Sharing Dreams with My Bestie's Cousin

Chapter 74: Steal a glance at him

Chapter 74: Steal a glance at him

Wen Zhi had lingered in the room for quite some time before finally opening the door and coming out.

How dreadful…

Shang Hexing hadn’t left yet.

He was standing in the courtyard, seemingly waiting for her?

Last night in her dream, she had been so unrestrained. It was really hard for her to calmly face his clear, desireless face during the day. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

“Have you finished washing up?” Shang Hexing asked, turning around as he heard her open the door.

Today, he dressed very casually, in a black shirt and trousers, neither business-like nor excessively formal, which made him seem much more approachable.

Wen Zhi nodded, “Yes.”

He still stood there waiting for her, “Then let’s go.”

Wen Zhi closed the door to her house and walked towards him.

The sky hadn’t fully brightened yet, and the atmosphere was exceptionally quiet as they walked together, crickets chirping in the background.

Wen Zhi walked slightly behind him on his side. When he wasn’t looking, she stole glances at his face. Each glance felt like committing a theft, her heart racing. Within just a dozen seconds of walking, she had already stolen glances at him three times.

Her occasional peeks at him made it difficult for Shang Hexing to ignore.

He stopped walking and ask her sideways, “What are you peeking at?”

Wen Zhi touched her nose, a subconscious act of concealment, “I’m not peeking.”

Shang Hexing pointed out, “Three times.”

Wen Zhi felt slightly embarrassed, “I won’t look anymore.”

“Is there something you want to tell me?” he suddenly asked.

Wen Zhi bit her lower lip, thinking. What could she tell him? Could she possibly admit to him—

—I dreamed about you last night!

—I tied you up!

—And whipped you!

If he knew about the dreams she’d had, she might as well move to another planet. Fortunately, it was only a dream, and he would never know what she had done to him in her dreams.

Wen Zhi snapped back to reality, “We’re going to be late for the morning prayers at the Buddha Hall. I won’t talk to you anymore.”

She trudged ahead, walking briskly in front of him, heading straight for the Buddha Hall.

Shang Hexing smiled faintly, not following her, but instead going in a different direction.

_

The Buddha Hall was serene and solemn. Wen Zhi found a spot on the side and sat down.

Kong Ci noticed her and reminded, “Miss, you are late.”

Wen Zhi quietly replied, “I know, I know.”

Kong Ci reminded her, “Concentrate your mind, remember to focus.”

Wen Zhi nodded, “I will, I will.”

“Utterly perfunctory.”

“…”

Monks were chanting scriptures. Wen Zhi had listened for three days. At first, she couldn’t remember them, but now she could barely follow along with the monks.

The last part involved listening to Master Huijue preach the scriptures. From him, Wen Zhi learned about the meaning of cultivation, introspected her own heart, and gained many insights.

She clasped her hands together, looking up at the Golden Buddha Statue, “Amitabha, please do not blame me for last night’s dream. I will chant the scriptures daily, maintaining purity and desirelessness.”

Kong Ci next to her: ?

Until the morning prayers ended, Shang Hexing never showed up, so Wen Zhi had to go to the Vegetarian Hall by herself.

After that, she never saw Shang Hexing again.

She thought about looking for him, but she didn’t dare. She even guessed whether he had only stayed for one night and had left early in the morning.

Had he wanted to bid her farewell at that time?

But she had left too quickly, barely speaking a few words in total.

Wen Zhi returned to the Dormitory House and sneaked a peek outside Shang Hexing’s window.

The room was already without luggage.

It was very tidy, the bed made neatly.

Wen Zhi felt a deep loss, “It seems he really left.”

He probably just happened to pass through Lin City and heard from a friend that Jingci Temple was very efficacious, so he came specially to offer incense. From beginning to end, their meeting was just a coincidence, nothing more.

“What are you spying on?” Kong Ci’s questioning voice came from behind her.

Wen Zhi jumped, turning around and holding her chest, “No, nothing… Little Master, why do you always appear so suddenly?”

“It’s because you have demons in your heart.”

Kong Ci could tell Wen Zhi was very anxious and lectured her in an unhurried tone, “Moreover, although he is your relative, he is a man. Men and women are different. Your behavior is really unseemly.”

Wen Zhi: “…”

She was schooled by a child again.

This little novice monk always scolded her.

Right, she immediately pointed at the door and asked Kong Ci, “Has he…my relative left yet?”

Kong Ci shook his head.

Wen Zhi sighed with relief, “Not yet, ah.”

Kong Ci told her, “I shook my head because I am not sure, as I haven’t heard that the pilgrim plans to stay long.”

Wen Zhi’s mouth twitched, “Can’t you just say it directly?”

Kong Ci ignored her and turned to leave.

After a few steps, he paused, then turned back, “Forgot the actual matter.”

Wen Zhi folded her arms and turned her head away, “What is it this time? Let me make it clear first, I won’t sweep the steps outside the temple, and I won’t sweep the ones on the back hill either.”

Kong Ci said, “It’s not about sweeping the steps.”

Only then did Wen Zhi turn her head back, “Then what is it?”

Kong Ci, “Master Huijue wants to see you.”

…

This was the first time Wen Zhi had gone to see Master Huijue alone since she moved into Jingci Temple.

Kong Ci led the way.

She followed behind, feeling anxious.

Upon reaching the God Room, Kong Ci opened the door for her. Wen Zhi joined her hands and nodded, then stepped inside.

Master Huijue was sitting on a meditation cushion, meditating. He did not open his eyes from the moment the door opened to the moment it closed.

Wen Zhi dared not speak to disturb him, standing quietly at the side for a while, until Master Huijue opened his eyes and motioned for Wen Zhi to sit.

Wen Zhi nodded and did as instructed.

After she had sat down on the meditation cushion, Master Huijue asked her, “Are you getting used to living here?”

Wen Zhi nodded, “Quite well.”

A kind smile appeared on Master Huijue’s face, “You are now a disciple of Jingci Temple.”

‘Disciple’ is what monks call regular temple pilgrims.

Those who don’t come often are called donors or benefactors.

Wen Zhi gently nodded, “You still remember me.”

“Despite my advanced age, my memory isn’t too bad,” Master Huijue put a register in front of Wen Zhi.

Wen Zhi, puzzled, looked at Master Huijue.

Master Huijue’s gaze was kind, “The last page, take a look at it.”

Wen Zhi, full of doubt, flipped the register open to the last page, which had the donator’s name Mu Yanzhou, and the donation amount was a very large sum.

The date was today.

Wen Zhi suddenly clenched the corner of the register, “Has he left?”

Master Huijue did not say explicitly, only telling her, “The Magnolia tree on the back hill is blooming exceptionally well this year.”

Wen Zhi knew that Magnolia tree—it was the only Magnolia tree in Jingci Temple, and many pilgrims would stop by to see it.

Wen Zhi understood the meaning of Master Huijue’s words, joined her hands and nodded, then stood up to leave.

On her way to the back hill, Wen Zhi didn’t know exactly how she felt.

Happy? Apparently not; Expectant? Even less so… As for hatred? It seemed to have dissipated.

She walked briskly, seeing the Magnolia tree getting closer and suddenly began to run.

Finally, she arrived.

This Magnolia tree, comparable to the one in Baixi Manor, was blooming magnificently. A slender silhouette stood under the tree, seemingly having been there for a long time.

At that moment, Wen Zhi hesitated.

While she had run here, once she really arrived, she couldn’t bring herself to take another step.

Seeing Mu Yanzhou about to turn around,

panicked, Wen Zhi instinctively thought of escaping. She even planned to leave without a sound, as if she had never come to the back hill.

But she had only taken two steps when she heard him call out—

“Zhizhi.”

Wen Zhi felt as if her feet were filled with lead, unable to move at all.

Her body stiffened severely, she dared not move or even muster the courage to look back.

Footsteps could be heard from behind, growing increasingly close, light then heavy.