"Your astrolabe theory is just dressing up common human traits as being specific to star signs. In psychology, it’s called the Barnum effect: the more vague the description, the more accurately people feel it fits them. Whether a relationship works has never been something an astrolabe can predict; it relies on the genuine feelings and boundaries within the relationship, not on these nebulous aspects."

Shen You’an took a deep breath, staring at the bold strokes on the draft paper: "I don’t believe in these things. When it comes to relationships, your own feelings are always the truest, having nothing to do with star signs."

This time, Yan Lu was at a loss for words.

After hanging up the phone, she felt something was strange but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

So she called Gao Yuyue and expressed what she found strange.

"You’re really something, An’an obviously doesn’t like Gu Xianning, yet you keep pushing them together without an ounce of perception."

"But their couple is so popular..."

"You even said it’s a CP hyped up online, with fans shipping them. No matter how perfect they might appear, as long as An’an doesn’t like him, it means nothing."

"But I think An’an really likes Gu Xianning. They grew up together, and An’an even helped him find his family. An ordinary friend wouldn’t go through so much trouble."

Gao Yuyue rubbed her temples, feeling like they were speaking different languages.

"An’an’s father rescued the last person from a fire, and that was Gu Xianning. Maybe she sees him as a continuation of her father’s life, something a little princess like you, who hasn’t lacked fatherly love, wouldn’t understand."

Actually, she could really understand Shen You’an. Her affection towards Gu Xianning might be a very complicated emotional projection, but it’s certainly not love.

"What An’an needs is the tension of meeting her match, the suffocating game of possessiveness, the depth of seeing through each other’s true feelings even when hurting each other, that’s what real love is. Do you understand?"

Yan Lu clicked her tongue: "Why does this sound more and more like God Liu?"

That’s how it is with two Scorpios together.

Gao Yuyue rolled her eyes secretly: "So do you know where you went wrong?"

Yan Lu belatedly screamed in disbelief: "So An’an actually likes God Liu?"

Gao Yuyue held her phone away: "At least there’s hope for you now. Will you have an idea of what to say in front of An’an from now on?"

"I can’t believe I had the audacity to claim God Liu suits a sunny girl like me in front of An’an. What nonsense have I been spouting? I’m too embarrassed to face An’an now... God Liu, I swear I dare not harbor any inappropriate thoughts about you..."

Gao Yuyue smirked: "You should stop playing the clown in front of those two geniuses. Sometimes silence is a virtue."

The phone emitted Yan Lu’s indignant wail: "Actually, I’m the number one CP fan of An’an and God Liu. I was wrong, I shouldn’t have switched ships, sob~."

——

Liu Runxi walked into the living room, and Helian Yu charged over aggressively, but facing the teenager’s cold gaze, her anger dissipated instantly.

"What have you been doing all day and night? I’ve called you endlessly. If you hadn’t come back tonight, I would have reported it to the police."

"I had some things to do."

He wouldn’t say a word more.

With that, he stepped upstairs.

"Stop right there." Helian Yu looked him up and down.

"Have you eaten?"

"I have."

Helian Yu squinted her eyes, catching a faint, elusive scent on her son. The radar she had honed over years of experience with her husband buzzed instantly.

She leaned closer for a sniff, but the boy’s brows furrowed, and he subtly stepped back.

Helian Yu gave him a knowing smile: "You’ve been with Shen You’an all day and night, haven’t you?"

She had smelled that scent on Shen You’an before.

Liu Runxi’s grip on his backpack strap tightened. His expression remained indifferent, his eyes icy.

"So what?"

In her heart, Helian Yu cursed Shen You’an for seducing her son, but outwardly she maintained a generous and tolerant smile: "Mom’s not against you two being together, but you are young. You have to make sure to take precautions..."

The teenager’s eyes turned sharp like knives, stabbing with a pain that burned the cheeks. Helian Yu suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, as if a large hand was grasping her neck, making it difficult to breathe, rendering her speechless.

Liu Runxi bore down on her relentlessly, his height advantage and oppressive presence nearly suffocating her.

"You have insulted An’an and insulted me. Don’t let me hear such filthy words from your mouth again. If you’re too idle, go travel, take a class, learn something new. If you keep indulging in foolishness like before, do you think there will still be a place for you in this household?"

With those words, he climbed the stairs without looking back.

Helian Yu watched Liu Runxi’s tall, slender silhouette retreating, feeling that this son had become increasingly unfamiliar and heartless.

She suddenly realized Liu Runxi had just threatened her, and in her fury, she swept all the cups off the coffee table onto the floor.

The son she had nurtured with care actually threatened her for the sake of a woman. As the saying goes, ’a married daughter is like spilled water’, and here he was, threatening his own mother even before the girl was in the house.

Once he actually marries Shen You’an, will there be any place left for her in the home?

Helian Yu felt dizzy with anger, yet utterly powerless.

No, she couldn’t let Shen You’an into the house. That woman was too cunning, had her son eaten out of her hand, and she’d end up being bullied to death.

But remembering Liu Runxi’s icy gaze and threatening words, the fear welled up inside her again.

She was truly afraid of her son now.