Chapter 15 Chapter 15 The First Time...
WeChat message: [Where are you?]
WeChat message: "Aren't you afraid I'll report you right now and post your story online?"
WeChat message: "Say something!!!"
...
Shen Beidao coldly swept his gaze over the threatening messages sent by Du Xiaoman, and typed a reply:
I already said I'd transfer it to you tomorrow; I need time to raise the money.
The other party immediately replied, "Stop talking nonsense. Aren't you a rich kid? Ask your parents for money!"
Just then, a new message notification popped up at the top of the screen—from [Little Rabbit]
Without hesitation, Shen Beidao scrolled up the chat page with Du Xiaoman, as if the earlier annoyance had never existed. He lightly tapped the contact that instantly softened his heart.
Little bunny: [Tomorrow is Saturday, are you free?]
Shen Beidao's lips unconsciously curved upwards slightly, a smile so gentle he himself didn't even realize how genuine it was: "Yeah, no classes tomorrow."
Little Bunny: [How about we go on a date tomorrow? We've been together for so long, but we haven't even had a proper date yet (sad face).jpg]
Looking at that cute little expression, Shen Beidao could almost picture Lin Yi pouting on the other end of the phone. He replied, "Okay, where do you want to go?"
The little rabbit quickly sent a link to a mini-program: [Mini-program | Jiangzhou Lingjiu Peak Scenic Area Reservation]
Little bunny: [Shall we go here? Are you interested?]
Shen Beidao was not familiar with the attractions in Jiangzhou. He had been here for three years, and his life could be described as "plain and uneventful".
His life trajectory was as simple as a straight line—from the classroom to the office, from the library to the apartment.
These popular tourist attractions never appeared on his schedule.
Shen Beidao [Okay, very interested]
He put down his phone and began carefully selecting from the emoji library, trying to find an emoji that could express both expectation and composure.
Is it a cartoon image of a French kiss, or a cute GIF of a Doberman Pinscher rubbing against your head? Or perhaps WeChat's default smiley face emoji...?
The usually composed Professor Shen was now stumped by a tiny emoji.
Just as he was hesitating, Lin Yi sent another message:
Little Rabbit [Mini Program | Jiangzhou Yunlin Zen Temple Reservation]
Little bunny: [The scenic area is currently free, but I don't know your ID number, so you need to make a reservation in advance, otherwise you won't be able to get in~]
Shen Beidao opened the mini-program and saw the words "Yunlin Temple." He murmured with slight doubt, "A temple?"
Then she felt relieved. Wherever she went, as long as she was with Lin Yi, that was enough.
He replied with his ID number [ID Number: 33010019950630xxxx]
Then, he quickly added, "Could you make an appointment for me? Thank you, honey (cute emoji)"
Lin Yi, on the other end of the phone, couldn't help but laugh when he saw the message: "Wow, you trust me so much that you even sent your ID card? Looks like what they said on the forum was right..."
He muttered to himself as he skillfully made an appointment for Shen Beidao.
Lin Yi: [Okay, see you at 7 tomorrow.]
Lin Yi [Shouldn't she be thanking her husband? ~~(smug little bunny wiggling its butt.jpg)]
...
On Saturday morning, sunlight pierced through the thin mist, draping Lingjiu Peak in a golden veil.
As Lin Yi had predicted, the flow of people heading to the scenic area was endless, and long lines of vehicles formed.
Fortunately, today's traffic restrictions were in effect due to odd-even license plate restrictions. The Mercedes SUV that was heading to Beidao Island had an even-numbered license plate, which allowed it to move slowly through the congestion and eventually reach the parking lot on the mountain.
Because Lin Yi had specifically mentioned going hiking the night before, the two of them instinctively chose to wear sportswear.
Lin Yi was wearing a stylish dark purple tracksuit, with four asymmetrical silver zippers on the chest of the shirt that reflected dappled light in the sunlight.
Wearing a white shirt under a tracksuit, with a simple chain necklace draped across the chest, and a matching purple baseball bat, the look is youthful and sunny.
The sides of the sweatpants are also decorated with several functional zippers, which are both stylish and practical.
Wearing a pair of limited-edition white sneakers, she perfectly embodied the unique style of an art school student.
In contrast, Shen Beidao's outfit was much simpler. He wore a pure black tracksuit with a fine, matte fabric. The only bright spot was a small white checkmark logo on the left chest, subtle and understated.
The sweatpants perfectly accentuated his long, muscular legs, and he wore professional black hiking boots. He exuded a calm and reserved demeanor, just like his usual image.
Lin Yi took off his baseball cap and put it on Shen Beidao's head, admiringly saying, "Hmm, adding a touch of bright color to dark colors makes it look much more energetic!"
"Is this okay?" Shen Beidao wasn't very accepting of the purple hat.
"Trust me, it's perfect for you!" Lin Yi proudly raised his chin. "I'm a professional art student, my aesthetic sense is top-notch!"
Seeing his smug little face, Shen Beidao accepted the eye-catching purple baseball cap in just one second.
Lin Yi liked it, and he put it on himself. It had his scent on it, and these were enough reasons why Shen Beidao liked it.
The two took a bottle of mineral water from the car. Lin Yi jumped up and down a couple of times to stretch his limbs, which were stiff from sitting for a long time: "Traffic jams are quite tiring! It feels more physically demanding than climbing a mountain."
Shen Beidao did not respond immediately, but turned around and took out a small portable bag from the trunk, and took out a small bottle of floral water from it.
"There are many mosquitoes here because of the dense trees." His gaze fell on Lin Yi's slightly open collar due to the design of his sportswear, and his fair neck looked particularly alluring in the sunlight. "Spray some mosquito repellent."
Lin Yi was surprised by his thoughtfulness and felt a warmth in her heart. She obediently leaned forward, bringing her long neck close to Chen Beidao's face, and asked in a coquettish tone, "Can you put some on for me?"
"Okay, don't move." Shen Beidao gently pressed the nozzle, and the fine mist of water was evenly sprayed on Lin Yi's neck.
"Ah~ It's so cool~" Lin Yi deliberately dragged out the last syllable, his voice carrying a touch of affected sweetness, while his eyes slyly glanced at Shen Beidao's reaction.
Shen Beidao shook his head helplessly yet affectionately, capped the bottle of floral water and put it back in his bag, then stretched out his well-defined hand and gently covered Lin Yi's neck.
His fingertips were slightly cool, but his movements were exceptionally gentle as he carefully applied the floral water evenly. His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the other's warm skin, and both of them could feel a subtle electric current coursing between them.
"Alright." Shen Beidao's voice was a few decibels lower than usual. When he withdrew his hand, the warm touch of the other person's skin still lingered on his fingertips.
Lin Yi straightened up with satisfaction, but his ears turned red before his cheeks. He tried to remain calm and said, "Then... let's go in quickly, otherwise there will be too many tourists and we'll have to queue."
"Okay." Shen Beidao took Lin Yi's hand. "Let's go."
Lin Yi felt a little awkward; after all, it was rather embarrassing for two grown men to be holding hands. However, Shen Beidao didn't feel anything was wrong at all. He stared straight ahead, ignoring the stares of passersby, and refused to let go.
Lin Yi: ...It seems like there's nothing wrong with two men holding hands.
The two followed the flow of people and queued to enter the scenic area.
After scanning the reservation code and passing through the gate, walk forward about 100 meters and you will be greeted by a group of ancient and solemn stone Buddha statues.
These Buddha statues were carved in different eras and have been weathered by wind and rain. Although their surfaces have become somewhat weathered, their exquisite craftsmanship and compassionate expressions are still evident.
They are arranged in a pleasing, staggered pattern on the rock face; some have their hands clasped together, while others have their eyes lowered in contemplation, each exuding an aura of tranquility and peace…
As we paused on Shenbei Island, intending to closely examine these artistic treasures that embody a thousand years of culture, a tour guide was explaining to the group: "These stone Buddha statues can be traced back to the first year of the Xianhe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and are important witnesses to the Buddhist culture of Lingjiu Peak..."
However, Lin Yi grabbed his wrist and said, "We can look at these Buddha statues later. Let's get down to business first!" His tone was filled with eager excitement.
Before Shen Beidao could respond, Lin Yi pulled him through the crowd and headed straight for Yunlin Temple.
At the ticket gate at the entrance of the Zen temple, when Shenbei Island's reservation code was scanned, the machine emitted a solemn prompt: "Amitabha."
The sudden sound startled Shen Beidao: Was this... to experience Buddhist culture?
Lin Yi thought about the advice on the forum: "If you like him, take him to pray for blessings, so that you can be together forever. But there's a risk too; it's said that if you're not meant to be together, you'll break up..."
Upon entering the temple, a lay Buddhist dressed in volunteer attire smiled and handed each of them three slender sticks of incense.
The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, and wisps of incense smoke rose gently.
"I'll teach you the correct procedure for offering incense."
Lin Yi, appearing quite familiar with the process, held the incense stick between his left index and middle fingers, then gestured for Shen Beidao to do the same, "Use the tip of your right thumb to gently press against the base of the incense stick, with the tip facing upwards, as a sign of respect..."
He patiently guided Shen Beidao step by step, his expression unusually serious: "When holding the incense, it should be level with your eyebrows... Then first insert the middle stick, to represent offering to all Buddhas of the ten directions and three times, then insert the right stick, to represent offering to all Dharma of the ten directions and three times, and finally insert the left stick, to represent offering to all Sangha of the ten directions and three times..."
As a Chinese who grew up in Germany, Shen Beidao had never been exposed to these traditional rituals before. He studied them very diligently, even though he seemed to have no unfulfilled wishes that required special consultation with Buddha...
But since Lin Yi liked it, he accompanied him, which was also a wish of his.
After the ceremony, the two stood side by side and bowed three times reverently towards the direction of the main hall.
As Shen Beidao looked at Lin Yi, who was making a wish with his eyes closed beside him, he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart...
Lin Yi opened his eyes and met Shen Beidao's gentle gaze. He scolded, "What are you looking at me for? Hurry up and make a wish!"
Only then did Shen Beidao realize what was happening. He held up three incense sticks above his head and said, "Honorable Buddha, I have no wish, I only hope that my boyfriend next to me can have all his wishes fulfilled and be happy forever."
...
After completing the ceremony, Shen Beidao was unable to calm down for a long time. He was not a Buddhist, but in that solemn atmosphere, feeling the tranquility and solemnity of the ancient temple, he also gained a rare peace in his heart.
"Do you like doing this?" After leaving the incense burner area, Shen Beidao couldn't help but ask.
“I’m a local, my home isn’t far from here. I have an annual park pass. I used to come here often when I was under a lot of academic pressure in high school.”
"You come to offer incense when you have time?" Shen Beidao asked, somewhat puzzled. He could probably guess that people who frequently came to places to express their wishes were mostly doing something they were willing to do but unable to.
"Not entirely," Lin Yi explained with a smile. "Actually, I'm a scientific materialist too, okay? It's just—"
He paused, "We admire science, but we also respect Buddha's 996 work schedule, right? So when you offer incense, you must be sincere."
As Lin Yi spoke, he took the newly acquired eighteen-bead bracelet from Shen Beidao's hand and circled it three times clockwise above the incense burner, letting the bracelet bathe in the wisps of incense smoke.
This was the first time Shen Beidao had ever seen someone say "advocate for science" while doing things that didn't represent science.
Shen Beidao couldn't help but chuckle: "Hmm, that makes a lot of sense."
After fumigating the bracelet, Lin Yi carefully put it back on Shen Beidao's wrist: "This has been blessed, it'll keep you safe and sound."
"Yes, I'll give you one too..."
Before Shen Beidao could finish speaking, Lin Yi put another bracelet on himself, the whole process as smooth and natural as drinking water, without giving him any chance to touch it.
Shen Beidao chuckled inwardly: Hmm... It's my fault for being too slow to react.
According to Lin Yi's plan, they were going to climb a mountain next, from which they could overlook the entire city.
The two slowly climbed up the mountain path paved with bluestone slabs. The higher they went, the more tourists there were. Many people came down from the mountain and warmly reminded the climbers, "Hang in there, you'll be there soon."
The most common phrase among the tourists around is: "Since we're already here, we definitely have to go to the top of the mountain!"
The surrounding trees grew even greener, and occasionally a few clear birdsongs could be heard...
"Why did you learn to paint?" Shen Beidao asked, trying to start a conversation.
"Hey! Isn't this a good way to get into university?" Lin Yi's answer was surprisingly straightforward. "You thought I would say it's because of passion? Actually, it's not."
He kicked aside a small pebble on the road and said casually, "Who in their family truly loves drawing would choose design as their major, right?"
"Hmm," Shen Beidao responded softly, but he knew in his heart that this was probably not the truth. If he didn't like painting, why would he choose one of the top art academies in the country?
If it's really just about getting a diploma, wouldn't those comprehensive universities, like the 211 and 985 institutions, be a better choice?
He knew that Lin Yi hadn't told the whole truth, and perhaps their relationship wasn't close enough for them to open up to each other. Shen Beidao comforted himself that he shouldn't be in a hurry, but he still felt uneasy.
Shen Beidao: "I heard that you need to undergo intensive training before the art exam, with many people studying together for a period of time."
"Wow, you know quite a lot." Lin Yi glanced at him with some surprise.
"Was that period very tiring?"
"Living at school is great, I don't have to go home." Lin Yi's answer was light, but it inadvertently revealed a hint of complicated emotions.
He paused for a moment and explained, "My parents are too controlling, so I feel quite comfortable living outside. Besides, I don't feel tired at all. When I'm feeling fulfilled, I don't think about anything else."
Before Shen Beidao could respond, he continued, “Besides, who isn’t tired? The auntie who sells breakfast has to get up at three o’clock or I won’t have breakfast. Students have to go to school at eight in the morning. When you’re at work, you have to clock in. Being tired is the norm. I never complain. However, I don’t waste my time either… So, between striving for self-improvement, going to school, and going to work, I chose to burn incense.”
Shen Beidao was amused by his seemingly nonsensical yet insightful theory. "So, we should come more often next time to improve our happiness index."
"That's right. Offering incense is so convenient. There's no need for internal effort. You just hand over your wish and focus on an external deity. Sincerity is key."
"Ha ha……"
"Take a break. There's a small pavilion up ahead where you can have some water."
Shen Beidao noticed the fine beads of sweat on Lin Yi's forehead and said with some concern.
"Are you even fit?" Lin Yi teased him playfully. "You work out every day, how come you're tired so quickly?"
"I..." Shen Beidao was about to explain when his phone suddenly rang.
He took out his phone and frowned slightly when he saw the caller ID.
Lin Yi leaned closer curiously to look: "Who is it? Someone who was looking for you on Saturday?"
His keen eyes caught the last few digits of the number on the phone screen: 7890.
"It's a student council member. It's okay, I'll reply to him later."
Shen Beidao quickly hung up the phone and put it on silent mode.
Lin Yi frowned thoughtfully: 7890, why does that sound so familiar? I remember Li Rui had this last four digits of his phone number, didn't he?
He often mentioned those four numbers when we shared taxis together before, but Li Rui said he didn't know Shen Beidao, which was probably just a coincidence...
Shen Beidao naturally put his arm around Lin Yi's shoulder and pointed to the pavilion high up on the mountaintop. "Let's go. Since you're not tired, how about we have a stamina contest?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's desire to conquer was instantly ignited. He immediately turned around and started running towards the top of the mountain, declaring as he ran: "Then you're bound to lose!"
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