After gritting her teeth, Ning Wanxi's face turned as frosty as an ice cellar, her fists clenched tightly, looking as if she wished she could fight Luo Chao desperately.
If it weren't for Aunt Qin, she absolutely would have stord off to confront Luo Chao.
It was Qin Yuzhen's first ti seeing Ning Wanxi this angry, and she was a bit stunned. Luo Chao was also baffled, and Ning Wanxi stood up angrily and strode away. Qin Yuzhen whispered, "Xiao Xuan, did you take advantage of Wanxi?"
"Mom, heaven and earth as my witness, how could I possibly have taken advantage of her," Luo Chao imdiately defended himself.
Qin Yuzhen shook her head, "That's not what I an. I an, you forced yourself on her when she was unwilling."
Ning Wanxi had a phobia of n, and Qin Yuzhen knew that, so a possibility of consensual advantage seed unlikely; perhaps it was the forced advantage that made Ning Wanxi so angry.
Luo Chao was helpless, "Mom, you're really underestimating your son."
"That's strange," Qin Yuzhen muttered to herself, while Luo Chao dismissively said, "Maybe Ning Wanxi's monthly visitor arrived today."
"Pfft!" Qin Yuzhen lightly scolded, "How can you say such things?"
Luo Chao laughed twice, then packed his backpack and followed Ning Wanxi's footsteps. He revealed a secret he'd kept for over a year, feeling a mix of relief and unease, wishing he'd shared it only with his mom.
After more than an hour of hiking, Luo Chao's group finally reached the mountaintop, and after climbing over a hundred steps, the view in front opened up—a series of magnificent temples stood atop the mountain, with a mighty gate bustling with people seeking blessings.
"Mom, I'm too lazy to go in. I'll wait here for you," Luo Chao said as he took out a cigarette and lit it, standing still.
I'm going through the trouble to burn incense and pray for your sake, Qin Yuzhen glared at the lazy guy, then said to Ning Wanxi, "Wanxi, let him be. Little Wolf also shouldn't enter the sacred Buddhist grounds, we'll go in together."
Little Wolf lay by Luo Chao's feet, and Luo Chao gazed at the vast scenery in the distance, breathing in the essence of nature, feeling relaxed and free like never before.
Luo Chao didn't know how many cigarettes he'd smoked when he finally saw his mom and Ning Wanxi walking out of the gate, but Ning Wanxi had a slight blush on her charming face, looking a bit embarrassed—why was this girl blushing?
Luo Chao looked at her like she'd turned into an alien; Ning, the big boss, rarely showed a shy, blushing face. Seeing his curious gaze, Ning Wanxi instantly changed her face faster than flipping a book and returned to her icy cold deanor.
"Mom, did you pray to every Buddha?" Luo Chao turned his gaze to Qin Yuzhen and asked.
Qin Yuzhen chuckled, "All but the God of Wealth."
God of Wealth? Luo Chao laughed heartily, "Of course, there's no need to pray to the God of Wealth. Those who pray for wealth might as well pray to —see how I just suddenly earned 50,000 yuan."
"Nonsense, you want a beating, don't you?" Qin Yuzhen said, half-annoyed, half-amused, "We ca here to burn incense and pray, don't jinx it!"
Qin Yuzhen raised her hand as if to hit him, while Luo Chao quickly dodged.
Watching him, Ning Wanxi couldn't help but wryly smile—her husband was indeed a treasure, always joking around without acting proper, yet at tis, he was stern and formidable.
"Miraculous hand divining fate, prayers always answered!" As Qin Yuzhen was about to leave, she suddenly heard a fortune-telling blind man by the temple's archway shaking a bamboo stick and shouting loudly.
Upon hearing the fortune-teller's voice, Qin Yuzhen's eyes lit up and she imdiately walked over. As her son, Luo Chao knew exactly what she was up to; he wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
Luo Chao rolled his eyes, confird his mom was indeed an old traditionalist—believing in drawing lots and fortune-telling—and Ning Wanxi was equally speechless, as no one else went to draw lots, yet Aunt Qin was inclined to.
The fortune-teller appeared to be in his 50s, with a small table placed in front of him, dressed in a Taoist robe, and wearing a blue blindfold over his eyes. The most noticeable feature was his goatee, tempting Luo Chao to tear off the blindfold to see if he was truly blind or not.
"Master, I'd like to draw a lot, how much?" Qin Yuzhen asked softly as she sat opposite the fortune-teller.
The fortune-teller remained expressionless and calmly said, "Are you seeking romance, peace, or a child?"
"A child," Qin Yuzhen said seriously.
A child? Luo Chao and Ning Wanxi were both stunned—it was clear that Qin Yuzhen, about to turn 50, wasn't doing this for herself but for Luo Chao and Ning Wanxi. Yet, they weren't even in an actual relationship, and she was seeking a child.
Luo Chao was both amused and exasperated, wondering what his mom was thinking—this was absurd.
Ning Wanxi blushed a bit, unsure of what to say.
The fortune-teller chuckled, "Alright, a child lot, 20 per lot!"
20 yuan? Not too expensive, Luo Chao nodded, deciding to let his mom indulge, but if it were 200 yuan, he'd definitely tear off the fortune-teller's blindfold.
Putting on an act with the blindfold and setting up a stall outside the temple, Luo Chao believed the fortune-teller was definitely a scamr, but for 20 yuan, he wasn't inclined to expose him.
"Alright!" Qin Yuzhen responded, and the fortune-teller imdiately shook the lot container a few tis and said, "Draw a lot, benefactor."
"Wanxi, you draw," Qin Yuzhen gestured.
Having no choice, Ning Wanxi randomly drew a lot. Qin Yuzhen eagerly took it, and the fortune-teller, feeling the drawn lot, swayed his head and said, "Benefactor, I can't see. Read it out, and I'll interpret it."
Qin Yuzhen looked at the bamboo lot and read, "The couple's fate has no punishnt or harm; blessings will co and long extend. In twenty-five years, heavenly fortune descends, for in the future the red dress shall be continued."
Upon hearing this, the fortune-teller sighed and said, "This is an average lot, aning the young lady will have a child at 25, a daughter, but this daughter will be clever and beautiful!"
Hearing this, Luo Chao rolled his eyes; it was indeed a swindler, utter nonsense!
"Wanxi, how old are you now?" Qin Yuzhen asked, but after so ti, there was no response—only Ning Wanxi seed lost in thought, her eyes vacant.
Qin Yuzhen again called out, "Wanxi!"
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