My girlfriend is from the future!

When the group arrived at Quanling Temple, it was almost noon. Although it wasn't lunchtime yet, the temple's dining hall was already bustling with customers.

The four of them stepped into the temple, and Xue Yong thoughtfully suggested:
"Let's go eat first before we go to worship. The vegetarian food at Quanling Temple is always in high demand, and they only serve food for two hours. Once it's over, they won't wait. Tingting didn't eat much this morning, and she's tired from climbing the mountain. It's vegetarian food, so we can't afford to delay. Besides, Ai Qing twisted her leg, so let's rest for a while."

Although Cao Aiqing now walks with a limp, upon hearing this, she still smiled and praised him:

"Xue Yong, I didn't realize that becoming a father has made you so much more considerate in your dealings with others. Tingting, you've really mastered the art of husband-training! Back in high school, who would have thought that the infamous Yong-ge would turn out like this?"

“Ai Qing, don’t say these things, or he’ll get all cocky.”

When her husband was praised, Bai Tingting said it was a scolding, but in fact, she naturally felt proud.

Xue Yong, however, felt no shame whatsoever, showing none of the awkwardness one might feel from being praised. Instead, he scratched his face and laughed:

"Oh dear, who isn't a sweet and soft-spoken young man at heart, right, Director He~"

He Tianran didn't know how to respond to this, when he heard a "Yue~" sound of retching...

"Seriously, honey? Give me some face..."

"You've really triggered me, I feel like throwing up..."

"Ah, quick, quick, spit it in."

Having dealt with his wife's morning sickness quite a few times while she was away, Xue Yong took out a disposable plastic bag he carried with him, patted Bai Tingting's back, and led her to a nearby corner.

Watching the two people's less-than-glamorous but deeply affectionate figures from behind, Cao Aiqing suddenly felt a pang of envy and a touch of melancholy. She glanced at He Tianran beside her, remaining silent, her eyes flickering as if lost in thought. The man, naturally, considered many possibilities and tentatively asked:

"You are……"

"No."

The girl looked away, put her hands behind her back, and patiently waited for the two people not far away to finish dealing with the situation.

"Then...why were you staring at me just now?"

Hearing He Tianran's question, Cao Aiqing sighed and slowly said:

"It's just that I remember how you used to hate these kinds of things the most."

He Tianran was taken aback. He recalled the day on the island when Cao's parents asked about their daughter's marriage, and he was too reserved to answer. Now, after hearing Cao Aiqing's account, he realized that the original owner of this body had also not found an answer to this ultimate question of life.

"You mean...getting married? Or welcoming a new life?"

"This isn't a matter of choice, it's natural; it's a cause-and-effect relationship..."

Cao Aiqing pondered:
“I remember you said that you didn’t even understand how to be a son, so you didn’t dare to become a father casually. But you didn’t object to marriage. I know you were afraid that I would feel wronged and waste my time. But I don’t think that way. I’m willing to give you this time to think it through, just like you were willing to wait for me so that I could finish my studies and pursue my dreams.”

However, I also have my own thoughts. If you haven't figured this out, even if you propose to me, I'll most likely hesitate. It's not that I particularly want a child, but whether it's starting a family and welcoming a new life, or like Tingting and the others, a new life suddenly arrives and leads to starting a family, these things, whether expected or unexpected, can undoubtedly propel life to the next stage.
I don't fully understand it either, but I know it's important, so I hope my partner can be clear-headed and willingly walk this path with me.

Upon hearing this, He Tianran fell into deep thought.

He wondered if the sudden appearance of this situation in himself was because the original He Tianran hadn't thought things through either. All those family, emotional, and career-related mental ailments had plunged him into a state of chaos, thus splitting a complete personality into what it is now.

Their inner personalities are tasked with seeking, from different perspectives, an answer that can resonate with all those who are "He Tianran"...

"But I think... you won't keep me waiting too long."

"What do you mean?"

Cao Aiqing narrowed her eyes, pointed at the hoodie He Tianran was wearing underneath, and teased:
"Although I said you've never worn bad clothes, I haven't seen you wear this kind of clothing for almost several years. It's probably... ever since you started your company and started working. So when I first saw you today, I thought your 'youthful' personality had resurfaced."

"Haha..." He Tianran laughed, "I don't have any clothes to change into in Nanshan Jiadi, so this is what Wang Ma put on for me."

He Tianran said this, but he knew very well that the "young man" who longed for family reunion hadn't made a sound at all in yesterday's situation, to the point that he couldn't even tell whether the person he was communicating with his father yesterday was the "writer" or the "young man".

Xue Yong and his wife returned, and the group headed towards the temple's dining hall. Earlier, it was said that there weren't many pilgrims at Quanling Temple today, but that was only in comparison to holidays. The temple serves lunch and dinner, but because the mountain roads are difficult to traverse and it takes time to return, most pilgrims choose the vegetarian meal at noon. Thanks to Xue Yong's suggestion, as soon as they got their food and sat down, a long queue formed in the dining hall.

Everyone ate slowly and carefully, which took about another half hour.

During this time, Bai Tingting ate lettuce, making crunching noises, and said:
"Hey, did you guys know that the Guanyin Hall at Quanling Temple is very effective for praying for marriage..."

Xue Yong shoveled rice into his mouth and said, "Honey, tell me something we locals don't know, right? What, you want to pray for a good marriage for our baby? That's true, it'll give them a head start!"

"Hey! Don't talk nonsense!"

He Tianran chuckled. This couple was really interesting. He asked:
"Can we find out now whether it's a boy or a girl?"

Mentioning this, Xue Yong looked blissfully troubled. "Oh, don't even mention it. Last time I accompanied her to get an ultrasound, I picked up two sets of baby clothes, one for men and one for women, and asked the doctor which one was more suitable, but she just wouldn't tell me."

Cao Aiqing suggested from the side, "If you really want to know, then find a clinic with a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. They can tell you by taking your pulse. By the way, there are monk doctors at Quanling Temple. Why don't you go and ask them later and try your luck?"

"Really?"

Bai Tingting's eyes lit up, clearly showing some interest, while Xue Yong, on the other hand, remained much calmer at this moment.

"Oh, it doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl, it will happen sooner or later, it doesn't matter if it happens in a short time."

He Tianran glanced at him. "That makes sense, but why are your hands shaking, Brother Xiaoyong?"

"I can't handle Parkinson's?"

"Pah, pah, pah, I really can't cover your mouth anymore."

Bai Tingting complained, then glanced at the two people in front of her and asked with a smile:

"Hey Ai Qing, if you have children with Director He in the future, the two boys can be brothers, the two daughters can be sisters, and the boy and girl can be in-laws, okay?"

Xue Yong chimed in, "They can be brothers, sisters, or in-laws. We must respond to the call to have a second child!"

Watching the couple's back-and-forth banter, Cao Aiqing was too embarrassed to speak. She simply looked at He Tianran, who chuckled and said:

"Heroes and heroines, right? So, if you two have a third child, what are you planning to name them?"

"What's the matter?"

Bai Tingting was taken aback and blurted out, clearly unaware that the child in her womb had already been given such a somewhat abstract name by his father...

"Oh dear, my dear in-law, you're such a sieve..."

"It's not Xue Yong. If it were a boy, calling him a hero would be fine, but if it's a girl, why call her a heroine? Aren't you afraid she'll be laughed at?"

"Who dares to laugh? Who dares to laugh at my daughter? I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget..."

Before Xue Yong could finish speaking, Bai Tingting picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks and stuffed it into her mouth.

This pair of bickering lovers...

He Tianran and Cao Aiqing exchanged a glance and both buried their heads in their hands, chuckling to themselves.

After the meal, the four parted ways again. Xue Yong and his wife wanted to find the monk doctor that Cao Aiqing had mentioned in the temple and bring her a bottle of liniment. Her sprain was not serious. After resting for a while, she could walk without feeling much pain except for a little awkwardness.

After leaving the dining hall, we walked to a courtyard outside a side hall of the temple. In the center of the courtyard, there was an ancient tree, and around the tree, there were several simple long tables arranged in a row, with writing implements and stacks of red prayer ribbons neatly placed on them.

Many worshippers were bending over their desks, either transing scriptures with focused concentration or writing down their wishes with brush and ink.

The air was filled with a faint scent of ink, which mingled with the sandalwood fragrance inherent in the temple, creating a refreshing and pleasant atmosphere.

Cao Aiqing was drawn to the atmosphere and unconsciously slowed down, her gaze lingering on the figures who were focused on writing.

Seeing this, He Tianran also stopped. His gaze swept across the table and finally landed on the prayer ribbon and writing brush that people could freely take.

"Do you want to write something?" He Tianran asked softly.

Cao Aiqing shook her head and smiled gently: "I'll just recite my wish to the Bodhisattva later. But what about you..."

She paused, then looked at him meaningfully:
"Having known you for so many years, I know you don't like kowtowing and worshipping Buddha, and you're even too lazy to step over the threshold. But you've been through so much lately, don't you think you need to find a way to sort things out? I think this place is a good place to calm your mind."

"I……"

He Tianran hesitated. He peeked at the writings of the worshippers nearby, most of which were prayers for peace, good health, and success in their careers or studies.

After a moment of silence, he walked noncommittally to an empty long table, on which was laid a thin, long red silk ribbon, soft in texture, which could be hung directly on the ancient tree in the courtyard after writing on it.

Cao Aiqing followed, picked up a mixed-hair brush, and handed it to the man regardless of whether he decided to write or not. Then the girl slowly added ink to the inkstone.

"Or... could you write it for me?"

The man scratched his head.

"Do you want me to share this blessing with you?"

The girl glared at him and quietly ground the ink.

"The main problem is that I don't know what to write. All I hear everywhere are those auspicious phrases like 'peace and health,' 'wealth and prosperity,' and that's all I hear!"

He Tianran crossed his arms, pen cap under his chin, looking troubled. The girl goaded him, saying:

"Then... why don't you write a poem or something, based on your recent situation? After all, you're a big director, surely you have some literary talent?"

"Oh dear, I don't know how to write poetry. This is different from writing a script. At most... I can just use some sentences to vent my frustrations."

After speaking, Cao Aiqing had finished grinding the ink. He Tianran lightly dipped his brush in the ink, and the tip finally touched the paper. The ink slowly spread on the red silk, and lines of short sentences with his personal style appeared on it:
"Let's fill this empty cup with youthful folly, and invite the wind and moon to share a journey of joys and sorrows..."

"Great sentence!"

The girl was very supportive. He Tianran straightened his back and shook his head: "After thinking for a long time, I can only come up with this half-classical sentence. I'll write in plain language next, so don't laugh."

He bowed again and wrote four more lines:
"The wind fears the boat's movement, unwilling to drift with the river; the moon fears intoxication, stumbling in the ways of human relationships."
The answer should be: youthful vigor has been carried away, leaving only a drunken, white-haired old man.

Years and time fly by, and intentions fade with each passing day…

Cao Aiqing stood quietly half a step away from him, not disturbing him, just watching silently.

His handwriting wasn't exactly top-notch; the strokes even showed signs of hesitation and struggle. He wrote very slowly, as if he were having a conversation with every version of himself within his heart.

When writing about "recklessness," he recalled the boy who hid in his room and cried, and also his own reckless pursuit of dreams and career; when writing about "the joys and sorrows of life," Wen Liang's stubborn gaze and Cao Aiqing's resolute face flashed alternately; when writing about "stumbling in the ways of human relationships," images of his father He Panshan's complex gaze, his younger brother He Yuanchong's hostility, and Yu Naoqiu's scheming came flooding back; until "years and time fly by, intentions fade with each passing day," a sense of the passage of time instantly seized his heart, causing him to pause abruptly at this point...

But this only takes the time it takes to breathe.

He didn't stop, and at the very end, he wrote two more words:
"How about..."

If this short passage, which hardly qualifies as poetry, were to stop here, it would be far too pessimistic. Seeing He Tianran pause again, Cao Aiqing couldn't help but ask:
"Not as good as what?"

He Tianran bent down, turned his head, and glanced at the girl. He knew that if he continued to immerse himself in this state of mind, he would truly be letting down Cao Aiqing and Wen Liang for all the efforts they had made for his recovery. Besides…

He didn't want things to stay like this forever.

Cao Aiqing saw a rare glint of sharpness and unbridled arrogance flash in the man's eyes, which were usually accustomed to numbness and weighing choices. With a flick of his wrist, the man's brush suddenly shot up, carrying a force as he heavily wrote the horizontal and vertical strokes, while his mouth was even more boastful:
"Why not release... Crane, Soaring, to the Sky!"

This is like a cry from the bottom of my heart, a farewell to all the spiritual afflictions of the past, and a declaration to break free from shackles and head towards the future.

After finishing the last stroke, He Tianran let out a long sigh of relief. He put down his pen and quietly looked at the words on the red silk. His eyes were complicated, filled with relief, emotion, and a new sense of determination.

"Finished writing?" the girl asked softly.

"Ah."

He Tianran responded, his gaze still fixed on his own handwriting.

“Then… take it to the Guanyin Temple, pray for blessings, and hang it up…” Cao Aiqing raised her eyes, a gentle smile in them, “Let the Bodhisattva see that our Director He wants to fly.”

The man blinked, as if the girl had planned to do this from the beginning.

"……Row."

In the end, He Tianran did not object. Holding the red silk with the ink still wet, he walked with Cao Aiqing toward the Guanyin Hall.

The closer they got to the temple gate, the stronger the rich aroma of incense became. Just as Cao Aiqing had predicted, upon reaching the vermilion gate, He Tianran, gazing at the benevolent, all-seeing Guanyin statue inside, stopped abruptly, as if keeping a respectful distance. He handed the red silk to Cao Aiqing, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
"Go ahead, I'll wait for you here."

Cao Aiqing gave him a deep look, but did not force him. She simply nodded and took the red silk that seemed to still carry the warmth of his palm. She then gracefully stepped across the threshold that seemed like an insurmountable barrier to He Tianran.

The candles inside the hall burned continuously, making Guanyin Bodhisattva's compassionate features appear even more gentle and profound.

The incense smoke curled upwards from the censer, like countless devout prayers, swirling and eventually dissipating between the beams of the hall.

Cao Aiqing walked to an empty prayer mat, her skirt swaying slightly as she gracefully knelt down. She clasped her hands together and pressed the red silk ribbon filled with He Tianran's thoughts tightly against her chest, as if in doing so she could transfer the struggle and expectation between the words into her own heart.

"Merciful and compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva, your humble servant Cao Aiqing apologizes for disturbing you today..."

Her mind was clear and focused; she knelt there, as devoutly as if she had been worshipping for many years…

In the realm of purity and innocence, before the monastery, the dignified and solemn statue stands.

Sparks fly, the world changes, but the karmic ties remain...

"The man beside me is named He Tianran. He... has been suffering greatly lately, his thoughts are in turmoil, like he's wandering in a fog, unable to find a way out. He didn't mean any disrespect; it's just that his past experiences have made him accustomed to bearing everything alone, accustomed to keeping his distance from all of this. Bodhisattva, please have mercy and don't blame him for his abruptness and rudeness..."

"He is actually kind-hearted, but he is bound by too many things. I have no other wish but that the Bodhisattva will bless him, that he may soon clear his mind of troubles and find inner peace and freedom. May he... truly be happy, do what he wants to do, love who he wants to love, without any worries, and be as free as the wind."

"As for the believer himself... I only wish him all the best and that he finds himself soon."

My heart is pure, holding fast to this one wish, yet I've bound myself in a cocoon of my own making.
Never confessed, never changed, may the Bodhisattva have mercy...

Her prayers were gentle and lingering, her whole heart set on the figure standing outside the door beside her.

Perhaps, perhaps, her fate was like the red candle burning beside the Buddha's altar...

Flames rise upwards.

Tears streamed down her face.

Just then, the girl felt a very subtle pulling force from the other end of the red silk ribbon wrapped around her palm.

The feeling was so subtle that Cao Aiqing's eyelashes trembled slightly, and with a hint of doubt, she slowly opened her eyes—

Her gaze first fell upon a pair of familiar sneakers, then upon a pair of slightly casual jeans… Her eyes followed upwards, and her heart skipped a beat!
He Tianran had somehow crossed the threshold and was now kneeling upright on the prayer mat beside her.

A wicked smile played on his lips. His tall frame seemed somewhat cramped in the Buddhist hall. His back was ramrod straight, and his posture even carried the stiffness and awkwardness of someone who hadn't knelt in a long time.

And that red ribbon connecting the two of them...

At this moment, it was firmly held in his large palm, as if he had grasped something of utmost importance.

Cao Aiqing was stunned, momentarily forgetting what to do, and just stared blankly at him.

Instead of avoiding her, He Tianran raised an eyebrow at her, and then, just like Cao Aiqing had done, he put his hands together, held one end of the red silk between his hands, and closed his eyes.

His lips moved slightly, and in a voice just loud enough for Cao Aiqing to hear, tinged with a playful yet subtly earnest tone, he began his "prayer":
“Bodhisattva above, I am He Tianran, and the girl beside me is Cao Aiqing. Because she only mentions me in every prayer, I came here this time to remind you, sir, not to forget her.”

The world has changed, laughter and tears have changed, words speak of different paths, and love and hate can be easily distorted.

The longing for each other continues, but cannot stop the deep affection that has endured countless times; the resentment of separation has become etched in our hearts.

“She asks for nothing, but I hope she can get everything. Of course, you don’t need to worry about this, I will take care of it. But… Bodhisattva, why did you send your most devout believer to suffer by my side? So, I also hope that you can bless her… bless her to have smooth design and drawing, to have endless inspiration, and to become an internationally renowned architect in the future, and to still look at me, this ‘little director’.”

"He Tianran!" Cao Aiqing couldn't help but scold him in a low voice, reaching out to pinch him.

"Okay, okay, let's get serious."

The man immediately begged for mercy. He paused, his voice suddenly lowering, as if a crack had appeared in his previously nonchalant exterior, revealing a sincerity within.

"And Bodhisattva...please bless her, so that every day from now on she can smile more happily, just like today. As for those things that make her frown, I'll take responsibility for them. I'm thick-skinned, I can handle it."

"Hello~"

Hearing He Tianran's witty remarks, Cao Aiqing couldn't help but smile, her previously tense face quickly regaining its composure.

He Tianran reopened his eyes. His gestures and the direction of his worship remained unchanged, but his head had turned to the side, looking at the "living Buddha" who belonged only to him, and he said:
"Bodhisattva, may we always be as vivid and beautiful in each other's hearts as we are now, without any constraints. May every encounter we have in the future be like a reunion."

Just then, the temple bell rang out melodiously, deep and ethereal, washing away the hustle and bustle of the world.

The smoke from the incense drifted slowly between them, blurring the details of the Buddha statue, but making the reflections in each other's eyes even clearer.

Thump-thump—thump-thump—

A heartbeat, I couldn't tell if it was his, hers, or a mingling of both of them.

In this sacred and solemn place, where all worldly desires should be eliminated, a completely opposite, heartfelt emotional stirring is slowly growing and spreading.

He Tianran's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and the lines of his profile appeared somewhat taut in the flickering candlelight...

He began slowly, one pull at a time, gently pulling the red ribbon that symbolized their connection back...

This gesture carries an undeniable gentleness and a do-or-die determination.

The ribbon gradually straightened and shortened...

Cao Aiqing felt her breath catch in her throat. She could clearly feel the power emanating from his palm, seeping through the soft fabric and drawing her body closer to him, involuntarily and irresistibly.

The sandalwood scent in the air seemed even stronger, and the solemn Buddhist chants seemed to echo in my ears...

Under the solemn gaze of the Buddha statue, in this sacred Buddhist sanctuary, where incense burns brightly and rules of conduct are strictly observed...

He Tianran leaned closer, and Cao Aiqing could even feel the man's warm breath brushing against the downy hair on her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

She was his bodhisattva, and also his possession.

It was a book I read all my life, yet it was also a forbidden book that I kept on a high shelf.

At this moment, he wanted to harbor a devout evil thought...

Pilgrimage, and blasphemy.

Amidst the rapid beating of their hearts, at the moment when the red ribbon was pulled to its shortest length, tightly connecting them, the man's cool lips, like a butterfly skimming the water, gently and swiftly pressed against the girl's burning cheek.

That touch was as fleeting as an illusion...

But like a bolt of lightning, it cleaved through all solemnity and hesitation, imprinting the most undisguised love onto this small space.

Cao Aiqing's hand, holding the other end of the red silk, trembled slightly, not because she wanted to break free, but because she held it even tighter, together with the other person, to hold onto this sweetness under the Bodhisattva's gaze.

He Tianran quickly stepped back, his ears turning so red they almost bled. He dared not look at the Bodhisattva, nor at anything around him, but stared intently at her, his eyes filled with the panic of having done something "bad," and even more so with brightness and determination.

A mist welled up in Cao Aiqing's eyes, and in a breathy, almost murmuring voice, she uttered the words that had been swirling in her heart for so long:
"You're bullying me again..."

Thank you for giving me a long, beautiful dream. This love is as pure as my burning passion, and as intense as the passage of time, it remains as fiery as the first embrace...

May the green hills remain unchanged as we meet again, and may we hold hands and listen to the unfinished bell.

(BGM: Innocence) (End of Chapter)