Chapter 65: The Old Man

“Have you ever taken the initiative to kiss another girl?”

With a blush on his face, Gu Yu answered blankly, “None that I can remember. I don’t recall much from my childhood, but I might have kissed Qian—”

“Gu Yu, do you want to be bitten again?” Luo Ming interrupted him coldly.

“This girlfriend of mine is way too easy to make jealous.”

“So you’d better be careful. I’m very petty, and I don’t want to hear another girl’s name coming out of your mouth.” Luo Ming quietly leaned closer to Gu Yu’s face, staring into his eyes from just inches away, as if looking straight through into the boy’s crystal-clear heart. “And being jealous means I care. There aren’t many people who can make me care this much.”

“Oh… I see. I understand now.”

It was another expression of affection. Gu Yu couldn’t help but think toward a romantic relationship of love or liking. The heart in his chest beat vibrantly, and the boy’s simple admiration felt as if it were being reciprocated bit by bit.

The rain continued to fall. A white mist rose amidst the chaotic curtain of rain, blurring the outlines of the mountains and fields. The sound of rain from all directions became exceptionally clear during the silence between the two of them. This small temple became a peaceful corner amidst the miserable wind and bitter rain.

“This rain really ruined a perfectly good date,” Gu Yu sighed with some helplessness.

“Not at all. I think this is actually quite romantic.” Luo Ming leaned against the boy’s shoulder and grabbed his slender wrist. “Speaking of which, Gu Yu, are you really so comfortable coming here with me? In the middle of nowhere like this, aren’t you afraid I’ll eat you up?”

Gu Yu smiled. “It would be my honor to become a meal on Miss Luo Ming’s plate.”

“Heh, those are your words. If I really do decide to eat you one day, you aren’t allowed to regret it.”

“Yes, yes, I won’t regret it.”

“Then I’ll keep that in mind… Speaking of which, is it inappropriate for us to be so affectionate in front of Buddha?”

Gu Yu turned his head to look at the ancient Buddha statue behind them, illuminated by the dim light of a green lamp. The cold candlelight reflected off the frozen face of the statue. Suddenly, an old monk stepped out from the shadows, his aged Buddhist robes mostly drenched by the rain.

The old monk gazed at the downpour outside and slowly walked up behind them. “All things are impermanent, and all tainted things are suffering. The Buddha also wishes to see lively young people like you; you will be blessed by him.”

“Thank you, Old Abbot,” Luo Ming thanked him sweetly.

“It is I who should thank you. No one has visited this temple for months. Meeting vibrant youngsters like you adds a bit of life to this place.”

“Old man, don’t you feel lonely guarding this place by yourself?”

“Loneliness is better than the noise of the world and its intrigues. Young man, would you like to hear the story of an old man like me?”

“Sure, please tell us.”

The old man sat on the other side of the threshold with some effort. A lonely depression appeared on his aged face, and his hollow eyes gained a flicker of color, as if he had suddenly returned to the past that he still brooded over.

It was a love story of another pair of young people, from school uniforms to the wedding dress. A first-love girlfriend became a partner vowed to accompany him for a lifetime.

The girl became a woman. The purity that the old man admired had withstood the wear and tear of time. She was beautiful, virtuous, and family-oriented, yet she always possessed the beautiful innocence of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. The man had willingly handed everything over to his wife and regarded his beloved as his entire world.

Life was poor, but with love, the home was warm. The man worked hard, cared for his wife, and looked forward to a bright future. He had motivation and hope.

However, disasters and accidents are unpredictable. An accidental fire instantly took everything away from him. Everything he loved was turned to ashes in the raging flames.

At the funeral, the man who had weathered all kinds of storms cried heart-wrenchingly. He even thought about suicide, but his family stopped him.

His wife had believed in Buddha, so he stubbornly joined the Buddhist Order. He knelt in the temple for one day and one night, and his sincerity finally moved the Chief Monk. Afterward, he had his head shaved and converted to the Buddhist Order.

Later came decades of lonely and bitter hardship. The monks in the temple either died or left. This man, who had once been scolded by the Abbot for having an insincere heart, was the one who remained until the end.

He understood that even today, his heart was still not sincere. The image of his beloved wife had always existed in his heart; she had never left, and she had never disappeared.

The story ended, and the rain gradually stopped. The old monk turned his head, glanced at Gu Yu, and reached out a withered palm to pat his shoulder, smiling kindly. “Young man, the person who loves you is always worth cherishing. Don’t let your future self regret it.”

“I know, Abbot.”

“Then we’ll head out first.” Luo Ming pulled Gu Yu to his feet and waved goodbye to the old man. “Goodbye, old man. Please take care of yourself.”

“Yes. Goodbye, young lady, young man.”

As they walked out of the temple step by step, Gu Yu looked back. The thin old man was still sitting there quietly, appearing to merge with the old temple doors. His eyes were filled with the gray desolation of time coming to an end.

The mountain path after the rain was damp and muddy, and their shoes became messy. Luo Ming held Gu Yu’s hand tightly and asked softly, “Gu Yu, if it were you, would you be like that old man?”

“I… I don’t know. Maybe it’s better to let go of a love like that.”

“Well, if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to let go. I might even die for the person I love.”

“Why did things suddenly get so heavy? It’s just someone else’s story after all; just listen and leave it at that.”

“That’s true. I will definitely watch over my lover properly and never let him leave.”

Luo Ming spoke calmly. The warmth in her hand was clear and real, currently held firmly in her grasp.

‘She would watch over the person she loved; that was her life, something worth giving up everything to pursue. If the boy wanted to leave, she would capture and trap him, forcing him to stay, even if she had to use iron chains, shackles, or her own life.’

‘Such a paranoid, even twisted and filthy love—the boy probably wouldn’t be able to accept it if he knew. Would this affection that belonged only to her eventually be given to another?’

‘But she couldn’t let go. This was a love that sank deep into her marrow and was carved into her soul—a disease with no cure. If the boy stopped loving her, she would turn him into an outlet for her desires, using him to satisfy her sacrilegious greed.’

‘At that time, she probably wouldn’t be able to control the madness in her bones. What would become of the skin and flesh she currently held in her hands?’

Luo Ming imagined what Gu Yu would look like after being broken by her: lifeless eyes, a tainted body. He would be covered in her marks, and his originally clean eyes would only contain her reflection.

“Gu Yu…” Luo Ming suddenly murmured the boy’s name.

“What is it?”

As if her body were influenced by instinct, she asked absentmindedly, “Are you afraid… of being broken?”

“Huh? What kind of weird question is that?”

Luo Ming glanced sideways, her gaze slowly rising to Gu Yu’s face. This naturally well-behaved appearance further stirred her curiosity and desire. She suddenly had an urgent wish to see the boy lose himself under her and give up all struggle.

She parted her lips slightly and said something of ambiguous meaning, “If you’re afraid, you have to be good. Even the gentlest person might have a fierce side.”

“I… I know. Why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“Because you look like quite the playboy.”

“Nonsense. I’m very devoted.”

‘Then you must remain devoted forever.’

‘Because I don’t know how crazy or sick my other side might be.’