When Jingmin woke up, it was already broad daylight.
The snow was still falling heavily outside the window, but the room was quiet.
He rubbed his temples; he hadn't slept well last night, his dreams filled with images of Chu Wuyang.
So close, yet so far away.
Li Yan, who had arrived early in the morning, knocked on the door, breaking his thoughts:
"Mr. Jing, the clothes have been brought to you."
Jing Min changed into the clothes Li Yan had brought. The dark coat accentuated his tall figure, and his cool and aloof demeanor gave him an air of nobility.
He fastened his cufflinks and casually straightened his collar.
It seems as if the gloom and embarrassment of last night never existed.
Apart from a hint of darkness hidden deep in his eyes.
"Where is your wife?"
He asked calmly.
Li Yan was taken aback, and just then, seeing the young monk passing by, he asked...
The young chef answered politely.
“Benefactor Chu and Benefactor Yang went to do their morning prayers with the abbot early this morning.”
Jingmin paused slightly.
His fingertips rubbed against his cuffs, and his eyes darkened.
Going to morning class?
She left with Yang Jinchu without even saying goodbye to him?
He curled his lips into a smile, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
He then turned and walked towards the main hall.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the morning bell tolled in the distance.
The temple was completely silent, with only the sound of chanting echoing softly.
Jingmin stood in the shadows of the corridor, his gaze fixed on the courtyard outside the main hall.
Yang Jinchu and Chu Wuyang walked out side by side, their clothes matching, their demeanor gentle and refined, their steps in sync.
Their demeanor was natural and intimate during the conversation.
It's as if they've long been accustomed to each other's company.
The young chef chuckled from the side:
“Benefactor Yang and Benefactor Chu are of similar temperament, and they were particularly in sync when chanting sutras today, as if they were born with a Buddhist affinity.”
Jing Min stood not far away, listening to these words, and a cold twitch appeared on his lips.
The fingertips tightened subtly.
Compatible temperament?
A natural affinity with Buddhism?
He watched as Chu Wuyang turned her head and whispered something to Yang Jinchu.
Yang Jinchu smiled lightly and nodded slightly.
He then reached out and gently brushed the snow off her coat, his gesture both gentle and natural.
This scene, when witnessed by Jing Min, was inexplicably jarring.
He suddenly felt like an outsider standing there.
Before he even reached the main hall, he heard the abbot's voice slowly drifting out—
“Benefactor Yang and Benefactor Chu have been coming to the temple to pray for blessings with their grandmother since they were young, and they often stay for a while. At that time, I felt that the two of them were a perfect match.”
Jing Min paused slightly, his heart suddenly tightening.
The abbot's voice was calm and measured, tinged with a touch of emotion:
"Now that the two have grown up, they have indeed tied the knot. If Grandma knew this in the afterlife, she would surely be pleased."
Jingmin stood there, his ears ringing.
It felt like being slapped hard across the face.
Even their breathing stopped for a moment.
A happy marriage?
Jing Min's fingers, hanging at his sides, slowly tightened, his knuckles turning white.
Chu Wuyang was stunned for a moment, then quickly clarified.
"No, master craftsman, you've misunderstood, we—"
Yang Jinchu responded with a smile:
"Yes, Grandma always hoped we could be happy. It's so rare to be able to come together to pray for her now. Grandma would be happy to know this in the afterlife."
The abbot said in a cheerful tone:
"Yes, that's wonderful!"
"You two are such filial children to come together to pray for your grandmother."
"Your grandmother always said she hoped you two could stay together for a long, long time... That's so wonderful, so wonderful."
Chu Wu smiled awkwardly and didn't respond further.
Jing Min looked at Chu Wuyang, who neither explained nor denied.
The silence was chilling.
He took a deep breath, composed himself, and walked over slowly, his voice calm:
"So you're here."
Chu Wuyang turned to look at him, her brows furrowing slightly:
Why are you here?
Jing Min didn't answer, her gaze lingering for a moment on Yang Jinchu beside her, then she tugged at the corners of her lips in a half-smile.
He then glanced casually at the abbot, his tone indifferent:
"What the old master just said... 'a happy marriage'? I think you've misunderstood,"
His tone was blunt and not very polite.
Chu Wuyang's tone was somewhat impatient; she frowned and whispered a reminder to him.
"Jingmin, stop fooling around!"
Jing Min scoffed and retorted, "Me, making a scene?"
The abbot looked at Chu Wuyang with a gentle expression, his eyes full of inquiry.
"These are your friends?"
Chu Wuyang was filled with mixed emotions and didn't know how to explain, so she nodded slightly.
His eyes were full of conflict. The abbot was a friend of my grandmother's when she was alive. My grandmother had taken care of him in his early years, and they had a deep bond.
He came here today specifically to perform another blessing ceremony for his grandmother's memorial tablet.
She didn't want to disappoint the abbot, just as she didn't want to disappoint her grandmother.
But Jingmin...
Yang Jinchu, who was standing to the side, seemed to sense her hesitation and spoke up at the right moment.
"Master, we're not married yet, it's just..."
The abbot, with a kind smile on his lips, waved his hand to interrupt.
"Oh dear, not married yet? I knew Yang was shy because she was looking down!"
He sighed softly, his tone filled with emotion:
"However, your grandmother always said that you two were a good match, and marriage was only a matter of time. Just be a dutiful child and follow the wishes of your elders; that is true blessing."
Upon hearing the word "filial piety," Chu Wuyang's heart tightened, and he felt incredibly ashamed, lowering his head even further.
When Jingmin, who was standing to the side, heard the phrase "it's only a matter of time before marriage,"
His face gradually turned green, and the pain and helplessness in his heart made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He turned to look at Chu Wuyang, who was standing silently with her head down, his face full of disbelief.
Is she acquiescing?
The master craftsman was still talking with Yang Jinchu…
Jing Min, however, stared silently at Chu Wuyang, still harboring a lingering hope that she would say something to explain.
Even if it's just a simple sentence or a single word,
But no, she didn't say another word from beginning to end...
After a moment, he chuckled softly, his voice detached and self-deprecating:
"It seems I really shouldn't have stayed any longer."
After a slight pause, he finally suppressed his surging emotions and said calmly,
"I'll be waiting for you at the door,"
After saying that, he turned and left, his back view cold and distant, as if he had been completely excluded from her world.
Chu Wuyang watched his departing figure, feeling inexplicably heavy-hearted.
Yang Jinchu smiled slightly, his voice gentle:
"Go inside, the ceremony is about to begin."
She snapped out of her reverie, nodded, and walked with him toward the main hall.
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