A Young Woman's Heart

Looking down now, I realize these are the clothes my mother bought before, the colors and styles of which are very similar to those of elementary school students.

The dress is candy pink and very fluffy, with the upper part mixed with light blue and pale red.

In the sweltering summer heat, she was forced to wear a pair of knee-high socks that barely reached her knees. Although they were very thin and felt cool to the touch, she still started to sweat after wearing them for a while.

The socks too, are in a child's style.

Although both are striped, one side is black and white, while the other side is pink and white...

She covered her face in anguish, wondering if others thought she was a high school student with the mind of an elementary school student.

"Ugh—Mom must have done this on purpose because she thought I wasn't fully awake. It's so annoying." Mo Xueyao complained helplessly and irritably as she looked at her reflection in the shop window.

"Hey, isn't it pretty good-looking?"

"Yinyin, stop it! I remember you were the one who strongly suggested that my mom choose this outfit for me!"

"It's okay, I'll keep you company today." Hua Yinyin pointed to herself.

Well, today she's dressed like a little angel, or... a flower girl?

She wore a pure white dress, the texture of which was similar to that of a wedding gown.

If she just wore a flower wreath on her head, she could go straight on stage to perform.

No, pure angels aren't that big...

"Okay, so we're all dressed like elementary school kids. Where are we going?"

"church."

"Huh?" Mo Xueyao tilted her head and scrutinized Hua Yinyin's chubby little face. "You're religious?"

"No, it's just that last time, when I went to the music store to have my pipa serviced, I met an elderly lady who is a Christian. She insisted on spreading her teachings to me and even gave me a little card or something."

"You wouldn't have been brainwashed like that, would you?"

"Of course not, but the old lady said that the church holds activities on Sundays, with delicious food and fun activities."

Mo Xueyao remained silent for more than half a minute before finally saying, "Are you that free?"

"Since I had nothing else to do, I thought I'd come out and have some fun."

"It's so hot."

"I heard that church has air conditioning."

“…Oh, then let’s hurry up.” Mo Xueyao said, and immediately quickened her pace.

This area is close to the city center, and this small church, consisting of only one building, is situated on a tree-lined path.

The walls surrounding the church are lined with pine trees, and in the middle is a bright open space.

The large iron gate was wide open, and there was no security booth or gatekeeper.

The words 'Emmanuel' can be seen in large letters from time to time inside the wall.

Mo Xueyao remembered that she had occasionally passed by this place and seen it before.

The most striking feature of this three-story church is its bell tower.

The bell tower and the church are one unit, but the bell tower is much taller, about eight stories high.

Mo Xueyao held religion in contempt.

Her father's lineage is not religious, especially her great-grandfather.

He is also a staunch atheist.

My mother is only a little superstitious. She worships the local earth god, the god of wealth, or Buddha statues, but that's something she does only occasionally.

Back in junior high, having received a modern education, she would even openly express her contempt for religion.

If someone like Hua Yinyin encountered a missionary, she would definitely express her disdain on the spot.

However, as I've gotten older, I've also learned that even if I'm not interested, I shouldn't show it casually.

Disrespect for religion is acceptable, but respect for people is still essential.

As soon as I reached the church entrance, I heard a somewhat disordered but very solemn singing voice.

It was already quite late, and the church's first-floor hall was packed with people.

Most of them are middle-aged and elderly, some are young people, and there are quite a few children, but there are not many of them who are this age.

Many people have one or more thick books laid out in front of them.

Mo Xueyao secretly glanced at the documents and saw that they were either Bibles or song collections with sheet music.

Without a doubt, those songs are all related to religion. A quick glance reveals many nauseatingly sentimental statements praising the so-called God.

Mo Xueyao didn't show it, but she still subconsciously pursed her lips.

"Two young ladies, did you come with your parents?" Just as the two girls, whose clothes stood out from the others, were looking around, a kind-looking old woman next to them asked with a smile.

She held a leather-bound book of the Covenant in her hands and wore a black robe, but without a hood.

But he still looks somewhat like an actor who stepped out of a TV series.

However, if nothing unexpected happens, this should be one of the nuns here...

"Uh, no, we came by ourselves," Mo Xueyao replied quickly.

"You came alone?" The elderly nun paused for a moment, then smiled even more kindly, her wrinkles crinkling together. "Did you come to hear the Gospel of my Lord?"

"Of course." Hua Yinyin lied without blushing at all.

"This means you are destined to hear the guidance of our Lord..."

Mo Xueyao couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly, feeling that the Buddhist term "fated person" sounded strange here.

Moreover, the slightly translated feel, mixed with common local expressions, is really...

It's probably like eating poached chicken at KFC—a very subtle feeling.

"Young lady, please take a seat."

"Um……"

The old nun led the two to an empty table and sat them down.

The table wasn't full; there were two middle-aged women sitting next to it.

Then she turned and left quickly, returning shortly afterward to hand the two of them four thick books.

Two New Testaments and two collections of hymns.

The material is the same as hers, both with leather covers, and it feels like cowhide, but it doesn't quite feel like it.

"this……?"

“This is a gift. My Lord has led you here, and I have a duty to lead you.”

"..." Mo Xueyao didn't speak, and touched the two books again.

If you were to buy them, these two books would definitely not be cheap.

"Thank you." Hua Yinyin replied quickly, deliberately using a sweeter voice than usual.

The nuns moved to other places, and the people around them only glanced at them briefly before resuming their singing without any distraction.

After the song was finished, a choir composed of children as young as ten years old came on stage and began to sing with their tender yet ethereal voices.

Hua Yinyin winked at Mo Xueyao, as if she found the occasion quite amusing.

"Be serious, they're singing up there."

"Tch, Yaoyao, aren't you serious yourself?"

Mo Xueyao didn't voice her thoughts, after all, there were other people around.

However, it's not bad to come here occasionally to experience it, just as a way to see monkeys—that's what she thought anyway.

Fortunately, she didn't show it, otherwise it would have been a great blasphemy against the gods.

Hua Yinyin cupped her cheeks, watching intently with a smile on her lips, as if she were truly captivated by it.

Mo Xueyao had no idea what she was really thinking; she just thought her acting was really good…

After the choir sang three songs, the morning singing activity seemed to come to an end.

People left in scattered places, but many remained.

Some adults even leave their children here, saying they'll come back to pick them up in the afternoon.

The elderly nun from before came over again and asked kindly as always, "Ladies, if you have nothing to do, why don't you come up to the second floor and listen to the Gospel of our Lord with the children?"

"it is good……"

The two followed the nun upstairs and sat down in a classroom.

The oldest child inside was only twelve or thirteen years old. Mo Xueyao and Hua Yinyin, both high school sophomores, stood out conspicuously when they sat there.

Like an adult attending a class with kindergarten children...

The two looked at each other, their faces filled with embarrassment.

This seems to be teaching children to understand the very first part of the Bible.

He would explain each sentence as he spoke.

The lecturer was a middle-aged man.

"The Spirit of God walks on the surface of the waters. The true meaning of this statement is that God has set His sights on all the waters in our world, because God is all-knowing and all-powerful..."

Mo Xueyao felt sleepy as soon as she heard the words "omniscient and omnipotent".

It's a pity that God doesn't actually exist, otherwise I'd really like to see if the angels there could still defend 'Heaven' when humans attack it with modern weapons.

If God is truly omniscient and omnipotent, where do fallen angels come from?

Although they always manage to justify themselves, those explanations are still quite weak and forced.

Fifteen minutes into the class, someone gently pushed open the door and walked in.

She was wearing a nun's habit, but not the old nun from before.

This is a young girl.