The engagement was with the younger brother, but I've fallen for the older brother.

Baifu Mountain, Songfeng Temple.

The Taoist temple is located halfway up the mountain, shaded by pine and cypress trees.

His childhood friend Yan had heard Nan say that when he was feeling down, staying here for a few days was more effective than taking tranquilizers.

Yan Tingnan was a well-known Buddhist monk in Beijing's social circles. Before getting married, he would always seek refuge in temples whenever he encountered trouble.

He Sichen used to laugh at him for being pretentious.

Looking back now, being dramatic was better than being in heat.

He needs to calm down.

That woman needs to be ripped out of our minds.

He sat cross-legged on the futon, eyes closed, trying to clear his mind of distractions.

I recited the "Qingjing Jing" three times, and that face is still in my mind.

Yan Tingnan's feudal superstitions were indeed not to be believed.

We must still uphold science.

He simply got up and pushed open the door to the quiet room.

A breeze wafted in, carrying the crisp, damp air of the mountains.

He stood under the porch getting some fresh air, and a woman's voice drifted over from the incense burner in the backyard.

Soft and chewy, it's babbling away.

"This guy is handsome, broad shoulders, narrow waist, eight-pack abs, keep him as a bodyguard."

He Sichen stopped in his tracks.

He heard that voice twice last night.

One moment I'm in the treatment room, the next I'm in my dreams.

He turned sideways and hid behind a pillar, looking over the pine branches.

In the corner of the courtyard, a small figure squatted in front of the incense burner.

She wore a plain cotton and linen long dress, her hair was loosely tied up, revealing a section of her slender white nape.

It is Si Yimian.

In front of her was a pile of paper effigies of men lined up to be thrown into a brazier.

The firelight illuminated her profile, making her look as devout as a little bodhisattva making a wish.

"Number Two Sunny Puppy, clingy and affectionate, if you tell him to go east he wouldn't dare go west."

"Number three, domineering CEO, knows how to pamper people and spend money, but his downside is that he's a chauvinist, so you have to put up with it."

"Number four, a gentle husband, can cook and take care of children, suitable for a settled life."

"Number Five..."

He Sichen stood at the corner, hidden in the shadow of the pine and cypress trees.

I know I shouldn't look, but my legs won't move.

His brow twitched as he listened.

There are many demands and a wide variety of tastes.

Just then, a young Taoist priest dressed in a gray robe passed by and was stopped by him.

"Master Daoist."

The young Taoist priest stopped and turned to look at him.

"What brings you here, sir?"

He Sichen slightly raised his chin, pointing to the corner of the backyard.

"Who did she burn it for?"

The old Taoist priest looked in that direction and said "Oh".

"That female client."

"She said it was burned for someone named Si Yimian."

He Sichen frowned.

Si Yimian burned a man for herself?

What kind of operation is this?

He paused, then asked again.

Can you receive paper effigies after someone dies?

The young Taoist priest was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, it can be used in the underworld."

He Sichen remained silent for three seconds.

"If you burn a living person for yourself, will you receive it?"

The young Taoist priest: "..."

This question is beyond the scope of the curriculum.

The young Taoist priest scratched his head, carefully considering his words.

"Theoretically, it's not advisable to burn it for yourself."

"But some people will burn paper money for themselves, usually to make up for what they lack."

"What you can't get in reality, you burn for yourself, it's a self-compensation mechanism."

He Sichen's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Replace what's missing.

So she's lacking men?

Are they so short of people that they need to burn ten paper effigies to form a boy band?

Are you managing to manage burning so many things?

The image of him struggling with her that night suddenly flashed through his mind.

Would a woman like this lack men?

What she lacks is ten men to serve her.

He Sichen didn't ask any further questions. He raised his hand and pressed his temples, feeling that he was sick.

Otherwise, why would I be standing here, studying a woman's motives for burning paper figures?

She was also wondering if she could handle ten men.

What's going on in his head?

He Sichen turned and left the backyard, his steps quicker than when he came.

If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he would rush over and ask her, "Do you want the real thing?"

Si Yimian squatted in front of the incense burner, unaware that someone was watching her.

She rested her chin on her hands, watching the flames lick the paper figure, swirling up black ash that floated into the sky.

"Alright, I've burned all ten for you. That should be enough."

She murmured softly to the brazier, as if chatting with an old friend.

"I found a craftsman overnight and sculpted it based on the face of one of the top ten celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry."

The flames leaped high, making her eyes sparkle.

"Original owner baby, your love-struck brain needs to be removed, and your breasts need to be protected."

"You're a jerk, all the good men are in the basin."

"If you don't like it, change it. Don't force yourself."

I know all the grievances you've suffered.

"It's not that you don't deserve to be loved, it's that the author didn't give you the courage or any ability to resist."

"She makes you suffer, so you'll suffer, but remember, she wrote it, you didn't choose it."

She paused, then used a stick to stir the ashes to make sure they were completely burned.

"If you travel to my world, be my mom and dad's daughter. They are the best parents."

"You can be naughty, you can be willful, you can do whatever you want, you don't have to live according to the script set for you by others."

"They will love you just by you standing there."

She lowered her head, looking at the fire, her voice nasal.

"Although I really want to go back to them..."

"But what you need even more is to be loved and redeemed."

She stood up and dusted off her hands.

"Go to my place, live well, and help me love them well too."

"I'm here for you, living a life more enjoyable than anyone else."

The tobacco ash has all settled, and the pine breeze blows through the courtyard.

She crouched there, her eyes reflecting the last glimmer of firelight.

……

The next afternoon, Si Yimian arrived at Yu'an Hospital on time.

He Nanxian had given prior notice, and the girl at the nurses' station looked up at her and smiled politely.

"Ms. Si, please wait a moment. Dr. He is still making his rounds, so it may take a while."

Si Yimian nodded and sat down on a bench in the corridor.

When He Sichen appeared from around the corner, she was looking down and picking at her nails.

A young, fair-skinned, and talkative male doctor was accompanying her.

"Dr. He, are you going to the dinner party tonight?"

"I'm not going."

"No, the new resident trainees all want to pay their respects to you..."

Si Yimian looked up at her.

He Sichen paused slightly, his gaze lingering on her face for a second before shifting away.

Si Yimian stood up, her eyes crinkling as she waved at him.

"Dr. Crane."

She stood in the corridor light, looking soft and cuddly.

A beige shirt as a base layer, topped with a creamy peach pink cable-knit cardigan, and a dark brown mini skirt that just covered the thigh injury.

Her hair was braided loosely and draped over her left shoulder.

Like a well-behaved student visiting the school.

Zhou Mu's eyes lit up, and he asked in a low voice.

"Dr. He, who is this adorable little sister? She's so cute!"

He Sichen did not answer.

Si Yimian took a few steps closer and looked up at He Sichen.

"I'm here to change the dressing."

He Sichen glanced at his watch, his tone indifferent.

"I'm busy."

"We'll arrange for another doctor to treat you."

Si Yimian suddenly smiled.

Dr. He has a really stubborn mouth.

Okay, so you're putting on airs, huh?

Then, she turned to Zhou Mu beside her.

"Could this doctor help me?"

Zhou Mu nodded immediately.

"Sure, changing the dressing is a simple procedure, I'll help you."

Si Yimian mentally gave Zhou Mu a thumbs up.

May good people live a long and peaceful life.

"Zhou Mu".

He Sichen's face suddenly darkened, and he spoke abruptly.

Si Yimian was injured on the inner thigh.

Let other men see?

Countless images flashed through his mind.

Neither of them are quite good.

"Did you submit the medical records for filing at 10:00 AM?"

Zhou Mu was taken aback: "Not yet, this afternoon..."

"If you don't submit it before 10 o'clock, your quality control score will be deducted for the rest of the month."

His tone was understated, yet carried weight.

Zhou Mu's expression changed.

If all the quality control points are deducted, the bonus will be cut in half.

Zhou Mu glanced at him, then at Si Yimian, and nodded knowingly.

"Okay, I'll go first."

He smiled apologetically at Si Yimian, then turned and walked away quickly.

There were only two people left in the corridor.

He Sichen lowered his eyes to look at Si Yimian, his tone indifferent.

"Come with me."

Si Yimian lowered her head and secretly pursed her lips.

See, they've already given in?