Chapter 136: Chapter 136

Fu Jichen spoke in a serious tone, not at all like joking.

Bai Changxia and Shen Jianian simultaneously stopped reaching for the divination lot, raising their eyes to look at him.

He, however, only looked at the little monk responsible for interpreting the lots, smiling gently as he asked, "Can I trouble the master to see if the lot shows whether my beloved and I can ultimately be together?"

Shen Jianian suddenly tightened her grip on the bamboo tube in her hand, ripples spreading across the lake of her heart, the reverberations lingering long and distant, refusing to fade.

Being called "master" by this obviously distinguished benefactor made the little monk anxious. He hurriedly stood up, pressing his palms together and slightly bowing his head, saying with shame, "Please forgive my inexperience, as I do not know how to interpret this lot. Perhaps... perhaps you could ask the Abbot to have a look?"

His gaze passed over Fu Jichen, landing on a person approaching slowly from a distance.

The three of them at the stall turned their heads in unison, and naturally, the white-haired, bearded elder in a robe was the Abbot of Tanfu Temple.

Bai Changxia gasped, raising her eyebrows at Shen Jianian. This trip seemed worth it, as they rarely encountered the Abbot!

The little monk, holding the lot Fu Jichen had drawn, walked up to the Abbot, handing it over with a respectful and humble attitude: "Master, this gentleman is seeking a match. The lot is strange, as neither auspicious nor ominous can be determined, and I cannot comprehend it. I must trouble you to interpret it for him."

Fu Jichen originally accompanied Shen Jianian for a casual visit, not genuinely believing in such vague claims. Upon hearing the little monk say his match was difficult to determine, his carefree demeanor faded, adding a touch of seriousness.

The Abbot’s face was kindhearted and serene, yet faced with the little monk’s plea, he did not relent, "Have you forgotten my rule against divining for the young?"

This was the first time Fu Jichen had heard such a saying. Without forcing the matter, he was merely curious, "May I ask the Master Abbot, why not divine for young people?"

Bai Changxia, still hoping to have her fortune told too, felt half-disheartened upon seeing the Abbot outright refuse. Hearing Fu Jichen ask directly, she perked her ears; she, too, wanted to know the reason.

The Abbot looked at this poised benefactor before him, smiling warmly as he explained, "For young people to learn their destiny too soon may not be a good thing."

Bai Changxia had expected to hear a profound, mysterious story, making a posture of attentively listening, never anticipating such a simple answer from the Abbot.

Fu Jichen took the "difficult to determine" lot from the little monk’s hand and tossed it onto the table with a "ding" sound.

The little monk, looking at the lot on the table, scratched his bare head, glanced at Fu Jichen, and then at the Abbot, awkwardly and helplessly explaining in a low voice, "Master, I’ve accepted payment..."

The Abbot, unwilling to put the little monk in a difficult spot, pondered for a moment and offered Fu Jichen three words: "Do not force."

Fu Jichen’s eyelid twitched slightly, raising his profound eyes to look directly at the Abbot, insisting on understanding clearly: "Is the Abbot implying that this relationship will not have a good outcome?"

Not forcing means to let go, does it not?

His gaze shifted to Shen Jianian, eyes filled with a determination incomprehensible to others.

The Abbot shook his head, refusing to speak in detail, offering only a hint: "If you might endanger your life due to this relationship in the future, would you still insist?"

Shen Jianian’s heart jolted hard; her body reacted quicker than her mind, stepping past Fu Jichen into the sunlight, her face pale under the sun, she asked the Abbot, "W-what does it mean to endanger one’s life?"

But the Abbot said no more, instructing the little monk briefly before moving on to inspect other areas.

Shen Jianian wanted to follow but was held back by Bai Changxia. She turned her head, with her face full of anxiety and unease, as Bai Changxia shook her head at her, "It’s no use; the Abbot won’t say anything more."

Bai Changxia hastily had a fortune told by the little monk, for her mother’s sake. When the little monk told her it was an ominous lot, her mood plummeted, losing interest in wandering around any further, intending to leave.

Shen Jianian didn’t draw a lot at all.

Descending the hundred or more stone steps, she remained troubled by the Abbot’s words, unable to shake the worry on her face, the panic making her heart beat erratically.

Compared to her, Fu Jichen was calm as ever, as if nothing happened. He took out a box of fruit from his canvas bag: "Have some sweets to replenish your energy. They say climbing down the mountain is harder than going up."

Shen Jianian stopped on the steps, looking at him deeply: "Aren’t you worried?"

"Worried about what?" Fu Jichen’s lips curved with a slight smile, his fingers brushing her face, "Do you believe what the Abbot said?"

Shen Jianian couldn’t describe the state of panic she felt, using an old saying to stump him: "There’s a saying: ’It’s better to believe in something than believe in nothing,’ do you know that?"

"And there’s another saying, ’If you believe, it exists; if you don’t believe, it doesn’t.’" Fu Jichen comforted her, "If you don’t believe, then there’s nothing."

The familiar words, Shen Jianian had heard once before. She glanced at Bai Changxia, somewhat downcast, then returned her gaze to Fu Jichen’s face, saying, "Xiaxia and I heard two women mention the Abbot when we went to the restroom. They all said he’s very accurate."

Fu Jichen raised his hand from her cheek, smoothing the frown between her brows: "Alright, if there really is a disaster destined in my life, it can’t be avoided. No need to worry about things that haven’t happened yet."

Hearing this, Shen Jianian frowned even more deeply.

He could never smooth out those creases, no matter how many times he tried.

Fu Jichen felt helpless, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying, "I now understand why the Abbot doesn’t read fortunes for young people. It really isn’t a good thing, only causing unnecessary worries."

Shen Jianian clung to his arm, her expression solemnly negotiating with him: "Why don’t we ask the Abbot if there’s a way to avert it? I think the Abbot seems easy to talk to; maybe if we’re sincere, he’ll be willing to tell us something."

Fu Jichen watched her with a smile, his joy evident in his voice: "Are you that afraid something will happen to me?"

At this moment, her eyes and heart were full of worry for him, making him feel warm and comforted, as his fingers gently brushed her temple and ear: "As long as you’re by my side, I promise I won’t let anything happen to myself."

There weren’t as many passersby as in the morning, but still a few here and there. Shen Jianian, bashful, said, "Forget it, let’s go."

They followed the same path back; it was already past lunchtime.

Fu Jichen found a fancy restaurant nearby, and just after sitting down and before taking a sip of tea, someone from the company called, asking about some matters.

He stood by the window to answer the call, signaling Shen Jianian and her friend to start eating without waiting for him.

A while later, a waiter brought dishes to the table.

Shen Jianian motioned to Bai Changxia, "Let’s start eating; he won’t finish any time soon."

Bai Changxia, already hungry, shared a box of fruits with Shen Jianian on the way down, which wasn’t too filling, so she picked up the chopsticks without being polite.

Shen Jianian occasionally glanced at Fu Jichen, seeing him supporting himself against the window, one hand pressing the phone to his ear, speaking in a low, serious tone.

Bai Changxia observed Shen Jianian for at least five minutes while eating, and during those five minutes, she saw Shen Jianian look at Fu Jichen thirteen times. Each time she turned her head without any concealment.

A blind person could see her feelings, let alone someone as shrewd as Fu Jichen.

The call lasted about twenty minutes.

When Fu Jichen returned to the table and put down his phone, Shen Jianian and Bai Changxia had almost finished eating. Shen Jianian picked up the menu placed on the edge of the table: "Shall I order a few more dishes for you?"

"Have you finished eating?" Fu Jichen first considered her. If she wanted to order a few more dishes, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Shen Jianian cradled a cup of green tea: "Yes, I’m full."

"Then no need to order more."

Fu Jichen unwrapped the chopsticks from their paper cover and ate something simple.

Shen Jianian set down her teacup, took a clean, empty bowl, rinsed it with hot water, and served half a bowl of soup made from steamed chicken, specifically adding some chicken pieces, red dates, and mushrooms, placing it at his side: "The soup is still very hot; have a little." After a slight pause, she continued with downcast eyes, "I just summoned a car on my phone; it will be here in fifteen minutes. You can finish eating and return to the office."

Bai Changxia chimed in: "Yes, the two of us plan to wander around the city center a bit more."

Fu Jichen thought briefly and nodded, speaking to Shen Jianian: "I might come home late tonight, let Aunt Cheng know there’s no need to prepare dinner for me."

The current project indeed encountered some issues. The person in charge couldn’t handle it and called him for specific solutions. He originally planned to go abroad once this matter wrapped up, but if progress was delayed, the overseas technology investors probably couldn’t wait that long.

Shen Jianian smiled, curving her lips: "Okay."