Wen Yan'an 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 Yan'an 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 fooling around, your mom was just teasing you. But you really can't stay with your mom today."
Wen Yan'an turned to look at Wen Zhiyan, unhappy.
"Did you forget? You have your erhu lesson today."
Wen Yan'an remembered he hadn't been to Grandpa Fang's for erhu lessons in a long time.
"I forgot."
"You indeed forgot," Wen Zhiyan placed a hand on Wen Yan'an's shoulder, "But, kid, forgetting things is normal. Just don't forget again in the future."
"Okay."
Wen Yan'an 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 Yan'an said with longing, "Mom promised me yesterday that she would go adopt a puppy with An'an."
"You, want to keep a dog?" Wen Zhiyan's body stiffened slightly, and he didn't know how he managed to ask the question.
"Yes, yes," Wen Yan'an nodded vigorously, "But An'an has to practice the erhu today. Mom, can we go adopt a puppy tomorrow?"
"Alright."
Wen Zhiyan felt a dull ache in his head. Why did the two little ones suddenly decide they wanted a dog?
"An'an, keeping a dog is a lot of work," Wen Zhiyan cleared his throat and prepared to speak, "You have to take it for vaccinations regularly and feed it dog food."
"Yes, yes," Wen Yan'an nodded, confidently saying, "Don't worry, Dad, I read a lot of books and watched videos about raising puppies yesterday afternoon."
Seeing Wen Yan'an's determined and happy expression, Wen Zhiyan didn't know how to dissuade him. "As long as you like it."
Fang Miaomiao, who was still contemplating Qingdao Temple, didn't notice Wen Zhiyan's unusual behavior.
After breakfast.
After the two 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 on her phone.
"Okay, Madam. It's about a two-hour drive to Qingdao Temple. You can take a nap in the car, and I'll wake you up when we arrive."
"Okay, thank you."
Fang Miaomiao closed her eyes, her thoughts racing, unable to sleep.
She didn't know if she would find the answer on this trip. If she found it, and it was unsolvable, what would she do?
Thinking of Wen Zhiyan and little An'an, she really couldn't bear to leave.
Time ticked by, and Fang Miaomiao watched the rapidly receding scenery outside the window, feeling a sudden urge to flee.
She was a little afraid to face the answer.
...
"Madam, we've arrived."
Fang Miaomiao snapped back to attention and looked at the endless stone steps, "Please wait here for a moment. I'll go up and come back down."
"Okay, Madam."
Getting out of the car, she saw the blue sky and white clouds, lush green forests on both sides, and the temple's silhouette faintly visible amongst the trees.
Since it was a weekday, not many people were visiting the temple. A few figures in the distance walked, their movements slow and reverent as they made sincere requests.
Fang Miaomiao was silent for a moment and stepped onto the stone stairs.
One step.
Two steps.
Fang Miaomiao climbed upwards without a word.
After an unknown amount of time.
She passed by those performing kowtows and bowed people, and walked through the Taoist priests reading and sipping tea in the forest.
She saw the temple.
Unlike the restlessness she felt at the foot of the mountain, looking down from the mountaintop, her agitated heart had calmed considerably.
On either side of the temple entrance stood ancient cranes with outstretched wings. Their wings were covered in moss.
It looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years.
The entire exterior of the temple gave 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 been popular for many years, with many devotees. If that were the case, there should be plenty of incense money, so why did it look so run-down? httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
But since she had come this far, she couldn't just leave without asking or praying for anything.
With this 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 Yan'an's soft and obedient demeanor, this person appeared even more pure, like a lotus, exceptionally clean. Meeting those eyes, all malice and negative emotions disappeared.
"Young Taoist, who are you?"
"Qing Jiu. If Benefactor doesn't mind, you can call me Little Jiu."
"Little 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."
Stepping inside.
Fang Miaomiao was stunned by her surroundings.
This wasn't a temple at all, but a small courtyard. To the right, two peach trees were planted, with a swing tied to one of them. To the left, lush green vegetables were growing, and there was even a well.
Directly opposite were two houses made of blue bricks and tiles.
Had she really come to the wrong place?
But Qing Jiu was wearing a Taoist robe, so it didn't seem like she had made a mistake.
"Benefactor Miaomiao, please rest assured, this is Qingdao Temple," Qing Jiu said with a smile, "This is the upper part of Qingdao Temple."
"Am I lost?"
"No, it's your heart that led you here," Qing Jiu said as he opened 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 inside.
There was a faint scent of sandalwood in the room.
At first, it was a bit unfamiliar, but after a while, it felt quite comfortable.
To the right, an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood with his back to Fang Miaomiao, muttering something.
Fang Miaomiao thought he was busy and didn't want to 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 was heard.
Her drowsiness instantly vanished.
Fang Miaomiao looked at the white-bearded old man who had appeared before her, and the more she looked, the more familiar he seemed.
Her pupils dilated, and she pointed at the old man, stammering, "You, you..."
"It's been a long time, Fang Miaomiao, Film Empress."
"It's you! How could it be you?"
"Why can't it be me?" the white-bearded old man retorted.
After the white-bearded old man waved his robe and sat down on a wooden chair for a while, Fang Miaomiao suddenly came to her senses, strode towards the old man, her eyes icy cold, "Tell me, what exactly is going on?"