Wen Yanan was stunned as if struck by lightning upon hearing this, "Mom? What did you just say? Am I hallucinating?"
Fang Miaomiao smiled, "My dear An An, what do you think?"
"Mom, I was wrong. I shouldn't have spoken carelessly," Wen Yanan quickly ran to Fang Miaomiao, looking at her with pitiful, big eyes. "I shouldn't have spoken carelessly."
Fang Miaomiao: "..."
It seemed she had gone too far.
Just as she was about to comfort him, she heard Wen Zhiyan call out, "An An, come here."
"Dad?"
"Stop messing around, your mom was just teasing you. But you really can't stay with your mom today."
Wen Yanan turned back to Wen Zhiyan, displeased.
"Did you forget? You have your erhu lesson today."
Wen Yanan remembered that he hadn't been to Grandpa Fang's for his erhu lesson in a long time.
"I forgot."
"You indeed forgot," Wen Zhiyan placed a hand on Wen Yanan's shoulder. "But it's normal for children to forget things. Just don't forget again from now on."
"Mm."
Wen Yanan nodded and looked regretfully at Fang Miaomiao, "Mom, we can't go adopt a puppy together today."
"Adopt what?"
"A puppy! Dad, puppies are so cute. An An wants one," Wen Yanan said with longing. "Mom promised me yesterday she would go with me to adopt a puppy."
"You want to get a puppy?" Wen Zhiyan's body stiffened slightly, surprised by his own question.
"Mm-hmm," Wen Yanan nodded vigorously. "But An An has to practice the erhu today. Mom, can we go adopt a puppy tomorrow?"
"Sure."
Wen Zhiyan felt a throbbing headache. Why did these two suddenly want a dog?
"An An, raising a dog is a very hard thing," Wen Zhiyan cleared his throat before speaking. "You also have to take it for vaccinations regularly and feed it dog food."
"Mm-hmm," Wen Yanan nodded, confident. "Don't worry, Dad. I've already read a lot of books and watched videos about raising puppies yesterday afternoon."
Seeing Wen Yanan's determined and happy expression, Wen Zhiyan didn't know how to dissuade him. "If you like it, then fine."
Fang Miaomiao, who was still contemplating Qingdao Temple, didn't notice Wen Zhiyan's unusual behavior.
After breakfast.
After the two of them left, Fang Miaomiao called Da Chen.
"Madam, where do we need to go?"
"A place called Qingdao Temple," Fang Miaomiao showed Da Chen the temple's information on her phone.
"Alright, Madam. It's about a two-hour drive to Qingdao Temple. You can sleep in the car, and I'll wake you when we arrive."
"Okay, thank you."
Fang Miaomiao closed her eyes, her thoughts racing. She couldn't sleep.
She didn't know if she would find an answer on this trip, and what she would do if the answer was unsolvable.
Thinking of Wen Zhiyan and that little fellow An An, she truly couldn't bear to leave.
Time ticked by, and Fang Miaomiao watched the rapidly retreating scenery outside the window. She felt an urge to run away.
She was a little afraid to face the answer.
...
"Madam, we've arrived."
Fang Miaomiao snapped back to reality and looked at the endless stone steps. "Please wait here for a moment. I'll go up and come back down."
"Alright, Madam."
She got out of the car. Under the blue sky and white clouds, lush forests flanked both sides, and the temple's shadow flickered in the trees.
As it was a weekday, there weren't many visitors. A few people walked in the distance, their movements slow and devout as they offered their prayers.
Fang Miaomiao fell silent for a moment and stepped onto the stone stairs.
One step.
Two steps.
Fang Miaomiao climbed upwards in silence.
After who knew how long.
She passed by people performing kowtows and entered through the area where Daoist priests sat reading and sipping tea.
She saw the temple.
Unlike the restlessness she felt at the foot of the mountain, the view from the top seemed to calm her agitated heart.
On both sides of the temple stood ancient cranes, their wings spread as if in flight. Their wings were covered in moss.
They looked like they hadn't been cleaned in years.
The entire exterior of the temple gave off a dilapidated impression.
Fang Miaomiao couldn't help but wonder if she had come to the wrong place.
According to the internet, Qingdao Temple had a thriving incense tradition for years, attracting many believers. If that were the case, there should be plenty of donation money. Why did it look so rundown? httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
But since she was here, she couldn't just leave without praying or asking anything.
With that thought, Fang Miaomiao stepped forward to knock on the door.
Before her hand could even reach it, the door was opened from the inside.
"Benefactor, we have been waiting for a long time."
Fang Miaomiao looked at the cute little head peeking out from the doorway. Unlike Wen Yanan's soft and obedient demeanor, this person looked more pure, like a lotus, exceptionally clean. Meeting those eyes, all anger and negative emotions would vanish.
"Little Daoist priest, you are?"
"Qing Jiu. You can call me Xiao Jiu if you don't mind."
"Xiao Jiu?"
Qing Jiu bowed to Fang Miaomiao with clasped hands.
"My name is Miaomiao."
Qing Jiu's eyes curved into crescents. "Benefactor Miaomiao, please come in."
As she stepped inside, Fang Miaomiao was stunned by her surroundings.
This was not a temple at all, but a small courtyard. To the right were two peach trees with swings tied to them. To the left, lush green vegetables were planted, and there was even a well.
Opposite them were two houses with blue bricks and grey tiles.
Had she really come to the wrong place?
But Xiao Jiu was wearing a Daoist robe, so it didn't seem like she had made a mistake.
"Benefactor Miaomiao, don't worry. This is Qingdao Temple," Qing Jiu said with a smile. "This is the upper part of Qingdao Temple."
"Did I get lost?"
"No, it was your heart that led you here," Qing Jiu said, opening a door.
"Master, Benefactor Miaomiao has arrived."
After a moment, a kind and aged voice came from inside the room.
Encouraged by Qing Jiu's gaze, Fang Miaomiao nodded and stepped in.
The room had a faint scent of sandalwood. At first, it was a little unfamiliar, but after a while, it felt very comfortable.
To the right, an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a Daoist robe, was facing away from Fang Miaomiao, murmuring something.
Fang Miaomiao thought he was still busy and did not disturb him.
"Fang Miaomiao, it's been a long time. You're still so polite."
Just as Fang Miaomiao was about to doze off, a deep voice sounded.
Her drowsiness vanished instantly.
Fang Miaomiao looked at the white-bearded old man who had appeared before her at some point. The more she looked, the more familiar he seemed.
Her pupils widened, and she pointed at the old man, stammering.
"It's been a long time, Fang Miaomiao, Actress Fang."
"It's you! How could it be you?"
"Why couldn't it be me?" the white-bearded old man retorted.
After the old man waved his Daoist robe and sat on a wooden chair for a while, Fang Miaomiao suddenly came to her senses and strode towards him, her gaze icy. "Tell me, what is going on here?"