Chapter 447: Another Old Acquaintance?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Qiu Yonggen nodded with clenched teeth, a gesture that finally coaxed a satisfied smile out of Rong Qi.
Seeing her smile, Qiu Yonggen breathed a sigh of relief. “So, are you willing to come with us to the president’s office now?”
Rong Qi c.o.c.ked her head to one side, her eyes shifting toward Tang Lin.
Tang Lin, icy all over, finally grumbled, “I misunderstood you. I apologize. Can we go now?”
Rong Qi gracefully dismounted from her rocky perch. “Since you’ve both admitted your mistake, I suppose I can begrudgingly accompany you. I’ll come back some other day to take in the scenery.”
Both Qiu Yonggen and Tang Lin were uncomfortable but, remembering that the president and the committee of the Academic and Research Society were waiting, they swallowed their grievances.
After the research meeting was over, the cla.s.ses were still going on when they left the president’s office.
“I don’t feel like going back to cla.s.s,” Rong Qi mused, looking at Jian Yunzhou, who stood beside her. “Yunzhou, I’ll go down with you.”
Jian Yunzhou raised an eyebrow in surprise but nodded. “Where to? I’ll drop you off.”
Rong Qi shook her head. “I’ll just wander. You go ahead with your own business.”
“All right, but be careful,” Jian Yunzhou replied without pressing further. He was there mainly to check on Rong Qi, anyway. With work waiting for him at the Inspectorate, he hurried away.
Rong Qi watched Jian Yunzhou leave, then pulled out her smartphone to search for an address. She hailed a rideshare and left. Her destination was Cloudsurf Temple in the capital, a place reputedly quite famous. The temple sat atop a small hill, not too far from the university. The scent of incense and offerings filled the air as Rong Qi walked in. She dropped a thick wad of cash into the donation box at the entrance—more than the temple usually received in a month.
The young monk nearby was so astonished that he approached Rong Qi. “Greetings. It seems you’re carrying quite a worldly burden. Your generous offering certainly reflects deep devotion. If there’s something troubling you, perhaps I can provide some guidance?”
Rong Qi remained calm. “Thank you, but I am not here for selfish reasons. I am here to pray.”
“To pray?” The young monk’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. With so much money?’ he thought.
Just then, the temple bell rang. The young monk turned more respectful. “The abbot has just finished his prayers. If fate wills it, I can introduce you to him.”
“Thank you,” Rong Qi replied, a warm smile brightening her face.
In the temple’s back chambers, led by the young monk, Rong Qi knocked on the abbot’s door.
“Come in,” a voice resonated from within, heavy yet indifferent.
Rong Qi entered, closed the door, and as she turned, found herself meeting an all-too-familiar gaze.
“Good heavens! It’s you?” she exclaimed.
The old monk chuckled. “You may refer to me as Master Zenith.”
Fl.u.s.tered, Rong Qi took a seat as Master Zenith poured her a cup of tea. ‘He’s Master Zenith? The renowned Master Zenith of the capital? Then what about the wishes I’ve made?’
She looked skeptically at him and asked, “Weren’t you off traveling the world? How’d you become a monk?”
“Watch your tongue, you cheeky girl! I am the esteemed Master Zenith now.. Could you show a little respect?”