Even knowing that Qin Xiansheng liked her, Gu Qin had no reaction and certainly wouldn't say anything. Naturally, mutual affection was best, but she had no feelings for him now. Considering her age, she thought sixteen was too young for romance, at least until she was eighteen. Of course, she would only consider dating if she genuinely liked someone, which seemed unlikely given her nature. In her past life, many noble sons and princes pursued her, promising a bright future, but she remained unmoved.

Her destiny chart indicated that she was hard to love, so it was difficult for her to develop feelings easily. From a scientific perspective, the attraction between them might be due to certain chemicals in the brain, such as phenylethylamine, which triggers love. Some people fall in love at first sight, others over time.

From a superstitious viewpoint, her destiny chart exerted a strong pull on Qin Xiansheng.

Since she had no intention of revealing the truth, she decided to maintain their friendship for now. If she developed feelings for him in the future, they could be together. She would let things take their natural course. Her criteria for a partner weren't strict—she just wanted someone decent-looking who treated her well and with whom she felt a connection.

Gu Qin wasn't overly concerned about this matter and continued with her routine. As they cooked, Gu Jia asked, "Qin Qin, what are you going to do about it?"

Gu Qin replied, "Nothing, just like this."

Gu Jia stared at her. "He likes you, and if you don't like him back, you should tell him clearly. Besides, you're only sixteen, and you shouldn't be dating yet."

Gu Qin rolled her eyes. "Who was talking about dating earlier? Besides, he hasn't confessed to me. If I tell him and it turns out he's just being nice, what then? And I think he's okay, so let's just see. Maybe I'll end up liking him."

She set herself a deadline of two to three years. Knowing her nature, she believed that falling in love at first sight was impossible for her; it would have to be through a gradual process.

"That won't do!" Gu Jia became anxious. "You can't compare yourself to me. I'm a guy and can't lose anything. You're a girl and need to be more reserved. You're too young to be involved in a relationship."

"When have I not been reserved?" Gu Qin asked. "Why can't I compare myself to you? Does it matter if I'm a girl or a boy? Isn't it normal to be together if we're both interested? Okay, bro, help me wash and cut the vegetables. Let's not talk about this anymore. Right now, I don't have feelings for him, so stop bringing it up. What if I end up liking him?"

Gu Jia didn't dare say anything else and washed the vegetables in silence.

Cheng Yinxiang returned home around seven, looking tired. She washed her hands and ate dinner. At the dinner table, she told the children, "Qin Qin, Jiajia, I've decided on a business venture. Your Uncle Lu reminded me of this idea, and after running around, I believe it could be profitable."

Gu Qin swallowed her food before asking, "Mom, what business are you thinking of?"

Cheng Yinxiang said, "I want to start a cosmetics business, but with foreign brands. Uncle Lu says he can help. He knows someone who plans to set up a counter in a large department store. The profit margin is high, but it's complicated with various tariffs, domestic approvals, and business licenses. The most challenging part is the tariffs, but Uncle Lu says he has a way to make them cheaper. Rest assured, everything will be legitimate. We'll need to transfer goods through other places before bringing them into the country, which will save a lot of money. He'll handle the logistics, while I'll take care of the domestic approvals, business licenses, and counters. What do you two think?"

Cheng Yinxiang mentioned the brand name of the cosmetics.

Gu Qin thought it was a good idea. "This brand is considered mid-to-high-end, and many people are keen on it. Although Daishan is a third-tier city, we haven't seen this brand's counter yet. Mom, starting this business would be great."

The cosmetics business promised substantial profits if she could find a cheap import channel and negotiate lower tariffs. Regardless of the industry, competition was fierce. Gu Qin wanted to start a big business, but it wasn't feasible. Whether real estate or entertainment, Daishan was saturated, and funding was limited. She had to start small.

The cosmetics business required roughly 1.5 million yuan, and Gu Qin had about two million yuan saved. She didn't need the money and planned to transfer it all to Cheng Yinxiang to manage the venture.

Gu Jia nodded in agreement. "Nowadays, girls are very enthusiastic about skincare and makeup, and they're willing to spend money on it. They won't use substandard products, and they're skeptical about domestic brands. Since Daishan lacks this brand's counter, many buy online, but there are too many fake products. A classmate recently bought a foreign cosmetic online, and her face was ruined."

Cheng Yinxiang was startled. Gu Qin explained, "Don't worry, Mom. It was a fake product. Ninety-nine point nine percent of online purchases are fake. A genuine counter selling cosmetics would definitely be successful." Then she asked Gu Jia, "How is your classmate doing?"

Gu Jia sighed. "It happened just a couple of days ago. Her face is almost ruined. The doctor said that even if she recovers, there might be some scarring, which could affect her college entrance exam."

Gu Qin suggested, "Why don't we invite them over? How is your classmate's family financially? If they can afford it, I'll charge five thousand dollars. I'm short on funds, so I need to save some. If they can afford it, I'll charge more; if not, less. I'm quite skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, and helping her would be a good deed. Ruining a girl's appearance is a lifelong issue, but it depends on her character. How is your classmate's character?"

"She's decent. She's a bit vain but generally nice. She ruined her face for her boyfriend, who found her unattractive because she didn't dress up. She only used makeup to look better. She bought a foreign brand online, but it was a fake. After using it, she developed acne, fearing her boyfriend would reject her. Her parents run a business and often return home late. One night, they discovered her face was almost ruined and asked what had happened."

Gu Qin thought the girl was careless for staying with such a boyfriend.

Gu Jia continued, "Her parents took her to the hospital and confronted her boyfriend. This incident spread throughout the school. When her mother went to the school, she cried, indicating the severity of her condition. Classmates who visited her at the hospital said that it would be nearly impossible to avoid scars."

Gu Jia looked at Gu Qin. "With a price tag of five thousand dollars, if you can heal her face, her parents will surely agree. They run a business and don't mind spending a bit. Besides, she's their only daughter."

Gu Jia didn't think it was wrong for his sister to charge money. As a feng shui master, charging was normal. "Qin Qin, how do you know how to treat this?"

Gu Qin hummed in agreement. "I learned from my master. In the realm of the occult, we learn five skills: mountains, medicine, destiny, divination, and physiognomy. Knowing medical techniques is normal. Help me contact your classmate. If they're willing, they can come over the day after tomorrow.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The topic then shifted from Cheng Yinxiang's business to Gu Qian's ointment. Cheng Yinxiang asked, "Qin Qin, your ointment is so effective, why don't you apply for a patent? That way, you could produce this ointment specifically."

Gu Qian replied, "It's not that simple. It's hard to break into the market. Although the recipe isn't expensive, how many bottles do I need to sell to make 50,000 yuan? This is fine as it is; gradually, with more fame, others will buy it too." What she didn't say was that while her ointment was indeed better than some on the market, it wasn't a cure-all. If Gu Jia's classmate's injuries were severe, she would have to infuse it with qi during the brewing process, making it incomparable to a regular ointment.

Hearing that her classmate's condition was quite serious, Gu Qian knew she would need to use the qi-infused ointment.

After dinner, Gu Qian gave her bank card to Cheng Yinxiang and asked her to transfer money herself. Cheng Yinxiang originally planned to do a deal worth no more than 500,000 yuan, but now she had to take her daughter's money first to cover an emergency.

Gu Qian went out again to buy medicinal ingredients for the ointment and brewed it in the evening. While brewing, she slowly infused it with qi. Once cooled, she poured it into a small glass bottle. She then chanted incantations and sealed the bottle with her palm, emitting a faint golden light. This was known as a hand seal, a fundamental method in Daoism where certain parts of the palm or fingers are pressed or held in specific positions to summon spirits or enhance effects.

Although the ointment contained qi, which was beneficial but prone to dispersing, the hand seal helped maintain its potency. Without it, the ointment wouldn't be worth 50,000 yuan.

The next day, Gu Jia went to school and got Dang Jia's contact information from a female classmate. He found Dang Jia's friend and asked for the number. The shy girl blushed and whispered the number to Gu Jia.

Seeing Gu Jia write down Dang Jia's number, the girl couldn't help asking, "Jia, what are you going to do with Dang Jia's number?"

Gu Jia said, "I know someone who can treat the injury on her face."

The girl exclaimed, "Really? Jia, you're not lying, right?"

Gu Jia smiled, "Why would I lie? It's a bit expensive, but my sister learned medicine from her master, so she knows how to handle this."

The girl asked, "How much does it cost?"

"50,000 yuan," Gu Jia replied. "It's expensive, but the effect is guaranteed. Her face won't scar anymore. And we only charge if it heals."

The girl was surprised, thinking 50,000 yuan was too much. But Gu Jia explained that if the injury was severe, it was worth it. He also mentioned seeing Gu Qian infuse qi into the ointment, understanding it was related to something more significant.

The girl remained silent, and Gu Jia called Dang Jia. Dang Jia answered, "Hello."

Gu Jia leaned against the wall, "Dang Jia, it's me, Gu Jia. I heard about your injury. Are you okay?"

Dang Jia, mistaking the call for her boyfriend, was initially disappointed. When he asked about her face, she started crying.

Gu Jia was taken aback and tried to calm her down, "Hey, don't cry. I haven't said anything yet... Hey, stop crying!"

Dang Jia cried even harder. She had been in a relationship and bought fake cosmetics online, leading to severe skin issues. After her parents discovered her condition, they took her to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with acquired facial skin aging syndrome, a rare condition with no effective treatment currently available. They suggested plastic surgery as the only option.

Dang Jia felt desperate and hopeless. Her parents, concerned, accompanied her to the hospital. When they saw her crying after receiving Gu Jia's call, they assumed it was the ex-boyfriend and angrily confronted him.

Gu Jia explained, "Uncle, I'm not her boyfriend. I'm just her classmate. I heard about her condition and my sister can treat it. If you agree, we'll charge 50,000 yuan after the treatment."

Dang's father was skeptical, "A sixteen-year-old girl? How can she treat such a serious condition?"

Gu Jia said, "She can, and she charges 50,000 yuan. We treat first, then pay. If it doesn't work, there's no charge."

Dang Jia decided to try, and her parents reluctantly agreed. They took her to see Gu Qian the next evening. Gu Qian reassessed the situation and increased the price to 100,000 yuan due to the severity of the condition.

Dang Jia's parents were still unsure but eventually agreed. Over the next ten days, Gu Qian treated Dang Jia using acupuncture and her special ointment. Dang Jia noticed improvements within five days, and her parents were amazed.

Dang Jia was grateful and followed all instructions. Gu Qian advised her to focus on her studies, emphasizing the importance of her future and health. Dang Jia decided to leave her ex-boyfriend and focus on herself.

Dang's parents watched their daughter recover and were relieved.

The mother of Deng was truly angry and shot him a glance, "Lao Deng, do you want to go back on your word and not give the money? Can't you see that the girl really has skills? Don't take any more chances and think wrongly. The truth is that our daughter's wounds were indeed healed by this young girl. Don't ruin this good relationship for a bit of money. I've been chatting with the girl's mother these days, and I heard that this girl is actually a feng shui master. Do you know what a feng shui practitioner is? If she can do such things, her expertise in feng shui must be profound. It's said that a truly powerful feng shui master can easily disrupt the feng shui at home with just a wave of their hand. Our family runs a business, so we can't afford to offend such people."

Deng father frowned slightly, "I didn't say I wouldn't give it, I just had some doubts about the doctor's diagnosis."

The mother of Deng snorted, "Can one hospital make a mistake? Can two hospitals also make a mistake? We've taken Jiayi to several hospitals, haven't we? Calculate it yourself. Could it be that everyone made a mistake?"

Deng father finally did not speak. On the eighth day of treating Deng Jiayi, the mother of Deng brought the cash of 100,000 yuan to Gu's house and gave it to Gu Qian. Gu Qian thanked her and accepted it. After treating Deng Jiayi with acupuncture, Gu Qian said, "Come again after tomorrow for two days, then remember to apply the ointment every day. Apply it for twenty days, and all the scars will be gone. By then, there won't be a single scar left on her face."

Deng Jiayi sat up from the bed and solemnly thanked Gu Qian, "Qianqian, thank you."

Gu Qian smiled, "Don't be polite. In the future, don't be so foolish."

Two days later, Deng Jiayi's acupuncture treatment ended. The originally wrinkled areas on her face had become smooth, although the color was still somewhat red. As long as she applied the ointment for another twenty days, the red marks would fade away. She sighed in relief, as did the parents of Deng.

Twenty days passed quickly. Cheng Yinxiang had been busy with the cosmetics counter for a month. This process took at least two to three months. Gu Qian was still the same. Qin Xiansheng came very punctually every day, arriving when Gu Qian finished school in the evening. During this month, Cheng Yinxiang was out working, so Gu Qian cooked dinner every night. Qin Xiansheng helped out, but he rarely ate here. Most of the time, he would leave after helping Gu Qian finish her work.

February 28th was the start of the new semester. A month had already passed, and it was now April. The weather had completely warmed up. Dai Mountain was considered part of the southern region, and spring usually started to warm up early. Now most people were wearing light jackets.

In these past few days, Gu Qian had just completed her monthly exams.

Deng Jiayi's injuries had healed, so she naturally returned to school. Her classmates were amazed to see that her face was completely healed, not only from the injury but also her skin looked even fairer than before. The saying 'one white covers three uglinesses' was no exaggeration. With her skin now smooth and fair, Deng Jiayi looked much better.

Gu Qian also gave her a few dietary therapy recipes and a recipe for homemade toner, all natural and good for the skin without causing damage.

The previous injuries of Deng Jiayi spread throughout No. 2 High School. Now that she had no trace of injury, everyone was curious about how it happened. She did not hide it and told everyone that it was Gu Jia's younger sister who treated her. Therefore, soon all the students in No. 2 High School knew that Gu Jia's younger sister was very capable and skilled at treating scars.

Some girls even came over asking if Gu Jia would sell those ointments. They thought Deng Jiayi's skin became so fair because of the ointment, but they were scolded by Gu Jia and sent away. When she went back, she told her sister, Gu Qian, who laughed, "It's not the ointment's effect, it's just the acupuncture's effect." Yuan Qi plus acupuncture stimulation helps skin regeneration, so how could the skin not improve?

The next day, some female students came to ask, and Gu Jia directly refused. Unexpectedly, the female students did not give up and asked if Gu Jia could let her sister perform acupuncture, regardless of the cost. It seemed that girls had no resistance to their appearance. Of course, Gu Jia refused, and this time he rejected them directly.