The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, falling on Shen Zhi Qiu's face. She opened her eyes, awakened by the birdsong outside the window. The birds' songs were clear and melodious, like nature's most beautiful alarm clock. She reached for her phone beside the bed; the screen showed 5:30. It was still early, but the sunlight had already announced the start of a new day.
Shen Zhi Qiu slowly sat up. She looked around. The meditation room was simply yet elegantly furnished, with calligraphy works hanging on the walls, their brushstrokes conveying a sense of Zen. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Soon, the sun rose higher, bathing the entire room in a golden glow.
She got up and walked to the window, pushed it open, and a breath of fresh air rushed in, filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass.
Just as Shen Zhi Qiu was lost in thought, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a figure moving quickly down the mountain. It was Wei Qiao, carrying a bag and hurrying towards the meditation room.
Wei Qiao had clearly seen Shen Zhi Qiu as well. He quickened his pace, almost running, to the front of the meditation room. Shen Zhi Qiu opened the door, and Wei Qiao was already standing in front of her, panting as he asked, "Miss, why are you up so early?"
Instead of answering his question directly, Shen Zhi Qiu asked, "Where did you go so early in the morning?"
Wei Qiao placed the bag he was carrying on the wooden table outside the meditation room and explained, "I was worried that the food at the temple wouldn't suit your taste, so I specially ordered some other food for you." As he spoke, he opened the insulated bag, and a burst of heat and an enticing aroma wafted out. Inside were hot tea, hot coffee, hot milk, and some delicate pastries.
Looking at the food on the table, Shen Zhi Qiu felt a warm feeling well up in her heart. She remembered how Lu Jia had taken such good care of her before, always worried that she might be wronged.
In fact, she never truly suffered any injustice while she was by his side.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhi Qiu's eyes reddened again.
"Thank you, Wei Qiao. But you don't need to go to so much trouble next time. I'm fine with anything I eat," Shen Zhi Qiu said softly, her voice slightly choked.
Wei Qiao scratched his head in annoyance. "Miss, please eat something first. I didn't expect you to get up so early. I should have gone to get it earlier." His tone was full of apology and concern.
Shen Zhi Qiu shook her head. "It's alright, Wei Qiao. I'm already very grateful that you've taken such good care of me."
Shen Zhi Qiu gently pulled out a chair and sat down. Her gaze fell on Wei Qiao, who remained alert, looking around as if on guard against something. She said softly, "Wei Qiao, sit down too, and have something to eat with me."
Wei Qiao hesitated for a moment. He looked at Shen Zhi Qiu, then at his surroundings, as if weighing something. In the end, he followed Shen Zhi Qiu's advice, pulled up a chair and sat down, but remained vigilant in his posture.
"Thank you, Miss." Wei Qiao took the bread from Shen Zhi Qiu, his voice somewhat low.
Shen Zhi Qiu looked at Wei Qiao, her eyes revealing a deep sadness. "Wei Qiao, you must think I'm crazy, right?" She took a sip of tea, the bitter taste spreading in her mouth. "Actually, I think I'm crazy too."
She turned her head, looked at Wei Qiao, and gave a wry smile. "I used to be a staunch atheist, but now I realize that was only because I hadn't been pushed to the brink."
At this point, Shen Zhi Qiu's voice trembled slightly, "So, for Lu Jia's sake, I was truly willing to believe that gods exist in this world. I hoped they could protect Lu Jia and keep him alive. Perhaps he was swept away by the waves to a deserted island. Don't you see scenes like that in movies?"
Her eyes immediately filled with anticipation and hope again. "Perhaps he is still alive, we just haven't found him yet. After all, the sea is so vast and boundless, maybe he's waiting for me somewhere."
But gradually, Shen Zhi Qiu's voice grew softer and softer, until it became a murmur to herself, "Don't you think so, Wei Qiao?" She didn't really expect Wei Qiao's answer. Her gaze turned back to the distant mountains and forests, as if searching for that possible miracle.
Looking at Shen Zhi Qiu's profile, Wei Qiao felt a deep sense of helplessness and sorrow. He knew that Shen Zhi Qiu was going through immense pain and struggle, and he was powerless to help. He could only silently stay by her side, hoping to offer her some comfort and support.
"Wei Qiao, I'm going up the mountain to see the master in a bit. Wait for me outside. I need to speak with the master alone," Shen Zhi Qiu instructed after finishing her breakfast.
Upon reaching the steps leading up the mountain, Shen Zhi Qiu knelt down again and began to kowtow with each step.
Seeing that Shen Zhi Qiu was swaying from exhaustion, he felt a pang of pity and wanted to help her up. "Miss, why don't you rest for a bit and continue later, okay?"
“No,” Shen Zhi Qiu gently pushed Wei Qiao’s arm away, refusing, “Wei Qiao, move away and don’t come over to bother us. I heard that the person you are praying to must go up step by step and kowtow repeatedly in order to have any chance of moving the gods to bless the person she is looking for, so don’t come over.”
Wei Qiao sighed and reported the situation to Rong Mo again.
Rong Mo walked down the hospital corridor, his footsteps echoing in the empty space, his brows furrowed. Because of yesterday's unexpected events, the Gu family's plan to return to Nancheng had been postponed to today.
He had just pushed open the door to the ward when a glass flew straight at him. Rong Mo reacted quickly, dodging the attack by the side. The glass struck the door with a piercing shattering sound, sending shards of glass flying everywhere.
The accompanying bodyguards acted immediately. One of them rushed into the ward, grabbed Gu Qingyan by the collar, lifted him off the bed, and threw him heavily to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Gu Qingyan's body slammed onto the hard floor with a dull thud. The series of actions was lightning fast, and no one present had time to react.
Mu Ziqi and Gu Suian witnessed all of this, and their faces instantly turned pale.
Rong Mo entered the room and saw this scene. He originally thought that Gu's parents would blame him, but what happened next was beyond his expectations. Mu Ziqi's face was full of anger and disappointment. She stepped forward, raised her hand, and slapped Gu Qingyan hard.
"Have you gone mad enough?!" Mu Ziqi's voice trembled, filled with anger and despair.
Gu Qingyan was stunned by his mother's slap, his face contorted with pain and anger. Ignoring the pain, he furiously pounded the ground with his fists, again and again, each blow delivered with all his might. The wound on his arm burst open with each impact, blood instantly staining the gauze and dripping down his fingers onto the floor, forming gruesome bloodstains.
"I don't care! I said I have to find Wanqing! I need to see her alive or dead! I won't leave until I find Wanqing!" Gu Qingyan shouted in anguish.
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