Chapter 151 One of a Kind "Jealousy and loving you are both instincts."...
Shoushan Temple is built on Dongshou Mountain, which is only about 100 meters high.
As midnight approached, a considerable number of worshippers gathered in front of the temple. Among them were Zhu Liushuang and her group of four.
"Bang—bang—bang—" The midnight bell rang through the sky, and the temple gates slowly opened. At the same time, deafening firecrackers rose from the foot of the mountain. In an instant, the festive atmosphere of the New Year ignited the crowds, and people carrying incense and candles stepped forward, surging into the vermilion temple gates.
Zhu Liushuang felt a tremendous force pushing her forward from behind.
Dark shadows swarmed around her; some pushed past her shoulder, and others nearly stepped on her heels.
"Ah Ming—" She staggered and instinctively called his name.
He Ming's heart tightened, and he immediately responded, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." He kept a straight face and pulled her tightly to his chest, using half of his body to block the other person's shoving.
"Walk slowly, I'm right behind you."
The man's broad shoulders formed a high wall around her, giving her a sense of peace amidst the clamor of the crowd.
Upon reaching the central courtyard of the temple, the crowd dispersed.
The commotion subsided abruptly as worshippers rushed toward the incense burner in front of the main hall.
Tian Xingyu wanted to be the first to offer incense in the new year, so she ran off early.
Ye Xingzhi was worried about leaving her alone, so he hurriedly followed her.
In the courtyard filled with the scent of incense, only Zhu Liushuang and He Ming remained in the same spot.
"Shall we go when there are fewer people?" the man asked, holding up the incense candle in his hand.
“Let’s go somewhere else…” Zhu Liushuang stood on tiptoe and looked into the distance before turning to He Ming and saying.
"where?"
“Come with me…” She lifted her skirt with one hand and grabbed He Ming with the other, hurrying him toward the path.
A rustling sound came from the wind, the sound of clothes rustling.
She led him step by step forward, through the bamboo forest, across the stone bridge, and up the long steps, finally arriving at the "True Body Hall".
This hall is located in a corner of the temple, unlike the grand and imposing main hall in front. The hall is sparsely populated, with only the flickering candlelight of the eternal lamps shining like stars.
“This is it—” Zhu Liushuang said, smoothing her wind-blown hair. “Let’s go in.”
He Ming rarely prayed to gods or Buddhas, and he had never set foot in the "True Body Hall" before. He couldn't help but take a few more glances and ask, "Who is this deity?"
“The true form of Guanyin Bodhisattva in the mortal world. A-Ming, come in quickly.” Zhu Liushuang stepped into the left side of the hall with his left foot, turned around and called to him in a low voice.
He Ming grunted in response and slowly followed.
Zhu Liu looked at him and whispered a reminder: "When walking on the left, you should step with your left foot first..."
There's such a rule? He Ming was taken aback, stopped his right foot from stepping out, and immediately switched to his left foot.
"Give me the incense..." Zhu Liushuang said, taking a stick of incense from his hand. She walked alone to the ever-burning lamp, bent down, and lit it. Her movements as she lit the incense were devout and meticulous. When the incense tip was crimson and the white smoke was curling, she held the incense stick in both hands, walked to a majestic Buddha statue, and bowed deeply.
"If I can see the Buddha, I wish that all sentient beings..." she murmured to herself. After a while, she knelt on the prayer mat and bowed three times. After doing this, she got up and put the incense sticks into the incense burner filled with ashes.
The murmur of the night wind still lingered in her ears, but the person who came in with her remained completely silent.
Zhu Liushuang turned around and looked up, only to see He Ming leaning casually against a stone pillar, gazing at her calmly. His dark eyes held the flickering candlelight, which also reflected her serene figure.
"Ah Ming, what are you standing there for? Come and offer your prayers!" As soon as she finished speaking, she walked up to him with ease and took his hand.
As soon as He Ming was pulled to the prayer mat, he saw the person next to him leave him to light incense.
Soon, a wisp of white smoke appeared in his hand.
"I'll let you in on a secret, this place is really effective!" With her long eyelashes fluttering, Zhu Liushuang told him hopefully, "I've made several wishes here before, and they all came true..."
"Is it really that effective?"
Zhu Liu nodded twice: "Yes! Sincerity is key... Hurry up and pray!"
"Okay." Seeing the expectant look on her face, He Ming suppressed his indifference. He solemnly knelt down, held incense above his head, and kowtowed in prayer:
Although I never place my hopes on others, if it truly works, I beg you to bless the woman beside me, that she may live a life free from illness and misfortune, free from worries and with ease. Please also keep that secret for me… I only wish she could stay by my side in peace. In exchange… I request that you come and offer incense to her every year.
He knelt before the Buddha statue for a few more minutes than she did, so much so that as soon as they left the main hall, Zhu Liushuang chased after him and asked what he had asked the Bodhisattva for.
He Ming smiled mysteriously, then turned and changed the subject, asking her why she had brought him to this deserted side hall to burn incense.
"Because this place is effective!" Zhu Liushuang repeated her previous words.
As for which wishes had come true, she hesitated and refused to say. And all those wishes she was unwilling to voice were related to him. Now that He Ming was beside her, didn't that mean all her wishes had come true?
"So... Ah Ming, what were you thinking about while you knelt with your eyes closed for so long?" The topic returned to its starting point.
He Ming suddenly stopped and looked down at her: "You just want to know that?"
"Of course I want to!" Zhu Liushuang said curiously.
He Ming pondered for a moment, then turned her around by the shoulder, his eyes flashing, and said, "I just told the Bodhisattva that I asked her to bless my wife with peace and health throughout her life."
"You... what did you say?" Hearing the word "wife" from his mouth for the first time, Zhu Liushuang was so excited that she couldn't speak coherently.
"Didn't you hear me? Let me say it again..." He Ming smiled, staring intently at her, "I pray to Buddha to bless my wife..."
"Um...I understand!" She interrupted him hastily before he could finish his sentence.
Although she was so happy she just wanted to spin around on the spot, she couldn't help but feel shy when he called her "wife" so tenderly.
Zhu Liushuang pursed her lips reservedly: "Who's your wife!"
"Who else is there besides you?" He Ming's deep eyes were fixed on her. "It says on the marriage certificate that you are my legal wife."
"Oh my, you're so cheesy—" Avoiding his overly direct gaze, Zhu Liushuang asked shyly, "Why did you suddenly change your tune?"
For the time being, he had been calling her "Shuangshuang," which had already satisfied her. She thought that any further change in how they addressed each other would have to wait until their relationship was officially announced to the world.
I never expected it to be so fast!
A mixture of surprise and astonishment washed over her as she shook her arms, anticipating his answer.
"It's nothing, I just wanted to call you that," He Ming said calmly, suppressing his turbulent emotions.
The low mood was fleeting, and Zhu Liu twisted her fingers together and said "Oh".
She turned her head casually to look at the moon in the sky. Only then did she realize that the moon had somehow hidden itself in the swirling clouds, leaving only a dim crescent.
"Are you unhappy?" The man's deep gaze fell on her forlorn profile.
Zhu Liushuang let out a breath: "No..."
She knew she was being stubborn.
To be honest, I am a little disappointed.
"I..." The man who could talk fluently in front of hundreds of people at work was actually timid. "I'm a little jealous of Tian Xingyu."
Under the cover of night, a hint of embarrassment appeared on He Ming's face.
Zhu Liushuang exclaimed "Ah!" and stared at him with her mouth slightly open, as if she had heard something unbelievable.
"Don't laugh..." He Ming awkwardly touched his chin and said vaguely, "When Tian Xingyu clung to you so tightly... calling you 'baby' over and over, I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles."
"Ayu is my best friend, and she's a girl!"
“I know, but I can’t control myself.” He Ming suddenly pulled her to his chest, pressed her head against his chest, and said, “Wife—only I can call you that. In the new year, I want to become someone in your life that even Tian Xingyu can’t surpass.”
"Ah Ming, you're so stingy!" Zhu Liushuang felt like she had a lively rabbit jumping around in her chest. Even now, leaning against the man's chest, she could hardly believe that these words came from He Ming's mouth.
Not only is he petty and narrow-minded, he's even jealous of her best friend!
If this were told to others, no one would believe it.
A man's voice, feigning composure, came from above: "Well, you can interpret this as a man's primal possessiveness. Jealousy and love are both instincts."
Zhu Liushuang had actually discovered quite early on that He Ming liked to be direct in love.
He was always able to openly and honestly share his inner thoughts with her, showing her his most authentic self.
Without pretense or beating around the bush, he clearly told her through his actions and words that he was a living, breathing man with selfish motives.
His love for her was given more concrete proof tonight.
Recalling He Ming's words, Zhu Liushuang's heart melted. She was naturally happy, and that joy drew her lips and eyebrows upwards.
Under the deep blue night sky, the moon silently peeked out from behind the clouds, "lighting up" the two people embracing in the courtyard.
The cool moonlight returned to her eyes, and Zhu Liushuang couldn't help but think: How wonderful, the bright moon shines only for her.
“Ah Ming…”
"Um?"
"I like...you calling me that."
"So, shouldn't you start calling me something different, my wife?"
She closed her eyes, listening to each other's softly beating hearts, and said, "Husband... Happy New Year!"
————
This year went by really fast.
Visiting relatives and friends, cleaning the old house in Chengjia Village, and visiting the cemetery to see the deceased relatives... Zhu Liushuang stayed in Hudong Community for a total of eight days, and only reluctantly said goodbye to her mother and returned to Chunhua Lane on the morning of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.
During the short seven-day Spring Festival holiday, if you ask her if there was anything special that happened, then of course there was.
For example, when she woke up on the first day of the Lunar New Year, she saw He Ming's WeChat Moments post from 2:30 a.m.
This man, who rarely posts more than a few times a year, surprisingly posted a portrait photo, and he did so after she fell asleep.
Happy New Year! Wishing you peace and prosperity.
She looked at those eight simple words again and again, as if she couldn't get enough of them.
Looking further down, there was a flood of likes, and the comments section was bustling with activity.
There were playful banter from Gu Xufeng and Ye Xingzhi, as well as blessings from Jiang Shuting and others...
Even her boss, Guo Yang, unusually made a sarcastic remark: "Brother, you're riding high, making everyone envious!"
The reason why such a big stir was naturally due to the photos released by He Ming.
The background of the photo is a dimly lit, ancient street scene. A woman dressed in a light blue Hanfu carries a fish lantern and smiles gently as she looks back...
The subject of this photo is herself.
Zhu Liushuang didn't know when He Ming pressed the shutter, but she vaguely remembered that she was walking alone on the road when she suddenly heard He Ming call her to turn around.
The night breeze was just right, the lamplight was dazzling, and her gaze towards him was as gentle as water.
For example, on the morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, He Ming took her to the People's Hospital for a full-body checkup.
They did a full immunization panel, an MRI of the sacroiliac joint, they did it all.
She had no idea when he had booked her a VIP medical check-up. Upon arrival, a nurse led her through various windows without her even having to queue. Finally, the two consulted a renowned expert from Shanghai in the rheumatology and immunology department.
Later, Zhu Liushuang learned that He Ming had found this expert through connections, and it had taken two months just to schedule an appointment with him.
After saying goodbye to the Spring Festival holiday, we returned to work, and life went back to normal.
On the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, He Ming kept his promise and treated Ye Xingzhi and Tian Xingyu to a big meal before the Lantern Festival, finally shutting up the two eloquent people.
That very night, Zhu Liushuang's phone suddenly started ringing incessantly, and she quickly answered it.
"Xiao Shuang? Are you Xiao Shuang?" A hoarse and anxious voice came from the other end of the phone.
She frowned and asked, "Um, may I ask who you are?"
The man breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally got through. I'm Uncle Zhang, your mother's dance partner. Your mother just twisted her ankle..."
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Author's Note: The senior student, now enlightened: Say what you mean, tell her what you're thinking, and never let your wife have internal conflicts [cat emoji].
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