"Disgusting!"
"Help!"
"I seriously can't take this anymore!"
"What the hell is this weird taste?!"
Longjing Hotpot had forced every curse word out of Luo Ye.
He left the hotpot restaurant with a look of utter disgust and decided to take yesterday's server's advice and try Lan Zhou Ramen.
Come to think of it, Senior Sister should have gotten home by now, right?
Luo Ye took out his phone and sent Fairy Senior Sister a message.
Luo Ye: Senior Sister, are you home yet?
The notification sound rang almost immediately. She had practically replied in seconds.
Fairy Senior Sister: Not home.
Seeing that, Luo Ye thought, It's already noon. Don't tell me Senior Sister is still on the high-speed rail?
Luo Ye: Have you eaten?
Fairy Senior Sister: No.
Luo Ye: Then what do you want to eat? Your loyal junior underclassman can order you some delivery.
Fairy Senior Sister: Don't want to eat.
Luo Ye: Senior Sister, do you not have an appetite?
Fairy Senior Sister: I don't know.
Luo Ye froze slightly.
Although every one of Senior Sister's replies was cold, she had answered every message instantly.
That was rather contradictory. If she did not want to talk to him, she could have simply ignored him.
Yet she replied, only to be so distant about it.
Could it be...
Senior Sister was hinting that she was in a bad mood?
He recalled what Gu Mingxuan had reminded him of before the holiday.
With that in mind, Luo Ye began typing.
Luo Ye: Senior Sister's home is in Hangzhou, right? Is there anything fun to do in Hangzhou?
Fairy Senior Sister: No.
Luo Ye: Senior Sister... isn't there anywhere that left a deep impression on you? If I come to Hangzhou someday, I won't even know where to go.
When Su Baizhou saw the message, she actually began seriously thinking about it.
She sat at the entrance to her residential complex, looking exhausted, yet her mind was occupied with figuring out what places in Hangzhou were fun.
Though it was the city where she had grown up, she could not think of an answer for a moment when asked that question.
Just then, another message from Luo Ye came through.
Luo Ye: Hangzhou actually has a planetarium?!
Luo Ye: Senior Sister, do you like looking at the stars?
Su Baizhou blankly raised her head.
Then she lowered it again, her expression dazed.
She had to be going crazy. It was broad daylight—where would there be any stars?
Her thoughts had been led along by Luo Ye's messages. The moment he mentioned stars, she instinctively looked up.
Suddenly, Luo Ye sent another message.
Luo Ye: Senior Sister! You were tricked by a bad man. Hangzhou doesn't have a planetarium!
When Su Baizhou saw that message, she could not help but laugh.
Luo Ye: But Hangzhou has Lingyin Temple! Is it the Lingyin Temple from Ji Gong?
Su Baizhou gave him an affirmative answer.
Yes.
Those two words brightened Luo Ye's mood.
Because Senior Sister was no longer as cold as she had been at the beginning.
Did that mean her mood had improved a little too?
Luo Ye: Then, Senior Sister, do you want to draw a fortune stick? Maybe all the bad things will leave on their own.
As for drawing fortune sticks, Luo Ye had actually planned on doing it too.
He wanted to pray for romance!
But since it was a seven-day holiday, Lingyin Temple would probably be extremely crowded.
When Su Baizhou saw Luo Ye's message, her expression turned fierce.
Why did the content of this junior underclassman's messages feel like he was coaxing a child?
Hmph.
Su Baizhou tapped Luo Ye's profile picture on her screen and muttered softly, "I'll knock your head."
Still, she had never tried drawing fortune sticks before. Would it really work?
She hoped her mother would be healthy and happy.
Her mother had just replied, saying she was with Su Baizhou's uncle at their old family home in the countryside and asking Su Baizhou to visit if she had time.
There was no rush. Before going home, Su Baizhou decided to visit Lingyin Temple and pray for a safety talisman for her mother.
Though she knew it was merely mysticism, the thought behind it mattered more.
With that thought, Su Baizhou stood up.
Without realizing it, she was no longer sad. It was as if she had forgotten what had just happened; only the slap mark on her face remained, but she no longer felt any pain from it.
Just as she was about to leave, she spotted someone she knew.
An ordinary-looking girl pulling a suitcase was walking toward the residential complex.
She was Su Baizhou's childhood friend. They had been classmates all the way through high school and should have become close friends.
Until Su Baizhou was slandered after high school graduation, she had believed her friend would trust her.
But she had underestimated human nature and had never truly understood this childhood friend of hers.
When the girl saw Su Baizhou, she visibly froze.
Then the two passed one another like strangers.
Su Baizhou glanced back, but did not continue dwelling on it.
Whether that girl believed her no longer mattered. They had grown up together—she knew Su Baizhou and knew that Su Baizhou had been slandered.
Even so, she had chosen to vilify her.
The city where Su Baizhou had grown up felt utterly unfamiliar, as though every corner of it had turned gray.
She picked up her luggage and prepared to go to Lingyin Temple to draw a fortune stick.
Meanwhile, Luo Ye had already arrived at Lingyin Temple.
He took a photo and sent it to the dorm group chat, asking his sons what kind of fortune sticks they wanted.
Wang Dachui: Holy shit, you went to Hangzhou? Damn, impressive.
Li Haoyang: The Buddha is merciful.
Shen Qiao: I'm dying, Coach. Amitabha.
His three roommates were like living treasures. Either no one spoke in the dorm group chat, or the moment someone did, it was like tossing firecrackers into a bonfire—it exploded instantly.
Lingyin Temple was located within a scenic area. Several tea-covered mountains stood nearby, stretching out in a vast expanse.
Luo Ye took a few pictures as proof that he had been there.
The area was packed with people. Before he had even reached Lingyin Temple, the crowd had already become shoulder-to-shoulder.
Though it was only afternoon, at this rate, he would probably have to wait until evening before he could draw a fortune stick.
Just then, Luo Ye received a private message from Shen Qiao.
Shen Qiao wanted him to get a safety talisman on his behalf.
Luo Ye agreed without hesitation.
He had no idea why a male celebrity wanted one, but since it was a request from his son, as his father, he naturally had a duty to fulfill it.
After waiting in the long line for three hours, Luo Ye was finally able to worship Buddha and burn incense.
Besides the item he was getting for Shen Qiao, he also made three wishes of his own.
First, he hoped his parents would be reincarnated as humans and live happy lives.
Second, world peace.
Third, that Fairy Senior Sister could become the happiest girl in the world.
He had originally wanted to pray for romance too, but after thinking it over carefully, he gave up on it.
Romance should not be sought from Buddha.
It should be sought from himself.
By the time he left Lingyin Temple, it was already six in the evening. The temple was closed; people could only leave now, not enter.
As expected of a sacred Buddhist site. Even its schedule was disciplined.
Luo Ye stepped through the gate and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, he caught sight of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye.
Not far away, an incredibly beautiful girl sat quietly on the steps by the entrance, pulling a suitcase, her face slightly lost.
Su Baizhou had arrived too late.
She had waited in line for a long time as well, but by the time it was her turn, the temple was no longer accepting visitors.
Then what had been the point of waiting all that time...
Was it fate that she could not draw this fortune stick?
Thinking about it carefully...
Not being able to draw one was also an outcome, wasn't it?
Su Baizhou stared silently at the ground, looking completely lost.
At that moment, she had none of the aura of a Cool and Aloof Goddess. She looked more like a vulnerable girl.
Suddenly, a figure stopped in front of her.
"Amitabha."
A somewhat familiar voice reached her ears. Su Baizhou raised her head and saw a handsome, sunny young man standing with his palms pressed together, smiling as he said, "Benefactor, what troubles you? Would you tell this humble monk about them?"
When she saw that face, a surge of emotion washed over her. Su Baizhou did not know how to describe the feeling.
She only felt her nose sting. If she had not held back, tears would have already spilled from her eyes.
Though countless questions rose in her heart, the most important thing was...
Her trip today had not been for nothing.
She had received the best fortune stick in the world.
Before you continue