Inextricable

The border between Xiacheng and Wencheng, the neighbouring city, was formed by the extremely steep Qingjiu Mountain. The entire year, water and mist would surround this steep mountain, making it gilded in emerald. At the base of the mountain, was located the Qingping Temple, which had been constructed into the slope.

Although Qingping Temple was an ancient construction, only the pavilions appeared so. In front of the temple was Jiuxian Lake, which was completely blue. In winter, faint water vapour would linger on its surface. The lake was so clear that you could see the bottom at a glance.

It didn’t matter if it was Qingjiu Mountain or Jiuxian Lake—all of these untouched natural areas in Xiacheng were undeveloped. Because of this, Qingping Temple had steadfastly and ethereally stood among the mountains and lakes for years and years.

The muffled bells that rang through the old temple bestowed the atmosphere with an unfathomable solemnity and piety.

At the temple gate, Xu Xingxing listened to the echo of texts being chanted, and her impulsive heart gradually calmed. She and Chen Wanwan entered through the entrance with the little boy. 

Unlike other temples, this temple was unique. There weren’t many pilgrims who came to worship because it was primarily used by monks for practice.

Kangkang was taken into the temple’s main hall by Xu Xingxing and Chen Wanwan, they didn’t spend much time in the courtyard, and soon they were surrounded by the scent of sandalwood.

As soon as Xu Xingxing entered, the monks at the hall door handed over nine sticks of incense. When burning incense in the temple, three sticks were used to pray for oneself, six sticks were used to pray for two generations, and nine sticks were used to pray for three generations.

The monk might have mistakenly thought that Kangkang was her child, so he had handed over nine sticks of incense to her. However much Xu Xingxing also wanted to hold onto these, she just didn’t have that fate.

After Xu Xingxing expressed her gratitude by nodding, she asked Chen Wanwan to take the nine sticks of incense, while she took the six sticks of incense in her hand.

There were monks chanting sutras on both sides of the main hall, which destroyed any miscellaneous thoughts in the mind. Xu Xingxing closed her eyes, immersed herself in the solemnity of this Buddhist atmosphere, and prayed quietly.

She prayed for her own success and her family’s health.

After the incense was lit and prayers made, Xu Xingxing raised the incense sticks to her eyebrows, then placed the incense sticks in the incense burner.

They then left the main hall.

Chen Wanwan tugged at Xu Xingxing and said, “There is a holy tree in the backyard, it is said to be auspicious for those seeking marriage, let’s go there too.” Since Chen Wanwan had come here, she wasn’t in a rush to leave.

“Ignore it.” Xu Xingxing currently had no plans of getting married, so ‘why even bother looking for one’ was how she argued against it. Furthermore, marriage was a matter of fate, and since both partners’ willingness was necessary, how could she simply ask for it?

“Come on!” Chen Wanwan took Xu Xingxing to the garden despite her protests.

The three of them went outside and asked for a red cloth. Xu Xingxing threw it at the tree. After she threw it and it fell on one of the branches, Chen Wanwan applauded, took a red string from a nearby nun and tied it in a knot around Xu Xingxing’s wrist.

“Hey, don’t take it off today. Okay?” Chen Wanwan threatened with a smile.

Xu Xingxing: “…”

Seeing Xu Xingxing’s helpless look, Chen Wanwan hugged her and said, “Hey, Xingxing, everything will be alright. Don’t think too much.” After saying that, Chen Wanwan suddenly took two steps away from her, and exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my god, there was a nun with hair just now, and the shoes she wore were from Chanel. There is really such a nun in Qingping Temple.” 

Hearing what Chen Wanwan said, Xu Xingxing was surprised as well. She turned around, but only glimpsed a trace of clothing as it swept by the corner of the door, the person soon disappearing.

Xu Xingxing didn’t look any further and turned her head back.

…………………….

After visiting the temple, Xu Xingxing went to Chen Wanwan’s house for lunch, and after they had the meal, she played with Kangkang for a while. It was already three o’clock by the time Xu Xingxing came home. As soon as she opened the door, Mimi surrounded her, raised her head and pelted her with continuous “meows~”

Xu Xingxing’s heart melted at such a warm welcome, and she bent and hugged it, rubbing its face.

Mimi suddenly touched the red string in its owner’s hand. Xu Xingxing remembered her friend’s words and smiled helplessly as she asked Mimi, “Does it look good?”

Mimi’s paw touched the red string and let out another “meow”

……………………..

In the Hefeng Apartment Building, most of the units were for single people, and most single individuals enjoyed caring for a few cats and dogs. As a result, a veterinary clinic was located next to the building.

Xu Xingxing scheduled a vaccination appointment for the next morning. She gave Mimi to the vet when she got to the animal hospital. She then moved to the shelf to decide whether she wanted to purchase something for Mimi. 

This hospital offered a wide variety of goods. When Xu Xingxing picked up a cat teaser stick that she had seen, a tiny bell began to chime. The bell rang again, indicating that Xu Xingxing’s cell phone was ringing.

When Xu Xingxing pulled out her phone and checked the phone number, she saw that it was Huai Jing.

The two hadn’t contacted each other by phone for three weeks now, so Xu Xingxing just looked at the phone number in a daze. She answered the phone and said “Hi” softly.

The man’s seductively deep voice came from the other end, “What are you doing right now?”

With the cat teaser toy in her hand, Xu Xingxing pursed her lips, and replied, “I’m at the pet hospital, getting Mimi vaccinated.”

“How is your shop? Busy?”

“Yeah.” Xu Xingxing replied, “The store has been packed.”

“I’ll pick you up tonight.” The man changed the subject and went straight to the point.

“Ok, that’ll be good.” She responded softly.

After sending Mimi home, Xu Xingxing went downstairs again, and found that the man was already waiting in his car. The red Bentley was parked on the side of the road, so Xu Xingxing walked over, opened the door and got in.

She was dressed in a long skirt, and had worn a brown coat outside because it was currently very cold. Her lovely and delicate neck was encircled by a tiny, lace-trimmed collar that was a part of the long-sleeved blouse’s design. Those imprints he had left on her body had vanished once they hadn’t been intimate for a while.

Seeing that she had fastened her seat belt, Huai Jing looked at her sideways. 

“Let’s go?” When Huai Jing didn’t start the car, Xu Xingxing asked him this, while giving him a questioning glance.

“Okay.” He replied and started the car.

Even though it was only 4:00 p.m., the sinking sun had already turned into a round red sun. The seaside road was being bathed in crimson “red” sunlight, making it appear as though it had been painted red.

Since the two passengers in the car didn’t talk much while driving, Xu Xingxing began to get restless. She raised her head and looked out the window. The red sun was hanging on the side of the mountain and looked like it was about to be swallowed by it.

Among the continuous mountain peaks, the sun looked smaller in comparison, like a small fruit.

Xu Xingxing then recalled the story she had read for Zhan Jiakang earlier in the day.

Lifting her eyes slightly, she pressed the button of the car window and opened it a little.

As soon as she opened the window, salty air welcomed her, messing up her hair. Xu Xingxing sniffed at the sea breeze, and her eyes narrowed. She moved her cheek closer to the window, and slowly stuck out her tongue.

The sea breeze was very cold, and the tongue felt a little numb as it blew on it, but it didn’t taste salty. Before Xu Xingxing could retract her tongue, deep laughter came from the driver’s seat, making her ears turn red.

She felt like a fool and quickly retracted her tongue.

Huai Jing recalled how she had just quietly extended her tongue, its rosy tip resembling a ripe cherry. Though, when compared to cherries, the flavour at the tip of that tongue was significantly sweeter.

Huai Jing’s eyes darkened, and he suppressed his thoughts at this time. After a chuckle, he asked, “Hungry?”

Xu Xingxing’s jaw trembled slightly, and she blushed violently.

“No… no.”

Huai Jing raised his head slightly as he turned the steering wheel and parked the vehicle on the side of the road. He dialled a number on his cell phone. The blue light on his white bluetooth headset in his ear briefly flashed.

“Hey, Mama He, cook two fish for dinner.”

The housekeeping aunt seemed to be asking a question on the phone, to which the man tapped the steering wheel with his finger and said, “Now.”

He then denied another question asked and said, “I’m not the one who is hungry.”

He looked sideways at Xu Xingxing on the co-pilot seat with a smile as he continued, “there is a kitten with me who is hungry.”

Xu Xingxing: “…”

After ending the call, Huai Jing started the car again and turned into a corner on a branch road not far from his home. As the car soon reached the top of the mountain, Huai Jing stopped the car, unbuckled his seat belt and said to Xu Xingxing, “It’ll take aunty some time to make dinner. Let’s wait here for a while.”

Xu Xingxing was a little confused, for although this was an area filled with villas, the top of the mountain was very empty, and there had been few vehicles passing by them on this branched-off road. Now it seemed that only the two of them were there.

Xu Xingxing remembered the last time they had been on the top of a mountain, it had been still dark at any rate, and the sun had not set yet… and they…

Huai Jing unlocked the car door in an excited manner, and leaned over to stand next to Xu Xingxing’s side. The man bent his head a little and used his thin fingers to tap on the  window.

“Hey, come out.”

Xu Xingxing gazed at him warily while holding the seat belt with her hands.

Huai Jing displayed a slight hesitation in his eyes, but when he noticed the alertness in Xu Xingxing’s gaze, he quietly grinned. This smile wasn’t carefree; instead, it was helpless.

Huai Jing unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned over, and hugged her before Xu Xingxing had time to protest. 

“Let me down,” she cried. 

She struggled, but the man seemed not to hear her. When Huai Jing stared down at her, Xu Xingxing became afraid as his light brown eyes abruptly darkened.

The man held her and placed her on the bonnet, and then took advantage of the chance to sit next to her. Huai Jing murmured to Xu Xingxing while pointing to the red sun that was on the horizon.

“Let’s watch the setting sun.”

Soft red light shone on the man’s face, as if covering him with a red veil. His peach eyes were slightly raised, and the corners of his lips were raised too, showing his playfulness and flamboyance.

Xu Xingxing’s heart moved at the sight of such a scene.

They watched the sun set for a while. The sun sets today and rises tomorrow, so the sun doesn’t need to feel cold or sad. Just like people, there was always hope for them to stand up again.

Xu Xingxing looked at the sunset, and gradually felt her emotions calm down.

“Did you go to Qingping Temple?” asked Huai Jing suddenly.

Xu Xingxing was startled by the sudden question, but she just nodded her head and asked, “How do you know?”

Huai Jing lowered his eyes, pointed to her wrist and said, “That marriage rope, my mother is a monk in Qingping Temple, so I recognize it.”

Xu Xingxing’s eyes shifted as she recalled the rumour she had previously overheard in the company— it appeared that Huai Jing’s mother had indeed become a nun.

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She placed her wrist on her leg, creating a little brilliant contrast between the red of the rope and the red of the setting sun. Huai Jing must have also realised her absurdity at wearing this because she was divorced, but still held such beliefs.

“It’s only for fun, marriage is not that easy to find, the good men are already married,” Xu Xingxing started with a self-deprecating smile.

“That’s not always the case. I’m not married yet,” the man remarked with a sweet smile.