Volume One, Chapter 19: A Fortuitous Encounter

Nengren Temple is located atop Baiyun Mountain to the east of the city. Baiyun Mountain boasts fresh air and beautiful scenery. Nestled within its peaks, Nengren Temple has always enjoyed bustling activity due to the many who come seeking blessings and the temple’s reputation for granting wishes.

Ye Yun drove to the foot of the mountain with Xu Mi, then carefully helped her into a wheelchair. Together, they slowly made their way toward the temple. Along the path, hikers were everywhere. Dappled sunlight filtered through the trees, mingling with cheerful voices, birdsong, and the fragrance of flowers, creating an atmosphere that lifted the spirit.

Ye Yun exhaled deeply. “No wonder you like coming here so much, Tang Tang. This place really is wonderful. From now on, I’ll have to bring you here more often.”

Though Xu Mi had awakened, her body was still weak after such a long coma. Getting out and about would help her recovery. More importantly, since Xu Mi had attempted suicide out of depression, spending time in nature would be beneficial for her mental health.

With her eyes closed, Xu Mi took a deep breath and smiled contentedly. “Cousin, I was really foolish before. I never realized how beautiful life is.”

Sunlight, flowers, birds, trees, and even the people hiking—all radiated vibrant life and boundless beauty.

Watching the smile on her face, Ye Yun couldn’t help but sigh. “At first, when Aunt said she would find you a husband to bring you luck, I thought she was ridiculous. But now I see, that was a clever move.”

That Lin Chen had truly ignited Xu Mi’s will to live. It was wonderful!

Yet, looking ahead…

Ye Yun shook her head, brushing aside her worries. No matter what came next, as long as her cousin was happy now, that was what mattered most.

The two chatted as they walked, and before long, the temple gates came into view.

Just then, Ye Yun suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

“Hey, isn’t that Lin Chen?”

“What? Which one is he?” Xu Mi’s eyes widened, panic rising. “Cousin, quick! Let’s go! I can’t let him see me!”

She craned her neck, scanning the crowd anxiously, desperate to find her husband. Since their marriage, she had never seen Lin Chen in person. Though she’d seen photos, nothing compared to seeing him face to face.

Her feelings toward this husband who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere were complicated.

On one hand, she craved the warmth he gave her, even secretly harboring feelings for him.

On the other, the vast gap in their identities and ages loomed like an uncrossable chasm, making her hesitant and afraid to take the next step.

As she searched for Lin Chen, Ye Yun began to push the wheelchair away.

“What are you doing, cousin?” Xu Mi cried out.

“Didn’t you say we should leave? The ten-day period hasn’t ended yet. Let’s head back first.”

“I…” Xu Mi bit her lip, then quietly said, “I just want to take a peek at him, okay?”

“You!” Ye Yun shook her head with a smile and quietly steered the wheelchair toward the temple’s back entrance.

…

Lin Chen had come to the temple partly seeking peace, partly to offer incense.

Though an atheist, after meeting Xu Mi, he found himself filled with worry and uncertainty.

Worrying that Xu Mi might want to end their marriage, and fearful that their next meeting in ten days might be their last.

In such turmoil, with no outlet for his anxiety, he pinned his hopes on the divine.

At the entrance, Lin Chen took an incense stick, lit it, and knelt before the Great Hero Hall. There were few visitors, and inside the hall, he was alone.

He glanced at the majestic Buddha statue, clasped his hands together, and slowly closed his eyes.

Outside the hall, Xu Mi gripped Ye Yun’s arm desperately. “Cousin, come closer! I want to hear what he’s saying!”

Ye Yun sighed, pushing the wheelchair quietly around the corner outside the hall.

Lin Chen’s voice drifted out.

“Buddha, please bless my wife, Xu Mi. Please don’t let her divorce me. Bless our marriage with happiness and longevity, so we may grow old together.”

Ye Yun bent down to look at Xu Mi and grinned mischievously.

Xu Mi’s face flushed crimson. She covered her face with her hands but peeked through her fingers at Lin Chen.

Though kneeling with his back to the door, Lin Chen’s posture was straight and proud—broad shoulders, narrow waist. His thin T-shirt could not hide the well-toned physique he had honed through years of exercise.

Suddenly, Xu Mi recalled the things she’d heard in the hospital—eight-pack abs, doing over a hundred push-ups in one breath, and more besides.

Her face felt like it was burning. She quickly tugged Ye Yun’s sleeve, signaling her to leave.

Just then, Lin Chen’s voice sounded again.

“If my wife insists on divorcing me, then Buddha, please bless her future with smooth sailing, free of worries and troubles.”

“She is so wonderful. I wish for her a lifetime of happiness. Even if it means bearing her pain myself, I would gladly do so!”

“Please, Buddha, bless us!”

Inside the solemn Great Hero Hall, Lin Chen’s words were filled with earnest devotion.

Ye Yun was momentarily stunned, then looked down at Xu Mi, who was already weeping openly.

As Lin Chen rose, Ye Yun hurriedly pushed Xu Mi away, seeking refuge in a side hall.

“Silly girl, why are you crying?” Ye Yun whispered. “He’s so good to you. This is a blessing, you should be smiling.”

But Xu Mi seemed deaf to her words, gazing blankly toward the hall’s entrance.

Only after Lin Chen had left did she speak. “Cousin, let’s go home.”

Ye Yun was surprised. “Not going to offer incense yourself?”

Tears still glimmered in Xu Mi’s eyes, but she smiled. “What I wished for, I already have.”

Back at home, Li Xiulan had been waiting anxiously since she heard Xu Mi had gone out.

When Xu Mi returned, she rushed over. “Tang Tang, how was your outing? Did you have fun?”

Xu Mi’s mind was still filled with Lin Chen’s words; she hardly heard her.

Li Xiulan grew concerned. “Xiao Yun, what’s wrong with Tang Tang?”

Ye Yun glanced at Xu Mi and lowered her voice. “Today, at Nengren Temple, we ran into Lin Chen.”

“What?! You met him?”

“No, but we heard what he said while praying.”

Ye Yun recounted every word Lin Chen had spoken in the Great Hero Hall.

“In the end, Aunt, you should have seen him kneeling before the Buddha, so devout. Not just Tang Tang, even I was moved.”

Lin Chen knelt before the Buddha, praying solely for Xu Mi’s happiness, even willing to bear all her hardships. Such sincerity was truly touching.

Li Xiulan was stunned and about to speak when she was interrupted.

“Mom, I want to…”

Taking a deep breath, Xu Mi said solemnly, “I want to see him.”

“Not wait ten days—I want to see him now!”