Shen Meiyan stood in front of her mother, Lin Yueshan, hands on her hips, brows furrowed, revealing her dissatisfaction. Her voice carried a hint of stubbornness, "Mom, I just didn't want you to handle this, so I did it myself."
Lin Yueshan looked at her daughter, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She sighed softly, her tone gentle yet firm, "Child, Mom doesn't want you to get your hands dirty with these sordid things. My daughter should be born into this world to enjoy happiness like a little princess, carefree and without worries. Do you understand?" Her words were filled with love and protection for her daughter.
After hearing this, Shen Meiyan softened a little, but still insisted on her own opinion, "Mom, I thought you would never do such a thing again after all these years of pampering."
Lin Yueshan gently shook her head, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes. "I can choose not to do it, I can even tolerate your father having other women outside, but all of this is on the condition that it doesn't affect you. To me, not having your father's love is nothing, but you must have your father's love and all his assets. That's the meaning behind all these years of planning." Her words revealed her worry and expectations for her daughter's future.
Upon hearing her mother's words, Shen Meiyan's emotions instantly collapsed. Her eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them. "Mom," she choked out, "do you know? I don't actually need so much money. I just want a complete family."
Lin Yueshan looked at her daughter with heartache. She stepped forward and gently hugged her. "Silly child, there is no perfect family in this world. But Mom will do everything I can to give you the best life. Do you believe Mom?"
If you get hurt because of me or for the sake of this family, Mom will absolutely not allow it. So, I'll handle the following. You just pretend you don't know anything and go out and have fun with your friends.
"Okay, Mom," Shen Meiyan replied, her nose tingling with emotion.
Unlike the tumultuous life in Nancheng, Shen Zhi Qiu and Lu Jia, living in the capital, are the epitome of a peaceful and tranquil existence.
The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, falling warmly and gently on Shen Zhi Qiu's face. She had gotten up early, a happy smile on her face, as if she were hiding some beautiful secret in her heart. After washing up, she mysteriously told Lu Jia that she was going to take him somewhere, her bright eyes sparkling with anticipation and excitement.
Lu Jia looked at her, his heart filled with curiosity. He wanted to ask her what was going on, but Shen Zhi Qiu smiled and shook her head, indicating that he shouldn't ask too many questions and just follow her. She told him that Xiao Ran would be looking after the children for them today, and they would have a whole day to themselves.
Hearing this, he affectionately patted Shen Zhi Qiu's hair and said gently, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
The two stepped out of the house, where Wei Qiao had been waiting for quite some time. Seeing them emerge, Wei Qiao quickly opened the car door and respectfully said, "Good morning, Miss. We're leaving now." His face was beaming with a friendly smile, as if he couldn't wait to begin their journey.
Shen Zhi Qiu's smile was warm. She said to Wei Qiao, "Yes, thank you for your hard work, Wei Qiao. I'm troubling you again this time."
Wei Qiao smiled and waved his hand, "Miss, you're too kind. Serving you is what I should do." He paused, then continued, "This time, my feelings are completely different."
Hearing Wei Qiao's words, Shen Zhi Qiu chuckled softly, then gently took Lu Jia's hand. Her hand was warm, giving Lu Jia a sense of inexplicable peace and comfort. He watched the two of them exchanging cryptic messages he couldn't understand, and his curiosity was boundless. However, he didn't ask, choosing instead to quietly stay by Shen Zhi Qiu's side, enjoying this rare tranquility and happiness.
As the car spiraled upwards, the scenery outside the window gradually changed, eventually coming to a stop at the foot of the mountain. Through the car window, Lu Jia saw an ancient temple halfway up the mountain. Looking up at the solemn building, Lu Jia couldn't help but feel a little surprised. He had never imagined that Shen Zhi Qiu would bring him to such a place.
Shen Zhi Qiu seemed to sense his confusion, and she smiled as she explained, "I brought you here to fulfill a vow." Her voice was gentle yet firm, as if she were recounting a deeply buried story. "During the days you were missing, I came here to pray to Buddha for your protection. I promised that if you were to return safely, I would definitely come back to fulfill my vow."
Hearing her words, Lu Jia felt a surge of warmth in his heart. In his most helpless moment, Shen Zhi Qiu had been silently praying for him. This deep affection filled him with immense gratitude and happiness.
At this moment, Wei Qiao stood in front of the car and said respectfully, "Miss, I will wait here for you to get off."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work," Shen Zhi Qiu replied with a smile. She took Lu Jia's hand and slowly headed towards the temple.
The two slowly climbed the stone steps, making their way to the summit. The surrounding scenery was breathtakingly beautiful, with lush, verdant forests and birds chirping merrily in the mountains. They felt as if they were in a paradise, where all the noise and hustle and bustle of the world had been shut out.
Along the way, they encountered several people going up the mountain to worship Buddha. They clasped their hands together, knelt and prostrated themselves devoutly, chanting as if they were telling Buddha their wishes and hopes. Some of their knees were already worn raw and slightly bleeding, but they didn't care at all, and still knelt down and kowtowed firmly, repeating the action again and again.
Lu Jia paused slightly, his gaze lingering on Shen Zhi Qiu's face, as if trying to read something from her expression. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly, "Zhi Qiu, did you also kneel and pray your way up the mountain like this?"
Shen Zhi Qiu's fingers tightened slightly. Her gaze fell on the winding stone steps ahead, avoiding Lu Jia's probing eyes. She pursed her lips gently, then lowered her head, taking Lu Jia's hand and continuing forward. Her voice was calm and firm, as if recalling that difficult time, "Sincerity is key, it's alright. Look how lucky I am, you're already by my side. I'm here today to fulfill a vow."
However, Shen Zhi Qiu's calmness did not completely conceal the turmoil within her. Her words revealed a deep sense of relief and gratitude, as if she had paid a heavy price for this wish. Lu Jia noticed her emotional change; his eyes reddened slightly, and an indescribable emotion welled up within him.
Although he hadn't witnessed Shen Zhi Qiu's despair and helplessness firsthand, he could imagine it. He held Shen Zhi Qiu's hand tightly and secretly vowed to treat her even better.
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