She probed cautiously,
"Mage, I'm currently…"
Luo Shu's attention was entirely fixed on the silver ripple. He casually responded to the girl's question without even thinking.
"Fifteen years and four months."
---
[Received Faith from Hoshino Ai – Divine Authority Gem +0.02!]
---
"My occupation is…"
"Idol trainee."
Luo Shu replied calmly.
---
[Received Faith from Hoshino Ai – Divine Authority Gem +0.04!]
---
"And I've been training for…"
"Two and a half years."
The girl was instantly stunned, her eyes sparkling with awe. Around them, the fortune tellers fell into shock.
Those with keen insight and experience could sometimes deduce someone's profession from their body language or features—but only if the job left clear physical cues.
But an idol?
That's way too abstract!
And not just that—he even nailed the "trainee" part?
And the age… down to the month?!
They were speechless.
A plant! She has to be a plant!
Their eyes all sharpened with suspicion—they were certain of it.
But as they turned around—
"Baka! Where's my customer?!"
The mustached onmyoji barked in frustration. His client had vanished—along with half the others—drawn to the spectacle surrounding Luo Shu.
At some point, a full crowd had formed around him. Not surprising, really. His whole look screamed attention.
That outfit alone cost over 10,000 in materials and 4,000 in custom labor. It used techniques well beyond what was available in this world.
The golden and silver threads were literal gold and silver.
Under the sunlight, they gleamed brilliantly. Combined with his tall frame, he stood out like a crane among chickens.
Seeing the crowd grow larger, Ai grew anxious.
"Mage, I want to ask about…"
"Your upcoming romantic prospects?"
Luo Shu smiled knowingly.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
---
[Received Faith from Kirito – Divine Authority Gem +0.05!]
[Received Faith from Kuroneko – Divine Authority Gem +0.01!]
[Received Faith from Yamashita Tetsuya – Divine Authority Gem +0.02!]
---
"…?"
Luo Shu heard the system prompts, maintaining a calm expression on the surface—but inwardly he was confused.
Wait, what?
Kirito?! Isn't that the protagonist from Sword Art Online, the guy who conquered Aincrad?
And Kuroneko—Ruri Gokou—also known as "Black Cat," one of the most iconic chuunibyou characters out there?
And… isn't Yamashita Tetsuya the number one Graves player on the Japanese servers?!
Luo Shu's lips twitched. He glanced at the crowd of beautiful men and women surrounding him, suspicion rising.
So… this wasn't just some parallel world…
This was an anime crossover universe?
Wait a minute—
Hoshino Ai?!
Luo Shu resisted the urge to facepalm as the realization hit.
He finally recalled who she was.
In his past life, she was the tragic heroine of the popular anime Oshi no Ko.
Orphaned as a child, became an idol, fell for a scumbag, had kids, and ultimately got stabbed to death by a crazed fan…
Her life was basically a tabletop filled with tragedy.
But then…
An idea struck him, and Luo Shu's eyes lit up with excitement.
What if… he warned her beforehand? If he told her the consequences of falling in love too early, could he change her fate?
Would the [Fragile Beauty] trait—faint red in color—disappear?
Would her fated lifespan of 20 years extend?
---
"Mage?"
The sudden silence of the robed young man made Ai nervous.
She came from a single-parent household and had endured years of abuse from her mother.
Because of that, she longed deeply for warmth—craved a real family.
If she could find someone who loved her… get married, have children…
That would be the happiest thing in the world.
But now, she dared not even breathe wrong. She leaned forward slightly, nervously asking:
"During today's idol event… someone tried to confess to me…"
"Was his name Kamiki Hikaru?"
"…Huh?!"
Her hands, which had been nervously clutching her skirt, instantly froze. She jerked her head up in shock, eyes wide.
So it was him.
This was the moment she met the scumbag. Good—there was still time to stop it.
Luo Shu saw her reaction and understood immediately. He smiled faintly:
"That man is an ill omen for your fate—he brings ruin to wife and child alike. You'd best stay far away from him."
"Otherwise, not only will disaster follow, but you'll die filled with endless regret."
"Eh?!"
Ai's mind went blank.
His gentle tone hit her like divine thunder, leaving her body numb with fear.
Brings ruin… to wife and child?
Die… full of regret?
That can't be right… wasn't this supposed to be a budding romance?
How did it become a fatal attraction?
The girl furrowed her brows, sighing softly.
She still longed for love… but at the very least, it had to be with a man of good character, right?
Dying for love?
That was just too terrifying.
Moments ago, she had been hesitating.
Now? Not so much.
---
[Hoshino Ai]
[Age: 15.333 years]
[Occupation: Idol Trainee]
[Fate Traits: Heavenly Voice (light blue), Fragile Beauty (white), Blessed With Many Children (light red)]
[Lifespan: 40 years]
[Status: Relaxed (Emotional clarity)]
---
She had seen the light.
Luo Shu smiled faintly, his mood lifting.
Her trait [Fragile Beauty] had downgraded from light red to white. Her lifespan had almost doubled.
Seems fate isn't unchangeable.
Making the right choices at life's crossroads… really could alter your destiny.
"Yo~ Mage-senpai, your divination skills are pretty impressive."
A teasing voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
A short-haired young lady with a mischievous smile stepped forward, followed by a black-haired girl with an emotionless expression—and an equally flat chest.
The two looked alike, both impeccably dressed, like exquisite flowers from an aristocratic garden.