Chapter 237: Her Beloved Has Arrived
As September draws near, sumr transitions to autumn, and following a night of rain, the oppressive heat gradually subsides, enveloping Lin City in dense, moist fog.
Jiang An, enjoying so leisure ti, joined her aunt Gu Jing on an early visit to a local ancient town. Perhaps due to the recent rainfall, there weren’t many people on the streets upon arrival.
White-washed walls and black-tiled roofs, cobblestone alleyways still dripping with delicate strands of rain from the eaves, the lingering mist creates a blurred vision of small bridges and hos.
As expected of a tourist area, comrcialization was prevalent, and not a few steps could be taken without coming across shops selling local specialties, all adorned in a traditional ancient style.
Today, Jiang An ca with her aunt to offer prayers at a temple. The two trekked on foot through the ancient town and halfway up the mountainside, where amidst the misty rain, the tranquil silhouette of a temple began to erge.
She walked alongside the matronly figure, stepping across moss-covered stone steps, where the human presence finally beca apparent.
Walking deeper into the Zen monastery, the sound of footsteps echoed in the empty valley, and the babbling of the stream seed like entering a secluded paradise.
Local legend spoke of the temple’s master as being efficacious in granting marital connections. Gu Jing, aware of Jiang An’s troubled love life, insisted on bringing her here to offer incense and prayers.
As an atheist, Jiang An never believed in such practices and did not want to dampen her elder’s spirits, so she had no choice but to go along with making a wish.
Following the guidance of the temple monks, she approached the incense burner, lit her incense stick, and emulating Gu Jing beside her, closed her eyes, rembering her aunt’s advice and silently uttering "may a good husband be granted."
With distractions in her mind, true devotion couldn’t take hold. While silently chanting, Gao Chuan’s image involuntarily surfaced in her thoughts.
These days, she’d been staying in Lin City, entirely content and almost forgetting about Dr. Gao.
Now, in the act of seeking a marital connection, it was he who reflexively ca to mind. Jiang An slightly curled her lips, mocking herself internally, and, as if possessed, silently murmured Gao Chuan’s na several tis.
Under Gu Jing’s encouragent, Jiang An toured the entire temple complex, and by the ti they descended the mountain, it was already noon.
With clouds parting, the sky clear as a turquoise sea, the sunlight bathed everything without bringing heat, and the ancient town began to see an increase in visitors.
Gu Jing ran into an acquaintance and began introducing Jiang An to a friend, after which everyone settled into a teahouse to catch up.
Jiang An, feeling out of place, eventually excused herself and began a solitary stroll along the streets.
She fancied the rainy scenery typical of Jiangnan but didn’t often witness it. She walked along the stone-paved roads, delightfully taking her ti to look around.
The streets were bustling, stores lined up one after another, and the sight of local delicacies made Jiang An’s mouth water.
Casually strolling, stopping from ti to ti, she would get drawn into the many local shops, enjoying her leisurely exploration all by herself.
She casually bought a traditional oil-paper umbrella and, stepping lively, approached a delicate bridge at the heart of the old town. As she admired the charming attic view from a distance, ready to capture it with her phone, an urgent voice suddenly ca from nearby.
"Ms. Jiang."
Jiang An turned towards the voice, finding herself looking through a group of formally dressed figures with a hint of astonishnt on her face.
She saw Gao Chuan in the forefront of the group, also looking up at her, his face catching the sunlight, casting a soft glow.
The woman stood alone on the bridge, clad in a light green cheongsam, matching the white walls and grey tiles behind her, seeming like an exquisite beauty stepping out of a painting.
It was Secretary Chen, following closely behind Gao Chuan, who called out to her. They were originally here to inspect the local developnt project of the Gao Family’s scenic area when the local person in charge was providing details about the town’s developnt. Chen noted that Gao Chuan, who had previously been engaged in conversation with the local guides, had suddenly stopped by the bridge. Following his gaze, Chen then saw Jiang An on the bridge, taking photographs.
Ignoring the entourage behind him, the man in a sharp suit stepped towards the person on the bridge, the bustling backdrop seemingly turning into a superfluous set, his gaze entirely fixed on the woman holding the oil-paper umbrella.
Jiang An stood frozen in place, her eyes falling on the man slowly walking towards her as a lakeside breeze gently lifted her hair.
The woman smiled warmly, a ripple quietly spreading through her heart, like the shimring ripples on the lake beneath the bridge.
She rembered a phrase the monk at the temple had told her this morning.
The Buddha said, "If you think persistently of sothing, you will get a response."
And here was her beloved, coming towards her.
In just a few seconds, Gao Chuan had already walked up to Jiang An, looking down into her eyes, which seed to be twinkling like stars.
He had been sowhat dejected yesterday when he was turned away at the Fang Family’s door and didn’t see Jiang An, but surprisingly, he had bumped into her on the street today.
"Why are you here?" Jiang An looked up slightly, asking in surprise as she saw the man running towards her.
Gao Chuan stood tall beside her and answered awkwardly: "I just happen to be here on business in Lin City."
His deep voice echoed in Jiang An’s ear, causing her to turn her eyes, suddenly thoughtful.
So he was here for business, not specifically to see her?
"Why are you here?" When he saw that Jiang An stopped talking, he followed up with a question.
Jiang An ca back to her senses and said truthfully: "I’m here with my maternal aunt, praying for marital bliss."
The man frowned upon hearing she’d co especially to pray for marital bliss and while still in a daze, Jiang An noticed a group of people waiting under the bridge and asked him, "Are you currently discussing business?"
"Mhm." Gao Chuan, seeing the way Jiang An tilted her head, agreed with a bashful expression.
Yet, unexpectedly, the woman straightened up and hurriedly told him, "Then you should hurry up, don’t keep people waiting."
The man stood there, stunned for a mont, his eyes filled with a sudden sense of urgency, thinking Jiang An was about to leave, and grabbed her arm, "Where are you going?"
Realizing he was sowhat anxious, he imdiately let go. Jiang An looked at him with slight surprise, "I’m going to find my maternal aunt, she’s waiting for ."
The man’s face betrayed a hint of absent-mindedness, and he imdiately felt a tinge of regret inside – the schedule he had arranged for himself this afternoon was full.
"Is sothing the matter?" Jiang An saw his hesitant expression and asked.
"How about... having dinner together tonight?" The man said tentatively.
Jiang An saw that he was asking her out and smiled through her brows, thought for a mont, and then regretfully said no, "I have plans to have dinner at my grandfather’s place."
It wasn’t that she was deliberately refusing him; she truly had prior arrangents.
Gao Chuan nodded upon hearing this, his eyes dimming slightly.
Just as he wanted to say sothing else, Jiang An suddenly received an urgent call from Gu Jing. After hanging up, she quickly said goodbye to him and hurried away.
Gao Chuan stood there watching her figure gradually disappear into the distance, getting swallowed up by the crowd, his brows knitted together.
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