The car stopped at the open-air parking lot two hundred ters outside Tanfu Temple.
The three of them got out of the car one after another, and the rest of the way needed to be walked.
The morning sunlight was also very strong. Shen Jianian took a fisherman hat from her canvas bag and put it on, looking at the long, endless stone steps. She thought she was glad she went to bed relatively early last night; otherwise, she might be unable to climb.
"Give it to ," Fu Jichen extended a hand toward her, palm up.
Shen Jianian weighed the canvas bag, inside was a box of cut fruits and several bottles of water packed by Cheng Jin before leaving. It was heavy, but she stubbornly said, "It’s not that heavy. I can carry it."
Fu Jichen took it over without any further ado.
Bai Changxia stood aside watching this scene, her gaze lightly drifting sowhere else, saying nothing.
For the first ti, she had the awareness of being the third wheel.
"Wait, are you planning to go up with us?" Shen Jianian seed to only just realize, surprise flashed in her eyes, "It’s crowded today, we might be delayed at the temple for a long ti."
Fu Jichen tugged her arm and started walking, his voice low and calm, giving away no emotion: "Let’s go, the more we dawdle, the more people there will be."
Shen Jianian was pulled, taking two steps, her mind still foggy. Was he really planning to accompany them to the temple?
On the way ahead, the two girls walked in front, Fu Jichen followed closely behind like all the other pilgrims visiting to offer incense and prayers, climbing step by step.
In the season of blooming flowers, thick green trees lined the stone steps, a gentle breeze blowing, carrying the faint scent of flora, mixed with unknown flower aromas.
If not rushing for incense, it would be a good place to relax and unwind.
Bai Changxia works out at least four tis a week and occasionally boxes, developing an impressively concealed musculature, climbing the mountain was no problem for her. She appreciated the scenery while walking briskly forward.
She held Shen Jianian’s arm, almost dragging her along.
Shen Jianian gradually beca weary, her steps soft and weak, slowing down more and more, but she said nothing, her hand on her waist, barely keeping up with Bai Changxia’s pace.
"Not far from the temple now, let’s take a rest."
Fu Jichen spoke, Bai Changxia halted and looked ahead, the temple entrance indeed not far now, no rush.
Shen Jianian’s cheeks were red, propping her hands on the stone wall, gasping for air.
Fu Jichen twisted open a bottle of mineral water, handed it to her, then took out another for Bai Changxia.
"Thanks."
Bai Changxia was pleasantly surprised as she took it.
Shen Jianian had been exercising little for a long ti, her calves trembled from climbing the stone steps, she sat down on the stone steps regardless of the image. To avoid obstructing passers-by, she sat on the side, leaving space for people to walk.
Bai Changxia drank a few sips of water, noticing her breathlessness, suddenly realized Fu Jichen’s intention to rest, and laughed, "Jianian, your stamina is not like when we were in college."
During college, the two shared a dormitory, keeping a similar routine. Generally, up before six in the morning, running a few laps on the field, then back to fetch their instrunts and practice by a remote artificial lake.
Shen Jianian played the cello, Bai Changxia the violin.
Neither were known as gifted prodigies, their excellence ca purely from their hard efforts.
Recalling the past, Shen Jianian rested her face on a hand, blocking half her cheek with her palm, suggesting "better not ntion" it.
Bai Changxia chuckled softly, shifted her gaze; Fu Jichen stood below the stairs, his posture relaxed. Unlike the casually dressed tourists, even for mountain climbing he donned a suit, naturally carrying an air of elegance, combined with his excessively handso face, drawing frequent glances from both young and old.
Shen Jianian screwed the bottle cap back on and passed the remaining mineral water to Fu Jichen.
He took it and packed it into the black canvas bag, his brow and eyes lacked the sternness of a businessman, instead showing warmth and clarity, akin to the mountain’s bubbling springs.
Bai Changxia cleared her throat, candidly said, "Won’t disrupt Mr. Fu’s important matters, would it?"
After all, today it was she who dragged Shen Jianian to the mountain for worship, hence it affected Fu Jichen’s schedule; it was only polite to say sothing.
Fu Jichen glanced at her face while replying, montarily paused with a polite smile at the corner of his lips, "It won’t."
Bai Changxia: "That’s good."
After a short rest, the three continued forward, in about fifteen minutes, they arrived at Tanfu Temple’s main entrance.
Red walls and green tiles hidden among lush trees, light and shadows from the branches painting the walls, one was a lively bamboo scene, another was a graceful peach blossom scene, another was a tiless pine scene, along with other intriguing "paintings."
People ca and went, including tourists from afar, mostly hearing of its fa, taking photos and checking in as at a tourist spot, so genuinely offered incense and prayers.
Bai Changxia circled around, found the place selling incense, and dragged Shen Jianian there to buy incense.
Fu Jichen disliked squeezing through the crowd, stood on an empty ground watching that figure from afar.
"Jianian, here," Bai Changxia lined up, after buying turned and handed several sticks to Shen Jianian.
"I won’t need it," she had talked with Fu Jichen about worship in the morning, saying she had nothing to ask for.
"We’re here, we should offer a prayer," Bai Changxia said, "They say it’s very effective here."
"Alright then."
Shen Jianian smiled, holding the incense turned to the man standing under the persimmon tree. In spring, there were no persimmons on the tree, only densely packed green leaves, shading a cool spot.
Fu Jichen had a hand in his pocket, his expression leisurely and distant.
When Shen Jianian looked over, a subtle smile rose at his lips.
Shen Jianian left the crowd and walked to him, waving the incense in her hand: "Xiaxia gave it to , I’ll accompany her inside to offer incense, will you wait outside?" As she spoke, she glanced at the bustling crowd in front of the Great Hall, "It might take a long ti."
Fu Jichen took his hand from his pocket, brushed back a strand of loose hair under her hat brim: "Go ahead, be careful, don’t burn yourself."
The incense in her hand was large, as thick as chopsticks; once lit, it would surely create a swirling smoke.
Shen Jianian pursed her lips and replied "Mm," then went inside with Bai Changxia.
After much queueing, their turn finally ca.
Shen Jianian held the incense in both hands, knelt on the yellow mat, looking up at the dignified Buddha statue in the hall, seated in contemplation, hands in a ditative gesture, lowered brows exuding kindness, a look of rcy for all life.
Shen Jianian drew her gaze back, bowed low, silently praying for the peace and prosperity of the person outside the hall.
Bai Changxia prayed to Buddha for her mother to conquer illness and recover soon. After worshiping, she placed the incense in the incense burner, turning to see Shen Jianian still kneeling there, her eyes slightly closed, even more devout than before.
Shen Jianian opened her eyes, offered the lit incense before the Buddha statue, and gave Bai Changxia a faint smile: "Let’s go."
Bai Changxia asked: "What did you ask the Buddha for?"
Shen Jianian smiled without answering.
Bai Changxia turned her gaze, lightly brushed her fingers under Shen Jianian’s chin, teasing, "Let guess, did you ask Buddha to bless you and Boss Fu for everlasting companionship, growing old together?"
Shen Jianian’s smile slowly faded at the corners of her lips, shook her head and said, "No."
The two walked through the crowd toward the exit, Bai Changxia examining her expression closely: "I’ve never asked you, what kind of feelings do you have for Fu Jichen?"
Shen Jianian paused with one foot over the threshold, did she notice sothing?
Since discussing breaking off the deal with Fu Jichen, it felt as though they were separated by an invisible, intangible barrier, not quite able to define.
"Jianian, do you like him?"
Bai Changxia sowhat understood Shen Jianian’s nature. She was simple and straightforward, not good at lying or pretending, as long as you paid attention, it was easy to see through her thoughts.
She indeed sensed sothing from Shen Jianian’s interactions with Fu Jichen, just not entirely certain, hence she asked.
Shen Jianian’s eyes ward, after a while, she looked at the distant splashy wishing pool: "Shouldn’t I..." her voice fell away, the rest left unsaid.
"Shouldn’t what?" Bai Changxia completed her sentence, "Not like him?"
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