and your genes, is actually... a fork in the road! That is to say, things may develop in a bad direction or in a good direction, all depending on the opportunities and choices you make in your future life."
Chen Xiao smiled wryly: "This... it's like saying nothing at all."
Fireworks winked at him: "But I'm so happy! After being a prophet for so long, I love telling my guests about detours the most. Because... often guests whose fates are destined to be filled with misfortune come to me, and even though I clearly see their tragic future, I still have to tell them—it's like I've become the one who gives them the final judgment. I really dislike being the one who delivers bad news! But you make me happy... because your future doesn't necessarily hold bad news and sorrow. Hmm, by the way... anything is possible!"
Chen Xiao really wanted to roll her eyes.