Chapter 17 - The Destined Meeting (1/2)

Chapter 17: The Destined Meeting

Translator: Jacquelin

The street was bustling with noise and excitement. The city square was bathed in sunlight. The house prices in the city seemed soaring up without limit. There were real-estate advertisements everywhere. Dong Ci wondered if there were so many rich people who would like to buy houses at such a high price in this city.

A big banner was draped across the gate of a housing estate saying, “Bring your lover home.” It was an attractive advertising slogan.

‘Bring your lover home?’ Dong Ci shook her head and didn’t agree with the advertising slogan. She squinted her eyes and stood there staring blankly.

Chai Xiuwen waved at Dong Ci from a distance and yelled, “Dong Ci, I’m here.”

They went to a coffee shop. Chai Xiuwen asked, “Did you really see the ghosts? Maybe it’s because you are having your period and in poor health so that you were hallucinating last night.”

“I saw them clearly. They all have horrible faces.” Dong Ci took a mouthful of coffee and left a little lipstick on the white coffee cup. “If you had been with me last night, you would have been scared too. Anyway, I am out of luck recently.”

“Don’t be scared. There’s no ghost in the world. Believe me.” Chai Xiuwen was a confirmed atheist and her boyfriend was a doctor of philosophy.

“I don’t want to go shopping today. Let’s go to the temple and worship Buddha.” Dong Ci paid the bill and the two of them left the coffee shop.

There were so many people in the smoggy temple. Devout men and women prayed for blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The Buddhist abbot sat cross-legged on the cattail hassock, chanted scriptures while beating the wooden fish rhythmically. Buddhists kneeling on the floor murmured, going over multiple thought in their minds. As the time went on, they began to think about what to eat after prayers.

‘Bodhisattva, please bless me with a smooth and happy life. I don’t want to see those ghosts again,’ Dong Ci prayed in her mind.

In front of her was a statue of the Bodhisattva who was looking coldly at her.

Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were all busy and sometimes they would forget to grant their believers’ wishes.

When Dong Ci walked out of the main hall of the temple, the Buddhist abbot cast a glance at her, shook his head and continued beating the wooden fish. The monotone sound of knocking the wooden fish echoed in the main hall. Everyone, including Buddhist monks, lived a dull life.

“Well, it is the last time I conduct a party of tourists to a scenic spot. Wish me luck.” Dong Ci kissed Luo Nan on the lips before she went out. She liked him from the bottom of her heart. In her view, since she didn’t hate being with him, she might have fallen love with him. Luo Nan was her first boyfriend and also her fiance. They were going to get married. In the eyes of others, she was a lucky dog.