Lin Xuanji would never be able to stop worrying about her daughter and son.
Now that she had made sure that everything would be well taken care of, Lin Xuanji placed her arms gracefully on her stomach. She could feel all her remaining energy just draining away, her vision slowly turning blurry, going out of focus.
All the sounds of crying, talking, everything in this world slowly started getting further away from her.
At such a late hour, she went back to the past.
In the temple, there was a swarm of visitors. Dong, dong, dong. The rhythmic sounds of someone knocking the wooden fish[1] was the beginning of a love story.
A charismatic young lady knelt on the round cushion. “May the heavens please bestow me with a husband.”
She held a bamboo lot holder in her hands, shaking it earnestly and a lot dropped out of the holder soon after.
The corresponding lot was written in sanskrit-—Before the two could even erase all feelings for each other, they would have already been split up.
It was a shame they had such strong feelings for each other but their fates had already been decided.
She finally understood it all.
Lin Xuanji gradually closed her eyes, two streams of tears dripping down the corners of her eyes as they seemed to disappear into her hair.
That one scene repeated in her head again. She held the lot paper in her hand, turning around, a bead curtain was lifted up by someone with slender fingers. Back then, he had just stood there, the man blessed by the heavens appeared, his countenance immaculate.
Mr Lu!
It was Mr Lu!
Lin Xuanji slowly raised the corners of her lips, her breathing gradually stilled, then stopped for the last time.
In XX year, Madam Xuanji passed away peacefully with a smile on her face, ending her legacy.
Once the prodigious Lin Xuanji left the world, it started raining heavily outside.
…
On the private jet.
“Sir, here’s your coffee.” Butler Ye handed a cup of hot coffee over.
Lu Jinwen lowered his head to look at the document, when he lifted his hand to take the coffee, he accidentally spilled it. The cup fell on the ground, with the coffee spilling all over and the glass broke.
Just as Lu Jinwen bent over to pick it up, the shards of glass cut his finger, resulting in a wound. Blood rushed out of the wound on his finger.
Furrowing his brows, he had an ominous feeling. For him to see blood, it wasn’t a good sign at all.
“Sir, are you alright? Let me dress your wound.” Butler Ye was worried.
Lu Jinwen stretched his hand over, letting Butler Ye dress his wound while he looked out of the window, filled with a deep sense of melancholy. “Is it raining?”
“Yes, Sir. It is raining.”
No wonder he felt so cold. His limbs felt cold, not feeling even an ounce of warmth.
The previous scene flashed past his mind again. He looked at her through the rearview mirror, she stood under the lights while watching him leave.
She was waiting for him to come home.
It felt just like a dream.
His only wish was to handle all of these matters and rush home as soon as possible. He wanted to hug her, to kiss her, to talk to her. He had so many words that he wanted to say to her.
It felt really good to know that she was waiting for him at home.
…
Country Z.
A luxurious car parked in front of a rundown temple. Butler Ye opened the car door and Lu Jinwen alighted from it.
He wore a black overcoat, bringing with him the frostiness of the night. Scanning the temple with his sharp gaze, he pursed his lips.
“I see there’s a distinguished guest here for me today. Excuse Xuanyi for not going outside to welcome you. Please come in, Mr Lu!” Monk Xuanyi’s voice came from inside the temple.
“Sir, this monk loves being gimmicky. I’m afraid there’s something suspicious inside, why don’t we have the few bodyguards go inside to bring him out,” Butler Ye suggested.
Lu Jinwen was emotionless, he merely lifted his hand as a signal. At that, Butler Ye quickly shut up, stepping aside.
Moments later, Lu Jinwen strode towards the temple, going up the stairs and entered the place. His glistening leather shoes made some rustling sounds as he stepped on the fallen leaves, walking in with steady footsteps.
Just like a king.
In the temple, Xuanyi sat on a mound of straw and he had a small bonfire in front of him. He was roasting a chicken.
Lu Jinwen walked over, taking off his gloves and he put them inside the pocket of his coat. Crouching over in front of the bonfire, he rubbed his palms together to gain some warmth.
“I’ll give you ten minutes to finish eating this chicken, is that enough time?” he asked impassively.
Monk Xuanyi looked at Lu Jinwen, letting out a chuckle. “It’s been almost 30 years and Benefactor Lu is still the same. I’m already this old and yet Benefactor Lu hasn’t aged even a bit. You remain just like your younger days, attracting the eyes of many visitors in the temple, leaving them to wonder whose son it was, such a suave, dazzling man.”
Monk Xuanyi’s face was covered in wrinkles, but he still had this impressive aura to him that was somewhat ethereal.
Lu Jinwen raised the corners of his lips, getting up, he moved over to the door and slumped against it. Taking out a cigar, he placed it between his lips and took out a lighter to light it up.
Taking a puff of the cigar, he blew out the smoke and took an impassive glance at Monk Xuanyi. “Two minutes have passed.”
Monk Xuanyi: F*ck!
He quickly took the roasted chicken, tearing a piece of flesh to put it in his mouth. It tasted really good, only good food wouldn’t let him down in this world.
“Benefactor Lu, would you like a chicken drumstick?”
Lu Jinwen had one hand in his pocket, the other preoccupied with a cigar. “No thanks.”
Monk Xuanyi laughed. “Benefactor Lu, you’ve been looking for me for such a long time, now you’ve finally caught me. What exactly do you want from me?”
The fogginess of the smoke blurred Lu Jinwen’s handsome face, he moved his lips and said smilingly, “I heard that Monk Xuanyi could learn of the past and predict the future, I definitely must come and look for you and make good use of your talents. Monk Xuanyi, you shouldn’t hide away such an impressive talent. Show me your skills now. If not, I will do… just anything to you, I haven’t decided what, yet.”
“…”
Monk Xuanyi cursed in his heart, what a scoundrel behind that immaculate facade. He should just continue to eat his chicken in front of this devil.
Ten minutes later, he finished eating the roasted chicken and followed Lu Jinwen out of the rundown temple.
“Benefactor Lu,” Monk Xuanyi suddenly called out.
“What’s the matter?”
“Do you know that… it’s raining?”
Lu Jinwen didn’t say a word, just looking at him as though he was going to stare through his soul.
As the victim of Lu Jinwen’s terrifying gaze, Monk Xuanyi was somewhat shaken. He wouldn’t ever want to have anything to do with people like Lu Jinwen, who could totally dissect him with that one look.
Monk Xuanyi let out a laugh so forcibly. “Benefactor Lu, I’ll just follow you.”
…
Lu Jinwen rushed back after just a day, stepping out of the airport lobby, the limousine sped along the road.
It was raining heavily outside, the rain hadn’t stopped even after an entire night.
“Stop the car,” Lu Jinwen suddenly said.
The luxurious business car slowed to a halt. The car door opened and Lu Jinwen alighted from the limousine. Butler Ye sheltered Lu Jinwen with a black umbrella.
Lu Jinwen walked into a shop, picking up a lollipop.
She loved candy. She would be delighted if he were to give her a lollipop.
Lu Jinwen’s facial features softened, appearing so gentle.
Monk Xuanyi sat in the limousine, looking at the man outside as he let out a sigh, shaking his head sadly. “She’s already gone, why would you still need a lollipop?”
…
After an entire night’s rain, the limousine drove onto the lawn of the manor. The maid opened the doors frantically, Lu Jinwen had finally rushed back home.
“Xuanji…”
He stepped inside, calling her name.
Xuanji…
Xuanji…
His voice reverberated in the entire house, the echo slowly faded but no one answered him after all.
[1] A chinese percussion instrument used in temples.
